On the other side.
Sylvia wrapped around Roman’s body and temporarily settled in the Cathedral where Bianca was.
At this time, Bianca was already preparing to head to the Holy City, so tonight, only she and Roman were in the Cathedral.
After landing, Roman felt dizzy and almost threw up.
Supporting Roman’s weak shoulders, Sylvia patted his back, silently and gently comforting him.
She had to admit, this child really looked so much like Lainie. Except for the white flower in his right eye, his features were almost carved from the same mold as Nanny’s, making her unconsciously treat him as tenderly as she would Lainie.
“Who exactly are you?”
After a long while, Roman finally caught his breath and asked softly.
“Didn’t I already say?”
“My name is Sylvia—full name, Sylvia Odeshu Fank.”
Sylvia replied calmly, looking down at Roman’s face with a hint of thoughtfulness.
Roman then recalled the first words the woman had said to him when they met.
“You can also call me Holy Throne.”
“Holy Throne?”
If he remembered correctly, Holy Throne was the honorific for the Pope.
“Mm.”
Sylvia nodded slightly, acknowledging Roman’s way of addressing her.
Roman found it absurd from the bottom of his heart—the Pope of the Holy Light Church, the Holy Throne to whom even kings and emperors of the continent had to bow, just appeared before him like this.
Logically, she was someone he could hardly ever interact with, perhaps not even in his entire life, yet today, at such a crucial moment, she had suddenly appeared and saved him.
He studied the woman before him—beautiful golden hair tied up, exquisite and radiant features, untouched by the passage of time.
Instead, she possessed an air of regal elegance.
Moreover, the longer he gazed at Sylvia, the more dazed he became.
She did not have Lady Catherine’s mature charm, nor Luo Xiya’s youthful vitality.
But she seemed to strike a balance in between.
The flourishing Sylvia had early on stepped into the ruling class, which gave her a detached air toward worldly things.
Sylvia naturally noticed Roman’s absent-minded look.
The corners of her mouth involuntarily curled into a joyful, shallow smile.
Back then, Laini wasn’t just beautiful, but also clever like a little fox.
Having dealt with her, Sylvia had been firmly under her grasp.
Even if there were sweet moments between them, she had never shown such a silly expression.
“Why did you take me away?”
Roman suddenly spoke, interrupting her thoughts.
Sylvia had long since projected her feelings for Laini onto Roman, and she smiled gently.
“Otherwise? Were you going to continue staying with that woman?”
Sylvia herself meant nothing special by these words; she merely meant that Lady Catherine was already fine.
However, Roman misunderstood.
“……”
Roman really wanted to say, what does it matter to you what I do? In the end, he asked tactfully,
“How is the Noble Lady now?”
His first reaction afterward was concern for Lady Catherine’s condition.
Then he felt a chill all over, as Sylvia’s indifferent gaze locked onto him, giving him the instinctive feeling that she might tear him apart in the next second.
Fortunately, this sensation only lasted about a second before Sylvia spoke.
“She’s fine now. There’s no need for you to worry.”
After a few seconds, Roman finally responded in a low voice.
“Oh.”
At least from earlier, both Lady Catherine’s Curse and the Supernatural Being possessing her had been completely eradicated. She had indeed been helping him, so he chose to believe her words for now.
Sylvia observed Roman’s silent, downcast figure, knowing he had already begun to fear her.
This made Sylvia feel a surge of irritation again.
This child was just too good at stirring her heartstrings.
Should she say, truly worthy of being Laini’s child? Every word and gesture carried a trace of Nanny’s charm.
Combined with that face, it just felt wrong to hear him express concern for Lady Catherine.
And to have Nanny’s child be afraid of her—just the thought was suffocating.
“Don’t be afraid. I won’t do anything to you.”
Sylvia did her best to stroke Roman’s hair with the poise of an elder, speaking earnestly.
“I knew your mother.”
These words finally made Roman lift his head, his expression bewildered.
In his memories, “his” mother had always been alone and helpless.
Not to mention acquaintances—even those willing to interact with someone as cursed as her were rare.
“Not only that, I was once the most important person to your mother.”
Sylvia said with deep emotion.
“What was your relationship with my mother?”
Roman asked.
Then, to his surprise, Sylvia’s expression showed a trace of conflict.
After a moment’s pause, she closed her eyes and replied,
“You should have heard a rumor about me, right?”
Roman recalled the rumors about the Pope.
He thought for a while, and suddenly, his eyes widened.
If memory served, there was indeed a rumor about the Pope.
That the Pope once had a female lover.
“Remembered?”
Sylvia leaned in closer to Roman’s face.
A faint fragrance wafted to his nose, and Roman instinctively stepped back.
The Pope was supposed to be a figure of supreme authority.
Who would have thought she’d act so frivolously?
“My mother was your…”
Roman didn’t finish the last two words, feeling it would insult the deceased lady.
“It’s not as exaggerated as outsiders say. Your mother and I were just the best of friends.”
Sylvia said with a faint sense of regret.
Then, she looked at Roman more seriously than ever.
“All because of my negligence, your mother was lost, and you became a commodity for the Nobility.”
“From now on, I will make it up to you—properly.”
“Thank you, but I don’t need it.”
Summoning his courage, Roman looked up at Sylvia.
The atmosphere instantly cooled.
Sylvia frowned slightly and asked calmly,
“Why?”
“Because… I’m already living well now.”
Facing Sylvia’s piercing gaze felt like being pricked by needles, but Roman forced himself to reply.
“Living well?”
Sylvia suddenly chuckled.
She laughed softly, closing the distance between them step by step.
Sylvia’s pressing presence made Roman retreat unconsciously, but she moved like a wolf toying with its prey, slowing down each time she drew near.
Finally, when Roman backed up to the steps, he inevitably stumbled, his body falling uncontrollably backward.
Just as he shut his eyes tightly in fear, his trembling lashes fluttered—and he felt himself caught in a soft, fragrant embrace.