“Why can’t you believe it? That the great Raphael Lloyd Siegfried was imprisoned here just the same?”

Amelia could only bite her lip and remain silent at the Emperor’s mocking attitude. She wanted to call it a lie, but she knew the truth. She remembered what he had told her before: that the imperial family had kidnapped young Raphael and tried to kill him.

So, he had been imprisoned here. It was a prison meant for Siegfried, so perhaps it was only natural.

“Even if he’s mixed with half, he seems to be better. He doesn’t die easily.”

“…If I get out of here, I will kill you.”

Amelia screamed at the Emperor’s nonchalant tone as he expressed his desire to kill Leonel. She could only hope that the imperial blood would give Leonel strength, as the Emperor had mentioned. Fortunately, although Leonel looked pale, he didn’t seem to be in severe pain. His breathing had weakened a bit, but…

“How dare you consort with a filthy monster, not knowing your place.”

“The filthy monster is you. Kendrick Russell Khalid, the demon who killed his father and brother!”

“Not only did you taint noble blood, but you also…”

She didn’t even know what a filthy monster was supposed to be. To her eyes, the Emperor looked far more vile. Why should she be treated so poorly just because of the name Siegfried? Moreover, Kendrick had no right to point fingers at anyone. He had ascended the throne using the most despicable and vile methods.

The Emperor had already killed three people. He had probably killed many more in secret. Yet no one knew the Emperor’s secrets. To the empire’s citizens, the current Emperor was a pitiable man who had lost his brother and father before ascending the throne.

“I never knew imperial blood was so noble. I don’t need this silver hair and purple eyes at all.”

She truly didn’t need them. If these were the only things that identified her, it meant that the imperial family had nothing other than silver hair and purple eyes.

“You’re… out of your mind.”

“Did I bring me back because you didn’t kill me properly the first time? As soon as you found out I was alive?”

He had kidnapped her to ensure her complete removal. Unfortunately, Leonel got caught up in it. It was all her fault. She shouldn’t have trusted Enoch…

“Let Leonel go. Your original goal was to capture only me.”

Amelia’s fate didn’t seem to be long anyway. Her body was one that could die without receiving holy power daily. Moreover, the imperial family was determined to kill her again. It was a wonder she had survived this long.

So that’s why she died early.

“I’ll sacrifice myself. Just let the child go. Siegfried won’t hold you accountable anymore.”

Raphael was a concern, but he would prefer Leonel to return alive. Leonel was an important heir to Siegfried.

“What are you talking about?”

“Let Leonel go…”

“Do you really believe I brought you back to kill you?”

Is that… not it? No matter how she thought about it, that was the only explanation. The Emperor’s reaction when he found out she was alive was evident. He was eager to kill her on the spot. If Raphael hadn’t arrived in time, who knows what would have happened.

“I wouldn’t kill my precious sister.”

“…….”

“I always thought of you.”

As the Emperor approached her with a disgusting demeanor, Amelia grabbed Leonel and stepped back into the prison. She felt a revolting sensation spread through her body. She didn’t want to touch him at all.

“Stop saying nonsense.”

The Emperor was a skilled actor. He could create any face he wanted at any time. To the empire’s citizens, he was a pitiable man, and to the nobles, he showed a dignified presence. The way he suddenly changed his face and tried to persuade her made her feel like vomiting again.

“It’s true. I was more heartbroken than anyone when I heard you were dead.”

But no matter how well he acted, there were parts he couldn’t hide. His murky purple eyes, full of greed, revealed everything. Eyes hold a lot about a person. The Emperor’s eyes had become increasingly murky with all the dirty deeds he had done.

Even now, his eyes were filled with greed as he looked at her. No matter what kind smile he wore, it couldn’t be hidden.

“You must become a saintess for me.”

***

It was true that he never intended to hide his greed from the start. The Emperor quickly revealed his purpose. He seemed to feel there was no need to be cautious with her already imprisoned.

“Unfortunately, I’m not a saintess.”

