CHAPTER 78: REVELATION AND RECONCILIATION...

"The Church thanks you, Lady Seraphina. Sir Xavier. You have not only preserved the offerings of the Goddess, but reminded all here that shadows cannot prevail where the Moon’s light shines."

Seraphina inclined her head, her tone calm but regal. "The honor was mine. Yet know this, Lady Lucy—the Syndicate will not stop here. Guard your halls well. They will test your strength again, and not always when you expect it."

Lucy’s expression did not falter, though her fingers tightened slightly on the staff she carried. "Then we shall be ready. The nuns of the Moon will not sit idle. We will raise our voices in prayer, our hands in defense, and our hearts in vigilance. The faithful will learn that the Church is not prey for wolves."

Her words rippled through the gathered crowd, and some even lifted their heads with renewed courage.

Xavier watched quietly, his smirk faint but approving. Not bad. She knows how to rally them without boasting.

A guard behind him muttered low, glancing toward Xavier. "It’s strange, isn’t it? They came for wheat... yet it feels like the enemy’s eyes were measuring more than food."

Xavier’s gaze flicked toward the horizon, his silver eyes sharp. "You’re not wrong. The Syndicate doesn’t waste blades for grain. This was a probe."

Seraphina overheard and added coldly, "Then let them probe. What they will find is an Empire that does not bow."

Lucy stepped closer, lowering her voice so only the two could hear. "Sir Xavier. Lady Seraphina. Whatever comes... the Church of the Moon stands with you. The Goddess herself has taken interest. That alone should tell you your path is not a simple one."

Xavier’s lips twitched faintly into a grin. "I had a feeling."

Seraphina nodded once, her eyes calm but thoughtful.

The moment lingered, heavy with both gratitude and unspoken warning.

Finally, the guards of House Valemont began to move. Horses were led forward, the personal carriage waiting at the base of the steps. With disciplined precision, the soldiers formed into escort positions around the carriage, their faces still streaked from battle, but their spines straight with pride.

Seraphina turned once more to Lucy. "May the Moon’s blessing guide you."

"And may Her light shield you," Lucy replied.

With that, Seraphina entered the carriage, Xavier following close behind. The door shut with a solid thud, muffling the sounds of the outside world.

As the wheels began to turn and the guards called orders, the Church bells tolled one last time. The people bowed their heads as the House of Valemont’s envoy departed, their banners swaying in the morning breeze.

Behind them, the Church of the Moon stood tall — no longer merely a place of worship, but a fortress in spirit. Its priests, its nuns, and its followers would not be caught unprepared again.

And within the carriage, Xavier leaned back against the seat, his eyes flicking to Seraphina. For the first time since that long night, the air felt still.

But in his chest, he knew — this was not an end. Only the first ripple in a tide yet to come.

The wheels of the carriage rolled in steady rhythm, the muffled clatter of hooves blending with the faint creak of wood. Inside, the air was warm, still carrying the faint trace of incense from the Church.

Xavier leaned back against the cushioned seat, his sharp eyes scanning the passing blur outside the window. He was calm — until movement in the corner of his gaze pulled him back.

Seraphina.

She had risen from her seat. Slowly, deliberately. Her noble gown flowed with each step, hugging her curves, the faint sway of her hips deliberate, teasing. Her eyes never left his.

Xavier arched a brow as she came closer, her stride smooth, her silver hair catching the morning light that filtered in through the carriage window. Without a word, she straddled his lap, her soft weight pressing against him, her arms sliding around his shoulders.

Smoulch~

Her lips met his in a kiss — warm, lingering, tasting faintly of wine and moonlight.

Xavier’s hands instinctively moved to her waist, feeling the smooth lines of her body beneath the fabric. She pulled back only slightly, her breath brushing against his lips.

Then she lowered her mouth to his nape, sucking gently, her tongue leaving a hot trail on his skin. He let out a low hum, enjoying the sensation.

