Levi felt a heavy weight form in his right hand as well.
It was similar to the feeling in his left hand—shape, temperature, everything…
No, this one was heavier, larger, hotter…
Looks like I've done more good deeds than mistakes.
Levi couldn't help but feel a little proud.
And when someone feels proud, it's hard to control subtle movements.
For example… slightly curling his fingers—reasonable, right?
Or… applying a little pressure with his palms—also reasonable, right?
"Mm…"
Levi thought he heard a faint hum, but he ignored it.
"…Can you describe what you feel in both hands?"
"Hmm…" Levi thought for a moment. "I feel something in both hands… like I'm holding a balloon."
"…Its size?"
Levi concentrated. "Pretty big."
Richelieu's tone shifted slightly. "…And the weight?"
Levi lifted his hands, gauging it. "Hmm… quite heavy."
That tone… it was even stranger now. "…Anything else?"
Levi applied a little more focus this time. "It's warm… like… like…"
Richelieu held her breath, a little nervous.
"Like a mother's embrace, warm and comforting."
Richelieu: …
╭(╯^╰)╮
I am the Cardinal of Iris, not your mother.
Of course, if the Commander wants to snuggle and call me "Mom" while whining… well, that's another matter.
"Now… everything disappears."
For some reason, the oddness in Richelieu's tone vanished.
Levi's hands lost the sensation.
A few seconds later, Richelieu's voice returned to gentle warmth: "Commander, you may open your eyes."
"Huh?" Levi noticed something strange. "Richelieu, your face is so red… is it because the room is hot?"
"Guiding your meditation took a little effort," Richelieu said with a smile. "Commander, how did it feel—for the meditation?"
"It felt… real." Levi thought for a moment. "I swear I felt something tangible in my hands."
"Do you want to experience more?"
Levi nodded.
It was all new to him, sparking his curiosity.
"Then close your eyes again. I'll guide you through another meditation session."
"This time will be deeper, so please focus carefully."
Levi closed his eyes.
"Imagine yourself at noon, atop a high mountain. Golden sunlight blazes warmly, but not glaring; a gentle glow covers your body, yet the air is still crisp."
Levi followed Richelieu's words, visualizing carefully.
A vivid image formed in his mind; her slow, deliberate pace made the scene more tangible with each phrase.
By the time she finished, Levi felt as though he were really there.
"Commander, now imagine a sudden sun shower falls, soaking your clothes and leaving droplets on your body—what would you do?"
Levi visualized it exactly as she described.
He could almost feel the moisture, the rain soaking his clothing, and a cool breeze swirling around him.
Richelieu whispered softly by his ear again: "Up here on the mountain, exposed and unprotected… do you have the courage to confront the sun shower?"
Of course!
Levi's blood boiled under her guidance; he wanted to stand and confront the rain, to face it heroically.
"Our Commander is exceptionally brave—he stands against the sun shower, arms wide, chest forward, as if confronting every obstacle head-on."
Instinctively, Levi rose, mimicking her description, feeling like a heroic warrior in his own mind.
"The sun shower grows fiercer, threatening to turn into a storm; the cold wind chills your body."
Richelieu, kneeling in front of him, subtly used her nimble hands to enhance the sensation, transforming "big" into "excessive" without Levi realizing it.
In his mind, he was a valiant warrior braving the storm.
…Getting soaked and chilled in a storm feels reasonable, right?
"Even nature's fiercest storm cannot defeat you, my Commander—you have triumphed with your own strength—"
…My triumph?
My victory!
Levi tried to step forward but felt blocked.
Richelieu tried to adjust, but Levi instinctively opened his eyes.
Their eyes met.
"…Richelieu?"
Richelieu: …
The Cardinal said nothing, simply moved with more intent.
"You…" Levi's eyes widened in disbelief. "This… this is the important thing you wanted to discuss?"
"Yes, my Commander, my god, my master."
Richelieu radiated a divine glow that made it easy to forget her kneeling posture and her actions:
"As Cardinal, isn't it my duty to serve my master?"
Levi: …
No.
This is you kneeling before me.
Using your… assets as a reason to overwhelm me?
And your "getting wet" is… this?
And your "warmth" is provided here?
Levi shivered with a mix of exasperation and disbelief.
When, as Commander, will I ever be able to stand freely, without shipgirls bullying me?
Richelieu: "Since you've discovered the truth, I'll stop pretending."
The Cardinal of Iris finally radiated the authority and charisma expected of her rank.
"Cooperate obediently with me once, and I'll escort you back and keep today's events a secret."
"Afterward, I will confess fully to you, leaving you free to do as you please."
"If you resist… hmm, three times, I may have to tell Algérie—Commander, you wouldn't want all the shipgirls to know how shameful you were, would you?"
Levi flopped onto the sofa, wearing a face that said, heroically resigned:
"Come on, then. Let's get it over with."