In the Darkness, Yunyu observed Prince Michael's face. He was a tall, young man. He had a sharp gaze, but his clean, somewhat boyish face made him less scary, even attractive dare he would say.
Prince Michael was sitting with his back straightened in the guest room. He had long suspected that something was wrong with the duke, but he didn't know why.
Duke Damien Delcostro was the second son of the previous duke, since his big brother died, he became the new duke instead. He was a powerful and rich duke, but he was always lowkey. He even declined the minister position, even though he was influential enough to become one.
Nobody had ever questioned this gentle and elegant duke, but Prince Michael felt that this person was not a simple man.
Maybe it was an instinct, but he could feel a demonic aura around Duke Damien the last time they met at a banquet. He needed to clear his suspicion.
"I am honoured to see Your Highness Prince Michael visiting me at this hour, may I know your intention, Your Highness?" Yunyu came from the corridor. His side profile was showered by the moonlight, however, because he was pale, Yunyu looked like a ghost with his evil grin. Prince Michael became even more cautious.
Prince Michael replied, "I am here because Duke Damien missed the holy night again."
"I didn't attend the holy night because I was not in good health, Your Highness," Yunyu replied humbly. But Prince Michael saw it as a lazy excuse.
"The holy night is a night blessed by the god, where angels fly above us and we are showered by the gospel of the Holy Saintess herself. You are missing such an important night for years," Prince Michael said.
[Well, Sir, if I attended that holy night, I'll be a burnt potato right on the spot.]
Yunyu wanted to close his ears when he heard how Michael said many holy words, somehow, his ears were slightly pained when he heard it.
"Pardon my absence of such an important night, Your Highness," Yunyu bowed deeply, "However, I am sure that Prince Michael didn't come far to my residence in the middle of the night only to say that."
The Duke grinned meaningfully, which caught Michael off guard. True, Michael hadn't thought much about it, he came to the duke residence because he was suspicious that the duke was a cultist, or worse, a demon. He was ready to execute the duke right here if he dared to offend him or fought back.
But the Duke was surprisingly cooperative.
However, facing such question on the spot, he froze awkwardly.
He was devoted to the god since his birth, he never had a friend and didn't even want to do so. All he wanted was to devote himself to god and carry out his mission. Thus, facing such an awkward situation made him uncomfortable.
Prince Michael felt a bit ashamed, but he got an idea and immediately straightened his back. He said, "Since Duke Damien has yet to contribute to the church, I'd want to discuss a possible donation you can give to the holy church."
[Wow, he even extorted money from the nobles for the church.]
"Would Your Highness mind having a night walk with me in the garden?" Yunyu offered.
"Sure."
Yunyu and Prince Michael walked around in the garden, they were not familiar with each other, so the situation was mostly silent and awkward. They stopped in a pavilion and sat while enjoying the night.
However, Michael frowned immediately, "This is useless. Rather than doing meaningless walks, I would suggest Duke to read the holy book, or at least, helping the homeless at night. God will surely bless you with his grace if you do so."
Yunyu ignored his preaching, he leaned back leisurely and said in a low, magnetic tone, "Your Highness, we are enjoying the beautiful moon, the tasteful garden on a warm summer night. This is all gifted by the god to us to enjoy. Is it prohibited to enjoy what has been given to us by the god?"
"… overindulgence is not good," Michael stubbornly rebuked.
Yunyu nodded helplessly and sighed, "Well, I see overindulgence in something more private. Maybe indulgence in lust? Would Your Highness mind telling me if you ever indulge in lust? Since we are both men."
"I am devoted to god. I will not indulge in mere things such as lust."
"Then, Prince Michael must've been impotent, since every man has to relieve themselves in some way," Yunyu grinned and stared at the thing between Michael's thighs.
Michael turned his body immediately and harshly rebuked, "S—Shameless! No one ever dares to tell me such thing! God will punish you with his wrath!"
Michael said that, but his ears were noticeably red. Vampire's eyesight was really good in darkness, so Yunyu noticed it.
Michael walked and left the garden immediately, bearing his shame, he said, "Duke Damien, I order you to visit me in the church tomorrow! I will make sure that you face punishment if you don't come!"
Facing such blatant threat, Yunyu smiled and said, "Certainly, Your Highness. I will also bring enough donations to appease your anger."
Michael glared at him, but he then turned his head and left the garden.
Yunyu sighed, he still sat in the pavilion, he called the system, "Pupa, you there?"
Pupa appeared and floated around Yunyu, "What?"
"How is his breakmeter?"
The hologram appeared in front of Yunyu, Pupa said coldly, "The Breakmeter is still 20%, but the Fatemeter has raised to 5%. Congratulations."
Yunyu frowned, "I've just met him, how could his Fatemeter be raised?"
"I'm not sure either. Maybe because you said that he never masturbates?"
