Chapter 3: False Saint(3)

I slowly opened my eyes in the solitary cell.
A soft sensation and the faint scent of roses.

I woke up on the Saintess’s bed.

Clutching my heavy head, I slowly sat up.
Anje sat quietly on the edge of the bed.

“You didn’t brainwash me. Guess you liked my life story?”
“Not at all. Just a pathetic noble from a corrupt family.”

Maybe because she’d peeked into my memories, her tone felt colder than before.

My scoundrel days were before I took over this body, so there’s nothing I can do about that.
Still, she must’ve seen my genuine intent to reform this place.

That’s why I woke up with my mind intact.

“By the way, do you know how to handle a sword?”
“A sword? Why ask?”

When I tilted my head, she casually brushed her silver hair.

“In your memories, you barely touched a sword, but you seem pretty strong now.”
“I never learned. My family treated me like an outcast.”

Since she’d already seen Derek’s memories, I answered honestly.
I couldn’t reveal I was the Knight Commander who killed her in my past life.

“Then it must be natural talent.”

The Saintess nodded impassively.
Her fingers still toyed gently with her hair.

“Fine, I get it. I’ll figure out who you are over time.”
“You saw all my memories. What else do you want?”

Even after peering into my mind, she doesn’t fully trust me.
This is the time to emphasize my ambitions.

“I’ll prove myself from now on. So start cooperating.”
“Cooperating, like releasing your guards?”

Arms crossed, the Saintess asked with a blank expression.

“Yes. I’ll make sure my men atone for their sins.”
“Why are you so obsessed with those worthless guards?”

One wrong word could cost me my life, which I’d barely kept.
Still, I spoke boldly.

“Because tormenting them like this only shortens your own life.”

Anje bit her red lips lightly.
She turned her gaze away, muttering softly.

“…There you go again with my life.”
“Of course. You’re the most important person here.”

If you stay alive and well, this damned world might actually function.
I spoke as if soothing a massive, sulky cat.

“If something happens to you, I’ll be in real trouble.”

My serious tone made Anje pause.
The dim lighting cast deep shadows on her face.

The solitary cell fell completely silent.
In the sealed room, only the Saintess and I remained.

“Really?”

Her red eyes curved into a crescent smile, exuding pressure.
The seductive aura momentarily overwhelmed me.

“Even if I get targeted by an assassin?”

Her serious question made me freeze.
Did she glimpse my past life’s memories?

No, if she had, she’d have killed me in a rage.
She’s probably referring to the Holy See’s lackeys sent to control her.

“Of course. Only I, the warden, can punish you.”
“I see. Quite the responsible type.”

Anje slowly rose from her seat.
Hands behind her back, she glanced at me with a merciful smile.

In that moment, she truly looked like a Saintess.

“Alright. I like it.”

She stretched out both hands and closed her eyes.
Powerful magic surged out of the cell.

“The hallucination spells on your men are lifted. They should be sane now.”

She complied more easily than expected.
Well, having the warden on her side makes it easier to resist the Holy See, so she’s giving me a chance.

“But don’t trust them too much. Not everyone will follow your ideals.”
“Noted.”

I got up from the bed.
Before leaving the cell, I picked up the apple from the floor.

“I’ll bring your meals for now. Don’t skip them until our next meeting.”

I blew on it and polished the skin with my sleeve.
Gently, I placed the ripe apple in her hand.

“Got it?”
“Yes. I’ll look forward to it.”

As I turned to leave, I felt a burning gaze.
But whenever I looked back, the Saintess ignored me coldly.

How strong was she even back then to radiate such presence?
I shut my eyes tightly and left the cell.

Thud—

“Phew…”

Back in the musty corridor, I was surprised to see Clea waiting for me.

“You made it out alive. Or did you? Your eyes are still creepy.”
“Sounds like you were hoping I wouldn’t.”

“No way. I just can’t believe you actually pulled it off.”
“I told you, I’m pretty capable.”

I strolled ahead with my hands behind my back.
Clea followed, eyeing me closely.

“You didn’t threaten her with something weird, like using your family’s power, did you?”

She plucked a white hair from my back as she asked.
We barely touched, yet somehow I was covered in them.

“I’m an outcast in my family. How could I threaten her?”
“Then how’d you convince her?”

“I let her peek into my memories. She saw my sincerity to run the prison honestly and released them.”
“Hard to believe. You don’t look the sincere type.”

Back in the office, the freed guards waited with overwhelmed expressions.

“All rise.”

Clea’s voice, befitting the prison’s second-in-command, rang out.
The emotional guards stood, gazing at the new warden with gratitude.

“You’re late with the greetings. Are you all okay?”

Just days ago, they’d stood at the entrance with vacant eyes.
Now, freed from torment, they saluted with clear gazes.

“Yes, the ringing in my ears is completely gone.”
“Same here. The hellish screams finally stopped…!”

As expected of battle-hardened knights, they seemed skilled.
The head guard, representing them, asked with a joyful expression.

“How on earth did you convince the Saintess? It’s unbelievable.”
“Luckily, her ‘beliefs’ aligned with mine. I’ll keep handling her, so don’t worry.”

The dark-haired head guard nodded slowly.
His eyes held a hint of tension.

They must know my family’s notorious reputation.
For now, I need to win them over.

“I’ll handle all prisoner meals and interviews for now. Focus on recovering.”
“Are you sure that’s alright…?”

