As I headed down the corridor toward the dining hall, a maid stepped into my path, blocking the way with a polite bow. It was the one with the bright orange hair tied into a tight bun—Kara, if I recalled correctly.
"Pardon me, Priest-sama," she said, her hands clasped over her apron. "The Lady will be taking her breakfast in the garden this morning. Would you care to join her? She specifically requested your company."
"I would be delighted," I replied with a warm smile. "I actually have a favor to ask of her as well."
"Right this way, then."
As she led me through the villa, I took the time to truly look at the architecture. I had glimpsed it yesterday, but in the morning light, the grandeur was undeniable. Julienne had mentioned last night that this estate was a family heirloom. That meant she was the true ruler of this land; her husband was merely a soldier who had married into it.
My mind began to connect the dots. A soldier husband who charmed his way in, parents dead from disease and war, a brother lost to the same conflict. She was the last of her line. And now, that husband was out there, fueling the God of War's engine of chaos in the name of "revenge" for a family he hadn't been born into.
I remembered the subtle scan I'd performed when I touched her hands last night. Physically, she was perfectly capable of bearing children. But there was a spiritual blockage—a heavy, suffocating weight placed there by the God of War. He held her down. He didn't want her to create life; he wanted her husband to keep taking it.
It is the deity that wants to decide everything, I thought, a surge of irritation bubbling in my chest. Maybe he thinks the husband isn't fit to sire an heir. Or maybe he just likes her suffering.
Too bad for him. I'm here now. And she is my target.
We stepped out into the garden. The air was crisp, smelling of blooming jasmine and damp earth. Lady Julienne sat at a round iron table, a cup of tea in her hands and a basket of bread before her.
"Good morning, Lady Julienne," I greeted her, stepping into the sunlight.
She looked up, and I instantly read the story painted on her face. Her eyes, which yesterday had been deprived of desire, now carried the heavy baggage of a sleepless night. There were dark circles she hadn't quite managed to powder away.
As expected, I mused. She stayed up all night watching Pearl and me perform the "healing rituals."
But that wasn't the only thing I noticed. My senses, sharpened by my aquatic nature, picked up something else—a subtle shift in her scent. Pheromones. There was a faint, sweet trace of moisture from her femininity.
The cracks are starting to show, I thought with an inner smirk. Yesterday's goal has been achieved.
"Good morning, Priest-sama," she said, her voice a little breathy. She cleared her throat, straightening her posture. "You look... unusually refreshed today."
I pulled out the chair opposite her. "I had a wonderful sleep last night. And you?"
She startled slightly, her eyes darting away to the rosebushes. "I... well, there was a mountain of paperwork I needed to finish. I ended up staying up quite late."
Liar, I thought fondly.
"Where is Pearl-san?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.
"She tends to get stuck in bed at this time of the morning," I said, keeping my expression perfectly innocent. "My healing process can be quite... draining for my assistant. That is actually why I wanted to ask a favor. Would you be so kind as to assist me today?"
She blinked. "Church work?"
"Precisely," I nodded. "Pearl needs her rest."
"Well," she paused, tapping a finger against her teacup. "I suppose I have nothing urgent today. You did finish most of the critical work at the hospice yesterday. As a token of gratitude... I would love to assist you."
I smiled, leaning in just enough to catch the way her breath hitched. "Wonderful. Do you have a list of people in need of healing? Perhaps those who couldn't make it to the hospice?"
Her expression dimmed. "I do. But they are in the poor district of the village. My husband... he has placed strict laws on the populace. Those who cannot pay cannot afford medication or treatment."
"Poor souls," I murmured.
Just then, Kara arrived with my breakfast. A steaming bowl of rabbit stew, thick with potatoes and spices, was placed before me alongside a loaf of hot, crusty bread. The smell was heavenly, waking the hunger that had been dormant since my marathon session last night.
I rolled up the sleeves of my priestly robes to eat comfortably. As the fabric slid up, revealing my forearms, I saw Julienne's gaze snap to them.
I'm an octopus, yes, but my human form is built for endurance. My arms are toned, corded with muscle from years of swimming against the pressure of the deep. I could practically feel her mind running a fact-check, comparing the arms in front of her to the ones she had seen gleaming with sweat in the moonlight a few hours ago.
