Chapter 159……………………………….

Even after thinking about it thousands of times since Mikhail left, Riena still couldn’t understand.

What exactly had she done so wrong? Was it wrong to use the ability the goddess had given her to use?

People said they felt bad because their emotions had been manipulated.

‘Even if that’s true, does that mean I deserve to be accused of fraud I didn’t even commit?’

It was clearly an unreasonable retaliation.

Moreover, Riena had not been the only one who benefited from the goddess’s blessing.

Those who were under the blessing also experienced supreme happiness while loving her.

Riena had returned joy to Duke Cassius, who had closed his heart after losing his wife, and she had shown people like Roland and Isaac—who might have lived their entire lives without knowing love—what love was.

What she had done wasn’t bad.

Because she believed that, Riena expected that her other followers would soon extend a hand to save her.

But even after several days passed, there was no news.

Not even a single person had stepped forward to hire a lawyer for her.

‘These traitors…!’

The sadness she had felt when Mikhail abandoned her gradually turned into hatred.

When she was doing well, they had been desperate to stay close to her, but the moment she was in danger they immediately turned their backs.

Just because it started with the goddess’s blessing, did that mean the time they had spent together was all a lie?

Riena gnawed on her fingernails—already completely ruined from constant biting—and made a vow.

This would never end like this.

This was simply a trial arranged by the goddess to make Riena grow even stronger.

All she had to do now was overcome it easily.

‘There’s no choice but to use my last resort.’

And the place where she would use that last resort would be her public trial, which would begin soon.

Early one dawn, while Riena was pondering how to use that final method most effectively—

“Miss Riena, are you awake?”

A voice came from outside the door. It wasn’t the investigator or the person in charge of distributing meals.

Riena knew the owner of that voice.

“Cardinal Morton!”

He was the representative of the temple who had signed the contract with Riena regarding the magic stone trade.

“I came to offer prayers for you because I was worried about you.”

“How did you manage to get here…?”

“There are plenty of people within the imperial palace who are deeply faithful.”

In other words, he had secretly entered through the back with the help of a guard.

“You believe in me?”

“Of course. Miss Riena’s fundamental nature is truly good.”

“Cardinal…”

“So before you go to cleanse your sins, I trust you will offer everything you have left to the goddess.”

At that moment, Riena’s heart turned cold.

“You’re telling me to hand over my money?”

“I wouldn’t put it so bluntly, but if what remains includes money, then that would indeed be appropriate.”

“Ha. You can’t hire a lawyer for me, but you can take my money?”

“It’s wealth that was gathered improperly anyway. If you dedicate it to the goddess, your soul will also be saved.”

The cardinal spoke with disgustingly benevolent words.

“Previously, when we discussed the contract, you said this, Miss Riena. If something happened, you would use the secret funds you had hidden away, so we didn’t need to worry about the Baby Rabbit Merchant Guild going bankrupt.”

“So you wanted that money that badly?”

“This is not personal greed. It is for the benefit of many people. Besides, since you’re imprisoned here, it’s money you can’t use anyway.”

“That’s ridiculous. If your intentions were truly pure, you wouldn’t have come secretly like this.”

Riena slammed her fists against the door.

“Even if I hand it over, it’ll just end up in your pocket!”

This was exactly why she could never like people from the temple.

In her previous life, Riena had once been tricked by a priest who promised to increase her wealth, and she had lost a large amount of money.

He had spoken kindly to her every time, even though she donated less than other believers, so she had trusted him.

Even after returning to the past and turning that priest into a beggar on the streets and letting him starve to death, the resentment she felt toward the temple had not faded.

Because of that, Riena simply could not feel any fondness toward people from the temple.

And since she never truly wished to be loved by them, the goddess’s blessing had never worked on those connected to the temple.

‘Well, whatever.’

Just because she couldn’t make them love her didn’t mean she couldn’t use them.

“Hey, Cardinal Morton.”

Riena spoke in a lowered voice to the man who was probably cursing her internally.

“Instead of some small amount of money, I can give you something far more valuable.”

“What nonsense are you talking about—”

“You want to become the Pope, don’t you? If you cooperate with me, I’ll make you the Pope.”

The cardinal looked at Riena as if she were insane.

A few days later, the day of Riena’s trial finally arrived.

“The road is frozen because of yesterday’s snow. Please be careful.”

Terrence stepped out of the carriage first, checked the ground, and then extended his hand to me.

“Ah!”

Even though I was being careful, the ground was slippery and my body tilted.

But Terrence calmly wrapped an arm around my waist and supported me.

“Are you alright?”

Our bodies were close together. His face was right in front of mine.

“…I’m fine. Thank you for catching me.”

I smiled and stepped away from him.

“I-Del.”

