Chapter 545: Gravitas Of Sin

Joy turned another page.

"When you met the florist in Lawdorm, you told her, ’I’m looking for a very specific flower. It’s called a ’Date-with-You.’ Do you happen to have any in stock for Friday night.’"

"And when you met the widow from the hunters guild, you said—"

"Alright, alright!" Cassius cut in quickly, flustered. His usual composure cracked under the barrage. "You’ve made your point, Saintess. No need to read every compliment I’ve ever given."

"Actually, I’ve barely covered half. There’s a lot more."

Joy dryly mentioned which made Maria along with some other nuns curious and they were already planning on taking a look at the file later to read them all.

But Aqua on the other hand was bothered by something else.

"Cassius..." Aqua said, shaking her head. "You’ve really been saying things like that to women?"

Cassius looked at awkwardly. "They sounded better in the moment."

Joy shut the report with a crisp snap. "I doubt that."

Aqua leaned closer to Cassius, her tone teasing.

"But you know what’s strange, Cassius? You’ve said all of that to other women, but not once have you said anything like that to me."

Cassius blinked. "What?"

Aqua puffed her cheeks playfully, feigning offense.

"I’m your beloved older sister! You could’ve at least called me beautiful, or radiant, or something. I mean, come on! You tell a milkmaid that she glows brighter than the moon, but not me?"

Cassius sighed heavily. "I’m not doing this with you again..."

Joy gave the folder to Stella and looked back at Cassius, who was pushing back his sister.

"After the initial greeting." She continued dispassionately. "You typically engage in light conversation. Then, like a hawk circling prey, you find one particular topic—something intimate or sensitive and dive straight into it. You make the woman open up, share her vulnerabilities, and you play the caring confidant."

Her tone remained even, but her eyes were razor-sharp.

"You listen intently, mirror her emotions, express sympathy, and assure her that you ’understand’ and that you’re by her side. You make her feel as though her heart has found sanctuary."

Cassius raised his eyebrows, looking oddly impressed. "That’s...actually quite accurate."

"I know." Joy said flatly. "I’ve read twenty-seven testimonies that describe the same thing."

Cassius sighed under his breath. "You make it sound so manipulative when you say it like that."

"That’s because it is." Joy replied without hesitation. "You wrap your lies in empathy. You turn charm into a weapon."

"You make every woman think she’s special, when in truth, she’s just another mark in your collection."

Cassius smirked faintly, though there was a flicker of discomfort in his eyes. "And what? You think I’m going to try that on you, Saintess?"

"I know you were about to."

Joy said simply and Cassius coin even reply as he really was about to the exact same thing.

Then, she stepped closer, her presence sharp and commanding, the faint glow of holy energy radiating around her.

"But unlike you." She said, her voice dropping low. "I have no need for false greetings or charming lies."

Cassius tilted his head slightly, the smirk returning—but not quite reaching his eyes. "Then by all means, Saintess. Skip the pleasantries."

Joy met his gaze unflinchingly. "Gladly."

She placed a hand over her chest, her voice ringing with authority and divine conviction.

"I am Joy—the Saint of Judgment, the Empress’s Sword, and the vessel of the Goddess’s light."

Her eyes glowed faintly as she spoke, a divine aura radiating around her.

"I have not come here to play chaperone for your sister." She continued, her tone sharp as iron. "Nor to sip tea and exchange greetings."

"I am here under direct orders from Her Majesty, the Empress of the Human Kingdom, to investigate the rumors surrounding you—your supposed debauchery, your dealings with women, your manipulation, and the many crimes whispered in your name."

The air seemed to grow heavier. Even Aqua’s playful grin faded. Maria fiddled with her rosaries.

Joy’s voice was low, resolute. "If the rumors are true...if you truly are guilty of the sins you’ve been accused of...then I, the Hammer of the Goddess, will be the one to deliver divine retribution upon you."

Her gaze hardened, burning like fire.

"And when the Goddess’s light falls upon your soul, Cassius Vindictus Holyfield..."

She said solemnly.

"...your blood will stain her robe."

The moment Joy’s words echoed through the hall, the entire atmosphere shifted.

Tremble!

It was as though the air itself had grown heavy, thick, and oppressive. A faint hum vibrated in the air, like the deep toll of a sacred bell.

Every nun in the room straightened instinctively, their posture firm and dignified, their hands clasped before them as their holy training took hold.

The maids, however, felt an entirely different sensation—one that made their knees weaken and their breath shorten.

This wasn’t just intimidation.

It was divine pressure.

Joy’s blessing, Gravitas of Sin had awakened.

An aura that did not simply command reverence, but exposed guilt.

It made every soul around her feel the invisible weight of their sins—every lie, every selfish thought, every moment of envy—pressing down upon their chest like invisible chains.

For the nuns, who confessed daily, carried little burden and has sepcific training, the aura was cleansing. They stood proud, bright even, basking in the light of righteousness.

But the maids...

They trembled. They hadn’t committed great crimes—perhaps a stolen pastry, a whispered rumor, a jealous glance—but the aura magnified everything.

It twisted minor guilt into heavy shame, making their hearts pound with fear.

A few of them clutched their aprons tightly, eyes wide, struggling to keep from collapsing.

And at the center of it all stood Cassius.

