Scepter of Thorns

Edward went to church again.

In order to make himself more in line with the title of "devout believer", he had to go to pray once a week.But in fact, he is closer to the gods than anyone else, and that man even knows his every move like the back of his hand.

This always reminded Edward of a cunning and experienced hunter, no matter what means the prey used to escape, he could always pursue him until he captured the creature that was still delusional about freedom.He'd skin it, bone it, and use its heart as a medal for himself—although he'd hate to admit it.

He felt that Kylos' feelings were hot and full of murderous intent, and his desire for destruction was stronger than anyone else.Edward could even sense that even when he was immersed in desire, he wanted to kill himself.

The paladins of the temple were already familiar with his arrival, and they bowed deeply, "Lord Daulthus."

Edward walked into the chapel where the nobles prayed. The decoration inside was extremely luxurious and gorgeous, and the clothes of the prayers were in stark contrast.Most of them only wore a plain robe, and even if they saw someone new coming in, they would just glance at them and not come forward to chat.

This made Edward suddenly think of the temples in the human world. When he was the Holy Son, he began to look down at people praying from a high attic. He saw people tortured by poverty, and he also saw wealthy nobles.They gathered here because of the same belief and prayed the same prayer, but their destinies were so different.

Probably since then, he wondered whether the gods really cared about his believers. Faith is a more powerful existence than rule. It provokes wars and divides truth harshly. People are willing to drink this bowl of bitter wine.It paralyzes their spirit and makes them temporarily forget the pain, but what it brings is something deeper than pain, which is engraved in people's souls.

"Lord Edward?" A reminder interrupted his train of thought, "Your Majesty, please."

He nodded slightly, and walked into the deeper part of the temple, which was the most honorable place in the temple—the exclusive chapel for the pope.

The young pope still looked solemn. He knelt on the golden-green carpet, and the heavy crown lowered his head.He tilted his head, and looked directly at Edward with a pair of pure sapphire-like eyes, "We meet again."

"Yes, Your Majesty." He faintly felt that the visitor was not kind, and replied cautiously.

"I was moved by your performance last time." Olando stood up, raised his chin, he had to look up at Edward, "but I heard recently that you have an engagement, or the princess of the royal family?"

"I have already declined, Your Majesty." He frowned slightly, "I didn't expect you to care so much."

"Why not?" Olando said stingingly, "You are the only divine favor in the heavens for many years, and we all pin our bright hopes on you."

Edward stared at the silver-white pillar of salt and remained silent.

Olando looked at Edward with critical eyes, and soon he found a flaw, "Why are you wearing gloves, Your Excellency? Isn't this disrespectful to my god?"

His heart sank, the glove could never be taken off, because the ring that couldn't be taken off was still firmly fixed on his left ring finger.But this position is silently announcing to the people around him that he is married.

damn it.

"Didn't you hear me?" the pope said more severely. "Take off your gloves."

"Sorry, Your Majesty the Pope." He replied hesitantly, "My palm was scratched by the thorns of penance, and I was worried that the blood stains would tarnish the light of my god."

He put his hands behind his back, and pulled down the collar imperceptibly, revealing a little shadow of black thorns.

However, Olando believed in some of these far-fetched reasons. He glanced at the other party's neck, and his expression softened.

Just when Edward breathed a sigh of relief, something brushed against his back suddenly, and his nerves tensed instantly.Olando didn't seem to notice his strangeness, and still questioned him about his beliefs.

Edward was dealing with the Pope, because of excessive nervousness, his body sensitivity was magnified intentionally or unintentionally.His shoulders were wrapped around him, and he tried to catch his breath, trying to look normal.

Yes, that guy...

His forced connivance made the other party worse, Edward even felt his warm breath, and then something caught his earlobe, and the flexible tip of his tongue was flirting wantonly.

Edward's voice trembled slightly, and Olando stared at him suspiciously, but couldn't find anything unusual.

"Does it make you uncomfortable to talk to me?" he asked displeased.

The cold hair ran across his neck, and then gradually fell down.The man kissed Edward's back through a thin plain robe, their identities seemed to be comically reversed, and the gentleness and enthusiasm he treated himself was like a believer worshiping a god devoutly.

"No, His Majesty the Pope." He hastily argued, "Maybe I'm just...well, a little dizzy."

"Dizziness?" Olando glanced at the looming black thorns again, a flash of understanding flashed in his eyes, "You have been practicing penance for too long, Lord Edward."