Asking her to become a saintess was an impossible request. What Kendrick needed most was a saintess. He was the only Emperor without a saintess and was mocked for it. That’s why he gave the Crown Prince position to Aaron, who had brought a saintess.

“Didn’t Enoch tell you? I can’t even become a priest, let alone a saintess.”

“There’s no need to lie to me.”

She wasn’t lying. If she could become a saintess, she would use that as leverage to demand Leonel’s release. But unfortunately, Amelia couldn’t become a saintess.

“Is there a saintess who can’t gather holy power?”

“I don’t know why you’re trying to deceive me with such nonsense.”

“It’s true. This body can’t hold holy power or mana.”

Did Enoch infuse her with holy power today? She was too disoriented to remember. He had repeatedly warned her that she would collapse again if she didn’t receive holy power at a set time every day.

“My mana core is broken. That’s why I was receiving holy power from the high priest every day.”

The Emperor’s face contorted more and more. It seemed Enoch hadn’t told him this. Enoch didn’t fully trust the Emperor and the Crown Prince either.

“Don’t try to deceive me with lies!”

“You were deceived by the high priest. Otherwise, why would I meet him every day?”

Amelia raised her voice with more confidence. The Emperor’s ever-changing expressions were worth seeing.

“Why do you think Raphael allowed a priest into Siegfried Castle?”

“Such a person cannot exist! A broken core!”

Was it that surprising? She still couldn’t fully grasp the severity of her condition.

“Well. Maybe your body got damaged while escaping death.”

If that were the case, it made sense. Was the character of Amelia really just an extra? It was unbelievable that a character with such hidden secrets only appeared by name.

“If I don’t receive it even for a day, I’ll collapse. And if I miss the timing, I’ll fall into an eternal sleep and die.”

“…….”

“Did I receive today’s holy power? The high priest brought me here so quickly that I can’t remember.”

The Emperor couldn’t kill her. He didn’t bring her back to kill her again. In that case, it was better to change the plan.

“I might become a living corpse after all the trouble you did capturing me.”

“You think I’ll believe that!”

The Emperor, seemingly very angry, grabbed the iron bars so hard that they felt like they might break. She could feel the bars of the prison trembling. It seemed that outside forces could impact the prison. Or perhaps it was something only the imperial family could do.

“Believe what you want.”

What was certain was that the Emperor was shaken. Amelia could feel warmth returning to Leonel’s hand, which she was holding. His condition was definitely improving compared to when they first entered the prison.

Amelia didn’t believe that Raphael couldn’t find this place. He was a man who could find her no matter where she went. If she couldn’t be found in Siegfried, Raphael would certainly appear. However, she couldn’t help but feel anxious. She fiddled with the ring on her finger.

“That’s your last trick, huh.”

The Emperor gave a sinister smile. She had let her anxiety show.

“We’ll know if it’s true when we go to the temple. And I won’t release your son. There’s no way I’d let go of a Siegfried that rolled in on its own. I can finally end the wretched line of Siegfried.”

“Do you think I’ll become a saintess for you?”

“You have no choice!”

The Emperor seemed utterly mad. She couldn’t understand why he was so desperate for a saintess. Wasn’t it just about living in the temple and receiving the goddess’s oracle?

“I failed to kill Raphael Lloyd Siegfried, but at least with your son…”

At that moment, Kendrick’s body was flung far away. To be precise, it was pushed away by some force.

“Ugh…!”

“…Didn’t I tell you? If you want to live, stay quiet.”

It was hard to see in the darkness, but someone was stepping on the fallen Emperor’s face, speaking with a growl that seemed like it was about to explode.

“Raphael!”

It wasn’t just because the voice was the same. She had a feeling the person in front of her was Raphael. She didn’t know why, but she felt it.

“Haha! Finally, all the members from that day are here.”

“Shut up.”

“Sister, do you want to know your real name? Aren’t you curious why you had to die?”

At the Emperor’s words, Amelia shook her head vehemently. She didn’t want to hear it. It felt like she shouldn’t hear it.

“No! I don’t want to!”

“Evelyn Russell Khalid! That’s your real name!”

No, that can’t be true.