Hilda''s breath caught in her throat, and she felt the color drain from her cheeks as Sir Darius suddenly appeared before her.


    "S-Sir Darius," she stammered, disbelief etched across her features. The paladin stood tall, a striking figure, clutching a radiant beaded necklace that glimmered in the dim light—a mirror image of her own—and its luminous beads pointed unwaveringly in her direction.


    ''Huh? What’s happening? My bracelet is radiating light! Did the Prophet gift me this to keep tabs on me?'' Hilda pondered, a mix of intrigue and unease surging through her.


    Darius had an angry expression, "You left the lobby without permission, Princess... You''re lucky that we aren''t in our homeland. Otherwise, you would be severely punished," Darius hissed.


    "Y-Yes, Sir, but I—"


    "Shut up and come here," Darius barked, his voice cutting through the air like a knife.


    Hilda fell silent and quickly stood up for the bench, her gaze fixed firmly on the ground. She then made her way to her bodyguard, her steps quick and tentative.


    From her position, Rya observed the scene unfold. She could see the tumult of fear and shame swirling in the princess’s eyes, but her attention was drawn more to the imposing figure of the paladin standing nearby.


    ''Yeah... Different man but has the same bullshit attitude. Just as bad as I remembered... I don''t know if I can hold myself back from killing these assholes. I wish it was that prick Claudius, but this Paladin will do... But what should I do about this princess? Rah! Leave her alone. She''s a victim of these assholes,'' Rya thought. Rya felt a seething hatred churning within her, yet she managed to maintain an icy composure as she rose gracefully from the bench.


    Darius shot her a disdainful glance, his eyes narrowing at the sight of her revealing dress. In his homeland, such attire would not go unpunished.


    “Tsk! These Fiafyrian women really ought to know their place when it comes to approaching our Princess,” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “Come, Princess Hilda. It''s time we meet your husband.”


    Rya felt a surge of anger rise within her as the paladin casually said that Hilda was going to meet her fiancé. ''How dare he!''


    Hilda turned to Rya, her expression a mix of hesitation and resolve. "Yes, Sir," she replied, casting a quick glance back at Rya. "Goodbye..."


    Rya barely noticed Hilda''s sorrowful response as she stood rooted in place, her heart racing. She watched them turn to leave, but she couldn''t let the paladin walk away without a word. No, not after that. Taking a deep breath, she readied herself to confront him.


    "Excuse me? But are you a paladin from the Divine Three?" Rya called out.


    Sir Darius halted abruptly; irritation etched across his features. He spun around, his expression darkening further.


    "Why do you wish to know, wench," Darius replied curtly, giving her a nasty look.


    Hilda''s concern deepened. She could sense the tension rising, and she feared that Darius might unleash something reckless in his fury.


    "Well... I''ve encountered your type before," Rya said, her tone sharp as a blade. "I didn''t want to assume you were like him, but the way you treat both your Princess and me leaves little doubt."


    Darius tossed his head back in a sneer, annoyance boiling beneath the surface. "I don’t have time to chat with a sheltered wench like you," he spat, prepared to turn away.


    But Rya’s voice slid in like silk, "Have you ever met Sir Claudius?" she asked, her tone laced with an enticing allure.


    Instantly, Darius’s irritation faded, replaced by a flicker of curiosity mingled with caution. Sir Claudius was a man of legendary renown within the holy order, revered for his righteousness during the purging of the unfaithful. Yet, he had vanished on a crusade against the Dark Elves, and whispers of his deeds had faded into myth as he and his paladins hadn''t finished their mission. How could this insufferable girl possibly know him?


    "Yes... He is the strongest of the order," Darius stated proudly. "If you have met him, then you are very fortunate."


    "Oh, yes, I was VERY fortunate to meet him... Where is he now?" Rya asked, wanting to know what that bastard was up to.


    "I don''t have the time nor the patience for this... Come, Princess," Darius growled and started walking off.


    "Is that because you are a coward or because you have something to hide, Paladin?" Rya''s voice cut through the air, sharp and challenging.


