《The Time-limited Saint Is Captured By The Tyrant Again》 Chapter 1 ¡°Your Majesty, Your Holiness. She¡¯s not the real saint.¡± A grand celebration was held in gratitude for everything that god has bestowed upon us. The temple was decorated with colorful silks such as gold and silver, symbolizing harvest and divinity. The priests, nobles and royal family who wore the most splendid and extravagant clothes also came out to pray alongside with the pope and saint for the peace of the country. However, the most shocking statement was suddenly uttered by one of them. Is the saint a fake? Everyone was shaking their heads at the absurd remark. But the emperor and pope didn¡¯t show any change in expression. Even the holy knight, Maynard, who was famous for being deeply loyal to saints, kept his mouths shut. At this moment, the accused person, Saint Liliana was in a frenzy. Liliana looked at Elena, who pointed at her with a pale expression on her face. She was trembling as if doom was foretold. ¡°L-ie! That¡¯s a lie!¡± Liliana screamed desperately. ¡°That woman is crazy. Help me, Sir Maynard!¡± Liliana looked at Maynard, as if he was her lifeline, but Maynard coldly turned away from her. ¡°No, no!¡± Elena sighed as she looked at Liliana. It has been that way since childhood. Liliana always wanted everything. In the end, she coveted even the saint¡¯s position, which was supposed to be owned by Elena. That was what happened today. The saint was a living god who is worshiped by all as they¡¯re considered the daughter of our supreme god. She was like a god who came down to the world. Everyone adored her, and everyone was eager to receive her glance or touch. Women longed for her holiness, and men secretly coveted her. It was something Elena had already experienced once. She tried not to live a second life as a saint. So, even though Liliana was impersonating her, she left it alone. ¡°Your Majesty the Great Emperor, and Your Holiness, who have the grace of God.¡± Elena walked between them with an elegant gait. With every step she took, her dark brown hair began to turn into a bright platinum blonde. People looked at her in awe at the transformation of the shabby woman who had always bowed her head. ¡°I¡¯ll prove it ¡­¡± Elena looked at the pope. As expected, he did not stop Elena. Elena did not notice the tenacious passion in the pope¡¯s beautiful orange eyes. ¡°That the real saint is me, Elena.¡± Elena untied the buttons that were fastened to her neck one by one and showed the pattern of God engraved just above her chest. The dark green crescent pattern was definitely a sacred mark of a saint. ¡°Are you satisfied now, Arkan?¡± Elena looked up with a dazed expression on her face. A young black-haired young man sitting on a throne with a hand on his chin was looking at her with bright red eyes. The emperor who ruled the empire, Arkan, was wearing a bright red cloak the same color as his eyes. As the handsome-looking man smiled, he emitted a bewitching yet dangerous aura. She knows the answer to that smile. It was a positive answer. The first life and the second life, he didn¡¯t change. Saint Elena was caught again by that mad emperor. *** After a revelation was given, the priests searched for the prophesied girl in a vassal¡¯s fief. Not long after, the saint was found. The girl¡¯s name is Elena. She was a pretty fifteen-year-old girl with platinum blonde hair that stood out among ordinary people with dark hair. The four priests took her to the capital. So Elena began to live the life of a saint. She was worshiped and admired by all. As a saint, she protected the world from evil. She seemed to be happy on the outside, but she suffered a lot on the inside. Anyone would naturally feel that way. Because she, Elena, became a saint in order to die. A few years after becoming a saint, she read the Book of Revelation. The content was simple. The day Elena turns 25, the world will be destroyed. Elena had to give herself to the world as the chosen saint, and beg god for mercy. Elena did not run away. If that is her duty as a saint, she will gladly accept it. This was the price she had to take to live. For the rest of her life, however, she kept suffering. Life wasn¡¯t easy and many things didn¡¯t go as planned. She had to throw away every desire, and had to fake her emotions as much as she could. At some point, she felt that she was the ¡®saint¡¯, not Elena any longer. And when she turned twenty-five, she was burned to death That¡¯s how her miserable life ended. The fire climbed up her body and devoured her greedily, as she screamed in pain. Then, the divine power in her body came out and started to save the world. Screaming in pain, she thought that she had no regrets as a saint. No, does she really have no regrets? Elena thought. There were so many things to regret. She couldn¡¯t stop the excessive loyalty of the Holy Knight* Maynard, couldn¡¯t stop the wrath of Pope Erich, and¡­ she failed to convince the tyrant Arkan who had kidnapped her. *TL/N: I hadn¡¯t the slightest idea about what the knights of the catholics churches are called in english equivalent. Tried searching but had no idea what I¡¯m reading lol. So for those of you who know, please do comment. It was them who made the world go crazy. ¡®Other than that¡­ I¡¯ve never lived as myself.