Chapter 30: The Saintess on the Corpse (2)

The disgusting smell of burning flesh being seared by a red-hot iron.

Watching her friend being tortured with a branding iron, Charlotte screamed in near madness.

‘Stop it. Please, stop. No more. Please stop. What am I supposed to do?’

She wanted to run to her friend, who was crying out in agony from the torture—but she couldn’t. The masked torturers had her wrists and ankles chained up, so she couldn’t move.

‘You can save them.’

The masked torturers pressed the iron against her friend’s face again. The smell of burning flesh filled the air. Her friend’s screams rang out.

Charlotte cried and thrashed in place.

‘Please! What do you want me to do?! I’m sorry! I was wrong! Please just stop for a second!’

Even watching her like that, the torturer didn’t stop.

Two children had already died from the torture. Even when she closed her eyes, they forced them open. Even when she turned her head away, they forced her to look.

The torturer grabbed Charlotte’s face and whispered into her ear.

‘You can do it. but why aren’t you?’

Stop. Please just stop.

When the third child stopped crying altogether, the torturer dragged them off somewhere.

‘Another one died. You could’ve saved them. Why couldn’t you use it?’

No. I don’t want this anymore.

‘Why can’t you do it? Why won’t you? Don’t you feel sorry, watching your friends die?’

The fourth child was brought in.

As they entered the bloody, reeking room, and saw me and the torture devices, they immediately realized what was happening.

‘So, are you going to kill this one too?’

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

I don’t know what they want from me. They weren’t the kind people I knew.

I really don’t know—I really, really don’t.

The torture started again. The fourth child’s first scream echoed.

The torturer whispered to the child.

And the fourth child suddenly changed.

“Charlotte! Help me!! Charlotte!!”

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I really don’t know. I truly don’t know.

I can’t do it.

That day, all I could do was apologize.

I still remember the pain the children felt that day.

I still remember the whisper of the torturer behind me.

And I still remember the look of that wretched man who looked at me with disgust.

“Charlotte..? Charlotte, are you okay?!”

“Morgan..?”

Morgan shouted while shaking Charlotte awake.

As she opened her eyes, Charlotte looked up to see Morgan’s face, tearful and worried, hovering above her pillow.

She forced a smile to reassure Morgan, who looked like she was about to cry.

“Are you okay..? You were having a nightmare, and you just wouldn’t wake up..”

Worried, Morgan gently stroked her face.

That wretch was no longer here.

Charlotte looked out the window and saw the red sun of the Demon Realm rising.

“Are you really okay..?”

Charlotte stared blankly at Morgan.

She knew it was a dream.

She didn’t think she had screamed or cried out loud in her sleep.

But… she worried maybe she had said something strange while sleep-talking.

Wiping away the cold sweat from the nightmare, Charlotte sat up in bed.

“Sorry… did I make a lot of noise…?”

Morgan shook her head.

“You didn’t.”

“Really..?”

Morgan had a surprisingly expressive face. That made it easy to tell whether she was lying or genuinely worried.

“Just forget it… whatever I might’ve said.”

“….No. I didn’t hear anything.”

After saying she’d go prepare the bath, Morgan left the room. Charlotte quietly got up, took off her sweat-soaked nightwear, and lay back on the bed.

She didn’t care much about friends anymore—after that, only Sierra and Eris were considered friends.

But ever since meeting Morgan… the guilt she felt wasn’t just from killing demons.

She blankly wiped the tears that had welled up at the corners of her eyes.

‘No wonder Morgan looked at me like that…’

There was clear evidence she had cried in her sleep.

Maybe from the tension of the nightmare, her strength drained, and her body began to ache.

It wasn’t unusual anymore—she was used to waking up like this.

Being unable to move from weakness.

That sense of running away from something chasing her.

And when she woke up, that chilling sense of helplessness wrapping around her body.

Thanks to the constant nightmares, she had gotten used to controlling her body’s reactions.

But… it had been a long time since she woke up crying like this.

Not once during the past three years of travel had it happened.

‘….I’m sorry.’

I’m sorry for wanting to be happy all by myself.

If only I had acted a little sooner, like that man said.

If only I hadn’t been me to begin with.

Maybe none of you would’ve died. Maybe it wouldn’t have ended like that.

Now, my story remains in no official record.

Only the current pope and my subordinates know I was there.

‘Grandpa… please…’

I know how important the Saint is to the Church.

A Saint is both a sacred relic and a symbol for the Church—a proof the public can believe in.

So please, wait just a little longer. Don’t judge so quickly.

Please.

Don’t make another child like me.

Knock knock

“Charlotte? I’m coming in, okay?”

“come in.”

Morgan opened the door, and seeing Charlotte wearing only underwear, she flinched and quickly looked away.

“The bath is ready… Please get dressed and come out when you’re ready..”

“ thanks.”

Charlotte quietly pulled the blanket up and put her nightwear back on. Though it was damp and uncomfortable, she couldn’t exactly go to the bath in just underwear.

She quietly followed Morgan to a private bath chamber.

During the walk, Morgan didn’t say a word. Normally, she’d cling to her or smile.

But today her expression was stiff. Was it because of last night? Or because of something I said in my sleep?

“…Should we pretend last night didn’t happen?”

“…Let’s say it did.”

Morgan gave a bitter smile. Charlotte didn’t intend to betray Morgan’s feelings… but she had never thought of Morgan that way.

A Demon King who liked her, who cared for her—she understood why.

But the nightmare felt like it was creeping back again.

