The Saintess Returned to the Emperor’s Arms Chapter 143

You Can’t Have It Without Going Mad

 

Kyle hesitated for a moment, but he wasn’t greatly shaken.

 

After all, Riela was the official empress of the empire—so it was only natural that she would be shocked by his words about dealing with the emperor.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress… no, Riela. Calm down.”

 

Kyle’s voice toward her was still filled with longing.

 

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Calm down and come to me. You need to take my hand.”

 

No—you’re the one who needs to calm down.

 

Riela felt both pity and anger toward him, whose judgment had been clouded by his devotion to her. A chill ran through her as she took another step back.

 

* * *

 

“You’re going to summon all the alliance executives to the imperial palace?”

 

Riela had first heard Herhan’s plan about a week earlier.

 

“Yes. In front of them, I’ll make Bishop Ludovico destroy himself—and at the same time, I’ll make an example of the remaining remnants.”

 

Herhan’s plan was simple and clear.

 

The alliance had already collapsed. At a time when even most of its high-ranking executives had fled, selecting a few who could be persuaded was not difficult for him.

 

He intended to use them to deceive the bishop.

 

The plan proceeded step by step.

 

An invitation was sent to the bishop, and beforehand, the alliance executives to be recruited were summoned.

 

There was no need for complicated negotiations.

 

Just the promise of pardon was enough— They immediately prostrated themselves and pledged loyalty to the emperor.

 

The real issue lay elsewhere.

 

“Kyle will definitely come to this banquet.”

 

“But he wasn’t invited.”

 

“He’ll come in disguise. Among the invited executives, there will be at least one person covering for him.”

 

At that, Asion and Jes both reacted instantly.

 

“I’ll handle him.”

 

“No. I’ll capture him myself. The moment he steps inside the gates, I’ll take his head—”

 

It was Riela who stopped the two men, already competing in excitement.

 

“Neither of you is to approach Kyle.”

 

“Why? Do you not trust me? I may not look it, but I’m the strongest in this imperial palace—!”

 

“Exactly. What if the strongest knight in the palace—who stands closest to His Majesty—gets controlled by Kyle?”

 

At Riela’s words, Asion’s mouth fell open.

 

Jess, who had already understood her meaning even before she explained it, also turned serious.

 

“…I’ll do it.”

 

Riela said.

 

They should have told her no—that she should leave everything to them and stay somewhere safe—

 

But neither Asion nor Jes could bring themselves to say it.

 

* * *

 

Because of that, Riela and Herhan clashed for several days.

 

Usually, when Herhan pushed stubbornly, things would end quickly—

 

But this time, it didn’t.

 

Because Riela’s argument was undeniably right.

 

And because Herhan’s refusal was just as undeniably emotional.

 

“Your Majesty. I’m the only one who can’t be controlled by Kyle.”

 

Riela spoke calmly as she persuaded him.

 

“And I’m the only one who can act as bait to draw him out. If anyone else approaches, Kyle will notice immediately and run away.”

 

“No.”

 

“This is something that has to be done. It’s not something you can just refuse.”

 

“I still don’t want it.”

 

Herhan’s refusal remained firm.

 

“Why? Because I’ll be in danger?”

 

“You’re calling yourself ‘bait’!”

 

Riela’s eyes widened.

 

“I called them here to protect you. The reason I hold onto the throne—the reason I’m willing to go to war—is all to protect you. And now you’re asking me to push you into a plan where you have to be used as bait… do you know how painful and terrifying that is for me?”

 

It was strange.

 

He was raising his voice, arguing—but instead of anger, all she felt was tenderness.

 

The lingering hurt in her heart melted away, leaving only deep love for him.

 

“What’s wrong with calling it bait? It’s not my fault I’m so tempting.”

 

Riela teased lightly, her tone soft and playful.

 

Herhan sighed, looking troubled.

 

He wore the same expression as her— Eyes drooping, shoulders slumped.

 

After a deep breath, he finally pulled her into a tight embrace.

 

“Don’t get too close to him. And don’t provoke him too much.”

 

“I know. You already said all this yesterday.”

 

“I’ll assign Asion to you. The First Knight Order and the Royal Guards will be stationed around you.”

 

“If you send them all to me, what about you? You have to deal with the alliance executives.”

 

“I’ll be fine on my own, so don’t worry.”