¡¯ Yes, she lived only as a saint, not as Elena. When she thought of that, the flames that fluttered greedily devoured everything. Hence, the saint became one with the fire. At that time, Elena must have been burned to death. No, she must have been dead. ¡°Then why am I here?¡± Elena muttered with a blank face. She looked around. It was a shabby but strangely familiar room that was different from the room she woke up to every morning. ¡°This is the house I used to live in.¡± The house where she lived before becoming a saint. But now, why is she here? She still remembered the pain the moment she stopped breathing. But why is she still alive? Elena looked at her hands and feet. Her skinny arms were clean, as if it never touched the flames. ¡°Did god really save me?¡± Looking down at her body, Elena felt something strange. Her hands and feet looked oddly smaller than usual. ¡°What?¡± She got up and went to the mirror. The one in the mirror looked much younger than Elena before her death. Her cheeks were plump and her face was also fresh. ¡°I¡­what happened?¡± Elena looked at her face in the mirror with a blank expression. She thought she was dead, but she survived. And she became much younger than before. ¡°Did I regress?¡± Chapter 2.1 Elena was startled when she heard a knock, but proceeded to open the door. She saw a middle-aged woman standing there with a basket full of potatoes. Elena smiled in reflex. ¡°Elena, are you awake?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°I believe so¡­¡± Elena was confused. It seems like it had been a while since she ate. She smiled as the old woman looked at her. ¡°I don¡¯t think you have eaten. Hey, no matter what happens, you have to eat.¡± She remembered this old woman. She was her next-door neighbor. Regrettably, she couldn¡¯t recall her name. It was evident in her lovely brown eyes that she felt sympathy and affection for her. Elena flashed a beautiful smile. But come to think of it, why is this old woman here? ¡°Your parents in heaven want you to live well. I brought some potatoes, so would you like to eat some of it?¡± Elena paused in her tracks as she heard the old woman. Her eyes widened. Oh, her parents! She also had parents at one point in her life. The memories about her parents were hard to forget. The more she thought about it, the more painful it was. They were robbed and murdered on their way to the market. She was lucky to have reclaimed their bodies. Elena closed her eyes. Their faces no longer come to mind. But she still loves and misses them so much. ¡°How much time has passed? How old am I exactly?¡± ¡°Oh my god, Elena. It¡¯s been a month since your parents passed away, and you are fifteen. Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± This was neither the temple or heaven. This place was just the past. Elena pondered the situation. This was the past. Now she has returned to the past. Fall has arrived, as seen by the falling leaves outside the window. The leaves are beginning to fall now, and the priests will arrive to see her around winter. ¡°I understand you¡¯re in a difficult situation. That¡¯s understandable, even the lord gives you a hard time.¡± ¡°The lord?¡± ¡°Yes, the lord was there yesterday. He was after your father¡¯s land.¡± ¡°Ahh, I see.¡± ¡°Are you okay? Your complexion is not good.¡± Elena nodded her head. She remembered. Viscount Timothy, the feudal lord, took the land left by her father. Later on, he even tried to persuade her to move into his castle. It was very difficult back then, and now it seems to be that time. Elena let out a sigh. Perhaps realizing the meaning of that heavy sigh, the lady next door clicked her tongue and stroked Elena¡¯s head. ¡°How could a young child like you suffer like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Thank you for your concern.¡± ¡°Eat this. You need to eat this and be energized.¡± Elena smiled at her. Everyone here cared for Elena. Why did she forget that? No, this is just one of the things she ought to forget in order to live as a saint. ¡°Thank you.¡± Elena took the steaming potatoes. *** Elena took a moment to look at herself in the mirror. Her chest was displayed as she untied the lace fastenings. Just above Elena¡¯s chest, in the center, there was a pattern of the saint. ¡°It¡¯s exactly the same.¡± Elena caressed the pattern on her chest. It was the end of winter when the mark appeared. ¡®My daughter, I have chosen you.¡¯ That day, she had a dream surrounded by light. Then Elena woke up with pain in her chest. The stinging in her chest continued even after she awoke, and she saw the pattern of a saint engraved on her chest. ¡®But now, I haven¡¯t dreamed of it, so how?¡¯ To be precise, it hasn¡¯t even been a day since she died. Elena raised her hand. When she raised her palm, a dazzling green light emitted from it. She still has the divine power inside her. Having seen that, Elena realized again. Her death was not a dream, and she regressed with the power she had at the time of her death. ¡®Thank you, God.¡¯ Elena clasped her hands together and uttered a prayer of gratitude to God in her heart. She was brought back from the dead by the grace of God. Then, a knock was heard. Elena sighed and tied her dress. Has there ever been an intruder like this before? She quickly recalled her memories. ¡®Oh, the lord!