Chapter 224

Chapter 224

“You showed up even after all that. Are you looking down on us even though you’re a pathetic human?”

When I thought some aura was coming from Recaldo, he was already holding Eris’s throat. It happened so fast that I didn’t even realize he came to her.

“Eris!”

I ran quickly and pulled Recaldo’s wrist. He was so strong that it felt like pulling on Ridrian’s arm. But he looked at me. He looked at me in disbelief.

“This woman must have told you a bunch of lies too. But you still want to help her?”

Honestly, I couldn’t even guess how deep her story went. But I’ve indirectly witnessed her first life through the original novel and felt something after spending a few months with her. She tried to protect me at all costs and cared for me.

I answered Recaldo.

“She’s still my friend. Don’t touch her.”

“As you wish, dear saintess.”

Recaldo smiled and let go. Eris fell on the floor.

“Cough! Cough!”

I quickly tapped her back.

“Eris, are you all right?”

He looked at us interestingly and continued speaking.

“I was quite intrigued as she asked me to kill the emperor, who was the hero of the Empire at the time. I also was very interested in him, so I accepted.”

He continued while fiddling with the edge of a plate.

“So, when I visited the palace after a long time to check up on His Majesty, there you were. I thought I had lost you, but little did I know that’s where you had been. I remembered something, I decided to test you, and your response confirmed it. It was my first time seeing His Majesty so alert.”

I was wondering what he was talking about, but then I remembered.

‘That arrow, was it Recaldo that shot it?’

I remember when I almost died while going on a walk with Ridrian. I still felt a chill down my spine. The trace of demonic power Ravis talked about must have been Recaldo’s.

He shrugged his shoulders.

“I played around with a bunch of his dolls before to agitate him and he didn’t respond, but he responded immediately when I tried that with you. It was very interesting. I tested it a few times after that and became certain.”

Eris shouted at Recaldo.

“I asked you to kill His Majesty, not Iona! If I knew you knew about Iona, I wouldn’t have asked you!”

“I also said I’ll kill His Majesty, but the saintess. Well, in the end, this great situation was created.”

“You’re saying that after you almost killed Iona that many times?”

The near-death experiences that I had when I first entered the palace, it was all Recaldo.

“… You knew me from before?”

Recaldo squinted at my question. He looked satisfied, as if he was looking at a prey that was trapped.

“Why do you think that noble was so obsessed with you? Why do you think he made you sing the hymn?”

He asked questions instead of answering, but it was enough. I got chill looking at his smile.

‘He was in that ball? I couldn’t tell because of all the smoke from cigarettes and drugs.’

“I was paying attention since I saw you for the first time at Russen’s. I felt the hated power of Theres from a slave girl who wouldn’t smile. I was trying to keep you close but to think that the gentle Countess would take you somewhere else.”

He kicked his tongue. It’s been over five years since Young Count Russen became obsessed with me. Both Ridrian and I were being played by Recaldo.

“So, I didn’t think the key was right beside me. Isn’t this all the Goddess’s will?”

He hated Theres, yet he mentioned that it was the Goddess’s will.

“Do you think I’ll let you kill her!”

Eris growled as she grabbed the knife on the table. But Recaldo still looked at her as if she was pathetic.

“She’s a sacrifice anyway. She must have gotten emotions from Theres, but her fate as a doll was to die.”

Sacrifice? Doll? I felt rage as I heard these words.

“There is no such thing as fate!”

Both Eris and I shouted at the same time. We looked at each other for a moment. I started to refute Recaldo.

“If there’s such thing as fate, I’ll change it. I’m not some sort of doll.”

Whatever Theres arranged, whatever plans demons made, all we had to do was change it. I’ve already changed fate. And I already started dreaming about a new future with Ridrian. I wouldn’t let him be if he tried to take that away from me.

Eris also refuted this.

“The change has begun already. It’s our victory if we keep Iona from you. Don’t be a fool!”

As we looked like we were ready to fight, Recaldo thought it was unexpected, but he still smiled.

“Well, try your best. Saintess, you think it was your will that the emperor started loving you?”

“What?”

I flinched at his words. At that moment, a blue-haired man ran in.

“Sir! The key is already here!”

‘Rian is here?’

I didn’t know why he kept calling Ridrian the key, but it definitely meant him.

It seemed like my guess was correct.

“Did he bring others?”

“No, just him.”

“Hm, earlier than expected. Tell Ryuga to fortify the defense. We’ll just have to catch him and put him to sleep.”

“Yes, sir!”

He answered loudly and quickly disappeared. His movement truly was human-like.

Recaldo shrugged.

“He truly is a handful. He would just go berserk before he became the emperor, destroyed everything, and now arrived two days faster than expected.”

I was happy to see him look troubled. But he smiled again.

“Well, I did think this would happen. It’ll be a nice fight for the first time in a while.”

He came to me.

“Watch out!”

Eris tried to step in front of me, but she was too slow. He came in front of me and pulled me roughly.

‘Is he trying to kill me?’

Recaldo pushed me to the ground as I quickly tried to awaken my divine power.

“Ah!”

“Hm, your taste is interesting.”

“Iona!”

Eris came to me hurriedly. But I was more shocked about what was in Recaldo’s hand more than being pushed to the ground. No, I jumped.

‘The doll!’

It seemed like he knew what I was carrying.

“Well, I did glance at it when I was moving you, but it really doesn’t have a top. Good to see you acknowledging your instinct.”

‘No! It was something I made just for myself!’

I wasn’t that thick-faced so that I couldn’t shout it out loud, but I frowned and glared at him.

“Give it back!”

As I tried to get it back, Eris stopped me. Recaldo also smiled.

“Well, I’ll give it back if it’s ok for me to cut off your ear instead.”

I flinched. I realized that doll’s usage. He threw the doll in the air, caught it, and went towards the door. He must be going to greet Ridrian.

‘No! This is the demons’ base. Ridrian can’t fight them all on his own.’

If all demons are as strong as Recaldo? I bit my finger nervously. I wanted to go and help him.

He stopped at the door.

“Ah, I’m telling you this just in case, but it’ll be best if you stay here quietly. The demons aren’t used to humans like you, so they can’t always control their power. Wouldn’t it be painful if something breaks?”

We both flinched at his words. There was a reason why they were so relaxed on guarding. Those red and blue kids must be our watch. I shouted at him.

“Rian will make it here for sure.”

He scoffed.

“It feels like I’ll be