Chapter 143…………………………………………
They tumbled onto the floor of the jousting arena.
Their bodies ached with electric pain.
Falling from the horse had scraped their legs, tearing Elio’s pants, and the arms that had caught his wife tingled from the impact.
They lay rolling in the dirt. The horse neighed nervously and circled around them. Yet, despite everything, Lahan could not hide his laughter.
“Erishi… my goodness.”
“Lahan!”
Erishi had landed perfectly in his arms, as if they were made for each other. Not only that—she wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed too.
“I knew you would definitely catch me.”
Because he was the one she trusted most.
“Ah, Erishi.”
How could Lahan respond to words filled with such faith? He could only smile.
Still, he quickly checked her from head to toe. Amazingly, she had not a single scratch. Likely because he had desperately caught her. Lahan finally exhaled in relief and whispered.
“Thank heavens, Erishi… I had planned something more impressive…”
He had intended to meet her during the joust, yes. But his plan was longer and more elaborate than this.
He had intended to make her wait a little longer… then confront Elio Poldenbach about his crimes. After all, Lahan’s grudge against Elio ran deep and wide.
But Erishi shook her head.
“No… to me, you’re the most wonderful and remarkable person.”
“Erishi.”
“So please, take me far away. From here…”
Hearing those words from his wife, he had only one choice.
Lahan quickly seized the reins, lifted her onto the horse, and mounted himself.
Meanwhile, Elio was still shouting from above.
“Seize the author immediately!”
But the soldiers still didn’t move. Naturally—they had long since been replaced by Akim.
Knowing this, Lahan smiled faintly and shouted loudly.
“Hear me, people of Poldenbach!”
His voice boomed so loudly that the arena fell silent. Then he shouted again.
“Emperor Elio Poldenbach is the true worshipper of demons!”
“…That madman! Hey, guards!”
“The name of the demon Leviathan is written alongside his, and the saint will prove my innocence!”
For a moment, Elio fell silent—likely at the mention of Leviathan’s name.
Lahan looked down at Erishi in his arms. She already knew what to do. But she wanted a small reward for doing it.
With a playful expression, she whispered softly.
“In exchange for proving my innocence, I want something, my husband.”
“What… what is it?”
She whispered again, and Lahan’s face turned red. But before he could reply, she closed her eyes and prayed.
“Grant it, my God.”
In an instant, the air swelled. And then…
Her sacred power manifested.
“Wow…”
“My goodness.”
Some gasped in awe, others covered their mouths. At this moment, the miracle of the saint unfolded in the jousting arena.
The saint had proclaimed her sacred authority.
Just like in that small backyard long ago, a faint, beautiful sphere of light enveloped only the two of them.
It was small, yet no one could doubt that it was a sacred domain.
The power of God works like this: endlessly doubted until witnessed, but undeniable when it appears—a domain beyond dispute.
Within that sphere, the two looked at each other, smiling. The audience was bewildered.
If Lahan Norwich were truly a demon worshipper, as the emperor claimed, shouldn’t he have burned within the saint’s sacred domain?
Yet Lahan Norwich remained unharmed. And moreover…
“Oh my!”
He kissed the saint’s lips.
Yet no one blushed. The sight was not crude but profoundly sacred and moving. Some even shed tears.
‘Then…’
‘Could it be that Lahan Norwich has been wrongfully accused all this time?’
Doubts began to rise among the people. It was surprising that Lahan Norwich was alive—but if this scene was real, then all the accusations of him being a “child of demons” were utterly false.
Even the nobles began sending questioning glances at Elio. Elio gritted his teeth.
“Can none of you remove those irreverent eyes from me?”
But Lahan went even further. Pulling on the reins from the jousting arena below, he shouted loudly.
“Emperor! If you are truly innocent, descend here and try to strike my neck!”
He meant within the saint’s sacred domain.
“If you remain unharmed even inside, I will willingly give my neck to you!”
Elio’s anger flared. Yet he hesitated to descend. He literally had no idea what would happen if he entered the saint’s sacred space.
Still, his rage only grew. He was of noble birth and had never experienced such humiliation:
Everyone staring at him with doubt, being left at a disadvantage, rendered speechless, and betrayed publicly in his own affections…
“Elishi Ahen!”
So Elio shouted at Erishi, not Lahan. All his selfish, pent-up emotions exploded uncontrollably.
But Lahan’s words were not finished.
“Just as I told Philrod Ahen, I declare to you as well: Erishi Ahen will from today again be my wife!”
Elio felt his blood boil.
Yet those were exactly the words Erishi had wanted most.
‘In exchange for proving my innocence, I want something, my husband.’
‘What… what is it?’
‘Just like before, say I am your wife once again. And…’
Lahan gripped Erishi’s waist firmly.
“This is not a kidnapping—it is the rightful reclamation of my wife!”
And he declared it. Elio screamed.
“Grrrgh!”
Then fell backward. Perhaps overcome by his own fury. No one could be certain. The saint, having proclaimed her sacred authority, had struck the emperor’s forehead with divine power in a way only she knew.
By the time the terrified servants helped Elio to his feet, Lahan Norwich had already ridden through the arena entrance with his wife. Somehow, a red mark, like a burn, appeared on the emperor’s forehead.
Elio flailed, trying to summon his knights, and attempted to leap from the railing in anger—but there were problems. First, there was Duke Lacheize.
“Elio! You have clearly abandoned the ways of humanity!”
When had he donned his armor? No, he must have worn it beneath the dress all along. Duke Lacheize drew his long sword and shouted.
“Elio Poldenbach! Lahan Norwich’s innocence has been proven, but now you must prove your own! Why did you hesitate to enter the sacred domain?”
Second.
“Treason! Argh!”
Knights and soldiers led by Akim Norwich had already occupied the jousting arena. Confused spectators screamed and scrambled out of the way.
“Save me!”
“My God! Knights!”
Regardless, Akim Norwich also drew his sword and shouted from the other side.
“In the name of the saint, I will punish the emperor who, bewitched by demons, hanged the archbishop!”
Archbishop? What? Elio’s eyes darted in disbelief.
He had no idea that at this very moment, cries of terror were erupting across the empty imperial palace.
For days, Archbishop Viktor had been missing, only to be found hanging from the castle walls, dead.
“…Hah.”
Yet one thing Elio understood. He was not an idiot; he realized that the current events were part of a prearranged plan.
“…A sister’s doing?”
Duke Lacheize smiled.
“Not entirely.”
Even without hearing more, it was clear to Elio: he had already lost the upper hand.
So he took an action he normally would not have dared.
“Leviathan.”
[Are you insane?]
A thick, dark aura began to surge from him.
