Chapter 10
For children who had essentially grown up as orphans, there was no such thing as a choice.
Their fates were determined by who took them away when they were young.
Unfortunately, the orphanage where Elize had grown up was…
“You know about it too, don’t you? The worst group of assassins in the history of the Ariaton Empire. ‘Johnny Walker.’”
It was a place that raised children to work for Johnny Walker, known as the worst group of assassins in the history of the Ariaton Empire.
Of course, they didn’t make children actually take people’s lives.
But they had to go right up to that point.
And that was enough to strip Elize of every emotion she had.
She brainwashed herself into believing that she had to do anything as long as it meant she wouldn’t go hungry or be beaten.
But in the end, wasn’t that the life of a beast rather than a human being?
It was while she was beginning to feel disillusioned with such a life that Essit, Ian, and Leonhardt appeared before her.
That was why she had wanted to believe in them even more.
She wanted to believe in the three people who had rescued her from that hell.
Not knowing that this place was an even greater hell.
Come to think of it, in the execution by burning that I saw in my prophetic dream…
Elize slightly furrowed her brow as she recalled a familiar face among the crowd that had gathered to watch the execution.
Then she turned her attention back to Bell.
“S-save me…”
“I wonder what I should do with you.”
By that point, Elize had already beaten Bell badly enough that she could no longer resist.
She bound Bell’s body tightly.
Then she let out a sigh, genuinely contemplating what to do.
If I let her live, she’ll come back to haunt me.
Defending herself against someone who had tried to kill her was one thing.
But deliberately harming someone beyond that was another matter entirely.
Even though she knew that keeping Bell alive would undoubtedly cause problems later, Elize couldn’t bring herself to choose either way.
“What are you hesitating about, Elize?”
At that moment, Damian appeared behind her in a flash of blue magical light.
Apparently, some sort of signal had been sent after he sensed that she was in danger.
He looked back and forth between Bell, who was covered in bruises, and Elize’s fist with an intrigued expression before speaking.
“You can’t leave a grudge behind.”
“…I know.”
She lowered her head and answered in a quiet voice.
Understanding Elize’s feelings, Damian immediately spoke again.
“I don’t want to see you suffering. Don’t dirty your hands, Elize.”
“I already beat her like there was no tomorrow.”
Damian’s eyes widened as he looked at her adorable expression.
With a strange tightening sensation in his chest, Damian pulled out a clean handkerchief and slowly wiped Elize’s fist.
“I told you. Use me.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
“Leave that to your imagination.”
He grinned, revealing his sharp fangs between his parted lips.
Strangely enough, merely looking at him gradually calmed the turmoil in her heart.
Having made up her mind, Elize turned away coldly without looking at Bell again.
“Go wait in the room.”
“Yes.”
“N-no! Lady Elize! Saintess!”
The same woman who had tried to kill her just moments ago.
Now she was begging for mercy.
A wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over Elize.
Human beings were starting to seem disgustingly repulsive to her.
She dragged her weary body along as though she were drunk, and the moment she reached her room, she immediately began brewing some warm tea.
As its refreshing fragrance filled the room, her dizziness seemed to ease somewhat.
Elize poured the tea with a soft trickle and, without even waiting for it to cool, drank it straight away.
The hot tea flowed down her throat.
She wanted to take a bath, but there was no maid left to prepare the bathwater for her.
“…I need to find a maid soon.”
“There’s no need.”
“…Damian.”
Elize’s head snapped toward him.
Damian had entered the room at some point.
He shrugged and said,
“Don’t worry. I didn’t kill her. I locked her in the underground dungeon of the Deblen Empire. Shouldn’t she learn the truth someday?”
At his words, Elize gave a small nod.
The collapse of the truth she had believed in and the betrayal by someone she had trusted would probably be a heavier punishment for Bell than anything else.
“Thank you. And thank you for coming so quickly, too…”
“It was something I chose to do, so you don’t need to thank me. And you don’t need to find a maid either.”
“No need to find one?”
Elize asked in confusion.
“Greetings, Lady Elize.”
At that moment, a black figure suddenly dropped down before her.
