Chapter 3
As Artiella continued staring at the portrait in silence, the Emperor grew impatient.
“What is it? I heard you often say that beautiful things couldn’t possibly commit sins. Is that why you’re hesitating?”
By Artiella’s standards…
That was actually true.
The world she saw through the Holy Sword wasn’t based on appearances—it was based on souls.
Those who harmed others through lies had twisted or torn mouths.
Those who stole from others bore grotesque boils all over their bodies.
Murderers had broken, twisted necks.
People never realized that someone whose outward appearance matched the purity of their soul was beautiful enough.
But she couldn’t reveal the Holy Sword’s secret to outsiders.
It was better to let people think she simply judged others by their looks.
Artiella handed the portrait back to the knight.
“Edelion does not interfere in worldly politics.”
Request denied.
“I heard what your Holy Knights said,” the Emperor replied. “You claimed it was a matter concerning humanity.”
“That’s right. We intervene when the powerless have no one to save them.”
Whether that meant proving an innocent prisoner wasn’t guilty…
Or judging criminals whom the law could never punish.
Every time they acted, the Emperor would send complaints.
The authority of the Imperial Family…
The law should be followed…
Political considerations require sparing certain people…
“If the man you executed today was merely a subordinate, and this man is the true mastermind?”
“Then shouldn’t you follow the very advice you’ve always written in your protest letters?”
Punish him according to Imperial law.
“Please don’t use Edelion as a tool to eliminate your political enemies.”
“My dear Commander, you’ve misunderstood.”
“And besides…”
She smiled politely.
“I have no authority to decide whether a Divine Trial will be held.”
“Then who does?”
“The Saintess.”
“I merely obey her decision.”
Piter looked as though someone had smacked him in the back of the head.
“I see… Then it would’ve been faster to come directly to Yusiel.”
One of Artiella’s eyebrows rose.
“May I see her immediately? I’ll explain everything to Yusiel myself.”
Still wearing his gentle smile, Piter stepped forward.
Artiella instantly raised an arm, blocking his path like an iron wall.
“Absolutely not.”
“Ah, right. You said I’d have to pass the Holy Sword’s examination first.”
Piter rolled up his sleeve and extended his arm as if inviting her to cut it.
His knight immediately stepped between them.
“If you so much as harm His Majesty, I will never forgive you.”
“Purcell, stand down.”
“The Holy Sword only cuts the wicked. I’ll be fine.”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“If anyone is to undergo the examination first, let it be me. I’ll escort the Saintess afterward.”
“If you can pass it, then so can I.”
“I’ve never lived a shameful life.”
The two men practically competed over who should be cut first.
Watching with folded arms, Artiella chuckled and shook her head.
Good people feared nothing.
And they were willing to sacrifice themselves for others.
“You two have already passed.”
“You may enter.”
She led them along a quiet path toward the reception hall.
Before long, someone came running toward them.
“Arti!”
It was Yusiel.
Her face had turned deathly pale.
She immediately grabbed her younger sister and turned her around, inspecting her from head to toe.
“Saintess?”
“Thank goodness… You’re still unharmed.”
“Huh?”
Artiella blinked.
“What do you take me for? I wouldn’t spill blood on sacred ground.”
Color briefly returned to Yusiel’s face.
Yet she still seemed oblivious to everyone else around them.
“I saw the future.”
The fact that she blurted something so important out in front of outsiders…
“That ridiculously handsome man… he kills—”
Artiella hurriedly grabbed Yusiel’s hand.
“We have visitors, Saintess.”
Only then did Yusiel look around.
Piter raised a hand and smiled warmly.
“Hello, Yusiel. It’s been a long time.”
“Your Majesty.”
Yusiel answered coldly.
Piter grinned.
“So… you still dislike me?”
“It’s rare for anyone to cause such a disturbance in Edelion.”
“I’ve already apologized, but if you wish, I’ll issue a formal written apology.”
“What brings you here?”
“I’ve come to request a Divine Trial.”
The Emperor’s knight presented the portrait to Yusiel.
Then—
“This man who’s nothing but a pretty face…”
“…who is he?”
The color drained completely from Yusiel’s face.
That evening, just before sunset, Artiella went alone into the bustling city.
Dressed like an ordinary noble lady, she wandered the streets gathering information.
Just because someone requested a Divine Trial didn’t mean she’d swing the Holy Sword at anyone.
Seeing another person’s soul was never a blessing.
Those who didn’t know the truth were often frightened into believing her bluff—just like the Imperial soldiers earlier that day.
Fortunately, most people had no idea what the Holy Sword’s owner looked like.
