If it really was about Sister Elsa and Roy crossing the line and getting caught by the Church…
All these nuns could do was sigh in disappointed silence.
—“Elsa, you fool!”
After all, the Radiant Church’s rules weren’t overly strict compared to other faiths.
It only required nuns to preserve their chastity before age twenty, offering pure prayers to the Goddess of Light.
After twenty, they could choose advanced studies—or leave the Church entirely.
The Church would grant such nuns a generous severance.
Enough for Sister Elsa and Roy to buy a countryside estate and raise as many as seven or eight children!
Even in town, they could comfortably raise two or three.
To most, Elsa just needed to endure this final year or so.
Then she could live a life everyone envied with Roy.
She shouldn’t have rushed!
Even if Roy… was such an irresistible temptation!
As the older sister, she should’ve known her responsibility!
Surely Elsa wasn’t the type to toy with a boy’s heart!
In truth, not just the nuns—
Elsa herself felt dazed after hearing the priest’s words.
She wasn’t sure…
whether sleeping beside Roy last night broke the rules.
B-but they’d only shared a bed! Nothing happened!
And how could the Church possibly know such private matters?
Father Amon huffed, displeased by the silence.
“Last night!”
“Someone shamed this Church!”
*Last night?*
Sister Elsa’s head spun. Dizziness washed over her.
Until the priest continued:
“A supposedly pure nun kissed a young boy passionately—*in the church*!”
“Right in front of the city guards! I’m ashamed for you!”
“Their complaint reached the bishop last night!”
“Now the bishop demands I find this unfaithful nun!”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t sneak around!”
“But why make such a scene? Boys are tempting—I know… ahem!”
“I mean, pure youths are treasures we must protect.”
“But your actions disgrace the Church and shame the Goddess of Light!”
“Confess now: Who met a boy secretly atop Saint Aurora Church last night?”
“Confess, and you’ll be treated leniently.”
“Otherwise, I’ll use the bishop’s lie-detection stone—and make you pay dearly!”
Silence answered Father Amon’s threat.
Meanwhile, Elsa’s heart—pounding near her throat—
slowly settled back down.
*Phew… close call.*
Yes, it happened last night.
Between a nun and a boy.
But the rendezvous spot was the *roof* of Saint Aurora Church—the sacred place for first kisses.
Last night, she’d held Roy close in bed. Why would she leave that warmth for a cold rooftop?
She relaxed completely.
Some other nun must’ve grown lonely, sneaking off with a boy… breaking protocol.
And terribly unlucky to be caught by night patrol.
Elsa felt a pang of sympathy for that nun.
Because if it were Roy…
Who could possibly resist him?
N-not that it was Roy, of course.
Impossible.
Roy had slept soundly in her arms all night.
She’d tucked him in tight, even in her dreams…
“No one confesses?”
Father Amon’s patience snapped.
The Church’s reputation had suffered so much that now,
if people saw a priest and nun standing together, they’d whisper:
—“Are they waiting for a little boy?”
*Outrageous!* This was slander!
“Fine. We’ll use the lie-detection stone.”
“You’ll come forward by age—oldest first!”
“Sister Winifred—you start!”
Winifred swallowed hard.
The stone was for interrogating criminals—not honorable nuns like her.
Father Amon held up a dull black rock.
If the holder lied to its questioner, it would glow red and burn their hand.
Trembling, Winifred placed her palm on it.
Before the watching city guard, the priest demanded:
“Winifred! Did you secretly meet a boy atop the church last night?”
“I did not!”
Fearful but firm about her innocence.
The stone stayed cold. She passed.
Tears of relief welled in her eyes.
The next nun stepped up. Same question. Same result.
After two clean tests, the others relaxed slightly.
Until it was Elsa’s turn.
Hearts clenched.
In their eyes, Sister Elsa was already guilty—
the prime suspect who’d “sinned” with a boy!
Not 100% certain, but 80% believed *something* happened between her and Roy.
They prayed it wasn’t *last night*…
If she passed the stone, all would be forgiven!
Under every gaze, Elsa took a deep breath.
She placed her slender hand on the stone, calm.
“Ask, Father.”
Her composure impressed him.
He repeated the question:
“Sister Elsa—last night, did you secretly rendezvous with a boy?”
“…!?”
Her mind blanked.
*This isn’t what I expected.*
Shouldn’t he ask: *“Did you meet a boy atop the church last night?”*
Why did *her* question skip the location…
and just ask if she’d “secretly rendezvoused” with a boy?!
*Disaster!*
Heat flooded Elsa’s palm.
Sweat trickled down the blonde girl’s cheek.
Because she truly didn’t know—
did last night with Roy…
even *count* as a secret rendezvous?