The head guard asked on behalf of the others.
I responded with a serious gaze.

“The dirtiest jobs should always fall to the boss first.”

I extended a hand for a handshake.
Relieved to be spared from disaster-level prisoners, they gladly accepted.

“Let’s work well together. I’m Derek Minster, the new warden.”
“We’ll do our best.”

I shook hands with each guard.
Then came Clea’s turn.

“Me too?”
“Yeah. You’re the one I’ll rely on most.”

I gave a faint smile, like in my days as an imperial chancellor managing countless talents.

“I know you don’t trust me yet. I must seem unreliable.”
“…”

“So I’ll prove myself with actions moving forward.”
“No surprise you’re a noble’s son—you talk a good game.”

Clea adjusted her tie as if to soothe her idle hands.
Reluctantly, she shook my hand.

“Still, you seem better than past wardens. Give me your next order, and I’ll follow.”

Next order, huh?
I recalled the Saintess’s cryptic warning.

‘Don’t trust the guards too much.’

“Send home the guards who were under hallucinations.”

A red sunset glowed outside.
I glanced at it, narrowing my eyes thinly.

“If they want, they can visit home. Just be back by morning.”
“Really? Is that okay?”

The head guard, who’d sworn loyalty first, asked again.
The others looked excited at the rare break.

“Yeah. Clea and I will take night duty.”
“I’m going home, though.”

The guards bowed to Clea in thanks before she could refuse.
Caught off guard, she wore her usual sulky expression before heading to make coffee.

“…”

Watching the departing guards, she returned to the office.
She planned to pester her boss all night as revenge.

“I brought coffee.”

As I turned with a blank expression, Clea said cynically.

“No spit in it. Though I used a dusty cup.”
“That’s not it. Come here for a sec.”

Taking night duty, she loosened her ponytail.
She tidied her radiant blue hair and approached the window.

“Those guards who left—do they all live nearby?”
“Yes. All within five minutes of the prison.”

“Even someone as composed as you would head straight home after a long shift, right?”
“If you have family, that’s normal. In tough times, family’s all you think about.”

Clea answered with a neutral expression.

“Right. Then someone leaving town tonight would look awfully suspicious.”

Her hand, stirring the coffee, froze at my cryptic words.

“You don’t mean…”
“Exactly. The one running back to their master right after regaining their senses—that’s the Holy See’s spy.”

At the mention of the Holy See, Clea’s eyes sharpened.

“I’ll report anyone leaving town tonight.”
“Thanks.”

I sipped coffee, staring at the sunset.
A white crow perched nearby seemed to admire the view too.

‘If there’s really a spy among the guards, I’ll become their target.’

With my family’s infamous reputation, they’ll suspect I’m trying to steal the Saintess.
They’ll use their connections to pressure me.

I pondered how to handle the spy.
The white crow, watching silently, spread its wings and returned to its roost.

Through a crack in the prison wall, linked to the solitary cell.

*

That night, the town was filled with the sounds of families welcoming fathers home.

The guards enjoyed warm dinners and sweet sleep.
But not everyone went straight home.

“Phew…”

The head guard, who’d thanked me first, pulled his hood low to hide his face.
He set out alone.

As if accustomed to the dark, he crossed the mountain with practiced steps.

‘Damn it, the Minster family teaming up with the Saintess…!’

Breathing white mist, he headed for the nearest Holy See outpost.
A family notorious for contract killings and loan-sharking had swayed the Saintess.

‘He’s recruiting prisoners. I have to report this to the higher-ups…!’

But he soon stopped dead.
He’d felt someone following him.

“Who’s there!”

A veteran knight from the battlefield drew his sword.
Having chosen betrayal for wealth, he scanned the surroundings with fierce eyes.
Then.

[You were spared, and you’re already plotting evil?]

The voice of the woman who’d tormented him.

[Guess you’re not worth keeping alive.]

“S-Saintess…?”

He thought he’d escaped her domain.
His lips trembled at the reach of this calamity, even in this distant forest.

“You’d betray the Pope who cared for you?! Show yourself!”

[You think you cared for me?]

With Anje’s cryptic words, an eerie wind rustled through the forest.
The guard’s eyes darted frantically.

But he soon realized he didn’t need to search.

“What… what is this…”

Dozens of crows perched on branches.
Wolves and bears lurked behind trees.

All with the same red eyes as the Saintess, glaring at their prey.

[What’s wrong? These are the beasts you locked me in with.]

In her red dress, the Saintess sat on her cell bed.
She leisurely watched the guard through the animals’ eyes.

[Didn’t you leave me to be torn and bitten until my brainwashing succeeded?]

With a chilling smile, she swiped through the air.
Following her gesture, the beasts’ shadows lunged at the Holy See’s spy.

“Argh…!”

Anje covered her ears at the piercing scream.
After a few seconds, she lowered her hands.

[With the Prophet’s reincarnation here, you’re all worthless now.]

The white-haired woman picked up the apple on her bed.
She gently licked the ripe fruit the man had polished.

[If I can claim him, building a new world will be effortless.]

The Saintess’s magic, once thought weak before her transformation, spread in red beams.
Her beasts, and the continent-level monsters she’d already brainwashed, began watching the paths to Berryhill.

[Only the Saintess can possess the Prophet.]

The rose-like woman smirked with her red lips, unusually sinister for a Saintess.
In her past life, the Holy See’s brainwashing made her a puppet.
This time, she was starting to gain true free will.