 

That’s what I should be saying.

 

Riela pouted slightly, but she didn’t dislike this moment of closeness and leaned into him even more.

 

“Promise me, Riela. You won’t get hurt.”

 

At that, she looked up at him in his arms.

 

“Kyle likes me. He might carry me off and run, but he won’t harm me.”

 

Herhan shot her a sharp look.

 

Riela let out a small laugh.

 

She knew that wasn’t the answer he wanted—she said it on purpose.

 

But teasing him this much was enough.

 

Right now, what they both needed wasn’t jokes—but a firm promise.

 

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty.”

 

Riela lifted her head and kissed him.

 

Their breaths mingled softly between their lips.

 

As Herhan responded passionately to her sweet promise, their closeness deepened.

 

Only after a long moment did they part.

 

Even then, their faces remained close—almost touching.

 

Herhan’s face was flushed.

 

Beneath his long lashes, his deep blue eyes were filled entirely with Riela—so much so that they seemed almost red.

 

In that gaze, where it was impossible to tell whose feelings belonged to whom anymore, Riela made her firm confession once more.

 

“I will return safely to your arms. Just like I always have.”

 

* * *

 

And now, after everything that had led to this moment— Riela stood firm, her fist clenched, glaring straight at Kyle.

 

“Kyle Parlante.”

 

Kyle quietly raised his head and met her eyes.

 

“I heard that name from His Majesty. The leader of the alliance… that’s Kyle Parlante, right? Is that you? The ‘young master’ I knew… was he really the man behind all of this?”

 

He hesitated for just a split second— but his answer came quickly.

 

Almost emptily.

 

“Yes. It’s me.”

 

There was no need to ask *why* anymore.

 

“Everything I did… was to meet you again. To take you back.”

 

Kyle stepped closer to her as he confessed.

 

“So come with me. I’ll find your happiness for you.”

 

“……”

 

“Riela.”

 

That name— it sounded so beautiful when Herhan said it.

 

But now, coming from Kyle, it felt chilling.

 

Riela stepped back as Kyle stepped forward.

 

“Take Kyle to the fountain in the center of the garden. Make him say his name and identity himself. That’s enough. After that, don’t do anything dangerous. Wait for me—I’ll come get you.”

 

According to Herhan’s instructions, the goal had already been achieved.

 

So she could have just left.

 

She should have.

 

But she couldn’t stay silent in front of Kyle.

 

“Riela.”

 

Just calling her name like that—

 

“Riela. You should be happy by my side.”

 

As if he had the right.

As if she had ever allowed this.

 

Kyle had controlled and hurt countless people, acting like a god. He had shaken entire nations, threatened the emperor—and her— yet always stayed in the shadows, never once fighting openly.

 

Riela finally spoke the truth.

 

“My first love wasn’t you.”

 

Kyle’s brows furrowed.

 

“I met a boy at the market when I was seven. He looked so cool playing candy games. But I found out the next day he was cheating… so that ‘first love’ ended immediately.”

 

She looked straight at him.

 

“So when I said you were my first love—that was a lie.”

 

“……What?”

 

Kyle’s eyes widened. His voice trembled.

 

But she wasn’t done.

 

“Young master… the days I went to see you were always terrible.”

 

Riela’s voice was calm—but sharp.

 

“Every time, I was mistreated by the adults. The people in your house treated me like a parasite. The other kids bullied me even worse. And on the days you gave me expensive gifts… it only got worse.”

 

“……”

 

“You didn’t know, did you?”

 

Kyle stared at her, frozen.

 

“Being dragged by Hank and thrown in front of you… those were the darkest days of my life.”

 

Her voice didn’t shake.

 

“So don’t talk about finding my happiness. I was never happy beside you. What are you even trying to find?”

 

No… that can’t be true.

 

Kyle slowly shook his head, stunned.

 

She had been the only light in his life— the only shining memory.

 

And yet, to her… he had just been part of a nightmare.

 

“Of course, back then, you weren’t at fault.”

 

If it had ended there—

 

“You might’ve just been someone I pitied.”

 

Her eyes hardened.

 

“But now it’s different. Now you’re just a criminal who doesn’t even know how to fight properly.”

 

She stepped back again.

 

Now there were about ten steps between them.

 

It was the closest he had ever been to her— yet it felt impossibly far.

