Chapter 2 – I Don’t Need a Killer. Go Back.
Smack!
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Winter had just slapped her own cheek.
Chloe and Nina, who were standing beside her, stared in shock and rushed toward her in panic.
“Saintess! Why did you suddenly do that?”
“It’s nothing. I thought I saw something strange for a moment.”
“S-Something strange?”
Even to her own ears, the excuse sounded clumsy. In truth, she had slapped herself to make sure she wasn’t mistaken about the man’s face.
At the same time, she carefully observed him without missing a single detail.
His expression did not change at all.
Is this man truly the Demon King… the one who will kill me?
He looked like a statue sculpted perfectly from plaster. The muscles beneath his eyes, his cheeks, even his posture showed not the slightest unnatural movement.
If anything changed…
It was that the killing intent that had pierced her lungs when she opened the altar doors had eased slightly, just enough for her to breathe.
Even then, only a Saint chosen by God could sense such murderous intent. The others simply looked confused, their eyes darting around, unable to understand what was happening.
At that moment, the man stepped forward with fierce energy.
Winter did not retreat. She glared at him and forced her lips open.
“What are you trying to— ngh!”
A pained sound escaped her.
He suddenly grabbed her wrist and lifted it forcefully into the air. Cold sweat slid down the back of her neck.
What kind of strength is this?
His grip was monstrous. She could not move even a single finger of the hand he held.
He leaned closer.
Just as Winter gathered holy power into her free hand, ready to counter—
“I heard the Saint possesses the miracle of immortality… It seems you truly don’t even have a scratch.”
What?
He murmured quietly, just loud enough for her to hear.
Startled, Winter met his eyes. The gaze that had seemed unshakable now burned sharply, as if scolding her for what she had done.
Before she could respond, she felt a strong surge of energy nearby and turned her head.
The man’s eyes followed.
“Sir Ascalon!”
Plink.
A drop of dew that had clung to a withered leaf outside the window fell.
At the same time, the holy power of the three girls gathered above their heads, forming glowing spheres.
They surrounded the man in a semicircle, ready to attack.
“Let go of the Saintess immediately. If you don’t, we won’t hold back.”
Anne spoke firmly. Chloe and Nina glared at him with tense expressions.
Though they appeared to be ordinary young girls, they were in fact the youngest priests ever produced by the monasteries of the Holy Kingdom, chosen to serve the Saint.
In other words, despite their age, they were geniuses at wielding holy power.
Seeing that he was surrounded, the man let out a quiet sigh and released Winter’s wrist.
“…My apologies.”
“Saintess!”
Anne quickly dispersed her holy energy and rushed to Winter’s side. The other two girls sighed in relief.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Really.”
“That’s good, but…”
Anne looked ready to throw the man out immediately.
The man stared coldly at Winter’s ruby eyes hidden behind the veil.
“…I wasn’t told the Saint was mentally unstable enough to harm herself.”
The atmosphere froze instantly. His low voice carried an indescribable pressure.
Beneath her veil, Winter narrowed her eyes sharply.
“How dare you speak to the Saintess like—!”
“You. What kind of life have you been living?”
Even in anger, an ordinary person would not give off that kind of killing intent. What she had sensed from him was the presence of someone who had taken lives.
As Anne prepared to protest, Winter spoke first in a low voice.
“I don’t need a killer. Go back.”
“S-Saintess, this gentleman is—”
Chloe whispered awkwardly, but Winter had already turned her back without taking her eyes off the man.
“I’ll consider that this fiancé never arrived.”
“Saintess! Please wait!”
As she took a step forward, a voice stopped her. There was faint amusement in it.
“The Saint is correct. Calling me a killer isn’t wrong.”
Winter turned around again.
The man now wore a faintly amused expression.
“I thought you were a clown since you covered your face. But it seems you know how to get angry too.”
Before Winter could snap back, he placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply.
The three girls stared in visible confusion.
“Allow me to introduce myself.”
His posture was flawless, befitting the son of a noble house.
In a clear voice, he said,
“I am the Silver Knight, Kyle Ascalon, greeting Winter Bella, apostle of God.”
Winter looked at him in disbelief.
“…You’re the Silver Knight?”
