Chapter 75

“And for the record, there are many ways I can get answers from you.”

“W-what…”

“Well, if you recall what the Emperor did in the book, you can probably guess easily, can’t you?”

It definitely wouldn’t be a bright, cheerful, or pleasant way.

“You, you… were you always like this?”

“No? How could I be?”

Who would go around threatening people to get the answers they want? It was only a short while ago that Edelis was terrified of what the Saintess might do to her. It was also Edelis who was afraid of her loving husband because he was the Emperor. But now, she was fearless. It felt like the long-suppressed emotions were finally bursting forth.

“How much I’ve had to live in fear all this time for you to think this is just a small thing.”

The Saintess, not having expected this side of Edelis, was flustered and couldn’t say a word.

“Then, I’ll just confirm a few things. If it’s hard to talk, you can just nod your head.”

“…”

“You took the book, didn’t you?”

“Do you have any proof of that?”

“You said that after I got the book and did something, the person who was supposed to be the Empress changed.”

“So?”

“That means you knew that I, who was the Empress in the book, was going to be removed from my position.”

“That’s just a guess.”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t know I was like this because I’m different from the me in the book?”

“You’re also very different from how you were with the Emperor.”

Why was she denying it even while stuttering? It seemed that admitting it would be the same as confessing to kidnapping a royal and commissioning a murder.

“How did you see something only the book’s owner can see? You’re not the owner of the book.”

“You’re not the owner of the book.”

“What are you talking about? That book was always mine.”

“Always? When is this ‘always’ you’re talking about?”

“Eight and a half years ago.”

The Saintess chuckled at Edelis’s answer. Based on her reaction, it seemed the Saintess had been the owner of the book for even longer than eight and a half years.

‘But how did it end up in my study?’

The conversation was going in circles, and Edelis was starting to lose her patience. She didn’t want to keep playing this word game.

“Elaine Ryned, why don’t you start talking? Before I resort to harsher methods.”

“You think the Holy Empire will just stand by if you do something like that to me?”

“All the circumstantial evidence points to you anyway.”

“You think it’s reasonable to lock up a Saintess with many followers based on just circumstantial evidence?”

“I thought it wasn’t possible either, but it turns out it is.”

The man she loved, the Emperor of this country, Lehan, said so. The Saintess still seemed unable to believe Edelis’s confident words.

“Are you planning to start a war with the Holy Empire?”

“I don’t want to start a war, but my husband seems to be open to the idea.”

“…That’s absurd.”

“He was so blinded by love that he even stabbed his own wife, the Empress, to death with a knife. You think he can’t do this?”

“That, that can’t be. Keirhan would never…”

The Saintess shook her head and mumbled, unable to believe it. And Edelis clearly heard her. The name of Lehan that came out of her mouth. The name ‘Keirhan,’ which she had never once called him. The Empress in the book was the same, but Edelis was different in that she called him by the pet name ‘Lehan.’

“Keirhan? You shouldn’t be calling the Emperor by his name so casually.”

Seeing the Saintess biting her lip, Edelis smiled even more brightly. Edelis felt a thrill from the changed fate of the two of them.

“It’s not just me who has questions. You must have some, too. Isn’t it more productive if we answer each other’s questions?”

“…”

“I already know you’re the culprit. Your denial here won’t change reality.”

The Saintess pondered Edelis’s words for a moment before finally speaking.

“Yes, that’s right. You’re trying to make me the culprit, and the Holy Empire will try to take me back, whether I actually committed the crime or not. And they will criticize the Empire for treating me as a criminal.”

“If you have no objections, shall we move on to the main point?”

Edelis wanted to finish the conversation before Lehan came, just in case. If Lehan came, the Saintess would surely avoid answering the questions again. The Saintess and Edelis, after arguing about who should ask first, made two rules. First, they would take turns asking one question each. They didn’t trust each other, so they feared that if one person asked all their questions, the other would not give a proper answer. Second, they would stop when one person had no more questions to ask. They agreed to this immediately because neither of them wanted to give away too much information. Third, they could refuse to answer a question. If a question was difficult to answer, they could refuse, but the other person could also refuse to answer. And if one person refused to answer more than twice, they would stop.

“Then I’ll ask first.”

“Fine.”

“How can you see the book?”

“Because I am the owner of the book.”

Edelis’s suspicion that the Saintess was the owner of the book before she got it seemed to be correct. If not, it would mean the ownership changed after she stole the book, which wouldn’t explain why Berman Pasis, who had the book, couldn’t read it. It seemed the ownership had to change completely, not just temporarily.

“My turn, right? How did you get the book?”

“There’s nothing to tell. It was just in my study.”

The Saintess laughed in disbelief, then seemed to be replaying Edelis’s words in her head, trying to deduce a hidden meaning, just as Edelis had done. The Saintess was pondering how the book ended up with Edelis, but for Edelis, it was just one of the books in her study, so there was nothing more to say.