"Don't be so blunt! I was just trying to make him feel guilty, so he might soon realize that he is also a man. He will have that perverted thoughts about the Saintess!"
"Doesn't seem to work," Pupa said, "Anyway, if you want to romance the main character, it will not affect your task at all. Your main task is to fill the Breakmeter."
"I know!" Yunyu clicked his tongue. The system disappeared again.
Yunyu thought that by inciting the nature of man in Michael, it would incite his lust and he might have some lust whenever he faced the Saintess. He would feel guilty and tried to stay away from the Saintess.
However, it was the Fatemeter that increased, but his Breakmeter didn't budge.
[Well, It's only starting. I can do better tomorrow.]
***
On the next day, Yunyu arrived at the church in the evening, because he would die by the sunray. He was fully covered, from head to toe, he even used gloves. Only his neck and face was shown.
However, when he entered the church, he didn't feel anything. Which was true to what he had expected. The church didn't have any holy aura at all. It was the Saintess that could burn him, these hypocrites inside this place wouldn't be able to harm him.
[Only the Saintess is free from sin here.]
He sat on a bench, waiting for Michael to arrive. Michael arrived with a white, holy robe. When he saw the Duke sitting leisurely, seemed to be dazed. Michael observed the Duke's side profile again. The Duke was indeed a mature, charming man, but his pale skin made him look unhealthy.
Out of concern, he approached the Duke and offered him a bottle of water, "The Duke looked tired."
Yunyu glanced to Michael's side and smiled, he took the bottle of water and took a small sip. His expression didn't change, he paused for a moment and asked, "What kind of water is this?"
"Holy water, this is good to replenish your energy," Michael said honestly, "Why did you ask? Did the holy water give you an immediate effect?"
"Your Highness is very thoughtful," Yunyu smiled faintly, but his voice was a bit hoarse.
[Pupa! System! HELP MEE! AAAAAAH!]
The system blinked in front of Yunyu and asked, "What happened?"
Michael didn't notice the floating pupa robot at all, but it was not Yunyu's concern right now. He felt that he drank a very bitter and boiling water just now. He grieved in his heart.
[I accidentally drank holy water! What to do? Will I die?]
[Pupa: You will not die. Unless you bathed in holy water, at most, you'll catch fever.]
[Wait, a vampire can catch a fever?]
[Pupa: Your body has been weakened by the holy water, it will take a whole day to return back normal.]
The system floated around Michael's face and asked Yunyu:
[Pupa: You will not ask why he doesn't see me?]
[I've read enough transmigration novels, you must be invisible in front of him, right?]
[Tch, boring.]
The system disappeared again. Michael saw that the Duke had been dazed and his complexion didn't look good. Michael was the servant of god, he naturally knew when someone needed his aid.
"Duke, you look unwell," Michael said. He extended his hand, wanted to check on the Duke's forehead, but the Duke avoided him.
"I'm fine," Yunyu smiled gently, "I'm just a bit tired since yesterday. Anyway, I am here to hand my donation to you, but I wonder if Your Highness is willing to give me a tour around the grand church?"
Michael was pleased when someone was willing to visit the church to learn about their religion. "Certainly," Michael said.
They toured around the grand church, Michael told everything about the church enthusiastically to the Duke. Meanwhile, the Duke only showed a perfunctory smile and nod many times.
In Yunyu's head however, he was observing Michael's behaviour while maintaining his posture, truly, the holy water was powerful enough to make him feel weak.
Yunyu observed the enthusiastic youth. If it was his real body, then he and Michael would have been around the same age. Maybe because Michael was born with the role of priest, he had been dictated with fanaticism since he was young.
Few months ago, Michael had ordered the massacre of almost three hundred people because these people refused to convert. However, in Michael's eyes, what he did was absolute justice. Because he didn't understand another way.
Somehow, Yunyu felt pity for this guy. In this moment, Michael looked pretty innocent when he enthusiastically explained about everything inside the church. His youthful innocence and vigour was clearly showing.
Yunyu subconsciously patted Michael's head. Michael paused and looked up to the Duke, "What are you doing?"
Yunyu removed his hand immediately, "N—Nothing."
Michael gazed deep at the Duke. But the Duke looked away, trying to avoid his gaze.
However, Yunyu's eyes darted immediately at a room on the farthest side of the corridor. Yunyu could feel a scorching hot aura from that room.
[Is that… Saintess' room?]
Seeing that the Duke's eyes lingered at the specific room, Michael blocked Yunyu's view with his body. Michael's innocent and youthful aura was gone, it turned into a dark, suppressing aura that would swallow anyone who dared to come near.
"Whose room is that?"
"It's off limits," Michael said, "It is the Holy Saintess' room. Everyone is off limits. You are not worthy to gaze upon her room."