"Is there something wrong with my face?" I asked, breaking her trance.
"Oh! No!" She jumped, nearly knocking over her tea. "Please, enjoy your meal."
She rested her elbows on the table, cupping her chin in her hands as she watched me tear into the bread. The facade of the strict noblewoman was crumbling faster than I expected.
"You're a merman, right?" she asked suddenly.
"Yes," I answered, mouth half-full of bread.
"It's the first time I've seen your race. No wonder you had a Mermaid's Tear. What type are you?"
"Octopus," I replied.
"An octopus... I've never heard of a merman like that." She gestured vaguely at my head. "And your hair? It grew back."
"Just enough rest and healing," I lied smoothly. "My hair returns to its shape once I'm recovered. So, back to the poor lost souls..."
She sighed, looking at me with a strange mix of longing and resignation. "I fancy your religion, Priest. It sounds... peaceful."
"Would you like to join us?" I offered, locking eyes with her. "I can baptize you here and now."
For a second, she looked like she wanted to say yes. Then, the shadow of the house—and the man who owned it—fell over her face.
"No," she whispered. "Even if I liked it, I can't. My husband is at war. Losing faith now... it feels like I would be losing him. He fights for the War God. If I stop believing, what protects him?"
"I understand," I said softly.
She shook her head, forcing a smile to return. "So, what else does your hair do aside from healing people?"
I paused, my spoon hovering over the stew. She was feigning ignorance. We both knew she saw exactly what my tentacles did to Pearl last night. She knew how they could stretch, how they could fill, how they could pleasure.
You want a demonstration? I thought. Fine. Let's give you a safe one.
"Allow me to show you."
I didn't move my human arms. I sat back, crossing them over my chest comfortably.
Suddenly, my blue hair writhed and split.
Two tentacles shot out, gripping my teacup and spoon. Another two grabbed a slice of bread and buttered it with precision. But I didn't stop there.
Two more tentacles extended toward the garden bed behind me, gripping a water bucket and a small shovel. They began tilling the soil around the roses, while another tentacle watered them with a gentle spray. The final tentacles deftly plucked several vibrant wildflowers, weaving their stems together with impossible speed.
Julienne watched, wide-eyed, her mouth slightly open. It was a symphony of motion, Eight limbs working in perfect, independent harmony.
I extended the final tentacle toward her, offering the freshly made bouquet.
"For you," I said.
She took the flowers, her fingers brushing against the cool, smooth skin of my tentacle. She looked at the bouquet, then back at me, a strange light in her eyes.
"If you were part of our army," she murmured, "I bet we could win this war in a week. Imagine having ten weapons at once inlcuding your hands... no wonder Pearl calls you 'Ten'."
I stopped eating. The spoon clattered softly into the bowl.
"I have relinquished killing," I said, my voice dropping an octave. "My war is not fought on the battlefield, Lady Julienne."
She looked at me, her cheeks flushing as her mind seemingly betrayed her.
"Your war is fought in... in bed," she blurted out.
Silence hung heavy and thick between us for a heartbeat.
Her eyes went wide. "I—I mean—in people's hearts!" she stammered, correcting herself frantically.
I held back a laugh, simply offering her a knowing smile. "In people's hearts. Exactly."
She stood up abruptly, clutching the bouquet to her chest. "I... I should get prepared. I will accompany you shortly."
"I look forward to it."
As she turned to leave, her step wasn't heavy or annoyed. There was a bounce to it. She was looking forward to it.
Kara stepped back to the table to clear the lady's cup.
"Kara-san," I said, catching her attention.
"Yes, Priest-sama? Do you have anything else you would like to eat?"
I leaned back, stretching my arms. "Bring me the bacon. And the meat. All of it. I need to charge up."
I looked at her, noting the slight dark circles under her eyes too.
"Today is going to be a very busy day," I added, and then gave her a deliberate wink.
Kara turned bright red, practically tripping over her own feet as she hurried back to the kitchen.
Another one who peeked, I thought, taking another bite of bread.
Looking at kara hips sway as he goes to the kitchen
Let's start with this one first, the smile on my face almost expose what i truly looked like