Time-Limited Saintess, You’ve Been Caught by the Tyrant Once Again - Chapter 64

Chapter 32.2

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Liliana was in a good mood.

It was because she hadn’t heard any news from Erich since he was taken away. According to one of the priests, the Pope was so angry that he imprisoned him. Another paladin claimed that he was confined in the same ‘underground’ prison that had terrified her, and there were also rumors that his release was unlikely.

She marveled at her quick wit, and she was grateful that Erich had lost his head at that time.

“I’m the real one.”

Liliana repeated to herself.

There was nothing that could stop her now, especially since she had gotten rid of that annoying Erich. Confident that she got rid of that formidable Erich, she relaxed and chatted with the Angelias for the first time in a while.

“I have a friend who’s a maid in the Imperial Palace, and lately, she said there have been a lot of rumors going around.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“Well, do you remember that Angelia who was accused of stealing the scripture…”

Why was Ellin suddenly mentioned? She thought she disappeared.

Liliana made an effort to conceal her displeasure.

“Yes, the commoner woman.”

“Well… That woman was summoned by His Majesty.”

“Yes?!”

“Even though His Majesty said she’s not a mistress, she seems like one?”

Liliana furrowed her brow.

Thinking it was an aversion to promiscuity, Helen opened her mouth.

“It seems that’s why the maids don’t like her either. She’s of common birth but acts like a noble, and she even has maids following her.”

“Is there such an ambiguous situation?”

Why was she fiddly around her like this again?

Liliana wanted to ask Ellin, grabbing her by the collar right here and now. It was strange, no matter what Ellin did, she was annoyed. The Emperor’s mistress? That was beyond the subject. She also couldn’t believe that she even had maids around. It was unbelievable.

“I’m glad she’s safe.”

The Angelias wore frustrated looks at Liliana’s hypocritical words.

“It’s clear that Her Majesty doesn’t know what that woman has done.”

“But we know.”

Helen sighed at Liliana’s remark. The next moment, Henrietta, who had been talking about the rumors, spoke up again.

“I’m not finished talking yet. There’s suspicion that Angelia may have been a slave.”

“Yes?”

This time, even Liliana was surprised.

A slave? From a slave family?

Ellin was a commoner, but she suddenly became a slave? Did that mean she became a slave in the last three years? Was she captured by slave traders? While it was convincing, if she was a slave, she wouldn’t be unable to roam around freely like this.

“Why do you say she’s a slave?”

“Well, she has a stigma on her chest…”

“A stigma?”

Slaves had a mark indicating they were slaves. Therefore, a stigma was branded with fire or magic on visible parts of the body…

…And she had one on her body?

“Are you sure?”

“First of all, I’m not sure about this. I think the maid who was serving her was talking in passing.”

As it became increasingly unclear, Liliana pondered deeply.

Was Ellin really a runaway slave? Well, a fifteen-year-old girl wouldn’t have run away all alone by herself like that. She must have certainly become prey for slave traders. Now, it made sense. Was that why she hid in the temple to ask for help from her?

‘She has no manners.’

She didn’t even accept the money she gave her because she had pride in her appearance.

Liliana twisted the corner of her mouth.

She hadn’t even considered that the pattern on her chest could signify a saint.

“It’s complicated.”

Liliana said quietly.

“Yes, it is.”

“The Emperor’s mistress in the Imperial Palace isn’t a commoner but a slave. This is really not good.”

“That’s right.”

As the Angelias agreed, Liliana smiled as if a thought had suddenly occurred to her.

“So, what do you think about confirming it once?”

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“Thank you.”

Melissa looked at Ellin, who was smiling brightly, feeling guilty.

In the past, when she first visited, she had casually mentioned to a friend that Ellin might be a slave… Perhaps because of that, rumors had spread among the people.

The people in the Imperial Palace were closed-minded and disliked Ellin, whose true identity they didn’t know.

“Um…”

“Yes?”

The Ellin that she saw was always kind and friendly. However, the strange thing was that she seemed accustomed to receiving attendance—from her gait to her way of speaking and her gestures, she exuded elegance, so she found it difficult to discern her true identity. Was she a commoner pretending to be a noble? Or was she a noble pretending to be a commoner? What was the meaning behind the stigma engraved on her chest?

She didn’t exhibit the typical arrogance of nobility, and she treated her with respect, so Melissa felt very sorry for Ellin.

“Um, Miss Ellin.”

“Is something bothering you? Please tell me.”

“No, um… I enjoyed the bread.”

“That’s a relief. Bread keeps coming these days.”

As Ellin chuckled, Melissa forced a smile even though she wanted to cry.

“Are you going out again today?”

“Yes. Melissa is resting today as usual.”

“Yes.”

Ellin left her in the room when she went to work. Along with the fact that she also needed a break, the biggest reason was that she didn’t want to make the people she worked with uncomfortable.

Melissa sighed.

According to her friends, Ellin has been trying to reach out to people lately by sharing bread with them, but it hasn’t seemed to be working very well. Even though Melissa had spoken about how kind and good Ellin was, her friends weren’t willing to listen. Instead, they even tried to ostracize her.

“Are you planning to give out bread again today?”

“Since Her Majesty keeps giving them.”

“You’re truly kind-hearted.”

“No. I mean, it’s good. It’s nice to share this much bread… but why bread?”

Ellin looked at the bread and muttered something as if she was in trouble.

Looking at her, Melissa thought their relationship had become somewhat closer. Ellin was kind, but she rarely expressed her personal thoughts.

“Do you happen to know, Melissa? Has His Majesty ordered the servants to commit suicide with poisoned bread, or does she just really like bread?”

The example sentences seemed too extreme…

However, Melissa couldn’t bring herself to say those words because Arkan was standing between the open doors. His expression was subtle. She wasn’t sure why he was here, in this place, in the room where she stayed. She knew that the Emperor’s mood, having overheard this conversation, wouldn’t be pleasant at all.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

However, Ellin remained calm even at this moment, and in her composure, Melissa momentarily wondered if this was all nothing.

“Did you think I actually put poison in it?”

“….”

However, after seeing the Emperor’s face, she realized she was escaping reality. Even Melissa, despite her dullness, felt a sense of betrayal or something akin to it in the Emperor’s words.

At that moment, Ellin spoke up. Melissa momentarily thought that she would, quite naturally, ease the Emperor’s emotions.

“Yes, I did think that way.”

Though Ellin’s response was very firm.

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