"My able bodyguard..." she whispered against his ear, her tone a sultry tease, "...we didn’t even do it last night."

Her words sent a shiver through him.

Xavier smirked, tilting his head toward her, his voice calm and smooth. "We have all the time in the world."

But before he could lean in again, her expression shifted. The teasing curve of her lips faded. Her eyes sharpened, her features tightening with something she couldn’t quite mask.

Her voice was quieter now, but edged with steel. "Did you do it... with Lucy?"

The question hung heavy in the air.

For the first time, Xavier sighed. He could have lied. He could have twisted words. But looking at her — Seraphina, who had already bared loyalty, who had trusted him without hesitation — he knew there was no point.

"Yes," he said finally. His tone steady, but honest. "I did it. It was part of the ritual."

For a heartbeat, silence.

Then Seraphina’s chest tightened. A sharp pang lanced through her heart, so sudden it almost made her breath hitch. She forced herself to keep her face composed, lips tugging into a faint smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"I see..." she said softly, her fingers still resting on his shoulders, though they trembled faintly.

Xavier studied her closely, his sharp eyes catching what others would have missed — the flicker of hurt in her gaze, the strain beneath her smile. He felt it, even before she tried to bury it.

He lifted a hand, brushing a strand of silver hair away from her cheek, his thumb grazing her flushed skin.

"Seraphina," he murmured. "If I could have refused, I would have. But the Goddess herself... it wasn’t something I could ignore."

She chuckled faintly, though the sound was brittle. "Don’t flatter me with explanations. I know you’re not mine to keep, Xavier. Still..." Her eyes glistened faintly as she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "...it doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting."

Xavier’s smirk softened into something rarer — something almost tender. He rested his forehead against hers, his voice low. "Then let me make it up to you. Not as your guard. Not as your weapon. But as your man."

Her breath caught, her forced smile finally breaking. For a moment, she closed her eyes, leaning into him, torn between pride and the unfamiliar ache of jealousy.

"...You really are cruel," she whispered.

"Cruel?" His lips brushed her ear, his tone rich with warmth. "No. Just yours. If you’ll still have me."

She didn’t answer. Not with words. Instead, her lips crashed against his, fiercer than before, a desperate mix of passion and unspoken pain. Her nails dug lightly into his shoulder, clinging to him as if to keep him from slipping away.

And Xavier, for once, didn’t tease. He kissed her back, steady and firm, one hand pressing into the small of her back, holding her close.

The carriage rolled on, but inside, time slowed — and for that fragile moment, only the two of them existed.

Seraphina kissed him again, her waist grinding deliberately against his hardened crotch as if to punctuate her next words. Her voice was soft, yet cutting.

"Have you done it with Celene too?"

Xavier’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected her to bring Celene up — much less suspect her.

"You’re right," he admitted, his tone steady, though a hint of surprise colored his expression. "I’ve indeed done it with her. How did you know, my Queen?"

Seraphina slapped his chest playfully, but the pain behind her smile was real. Her voice wavered with both jest and ache. "I’m more perceptive than you think I am, Xavier..."

He studied her closely, saw the shadow flicker in her eyes even as she tried to hide it. His voice lowered, firm and apologetic. "I’m really sorry, Seraphina... Don’t worry. I’ll still treat you the same way, no matter how many girls I get."

Something in her heart loosened at those words. Not completely, but enough to let her breathe again.

Her lips curled into a smile — this time softer, more genuine. Xavier, seeing that spark return to her expression, reached up to pinch her cheek lightly, teasing her.

Seraphina flushed, hiding her face against his chest, her silver hair brushing over his skin.

After a quiet moment, she raised her head again, eyes locking with his. "About Lucy," she asked slowly, "I thought women of the cloth were not allowed to do that..."

Xavier chuckled faintly. "I’m blessed by the Goddess of the Moon. Somehow, I’m able to do it with them without repercussions. By having sex with her, I can raise her affinity to moon and fertility — increase her connection with the Goddess."