The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

As Citrina and Desian sat down to dinner, unbeknownst to Citrina, Elaina’s situation was like this:
All the pomp and circumstance of the paladin’s welcoming ceremony was over, and the gifts from the Holy Kingdom had been bestowed on the emperor.
Most of the paladins had been assigned their own room in the imperial palace.
For the past week, Elaina had rested for the first time in a long time. It was a sweet respite after an exceedingly long period of penance. However, with rest always comes distractions.
Today, Genfiros, the leader of the paladins, had visited her in her room. This was not unusual, to be honest.

“Elaina-nim.”
“Yes.”
“As I told you, we are not just here to visit.”
“I am aware, Genfiros-nim.”

They faced each other across from a small table.
Looking at Elaina, Genfiros gave her an unexpected smile. His wrinkled face looked gentle.
Genfiros slowly reached across the table and set down a small scented candle. The scented candle’s wick spontaneously burst into flame. A pungent jasmine smell filled the room.

“All the more, Elaina-nim, you must repent.”
“…Genfiros-nim.”

With a dazed face, Elaina nodded. Genfiros’s gaze, slow and cold, swept over Elaina’s face.

“Now, close your eyes.”

Dressed in the white uniform of the paladins, Elaina unclasped the rosary around her neck and held it silently in her hands. And finally, she closed her eyes.
But meditation in this unusual place proved to be full of distractions. Something kept interrupting her thoughts. It was unusual.

‘Only one year to get here.’

Elaina’s grip on the rosary tightened.
She was lucky that her holy power manifested. She was always lucky. Luck had always been with her like she was the heroine of this world.
That’s why when she had to drop out of the academy she was able to become a paladin.

‘I swore all loyalty to God, for one year.’

Even in her sleep, Elaina felt the weight of the holy sword at her hip.
The holy kingdom attracted a diverse group of people. She was more than just a paladin and the deputy leader of the delegation, she was also the second daughter of House Foluin and a citizen of the Petrosha Empire.
She opened her eyes with a venomous face.

“Elaina-nim.”
“Yes.”
“You must let go of your preoccupations and attribute everything to God.”

His eyes, harmless and peaceful, bore into Elaina’s. As one who served God should be, he was beautiful even in old age. His eyes gleamed unusually clear, even through the foggy smoke.

“You need to sublimate the vengeance in your heart.”
“That’s up to me.”
“Yes. Sublimate the rage in your heart, as it will bring you closer to God.”

Soothing words, but they pounded at the anger in Elaina’s heart.
‘The one who took away my path to success.’
Elaina repeated his words, mumbling them with her lips. Her mind calmed and all the thoughts in her head disappeared.
Now there was only one thing left in her mind. Elaina had one target, one goal, and one threshold for her to break.

‘Citrina Foluin.’

Citrina was the only failure in Elaina’s life.
Elaina thought that Citrina’s sacrifice would strengthen her and bring about success and honor in the future, so Citrina should have just hung in there and waited a bit more.
If Citrina had struggled and sacrificed a bit more, then fate would be different.

“Our god always loves your anger, Elaina.”
“They know, my anger is always justified.”

Deep inside Elaina’s heart rose a fury for its own sake. It was no longer a rational feeling.

“I’m flawless. I know best.”

Those words came out of Elaina’s mouth in a dead language. Dead languages she didn’t even know poured out of her mouth. [T.L. Note: Possessed much, Elaina?]
Genfiros looked at Elaina in satisfaction. It was extremely satisfying to have complete control over a human’s mind.
If he could only tame that vengeful spirit a little more, she would do exactly as he wished.

“Elaina-nim.”
“Yes.”
“Remember our mission.”

In a flash, Elaina opened her eyes. Genfiros squeezed Elaina’s hand that clutched the rosary.

“It is our mission to give this continent the life that it deserves.”
“I know. The purpose of the paladins is to preach the Lord’s calling.”

Genfiros slowly started expanding the anger, rage, and vengeance in Elaina’s heart.

“Yes. If you confess everything to the Lord and pray, it will be done.”

Elaina’s eyes fluttered open.
Elaina’s anger directed at Citrina became more bitter and misshapen with Genfiros’ whispers. It was a rage she could no longer identify for what it was.

‘I’ll make you dependent on me, just like I used to be. Then I’ll leave you miserable.’

Elaina’s eyes froze cold. She looked Genfiros straight in the eye and spoke.

“I will complete my revenge within this year.”

When she thought about the past, her cheeks puffed up and ached.
Not a single person had ever treated her like that.
Whispering to Genfiros, Elaina’s mouth curved into a wry smile.
Their whispers slowly died down.

“Yes. There will be glory at the end of your vendetta. Elaina-nim is good, and what is outside of Elaina-nim is evil.”
“Yes. Paladins are completely good.”

Elaina blew out the candle flame grimly. Genfiros smiled pleasantly.
Sooner or later, chaos and destruction would come from his fingertips. Elaina would become a great tool for him.

“Well, let’s start slowly. We have plenty of time.”

Citrina’s appearance with Duke Pietro had caused a stir in high society. However, it seemed that Duke Pietro was merely her patron.

‘Citrina, no matter how much you struggle, I can be the only one.’

Elaina did not understand that Citrina was a human who could be loved. Besides, he was ‘that’ Duke Pietro.
So the duke must be trying to take advantage of her abilities, that was what she theorized.

‘First, I am going to isolate her from high society and bring her down.’

No matter how hard she tried, Citrina was only halfway there if she was not accepted by high society.
Besides, it was unheard of for a male aristocrat to interfere in the social scene. No matter how much Duke Pietro favored and supported Citrina, he wouldn’t be able to exert his influence in a society dominated by women.
When Elaina’s thoughts had settled and the smoke had cleared, Genfiros offered her guidance with a face as saintly as ever.

“Think only of the first step to conduct your vengeance, no, your act of good.”
“The princess has invited me to the opera. I heard she also invited Citrina, so it is there that I can slowly look into things.”

Elaina responded in a dry tone.

“I see.”
“Yes. Then that’s it.”

Elaina fiddled with the holy sword at her waist. Fiddling with the holy sword was a new habit for Elaina, which brought a questioning smile to Genfiros’s lips.

“Are you trying to set up a competition, Elaina?”
“Ha! Between me, a paladin, and her, a merchant?”
“Oh, dear. Elaina.”

Genfiros placed his hand on his cheek in an exaggerated manner.

“Lady Citrina is now a spiritist sponsored by the duke. If anything, competition will make you stand out more. So, well done, Elaina.”

There was an odd edge to Genfiros’ praise. Recognizing the nuance in his words, Elaina looked up.

“Do you mean I’m not good enough compared to Citrina?”
“Of course, of course. You don’t want to believe it, but this is reality. Lady Citrina had been getting better and better since she betrayed you. That must have been her purpose- to defeat you.”
“I knew Citrina’s purpose was the defeat me because she has always felt inferior to me, always.”

Elaina was smart, calm, and wise. But the anger and superiority complex she had built up toward Citrina, and her newfound sense of inferiority, was eating away at her mental health.
So much so that she could easily fall for a simple lie.
Gradually, a huge, vengeful fire began to burn in Elaina’s heart.

“Alright, let’s give it a try.”

Elaina grinned, her face twisted.

“But first, I need to meet my sister.”
“Not a bad idea, Elaina.”

Genfiros’s brow furrowed even deeper. But even then, he looked completely divine.