Meanwhile, the Cardinal and the Pope were left inside the Sacristy, after they discussed the relief goods that were to be given to the poor commoners in the village. The Cardinal should have also left after the discussion, but he chose to stay inside to asked something to the Pope.

"Your Holiness, why would you volunteer to give a blessing to that impertinent child? Is it because he's the son of the Hero? We all know that the Fourth Emperor is not the only hero and—"

"ENOUGH!" the Pope roared in his deep and intimidating tone while frowning at the Cardinal. "*cough* What if someone hears your filthy tongue? *cough* You know well that if you finish your sentence it can be a threat to the Emperor and *cough* to us," he added while coughing.

"I apologize, your Holiness. I was just confused about the things you said to the Prince earlier and I can not seem to understand anything," the Cardinal comprehended.

The Pope tries to clear his throat again before clarifying everything "I am resigning as a Pope. And I specifically choose the Prince's Beautillion Ball to announce my retirement, *cough* since a lot of nobles are attending along with the other nations so it would be the best option *cough*"

"But, Your Holiness you have managed to maintain your good health and strong mind, therefore your resignation is too early. Primarily, we need to conduct a poll to take your succession before you announce your resignation to the public."

"*cough* There is no need for such polls and *cough* voting for someone as good as you to succeed my title. I, Pope Shimura *cough* will proclaim Cardinal Orochimaru as my next successor for the next Pope of the Otsutsuki Temple at the Prince's beautillion ball," he declared making the Cardinal surprised. He cannot believe what he just heard. The title he wanted to attain for so long is finally at his grasp.

The Cardinal stands up from his chair and bows in front of the Pope. "It is an honor to receive the title of the Pope by the Pope itself. I, Cardinal Orochimaru would never disappoint, your holiness. I will not abuse and violate my position for my own benefit and I will improve the ordinances of the temple as well as the support for our people."

The Pope smiled happily at the Cardinal whom he considered like his own son who is now literally receiving his title.

"Very well, you can go ahead, and don't forget to thank god Hagoromo for this blessing." He dismissed the Cardinal and continued his praying at the Sacristy while the Cardinal bowed at him before leaving the Sacristy.

The Cardinal closed the door slowly before grinning maliciously like he violently succeeded something. Then, he starts walking to the Garden of the Goddess Kaguya. When he spotted the red-haired girl in front of the statue of the Goddess he immediately hugged her from behind, like she was his lover. It startled her but instead of taking off the Cardinal's hand on her waist, rather, she touched it gently and looked up at him.

"Orochimaru-sama, is there something wrong?" she started.

"Everything is happening according to our plan".

"What do you mean?"

"I have good news!"

Orochimaru let go of his hand around the red-haired waist and took off her wig finally showing her pink silky long hair. Then, brushed his hand around her hair running through her hanfu face veil. After untying it, he put his hand on her cheeks and stared at her dazzling emerald eyes.

"You look more attractive this way, Hime," he said while touching her cheeks. "You were right. I don't need to shed any more blood to attain my goal. In addition, that sick old man will make my introduction as a Pope grander than the Prince".

"You mean, Holiness Shimura-sama will announce your title at the Prince's beautillion ball?"

"Precisely!" he said while taking off his hand on her cheeks and staring at her beauty. "Moreover, after I became a Pope, you will now be able to carry off your first step on rebuilding your Kingdom and finally seize your moment for vengeance," he added while wearing his evil smile.

The pink-haired girl stared at the golden eyes with slitted pupils of the Cardinal who is soon to be a Pope with a worried look. The Cardinal noticed it and he hated to raise a question about it since he knew every time she looked at him worriedly, it simply meant she knew what he was scheming.

"Don't look at me like that. You already know that I won't shed any more blood...for now, I guess?" he added while rolling his eyes.

"I can see your aura with evil intent. You are planning on killing the Pope," she said with her worried look, still staring into the Cardinal's eyes.

"You always amazed me with the powerful visions you possess, your highness. Anyway, you guessed it right, you know very well that the only person who also figures out your secret is that old man. That is why we need to eradicate him. Besides keeping your secrets locked safely, you must not let anybody make a duplicate key for you, rather you must annihilate. that. key." he advised while whispering to her ears before grinning widely.

