Chapter 3
“…Yes. We have been carefully preparing for it for a full year already.”
They had been preparing to stab her in the back for an entire year.
The fingertips covering her mouth trembled involuntarily.
All this time, they had been whispering behind her back about their plan to burn her alive, while whispering words of love to her face.
They were truly despicable and vicious men.
“Is there anything else left to discuss? Haven’t we already decided everything?”
As soon as the subject of the execution by fire came up, Leonhardt answered quietly, strangely looking exhausted.
“Do we really have to kill her like that?”
Ironically, the one who sounded more indifferent about the subject was Ian.
Elise continued watching them while suppressing her emotions as much as possible.
“The Saintess is useful in so many ways. The mages of the Magic Tower need holy power. It’s also used to supplement the mana needed to create magical artifacts, isn’t it?”
But Ian was still Ian.
Elise stared blankly at the handsome man who was known as the most beautiful man in the Ariaton Empire.
“Elise, I brought you some violets that look just like your eyes.”
Ian used to pick violets every day and bring them to her temple.
“I love you, Elise. I don’t care even if you don’t accept my feelings.”
Whenever she rejected his confession because she felt guilty, he would awkwardly lower his eyebrows.
She had even felt the slightest flutter of her heart when she saw that expression.
But now—
“She was such a convenient chess piece to use. Have you ever seen someone born with holy power who was that obedient? Especially the holy water. They call it holy water, but look at her arms and legs—they’re covered in wounds. Where else are you going to find a woman willing to give up so much?”
Ian had merely regarded her as a chess piece that could be used whenever he pleased.
Elise’s expression twisted, her face drained of life.
Even though she had expected these men to be exactly this kind of people and had come all the way here to confirm it, she couldn’t stop her hands and feet from trembling.
“Are you suggesting that we abandon the imperial citizens for the sake of a handful of mages?”
“Well, that’s not exactly what I mean. Once the protective barrier is established, fewer mages will get hurt anyway…”
At Esit’s sharp retort, Ian immediately backed down in a cowardly manner.
So this is the kind of man he was…!
Overcome with betrayal once again, Elise clenched the soft flesh inside her mouth.
She bit down so hard that the metallic taste of blood brushed across her tongue through the tiny wound.
But she didn’t even notice it.
Her intense violet eyes remained fixed on the three men.
Esit chuckled softly, completely unaware that the Saintess they were discussing was hiding in the room.
“The protective barrier will become the greatest achievement of my reign. It will probably make the Ariaton Empire the strongest nation on the continent.”
So that’s how he smiles when he’s genuinely pleased.
Only now, after finally seeing his true smile, Elise stared at them with a hollow expression.
If this really were about protecting the imperial citizens, they would never have committed the madness of releasing poison in the capital square just to kill Damian.
Esit was nothing more than a selfish emperor who wanted an achievement to commemorate his reign, yet he acted as though his actions were righteous.
Elise’s face turned deathly pale as she clenched both fists so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh.
Tears of anger and injustice blurred her vision.
But she had to see the truth clearly with these very eyes.
Elise hurriedly wiped away her tears.
“…An achievement, Your Majesty?”
“Hmm?”
“Please don’t speak of it so lightly.”
That was when it happened.
The person who unexpectedly spoke up was none other than Leonhardt.
“What do you mean by that, Sir Leonhardt? You agreed to this as well. Elise is your lover, after all.”
“I…”
At Esit’s sharp rebuke, Leonhardt’s brows furrowed as though he were in pain.
He trailed off before letting out a small sigh.
“I truly love Lady Elise. But just as much as that…”
Leonhardt clenched his fist, the veins standing out on the back of his hand.
“I… also love the empire.”
His expression darkened considerably.
Yet, in stark contrast to his gloomy expression, his chest glittered with numerous medals awarded to him in recognition of his achievements as the hero of the empire, including the insignia bearing the lily, symbol of the captain of the Guardian Corps.