¡¯ The villagers were always considerate of Elena. The lord was the only one who would knock loudly in whatever hours. Elena opened the door. It was as expected, the lord with some of his subordinates. ¡°How are you, Elena?¡± His perverted eyes scrutinized Elena. Elena ignored it and greeted him. ¡°My lord, I welcome you.¡± As she greeted him carefully, the lord, Viscount Timothy, was puzzled. Because it was strange that a commoner suddenly behaved more dignifiedly than his daughter, Liliana. ¡°Yes.¡± At Elena¡¯s place, he sat down casually. ¡°Did you find the land document?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to find it? This is the land I ¡®loaned¡¯ to your father.¡± Her father cleared the land while he was alive. Because the land was surprisingly fertile, Elena was able to live as a wealthy peasant. A priceless mirror hung in the room was a reminder of this. And the land was coveted by the lord of this place, Viscount Timothy. This land was given up to the lord by the stupid Elena before. Because in her mind, the ¡®lord¡¯ had a right to the land. ¡°I have no obligation to give the land document to the lord.¡± However, Elena¡¯s response was a little more stern this time around. The lord¡¯s eyes became wide. ¡°I know that the land that the peasants have reclaimed belongs to themselves.¡± Elena later regretted it when she learned about it. The fact that her father had worked so hard to cultivate the land made her blame her ignorance. ¡°Hmm, it seems you heard it from somewhere, but the command of the lord comes first.¡± ¡°No, this is an imperial law, so it takes precedence over the lord¡¯s orders.¡± At Elena¡¯s firm reply, the lord¡¯s face was distorted. He was wondering where she found out about it. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve studied a lot.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°But there are still things you don¡¯t know¡­¡­.¡± When the lord gestured, a man broke the vase on the table. When Elena was startled, she turned to the lord and stared at him. He had a sly smile on his face. Chapter 2.2 ¡°Where you are right now, my orders take precedence over the law.¡± Elena looked at him with a cold expression on her face. To see him with a smug grin on his face, like a nobleman in front of a commoner, made her upset. But then again, she never liked him. ¡®The girl next to me should be like this.¡¯ Elena was the most beautiful girl among filthy commoners to the extent that Liliana was jealous of her. He was waiting for that girl to come of age and bloom. ¡°If you wish, Elena, you could live in the castle. What use is the land?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Why would you keep the land?¡± The lord reached out and stroked Elena¡¯s cheek. ¡°It¡¯s a shame to injure this lovely face.¡± He smiled and rose to his feet. He looked at Elena with a sinister expression and then left. Elena looked at Viscount Timothy¡¯s back. ¡°That guy is still the same.¡± She wasn¡¯t enraged in the least. Because that person will be executed by Erich and Maynard in a miserable state. *** The next morning, Elena had been kneeling in the chapel, praying earnestly to God. Then she began to question why God had sent her back. As she prayed, her troubled heart began to calm down a little. What could be done to prevent a tragedy? Well, there was only one way. ¡®I must not become a saint.¡¯ In the first place, it would be better if the saint did not appear. Then there will be no friction between Arkan and Erich. ¡°You pray every once in a while. What do you want?¡± Elena turned around when she heard a chirping voice and saw a lady heading this way with the maids behind her. It was Liliana. ¡®Long time no see.¡¯ Elena had wished to be like Liliana at one point in her life. This was due to the fact that Liliana, the daughter of the lord of this little town, was treated as if she was a princess. It¡¯s true that everyone has fantasized about leading a glamorous noblewoman¡¯s life. Elena was very jealous of Liliana¡¯s life, even after she had become a saint. She was a noblewoman who had the freedom to live her life as she wished. Someone who doesn¡¯t have to be bound by restrictions and obligations. As Elena smiled, Liliana raised her hand and slapped her on the cheek. Slap! ¡°What?¡± Elena looked at Liliana with her eyes wide open. It had been so long that she had forgotten. Liliana despised her. It was evident in her gaze. ¡°Is it true that you seduced my father?!¡± Elena had a perplexed expression on her face as she stared at Liliana. ¡°My mother and father fought!¡± Elena caressed her tingling cheek. It was absurd that she had to be beaten with something she hadn¡¯t done before. ¡°Lady, I¡¯m not interested in the lord at all.¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Why would I seduce your father? I¡¯m still young, and I never thought of the lord with such a disrespectful gaze.¡± ¡°You- you lied!¡± ¡°Lady, I have no interest in the lord.¡± ¡°This bitch!¡± Liliana attempted to smack Elena on the face once again, but Elena grabbed her hand. ¡°No one has the right to beat a commoner even if you¡¯re a noble, my lady.¡± ¡°H-hey!¡± ¡°I also don¡¯t belong to you.