Although she had been imprisoned in the church by that man, it was a rare moment of peace—a time when she did not need to rack her brains over everything.
"Ah..."
She let out a soft sigh as she gazed at the dilapidated church, her expression somewhat dazed.
Perhaps because she had been injured, she had somehow become weak and sentimental as well.
Kneeling in the church like this, Alteria did not even know whether she was praying or reminiscing about the past.
'Tap, tap, tap—'
After an unknown amount of time, the echoes of footsteps through the ruins once again rang out inside the church.
Alteria's exquisite, jade-like ears twitched. She opened her beautiful eyes, her expression turning solemn. "...You came rather quickly."
"...Is it the pursuit of the ancestors of the Dead Apostles, or an executor of the Church?"
Crimson of the Ancients swiftly rose from the ground. Whether it was the pursuit of the ancestors of the Dead Apostles or the Church's executors, she could not let anyone see her praying to God.
Even if she had been praying to God, the Church would never let the princess of the Dead Apostles off.
And if the Dead Apostles saw this scene, her ambition to become the true King of Dead Apostles would truly go up in smoke.
"Looks like Lord Strout and Lord Vlad failed after all. Never mind. I had already made preparations long ago. At worst, I'll simply be sealed away."
Alteria's expression was resolute. Even when facing a desperate situation, this princess of the Dead Apostles would never surrender.
She stood amid the church's ruins, gazing toward the distant entrance.
A towering figure appeared beneath the dim, overcast sky and walked in through the doorway.
Upon seeing that figure, Alteria's heart inexplicably trembled. A