Lili shakily closed the door in front of her, as she stood frozen outside of Sorin's room. It was as if Sorin had changed in a matter of seconds.

Sorin's eyes were filled with so much hatred and anger that for a quick moment, an inhuman fear ran through her spine. His voice too, shook her to the very core.

A voice that dripped with so much poison– it wasn't like him at all.

'Did something happen to him during his speech?' Lili thought to herself but it seemed impossible since Sorin loved humans, he couldn't possibly direct that hatred to them, could he?

She steeled herself, taking a deep breath in to slowly calm her nerves–

"EEK!"

Lili jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned her head to find Felix standing behind her.

"What the? Felix! Don't scare me like that." she breathed out but Felix's gaze did not leave her. The red-haired man had an unreadable expression on his face as he spoke "Lili, let's talk."

Lili nodded her head with a confused expression as Felix lead her to an empty room of the manor, quickly closing the door behind them.

Felix has always been a man who hid his emotions. Only Sorin and her know his true personality because he shows a different one to the people around him.

His hazel eyes swirled with an unknown emotion, a deep abyss reflected unto hers "Forget what you saw earlier." he told her in a firm voice.

Felix ran his fingers through his hair as he shook his head "It's my fault anyways. I'm not guarding him." he sighed.

"What do you mean, Felix?" Lili asked, "I'm his maid, it's my job to be with him." she couldn't help but feel offended by Felix's words.

Lili was a nymph, she wasn't as strong as Felix and Sorin but she was dedicated to serving Sorin. If the time comes, she was willing to sacrifice her life for Sorin.

"It's not your place to know, Lili." He shot her down.

Lili's eyes widened in shock "Why? You two always hide everything from me." her voice trembled, worry crossing her soft features.

"We do it to protect you, Lili." Felix assured, his gaze towards her softened "You know how much Sorin treasures you. He doesn't want to involve you in this."

Lili clutched the hem of her apron, she couldn't understand what Felix truly meant but if it was for Sorin... then who was he to doubt her savior?

"What did you see?" Felix asked her.

She hesitated for a second, the image of Sorin's anger and the ruined state of his room flashed inside her mind. Lili's breath was caught in her throat.

"I...I saw resentment in his eyes. H-his room was a mess. I just wanted to help." She locked eyes with Felix "Did something happen?"

Felix's expression faltered "Sorin's only human, Lili." he spoke with a heavy sigh. Lili couldn't help but think there was something more to Felix's voice.

"It's natural for him to feel frustrated. Sorin carries a heavy burden that we cannot comprehend."

She glared at Felix "Stop treating me like an idiot, Felix." she sputtered out "I-I know Sorin for a long time... He was never like that."

The Sorin he knew was so kind-hearted and strong. He dedicated his life to preserving peace, and he was compassionate even to those who were not human.

This wasn't the Sorin she saw earlier.

Felix gave her a small smile "Lili, we'll tell you when it's time." he reassured her "We're doing this to protect you."

They always saw Lili as someone who was too fragile. A little girl who couldn't do anything without their help and guidance.

She composed herself and nodded her head. "I understand." she bit her tongue to stop more words from spilling out.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Promise me, Lili. That no matter what happens, you'll stay by Sorin's side." Felix held out his pinky finger to Lili. Just as how he and Sorin would when they were younger.

Lili couldn't help but smile as she intertwined her finger with Felix. She had already promised her unconditional trust to Sorin, just like Felix, she would be loyal to him no matter what path he takes.

What Lili didn't want to see was him taking the treacherous path all by himself. She steeled her resolve, she would do everything to find out the truth.

Even if it meant going against Sorin's orders.

----------------------------------------

The trial against Baron Viktor was quick. From the cries of the people and the involvement of the Saint, his title couldn't protect him.

When the dull sound of the judge's gavel, his fate was sealed.

An execution that would take his life and the lives of those who supported him. By nightfall, the knights would come to his manor to bring him to his death.

He had nowhere to run, as every town around him was already awaiting his execution. Guards and hunters were placed meticulously so that he couldn't leave Theorim.

Viktor paced around his room, worry and paranoia etched on his face. His nails were chipped by his own teeth as he restlessly chewed on his fingers.

His wife, Eviana, cried in the corner of the room. Bottles of expensive liquor littered around her as she drank her fear away. Her black curls messily fell down her face "W-we made a grave mistake, dear." she said shakily.

