That night, Elestia found herself walking alone through the dim streets, guided only by the pale light of the crescent moon. She had chosen to stay in a small inn on the edge of the capital — far from the Holy Hospital, far from the suffocating tension of the palace, far from anyone who might look at her and whisper the word Saintess.
She sat on the narrow bed, staring at the flickering lamp beside her.This was her second life — a miracle, or perhaps a punishment.And yet… why did it still feel hollow?
Her thoughts tangled into a thousand threads — doubts, regrets, memories that never quite connected. Eventually, exhaustion pulled her down. She drifted into sleep, unaware that her mind was walking toward the edge of a nightmare.
In her dream, she stood in an empty theater. A single spotlight illuminated the stage.There, standing across from her, were two Elestias — the past and the present — watching each other as if they were strangers.
"Is this really the life you wanted?"The present Elestia's voice was calm, yet it sliced through her like glass.
"Weren't you going to avenge me?"The past Elestia's tone was filled with accusation, her eyes red and wet with tears.
"Did you find your happiness?"The current Elestia's question echoed softly, gentle yet piercing — and unbearable.
"Why did you forget me?"Her past self stepped closer, trembling. "You didn't change anything, did you?"
Elestia tried to speak, but her throat tightened.The two versions of herself circled her like reflections in broken mirrors.
"You abandoned me, didn't you?""Why did you run away?""You failed to find them!""You cried, you ran, you hid!""Lucia and Carmila still framed you even when you ignored them!""You couldn't even become the First Saintess!""YOU'RE REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKES!"
Elestia jolted awake — drenched in sweat, trembling, breath shallow as though she had run for miles. The moonlight poured through the thin curtains, cold and merciless.
"Hah… I didn't accomplish anything…" she whispered, her voice cracking. "Father still doesn't recognize me… not even a soul knows me as the Saintess…"
She wrapped her arms around herself, curling into the corner of the bed as silent tears fell.Then, after a long moment, she lifted her head and murmured:
"…I'll face them."
By morning, she returned home — the quiet house she shared with Kiel. She expected emptiness, yet the moment she opened the door, they were there, waiting.
"Elestia…" Kiel called softly, stepping forward. His hand trembled slightly as he reached for hers.
She looked at him — at those earnest, guilty eyes — and wondered bitterly,Was I charmed by just kind words? Why did I fall for this man?
"I'm sorry," Kiel said, voice low, heavy with remorse.
"It's okay."Elestia didn't push him away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him briefly — an embrace more of exhaustion than comfort — and walked past him in silence.
That day, she locked herself inside her room.She took out parchment and ink, and began to write — every fragment of memory she could still grasp. The names, the betrayals, the blood, the screams, the moment of death. The cycle that repeated.She wrote until her hand ached, until night came again.
And that night, the dream returned.
"Did you make the right choice?""Will you take revenge for me?""What will you do after revenge?""Who are you in the past?""How did Duke Ronin find you?""Who are you?""Who is your name?""Are you really… Elestia?"
The questions rained down like blades. The more she tried to remember, the more everything blurred — as if her memories were being erased by invisible hands.
When dawn came, Elestia awoke gasping.Her head pounded, her heart hollow.
"What… actually happened in my past?" she whispered. "Was I… a slave before all this?"
She barely had time to breathe when a knock sounded at her door.
"Elestia? May I talk to you?" Kiel's voice came from the other side — quiet, hesitant.
Elestia straightened her dress, smoothed her trembling hands, and opened the door.The morning light spilled across his face.Whatever he wanted to say — whatever secret he carried — she could see it trembling in his eyes.