¡± Her tone was exquisite, as if she had risen to the status of a noble. Liliana¡¯s face flushed red with anger when she saw Elena. ¡°Yo- you! Hey, hold on!¡± Elena was apprehended by Elena¡¯s maids. But she looked at Liliana without resisting. She felt it was useless to block it anyway. Liliana¡¯s face turned red with anger at that gaze. Liliana slapped Elena on the cheek. Faced with the violence, Elena recalled the past. When Elena became a saint, Viscount Timothy claimed to be Elena¡¯s adoptive father. So, in return for producing saints, he received a huge amount of money from the temple and entered the capital. Upon Erich accession as pope, he investigated him and after learning that he had committed blasphemy against the saint, he exterminated the Timothy family. Liliana was beheaded by Maynard, the commander of the Holy Knights. The reason was that they deceived the temple and dared to touch the saint¡¯s body. And there was news a few days later that the town had been destroyed by the emperor, Arkan. ¡°How dare you look at me like that!¡± Slap, slap! Elena continued to be slapped in the face. Blood gushed out of her mouth and her face swelled up. The resentment and anger filled her, but when she remembered that Liliana had been executed for her, those feelings quickly vanished. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Liliana, who was trembling just before her head was chopped off. This must have been the reason for her patience. After Elena glanced away from her, the villagers who were staring at her began to turn pale. They shook their heads and turned away from her. However, Elena was not sad because of them. It was because the more she thought about them, the more painful it was thinking that she finally remembered the images of those who she desperately tried hard to forget. ¡®Everyone is alive.¡¯ Elena thought blankly. After beating her for a while, Liliana shook her hand and stood up. ¡°Ptui.¡± She spit on Elena and then went back. Only Liliana¡¯s skirt could be seen in Elena¡¯s sight. Elena looked at Liliana¡¯s dark scarlet skirt. There was a time when she wanted to wear that dress. The tingling pain made her come to her senses. The villagers rushed over and were worried about Elena. They couldn¡¯t help her because they were afraid of Liliana, and they were the ones who took good care of Elena, who had lost her parents. These people were so nice that it was a shame they died because of Arkan. ¡°Elena, are you okay?¡± The lady next door supported Elena who had fallen. ¡°I don¡¯t know why the young lady treats you so badly.¡± Hearing that concern, Elena smiled. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± They didn¡¯t pay it all back, but let¡¯s assume that they paid a penalty for this later. Elena forced a laugh. ¡°There are bad people like that. How could the people also stay still¡­¡­Those bastards!¡± The aunt grinded her teeth and started cursing them. It was a bit exaggerated to curse simple bystanders, but Elena just smiled. ¡°Elena, you¡¯re too kind.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± She had always been praised for being nice and kind. ¡°That¡¯s why I don¡¯t live a good life anymore.¡± Elena grinned. For some reason, she thought this was the right answer. Maybe this is what God wants. Elena chose to walk, leaving behind the memories of the awful flames that passed by her thoughts. Chapter 3.1 The town is popular with tourists and is often crowded. Especially since it is a town leading to the capital. Three or five people gathered and chatted loudly, clinking glasses at the inn and tavern, as the employees were busy taking orders from customers. ¡°Ellin, come here and clean the table!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Elena replied vigorously. Currently Elena, no, Ellin is working as an employee at an inn in the town of Bezela. ¡®I will be busy today.¡¯ Ellin grabbed her loose hair securely in a ponytail. Her beautiful platinum blonde had long been dyed a rather dull dark brown color. The work was hard, but she didn¡¯t hate it. Hearing stories from people has been so much fun. ¡°So, you say that the new emperor will rise?¡± Ellin¡¯s hand, which was cleaning the table, stopped. ¡°A new emperor?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the second prince.¡± ¡°Ah, the son of that Normaty slave?¡± ¡°They said he killed the emperor and all of his children, leaving only his siblings alive.¡± The man pretended to cut his neck with his hand. Ellin looked at the man¡¯s hand with her eyes wide open. ¡°That¡¯s cruel.¡± ¡°Shh, don¡¯t say it out loud. Be careful.¡± Ellin¡¯s hands, which were cleaning the table, were shaking. Is it true? The emperor was supposed to ascend two years later when Ellin turned twenty. The time is different. However, it was clearly that person. Arkan. He was the emperor she hated. The man was called the emperor of swords because he was always covered in blood. Is he already emperor? ¡°Ellin, don¡¯t just wipe there, wipe this side as well.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Ellin also cleaned the other table. At that table, they were also talking about the new emperor¡¯s accession. ¡®They¡¯re not lying.¡¯ Ellin¡¯s heart was pounding. What happened? Ellin calmed her mind and closed her eyes tightly. No, let¡¯s forget about him.