"A terrible mistake," she repeated. Viktor gave her a disgusted look, her face was stained with tears and her red lipstick was smudged at the corner of her lips.

"Shut up, Eviana! I'm thinking!" he snapped at her.

Eviana's hands trembled as she took a long sip of her drink "What else could we do? We have nowhere to run. They already got the village chief!" she screamed at him.

Viktor's eyes darted around the room in fury "Idiot." he hissed at her.

Eviana was a woman who focused solely on vanity, she doesn't care about anything else except her beauty. She saw everyone as lesser than her and would do anything for money.

The sound of glass shattering grated in Viktor's ears when Eviana threw the bottle in his direction. Rage bubbled up inside of him "You ungrateful wench!" he glowered.

"I pulled you away from that filthy countryside and this is how you repay me?"

Eviana's arms immediately moved to protect her face as Viktor raised his hand. Viktor was relentless, tackling her to the ground before another painful hit. Blood trickled down her cheeks after the man's nails gashed her skin.

"Ahk- I'm sorry..." She cried, trying to push away Viktor but the hard hits of the man didn't stop.

"After everything I did for you." He clicked his tongue in frustration, standing from the floor and ignoring the sobbing woman.

With a shaky sob, Eviana wiped away her tears "W-We can try to negotiate with the knights? We have more than enough money."

Viktor huffed as he straightened out the wrinkles on his vest "T-they won't accept anything." he said angrily as he thought for solutions of what to do.

"We can escape using the tunnels." He suggested. Eviana's green eyes lit up at Viktor's words, the small bleeding wound on her face had now become forgotten "Y-you're right... nobody knows that we have a tunnel in the manor."

"Get as much as you can and take the cloaks," Viktor ordered as he hurried to open the safe hidden in their room, containing riches they hid for a long time.

Eviana stumbled to her pieces of jewelry, stuffing as much as she could in her leather satchel.

"We wouldn't be discovered if its night time." Viktor said, "We should survive, Eviana."

It was a chance for them to start anew, away from all the eyes of the Empire and those damned commoners that dare defy them. Before they could set their plan in motion, the doors to their chamber slammed open.

In shock, the couple expected to find the knights but were met with a familiar face instead– The white cloak of the Saint was recognizable, and the ornate symbols sewn into the fabric symbolized the empire's history.

"Y-Your Holiness?" Victor sputtered out.

The usual warm eyes of the saint had changed into something different, the purple hue of his eyes was devoid of any emotion despite the smile at the corner of his lips.

"Let's skip the formalities, Lord Viktor." He said politely, his eyes moved to Eviana who stood at the dresser of her room, unable to comprehend his presence.

Viktor couldn't help but feel angry towards the Saint for siding with the commoners. He even came here to foil their plans to escape, still he knew that he couldn't resist the Saint's authority.

"W-what are you doing here, your Holiness?" he asked.

CLICK

Sorin closed the door behind him "My apologies, Lord Viktor. You will not be leaving your estate."

Eviana let out an ear-shattering scream, her eyes burned with frenzy as she pointed a decorative dagger at him "Who are you to stop us?! You don't have the authority to do so!" she accused in her drunk state.

"Eviana!" Viktor hissed.

Before Viktor could react, Eviana had already rushed to Sorin, the dagger aimed directly at the Saint.

Eviana was instantly slammed to the ground, she looked up at Sorin's empty eyes. She couldn't lift her body as Sorin's aide, Felix was holding her down.

"Let go of me! Let go!" she whined.

Viktor was the smarter one, realizing the mistake his wife made. He kneeled down to the ground to apologize "Your Holiness, please, show mercy." he begged.

The Saint was bound to his duty towards the Gods and the people; there could be a chance for them to be spared by the Saint's values.

"Ah, mercy?" Sorin hummed as if he was considering it "There's no redemption for someone like you, Viktor."

Viktor's eyes widened at the lack of respect in Sorin's words but still was determined to be forgiven by the Saint "...Your Holiness, please, don't your values say that all lives should be spared?"

"Using my own values and ideals against me?" Sorin sighed before he removed his cloak, revealing his white suit "I'm not here as a Saint."

Confusion was evident on Viktor's face as he squeaked out "W-What?" he asked.

Sorin crouched to Viktor's kneeling figure, his purple eyes made Viktor shiver "I'll be the one punishing you for your sins."

Then, everything around them was a whirlwind of darkness.