 

“Seems like you loved me a lot. Sorry. You may have missed me your whole life… but I barely even remembered you.”

 

Her gaze was cold.

 

And what shattered Kyle the most— was realizing there was no love in it.

 

Only rejection.

 

That was when he heard it.

 

The sound of armored footsteps.

 

Only then did he realize where he was.

 

He had followed Riela without thinking— and now he stood inside a garden surrounded by iron bars.

 

A large fountain stood in the center.

 

There was only one narrow path in— and now, soldiers were filling it.

 

“…Ha.”

 

Only then did Kyle understand everything.

 

He had mocked Ludovico for falling into the emperor’s trap— but he had been no different.

 

“Ha… hahaha…”

 

As he laughed hollowly, more soldiers poured in.

 

Outside the bars, even more troops tightened the encirclement.

 

The reason he hadn’t noticed them earlier was simple—

 

they had been hiding there from the beginning.

 

And then— someone rushed in.

 

Only one person.

 

Emperor Herhan.

 

“Riela!”

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

The moment she saw him, Riela’s face lit up.

 

That alone made Kyle’s defeat undeniable.

 

So that fleeting moment… really had been just a dream.

 

“Hahaha… hahahaha—!”

 

Kyle bent over, laughing.

 

But when he lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes were filled with tears.

 

Riela didn’t look at him anymore.

 

She only looked at Herhan.

 

‘No… don’t go.’

 

Without thinking, Kyle reached out toward her.

 

At that moment—

 

—*Whoosh—!*

 

—*Bang!*

 

An arrow flew in from somewhere beyond the iron bars, grazing the back of Kyle’s hand before embedding itself into the old tree behind him.

 

“Don’t move from there. Don’t you dare lay a finger on Her Majesty!”

 

The moment Kyle ignored the warning and stepped forward, two more arrows shot in and struck the ground right in front of his feet.

 

A clear message—

*not one step further.*

 

But how could he stop?

 

The woman he had chased his entire life was slipping away from him.

 

If he didn’t grab her now, he might never see her again.

 

Kyle let out a crooked smile.

 

Then, without hesitation, he moved forward.

 

As if daring them to kill him.

 

“That bastard—! Is he insane!?”

 

At Asion’s shocked command, a rain of arrows poured down— but an even paler Herhan immediately ordered them to stop.

 

Kyle pushed through the storm of arrows with his own body and finally seized what he wanted, pulling her into his arms.

 

Arrows pierced his back, shoulders, and arms— but Riela was unharmed, tightly held in his embrace.

 

“Y-Your Majesty! Ah—Kyle! Let go! Are you insane!?”

 

“Yes. I am.”

 

Holding her with one arm, Kyle used the other to rip out an arrow lodged in his chest.

 

Blood gushed out, staining the silver arrowhead.

 

But he only clenched his teeth, not letting out a single groan.

 

“How else could I ever have you?”

 

“What are you even trying to—!”

 

Riela couldn’t finish her sentence.

 

Kyle raised the bloodied arrowhead to her throat.

 

“Kyle.”

 

Herhan growled low at the sudden hostage situation.

 

Kyle’s eyes, reflecting the emperor on the verge of fury, were filled with twisted pleasure.

 

“Kyle! Let her go right now! This won’t change anything—you can’t win!”

 

“…You’re right.”

 

Kyle glanced around while holding Riela tightly.

 

Even just the visible soldiers were countless— and there were surely more hidden out of sight.

 

A hostage situation would only buy time.

 

In the end, he would be torn apart by that mad emperor’s rage.

 

But— there was still one way.

 

Having made his decision, Kyle tossed aside the arrow he had been using to threaten her.

 

Instead, he wrapped an arm around Riela’s waist and pulled her close.

 

Then— he buried his lips into the pale nape of her neck.

 

For the first time in his life, the man who had only ever watched her from afar held her fully within his arms.

 

Riela struggled at first— but then her body went limp.

 

Kyle kept holding her, steadying his breath.

 

As if she were a part of his very soul, he clung to her tightly.

 

His blue eyes had lost all focus, drowned in madness.

 

Then suddenly—

 

All around them, the soldiers drew their swords at once and pointed them in a single direction.

 

The soldiers, their eyes just as empty as Kyle’s, aimed their blades at—their own lord.

 

Herhan.

 

* * *