Chapter 199
“I can come to the demon realm. I’ll come back and be with you and the others—ah!”
Ashtel barely managed to inhale before a coughing fit overtook her.
She kept coughing, and Hela wrapped her arm around Ashtel’s shoulders, gently holding her close as she trembled.
“Let’s go to the human realm first. We have things we need to do, remember?”
Hela was right. Becoming human was all for the sake of saving Payne.
Ashtel nodded, slowly forcing herself to walk forward, with her sisters following quietly behind.
“Sue, I heard from Roman—you’re planning to intervene in Mediale’s trial, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
“Your plan is reckless, and there are too many holes. There’s no way you can overturn a death sentence with just that.”
Carmen shook her head and spoke firmly, but Ashtel had already suspected as much.
Roman’s plan was more of a loose framework than a detailed scheme. Filling in the details would be up to Ashtel now.
She took a deep breath and lifted her head.
Her newly acquired human body felt shaky and unstable, but with Hela’s support, she managed to keep moving forward.
“I need your help.”
She said, looking each of her sisters in the eye.
“First, bring Duvalkan and Van.”
* * *
Payne’s trial began early one morning, with the summer sky clear and blue.
He hadn’t received any notice or warning; knights simply came and led him away, and he followed, shuffling along in silence.
Since Ashtel had disappeared, he’d spent sleepless nights, but nothing had changed about his situation.
‘Turning into a human…’
Could she really do it? Ashtel had said she knew her own strength best, and was sure she could fully transform into a human.
Whether it was possible or not, Payne was certain she’d come to regret it—throwing away her power and even her wings for his sake.
‘That’s just… never…’
But the more he brooded, the more he remembered the brilliant light in Ashtel’s eyes.
Those round eyes that used to sing of love. He once thought they were the fading sun, but now he realized they were the radiant dawn.
He finally understood why her eyes always seemed so beautiful: they held Ashtel’s hope and determination.
The hope that she could win the man she loved. The will to make it happen.
Now, that will has evolved beyond desire and possession, into something selfless and devoted.
Payne accepted it at last—Ashtel’s love resembled not just primal longing, but also the sacred love for God he’d learned about in the temple.
‘Ashtel will come.’
He couldn’t help but believe it now. After seeing that look in her eyes, how could he doubt her certainty?
But that didn’t mean he thought her plan was reasonable.
‘She’s going to interrupt the trial to prove my innocence…’
How could she possibly do that?
This trial, strangely, was presided over by not just the pope, Serena, but also several cardinals.
With his execution all but decided, Payne didn’t understand why so many came to witness it—but it didn’t matter. Once his head was cut off, he’d have no more thoughts anyway. He decided not to worry about it.
But when Ashtel forced hope into his hands, his mind started to spiral.
Payne glanced up at the entrance of the courtroom, unable to help himself.
He could almost picture Ashtel transformed into a human—bursting in with her brown hair flowing and wearing a loose maid’s dress.
She would shout, “Payne!”
Just like that.
Standing there, Payne was startled out of his daydream by a familiar voice.
“Payne. Over here!”
He turned to find Ashtel, cheerful as ever, sitting in the audience. She wore a sheer black lace veil over her head and was swinging a cross in her hand.
‘…Ashtel?!’
Payne nearly froze in place. One of the knights escorting him nudged his shoulder, and he finally managed to turn and keep walking.
He had thought she’d do something as reckless as storm the trial itself, but it seemed she’d actually managed to register as a spectator.
‘Wait a minute…’
This trial was meant to serve as a warning—a fallen priest corrupted by a demon, with the pope herself presiding. How did an ordinary civilian get inside without any credentials or status?
Payne kept sneaking glances around the room.
Then he noticed that the knight standing guard was Van.
That, in itself, wouldn’t have seemed strange—Van was the paladin Ashtel had recruited to find him.
But then, just beyond Van, Payne spotted Duvalkan sitting among the witnesses, his face hidden by a black hood.
‘Sir Duvalkan?’
He couldn’t see the man’s features, but he could sense the familiar divine power that Duvalkan possessed.
Did Ashtel let him go after erasing his memories?
But as soon as their eyes met, Duvalkan averted his gaze, fidgeting uncomfortably.
Then Van and Duvalkan exchanged glances—was there some secret between them?
Payne suddenly felt a wave of unease wash over him.
‘What exactly is Ashtel planning to do?’
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