He was the one the Saintess’s judgment was aimed at. The one who should have been crushed under it, suffocated by guilt and shame.

Stella, standing among the others, watched him closely.

She had seen this scene many times before—proud noblemen collapsing to their knees, trembling knights weeping like children, ministers begging for absolution as their sins crushed them to the floor.

Even the Empress herself, rumor said, could only withstand Joy’s aura for ten seconds before faltering under its weight.

So naturally, Stella expected Cassius to crumble.

From everything she’d heard, the endless rumors of debauchery, drunkenness, and sin, he was surely one of the weakest of them all.

’His mind.’ She imagined. ’Must be brittle from excess wine and the company of too many women.’

And yet...

Cassius didn’t even flinch.

He stood there, tall and calm, one hand resting loosely at his side, the other tucked behind his back.

His face was composed, his eyes steady. Not a hint of discomfort crossed his features.

It was as if the divine weight pressing down on everyone else simply didn’t exist for him.

Even the light that surrounded Joy didn’t seem to touch him—it shimmered faintly around his silhouette, then broke apart, dispersing like mist against stone.

Stella’s mouth fell slightly open. She couldn’t believe it. How?

The other nuns exchanged baffled looks as well.

They could feel the sacred energy radiating stronger than usual, Joy was clearly increasing its intensity.

But still, Cassius stood unshaken, looking at the Saintess as though she were delivering a sermon in another language.

Even Aqua, who had been ready to step in to protect her ’timid little brother’ froze mid-step.

She expected him to be trembling, apologizing, or at least averting his eyes.

But instead, he was standing tall, utterly unfazed.

Maria, too, was astonished. The man who had just been blushing shyly in her arms was now a completely different person exuding quiet authority.

Joy’s frown deepened.

Her fingers twitched as she subtly increased the power of her blessing, pouring more pressure into the room. The air tensed further; the faint hum of holy light grew louder, almost tangible.

Still...nothing.

Cassius’s expression didn’t change. His heartbeat, his breathing steady and unbothered.

The realization irritated her deeply.

No one had ever resisted her aura like this. Even the Empress had faltered.

And yet here stood this man—this accused womanizer—looking at her like she was nothing more than a curious nuisance.

’Impossible.’ She thought. ’Either he has never sinned...or his mind is far beyond mortal measure.’

But no—that couldn’t be right.

The Goddess herself had revealed him as a sinner. There had to be guilt buried deep within him.

So why couldn’t she sense it?

She intensified her focus again, ready to push harder—but just as she was about to, Cassius finally moved.

He raised his gaze slightly, meeting hers directly and his expression shifted—no longer calm, but sharp.

His crimson eyes glowed and the quiet air of warmth he’d once had was replaced by something colder.

"...I don’t know what you’re doing."

He said softly, but his voice carried through the room like steel against glass.

Every maid, every nun, froze, as Cassius took one slow step forward, his eyes narrowing.

"But I’d appreciate it if you stopped."

The divine light around Joy flickered faintly.

"I don’t take kindly..." He continued, his tone calm but edged with unmistakable warning. "...to anyone who makes my maids feel uncomfortable."

His eyes briefly shifted to the trembling women by the walls, then back to Joy.

"You may think your power gives you the right to weigh their hearts, Saintess. But if you continue, I will take action against you and..."

"...I can’t promise that everyone will be leaving here all their limbs intact.

A chill ran down everyone’s spine.

It was absurd, laughable even.

A mere nobleman threatening the Saintess of Judgment herself?

Normally, such a statement would be met with scorn or laughter.

But no one laughed.

Because there was something in his voice—something heavy and dangerous that made their instincts scream at them not to move, not to speak.

The nuns instinctively gripped their weapons.

Joy herself stiffened. She could feel something—not holy, not divine, but overwhelming.

A force so raw that even her Goddess’s light seemed to crack faintly at the edges, like fragile glass under pressure.

It didn’t make sense. Her blessing came directly from the Goddess. Nothing mortal could resist it—let alone break it.

And yet, standing before her, this man—this Cassius Holyfield—radiated an aura that made even her protective light waver.

It wasn’t demonic or unholy...it was something else. Something older. Something she couldn’t comprehend.

For a moment, she actually felt a flicker of fear.

Then she saw the trembling maids and realized what was happening. He’s right. Her blessing had gone too far, and the innocent were suffering for it.

With a soft breath, Joy raised her hand and dispelled the aura.

Instantly, the oppressive weight vanished. The air lightened, the maids gasped in relief, and the faint divine glow around her dimmed to a soft, holy shimmer.

Joy then turned to them, her expression softening with genuine regret. She bowed her head slightly, placing a hand over her chest.

"My apologies." She said sincerely. "I did not mean to drag you into that. The blessing...is difficult to restrain at one single place once invoked."

She looked at each of them with visible guilt.

"You have done no wrong, and you should not have been made to feel as if you had."

"Please...find it in your hearts to forgive me."

The maids blinked in surprise.

Someone in her position could’ve just ignored them entirely and they were used to other in extremely high positions such as hers doing the same.

But she actually apologised and even bowed her head, something that one with her status would only do for the Empress herself.

Cassius, however, simply watched quietly. His expression was unreadable again. But his eyes glinted faintly with something like...respect.