    Sir Darius, not one to back down easily, felt his temper flare as he turned to face her once more. But as he did, an unsettling realization washed over him. Her skin was a deep, rich brown, smooth and unblemished, radiating an almost ethereal quality. His gaze was drawn to her striking platinum-white hair, a stark contrast that only added to her allure. In that moment, unease settled in his chest. He couldn''t shake the feeling that this woman was not someone to be trifled with.


    ''That can''t be natural,'' he thought, ''And there''s something...off about her.''


    “Oh? I have your attention now, do I?” Rya said, her voice smooth, a playful glint dancing in her azure eyes. “Well then, tell me, what has Sir Claudius been up to since the last time I saw him? It must be over a month ago."


    "He''s on a mission from the Divine Ones... He''s wiping the planet clean of those who follow the dark ones," Darius boasted as his unease continued to grow, "He''s a powerful warrior and is the pride of the Order."


    Rya raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. “Oh really? So he''s still out there hunting the dark elves, is he? He must not be as remarkable as you claim if he hasn''t returned yet…”


    The atmosphere crackled with tension as Darius locked his gaze with Rya''s mesmerizing azure eyes. The white knights around them were caught in a whirlwind of confusion, unsure of what was about to unfold. Darius, unyielding, slowly lifted his hand toward the hilt of his sword, a silent declaration that sent shivers through the air. Meanwhile, Hilda''s heart raced, and her worry for Rya''s safety grew, sensing the storm brewing in the space between them.


    “Sir Darius? We should really leave her be—”


    “Princess... Run... Now!” Darius hissed, his voice low and urgent as he unsheathed his sword.


    Panic surged through Hilda as she sensed the tension crackling in the air. The fierce determination in Darius''s eyes warned her that a storm was brewing. The white knights followed their captain’s lead, swords drawn and ready for anything.


    Rya stood firm, a dangerous glint in her narrowed eyes as she summoned her mana, a swirling energy gathering around her.


    “What’s happening?!” Hilda gasped, her heart racing at the uncertainty of it all.


    “Run, now!” Darius shouted, his fierce gaze fixated on the enigmatic woman before them. A heavy air of danger hung between them, crackling with tension.


    “I’ve always wondered what I’d do if I encountered another paladin like Sir Claudius,” Rya replied, her voice laced with a dark amusement. “Seeing you brings him to mind... You know, he slaughtered countless under the banner of your foolish gods. I was different back then—naive, perhaps. But I’ve grown stronger, and I refuse to make the same mistakes. It seems I’ll finally get a chance to test my skills against one of your kind,” she added, her smirk deepening.


    Hilda felt her stomach drop. The warm-hearted companion she once knew was gone, replaced by a figure who exuded danger and a palpable thirst for blood.


    ''What’s happening? I can’t make sense of this!'' Hilda’s mind raced, confusion washing over her.


    With deliberate slowness, Rya pulled back the black shawl that had veiled her head. Her long, silvery hair spilled out, revealing pointed ears that marked her as something otherworldly.


    Hilda''s breath caught in her throat, her face draining of color. “You... you’re a dark elf?” she stammered, disbelief flooding her senses.


    "Yes... I am a dark elf, and I''m a survivor of one of your massacres. I think I''ll have a bit of fun with that Paladin and his two knights," Rya stated.


    "Like hell, you will! Get her!" Darius ordered as the three of them charged in her direction.


    Rya had a grudge against the Paladin and his ilk ever since they almost killed her, and she would have been if it wasn''t for Hiro sacrificing himself by using a teleportation spell that drained all his mana and turned him into dust. So she didn''t have to hold back anymore. She didn''t have any reason to show them mercy as her Azure eyes lit up from her mana, and she used her Darkly Earth magic to create a spike that pierced the Paladin through the chest, halting his charge.


    The white knights stopped in their tracks when they saw the tip of a rock-hard spike punctured through the paladin''s armor and then poked out of his back. Their eyes went wide with terror, and the air was thick with the metallic tang of blood. Rya t he wo


    "Sir?!"


