Chapter 09: Awakened in Her Possessive Arms
The birds' cheerful chirping dragged my mind back from the haze of sleep. Even with my eyes still closed, the morning's cozy warmth pressed in from every side, soft and familiar, like it always did inside the Pope's private chambers deep within the Grand Cathedral of Akadonia. Stone walls draped in heavy tapestries of old demon wars kept the chill at bay, and the faint trace of incense from last night's prayers still hung in the air. Every day started the same—peaceful, quiet, almost too gentle for the weight I sometimes felt pressing down on me as the only male devotee in this entire holy order.
But today something was off. My eyelids refused to lift, heavy with a stubborn laziness I couldn't shake. It felt like one of those freezing winter mornings when you just can't force yourself out from under a heated blanket, the comfort wrapping around your body and begging you to stay. I rubbed my cheek against the thick pillow beside my head, letting the plush fabric soak up the last bits of drowsiness while a lazy hum settled deep in my chest.
The soft, yielding flesh beneath my palm gave way with a gentle squish as I shifted. A sharp little hitch caught in my throat. "Hngh…"
Today, cracking my eyes open felt harder than usual. What was the word for it? Like refusing to leave the warmest spot in bed on the coldest day of the year.
I nuzzled deeper into the pillow, savoring the heavy languor still clinging to my limbs.
"Lirian…" The voice came low and close, wrapped in something I couldn't name right away.
"Yeah…" I mumbled, still floating.
"Time to wake up now…"
"…Huh?"
Hold on. Why did that sound exactly like Vespera Langford?
My eyes flew open and I shoved myself up on one elbow. The soft mound under my hand compressed again, warm and impossibly full.
A needy sound slipped out before I could stop it. "Ah…♥"
"…What?"
My palm rested squarely on the Pope's enormous breast, the weight of it filling my hand completely. The moment our eyes locked, she turned her face away, cheeks blooming red, and offered a shy greeting.
"G-good morning…" Her voice trembled, and she brought her hand to her mouth, nibbling the tip of one finger like she was trying to hold herself together.
"Ah… good morning to you too…"
"R-really…♥"
"Um… could you move your leg a little…"
"Oh…"
Her face flushed an even deeper crimson.
She eased her thighs apart slowly, and the firm pressure that had been locked around my waist began to loosen. A quick glimpse of her inner thigh flashed in my vision, and heat crawled up my neck. I couldn't let my eyes drift lower without feeling utterly mortified by the position we were in.
"…Lirian…"
"Yes…?"
"What… what is this…?"
Her eyes squeezed shut tight.
Something thick and hard strained against the front of my clerical robe, its full shape blatantly obvious where it pressed flush to her lower belly.
"This is… unavoidable, I guess…"
"I-is that so…"
She swallowed hard, golden eyes locked on the bulge like she couldn't look away. Her fingers twisted into the silk sheets, fidgeting restlessly beneath me. The Pope's private chambers fell completely quiet except for the sound of our breathing—thick, heavy, and far too intimate. That awkward silence stretched on and on until I finally managed to slide free and slip out of the room.
I closed the door behind me, leaned against the cool stone wall for a second, and dragged in a deep breath to clear the fog from my head. The corridor outside her chambers smelled of polished marble and distant candle wax, the usual quiet of the Grand Cathedral pressing in around me. I shook myself once, trying to shove the morning's confusion aside, then raised my hand and knocked.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"…Come in." Her answer came a little later than usual, the words carrying a faint tremor.
I pushed the heavy door open carefully and stepped inside. "Good morning, Your Holiness."
I kept my hands folded politely and dipped my head in greeting, then let my gaze settle on her. Vespera looked as breathtaking as ever—long white hair cascading over her shoulders like fresh snow, golden eyes calm on the surface. The only difference was a faint flush still lingering across her cheeks. Nothing else seemed out of place. She must have decided to pretend the morning mishap never happened.
"Then I'll offer the morning blessing…" I said softly.
She nodded. "Please."
Vespera extended her hand, the back of it pale and smooth where it rested in her lap. The ritual always made my face heat up, but I leaned in and pressed a light kiss to her skin.
Her hand trembled just slightly under my lips.
"May the divine's blessing be with you today, Lirian."
"Hehe… thank you, Your Holiness."
She smiled, satisfied, and reached up to stroke my hair. The touch started gentle, but then her fingers drifted lower, tracing the line of my cheek with slow, deliberate care. A warm sigh escaped her as her fingertips hovered right beside my lips.
"…Haa…"
That inner golden light flickered in her eyes again. The memory of this morning's embarrassment flashed through my head—my hand on her breast, the way my cock had pressed so obviously against her. Her stare felt heavier than usual, like it was pinning me in place.
"…Um… Your Holiness?"
"…Y-yes?"
"Did you… change your perfume?"
I steered the conversation sideways as smoothly as I could. The rich, heady scent rolling off her skin was thick and strangely inviting, the kind that made me want to lean in and breathe deeper without thinking.
She answered with a small nod instead of words.
Relief washed through me when her eyes settled back to normal. I let out a quiet breath and gave her my honest reaction. "Your Holiness always smells so nice when I'm close to you!"
"R-really?"
"Yes! It smells amazing!"
"Whew… that's a relief…"
She fidgeted for a moment, then swallowed hard, like she was gathering courage for something important.