“Ah! You startled me…”
“I am Seria, originally from the Ariaton Empire. I have already cleaned out that maid’s quarters. I will organize the documents and have them stored in the Deblen Empire.”
The woman who introduced herself as Seria explained everything crisply and efficiently.
When she lowered the black mask covering her face, mysterious blue hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
“Oh, thank you. You said you’re from the Ariaton Empire?”
“Yes. His Highness the Crown Prince took me in when I was an orphan.”
“The guard I mentioned earlier. She’s skilled and has worked under nobles before, so she’ll have no trouble attending to you. However…”
Damian looked into Elize’s eyes with concern.
“I don’t know what that suspicious bastard will smell out. His hair and skin have practically turned black from all his suspicion.”
He shook his head as he recalled Essit’s black hair and dark complexion.
“If that’s what you’re worried about, don’t.”
Elize smiled slightly and shrugged.
“Seria, from today onward, you’re going to be my orphanage classmate.”
“Orphanage… classmate?”
“Bell was kidnapped. And the culprit was…”
Her gaze slowly shifted toward Damian.
“Damian.”
“Good. So how exactly do you intend to use me?”
“Essit already knows that I met you at the Imperial Palace.”
“Oh?”
“Let’s say you threatened me into meeting you. The threat was against Bell’s life, and your condition was that I break up with Leonhardt.”
“This is getting more interesting by the minute.”
Damian approached the window with a face that looked genuinely delighted.
Then his eyes narrowed.
“He’s arriving at just the right time.”
From the entrance of the temple, Leonhardt could be seen riding toward them on horseback.
Elize hurried over and stood beside Damian.
Just as he had said, she saw Leonhardt approaching, and the corner of her mouth lifted into a slanted smile.
“Looks like it’s going to rain.”
“…Rain?”
The sky beyond the window was filled with dark clouds.
It looked gloomy enough for raindrops to begin falling at any moment.
“That might actually be for the best…”
“Then is the plan over?”
“Hm?”
“I’ll be going.”
Damian gave a small wave of his hand and disappeared from before her eyes.
Elize stared blankly at the empty space where he had been.
That was the second time he had simply disappeared like this.
For some reason, irritation bubbled inside her, and her brow furrowed slightly.
“What shall we do about that man?”
Seria asked, glancing toward Leonhardt, who was now standing at the entrance of the temple.
Just then, rain began to fall with a sudden patter.
Unfortunately, there was no roof over the temple entrance.
“Hm. First, Seria, change into a maid’s uniform and tell Leonhardt to wait for a moment.”
“Yes, understood.”
“You can take your time changing. Take your time.”
A sly smile spread across Elize’s lips.
Seria immediately understood what she meant and left the room.
Elize continued staring outside as the rain and wind began to intensify.
Apparently, Leonhardt hadn’t even had time to bring an umbrella with him.
He stood there rigidly, allowing the rain and wind to soak him completely.
He’ll have to do whatever it takes to hold on to me.
Even if he wasn’t quite a neat freak, Leonhardt cared considerably about his appearance.
But this was the time when he needed to look miserable.
Even if he has to use the very method he hates.
Her expression became even colder.
That’s the only way he’ll be able to put me on the stake.
Just look at this noble man willing to do anything for his grand ambition.
His appearance was so disgusting that it made her blood boil.
Elize let out a derisive chuckle and slowly began walking toward the entrance.
When she entered the temple lobby, the ticking of the enormous wall clock in the center of the room reached her ears.
She listened to the ticking as though it were classical music and descended the stairs very slowly.
How much time had passed?
“…Leon.”
The entrance doors suddenly flew open.
“Lady Elize…!”
Leonhardt cautiously approached her, looking like a completely drenched rat.
“I was wrong about everything. Please… could you give me just one chance?”
His face was pitiful as he let his voice trail off miserably.
“Leon…!”
But Elize wrapped her arms around his neck, tears welling up in her eyes.
At that exact moment, lightning struck above the temple accompanied by a thunderous boom.
The shadows of the trees planted around the temple formed the shape of wings behind Elize.
The Saintess, now appearing to bear black wings like a fallen angel, wore a sinister smile upon her otherwise holy face.
