A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

Page 100

After murmuring, Abner stiffly turned the pages of the black book with his thin fingers, as if he were turning not blank paper, but his own blank time.

She seemed particularly ethereal at that moment, as if she could disappear at any moment.

Saint Karina didn't like this feeling, because it was as if she could disappear at any moment and leave her side.

"In this mansion, following my mother's instructions, I... this is not a time I chose. What kind of person was Abner, after all?"

Ambition... the throne is just an empty title...

“Abner…”

"Shh, I know. In fact, my life is just like this book—a blank page. Yes, a complete blank. I didn't make any choices, nor did I achieve anything or have any accomplishments that I can be sure of..."

He slammed the "book" shut, then gently stroked the black cover without a title, his touch tender as if yearning. Then Abner said calmly:

"If only I were really... just this book."

Abner, who couldn't even entrust his soul to illusory desires, painfully revealed his wish.

If Abner were just a book, then time could pass by without any changes.

If it were a puppet without a soul, or a book whose soul would not waver with the passage of time, there would be no complaints.

Abner… what she truly desired was never the throne. Saint Karina remembered how awkward she was before she sat on Ernest VII's throne. That's why… back then, she so easily trusted her and steadfastly became her ally…

188. Let's break the contract.

However, Abner couldn't just be a puppet; her heart was completely empty. So she lamented this about herself.

"Unfortunately... I am not a doll after all, but a person. I have a heart and thoughts. As time goes by, I start to overthink things, which makes it impossible for me to believe in the things I used to believe. Then, I start to worry. I start to forget what my mother looks like, I can't remember how she smiles, and I spend many nights trying desperately to remember."

As his fingernails scraped against the book covers on his chest, Abner looked sadly at Saint Karina.

"Loneliness is terrible, but time flies by outside, and everyone will leave me behind. They say it's 'for something more important than themselves,' but in reality, it's for their own selfish interests."

With tears welling in his eyes, Abner, who was on the verge of sobbing, shouted.

“My destiny is to be all alone, whether I become a princess or sit on that throne… But now I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”

"...Why? I could be killed by someone I know, what's there to feel at ease about?"

"of course."

Hearing Santa Karina's suppressed voice, Abner nodded.

Then, a faint but tender smile appeared on his lips.

"Perhaps it's because... we have nowhere to escape."

"Like being redeemed, like receiving a reward," Abner said with a smile.

This sounds like something someone would say in a suicide pact.

This is evident in the pure and innocent sense of liberation emanating from her smile—

"What a joke."

—That twisted smile was unbearable for Saint Karina, and passion burned within her.

Abner's sorrow and joy stemmed from the confirmation that someone would accompany him on his journey to the afterlife, not because of power or profit, but because of Abner himself. What kind of twisted, twisted liberation is this?!

This is intolerable. Besides, she has no intention of going to the afterlife with Abner! At least not today!

"...What are you going to do?"

Overwhelmed with anger, Santa Karina unconsciously moved forward. Her unusual demeanor, as if a raging fire burned within her, made Abner tense and wary.

"Let me make this clear: if you try anything reckless, I will not forgive you. Don't come any closer."

"Accepting what kind of bullshit fate is this? You're no different from talking to yourself. You're so stubborn and inflexible that you're beyond redemption."

Anger surged forth endlessly. He was furious with Abner, and with the fate that had driven her to this point.

"Abner, you're so stupid. Yes, incredibly stupid! So stupid it's heartbreaking to watch!"

"What……!"

Saint Karina suddenly cursed, leaving Abner speechless with astonishment.

Anger and confusion rendered her speechless, and Santa Karina took the opportunity to talk incessantly.

"Why, why can't you come up with such an extreme answer...! Why are you clinging to this one answer! Aren't there other possibilities?!"

"Of course I've thought about it! ...But no matter what I do, it's useless! So..."

The contents of the black book were completely blank, leading Abner to believe that his fate was a dead end.

But that's not the case. There are other possibilities—

"For example, your mother accidentally gave you the wrong book!"

"what……"

Initially captivated by the "other possibilities," Abner was taken aback by the poorly crafted alternative. He was stunned, then immediately filled with anger, which only grew stronger with each passing thought.

"Give me the wrong book? How dare you insult my mother?! How could my mother make such a foolish mistake..."

"Can you say you absolutely wouldn't? Have you really never had any doubts? So what you're implying is that you believe your mother really gave her daughter a blank book?"

In fact, this is indeed the truth. Her maternal mother's true intention in giving Abner the "Blank Book" was to see the results that countless unknown possibilities would give rise to.

So, we don't know the truth, and anyway, the truth isn't the important thing.

What's needed now is to loosen Abner's stubborn defenses and use language to win her over.

"What... that way of speaking..."

Overwhelmed by Saint Karina's imposing presence, Abner's tone gradually weakened, and his gaze drifted away.

Despite knowing that this conviction would diminish her beloved mother, Abner shook her head in disgust. Weighing blind faith against love, she chose blind faith.

After all, that's all she can hold onto.

"Mother, Mother couldn't possibly be wrong. Of course! She's my mother! How can you doubt what your own mother says!?"

"Of course you can, but the situation of believing it is relatively rare! Which parents and children don't argue often? Parents also have to apologize to their children when they do something wrong."