“Why did you kidnap me?”

“To fix a distorted reality.”

“A distorted reality?”

“Yes, you’re supposed to be dead. I told you, we’ll all have a happy ending. You asked two questions, so I’ll ask two as well.”

Edelis almost cursed out loud. The first reason was that she had wasted a valuable question by asking for clarification. The second was that she remembered when the Saintess had said those words.

-In the end, there will be a happy ending.

It was when she was talking to the Saintess who had just arrived in the Empire before her marriage. At the time, she was excited about her unexpected marriage to Lehan, who cherished her. And it was almost the first time she had met the Saintess. But to think that the Saintess had been waiting for her death since then gave her goosebumps.

‘And I, not knowing any of this, thought she was blessing my wedding.’

“What did you do to change the future so much?”

“It’s not the future, it’s reality.”

“Just answer the question.”

“I won’t tell you.”

The Saintess’s expression hardened, and she glared fiercely at Edelis. But Edelis really didn’t want to say. She was worried that if she told the Saintess, who was trying to ‘fix a distorted reality,’ it might actually change back to what she had seen in the book.

‘It doesn’t hurt to be careful.’

“Is that how you’re going to be? It’s my turn to ask a question again.”

“…”

“Where is Berman Pasis?”

Ah. Edelis was at a loss for words. Of all the things to ask, why did she ask that?

“Are you trying to k…”

Edelis, who was about to ask if she was trying to kill him, clamped her mouth shut. If she asked that now, she would miss another opportunity to get information. There were still things she wanted to ask Berman Pasis, so whether the Saintess was trying to kill him or help him escape, it was all equally troublesome.

“He’s in a secret prison.”

“I already know he’s not in a regular dungeon.”

“The Saintess is now aware of the whereabouts of a foreign prisoner.”

“…So shouldn’t you tell me his exact location?”

“I can only say it’s a secret prison. It’s a hidden place, and… yes, for that reason.”

She almost gave away more information and quickly closed her mouth. Since when had she been so kind with her answers? This was enough.

“Then it’s my turn. How were you planning to show the princess to Berman Pasis?”

“I’ll pass on that.”

Damn it. The Saintess seemed quite surprised by Edelis’s unexpected question. But Edelis was too disappointed by the Saintess’s refusal to answer to even care.

‘If I knew how she lured him in, I could use that to get Berman Pasis to talk.’

But there was nothing she could do now that the Saintess had shut her mouth. They had skipped one question each, so if she refused to answer again, the conversation would be over.

“How did you win the Emperor’s heart?”

“It seems you’re asking this because I didn’t answer your question about how I changed the future.”

“…Yes.”

She couldn’t talk about getting Lehan out of the colosseum. That was the first step to changing the future.

“I never tried to win the Emperor’s heart.”

“Don’t lie.”

“It’s the truth. If I have to add one thing, the Emperor has always liked me.”

“I don’t believe you.”

If it was the Emperor, Edelis would have been disgusted, not trying to win his heart. And Lehan had said he liked her even before he became the Emperor, so it wasn’t a lie.

“Then it’s my turn.”

“I won’t answer.”

“I haven’t even asked the question yet?”

“No, I know I won’t get the answers I want, so there’s no point in continuing this Q&A.”

“Answers to change reality back to what you saw in the book?”

The Saintess didn’t answer and turned her head away. The Saintess probably confirmed the differences between the book and reality after kidnapping Edelis and then killed her as she had seen in the book. If the Emperor wouldn’t kill her, then she would do it with someone else’s hands.

“…Alright, then I’ll continue after I get the book.”

“You think you can find the book?”

“We’ll see about that.”

Edelis answered confidently and left the abandoned palace. The Saintess watched her leave, chewing on her nails in anxiety.

***

As Edelis stepped out, Lehan was standing there.

“Lehan?!”

“I was worried I would be a distraction.”

“Oh, that… thank you. I was planning to go to you first.”

“I couldn’t wait that long and came here.”

Edelis didn’t deny it, as she knew the conversation would have been difficult if Lehan had been there. Lehan just smiled and didn’t say anything. Grateful for his understanding, Edelis held his hand and leaned on his broad shoulder. Lehan chuckled softly and led her to the palace so she could rest.

“Did the conversation go well?”

“I still have a mountain of questions. I hope we find the book soon.”

“We’ve already strengthened security and are continuing the search, so we’ll find it soon.”

“Thank you so much. If I had tried to find the book now, it might have been too late.”

“Are you only going to thank me with words?”

“Why would I?”

Lehan chuckled at Edelis’s playful tone. But Lehan wouldn’t just laugh off Edelis’s words.

“Can I expect something?”

Edelis blushed and couldn’t answer readily, and her silence lingered.

“Can I… take your silence as a yes?”

“…”

Edelis gathered her courage and looked up at him. But behind Lehan, she saw people running from a distance. They were priests.

“Your Majesty! What is the meaning of this?!”