¡¯ Ellin tried to pretend she didn¡¯t hear it. But at the repeated words, she almost dropped a glass of water. ¡°The temples are looking for a saint?¡± ¡°Saint?¡± ¡°Yes. A saint would come from a small village, according to the prophecy.¡± ¡°I will go if the prophecy is true.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t think any of the girls had the pattern. It¡¯s already been three years since the prophecy was given.¡± ¡°That¡¯s weird.¡± ¡°The priests were famous for their prophecy, but it must be wrong this time.¡± Ellin sighed in relief. There was no sign of them chasing after Ellin. Of course, she changed her appearance and changed her name when she left the village in case she was pursued. ¡®This is it.¡¯ It has been three years since Elin left the village. Determined not to become a saint, Ellin left the village without the knowledge of Viscount Timothy. Of course, while leaving, the land documents were donated to the temple. How refreshing it was to think of Viscount Timothy who would be angry because he could not take the land. Ellin couldn¡¯t be more excited about the way she left. She thought that traveling alone would be difficult for a woman. But as if God is taking care of her, she was able to come to another town smoothly. A kind merchant took her to a town. The owner of the inn, who was introduced by the merchant, said that the number of guests increased thanks to her and gave him a higher salary than expected. Thanks to the kind owner, she also had many days off. On her day off, she roamed the streets, enjoying life in a small city. This was the ordinary and beautiful life she had longed for. Even if demons and magical beasts appeared, there was Erich and Maynard who have good skills, so they will take care of them. If anything dangerous happens, it won¡¯t be too late for her to step in. She thought a little leisurely. The world was full of fun and happy things that she didn¡¯t even think of during her days as a saint. ¡°Do you think of me as a person?¡± ¡°Your Majesty doesn¡¯t treat me like a person, how can I treat Your Majesty as a person?¡± Elena said with a cold expression with intense hatred in her eyes. ¡°No matter what you do, I will not let you go.¡± At that time, what kind of expression did Elena have? She lived as if she was locked up in the temple, and suffered from anxiety in the imperial palace. The life in the temple is already hard enough. And life in the imperial palace is even worse than that. She was never happy. That¡¯s why this peaceful daily life was so precious to Ellin. This was her desire. She painstakingly erased her memory with Arkan. *** ¡°You still haven¡¯t found her!¡± The high priest exclaimed in anger. The priests and holy knights all bowed their heads like criminals. It has been three years since the revelation was given, and the saint has not been found. How could it be like this? If the saint had been found, he could slightly feel at peace when his confrontation with the emperor came to a halt. Her presence alone would be able to subdue people. Now the demon¡¯s offspring, a mad emperor of Normatian blood, has ascended to the throne and has officially revealed his fangs in the temple. The high priest was surprised when he saw those devilish red eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Maynard bowed. The Holy Knights bent their heads as the leader, Maynard, bowed his. Maynard was seldom seen with his head down. Then someone came and helped the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t overwork them, Priest Anton.¡± Then, a soft voice was heard. The priests, who were stiff with tension, were remarkably relieved as soon as they heard their voices. ¡°High Priest* Erich.¡± *TL/N: I¡¯m sorry for the frequent notes but I just want to clarify it in case I was wrong. I mentioned him as the pope before. I know that there could only be one pope, so I¡¯m confused about this since Anton and Erich here have the same title? I tried to use the english equivalent, but it seems like in Korean novels, they only mentioned a priest and high-ranking priest. So I¡¯ll change from pope to high priest instead. Which is way safer than using the english rankings since I could be wrong lol. It might also be that he hasn¡¯t ascended as a pope? Not sure, I¡¯ll change it again later if it¡¯s wrong. High Priest Anton frowned. Erich, who has a soft voice, has his hair fluttered softly. His face on pure white skin looked like a sculpture carved by a god. His all-white outfit made him stand out. He smiled at him. Since childhood, he had excellent divine power and has become a high priest. Many adored him. Anton¡¯s voice softened. ¡°But Priest Erich, she has not been found for three years now.¡± ¡°It must all be God¡¯s will. It will be fine.¡± Erich¡¯s words contained a strange conviction. It¡¯s because he¡¯s young, he doesn¡¯t know anything. Anton thought so and clicked his tongue inwardly. After all, what would such a young priest know? He didn¡¯t know how important the saint was for them. ¡°Sir! Priest!¡± A frantic sound came. Erich and Anton looked at the source of the sound. There was an unknown excitement in the urgent voice. Perhaps they noticed it, the holy knights who bowed their heads also looked at the priest. ¡°Saint, the saintess has appeared!¡± ¡°What!?