One year ago—
The legendary hero who had ended the fourteen-year war stood before her.
***
The Silver Knight.
Five years ago, he appeared out of nowhere and ended the fourteen-year war against the demons.
Some called him a divine messenger sent by the supreme god Lux. Others claimed he was a masterpiece created by the Imperial Mage Tower of the Kanata Empire.
What’s certain is that even in this cold, remote land, his name is known as a great hero.
After moving from the altar to the reception room, Winter sat across from him. He observed the room as if dissecting an insect’s wings.
Once Anne served jasmine tea and left, Winter finally spoke.
“…I apologize for not recognizing such a great hero. As you can see, you are my eighth fiancé.”
He hummed and crossed his legs arrogantly.
“I understand. Most men volunteer because they want to live comfortably like the Saint. They wouldn’t expect the sanctuary to be in such a remote place.”
A vein twitched on Winter’s forehead.
It was true that the sanctuary was hidden deep in the north.
Rumors about the Saint’s fiancé circulated widely. That if one became the Saint’s husband, he would be guaranteed status and wealth for life. That he could even keep mistresses without consequence.
The Holy Kingdom never confirmed nor denied these rumors.
Their silence meant she too had to remain silent.
Changing the topic, Winter took a sip of tea and steadied herself.
“Still… after ending the war, you must have received many marriage proposals. Why choose a woman living in such a barren land?”
“Do you truly not know?”
He lowered his eyes halfway and lifted his teacup.
“Are you aware of the rumors about you?”
Her grip tightened on the cup.
The rumor was that she did nothing but waste tax money.
That isn’t true… but I cannot say anything.
She suppressed her rising anger.
“…As you see, I serve God here in the sanctuary.”
“For someone serving God, it seems you ignore the suffering of many.”
He was subtly questioning why the Saint remained in this harsh northern land instead of helping elsewhere.
This man…
He had a talent for hitting sensitive points without changing his expression.
Winter answered calmly.
“The supreme god Lux taught that those with power should go to the lowest places.”
Through her veil, she met his gaze.
“For generations, Saints have guarded Atlans. Even if you marry me, you will gain no promised glory or future.”
“You misunderstand something.”
“…What do you mean?”
She frowned slightly.
He raised three fingers before her.
“First, I have already obtained every glory an ordinary man could achieve.”
He folded his index finger.
“…Through war.”
At his cold tone, Winter fell into thought.
A man who earned a title on the battlefield would have blood on his hands. But he must have saved countless lives as well.
It’s unpleasant. But…
How could such a man destroy the world in the future and stand as the Demon King?
Kyle continued.
“So even if I gain nothing by taking you, I don’t care.”
“And the second?”
He folded another finger.
“The Holy Kingdom seeks a fiancé when the Saint is between nineteen and twenty-three. After that, she doesn’t live long. Everyone goes silent when asked about it.”
He knew too much.
“Not even leaving a child behind.”
Winter clasped her hands tightly on her lap.
“They say God takes them when the time comes. But isn’t it strange? Women granted immortality by God never live past thirty.”
Unlike the previous fiancés, he was different.
“…You’ve done quite thorough research,” she said quietly.
“The men before me were simply foolish.”
She had no desire to defend them, but it was still an indirect attack on her.
“…If you found something strange, you could have withdrawn. Why didn’t you?”
Or do you need me for your future plans?
He folded the remaining finger.
“When something comes, something must be given.”
Winter tilted her head.
“What could I possibly offer, when you’ve already investigated everything?”
“There is.”
He looked at his distorted reflection in the teacup.
“For example… your face.”
He tapped his cheek lightly.
Silence froze the room.
He stared intently at her veil, as if trying to see through it.
A small laugh escaped from beneath the veil.
“Very well. I’ll show you my face. Before that, what should I call you?”
“…Kyle.”
“Alright, Kyle. Let me say one thing first.”
Her red lips curved beneath the veil.
“If you decide to cancel the engagement after seeing my face, I won’t be hurt.”
She lifted the veil slowly from beneath her chin.
For the first time since they met, Kyle’s brows twitched slightly.
Winter smiled faintly.
Beneath the translucent black veil adorned with multicolored crystals—
Her face was that of a monster.
