Chapter 62: It Must Be Their Lies

The Saintess left the underground cell filled with murderous intent and resentment, but suddenly, as if remembering something, she pinched her own cheeks, trying to make herself look kinder.

“You can do this, Saintess.”

She muttered to herself.

Yet the moment Philina’s face flashed across her mind, her eyes widened uncontrollably, radiating terrifying killing intent. 

She simply could not suppress this hatred, this loathing that came from the very bottom of her heart.

“Why… why does everyone have to lie to me? Why do they tell such lies? Even Simona believes them…”

She punched the thick prison wall with a THUD. 

The impact made her delicate wrist ache, further darkening her expression.

Laughter and cheerful conversation drifted down from the staircase above, as if a pleasant party were in full swing. 

Some of the elite knights and powerful priests regarded this expedition as an opportunity; they chatted and laughed, making friends from all over the world, naturally accompanied by wine and revelry.

As she climbed the steps, several knights were talking animatedly.

“Did you hear? There’s a vineyard up ahead. Once the war’s over, we’ll buy some wine to bring back to the estate…”

“You’re a priest from the Southern Continent? How rare!”

“There’s a duel upstairs. Wonder if that strongest priest is any good—can the Thunder Saint beat her?”

But the moment the Saintess approached, the knights immediately fell silent and glanced at her with fearful eyes.

She was long accustomed to those strange looks.

Her terrifying strength was only one reason.

Her harsh management of the Knight Orders and the clergy had earned her plenty of resentment, especially regarding the prophecy of the Heavenly Hammer Sage, on which she had voiced many opinions.

For example: only the strongest could become the Goddess.

Thus, many high-ranking members of the Church accused her of abusing holy authority, though most of these weaklings dared not voice their complaints to her face.

After all, as the mightiest beneath the Holy Queen and above the Four Saints, the Saintess rarely met an opponent capable of defeating her.

While she was thinking this, a blue-short-haired knight approached. 

The golden insignia on his chest signified his rank.

“Captain of the Third Knight Order, Valenk. What business do you have with me?”

“Lady Saintess.”

The man called Valenk bowed first.

“Miss Philina arbitrarily decided Lady Ice Saint’s stay or departure, throwing the Knight Orders into chaos. However, I believe her crime is not unforgivable.”

“Oh?”

“If Miss Philina were to relinquish her position in the Knight Order… it might bring greater stability to humanity.”

“…”

The Saintess merely stared into his eyes and said scornfully, “You simply want to replace Philina and Elsa to become the new Grand Commander, don’t you, Valenk?”

“Heh…” 

Knowing he couldn’t fool this dangerous Saintess, Valenk smiled. 

“Well, there isn’t exactly a better candidate, is there?”

The Saintess had no intention of answering, yet Valenk kept talking. 

“You yourself said that only the strongest female warrior can become the Goddess. I believe you are the strongest beneath the Holy Queen—the Goddess who brings hope to humanity.”

But the Saintess only gave the Third Knight Captain Valenk a frigid glance.

“The position of Goddess belongs to the Silver-White Sword Empress.”

“Yet we both know Lady Silver-White Sword Empress is already dead, don’t we? That must be a demonic trick to deceive humanity.”

“…”

The Saintess said no more. Returning to her room, she knelt on her bed.

She recalled Philina’s words—those lies—replaying the descriptions over and over in her mind.

Gabriella, appearing in the Demon King’s Castle.

Gabriella, brainwashed by the Demon King and turned into a slave?

Her eyes dimmed; her expression gradually crumbled.

“Are you really still alive? Really… haha… impossible, impossible…”

She pulled a box from beneath her pillow and slowly opened it. 

Inside were countless portraits of a certain female knight.

Long silver-white hair, deep blue eyes, a gentle smile.

In the portraits, she held a black sword.

Only then did the Saintess’s brows relax; the corners of her mouth lifted into a smile.

“Lady Gabriella… Lady Gabriella~ No one but you can ever be the Goddess. I’ll keep the position for you forever.”

…

Warm sunset rays bathed the young girl’s ice-blue long hair. 

Snow and ice condensed into a lily, scattering warm orange light, as if a beautiful snowflake had gently fallen onto her hair.

Long, beautiful legs wrapped in white stockings tangled with another equally alluring pair. 

A few strands of silver hair brushed against her shoulder and neck. 

On the rumpled bedding, both girls’ faces were flushed a faint pink.

“I couldn’t do anything… I failed… why…”

“It’s not Tina’s fault.”

Elsa whispered softly into her ear, one hand gently stroking the dark triangle mark on Tina’s forehead, forcing the girl to curl deeper into her embrace, pampering her as she listened to her voice.

That once-trained body was healthy yet voluptuous. 

The sharp aura Elsa once possessed as Grand Commander seemed to have been completely replaced by softness and obedience. 

Those deep blue demonic eyes had long become the hallmark of this demon.

“Elsa, I…” 

Tina, once known as the Ice Saint, could only accept Elsa’s caresses. 

A dark power coiled around the other’s fingertips, slowly flowing into the black triangle on her forehead.

“Ahh… I…”

Tina, whose expressions and emotions had always been subdued, let out an evocative, breathy moan. 

The continuous stream of dark power soothed her shattered heart, causing a dark flower to bloom within her tear-filled eyes.

An inverted dark triangle appeared in her pupils. 

Tina’s curled-up body pressed even harder into Elsa’s warm embrace. 

She lifted her head, pressing closer to the fingers transmitting power, desperately absorbing the energy of 【Shadow】.

“Does it feel a little better now?”

“Yes… it feels… really good…”

Tina murmured.

Yet Philina’s plea for help still tore at her heart.

Betrayed by humanity, imprisoned by the Saintess—no one believed her.

Were humans truly still worth trusting?

Lady Gabriella…

“Why… have you been staying with me so much lately, Lady Grand Commander?” 

Tina asked softly.

These past few days, her relationship with Elsa had become… rather intimate.

They had even slept in the same bed last night.

Tina didn’t understand why Miss Elsa had suddenly become so affectionate.

But Elsa, behind her, merely smiled sweetly. 

“Big Sister told me to take care of you. There’s no way I’d let Miss Tina suffer.”

Seven parts spoiling, three parts anger colored Elsa’s voice.

“That’s also why Big Sister chose the demons, you know~ Miss Tina, why don’t you become a demon together with me?”