¡± Anton exclaimed happily. He instinctively sought someone to share this joy with. It was the moment he turned around. Erich had a puzzled expression on his face. His eyes were trembling. His red lips turned up, and joy spread across his face. High Priest Anton regretted having prejudice about him. If he were to meet God directly, would he look like that? Erich looked like he had fallen in love. Chapter 3.2 ¡°Did you hear them? The saint was finally found.¡± ¡°In that little town?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll have good fortune, a saint finally appears.¡± When Ellin heard those words, she almost dropped the plate she was holding. ¡®I¡¯m the saint, so where did this saint come from?¡¯ Ellin was listening to their conversation with a puzzled expression on her face. The pattern of saint was clearly engraved on her body. But does that mean that another saint appeared? This was a major event that could shake the temple. ¡®Or the temple was mistaken.¡¯ Although there was little possibility, the temple could have mistaken it and taken someone else. There was no one marked with the pattern so they saw something and misunderstood. ¡®Or it¡¯s a fake.¡¯ Then it was the worst case scenario. Who dares to impersonate a saint? Is the temple so careless as to make a mistake? When Ellin heard about the saint, she was confused. After thinking about it for several days, she finally came to a conclusion. ¡®I want to see the saint.¡¯ She tried to ignore it, but she couldn¡¯t do it again. It was because the ¡®saint¡¯ was her fate. The title ¡®saint¡¯ was always related to her. Maybe, if the saint was real, she wouldn¡¯t have to be sacrificed in this life. She can be freed from the shackles of being a saint. Perhaps time has turned back and she doesn¡¯t need to become a saint. She always thought there was no future, but now, there is a future. A future in which she doesn¡¯t have to be burned to death again. She wanted to check because she wanted to be freed of the shackle. She decided to go to the temple. She decided to be a saint before but now, she¡¯s happy when another person was sacrificed instead. It was a very selfish and lowly desire, but Ellin tried not to think about it. This was her second desire. *** ¡°I will go now.¡± ¡°The capital city is dangerous, do you have to go?¡± Despite the innkeeper¡¯s reluctance, Ellin only smiled. With that smile, the old woman could only sigh. Instead, she handed her a few coins to pay for the travels. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will go and contact you.¡± Seeing Ellin leaving, the innkeeper¡¯s expression changed. She immediately started writing to someone. [She started heading to the capital.] *** The emperor¡¯s room floor was made of bluish marble. This was said to represent the cold reasoning of the emperor. Also, the red velvet carpet in the middle symbolized the emperor¡¯s dignity. Velvet was a luxurious fabric that was difficult to make, and dyeing it red was even rarer. ¡®The ingredients are precious.¡¯ Once upon a time, the whole place was stained with blood. The Emperor¡¯s aide, Bronn, was now fed up with seeing only red. At the end of the red velvet carpet was a staircase, and above it was a throne adorned with gold. And there sat the emperor of this country. The man had a majestic body so that the throne looked small. The black clothes were wrapped around his rock-like body that had been forged by swordsmanship. As soon as the emperor saw Bronn, he got up. His red eyes looked down at Bronn. It was like seeing a wild beast right in front of his eyes, a gaze he was unfamiliar with whenever he saw it. ¡°It is said that they found the saint.¡± At Bronn¡¯s words, the emperor smiled brightly. Compared to the man¡¯s large size, his face was as beautiful as a delicate sculpture. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°What?¡± The meaning of those words was immense. He can be killed with the wrong information. Now ¡°So, did you find the real saint?¡± ¡°The thing is¡­¡­.¡± *** She rushed ahead of schedule, but when she reached the capital, the saint had already been officially appointed. Ellin headed to the temple. The public may only visit the saint if they made a large donation. If they can¡¯t do that, they¡¯ll just have to wait for an ¡®accident¡¯. Ellin, who had been snooping around like that, sighed. When she became a saint, she couldn¡¯t even step out of the temple. Although there was so much to learn. Maybe the saint is like that too. When she was hesitant to enter the temple without permission, a very good opportunity arose. The selection of ¡®Angelia¡¯ in the capital has begun. Angelia is a word derived from the angels, servants of God, and it refers to a woman who studies theology. To be precise, it was to select the saint¡¯s ¡®handmaiden¡¯. They look after the saint and will discuss divinity with her. Although it is based on their status, on the surface, anyone who is faithful would be selected first, so anyone could apply. However, most of the applicants were eliminated in the first round. Those with physical disabilities, those who could not read, and those who did not know the essence of the doctrine were excluded. After the first test, the number of participants shrank to 100. After about a month, Ellin was able to pass the preliminary round. The second selection period was not very long, it was ten days after. It was very difficult to write down the verses of the Bible. But Ellin could easily pass this one too. Now only the final exam remains. The priests will be present there. Ellin was allowed to enter the temple legally. ¡°Don¡¯t recklessly walk anywhere else. I cannot guarantee your life.