She never forgave herself for Bailey, did she?

Yeah…

The image is black. She passed out cold. Knight Carter, can you please tell us what happened next? How did you and Eleanor survive the encounter with the shadow man?

…

Judge, can you compel him to speak?

I can… but I refuse to do so. Knight Carter Cage has a right to remain silent if he so chooses.

Even when Saint Eleanor’s life is at stake? Knight Carter, can you ever forgive yourself if your stubbornness leads to your savior’s execution?

Eleanor is dead! Dead and buried and the devil is nothing but a liar!

Yes, the devil is a liar, a cheat, a fraud. But her roles touched more lives than any genuine person ever could… including yours. Knight Carter, let’s forget about the devil. Forget about the trial, the memory. What happened that night, fourteen years ago? The night that led Lady Eleanor Ambrose to become a saint, and you… her knight?

…Eleanor… passed out in my arms, she was as cold as death. But there was a warmth coursing through my body. It was powerful—overwhelming. It was the strength of a thousand men and she gave it to me so I could escape… The man with the sword was getting closer. He was limping—in critical condition from fighting Eleanor, but he wasn’t going to let us go without a fight. So I picked up a knife and pointed it at him.

“Don’t come any closer!” I shouted.

The man was before me. He struck his sword. I tried to block it with the knife but it was useless. His sword sliced into my shoulder and continued to move downward, trying to cut me in half. I grabbed the blade, pushing it back while trying to protect Eleanor. That’s when… it happened. Eleanor’s power burst out of me. A shining silver light, destroying all in its path. Next thing I knew, the man and the underground chamber were gone and I could see the moon shining overhead.

I remember! There was a beam of light shooting toward the sky. I saw it even from outside the city.

Yes… Eleanor saved us by using me as her medium. Although when I asked her about it later she simply looked confused. Afterward, Duchess Gilda found us and took us to safety. And that’s all I remembered from that night.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I see… Zhu Zhen, Nina, and I defeated the rebels and cleaned up the aftermath. When dawn arrived and no bomb went off, we chalked it up to Adrian Acker just bluffing. Sometime later, however, two more mysterious sites were discovered. One at the port and one beneath a cathedral.

Hmm… Perhaps the two other heralds gave up and escaped, or maybe the so-called ceremony doesn’t work unless all four Points of Power are working in conjunction.

Maybe. Either way, the day was saved thanks to our favorite aspiring villain. Speaking off, haven’t you been awfully quiet throughout all this, Lady Angel?

Don’t ever call me by that embarrassing name!

And “The Devil” is any better, Adrian?

A hundred times better!

I bet she’s so embarrassed she wants to get swallowed up by the earth.

Bet she’s afraid she’ll lose all her hard-earned hate… given that all this is true, that is.

By the way, what happened to the three stooges?

Three stooges?

Prince Gael, Knight Irving, and Admiral Sullivan.

If I remember correctly… Knight Irving joined in on the rebellion and died. Admiral Sullivan slipped away scot-free and returned to Sangria. As for Prince Gael… he passed away a few months later due to health complications.

That’s it?! After all that built up, he just dropped dead just like that?!

No. That’s the official statement that was released to the public. In reality, Prince Gael tried to capture Princess Grace again, but my wife, Gilda, killed him. We covered it up to not cause controversy.

Oh… okay… that’s kinda fucked up though… The duchess murdered her brother on her birthday… You learn something new every day.

Royalties, man.

Gilda was really upset after Eleanor disappeared. She scoured the city searching for her until she found Eleanor and Carter lying in the rubble. She took the children home and demanded Nina save them. Things were hectic for several days after.

The image is clearing up. Lady Eleanor is recovering in bed. The Duchess, Tessa, and Declan are always nearby. They inform her that the duke rewards Carter by sponsoring his education. She nods and says that’s good.

Eleanor is acting strange after waking up. She barely speaks and seems to always glance into the distance. When Duchess Gilda reprimands her, she just nods and says sorry. When Tessa updates her on the research progress, she lightly smiles and says thank you. Things continue like this for a few days as leaves turn yellow and fall from their branches.

“D-duchess, is lord devil—I mean, Lady Eleanor alright? She looks so… sad.”

The duchess shakes her head. She doesn’t know either.

In the evening, after the three leaves, Eleanor is alone in her room. She gets out of bed, climbs on her wheelchair, and goes to the balcony. She watches the silver moon as cold breezes blow on her.

“Hey, Bailey… I haven’t talked to you in a while. Today is our anniversary, remember? The night those kidnappers came and took us away… You should have listened to me and hid in the cupboard, you smelly breath… You should have listened… Why didn’t you, you weak, insignificant little thing? Death means nothing to me… just a minor inconvenience in my career… but you… you stupid, stupid brat! Why… Why do boys always feel the need to play the hero and… save a villain like me?”

Red tears drip from Eleanor’s eyes. She wipes them away, leaving red marks on her face.