Chapter 2
Unlike the ever-relaxed Artiella, Yusiel could not hide her anger.
“The Imperial Army dared to enter sacred Edelion without permission? This is nothing short of blasphemy.”
“The Holy Knights are blocking them at the main gate, so they haven’t entered yet. But they keep demanding that Lady Artiella be handed over.”
Artiella casually rolled her neck from side to side.
“Well, it can’t be helped. I’ll go, Saintess.”
Compared to today’s sinner’s monstrous crimes, he had been so insignificant that she hadn’t even gotten a proper warm-up.
“How many are there?”
“At a glance… well over a hundred. Are you planning to fight them?”
The priest asked, his face pale with fear.
“Fight? No.”
Artiella raised her Holy Sword with a bright smile.
“I’m only going to threaten them.”
The priest felt reassured by her confidence, yet uneasy at the same time.
This was the Grand Temple. Artiella was the Commander of the Holy Knights—the highest-ranking among them.
Is it really okay for her to act like this?
Unable to suppress his curiosity, the priest looked toward the Saintess.
“There isn’t a single human alive who has never committed a sin.”
The sisters shared a mutual understanding.
Or rather…
They were partners in crime.
Artiella hurried to the temple’s main gate.
“No one without permission may set foot upon the sacred land of Edelion. Withdraw!”
The gates of Edelion, which were normally always open, were now only half-open.
A group wearing blue cloaks and another wearing orange cloaks stood facing each other across the entrance, completely blocking the road.
“Edelion stands upon Imperial soil! His Majesty the Emperor owns this land! There is nowhere within the Empire that we cannot enter!”
“Edelion does not belong to the Empire! Do not forget that this is an independent holy sanctuary!”
“Then you should’ve stayed out of Imperial affairs!”
“This is not the Empire’s affair—it is humanity’s! Punishing evildoers who threaten the world through divine judgment is hardly politics!”
The Holy Knights refused to back down.
Left speechless, the Imperial soldiers only grew more irritated.
Part of the reason was the Empire’s long-standing tendency to regard the Holy Knights more highly than its own military, regardless of combat ability.
“Hmph. Acting all noble when you’re just a bunch of women taking orders.”
The Holy Knights remained calm, as though they were used to such insults.
Their unwavering composure only irritated the Imperial soldiers further.
“I heard you can’t even draw your swords without permission from the Saintess or your commander. During Divine Trials you’re just glorified spectators.”
Had that taunt finally struck a nerve?
A whistle, clear as birdsong, sounded from the rear.
At the signal, the Holy Knights immediately split apart into two lines, forming a new formation.
Artiella calmly walked through the opening.
“I am Artiella Soltis, Commander of the Holy Knights.”
As she proudly announced herself, she drew her Holy Sword.
She deliberately released pale green aura around the blade for everyone to see.
The Imperial soldiers, who had been laughing moments earlier, instantly fell silent.
Before anyone could react, Artiella withdrew the aura and smiled sweetly.
“Only those with pure and spotless souls may enter the sacred land of Edelion.”
Of course…
No such rule actually existed.
The truly guilty simply stayed away because their own consciences wouldn’t let them come.
“If you wish to enter the temple, all you need to do is undergo the Holy Sword’s examination.”
Just as she’d expected, unrest spread through the Imperial ranks.
After all, many of them had done questionable things in service of powerful people.
Even if they had merely followed orders.
Resting a hand above her brows, Artiella slowly surveyed the soldiers.
“My, my… Have you all lived such sinful lives? This might be difficult.”
At her declaration, the Holy Knights behind her simultaneously traced sacred symbols in the air.
When they solemnly began praying, murmurs rippled through the Imperial Army.
“Is… is that a funeral hymn?”
“Isn’t that the prayer for the dead?”
“No… I heard it’s the prayer for those who are about to die.”
Recalling the stories surrounding Divine Trials, none of the soldiers dared step forward first.
Did they lack faith in the lives they’d lived?
Or were they simply cowards?
Pathetic.
A faint, predatory smile appeared on Artiella’s lips.
“If even one of you passes the test, I’ll willingly go with you.”
She slowly spun her sword, Bardo, with a whistle through the air as she approached.
The Imperial soldiers instinctively backed away.