The Cardinal noticed the Princess looking back at the Goddess Kaguya Statue just on their right side. She looked at it with her straight face before speaking.

"Pope Shimura-sama still has time to treat his illness. But if it was neglected, then he would die on the same day at the Prince's beautillion ball. Then, if that happens you will be the suspect," she said still wearing her straight face.

"What?! How would you know that?" he asked with his wide eyes while snickering like crazy at what the Princess had just told him.

"I saw it in my visions," she answered.

"Then, why would I be the suspect? They don't have any evidence...".

"The Pope has it," she answered making the Cardinal look at her with wide eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"The Pope doubted you, ever since. So he gathers all the information unveiling your immoral and corrupt way of being the Cardinal. He had it in his secret place."

"That old man!" he scowled while gripping his hand.

"However, you can get the key by earning his favor and trust to make you his official inheritor of that secret room." she finished.

"And now, I thought my goal had already been progressing according to my plan. Yet, the Gods are against it" he mumbled.

The pinkette looks back at the Cardinal who is now panicking while holding his head and laughing like crazy. Whereas, the future can still be changed and the Cardinal knew that the Princess could help him. However, he's anxious to ask for it because there is a consequence to every change you make in the future and it may affect his plan.

"I apologize for saying it without giving it some thought, Orochimaru-sama. Nonetheless, we still have time to change his fate."

"But if we do that there is a consequence," he added while feeling anxious about his future.

"We can't change the consequences since they can't be avoided, but we can change the outcome," she explicates making the cardinal calm to all of his worries.

"Then, what if the outcome may affect my plan..."

"Don't worry Orochimaru-sama. Your plan is excluded from the consequences. I, myself would be the one who will be affected by the change," she said with a straight face without worrying anything about offering herself to receive the consequences instead of the Cardinal. "On top of that, the consequences I will receive are too little for the things I owe you".

The cardinal can't help himself but smirk at what the Princess had said.

"Very well. On the other hand, what would you do to the Pope to stop his death?" he asked with curiosity.

"I apologize in advance, Orochimaru-sama because it is confidential. For you to avoid being affected by the consequences I must keep it a secret to merely myself. However, do not worry because I'll take care of the rest," she specified while the Cardinal was feeling pleased with her statement, but at the same time feeling a little distrustful.

The Cardinal reached the princess's hand and kissed it. "This is the reason why I can't let you go, Hime. It feels like we're lovers helping each other in our ups and downs," he whispered again to her ears before licking it. The Princess didn't do anything but accept the seduction from the cardinal. He played his tongue all around her ears until it became hot and rosy. When he felt the temptation of the princess directly to her ears he slid his hand down her back until it reached her bottom and held it. While feeling enticed by the princess's smell and body. He got distracted when he saw a footprint on the floor not far from them. He stops what he is doing to the Princess and walks to the footprint and takes a look once more to ensure that he is right that the footprint belongs to a man.

"Did someone come in here?" he asked before gazing upon her beauty again.

"Yes, but they did not see me,"

"Are you sure?" he asked while frowning at the footprint.

"Yes".

"That's not quite a specific response I would like to hear, Hime," he said while frowning at her.

"I certainly hide immediately in the bushes so they wouldn't catch a glimpse of me," she explained.

"Exactly, because you know very well what is indicated in your prophecy. And I hate to witness another man taking a glimpse of your beauty. Because I want it all, MINE!" he said, wanting her in his possession like she was some kind of a gem that he owned only for himself.

The Cardinal was diverted in his thoughts of jealousy when a Deacon entered.

"Pardon my intrusion, your eminence. There is a letter sent to you by the mercenary king asking for guidance," he said while bowing making the Cardinal smirk at the message and set aside his worries about Mens catching a glimpse of her gem beauty more importantly.

"Alright, are the letters already at my chamber?"

"Hai, your eminence. I put it on your table,"

"Good, then I'll entrust you to take the Princess to her home safely, Kabuto" he instructed. The deacon nodded before the cardinal kissed again the Princess's hand and placed his face to her left ear whispering. "Don't forget to take care of the rest, my princess," he reminded her before leaving the two in the garden.

