The Possessed Evil Woman Wreaks Havoc - Chapter 136

When I took Kayden’s hand, a strange feeling came over me.

The calluses hardened on his palm hinted that Kayden’s life had been anything but peaceful.

And.

Though it was a hand I had once held without hesitation, now I had to ask to hold it. This fact alone stirred up a surge of anger in my heart.

‘Hmm. Come to think of it, it wasn’t exactly an easy hand to hold back then either.’

I briefly recalled the past.

“Humans tend to hold hands when walking together, right? If I’m in the Middle Realm, I should follow the culture here. Come on, give me your hand.”

“…There is no such culture. And walking like that is only done between those very close.”

“…Really? Now that I think about it, demons in the Demon Realm hold hands with each other. Even if I’m in the Middle Realm, I’m still a demon, and my hand feels empty.”

“I’ll be going now.”

What did Daphne say when she saw that?

“My goodness. Bella, what kind of demon is that bad at seducing? Sigh. Let me give you a lesson.”

And Daphne’s lesson… well, let’s just say it wasn’t something a saintess should ever say.

Anyway, Zachary had always been a difficult human.

That thought made me tighten my grip. Maybe because of the demonic energy in my touch, I could feel his hand flinch in mine.

Kayden began to escort me toward the grand cathedral. Behind us, the priests followed with light, hurried steps.

I stared openly at Kayden’s face.

He must have felt my gaze, but he kept looking straight ahead.

Unable to tolerate being ignored, I said, “It hasn’t been that long, has it? Well, a few days is short if you think about it. Have you been well in the meantime?”

Kayden couldn’t ignore my question and answered obediently, “Yes. I’ve been well.”

“Hmm. That’s unfortunate. I hoped you hadn’t been.”

I meant it. I was a demon, so being simply glad to see my contractor after a long time wasn’t my way.

By nature, I was a twisted being.

To dare shake me, to dare make me feel these confusing emotions.

So I couldn’t forgive him for being at peace alone.

Still, should I call it a small relief?

His claim of being well felt like a lie.

His face, usually calm, showed cracks everywhere.

And judging by the shadows beneath his eyes, he’d clearly been suffering from insomnia for quite some time.

At my overt anger, Kayden slowly blinked. “…I don’t understand why you’re treating me this way, Saintess.”

The same was true for me.

More precisely, I didn’t know how to treat Kayden.

Seeing him made me angry, made me glad, made me furious, made me ache.

Someone like me who once only knew black and white, rage and joy. Only Zachary could have made me feel this spectrum of emotions.

And yet you dare forget me? Dare?

If not for the priests around us, I would’ve already…

A multitude of savage thoughts flooded my mind. But just thinking them made part of my heart feel heavy.

Bella, you hopeless demon.

I scolded myself inwardly.

On the path to the cathedral, sunlight streamed through the windows and brightly lit the corridor.

Some of the light struck Kayden’s hair and briefly shimmered before vanishing.

In that moment, Kayden looked incredibly precarious. As if he might disappear at any second.

Before I realized it, I murmured, “Is something wrong?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Your complexion. You look like a wretch. Have you been unable to sleep at night?”

Perhaps my words were accurate, as Kayden hesitated briefly before responding.

“Lately… someone keeps appearing in my dreams every night.”

I paused for a moment. I asked with a hint of hope, “Does that someone… have red hair?”

“…No.”

Though he paused slightly, Kayden eventually denied it.

I felt a wave of disappointment rise within me. I asked on a mere hunch…

And then anger at myself for feeling disappointed.

What exactly had I been hoping for?

Before I knew it, the doors to the cathedral came into view.

I hastily asked Kayden, “Who appears in your dream?”

“I’m not sure. But the voice sounds familiar…”

Kayden trailed off. Confusion flickered across his face.

I didn’t know who it was that appeared in Kayden’s dreams… but I felt a flash of anger toward that person.

How dare they appear in my contractor’s dream?

I knew it wasn’t a rational emotion, but well. When had I ever been rational?

I asked Kayden, “What did that voice say to you?”

“…A command that must never be followed.”

Hm?

The emotion in Kayden’s voice… was so dark and heavy that it startled even me.

As if filled with deep regret.

“Then you don’t have to follow it, do you?”

“When I hear that voice… I feel like I lose myself.”

Something was off. It was just a dream, and yet I was convinced there was something behind it.

I wanted to ask more, but before I knew it, we had reached the entrance to the cathedral.

I gave myself one last check.

While pretending to smooth out the folds of my skirt, I reached into my pocket. Inside, I felt the distinct outline of the magic stone.

‘I hope I won’t have to use this…’

But my instincts told me. The time this magic stone could preserve its form was quickly running out.