    "What the—"


    Rya didn''t even move a muscle as she cast a fireball in the direction of the knight closest to the paladin and engulfed the poor bastard in flames.


    "Ahhh!" the knight screamed as his white armor melted and turned him into a pile of ash.


    , he


    ''This is how powerful the dark elves are? I need to cleanse her from this planet before she can corrupt it,'' Darius thought as he summoned the strength to cut the earth spike with his sword and pulled it out, leaving a giant hole in his chest.


    Rya initially flashed a smirk, amusement dancing in her eyes, but her expression shifted as she noticed the uncanny sight before her. Darius’ chest began to knit itself together, the wounds mysteriously vanishing as if time itself were rewinding. She tilted her head, curiosity piqued, captivated by the surreal spectacle unfolding right in front of her.


    ''Huh? So, the paladin possesses a regenerative ability. No wonder they''re so feared... But just how do they manage to heal themselves like that? I always thought I was the only one with such powers,'' Rya mused as curiosity began stirring within her. The revelation sent her thoughts racing—what other secrets did these holy warriors hold?


    "I won''t let you get away with this, you demon," Darius hissed as his sword started glowing.


    Rya was amused. "Oh, this is going to be fun," she whispered as she took a fighting stance.


    Suddenly, a blinding flash erupted from Darius'' sword, illuminating the clearing like a bolt of lightning. He emerged, poised to attack, but then he froze, confusion painting his features.


    in rootsthat sprouted from the very bushes and plants round him


    Rya smirk as she ed her heels into the ground, . he  with he palm.


    "


    "


    Darius, filled with rage, leapt to his feet, his face flushed with fury. He brandished his sword and aimed a strike at Rya. But she was swift. Her movements were almost a blur as she utilized her wind magic, propelling herself with an agility that left him struggling to keep pace. The air around her crackled with energy, enhancing her speed and evading the deadly arc of his blade.


    "ngth


    "


    Rya sensed that the paladin was tiring and his energy waning, and she was determined to find out how his powers worked.


    "B-By the Holy Three!  me your power!" Darius


    n theThe story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "e


    he hhe air


    ..


    his


    It was mesmerizing to behold, and she had no doubt that if Darius could harness the mana within his veins, he would be a formidable foe. However, his reliance on the gods made him vulnerable, which gave her an edge.


    t then a yellow particle  from the  that was almost blinding.


    supply of hat


    looking .


    ''What the hell is she doing? And what was she talking about?'' Darius thought as he struggled to his feet. His mind was hazy, and his body ached for a moment until the divine particles healed him completely.


    A slow smile spread across her lips, a sinister gleam in her eyes. Her hands moved rapidly, her fingers dancing in the air, weaving her spell. The space around her shimmered her mana flaring, its energy filling the atmosphere.


    Darius could see the dark elf''s aura pulsing, her mana flaring with a fury, unlike anything he had ever witnessed before. There was something otherworldly about it, almost primal as if she were tapping into some ancient source of energy. It was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.


    !"


    sared tanelher f for he


    "," Darius roared as he raised his sword, which was glowing a blinding golden light.


    "No! No, please stop!" Rya begged in a panic. The once powerful and intimidating dark elf now cowered before him, tears welling in her eyes and her voice trembling.


    er pleas


    "This is the end! HIYAH—"


    ''s


    "Are you okay, my love?" the Crown Prince asked, his tone softening as he held Rya in his arms and fixed his gaze upon her face.


    "


    "What''s the meaning of this!?" Terenthiel roared at Quinus, his voice filled with outrage and his eyes blazing with indignation.


    horror as the Crown Prince hacked and slashed at the paladin''s body.


    Rya


    Hilda ding as she witnessed the trueing power of the Dark Elf, ared , and now she was  of innocence sen


    to steal the heart of th Handsome Brave Prince, who she was  a loveless marriage va


    handsome features aed through Hilda—she ould protect  from the very  that sought to  his noble heart.


    Hilda t hee that even the es Paladins. She would need every ounce of cunning at her disposal to


    es


    reattaced