Chapter 60: The Unforeseen Rescue

Una closed her eyes, seeking release from the hostile gazes of the crowd.

Saliva, a bitter mixture of fear and resentment, trickled down her throat and settled deep within her.

The very idea of parading a condemned person before their trial, a plan Una herself had devised, was now being executed upon her.

“Repent, repent!”

The Bishop vehemently shook his arm, his mouth ceaselessly chattering.

Una was barely an arm’s length from the Bishop, her mind screaming to kick him from the platform. Yet, her legs were bound, leaving her utterly immobile.

Constantine rode her horse close to the platform, flanked by the Order Knights who spread out like eagle’s wings, forming a protective barrier.

Noticing Una’s subtle movements, she spoke, “Learn from Alexei, and behave yourself.”

Una cast a disgusted glance at Alice, who hung her head, silently, like a pathetic dead fish laid out on a chopping board.

Were Una not bound to the cross, she would have throttled Alice with her own hands; being burned alive felt far too lenient a punishment for her.

Suddenly, Alice lifted her head, and a flicker of light crossed her ashen face.

The platform abruptly halted, causing the still gesticulating Bishop to stumble. He fell heavily onto the wooden planks, stars dancing before his eyes, clearly unconscious for the foreseeable future.

“What is it?”

Constantine’s gaze swept forward.

A silver-white figure emerged from the crowd—a slender, beautiful young woman. With her delicate frame, she blocked the entire procession.

Una’s mouth was tightly gagged with cloth, yet she strained with all her might, attempting to utter a syllable or two.

That person carried Lady Alena’s aura. Though their appearances differed, Una felt a familiar warmth in her presence.

“Chloe?”

Constantine narrowed her eyes, her hand trembling slightly on the reins.

Chloe was still dressed in a pure white nightgown, her silver hair spreading wildly like small snakes, as if she had just woken up.

She spread her arms, resolutely blocking the carriage, her crimson eyes radiating unwavering determination.

A chorus of gasps erupted from the crowd. Several fanatics attempted to rush Chloe and tackle her, but the guards swiftly intercepted them.

Some Order Knights recognized her and advanced with ill intent, but Constantine waved her arm, stopping them.

She slowly rode before Chloe, looking down as she inquired, “Lady Chloe, is there something you need?”

“I…”

Chloe could not utter a single word, merely standing her ground, her arms still outstretched.

“If there is nothing else, please step aside.”

Constantine clearly had no intention of pursuing Chloe’s escape; her sole focus now was delivering Una and Alice to the tribunal.

Una looked past everyone, her gaze fixed on Chloe in the distance, her eyes brimming with tears.

‘She came to save me. She cares about me!’

A trace of confusion flickered in Alice’s beautiful eyes. Her face was etched with anxiety, and her limbs thrashed violently as she desperately tried to break free.

‘She’s afraid that the truth of her betrayal of Lady Alena will be exposed,’ Una thought, utterly certain.

If not for the cursed gag, Una would have shouted the truth to Chloe long ago, freeing her from Alice’s manipulation.

Constantine dismounted, approaching Chloe.

Chloe, in turn, retreated step by step, yet she kept her arms firmly outstretched, unwilling to let the carriage advance an inch.

“Lady Chloe,” Constantine urged again, her tone laced with helplessness.

“Where are you taking her… taking Alice?”

Chloe’s lips trembled slightly, sweat soaking through her thin nightgown.

Una felt a metaphorical blow to her heart. Why save a traitor instead of noticing her?

“I am deeply sorry, but it is too late. Her fate is sealed. She will be judged as a heretic and ultimately executed by fire.”

“But I cannot accept that outcome.”

Chloe bit her lip. Even facing Constantine, who towered over her, she showed no sign of backing down.

The two women stared at each other in silence.

Approximately ten seconds later, Constantine slowly raised her hand.

The Order Knights already had their hands on their sword hilts, their blades aimed at the unarmed Chloe, poised to strike the moment Constantine’s hand dropped.

‘Don’t hurt Chloe!’

Una struggled, kicking her legs, but it was futile. ‘Damn it, who came up with the terrible idea of binding criminals to a cross?’

‘Oh, right, it was me.’

Her eyes widened in horror, and she prayed incessantly that Constantine’s hand would not fall.

However, Constantine’s hand did fall.

Literally.

Clang.

Constantine’s forearm erupted with blood. She frantically clutched the wound, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at the ground where an iron arm—once a part of her body—lay isolated.

Chloe’s eyes were as wide as copper bells, clearly indicating she had no involvement in this.

Snap.

Una’s restraints suddenly released, sending her tumbling to the ground. Alice, beside her, suffered the same fate.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Several Order Knights collapsed to the ground, their sword-wielding arms severed in unison. Some desperately tried to reattach them, but to no avail.

The scene quickly turned bloody. The crowd scattered in terror, turning the street into utter chaos. A child fell, on the verge of being trampled by the fleeing masses.

Constantine, using her remaining hand, scooped up the child, averting a tragedy. She knelt on the ground, staring blankly at the unfolding events.

Una scrambled to her feet, glancing around. Alice was nowhere to be seen. ‘No matter, this isn’t the time for vengeance.’

She sprinted across the platform, reaching Chloe in the fastest possible time, and enveloped her in a fierce hug, sending both of them tumbling to the ground.

“Lady Alena, I missed you so much!”

The Order’s thugs had completely depleted Una’s ‘Alena energy.’ Not only had they plundered all her personal belongings, but they had even killed her horse, Alena, forcing her to flee on Ximinu.

Una rubbed her face against Chloe’s, fully absorbing the ‘Alena energy.’

“What’s going on?” Chloe murmured.

Beside Chloe, several golden-red figures glided past.

One, two, three… Una tried to count the passing figures, but realized her ten fingers weren’t enough.

“That was a close call, Divine Chosen.”

A long-haired girl with black hair intentionally paused, her gaze sweeping over the two figures seated on the ground.

“Angelica…?”

Constantine remained kneeling, dazed, as blood continuously flowed from her arm.

The girl named Angelica turned to Constantine, her body tightly wrapped in a golden-red robe. She raised her hand, revealing her fair skin.

“Constantine, is the religious game still fun?”

Angelica’s eyes gleamed gold as she coldly looked down at Constantine.

“Was that your doing?” Constantine inquired, her eyes fixed on Angelica, though her voice was as faint as a wisp of silk. Her face was pale, the extensive blood loss having drained her energy.

“No, it wasn’t just me.”

Several individuals, dressed identically to her, emerged from behind her. They were all young, beautiful women.

Una knew the true identity of these people—Elders. Una was no stranger to Elders; Lady Alena had met with several of them when she was alive.

However, an operation of this scale was the first in three hundred years.

“What do you want?”

A blonde girl with pigtails darted out, hands on her hips, her face filled with displeasure as she declared, “Hand over Alice~ Oh, forget it, Cicero, you explain.”

Another girl, with fiery red hair and glasses, stepped forward in response. Her eyes were sharp and intelligent, and she clutched a stack of books to her chest.

“We are convening a meeting, the Curia Assembly. All Elders—including you and Alice—must attend. This assembly will decide the abolition or retention of the No-War Edict.”