When I opened the door and stepped into the cathedral, I could feel hundreds of eyes turning toward me.

I looked around.

The cathedral could be divided into the congregation area and the altar where prayers were offered to the Celestial God.

The congregation seats were packed with nobles, leaving no empty spots.

The prayer gathering was an event for which only nobles of proper status and reputation—by the standards set by the temple—were invited.

If it had been the original Isabella, she would not have been invited to such an event, but now here I was, attending as the Saintess offering a prayer on behalf of all, in front of everyone…

Hmm. Honestly, it didn’t feel particularly special.

Human events like this, especially a prayer gathering glorifying the Celestial God, were hardly something I could welcome.

But I hid all such thoughts and slowly walked down the aisle, passing through the congregation.

It was only upon reaching the stairs leading up to the altar that Kayden finally spoke.

“From here on, you must proceed alone, Saintess.”

I didn’t want to let go of Kayden’s hand, but too many eyes were watching for me to make a scene now.

Besides, I could feel Gabby’s gaze glaring at us from among the congregation.

‘I really don’t get what he’s so upset about.’

I thought to myself, unable to understand Gabby’s behavior.

Could it be because I hadn’t acknowledged him?

Still holding Kayden’s hand with one, I used my other to wave at Gabby.

Sighs echoed from various parts of the room.

What? Is waving forbidden?

Gabby’s expression shifted strangely. Seeing me wave at him, he looked as though he was barely suppressing laughter.

In the end, I let go of Kayden’s hand and ascended the stairs alone.

The path to the altar was quite long.

As I climbed, the necklace around my neck repeatedly struck my chest.

On a sudden whim during dressing, I had chosen to wear Daphne’s necklace.

To Isabella, this necklace held meaning. To me, it didn’t.

And yet I had put it on. Probably because of the duke who had given—well, who I believed had given—it to me.

After arriving at the altar, I glanced toward the congregation.

Gabby and the duke were seated in the very front row.

Gabby still looked like he was struggling to hold back laughter, while the duke wore a somewhat conflicted expression.

Atop the altar was a prayer script prepared by the temple in my stead. Having been told about it in advance, I calmly picked up the sheet.

And then.

‘Hmph.’

I stared at the prayer and hesitated.

Am I really supposed to read this?

It was filled with overt praise and worship of the Celestial God, enough to make any onlooker feel secondhand embarrassment.

For a demon to utter such things…

[O Almighty Celestial God, please hear our prayer.]

I read the opening line of the prayer silently.

Yeah. I don’t like it.

I looked out over the congregation.

In the front seats nearest the altar were the High Priest and other high-ranking clergy.

And next to them sat Princess Karolea.

The duke had told me that the High Priest was quite serious about winning the princess over.

The High Priest, with a gentle smile, was speaking to the princess.

At that moment, a surge of impulse stirred within me. A demon ought to interfere with others’ plans.

Besides, the High Priest was the one who had dared lay hands on my contractor.

He might not know it, but since the princess was a demon’s contractor, all his efforts were meaningless.

But to disgrace the High Priest even further…

I needed to ruin this prayer gathering completely.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“O moderate Celestial God, hear our prayer.”

The moment my words ended, a commotion rippled through the congregation. The nobles looked around at one another in confusion.

So what?

I kept a dignified expression.

The Celestial God who should hear this prayer had long since hidden his presence. And I could assure anyone, if the Celestial God were listening, he would have liked my prayer far more than the boring script the temple had prepared.

I spoke again.

[Grant us the strength and wisdom to overcome life’s trials, and guide us to the righteous path.]

“Give us power and wealth.”

[Show us the wise and good path, and grant us courage.]

“We don’t want to work, so just point us to an easy path.”

[Shine Your light upon our lives and fill us with love.]

“So we can indulge in lust…”

I trailed off.

Tch. Maybe not lust? I started thinking of a more fitting word.

Meanwhile, the commotion in the congregation was growing louder.

The High Priest’s expression, too, had visibly hardened.

Well, of course. For the Saintess to say such things as a prayer in front of this many nobles, it would’ve been stranger if he stayed calm.

‘Looks like this is the end of the line for the Saintess title.’

There was no way I’d be recognized as the Saintess after causing such a stir.

But I didn’t care. I’d only lied about being the Saintess on impulse.

I had no attachment to this role.

I smiled brightly at the crowd filling the cathedral.

At that moment.

A sound like the heavens splitting rang through the cathedral.

Even with the windows shut, a fierce wind began to blow.

The clergy possessing divine power seemed to sense something, and they began glancing around.

I felt it too.

Unlike the others, I felt an unpleasant chill that reached deep into my bones.

It was the arrival of Gabriel.