The contradictory sight made Elise feel sick to her stomach, and she covered her mouth.
“You’re amazing, Leon. These insignias and medals are proof that you love the empire, aren’t they?”
“Just as much as I love the empire…”
A time when she had been happy with him, knowing nothing, flashed through her mind.
“I love you as well, Lady Elise.”
In a way, he really was a consistent man.
Suppressing the ragged breath trying to escape her, Elise glared at the three men through tear-filled eyes.
“It is only natural for Elise to sacrifice herself, Sir Leonhardt. Is there anyone here who doesn’t love her?”
“Your Majesty, I simply…”
“Enough. If you’re going to make that face, then leave.”
“…I will attend tomorrow’s meeting.”
At the emperor’s dismissal, Leonhardt let his shoulders droop helplessly and left the conference room.
“He really seems determined to become a hero, even if it kills him.”
A mocking tone slipped from Esit’s lips.
Watching him, Ian couldn’t help but snort.
“Pfft.”
He seemed surprised that the sound had actually escaped him and immediately closed his mouth.
But in a conference room with only the two of them, there was no way Esit hadn’t heard that blatant laugh.
His brows furrowed unpleasantly as he raised the end of his voice.
“What is so funny, Ian?”
Unlike earlier, when he had immediately backed down in a cowardly manner, Ian didn’t retreat this time.
“I thought it was funny when you said there was someone here who didn’t love Elise. You don’t love her, do you?”
“…What?”
“Elise. You never loved her, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm.”
Strangely enough, all the displeasure that had covered Esit’s face disappeared.
Instead, the corners of his mouth curved upward as though he felt relieved.
“I thought I’d acted perfectly.”
“You can’t fool the eyes of the Archmage. Besides, I saw it. I saw you giving holy water to the Empress Dowager. I never thought I’d see you give something that precious to your lover so she could become younger.”
“Yes. If I had truly loved Elise, I would have kept her by my side by any means necessary. What nonsense about a protective barrier.”
Esit shook his head and glanced toward the direction Leonhardt had disappeared.
“Apparently, for a lover… a sufficiently useless but pretty porcelain doll is the perfect fit. Women who run wild relying on their own abilities aren’t my type.”
The moment Elise heard those words, she felt painfully aware of how Esit had viewed her all along.
“My beloved Elise, I had this temple built for you. Isn’t it magnificent?”
“I don’t know if I really deserve to receive such a wonderful temple.”
“Don’t say such things. There is no woman in this empire with abilities as exceptional as yours.”
The face that had praised her abilities yet had never once smiled brightly.
Why hadn’t she noticed the hostility and contempt contained in his red eyes whenever he looked at her?
Esit had hated her for a long time.
“She’s not my type either. I don’t like women who are prettier than me.”
“So that’s why you agreed? What a disgusting reason.”
“Heh heh…”
“Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter. Just imagine that foolish hero dragging his own lover to the pyre three months from now.”
“I can hardly wait.”
“It’ll be nothing more than a farce.”
The two exchanged their words as though they were making lighthearted jokes, then left the conference room together, looking surprisingly friendly.
Silence descended upon the room that had been filled with the voices of the three men.
Elise couldn’t even cry anymore.
Now that she knew the dream she had seen wasn’t a dream at all, but the future she was destined to experience, there was no time for tears.
With her face deathly pale, she quickly slipped out of the conference room.
Only after reaching a secluded garden did she finally remove the suffocating robe and take a deep breath.
The fresh air seemed to ease the tightness in her chest.
“Haa…”
Pressing her aching temple, Elise slightly parted her lips.
“…I need to meet Damian.”
It was nothing more than a very quiet mutter to herself.
But at that very moment—
“What an incredible coincidence.”
“Eek!”
Damian appeared right before her.
The beloved villain who had been the only one to save her when everyone else had demanded that she sacrifice herself.