¡± But because of the saint, the guards were strict, so the knights gave a stern warning. She had no intention of becoming Angelia in the first place. Ellin apologized to the familiar holy knights. She grew up here for nearly 10 years in her previous life. She was familiar with everything. She was feeling nostalgic for some time, but it went smoothly all the way to the saint¡¯s residence. She even had the opportunity to stop at the statue of Saint Dazak in front of the Palace of Saints. The Dazak statue was where she often offered her prayers. She could not overcome the joy and offered a brief prayer. ¡®She¡¯s probably memorizing prayers at this time.¡¯ Ellin headed to the saint¡¯s prayer room. Seeing what sound was coming from inside the prayer room, it seemed that the saint was inside. She hid in the grass and waited blindly for the saint to come out after praying. After some time passed, the door to the prayer room opened and the saint came out. Ellin covered her mouth as she looked at the person who came out of it. ¡®Liliana!¡¯ Why is Liliana a saint? She was even talking to people with a benevolent smile, not the usual face she had in the past. ¡®How did Liliana¡­¡­.¡¯ She wondered if she had seen it wrong, so Ellin looked at her again. But it was definitely Liliana, judging by her characteristics. Ellin unknowingly stepped on a branch under her feet. ¡°Who are you?¡± The one standing behind Liliana looked straight in the direction of Ellin and shouted. ¡®Maynard!¡¯ Her whole body trembled. It was a very short voice, but it felt like her heart would burst. It was Maynard, the commander of the Holy Knights who served Elin during her first life. Chapter 4 The young man in a white cloak and silver armor was truly the holy knight people often spoke of. The young man with blonde hair and ice-cold blue eyes was staring at her with a sharp gaze as if stabbing her. Ellin¡¯s heart was pounding due to nervousness. The Maynard she knew would find the one hiding and wouldn¡¯t let them go. She¡¯d better go out and ask for forgiveness. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I took the wrong way.¡± Ellin got up and turned her around. Then, she saw Liliana¡¯s face flush with astonishment. Liliana straightened her expression again. Maynard said coldly. ¡°You took the wrong way? What do you mean? This is a restricted area. It wouldn¡¯t be easy to sneak in.¡± ¡®He¡¯s still the same.¡¯ Ellin looked at Maynard and tried not to smile. It was actually nice to meet Maynard after almost three years. He was unfamiliar with her, but he was breathing and alive as he looked at her. ¡®Looking at him now, he was still young.¡¯ He was twenty when Elin was fifteen. But Maynard looked like an adult back then. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a huge body. He was the epitome of a knight. Although people used to say that he was stiff, he was always a warm man to Ellin. ¡°Answer me.¡± At Maynard¡¯s urging, Ellin suddenly regained consciousness. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. I¡¯m really going the wrong way. Knowing that this is the saint¡¯s residence, I was afraid and hid.¡± Her neck felt cold. Maynard put a sword to her neck. ¡°Are you telling me to believe that?¡± Ellin was perplexed. Maynard was always strict but he never showed that side to her. She didn¡¯t know that he could aim his sword at her, who seemed harmless. She thought he was a man with a shy smile who didn¡¯t like killing people. ¡°Stop it.¡± Maynard lowered his sword at Liliana¡¯s voice. His gaze, which could stab Ellin at any moment, had softened. Ellin looked at it and widened her eyes. Liliana said with a merciful expression on her face. ¡°She must have taken the wrong way.¡± ¡°But, this woman was watching you. She might be a dangerous person.¡± ¡°How could she be a threat? She¡¯s just a powerless woman. Just send her back.¡± ¡°My lady is so merciful.¡± That¡¯s what Maynard used to say to Ellin before. He looked at Liliana as if he was very frustrated but had no choice to show respect. It was also the expression he often gave to Ellin. ¡°But this is an essential part of discipline. Otherwise, the holy knights will be accused of using swords recklessly.¡± ¡°However, since Sir Maynard says so, I can¡¯t help it. Discipline is needed.¡± Liliana sighed and looked at Ellin as if she was genuinely in pain. Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°I beg you, please don¡¯t show the blood in front of me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She issued a punishment? Ellin looked at Maynard¡¯s cold blue eyes and was bewildered. It seemed as if she was about to die soon by looking at him. As a saint she never ordered such a thing before. But the holy knight, no, Maynard was cruel enough to kill a woman who got lost? ¡°Sir, I¡¯m¡­¡± ¡°Stop it. I must do it as a warning.