Garden of May — Chapter 14

THERE, THERE. DON'T CRY.

I'D FORGOTTEN MY FIANCÉ IS STILL YOUNG ENOUGH

TO HAVE SUCH A CHILDISH SIDE.

WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER?

MY APOLOGIES, MY LORD,

BUT SPREADING ONE'S LEGS TO LOOK INSIDE IS NOT MY METHOD.

THAT SORT OF THING IS BEST LEFT TO PHYSICIANS.

MY METHOD TO ASCERTAIN A YOUNG LADY'S PURITY

INVOLVES A SINGLE DROP OF THIS HOLY WATER.

IF SHE IS A VIRTUOUS WOMAN WHO HAS NOT KNOWN A MAN,

THE HOLY WATER WILL BEAD UPON HER SKIN.

BUT IF SHE IS IMPURE,

IT WILL SIMPLY RUN DOWN HER SKIN INSTEAD.

OF COURSE! WE MUST LEAVE SOME PLEASURE FOR THE HUSBAND ON THE WEDDING NIGHT!

NOW I SEE WHY ALL THE PROPER LADIES SPEAK SO HIGHLY YOU, MADAM!

NOW THEN, FOR THE RITUAL TO BE PERFORMED CORRECTLY,

WOULD YOUR LORDSHIP MIND STEPPING OUT FOR A MOMENT?

NOW, GIVE ME YOUR ARM.

MADAM LUTHER.

I BELIEVE YOUR METHOD

IS A KIND OF TRICK.

THE HOLY WATER IS JUST WATER MEANT TO LOOK SOMEWHAT PLAUSIBLE.

IN THE END, WHAT TRULY PROVES ONE'S INNOCENCE

IS ONE'S OWN CONSCIENCE, ISN'T IT?

IF A PERSON IS GUILT-FREE, THEIR ARM WON’T TREMBLE.

BUT IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO FEAR,

THE HOLY WATER ON THEIR TREMBLING ARM WILL SURELY RUN OFF.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY?

THE COUNT LEFT WITHOUT ANY ARGUMENT,

WHICH MEANS HE MUST TRUST YOU A GREAT DEAL.

SO, MADAM, WHETHER I SPILL THE HOLY WATER

OR NOT,

YOU CAN TELL HIM WHATEVER YOU WANT.

WOULD LIKE TO BUY YOUR WORD.

BEFORE, I MIGHT HAVE WELCOMED THE CHANCE FOR MY UNCLE TO FIND OUT

THAT I'D LOST MY VIRGINITY.

IT WAS THE SCANDAL I WANTED, AFTER ALL.

BUT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SOMETHING I'D WISHED FOR,

THE REASON I'M TRYING SO DESPERATELY TO HIDE IT NOW IS

...WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

...BECAUSE...

...SUMMER ISN'T OVER YET.

MY THROAT FEELS FUNNY.

YOU COULD’VE JUST CRIED OUT IF YOU’D WANTED TO.

THERE WAS NO NEED TO HOLD BACK.

BUT WHAT IF WE’D GOTTEN CAUGHT?

ISN’T THAT WHAT YOU WANTED?

IF WE GET CAUGHT NOW, YOU’LL BE THE ONE IN DANGER.

OUR RELATIONSHIP CAN ONLY BE REVEALED

AFTER YOU’VE LEFT.

...STILL,

DON’T HURT YOURSELF

TRYING TO KEEP QUIET.

THERE HE GOES AGAIN...

ACTING AS IF WE'RE REALLY LOVERS.

I WILL NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT FOR A DECEPTION LIKE THAT.

A PERSON OF MY OCCUPATION LIVES AND DIES BY THEIR REPUTATION.

BUT CONTACT ME AGAIN —

NOT NOW, BUT IF YOU BECOME PREGNANT.

I WILL GIVE YOU A POTION THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF IT WITHOUT A TRACE.

AND, IF I MAY ADD ONE MORE THING —

YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

...ALL RIGHT.

...?

DO NOT LET A RELATIONSHIP THAT CANNOT LAST FOREVER

BECOME TOO REAL.

IN THE END, YOU WILL BE THE ONE WHO GETS HURT, MY LADY.

I'LL BE SURE TO DO THAT NEXT TIME.