For children raised practically as orphans, the concept of choice never existed.
Their fates were decided early on, dictated entirely by who carried them away.
And the orphanage where Elise grew up, of all places…
“You must know it too. ‘Johnnie Walker’—the worst group of assassins in the history of the Ariatne Empire.”
It was a breeding ground designed to raise children who would go on to serve Johnnie Walker, notorious as the most ruthless assassin guild in the empire’s history.
Of course, they didn’t force young children to take human lives right away.
However, they were pushed right up to that absolute limit. And that process stripped Elise of every last emotion she possessed.
She had brainwashed herself into believing she must do whatever it took—so long as it meant avoiding starvation and beatings—but in the end, wasn’t that the life of a beast rather than a human being?
As she sank deep into that disillusionment, three men appeared before her: Esit, Ian, and Leonhart.
That was why she had wanted to believe in them so badly. Those three who had rescued her from that living hell.
Never imagining that this place would turn out to be an even worse hell.
‘Come to think of it, inside the execution by burning that I saw in my prophetic dream…’
Recalling a familiar face among the crowd that had gathered at the execution, Elise knit her brows slightly.
She then turned her gaze back toward Bell.
“P-Please, spare me…”
“Well, now… what should I do with you?”
Bell had already been beaten so severely that she was completely incapable of resisting. Elise bound her body tightly.
She then let out a deep, genuine sigh as she deliberated.
‘If I leave her alive, she’ll only cause trouble later.’
Standing up to someone who had tried to kill her was nothing. But completely destroying a human life was a different matter entirely.
Even knowing full well that leaving Bell alive would inevitably lead to trouble down the road, Elise bit her lip tightly, caught in hesitation.
“What are you hesitating for, Elise?”
In a flash of blue mana, Demian materialized behind her back.
It seemed her signal had reached him the moment he sensed she was in danger.
His eyes flitted between Bell, covered in bruises, and Elise’s clenched fist with an amused look, before he added smoothly:
“You must never leave a grudge unfinished.”
“…I know that.”
She lowered her head slightly and answered in a muted voice.
Understanding her state of mind, Demian spoke up at once.
“I don’t like seeing you distressed. Don’t dirty your hands, Elise.”
“I already beat her within an inch of her life, though.”
He stared at her wide-eyed, watching her answer back with an utterly affectionate gaze.
Feeling his heart tighten with warmth, Demian pulled out a spotless handkerchief and gently wiped Elise’s fist.
“I told you, didn’t I? Use me.”
“How do you plan to handle this?”
“I’ll leave it to your imagination.”
He flashed a smirk, revealing sharp fangs between his parted lips.
Strangely enough, the sight of him gradually stilled her turbulent thoughts.
Having made up her mind, Elise turned away coldly, without sparing Bell another glance.
“Go wait in the room.”
“Yes.”
“N-No! Lady Elise! Your Saintliness!”
To think she was begging now, after trying to kill her as a villainess just moments ago.
A sudden wave of exhaustion washed over her. The very nature of human beings felt utterly repulsive to her.
Dragging her feet as if she were intoxicated, she made her way to her room and immediately brewed a pot of warm tea.
As the fresh, refreshing aroma began to fill the space, her dizziness seemed to subside a bit.
Trickle. Elise set down the teapot and drank the freshly steeped tea straight down, without even waiting for it to cool.
The scorching tea surged down her throat.
She wanted nothing more than to take a bath, but there was no longer a maid around to prepare hot water for her.
“…I’ll have to find a new maid quickly.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“…Demian.”
Her head snapped toward him as he slipped into the room unnoticed.
Demian shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t kill her. I had her locked away in the underground dungeon of the Devlun Empire. She deserves to learn the truth someday too, doesn’t she?”
At his words, Elise gave a slight nod.
Having the truth one believed in crumble away and being betrayed by the one person you trusted—that would be a far heavier punishment for Bell than anything else.
“Thank you. And for coming so quickly… thank you for that too.”
“I volunteered for the job, so no thanks are necessary. Besides, there’s no need to hire a maid.”
“What do you mean, no need?” Elise asked, puzzled.
“Greetings, Lady Elise.”
At that exact moment, a black figure dropped down right in front of her eyes.
“Eek! You startled me…!”
“I am Celia, originating from the Ariatne Empire. I have thoroughly cleaned the previous maid’s quarters. Her records will be organized and kept in the Devlun Empire.”