¡± Maynard looked at Ellin. It seemed like he was gazing at a stranger. For Ellin, an ordinary girl who was not a saint, Maynard was a different person. She realized it all over again. Then the cut in her neck suddenly started to hurt. ¡°Take her away.¡± The knights captured Ellin. She looked at Liliana. She was looking at Ellin with a very sad expression. However, in an instant, the corners of her lips rose slightly. Is she happy to see me about to die? Was that expression in her face a lie? ¡°I-!¡± ¡°Follow me quietly. Otherwise, I will kill you here.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Maynard whispered quietly in a low voice. Confused, she looked at Maynard. She doesn¡¯t think he¡¯ll let her go. Is he trying to interrogate her? ¡°Wait a minute.¡± At that time, everyone, including Ellin, looked at the sudden interruption. It was a familiar voice. Ellin¡¯s eyes lit up. She couldn¡¯t help but smile. His long hair fluttered in the wind. After a while, she could see his face clearly. His red eyes that resemble the sunset were bent. The priests made a way for him and finally, he arrived in front of her. It was the High Priest, Erich. ¡°I greet the saint who received the word of God.¡± Ellin almost greeted them back. But Erich greeted Liliana very politely. Liliana and Maynard then greeted each other that way too. ¡°Greetings to High Priest Erich.¡± He was the one who stayed with Elena until the very end. He was one of the priests who came to greet her as a saint, he took care of her with Maynard and supported her. He later became the Pope*, although somewhat heartless, he was still Elena¡¯s best friend. *TL/N: Ignore my last note, it seems like he will become the pope later. ¡°Why are you stopping us?¡± Erich responded softly to Maynard¡¯s blunt words. ¡°I was telling you to stop hurting that girl.¡± ¡°She has invaded the sanctuary of the saint. She should be dealt with by law.¡± ¡°Lord Maynard is very knowledgeable as always. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Erich looked at Liliana, and Liliana nodded as if possessed. Then Erich looked at Ellin and smiled. ¡°As the saint said, what would a powerless woman like her do?¡± ¡°She might be a spy sent by the imperial family¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that. Can¡¯t you see that both the saint and the young lady here are bewildered?¡± Erich smiled and laughed. Unlike Maynard, Erich remained the same. Erich is always kind and compassionate. ¡°Unfortunately, this person is not a spy.¡± ¡°She isn¡¯t?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just a candidate for the Angelia exam. Do you know that I managed the exam?¡± Ellin widened her eyes. Did he manage the last exam himself? ¡°The Angelia exam? But Angelia¡­¡­.¡± Liliana spoke as if uncomfortable. Erich smiled brightly. ¡°Yes, they¡¯re usually a ¡®noble¡¯ lady. But before God, everyone is equal. We gave exams to give opportunities to commoners with high knowledge. This person is also a successful candidate. Now only the last test remains.¡± Liliana struggled to smile. Erich saw it and asked Ellin. ¡°Lady, did you pray to the Dazak statue earlier?¡± Ellin looked at Erich, startled. He seemed to be watching her when she came in. Why did he ask? Ellin answered Erich¡¯s words honestly. ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I heard a story that says that if Dazak watches over us, we will get lucky. They said Dazak had the ability to grant us small fortunes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Yes. Dazak was actually a poor thief, and he used to bless the poor and hungry. You¡¯re quite knowledgeable.¡± Erich smiled warmly. Ellin¡¯s cheeks turned red. That was just the knowledge she learned when she came here. ¡°Unlike the saint who still cannot memorize the statues of the saints in the temple,¡± And when Erich looked at Liliana with a playful expression, she was startled. ¡°The lady is already working hard.¡± Maynard frowned, protecting Liliana. ¡°Oh, no. As High Priest Erich said, I am still lacking. As a saint, I¡¯m ashamed.¡± ¡°It would be nice if you could show your divine power. So please do your best, saint. Even in the temple, I am always concerned about the saint.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Liliana nodded with a blushing face, and Erich raised one corner of his mouth. It looked like it was sneering. Was it an illusion? What did she just see? As Ellin was thinking about what she had seen, Erich looked at her this time. A gentle smile lingered on Erich¡¯s lips again. ¡°Ah, do you know anything else about the statue in the temple?¡± When Erich asked with a gentle expression and encouragement, Ellin answered with a smile. ¡°Where the Pope lives, there is a statue of Sefhit. And where the priests study, there is a statue of Angela. In addition¡­¡­.¡± Ellin began explaining the statues in each area and their meaning. This time, Erich had a slightly surprised expression on his face. He probably didn¡¯t think she knew it so well either. ¡°Oh my God. It makes no sense to kill a person like this for taking the wrong way.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Rather, we should give her a chance to serve the saint.¡± Wait a minute. Erich! When Ellin was about to say something, Erich said with a smile. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to make you Angelia.¡±