The Cardinal doesn't need to feel jealous of his deacon since he already knew that his loyal pet who wants to earn power more than anyone, would never betray his master.

The Princess waited for the Cardinal to leave the garden completely before touching her ears wearing a dull expression. The Deacon noticed it so he decided to hand over his white handkerchief that had an Otsutsuki temple symbol stitched below the right side of it. She is surprised at the deacon's offer, but she shakes her head and refuses to take the handkerchief.

"Even now, you still turn down my help," he complains still handing out his handkerchief to the Princess. "I told you it is not too late to change your mind.". She only snickered at what the Deacon had said and noticed it.

"What are you snickering about?"

The Deacon that entered the Garden was the loyal dog of the Cardinal which is why it is hard to believe that he was helping the Princess on his own accord. He also didn't indicate an honorary title to the princess since that is what the Princess told him. That he should be casual with her when they're alone.

"Thank you for the offer. But, shouldn't you look at your situation first, before offering me your help?" she added while smiling at him, currently starting to feel delighted at the atmosphere.

"What?, I couldn't understand what are you implying?"

"I mean, why would the pet who is locked by his cage is giving the key to someone else?"

"Can you stop with the metaphor it reminds me of his eminence and it gives me the chills. By the way, that was rude of you," he scoffed while crossing his arm making the pinkette laugh at his childish reaction. He can't help but smile at her laugh.

"I'm glad you're now smiling," he said while pushing his glasses back up his nose then looked at the Kaguya's statue.

"Don't tell me that you're here again to resent the Goddess?" he added knowing the Princess's intention of why she always visits this Garden.

"You know me very well," she said while giggling.

"By the way, I'll show you something before sending you home. And, please don't tell it to his eminence." he implores while placing his finger to his lips.

"What are you going to show me?" she asked curiously.

"Of course, it's a secret and I am sure you would like it," he said while smiling. The princess couldn't help but guess what it was.

"What are you still standing in there?" he asked while looking back at the pinkette who was lost in her thoughts.

She put back her wig and hanfu face veil before following the ash-grey hair deacon toward the secret place his talking about.

When they're outside the temple the deacon halted then looked back at the princess and gave his handkerchief.

"You need this, hime," he said now using an honorary title to her since they are now outside and his master might notice him getting close to his precious possession. Even though he knows she is his Master's possession he cannot help but admire her remarkable beauty.

After giving his handkerchief he runs to the front of the temple and after a second he gets back with a horse.

"Is this what you want to show me?" she asked. But before the deacon opened his mouth to answer her question she cut in and said "She is so cute. It's been a while since I saw a Trakehner*. Now she reminds me of Arion. Oh, how old is she? Was she a Mare, no probably a filly?" she cheerfully said while rubbing gently the horse's chin. He can't help but snicker at the princess who looks like a child witnessing a horse for the first time. Truthfully, she is indeed a youngster since she is still fifteen years old, but her past made her more mature than her initial age.

(N/A: Trakehner is a horse breed. While Mare and Filly is a term to identify female horses in their age. Filly is used to address female horses who are less than 5 years old. While Mare is more than 5 or some say it is more than 6 years old.)

"Actually, this is not what I am gonna show you, but seeing you this cheerful because of my horse. It feels like my surprise has already been wasted," he said dramatically while pretending to wipe his eyes like they had some tears on them. The princess smacked his shoulder annoyingly at his acting. He can't help but snicker at her cute frown.

"I'm sorry, you are just so cute when you're being teased" he mumbled. "Anyway, I'll introduce you to Yurii along the way. Hold my hand". He reached out his hand to the Princess so she could get on the horse's back. She grabbed his hand and sat at the back of the horse comfortably. The Onyx eyes of the deacon are still locked by her bright emerald eyes from his back waiting to be held by her on his waist. The princess got distracted from her gleaming eyes while rubbing the horse's hip when Kabuto 'hem' at her getting her attention.

The princess raised her eyebrows at the deacon's signal that she couldn't comprehend.

"Uhm,..." he uttered while flushing slightly, feeling embarrassed at the position. He has been with a lot of women when he was a knight before. But he never felt this kind of feeling when being close to a female. His heart was beating so fast and the only thing he could think of was how stunning and mesmerizing her beauty even though it was hiding behind her face veil.