“W-Wait! Please calm down!”
“Why? Weren’t you planning to drag me away?”
She smiled brightly.
“I’ll choose the one who looks the most virtuous.”
She took another step.
The soldiers retreated even farther.
“W-We apologize!”
One soldier stepped forward and bowed deeply.
But Artiella had no intention of accepting an apology.
“‘We’re sorry’? You caused a disturbance before sacred ground and insulted the Saintess and the Holy Knights. Do you think a simple apology is enough?”
“P-Please… forgive us.”
Not a chance.
This was the perfect opportunity to crush their arrogance.
“Who’s in charge here? Bring me your commander.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than the Imperial soldiers split into two lines.
They made way for a red-haired man dressed in magnificent robes, who walked forward with elegant, dignified steps.
Artiella knew him.
The man her sisters’ father had once mentored.
The friend of her older brother.
“Your Majesty.”
He was the very emperor who had ascended the throne thanks to Yusiel’s blessing…
Yet now sought to restrain the temple through underhanded means.
After personally approaching the gate, Piter smiled gently.
“It’s been a long time, Commander Soltis. I merely said I wished to meet you. It seems my knights misunderstood my intentions.”
“I’ve never heard of requesting an audience by sending an army.”
“I apologize on their behalf.”
In front of both knight orders—and countless believers watching from afar—the Emperor lowered his head.
The Imperial soldiers behind him immediately followed suit.
It wasn’t a heartfelt apology.
Still, rumors would spread throughout the Empire that the Emperor himself had apologized.
That was good enough.
Artiella returned the gesture with a respectful nod.
“The letter Your Majesty sent this morning reached the temple only after the Divine Trial had already begun. I regret that I was unable to comply with your wishes.”
“I understand. The Empire’s people had already suffered greatly. You had no choice but to act immediately.”
“My subordinates located all the victims and safely returned them to their homes.”
“Thank you. I spent that time searching for the mastermind. I intended to buy time before the Divine Trial began, but we failed to communicate properly. That, too, is my fault.”
She had clearly heard that he had come to arrest her for disobeying an Imperial decree.
Yet the Emperor before her appeared surprisingly gentle.
Artiella tilted her head slightly.
“Fortunately… I found the mastermind.”
He glanced toward the knight standing beside him.
The knight approached Artiella and handed her a tightly rolled parchment.
The Emperor lowered his voice so that no one else could hear.
“It’s a portrait of Duke Rupel.”
The portrait depicted a handsome man with black hair and crimson eyes.
She had seen his name before on one of the prayer slips believers had tied within the temple.
Even if I die, please just give me one chance to confess my love to Duke Rupel.
Judging by the life-risking wish, the Duke truly was breathtakingly handsome.
So handsome that she couldn’t help wondering whether someone that beautiful might possess an equally beautiful soul.
“He’s… sparkling?”
The portrait seemed to glitter, as though someone had sprinkled it with jewels.
Maybe he simply loved extravagant luxuries.
The brief curiosity quickly faded.
Frowning, Artiella looked back up.
“Is this… a request?”
A shadow crossed Piter’s gentle expression.
“Yes.”
“I request that this man undergo a Divine Trial.”
An Emperor requesting a Divine Trial.
It was the first event of its kind in the history of the continent.
Yusiel headed toward the Central Garden, known as the Heart of Edelion.
She left the commotion at the main gate entirely to her younger sister.
Though Artiella spoke bluntly and never hesitated to use force, she was a remarkably wise woman.
There was a reason she still remained the bearer of the Holy Sword.
Yusiel simply had her own duty to fulfill.
Beneath the great arched glass ceiling stood the Sacred Tree.
She gently placed her hand upon its trunk.
“Grow strong.”
Whispering affectionately, she closed her eyes and poured her divine power into it.
Blue radiance flowed from her fingertips, traveled through the tree’s veins, and spread all the way to its branches.
Soon, fresh young leaves at the branch tips became filled with vibrant life.
How much time had passed?
Suddenly, Yusiel’s eyes snapped open.
Her brilliant blue eyes, overflowing with divine power, trembled violently.
A divine revelation.
She had seen the future.
“Arti…? Don’t tell me…”
Her face drained of color.
Without another moment’s hesitation, she rushed off to find her younger sister.
