Days slipped by before Julianne found himself awake. His head felt as light as a feather floating in the breeze. Blinking against the haze of confusion, his eyes focused on the blurry figure of a man. There was a head priest dressed in a flowing robe that seemed to ripple like water in a quiet stream. He wore fabric adorned with intricate golden embroidery that caught the faint light, shimmering like stars in a twilight sky.

Beside him stood a nun; she appeared to be a fragile wisp of sorrow, her hands clasped tightly to her chest as the air around them felt heavy, wrapping around Julianne like a shroud.

"He's too small and weak for his age."

The nun hesitated to answer.

"Father, thi-this child was actually premature when he was left in front of this place…"

Her voice barely above a whisper, as tears welled in her eyes.

"That's unfortunate."

"How do you plan on surviving with the children next winter? I've heard that this place has barely anything to eat."

Julio, the head priest, spoke as he looked at the nun, her limbs almost skeletal, like a ragged canvas stretched too tight.

"That… I'll find a way, Father."

The nun stated, before their focus shifted when a low groan escaped from Julianne's lips.

Instinctively, the nun rushed to his side, her heart quickening as she caressed his face, her fingers gliding gently over his skin, checking for warmth against the coolness of his forehead.

"How do you feel, child?"

The nun asked as Julianne blinked, his eyelids feeling heavy. 

He then rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his vision, and when the world around him came into focus. There, standing before him, was a middle-aged man. His hair was strikingly long, colored like a dull, stormy cloud, perfectly paired with his mesmerizing emerald-green eyes, deep and vibrant like forest.

"Can a prayer answer everything?"

Julianne asked, looking intently at the head priest in front of him, causing Julio to squint his eyes before a chuckle escaped his lips.

"Haha...ha— as long as you've been a good child."

Julio replied, amusement painted across his face.

"Then, Father...will my sister and brother not starve if I pray?"

Julio's smile faded as he looked at Julianne's straight face. Hearing an unexpected wish from a child caught him off guard, prompting him to glance at the nun as they exchanged a distressed look in their eyes.

"I've heard in town that people need a work to survive!"

He added, innocence reflected in his eyes.

"Sister, let me work at the temple! I'll be good, I promise!"

The priest sighed, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Not anyone can work there."

Julianne bit his lip as the painted expression on his face showed determination, making Julio wrinkle his forehead as if it reminded him of someone who had the same personality of a bull.

"What makes you want to work there?"

In that moment, Julianne's eyes brightened, resembling a puppy eagerly wagging its tail in approval.

"Aside from helping my sister and brother, I—I also want to heal people, Father!"

His eyes sparkled with hope.

A smile then escaped Julio's lips.

"Very well..."

"Hmm...Then, How about being a deacon in the temple?"

"Father, that's-

He raised his hand, preventing the nun to speak.

"You'll be receiving an allowance from the temple, but you WON'T be able to do as you please."

Instead of causing Julianne to back down or change his mind, the words only fueled his determination. His face beaming with glee, opposite to the crumpling feeling gnawed at his chest.

"It's…it's all right, as long as it means my sister won't shed any more tears…"

He whispered, just loud enough for the nun to hear. She then hugged Julianne tightly, her embrace warm yet trembling while tears continued to slip down her cheeks.

"Are you really leaving?"

Julianne nodded, standing in front of the old wooden orphanage with its walls nearly falling apart, riddled with cracks and signs of rot, and the windows were smudged and cloudy, with visible cracked running down the glass.

"We will miss you, Julianne!"

Belle spoke, her voice trembling as she struggled to hold back her tears.

"We'll-HICK! visit you there! Do-don't cry!"

Fred added, wrapping his arms around Julianne while Belle clung to his shirt, pulling him closer.

"Idiot, you're the one crying!"

 Julianne laughed as they said their goodbyes.

For more than ten years, he was trained at the temple, rising through the ranks from deacon to priest. During that time, lot of things happened that puts him in a roller coaster ride....The nun became ill and passed away, while Fred and Belle got married and settled in the village. By his age of 19, Fred had become a farmer, and the orphanage that was once their home was completely abolished by the noble.

"Julianne, brace yourself!"

Royse panicked as he grabbed him by the shoulder.

Julianne stood there, his brown hair cascading like soft waves, catching the light, framing his features with effortless grace, while his honey-colored eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

"I've heard you're assigned to give blessings to the young duke!"

Julianne tilted his head in confusion, trying to grasp his hasty action.

"His Grace Sebastian, that madman!"

His face flushed without him realizing it as Royse continued to babble, panicking with worry.

"Don't be afraid! I know you'll do well!"

He held Julianne's face, who nodded, momentarily lost in thought.

I'm not scared, though—rather, I'm feeling excited!

Well… that's what he thought. But as he walked toward the altar, his hands shook with every step, as if he were walking on thin ice. He then took a silent, deep breath before placing his hands on Sebastian's head, offering a prayer.

My voice is trembling!

Suddenly, he froze in place as Sebastian looked up at him with a frown, causing Julianne to bite his lip in dismay.

When the offering of blessings ended abruptly, Julianne thought they would never cross paths again. With a slumped posture and his chin dipping to his chest, he accidentally stepped on a lighter on the floor. Its luxurious design made him realize to whom it belonged.

"Is this yours?"

Julianne asked as the door opened, revealing Sebastian.

Though his face showed indifference and his voice came off blunt, he was panicking inside. When Sebastian didn't answer, Julianne felt the thick tension in the air, leaving him with a heavy breath and a pounding heart knocking against his chest.

What is this?! Am I getting punished?!

Suddenly, Sebastian laughed, catching him off guard, surely the look on its face was not good for Julianne's heart.

"Pfft- Adorable!"

Sebastian broke the silence, introducing himself with an effortless grace.

"Sebastian Leopold Ashbourne. A pleasure to meet you."

He then paused, leaving Julianne frozen like a statue. As Sebastian leaned in closer, his breath was warm against Julianne's ear, sending a gentle shiver down his neck as the soft tickle of his words brushed against his skin.

"My priestess..."

Julianne felt his heart sprint as his cheeks flared red when Sebastian kissed the edge of his stoles, almost making his heart escape from his chest.

I-I thought he hated being touched?!

...He's nothing like the rumors…

Julianne thought, feeling a rush of relief that seemed to clear up his earlier misunderstandings about Sebastian.

In that heat of the moment, something stirred in Julianne's chest. The suffocating pressure he had felt earlier began to melt away, revealing that the admiration he had felt for him for more than ten years was not just rooted in respect but was a deep affection blossoming within him.

He then found himself smiling back at the young Duke, who returned his gaze with a captivating, bright smile on his lips.

******

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