The Emperor of the Ionia Empire was famous for many reasons. Especially for his cruel nature, which contrasted with his angelic appearance.

Artia, witnessing Klaus’s true nature firsthand, realized what those rumors meant.

The choices he offered, seemingly considerate, would only leave wounds no matter which was chosen.

And he was enjoying the scene from a distance.

Artia bit her lip. If that’s what he wanted, she could just go along with it.

“I…”

“Sun of the Empire, would this old man’s life not suffice? I beg you.”

But Evan spoke up first, seemingly trying to stop her. He squeezed out his voice and pleaded.

Despite Evan’s desperate plea, Klaus counted in an indifferent voice.

“Then there are 9 left.”

Just as Artia was about to stand up, unable to watch anymore, Jane, who was next to her, pulled her hand and made her sit down again.

She shook her head a couple of times at Artia, then stood up.

“Jane.”

“Take my life as well.”

But before she could be stopped, Jane raised her hand to volunteer. Following her lead, priests from all over the cathedral stood up and raised their hands.

The priests who stood up one by one had resolute expressions.

Watching this, Artia’s face was filled with sadness and deep despair.

Klaus, who had been observing the situation, looked at them with a somewhat displeased expression and then burst into a sneer.

It was understandable that he wasn’t pleased. The scene he wanted was probably one where they fought and tore at each other.

“Truly a beloved Saintess. Well, a promise is a promise.”

Klaus stood up and drew his sword. And just as the sword was about to strike Evan’s neck.

“I will go.”

“…Artia!”

Jane, who was next to her, tried to stop her. Artia stood up, handing the tear-stained child to Jane.

They were her family who had raised her since she was an orphaned baby. Rather than living alone after losing such precious people, it was better to die by the Emperor’s hand.

If everyone could live because of it, she could even accept it gladly. The priests who wanted to sacrifice themselves probably felt the same way.

“Please take me.”

“With everyone clamoring to be taken, it’s hard to choose which side to pick.”

Klaus was clearly smiling as he said this. While he had been hoping for this outcome, his expression as he weighed human lives to decide which was better was utterly detestable.

Artia steadied her trembling voice and said to him.

“…Wouldn’t it be better to avoid unnecessary bloodshed?”

Klaus nodded and agreed with Artia’s words.

“That’s right. You’re correct. Then shall we avoid unnecessary bloodshed as per the Saintess’s opinion?”

A quiet sigh of relief escaped from her lips.

‘Yes, this will do.’

Thinking there were no regrets about her choice, she followed Klaus, leaving behind the worried gazes of those around her.

But at that time, she didn’t know.

That from the beginning, none of the choices Klaus offered included a condition to save everyone.

That day, Klaus quietly ordered the following soldier. To kill everyone left in the temple, not leaving even a single mouse.

She realized this fact a few days after the academic festival.

Although it was a life with all actions restricted, there was one thing allowed to her. Writing letters to her family.

The letters, which were her only reason and driving force to endure life, were numerous enough to fill several books, but there was never a single reply.

Finally, tired of waiting, she asked Klaus about the well-being of the people at the temple.

“I’m worried that maybe the letters aren’t reaching the temple. I’m also curious if everyone is doing well.”

“Ah, come to think of it… I forgot to tell you.”

Klaus, who started like this, was smiling at her. Feeling somewhat creeped out, Artia gently stroked her arm and asked again.

“Did you perhaps forget about the letters?”

“No. It’s not that… Your family is already all dead.”

Even when talking about the death of a complete stranger, one couldn’t be so indifferent. And these weren’t just anyone… Weren’t they the people he had promised to spare in exchange for bringing her here?

“…That, that can’t be. You clearly said you would spare them back then.”

“Well. I don’t think I made such a promise.”

Tears and a hollow laugh burst out.

She had endured hellish days thinking that even if she was here, they would be free from Klaus’s shadow. But now it seemed he was even bored of seeing her like this.

Given that he was revealing this fact.

Artia, struggling in endless despair, finally decided to escape. Because there was no reason to remain captive anymore.

But even that escape was just a trap set by Klaus.

Despite countless resentments and falling into despair, she had held on to the one thread of hope he gave, but he once again pushed her into an endless abyss.

