Before Gabrielle ever crossed into this world, she had believed it was a straightforward game world. She had only “crashed” at the final moment by losing to the Demon King after she became the Evil God. Looking at everything now, the truth was far more complicated than she had ever imagined.
Isabella had always been the Evil God. And Simona, as the true “protagonist” of this game, naturally possessed talent no ordinary person could match.
It felt as though countless coincidental threads all connected to the core named Simona, and her existence seemed to reflect a number of terrifying truths.
The Era of the Evil Tree. The Apostles who opposed the Heavenly God. The mysterious Abyss Bishop. The suspicious movements of the awakened Heavenly Envoys. Letitia. The fallen civilizations.
The Evil Tree itself. The girl who had fallen beneath it. The judgment of Heavenly God Cress. And the Doomsday Bell.
Event after event became puzzle pieces, slowly assembling into a complete story.
A cold wind pulled Gabrielle’s thoughts back to the present. Only then did she realize spring had already arrived; the warm sunlight made a strange chill run down her spine. Suddenly her right hand was tightly gripped by Isabella, as if the other woman could read the panic in her heart.
“It’s alright. No matter what happens from now on, I’ll protect you.”
Gabrielle placed her other hand over Isabella’s warm one and let out a long, relieved breath.
“You still have to take responsibility for me. I’ll stay with you and solve these problems together.”
“Of course I’ll take responsibility. After all, Gabrielle belongs to me from the inside out~”
They smiled at each other.
“Idiot.”
Gabrielle rested her head against Isabella’s shoulder and nuzzled closer. Isabella’s arm circled around her back, fingers gently stroking the soft flesh at her waist as the two of them drew tighter together.
Hertitz watched them, a faint flush rising on her own face. She stared at God Maiden Gabrielle in disbelief, her mind automatically filling in the nature of their relationship.
Personal maid, clinging to each other, and now doing this in broad daylight.
Next would probably be kissing, deep kissing, and then the kinds of things that only happened behind closed doors.
“Um… you two are…”
“Don’t misunderstand, Lady Flame Saint.”
Isabella offered her a small smile. The look in her eyes was less an explanation and more a quiet warning that said, Don’t tell anyone about this, or else.
Hertitz obediently nodded, her interest in the girl in front of her only growing. That golden hair streaked with deep purple always felt strangely familiar, as if she had seen this Royal Knight Captain somewhere before.
Yet no matter how hard she thought, the memory slipped away. She only knew the girl looked somehow familiar.
After Isabella finally released her, Gabrielle felt heat spreading through her body—not only her demon body, but her Holy Body reacting as well.
There were still no outward signs of corruption, yet her dislike for Isabella kept shrinking.
Even when she forced herself to hate the girl, the only answer that rose up was affection.
She had completely lost to her.
Seeing the two of them return to normal, the Flame Saint chose not to press about their true relationship. She only formed a bold guess in her heart.
Could it be that Lady Gabrielle had simply used her authority to claim a girl she liked?
After their missions vanished, several Heavenly Envoys had already found partners. But they only chose among their own kind. None of them had ever included humans, and none of those relationships had ever become this intimate.
The strange atmosphere was finally broken by Isabella, who asked seriously, “Why can’t Letitia handle this herself? If she is a king, then anything you can think of, she should be able to think of as well…”
“It’s fine. I’m sorry for being rude…”
Hertitz shook her head with an awkward smile. “I know Letitia is strong. This is just in case~ She’s a kind girl. The moment she realizes I’m missing she’ll come looking. If she accidentally falls into a trap, one wrong step could mean lifelong regret.”
“Then it’s decided. Hertitz, you’ll stay here. If Cress finds out, it won’t end well.”
“I understand.” Hertitz nodded, gratitude clear in her eyes.
Gabrielle and Isabella exchanged a glance and both nodded.
Although she had agreed out loud, Gabrielle still had her own plans.
Hertitz had said it clearly: the Heavenly Envoys’ final goal was still the elimination of the Evil God. Right now their mission focused on the Church and Heavenly God Cress, but the spear would soon turn toward the Evil God herself.
They would use quiet, gradual methods to seize control of this world. In the end, the peace they sought—just like the peace humans always preached—would be built on the death of the Evil God.
Everyone seemed to hold an excessive prejudice against her.
None of them understood that the destruction of this world and the ringing of the Doomsday Bell had nothing to do with the Evil God at all.
Isabella had never wanted to destroy the world. She was not a villain. As Demon King she had remained quiet and never once planned to invade human lands. Since explaining was useless, the only option was to handle things in a more careful way.
A few minutes later, at Gabrielle’s suggestion, Isabella took her by the arm and led her toward Cress’s bedroom.
Gabrielle approached carefully and knocked three times on the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Come in.”
To their surprise, the voice that answered belonged to Olivia.
They stepped inside and gently closed the door behind them. Only then did they see the scene.
Cress lay on the rumpled bed. Her legs, sheathed in white stockings, were pressed tightly together and trembling faintly. Her neat maid apron was in disarray, revealing more of her stockinged thighs. One hand covered her eyes while the other remained tightly interlaced with Olivia’s. The face that should have been as cold as a glacier had melted; rosy skin showed through, and her body radiated a soft, inviting heat.
Looking at Olivia kneeling beside the bed, both of them immediately understood.
Just as Gabrielle opened her mouth to say “Excuse us” and leave, Cress slowly sat up. She still did not dare to meet Gabrielle’s eyes.
“Daughter… what is it, my Gabrielle?” Olivia asked with a smile.
“May I ask what business you have with me?”
To be honest, both Gabrielle and Isabella had assumed Olivia had come to discuss work, or simply to talk.
Cress was a Heavenly God. She was not as easy to “conquer” as those other foolish Heavenly Envoys.
Gabrielle had always believed Cress’s fall was only a matter of time.
She just hadn’t expected it to exceed expectations this thoroughly.
Olivia had already taken Cress.