Rose trembled when she saw Joanna's expression. Joanna looked far more vicious than how she was described originally. In the original story, Joanna had accused Diana of being a demon.

Diana trembled in fear as she was taken to the torture chamber in the church, and even though Richard knew about it, he didn't save her.

He waited until Diana couldn't hold any longer, and then he dealt with Joanna and saved Diana as if he had been in the dark all along and only just found out.

Diana appreciated Richard for saving her life and the two got closer.

Phillip and Richard were very similar. They both drove their targets to the extreme and then appeared in front of them like a saviour.

Was it because their soul was the same?

But what about Blake?

I glanced at him as he firmly held on to my hands.

"I'll contact the church right now and call for a trial!"

"You don't have to."

Blake coldly interrupted Joanna.

"But in order for her to be tried, a priest needs to be present..."

"Jayden, bring the high priest over. He should be reading a book at an inn near the bookstore. You can go to the place where the lights are on."

"High priest...?"

Joanna was shocked. If the high priest was called, her plans would fail.

But Jayden hurriedly went out.

Not only Joanna, but Ancia was also shocked.

High priest? Did he come to the valley of chaos, and even to Valin's estate?

Ancia recalled the face of a furious old man at the door of darkness from seven years ago.

It wasn't long before Jayden came back. Beside him stood a man in his twenties and unlike the old guy from her memories, he looked young and vigorous.

"Your Highness, I can't believe you dragged the high priest over so casually at night. I'm going to protest the imperial family."

This man's name was Marron, and he was appointed as the new high priest seven years ago. At that time, he was only 18 years old, but with Tenstheon's support, he took over the position of the high priest.

Marron was very friendly to Blake. He became the high priest not only because of the emperor's support. He was also interested in Blake's power.

"Well, you were awake anyway," said Blake casually.

"That's true, but it's so late at night."

"If you didn't want to be called over, you shouldn't have followed me."

In the morning, the high priest said that he would stay in the Valin estate. That was true, but...

"You really can't call me in the middle of the night."

"I know, but you came anyway."

Blake retorted as if he was annoyed. Ancia was shocked at the sight.

It was clear that the man with the gentle disposition who was grumbling like this was the high priest.

Perhaps after the fall of Cassil's family, the high priest was replaced. Although it was surprising because of how young he was, she was even more surprised by their casual banter.

It was really shocking to see how comfortably the two of them talked.

"I'm so nice to you because I like you."

"Stop it. I called you here because Joanna Dix applied for a trial."

"Is that so?"

He erased his gentle smile off of his face and looked at Joanna.

Joanna looked at him proudly. Even if the high priest appeared, nothing would change.

If she was accused, she would definitely die. This was a tradition of Asteric Empire that had been passed down for a thousand years already.

"Yes, high priest! That woman named Rose is a monster!"

"Are you applying for a trial?"

"Yes."

"According to the law of the Asmodian Trial, if Miss Rose is not a monster, Lady Dix will be executed. Are you aware of it?"

"...yes, I'm aware."

"Then, I'll proceed with your accusation."

"Yes, take her to the church right now!"

It didn't matter if she was a monster or not, if they tortured her she would surely confess. Even if she didn't confess, she would die from the torture.

"It's so late at night, let's not do it today. Do you have any proof that Miss Rose is a monster?"

"Look at her hideous face! Is there any evidence clearer than that?"

Why was he asking her for a proof? Just torture her!

Joanna screamed inwardly.

"High priest, we need to get rid of the monster right now!"

After listening to her, the priest asked Blake this time.

"Your Highness, is Miss Rose a monster?"

Ancia looked at Blake. His words would decide whether or not she got to keep her life. Even at this moment, Blake firmly held onto her hand.

"No, a human."

Blake smiled softly at Ancia, and the priest nodded.

"Then it's clear that she's a human."

Suddenly, Jayden opened the door. The knights who were waiting outside came in.

They greeted the Crown Prince and stood back to receive the high priest's orders.

"Joanna accused a human falsely. Drag the sinner out."

"W-wait! What about the investigation? What about the torture!?"

The priest Marron didn't spare any time in replying to the panicked Joanna.

"The Crown Prince, who has the power of goddess, has testified in person. Is there any evidence greater than that?"

Blake was the only human being on this continent who could wield the power of light at will.

Even Marron, the priest, acknowledged Blake's power and expressed his respect.

In other words, there was no evidence that held greater power than his words.

Blake had the goddess' power so he couldn't be fooled by a monster.

Since the moment Joanna applied for the trial, the result had been obvious.

It was already too late and she realized it too now.

Acting on the high priest's orders, the knights dragged Joanna out.

"W-wait! I-I'm the only daughter of Viscount Dix!"

She thought that she had the highest status in the land so they wouldn't treat her like this just because of a hideous monster.

"Why are you doing this? Let go of me! Your Highness! I made a mistake, I'll take my accusation back! Please let me go!"

Joanna begged but Blake didn't pay her any mind. Eventually, Joanna was dragged outside.

Before the door closed, Joanna caught a glimpse of Blake touching the monster's face with a gentle smile on his face.

***

Joanna was thrown into a dungeon at the mansion.

But she wasn't afraid.

'That's ridiculous! I'm the one who deserves his affection! So why does he despise me and look at the monster so lovingly!?'

As expected, the Crown Prince was already swayed by that monster. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't make sense of this situation.

Joanna grit her teeth. When she was dragged away by the knights, she had been frightened for a while, but now she was calm.

Who was she again? The only daughter of Viscount Dix of course.

Just because she accused a commoner of being a monster didn't mean that she'd be executed.

After the high priest leaves, Priest Alt, who was originally responsible for Vallin's territory, would take over this case. Then, she would be released immediately.

Her father could never leave her in a place like this. He'd be furious when he found out she was dragged to a place like this.

These incompetent knights! When she gets out of here, she'd kill all of them!

Joanne trembled with anger as she looked around. Could it be that she had to sleep in this room without a pillow?

"Hey, open the door! Open the door!"

She relentlessly knocked on the prison door, but it didn't budge even an inch. Joanna kept shouting but no one opened the door. Eventually, she fell asleep on the hard stone floor.

The creaking sounds of the door woke up Joanna. When the door opened, a maid came in carrying her meal. The dungeon didn't even have a window, nevermind a clock, but seeing the meal being brought in, it meant that it was morning.

"Are you telling me to eat this!?"

Joanna yelled after she saw the boiled potatoes in the old wooden bowl.

"Go back and bring me a proper dish!"

Joanna gave an order but the maid only smirked at her.

"Hey, don't you know who I am? Do you want to die? Don't you know what will happen if you treat me like this?!"

"What will happen?"

"You stupid maid!"

Joanna shouted in anger, yet the maid only glared at her.

'Right, I handed over this maid's younger brother to the asmodian trial.'

I should've killed her too back then.

"I'll make sure you end up like your younger brother! When I get out of here..."

"Do you think that you're still a Viscount's daughter?"

Joanna froze at the maid's words.

"What...?"

"Your father was caught and Priest Alt was also taken away. The people in this area lined up from dawn to testify your evil deeds. They're all very happy because they can finally exact revenge."