"Kabuto-san, are you alright?" she asked while waving her hand in front of his face worriedly, who was just staring at her like time had stopped.

"Oh, ah...sorry. I was mesmerized by your beaut-. I mean at the tree look the tree is so beautiful!" he said while laughing forcefully getting back to his usual self.

"Yeah, it is," she answered while forcing herself to smile. She doesn't want to admit that this deacon is starting to fall for her because she doesn't want another man to be involved in her curse. But she can't help it because as long as she is alive, no man can resist her alluring beauty. That is why she is disguising to hide her face and her identity as well.

He didn't notice the change of expression from the princess because he was too busy being embarrassed by himself. He looked in front of him and sighed before saying what he wanted to say earlier.

"Hold my waist or you might fall," he finally said. The Princess hugged his abdomen like it was just normal to her, while the deacon just smiled and flushed before proceeding to the place he was talking about.

Priests or Preachers doesn't ride a single horse since they only rode inside the carriages to go to places and spread the words of the Gods of the Otsutsuki temple. They're allowed to ride a single horse, however, it is dangerous to them since they are priests, who only know how to spread the word of the Gods from the scriptures. Especially, a lot of priests had fragile bodies. However, Cardinal Orochimaru and Deacon Kabuto are an exception. Before they became Priests they were mystic knights* of the Konoha which serves to protect the people from the monsters and dragons outside and inside the Konoha. Thereafter, the two important and powerful mystic knights suddenly went missing for over one year, then unexpectedly came back and were rumored to be saved by Pope Shimura. Instead of going back to their usual job as a sorcerer they choose to study becoming a priest to worship and serve the Gods who they consider as their savior.

(N/A: Mystic Knights are knights also called sorcerers who can wield a sword and magic.)

Meanwhile, the Deacon and the Princess are still talking about the horses and then suddenly she gets interested when the Mercenary Group called Akatsuki is mentioned by Kabuto in his story of how he got Yurii his mare Trakehner from the mentioned organization.

"So it means you obtained Yurii from a mercenary organization called Akatsuki?" she asked while staring at the deacon's back.

"Yes, but not for free,"

"Why does it feel like you and Orochimaru-sama are on good terms with the Mercenaries?" she asked.

"Hmm, good terms is not actually a particular phrase to use to describe our relationship with them," he said while looking up at the night sky. The Princess focused on Kabuto's ash-grey hair intensely waiting for his next response. "Let's see, our relationship with them is likely similar to the two of us with His Eminence". He said while tilting his head to point at the Princess.

"How?".

"Because we can gain advantage and benefit from each other."

"You're mistaken," she mumbled to herself. Kabuto heard it so he stopped the horse and looked back at her.

"What? Did you say something, Hime?" he asked while staring at her with a confused look. She looked at him with a straight face before answering.

"I said, your wrong and mistaken about my relationship and your relationship with Orochimaru-sama. You choose to be with him because you want power and authority. Which is similar to the Akatsuki's. While mine is completely different, because I have debt that I still need to pay to him," she finished looking seriously at him unlike the usual Princess Kabuto is familiar with.

"I see" is the only word he utters feeling a bit unusual on the princess, before resuming to the place he will take her.

After a second, the horse halted in the middle of the forest alarming Kabuto that someone was hiding behind those bushes. He held his dagger's handle behind his chest robe and he was gonna get it to use as their protection, but the Princess held his hand stopping him from showing his sharp object.

"Don't show it, they have arrows. Let's just wait for them to show up," she whispered. Kabuto let go of his dagger behind his robe and waited for the bandits to show up as the Princess advised. They did show up after a minute passed. The Bandits that showed up from the ambushed were not as many as Kabuto had expected. He expected that there would be at least seven bandits hiding behind those bushes around them but regardless of his expectation, the number of bandits was still too many for him to handle. The bandits consist of five members, two men are carrying an arrow and a bow behind them, while the other three are holding a curved sword.

They all look dangerous and the only weapon Kabuto has is his dagger. It is not enough for him to protect the princess. So what should he do?

To be continued...

***

~Credits to the owner of the picture from Pinterest ~