"…Lirian."
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
"…Would you like to smell it more closely?"
She didn't wait for an answer. She simply opened her arms wide in invitation. The motion made her massive breasts shift and bounce inside her robes, drawing my eyes before I could stop them.
"Come here, Lirian…"
"Ah… y-yes, of course…"
I heard the faint rustle of my own robes as I moved, reluctant. Bold was one word for it. Overwhelming was another. That was Vespera right now.
"…A little closer…"
"…Alright…"
My fingers twitched at my sides. This already felt close enough…
Still, I forced my feet forward.
"…Lirian."
"Yes?"
Seated in her ornate chair, she patted her knee with clear intent.
She couldn't seriously want me on her lap… right?
She nodded, reading my hesitation perfectly.
"…Then… excuse me…"
I decided to stop overthinking it. I climbed onto her lap and sat stiffly, spine straight, back to her chest because facing her felt impossible right then.
'Did she eat something strange today…'
A hundred thoughts spun through my head. Her open stare. The way she kept pressing closer. Something must have happened yesterday. Otherwise she wouldn't be acting like this…
Then the familiar soft weight settled against my back.
No way…!
I startled and tried to pull away, but her arms snapped around my waist and locked me tight.
"L-Lirian… I'll press really close, alright…"
"…Y-yes!"
"Make sure you breathe in the new perfume properly…"
"Yes!"
That was all she said before she hauled me flush against her, molding every inch of her body to mine. She buried her face in my white hair and dragged in a rough breath.
A long inhale, then a shaky exhale that brushed hot against my scalp. "Mmm… haa…♥"
"…Um… Y-Your Holiness?"
"…Yes…♥"
Two firm, perky breasts pressed solidly into my back. She had asked me to smell her perfume, yet here she was, breathing me in like she couldn't get enough.
My cock—already half-hard from the morning and far too obvious for my petite frame—twitched against the front of my robe. Just a little more friction and it would rise completely. With her rubbing and grinding against me from behind, I was living through the single most dangerous moment of my life so far.
"Hehe… the new perfume really does smell good, doesn't it…"
"Hehe…♥ You think so?"
"Yes…"
"Haa… Lirian smells wonderful too…♥"
"Hehe… th-thanks… ah!"
Her teeth suddenly caught my earlobe in a quick, sharp nip. A jolt shot straight down my spine and my whole body shivered.
What the— Why was she doing this all of a sudden…
"Um… Your Holiness… you can let go now…"
"No…♥"
"Hehe… is there any way I can convince you?"
"Just a little longer… ♥"
"But… we still have to eat breakfast…"
"…Ah…!"
The word breakfast hit her like a spark. She straightened at once.
"L-Lirian, let's hurry and have our meal."
"…Huh?"
"I'll help set the table. Eat quickly."
"Ah, no, you really don't have to…"
I could only stare as plates and silverware lifted on their own, drifting through the air on threads of holy magic and settling neatly in front of us. Her mood had flipped so fast today that I struggled to keep pace.
The breakfast spread looked as lavish as always—warm, crusty loaves of fresh bread still steaming, pats of butter melting into golden pools, slices of rare preserved fruit, and a fragrant herbal tea that Auntie Lorelei had clearly prepared with extra care. I exaggerated my movements a little, leaning forward with wide eyes.
"Mmm…! Auntie Lorelei's cooking really is incredible every single time!"
I said it loud and cheerful, hoping the praise would cut through the tension.
"…Yes…" Vespera's reply came lukewarm at best.
I hurried to change the subject again. "Hehe… the weather looks nice today, doesn't it…"
Still no real reaction. When I deliberately met her eyes, she turned her head sharply away. She was probably too embarrassed to look at me directly.
"Your Holiness… I'm really fine about this morning…"
"Haa… I'm so sorry…"
"I promise I'm okay…"
"…I have no excuse, Lirian…"
Her face burned bright red as she apologized over and over. Seeing her like that made it impossible to stay upset, but I still waited until she swore it would never happen again before I could relax.
"Hmm… so that's why you wanted to hurry with breakfast, Your Holiness!"
"Yes… I kept you from eating properly yesterday…"
"Hehe… thank you for thinking of me…"
"Not at all. I'm the one who should be grateful…"
She must have been carrying the guilt from yesterday the whole time. No wonder she was acting so strangely. We kept talking about small things after that, and bit by bit the awkwardness finally started to fade.
"How was your day yesterday, Lirian?"
"Hmm… the morning was just a blur of patients in the Healing Sanctum…"
"Time passes quickly when you're focused."
"Hehe, I got so many compliments from them!"
"Hehe, I'm proud of you. Anything else?"
"Hmm… let me think… in the afternoon…"
I remembered the knight who had approached me—tall and strong, armor etched with unusual patterns that caught the light, her whole presence solid and loyal like a big guard dog. The memory made me smile without meaning to.
"Oh! I even got asked out on a date!"
Bang!
The loud noise cut through the air. In the next heartbeat I saw a fork driven deep into the wooden tabletop.
"Oh my? There was a bug here."
A small hiccup of surprise left my throat.
Vespera's hand rested calmly on the fork's handle. Her movement had been so fast my eyes couldn't even follow it.
"Hehe, Lirian?"
"Y-yes…"
"Tell me more about that story."
A cold shiver traced down my spine.