Serafine stood at the pulpit of the Grand Cathedral, gazing over the sea of believers, their faces full of hope and reverence.
Today was the annual charity gala, the perfect opportunity for her to reaffirm her role as the Saintess.
The guests had arrived in droves, noblemen and women, their gowns and suits shimmering under the chandeliers, as well as children from the slums, eager for a hot meal and a chance to feel blessed by the holy presence of Serafine herself.
This was her chance to remind everyone of her importance, to prove she was doing the good work of Aurelia.
A little voice interrupted her musings.
"Saintess Serafine! Saintess Serafine!"
She turned to find one of the younger children from the orphanage, a tiny boy with big, brown eyes and a ratty cloak too large for him, tugging at her robes.
"Yes, little one?" Serafine replied, her smile radiating warmth and love as she knelt to his level.
"I… I got a pet rat!" The boy grinned, holding up a squeaky little creature in his hands, clearly proud of his new companion. "I named him Aurelia!"
Serafine blinked, her hand frozen halfway to the boy's head. 'A pet rat? Named Aurelia?'
"Well," she said slowly, unsure how to proceed, "I'm sure Aurelia will appreciate the gesture. Just… be careful. Rats can be… unpredictable."
The boy's face lit up with delight. "He's the best! He even gave me a blessing! He squeaked three times when I asked for one!"
Serafine's eye twitched, and her smile tightened. 'A rat blessing? Oh, Aurelia, help me.'
"Right," she said, standing up with as much grace as she could muster. "You go enjoy your pet, and remember to keep it away from the altar, okay?"
As the boy scampered off, Serafine inwardly cursed. 'What kind of saintess was she if she couldn't even get through a conversation without being faced with… rodent blessings?'
Shaking her head, she straightened her robes and prepared to face more children, praying the rest of the day would go more smoothly.
Of course, her prayers were answered by the next child, who came running up to her with a piece of cake in her hands.
"Saintess! Saintess!" the little girl shouted, her mouth full of cake. "I ate three whole slices of cake! Does that mean I'm blessed now?"
She tried to keep her smile intact as she considered her response. 'Three slices?' Her eyes narrowed. 'I'll be lucky if I can eat half that amount without feeling sick.
"Well, dear, eating three slices of cake isn't necessarily a blessing," Serafine said, her voice as sweet as honey. "But if it makes you happy, I suppose it's a little blessing from Aurelia, yes?"
The little girl looked up at her, her face covered in frosting. "I think I'm gonna have another slice!"
"Just make sure to leave some for the other children, okay?" she said, trying to hide the irritation in her voice.
The little girl gave her a big, cake-covered grin and scampered off, leaving Serafine standing there, gritting her teeth. 'Why is it always cake?'
A group of noblewomen passed by, chatting animatedly, their laughter ringing through the hall. Among them was Lady Amaris, the daughter of a minor baron.
Serafine had noticed her before at church, always lingering around the back, casting her gaze at Serafine with an intensity that was… unsettling. It wasn't unusual for noblewomen to come to church in search of divine blessings, but Lady Amaris's attention felt a little too personal, a little too intense.
As the gala wore on and Serafine found herself increasingly surrounded by children and their ridiculous questions about "blessings" and "cakes," Lady Amaris finally approached her.
The woman was radiant, dressed in an elegant gown that shimmered like the stars, with a seductive air that made Serafine feel oddly nervous.
"Saintess Serafine," Lady Amaris said with a soft smile. "You're looking as beautiful as ever. The gala is wonderful, but it pales in comparison to your divine presence."
Serafine's insides did a little flip. She forced a polite smile. "Thank you, Lady Amaris. Your words are too kind. It's all for Aurelia."
Lady Amaris leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a lower, more intimate tone. "I can see how devoted you are to Aurelia, but… perhaps, Saintess, you've forgotten a little bit about yourself?"
Serafine blinked, taken aback. "Excuse me?"
"Oh, don't pretend you don't know what I mean," Lady Amaris purred, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're so selfless, so pure. But is there room for you in all of that devotion? A woman like you, so divine, so powerful, surely you deserve more than just prayers and blessings. Don't you think?"
Serafine's heart skipped a beat, and she forced herself to maintain a composed exterior. 'What is happening?'
"I… I don't quite understand what you mean, Lady Amaris," Serafine said, her voice faltering for the briefest of moments. "I'm just a servant of Aurelia. My duty is to spread her blessings and love, not to… indulge in personal desires."
Lady Amaris smiled knowingly, stepping a little closer. "Oh, but even saints have needs, don't they? I'm sure Aurelia wouldn't mind a little... diversion every now and then."
Serafine felt her face flush. 'Is she really doing this?!'
Before she could protest, Lady Amaris took her hand, leading her toward the cathedral's back doors. "Come, let's talk outside, Saintess. There's something I want to show you. Something… personal."
Serafine hesitated for a moment, but the words that Lady Amaris had spoken, the way she had looked at her, left her no choice but to follow. She felt her pulse quicken as they stepped out into the cool night air.
The moment the doors closed behind them, Lady Amaris turned to her, her smile turning dangerously seductive.
"Lady Serafine," she said, her voice soft and sweet. "Tell me, does Aurelia know what you truly desire? What you want?"
Serafine tried to speak, but her throat was dry, her mind swirling with a mixture of confusion and something else—something much less saintly.
Lady Amaris closed the distance between them, her hands resting on Serafine's shoulders. "It's okay to want something for yourself, you know."
Before Serafine could react, Lady Amaris leaned in, her lips brushing against Serafine's ear.
In that moment, something snapped inside Serafine. She pulled back, her heart racing. "This is wrong! I'm the Saintess! I cannot—!"
But Lady Amaris only chuckled, her eyes filled with mischief. "We all have our desires, Saintess. You can't deny yours forever."