The woman introducing herself as Celia delivered her explanation crisply and efficiently.
As she pulled down her black mask, a cascade of mysterious, brilliant blue hair spilled forth like a waterfall.
“Ah, thank you. You said you’re from the Ariatne Empire?”
“Yes. I was an orphan, but His Highness the Crown Prince took me in.”
“She’s the guard I mentioned earlier. She’s highly skilled, and since she has experience serving under nobility, she’ll be more than capable of attending to your needs. However…”
Demian met Elise’s eyes with a look of slight concern.
“That guy’s so naturally suspicious that even his appearance has turned pitch-black. Who knows what kind of scent he might catch on you?”
He shook his head in disdain, recalling Esit’s jet-black hair and tan skin.
“Don’t worry about that.”
Elise smiled faintly and shrugged her shoulders.
“Celia, starting today, you’re my fellow orphan from the orphanage.”
“A… fellow orphan, my Lady?”
“Bell was kidnapped. And the culprit is…”
Her gaze drifted slowly toward Demian.
“Demian.”
“Very well. How would you like to use me this time?”
“Esit already knows that you met me at the Imperial Palace.”
“Oho.”
“We’ll say I met you under your threat. The subject of that threat was Bell’s life, and the condition was breaking off my engagement with Leonhart.”
“This is getting more and more interesting.”
Demian stepped closer to the window, his face flushed with genuine amusement. Soon, his eyes narrowed to slits.
“Speaking of which, here he comes right on cue.”
From the entrance of the temple, Leonhart could be seen riding toward them at full gallop.
Elise hurried over to stand beside Demian.
Seeing Leonhart approach just as he said, the corners of her lips curled upward into a sharp slant.
“It looks like it’s going to rain.”
“…Rain?”
Outside the window, heavy dark clouds blanketed the sky. It looked dreary enough for raindrops to fall at any second.
“That actually works out better—”
“So, is the plan finished for now?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll be off then.”
With a small wave of his hand, Demian vanished into thin air before her eyes.
Elise stared dumbfounded at the empty space he had just occupied.
This was already the second time he had vanished on her like this.
A strange bubbling irritation flared up inside her chest, causing her brows to knit tightly.
“What shall I do with that man?”
Celia asked, glancing briefly down at Leonhart standing at the temple entrance.
Right on cue, a pattering sound resonated as raindrops began to fall.
Unfortunately, there was no roof over the space in front of the temple entrance.
“Hmm. First, Celia, change into maid attire and ask Leonhart to wait for a moment.”
“Understood, my Lady.”
“You can take your time changing into those clothes. Very, very slowly.”
A cruel smile touched Elise’s lips.
Understanding the underlying meaning instantly, Celia turned and left the room.
Elise kept her eyes fixed on the outside world as the wind and rain began to whip through the air.
Without even taking the time to grab an umbrella, Leonhart stood ramrod straight, absorbing the full brunt of the storm.
‘He has to hold onto me, no matter what.’
Though not quite a germaphobe, he was a man who paid meticulous attention to his appearance.
Yet right now, he needed to put on a pitiful display.
‘Even if it means resorting to methods he absolutely despises.’
Elise’s expression hardened even colder than before.
‘Because that’s the only way he can eventually put me on the pyre.’
Look at that gallant man, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his grand objective.
It was a sight so utterly revolting that it made her skin crawl.
Elise let out a dry, mocking laugh and slowly began walking toward the entrance.
As she stepped out into the temple lobby, the steady ticking of the grand grandfather clock at the center reached her ears.
Appreciating the rhythmic tick-tock as if listening to classical music, she descended the stairs with agonizing slowness.
After an unknown amount of time had passed…
“…Leon.”
The doors to the entrance burst open.
“Lady Elise…!”
Drenched to the bone like a drowned rat, Leonhart cautiously approached her.
“Whatever I did wrong, I am deeply sorry. Could you… give me just one more chance…?”
He trailed off piteously, putting on a miserable, woeful expression.
“Leon…!”
Yet, with tears welling up in her eyes, Elise threw her arms around his neck just as she was.
At that exact moment, a clap of thunder roared across the sky, and lightning struck right above the temple.
The shadows of the trees planted around the temple stretched across her back, casting the silhouette of massive wings behind her.
Before anyone realized, the Saintess—now bearing dark wings like those of a fallen angel—was wearing a wickedly sinister smile upon her sacred face.