“Are you okay..?”

You’re strange—how do you always know when I’m not okay?

Why do you always notice so quickly?

I can’t even give you a proper answer to your feelings.

And your kindness, unreturned, will only end up hurting you.

“I just really want to take a bath. I feel gross.”

“We’re here. It’s this way.”

When the door opened, a massive tub filled with steaming hot water greeted her.

This was too much. She didn’t need a bath this fancy…

“Take your time. I’ll see you at the dining hall.”

She undressed, stepped into the hot water, and dipped her toes.

The temperature was perfect. The warmth soaked into her body like it was melting her heart.

There were rare flower petals floating in the water, and the scent of bath salts tickled her nose.

She sank in up to her shoulders and looked up at the ceiling.

Every time she was treated like this, it felt like her heart was being torn apart.

But the warm bathwater seemed to cover that pain.

“How’s the water?”

“?! What the—?!”

Rebecca had silently entered and was watching from behind with a cheeky grin.

“I’m here to help the Saint bathe~”

“No need…”

“Don’t worry, we’re both girls~”

Rebecca lathered up soap and started scrubbing Charlotte’s arm, making her feel extremely embarrassed.

“You really don’t have to…”

“C’mon~ don’t worry, it’s my job.”

As Rebecca washed her back, her hands paused.

Then, she touched the scar that remained on Charlotte’s back.

It didn’t hurt, but the feeling of Rebecca’s fingers brushing the scar made her shiver.

“…Doesn’t holy power heal wounds?”

“It does… but healing my own wounds is hard.”

Previous Saints could instantly heal any wound, whether their own or others’.

But for some reason, her holy power was weak when it came to herself.

It wasn’t just weak. It was almost like her body rejected healing.

Maybe that’s why she couldn’t manifest her powers quickly.

“Raise your arm.”

“No, wait..! I’ll do that part myself!”

“Hey now! Just listen so we can get this done and go eat!”

 Stop..!”

Rebecca’s hands intruded places she’d never let anyone touch before. It was her first time being washed by someone—and with the weird places being touched, she let out strange noises without meaning to.

“Whew… It’s nice when you behave. You’re clean now.”

“Rebecca… don’t come in again when I bathe…”

After the bath, she felt even more exhausted. She wasn’t hungry—just wanted to go back to bed…

“The Demon King is waiting. You’ll wear this.”

After stepping out of the bath, she saw a blue dress waiting for her.

It was a curve-hugging, seductive blue dress with lace flowing at the hem. But… she felt like it didn’t suit her.

“Don’t you have anything else..?”

“Nope! Come on, we’re in a rush!”

At Rebecca’s claps, a swarm of demon maidservants rushed in.

“Wait… what?!”

“Stay still! We have to do your hair and makeup! No talking while we’re doing your face!”

“Save me!!”

It was hell.

She felt like she used up all the energy from the bath just being dressed up.

She hadn’t been dressed up like this since she was invited to an Empire event. Not even for Alec’s wedding.

“Wow, our Saint is beautiful.”

About an hour later, they were finally done. When she looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself.

Her hair was tied half-up, a style she had never tried. The form-fitting dress fluttered with lace along the hem.

She’d always avoided jewelry, calling it temptation—but now her head, neck, and arms were covered in it.

‘Grandpa’s gonna be surprised…’

Would the Pope be happy to see her like this? Or smash the jewels in shock?

She imagined the Pope, the gold priest, the silver priest, and the bald priest all staring at her. It made her feel warm inside.

“Let’s go to the dining hall.”

“ but what’s today? Why all this dressing up..?”

“ It’s not any special day.”

…Does that mean every mealtime at the Demon King’s castle will be like this?

Suddenly, everything went dark in front of her.

When she entered the dining room, Morgan was already waiting, wearing a seductive red dress.

It was different from her usual look. The tight curves of the dress showed off Morgan’s figure, and as Charlotte saw her clearly…

She felt her own face heat up.

Was this feeling just the embarrassment of wearing fancy clothes for the first time—or was it because she was starting to notice Morgan?

She decided to set that question aside for now.

Morgan and the head maid shared a knowing glance and smiled.

“What’s with you two..?”

“It’s nothing! Come eat!”

Dinner was enjoyable. Morgan didn’t serve her orc meat anymore—this time it was real wyvern meat.

Compared to the raw hunk of meat the Dragon King had cooked for her, it was on another level. Was that what the Dragon King normally ate…?

After the meal, she had tea with Morgan and Rebecca and chatted.

She asked why Morgan had followed her at the academy and whether bringing up Lamia made her uncomfortable.

“Lamia, that b*tch, pretends to be a victim when she’s the one who caused it. That’s what makes her awful.”

As expected, there was something between Rebecca and Lamia.

It was always interesting how Rebecca got agitated the moment Lamia came up.

The good times didn’t last long.

“Lady Saint..!! Huff… Lady Saint!!”

Suddenly the door slammed open and the Grand Marshal ran in, face tense.

 The Empire… they’re condemning the Holy Nation of Aria…”

“What…?”

Why would the Empire do that all of a sudden? It was their fault I ended up here. Why are they condemning the Holy Nation?

“T-The reason is…”

He gulped down water, caught his breath, and then said something I couldn’t believe.

“They say… because the Cathedral is selecting a Saint… the orphanage children under their care are being killed…”

The moment I heard the words children and killed…

I couldn’t hear anything else the Grand Marshal said.

My heartbeat was louder than his voice.