And so, on the day when even Ilion disappeared, Artia finally took her own life. In front of Klaus, cursing him.

However, she found herself back on the day when Bellion surrendered to the Ionia Empire, when she thought she had died.

At first, she thought it was a dream. That she was dreaming because she missed it so much.

But the scenery outside the window wasn’t a dream. She wouldn’t want to meet the soldiers approaching in the distance, raising dust clouds, even in a dream.

For some reason, it seemed she had returned to that terrible past.

The moment she realized this, Artia hurriedly evacuated the people of the temple. Klaus was not a person who could be persuaded through dialogue.

For his own amusement, he regarded others’ lives as less than insects.

Although confused, the priests began to evacuate one by one, seeing Artia’s serious expression.

Among the fleeing people, a young child approached and grabbed Artia’s skirt.

“Sister Artia, I can’t find Ricky.”

“Ricky?”

“Yes. We were playing hide-and-seek earlier, but I think he’s still hiding.”

Why at a time like this. Even though she knew it wasn’t the child’s fault, Artia couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

She handed the young child to Jane, instructing her to flee first, and returned to the temple to thoroughly check every room.

“Ricky! Ricky!”

“…Sister Artia?”

After running through the entire temple, she finally found Ricky inside a small room.

As she hurriedly tried to escape with Ricky, the clanking sound of metal armor was heard close by.

The rough footsteps once again opened the cathedral doors and barged in, and Artia hid with Ricky inside the small room.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be a temple? There’s not a single person here.”

The familiar, languid voice brought back memories of the past. It felt like she couldn’t breathe even while standing still.

“Strange. I was told the Saintess would be here. Did she run away?”

The heavy metal sound echoed on the temple floor. Artia covered Ricky’s mouth as she heard footsteps passing right in front of them.

If only he would lose interest and leave…

“Search every nook and cranny to see if there’s anyone.”

But Klaus didn’t move according to her wishes. Just as the soldiers were about to move at his command,

“What brings you here?”

Evan stepped forward to block him.

Wasn’t he supposed to have fled with the others? Artia was just as surprised by Evan’s sudden appearance.

“Ah, are you a priest here? I heard the Saintess was here, so I came to see, but is it always this empty?”

Klaus asked Evan casually.

“Everyone left the temple after hearing the news of surrender.”

“That was quick. And you?”

“I thought an old man like me would only be a burden if I went along, so I stayed behind.”

Klaus nodded and smiled at Evan’s words.

“So everyone fled except for you. But you know, I’ve been hearing strange noises from over there.”

As he said this, Klaus turned his head to look at the small room.

His blue eyes seemed to pierce through the wall and look right at her. Artia hurriedly covered her mouth.

“Well. It’s probably just rats scurrying about.”

“Then shall we check if it’s a rat or a person?”

Saying this, Klaus drew his sword.

However, the tip of the sword was pointed not at the small room, but at Evan.

He was urging Artia to come out on her own.

“There really is no one. Just me alone.”

“I’ll be the judge of that, so you be quiet.”

“If you don’t believe me, kill this old man.”

Artia bit her lip. Evan had revealed himself to Klaus to protect her.

And by deliberately irritating Klaus, he was signaling her not to come out.

She found herself at another crossroads of choice. The past where she couldn’t save anyone. And the reality where she would lose Evan before her eyes once again.

Just when she thought she could finally escape that hell, a hell no different from it was unfolding in the reality she returned to.

Artia whispered quietly to Ricky.

“No matter what happens outside, you must never come out. Understand?”

Ricky nodded at her words, and Artia opened the door and came out. And Klaus welcomed her as if he had been waiting for her.

“So there was someone after all.”

“Now that I’ve come out, please put away your sword.”

“Of course. But before that…”

Klaus, answering like that, casually swung his raised sword. Following the trajectory of the sword, bright red blood poured out.

“E-Evan!”

“Shouldn’t he receive punishment for lying?”

Why didn’t she know he was that kind of person? Knowing this, Artia still revealed herself before him.

If she would be discovered anyway even if she hid, she wanted to save Evan before that.

But Artia realized how clumsy her choice had been. The man before her was not someone who could negotiate or make deals.

All he wanted was to watch human despair.