Still, when she questioned people in person, they often gave her strange looks.
“Duke Rupel? Why? Are you planning to send him a marriage proposal too?”
“Even the Imperial Princesses gave up. What chance do you think you have? Save yourself the heartbreak.”
The nobles, especially, regarded her with suspicion regardless of gender.
“It’s hard to see His Grace often, but even from a distance he shines.”
“Half a year ago, the bridge commoners used collapsed. He repaired it with his own money.”
“He even fixed our roof! He happened to see it falling apart while passing by.”
She questioned commoners until she’d squeezed every last bit of information from them.
Yet nothing suspicious surfaced.
If anything…
All she found were endless stories praising the Duke.
Was the Emperor just jealous?
She had expected a villain.
Instead, she was beginning to suspect the Emperor.
Still, leaving without certainty bothered her.
“I saw Duke Rupel strangling you to death while you were asleep.”
After the Emperor left, Yusiel had shared that terrifying vision with tears nearly forming in her eyes.
“What? Me? Dead? Why? When?”
“I don’t know. It didn’t look like you were working…”
“Who would be foolish enough to attack the owner of the Holy Sword?”
“Why wouldn’t there be? Even the myths mention one.”
“Oh…”
“The Origin of Evil?”
A being destined to spread calamity and disaster…
To plunge the world into chaos and destruction…
A creature of darkness that could never coexist beneath the same sky as the Holy Sword’s bearer of light.
If that was the case…
Then there was nothing to worry about.
Light had never known defeat against darkness.
“So… is the Duke the Origin of Evil?”
“I don’t know.”
“If the Origin of Evil had truly been born, I would’ve sensed it.”
“But we should proceed very carefully with this Divine Trial.”
Yusiel clearly wanted to postpone it.
That was why Artiella had secretly slipped out.
The owner of the Holy Sword, guardian of justice, couldn’t ignore a potentially monstrous criminal simply to protect her own life.
Unfortunately, because no official trial had yet been approved, the information Yusiel had shared was limited.
And even after investigating personally, Artiella still couldn’t reach a conclusion.
Was he an evil man wearing the perfect mask of virtue?
Or…
Was he genuinely a good man?
“Then there’s only one option.”
“I’ll go to him myself.”
If she did nothing, she’d simply wait for the future to arrive exactly as foreseen.
Better to shatter fate before it reached her.
Artiella immediately hailed a public carriage.
“To Duke Rupel’s estate, please.”
“What? Duke Rupel’s estate?”
The horrified look on the coachman’s face immediately caught her attention.
She climbed into the seat beside him.
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“That Duke…”
“He’s cursed.”
“One disaster after another struck his family until, in the end, every member of the household died.”
Disease.
Accidents.
Deaths from unknown causes.
All within the five years after the illegitimate son of the previous Duke had officially joined the ducal family.
“And another thing.”
“The women who went to visit the Duke never came back.”
“I asked the other coachmen too. None of them ever returned.”
“If it was just unrequited love, you’d think they’d come back at least once, wouldn’t you?”
Women disappearing after visiting the Duke.
That could very well be circumstantial evidence linking Duke Rupel to the human trafficking ring.
“So… you still want to go?”
“Yes.”
“After hearing all that…”
“I have to.”
“You’re a brave young lady.”
A short while later, Artiella got off the carriage.
She remained hidden, observing the estate until darkness completely fell.
It’s strangely quiet.
Unlike the neighboring mansions, everything around this estate felt gloomy and silent.
Very few rooms were lit.
Almost no one came or went.
The atmosphere was deeply unsettling.
Definitely suspicious.
Once everyone had disappeared from sight, Artiella wrapped aura around her legs and effortlessly leaped over the tall wall.
Finding the Duke’s bedroom on the third floor took little time.
She climbed the large tree outside the balcony and concealed herself among its leaves.
The security is far too lax.
Just then…
Someone stepped out.
Duke Rupel.
Jet-black hair that blended with the night sky.
Brilliant crimson eyes.
Perfectly sculpted features.
A tall, well-proportioned physique.
Yet somehow…
He possessed a delicate elegance that instinctively stirred the urge to protect him.
Honestly, the portrait hadn’t done him justice.
He looked far better in person.
One detail, however, had been perfectly accurate.
He truly seemed to shine in the darkness, illuminating everything around him with an almost heavenly radiance.
…Wait.
What?
That’s Aura.
He was a hidden master.
Though…
A rather suspicious one.
He’s… using Aura… as decoration?
No matter how she looked at it…
The only thing he seemed to be doing with his Aura was creating a glowing halo around his ridiculously handsome face.