The butterfly bone on the back was loved|caressed by the slightly cool fingertips, and the wound hadn't healed yet, but his passionate and lovely breathing pleased|pleased the other party.Edward finally started to panic, in order not to expose | he could only find an excuse to go back as soon as possible, but Olando obviously didn't want to let him go so easily.

"You rest here for a while." He pointed to the wooden bench carved with feather patterns, "I have something very important to give you later, I hope you will be full of energy."

Edward had no choice but to go to the bench, and when he wanted to bend over, a pulling force in the void pulled him hard, and his body fell involuntarily to sit on the smooth surface of the chair.However, this was just an appearance, he clearly felt that he was sitting on that person's lap.

Even though this hug was gentle and fitting, he still panicked subconsciously.The left hand wearing the ring trembled slightly in the glove, Edward wanted to close his palms together, but was forced|forced by the opponent's strength, he could only slowly take off the glove, revealing the silver light of the ring.

If Olando looked back at this moment, he would be shocked to find that the person who was supposed to be resting was tense all over, as if he was fighting something invisible.His left hand was twisted at a strange angle in the air, revealing a men's wedding ring with a simple style, as if someone was kissing the silver ring and rubbing|stroking his fingers repeatedly.

But the Pope didn't, he left the chapel with his head held high.Because it is used by the Pope for private use, this is the only place in the temple that does not have any knight guards.As long as the door is closed, any movement will be isolated.

So the culprit became even more unscrupulous, Edward grabbed his sleeve by feeling, and said in a begging tone, "Can you take off the ring?"

"I can't wear gloves forever." He lowered his attitude as much as possible to win the maximum concession from the other party. "Once someone finds this ring, they will punish me."

He waited patiently for a moment, and the strength in his hands did not loosen at all.The other party seemed to think about it, and then took off his belt.

Edward's breathing suddenly became rapid, and some bad memories kept appearing in his mind.When those hands brushed against his desire|desire, Edward suddenly understood what he had not said.

He finally realized that there was nothing he could do.The ring was taken off bit by bit, and together with the evil hand, it reached into the hem of the robe.Edward still couldn't hold back the fear in his heart. He clenched the opponent's hand and almost begged, "Kyle..."

A moment of weakness was exchanged for a more violent attack.He will never know how attractive he is now. His long dark golden hair has long been disheveled, and his usually cold blue eyes are like the surface of a lake that has just melted from ice and snow. luster.The original sacred plain robe was uncovered a little bit, like an opened cake box, revealing the sweetest corner.

The ring touched the peak of desire, and he leaned on the other's shoulder, trembling slightly.But it didn't go in in a hurry, but rubbed against the green part, deliberately teasing|pushing his lust|desire.Only when he bit the fat bait desperately did the man start to move.

"It's too tight... ah!"

The inner side of the ring seemed to be engraved with something, and the rough texture brought greater stimulation.Edward folded his legs subconsciously, and the long hanging hem concealed the ambiguous charm.The cold, restrained feeling locked him firmly, as if he had been marked with some kind of mark.

And now he can only be unlocked by another person, and only belongs to another person.

The long overdue kiss fell on the corner of his eyes, and he had to close his eyes, the blue flowing there seemed to overflow in the next second.The dropped gloves were picked up, and the other party raised his wrists, slowly putting them on.

At last he was alone in the chapel.Edward stood up and walked unsteadily towards the statue of light in front of the pillar of salt. He almost fell beside the pedestal, but his high head was stubbornly looking up at the statue, as if he was seeking salvation.

When Olando pushed open the copper door, the wooden bench was cold and empty, and the blond young man knelt at the feet of the god, with black thorns of penance exposed from his wide open collar.After hearing the Pope's footsteps, he stood up and smiled in the light: "You are back, Your Majesty the Pope, thank you for your understanding, I am much better now."

Olando looked into his eyes, and his sensitivity to light made him notice some subtle changes.Edward's performance was almost flawless, but his smile just made Olando feel uncomfortable, like... a mask.

What about his faith?Olando couldn't help but wonder if he was the same under God's gaze?

"That's good," he replied hastily. "I'll take you to meet a person you may know. Her name is Seronius Tammy."

"I do know this person." Edward walked towards him against the light, his smiling side face shrouded in shadow, sharpening his outline, "And, we have a lot of friends."

----Chapter60. Imprisonment & End----