He looked at the arm that had just been holding me and spoke quietly.

“Is there perhaps something you want to tell me?”

It was a question as sharp as a blade.

The memory of the real I-Del involving Terrence that I had seen a few days ago had been weighing heavily on my mind.

Since then, I had tried to act as normally as possible, but it seemed I couldn’t completely fool him.

Just as I had come to understand him well, he had also come to understand me thoroughly.

“Well… not particularly?”

But I had no idea how to explain that shocking memory.

‘…And honestly, I don’t really want to talk about it.’

Terrence didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t question me further and simply took my hand.

“If there isn’t, that’s fine. But if something ever troubles your heart, please tell me.”

His eyes were warm with complete trust.

“I cannot promise to solve everything, but I can always share the burden on your heart.”

“I’ll remember that.”

I’m sorry, Terrence. Please give me just a little more time.

I swallowed the apology inside my heart.

When more of I-Del’s memories return and I understand clearly what kind of relationship the two of you had in your previous lives, I’ll tell you everything then.

Right now, the memories were still too fragmented to bring up the subject.

“Come on, let’s go. At this rate the trial will start.”

I took the lead and walked toward the courtroom.

Soon, a massive outdoor courtroom set up in the central plaza of the capital appeared before us.

Because this trial was special, it was not being held inside the courthouse like ordinary trials.

It was a public trial for the entire nation.

Such trials were usually held only in cases involving major national issues like treason.

Although this case was fraud, the scale of the damage was enormous, the empire’s reputation had been harmed, and there were even suspicions involving a prince.

So a public trial had been arranged.

‘I hope nothing unexpected happens.’

To be honest, I had hoped the trial would be held privately. That way, any unforeseen variables could be quietly suppressed.

Terrence had agreed, but even the imperial family could not ignore the will of the citizens who strongly wanted a public trial.

They had the right to know.

If the imperial family had insisted on a closed trial, it could have caused suspicion—especially accusations that they were protecting Prince Mikhail.

To avoid such suspicion and to clearly reveal Riena’s crimes, the emperor chose to hold a public trial.

“Your Highness, this way please.”

Officials who spotted us approached and tried to guide Terrence to the seating area reserved for royalty.

“See you later.”

“Yes. I’ll come get you after the trial ends.”

Terrence greeted me reluctantly before following the officials.

Ever since hearing my confession before, he had tried to stay by my side as much as possible.

Whenever he had even a little time, he came to the detached palace and stayed with me until late evening.

He even tried to sleep there sometimes, but Jack would persuade him to return to his own residence, saying rumors would spread if he kept doing that before we were married.

‘Honestly, I’m happy about it too. I would’ve been even happier if I hadn’t had that dream…’

Lost in thought, I headed toward the nobles’ seating area.

“Oh, Baron Luciviu!”

“You’re here too? What a coincidence.”

Familiar faces appeared.

Roland Cassius and Isaac Cassius were sitting right behind the seat assigned to me.

“Baron, want a glass of wine?”

“Hey! Why are you ignoring me again?!”

I pretended not to hear them and sat down, but they still shoved a glass of wine toward me.

“Did you come here for fun? This isn’t a festival.”

When I whispered that, Roland burst into laughter.

“Why wouldn’t it be a festival? For us, it is. Just thinking about the humiliation I suffered because of that witch…”

Isaac patted his father’s trembling shoulder.

“Oh dear, father. Was it that hard? Just look at this cute baby fox and cheer up.”

“Shut up!”

Roland threw a punch at his son for mimicking the way he used to speak while under Riena’s brainwashing.

And a baby fox? Was he talking about himself? What shamelessness.

As Isaac dodged Roland’s punches, he suddenly spoke in a serious voice.

“Considering the scale of the case, even a cardinal came.”

Following his gaze, I saw someone wearing cardinal robes.

“That’s Cardinal Morton.”

I had met him once at the banquet celebrating the founding of the Baby Rabbit Merchant Guild.

He had glared at me when I declared I would lower the price of magic stones.

“Wait, who’s that next to him?”

“Probably priests.”

“No, I mean the one wearing the robe pulled low over their face.”

“…”

I had a feeling I knew who it was, but there was no need to tell Isaac here.

Just then, the judge entered.

The crowd that had filled the seats regardless of status quieted down and turned their attention toward him.

“From this moment, case number—”

“Wait!”

Before the judge could finish speaking, Riena suddenly stood up from the defendant’s seat.

“I have something important to say to everyone gathered here!”

Boos erupted from everywhere, but Riena stood straight and shouted.

“I, Riena, am innocent! Because I am the messenger chosen by the goddess—the Saintess!”

At that moment, a massive amount of divine power burst out from her body and began spreading in all directions.