SWNOVELXO chapter 238
Chapter 238. For some reason, it doesn’t feel like the first time here
Meanwhile, on the other side, the Royal Capital.
Valentina was sitting at a roadside stall, alone, drinking the beverage that Noah used to drink.
She seemed somewhat lonely.
It’s so lonely, really.
She could feel the attention her god-sama had been giving her lately had noticeably dropped off.
She knew full well he was off looking at that shameful nun-miss.
At first, she thought she could hold out until that nun-miss self-destructed, but she was finding it more unbearable than she’d imagined.
Because she *so* wanted to be showered with affection by her god-sama again~
Maybe she should just take the initiative; it might be kind of thrilling to act all disgusted while making the first move~
At that thought, a feverish smile touched the princess’s lips. She was recalling that wonderful memory.
But then the thought of her god-sama looking at someone else killed the nascent smile immediately.
Her expression, while managing to remain blank instead of outright turning dark, had lost all its light; her violet eyes were hollow, as if something was missing, and she radiated a potent aura of danger.
–No, no, calm down, you’ve already set things in motion, just a little more patience.
But this princess, who was just a hair’s breadth away from sprouting dragon wings and tail right there in broad daylight, managed to hold back at the last second.
She elegantly brought the drink to her lips, savoring its sweetness.
There was only one reason the princess was able to restrain herself, and that was because she’d already started making moves behind the scenes.
She’d carefully chosen a pawn to accelerate her god-sama’s disillusionment with the nun-miss.
Just as she was setting down her drink, the waitress who had been serving other patrons under the umbrellas outside came over to her.
“Princess Valentina, everything is arranged, they’ve begun their operation.”
But when the waitress spoke, it wasn’t to ask if Valentina needed anything; it was more of a report from a subordinate, and a rather cryptic one at that.
Valentina had deliberately requested this kind of vague communication, because if she could help it, she didn’t want her god-sama to know she was the one pulling the strings.
“…I understand. Then I’ll be patient a little longer, I hope they don’t disappoint me.”
Valentina didn’t react with any particular emotion; she responded to the report with a detached tone, like she’d heard a very ordinary message.
After saying this, Valentina took another small sip of her drink, looking like any normal customer.
And the waitress, who was actually a disguise of Marl’s subordinate, gave Valentina a slight bow before returning to the cafe to continue working.
Marl, who had once been condemned to death, was now back to operating in the shadows, thanks to Valentina’s protection.
The waitress was a new recruit of Marl’s.
Although Valentina was also meeting her for the first time, she seemed capable enough, so she was relieved.
The reason they were being so cryptic was to keep outsiders from knowing what was going on; and for Valentina, most importantly, she didn’t want Noah to find out she was stirring trouble.
Because she couldn’t stand the nun-miss stealing the attention that was rightfully hers, she secretly visited high-ranking church officials, asking them to investigate the nun-miss and such.
She really was wicked, doing something like this.
So that’s why I don’t want to be known by the God.
…But what if I really *was* found out?
Wouldn’t it be nice if she got angry and violated me, this bad princess who goes against the will of the God? ❤~
“Hehe… don’t blame me, Miss Clotilde. Blame yourself for not being able to handle that affection, the God’s love is too heavy, you can’t grasp it, so let me do it instead♪~”
The princess murmured these joyful words, only audible to herself, as if she was already envisioning Noah’s utter disappointment in the nun.
A suggestive smile curved the corners of her mouth. The princess continued to sip her drink, enjoying her leisurely afternoon tea, waiting like a puppet master for things to conclude.
…
Back in the underground streets of the pleasure district, the nun, still unaware of the princess’s plot against her, was busy searching for any news about Noah.
“Eh? A black-haired, handsome man, looking both carefree and wild, self-centered and looking down on others? Hehe, what’s that, Miss Nun, your standards are really high. Our shop only serves men, you know? But, if there was a man like that, I’d pay to visit him myself.”
A cowgirl in a cow-print bikini giggled behind her hand at the entrance of a pleasure shop, her gaze towards Clotilde filled with understanding.
If there was a hottie like that, she would definitely be happy to pay for him.
“Eh? N-no, that’s not it. I wasn’t asking if you have staff like that. I was asking if you’ve *seen* someone like that.”
Feeling misunderstood, Clotilde quickly shook her head with a wry smile, explaining she wasn’t there to hire anyone.
Seriously, why did they think she was a customer? Wasn’t she wearing a nun’s outfit?
“Oh, is that so? So you are looking for a lost companion who is that handsome? How enviable~”
When the cowgirl’s suggestive gaze lingered on her chest and the black thigh-high stockings under her nun’s habit.
Clotilde felt a little embarrassed for some reason.
“W-why would you be envious… never mind. If you haven’t seen him, I’ll be going now.”
So she quickly said goodbye, her face slightly red, to the misunderstanding clerk and hurriedly left the shop’s entrance.
She had spent half an hour searching now, asking many people, but had received no news of Noah.
Instead, many people mistook her for a customer.
“Sigh…”
Feeling weary, Clotilde softly sighed.
Come to think of it, this was supposed to be an area clearly opposed by the Church.
But when she had asked the people if they had seen Noah, she felt that other than the excessive revealing outfits, the workers’ minds were not corrupted in any way.
Some of them were even enjoying themselves, as if they liked that kind of work.
Not believing in the goddess was one thing for the other races, but even human women were like that.
Perhaps, if they actually tried to banish all the pleasure shops, that would make them think people were meddling in their business.
—A chaotic world needs such chaotic places for balance… is that it?
Clotilde looked into the distance at the remaining half of the street, wearing an expression that suggested she was deep in thought.
She might be able to understand, a little, why this place had always existed.
……
……
PS. Second update of the day.