Therefore, Saint Karina was annoyed and displeased with Abner, who regarded his mother as sacred and infallible.

"I don't understand... What exactly do you want me to say?! I don't get it! I don't understand your expectations or your purpose! I don't know!"

"Then I'll be frank with you. I'll tell you, you utterly stupid person, and your idiot mother!"

Santa Karina approached Abner, who was trying to cover her head, and grabbed her hands.

He brought his face close to the raised face, speaking clearly to the tearful girl at a distance where he could feel her breath.

"Don't let blank books and verbal agreements between you control you forever. -- The things you want to do are up to you, Abner."

"──"

"It's been more than ten years. It wouldn't be unreasonable for them to have a rebellious phase again."

Because he deeply loved his family, yet there was no kinship in the palace, Abna was bound by loneliness and emptiness.

"No matter what anyone says... I must abide by the agreement. The contract is sacred and inviolable... Therefore, I..."

Shortly after, Abner lowered his head and stared at the black book on his lap, his lips trembling as he spoke.

But Saint Karina wouldn't let things end like this, leaving Abner here unattended.

A person filled with a death wish will not seize any chance of survival, and may even believe that being killed is a form of salvation.

“Abner, I’m telling you, you clearly found a loophole in the agreement, but you’re thinking of not breaking the contract and obediently getting killed.”

Abner, who was trying to escape sight, stared wide-eyed in astonishment, his face showing that his secret had been exposed.

His moist eyes trembled with fear at the accusation.

That's for sure. Because Saint Karina had already heard Abner's heartfelt lament.

“Abner. As long as you don’t truly reject me, I’ll stay here. Don’t you realize that what you say and what you think are completely different? Impossible, right? After all, you’re very smart.”

"Shut up……"

"No, I have to say. If you're so determined to stick to the agreement that you feel like dying, then just don't keep it. Didn't your mother give you the Blank Book hoping you would make your own choice? No one will blame you."

"I'll blame myself! I've followed this for so many years and then give up—that's something I can't tolerate! Why can't you understand?!"

"You're the one who doesn't understand. Since keeping the agreement means death and immense suffering, it's obviously better to break the agreement and live. Is the choice I'm suggesting really that unreasonable?"

Abner, clinging to the agreement, glared at Saint Karina with the same look he would give a troublemaker.

Keeping promises is certainly very important.

Even so, Saint Karina did not hesitate to ask Abner to break the contract.

She had just told Abner the reason. It's not something to worry about at all.

189. Please choose me, Abner.

"You...you're bullying me too much..."

"I know I'm being aggressive, and I'm reflecting on it. But I will never compromise on important matters."

Saint Karina's answer remained unchanged. Because from the beginning, the question had been entrusted to Abner's heart.

Her disregard for the contract left Abner utterly bewildered and confused. This was understandable; the contract held such profound meaning for Abner.

Saint Karina, who fell in love with Abner Ernest, was well aware of this.

Even knowing full well, Saint Karina still said it: "I choose you over the promise."

"Suppose... if you were 'that person'..."

Staring at Saint Karina so close to him, Abner slowly shook his head.

The sole mission that has occupied her heart and bound her for over a decade—the biggest reason why, despite her heart being gradually worn down by the blank pages, she still clings to the contract.

Once Abner has decided on his biggest and last resort, he can let himself go.

Therefore, she grasped at this straw, surrendered her heart, and stared into Saint Karina's eyes.

"you……"

Her breathing was heavy, almost gasping, as if she were about to forgive herself, and she slowly opened her mouth—

"Would you like to be 'that person' for Abner?"

That's the question that could put a stop to Abner's blank space.

This reminds me of the significance of the "blank book"—it doesn't provide the correct answer, but rather allows Abner to choose "that person" based on his own will.

The result was that she spent more than a decade in solitude.

Those days have now blossomed and borne fruit, becoming the questions we ask now. The time that was wasted is about to be rewarded.

"──"

Abner swallowed hard, waiting for the answer to his question.

Once the words are spoken, the wish that has bound Abner for over a decade will vanish. This time, he will hold onto completely new people and things, and will never let go.

Saint Karina looked straight back at the girl and spoke clearly.

"You idiot. -- How could I possibly be that inexplicable 'person' of yours?"

“Gurgle—”

St. Karina, who was thrown back by the shockwave, slammed into the wall and nearly fainted from the pain.

She slammed her side directly into the pillar-like support bar on the wall, screaming in pain as she rolled on the floor.

"Gah, ooh cough... What the hell are you doing...! I was only halfway through my sentence, you bastard..."

Then, the door slammed shut, and Saint Karina jumped up to open it. But behind the open door was just an ordinary guest room—"magic" had been activated, and the Forbidden Library had moved.

The two opened up to each other, but Saint Karina, who was clearly the one who had been wronged, was ultimately thrown out of the forbidden library.

Sensing this, Saint Karina looked up. She quickly spotted a new location: a blue-eyed girl sitting on a step stool, glaring at Saint Karina.

"You really never learn your lesson...!"

"Ha! Needless to say! No matter how many times, I'll come and kidnap you! If you don't like it, then come with me this time! This is the last time we'll play hide-and-seek!"