Only God

"I have forgiven you."

These words were spoken by Eden in his heart.

As though hearing something, Arsia timely raised her face, gazing at Eden under the firelight.

"You have become a martyr again."

Arsia said, her tone carrying a hint of delight.

That way, Eden would once again offend his own father, and she could witness the lofty Emperor become frustrated.

Arsia selfishly thought to herself,

"Not just that, I have forgiven you as well."

Eden spoke out.

Arsia looked at him puzzled, then annoyedly burst out.

Because when Eden spoke those words, he appeared like a victor, as though she had made a mistake, yet he was magnanimously pardoning her.

"Forgive me? I don't need your forgiveness, what does your forgiveness even mean?"

Arsia spoke out.

Eden replied,

"I am a priest."

"Yes, the youngest priest, how does that matter?"

Arsia sneered,

"You are nothing but a heretic, just as I said before, even after death, you will be despised."

Logically, she should not have provoked Eden further; she had sneaked here to check on this suspect to confirm if he would embarrass her father again, she hoped Eden could embarrass her father.

But now, after exchanging a few words with Eden, Arsia became heated—the Princess seemed to not tolerate any offences.

Unexpectedly, Eden wasn't angry; after he mentally said his piece about forgiveness, all wrath disappeared.

He calmly looked at her,

"Then let me be despised, what you all think, what does it have to do with God?"

Arsia said,

"What are you talking about?"

Eden continued,

"I was once enchanted by you, caring too much about the reputation after death, but, how can a thousand, ten thousand curses of yours compare to the word of God? How can your thousands of curses overturn the brilliance of the truth?"

Arsia was suddenly struck dumb, realizing that this man, for some reason, suddenly did not care about his posthumous reputation anymore.

The change of events suddenly pushed Arsia into an uncomfortable environment, making her feel at a loss.

She asked in exasperation,

"You heretic, still defiant when death is near.

The clown of the drama,

where did this calm come from?"

Eden silently looked at her, those words were provocative, yet he felt not a bit of anger. It is said, when death approaches, there are two reactions, one being uncontrollable excitement, and the other, an indescribable calm—unfortunately, it seemed he was the latter.

The cell was narrow, closed off, filled with a damp, rusty smell, Eden quietly inhaling the fragrance of Arsia's clothing. She was stunningly beautiful, dressed lavishly, a symbol of oppressive beauty, her aggressive gaze seemingly turning the place into a den of iniquity.

Yet Eden felt as calm inside as if in the Holy Land.

"Where did this calm come from?"

Arsia, seeing he didn't reply, asked again, her tone even more unpleasant.

"There was a bird chirping just now."

"What?"

Arsia questioned.

"There was the song of a robin just now…"

He enunciated each word,

"There was the song of a robin just now…I have been baptized."

Arsia could not understand his words; how does the sound of a robin equate to being baptized, and if truly baptized, who baptized him?!

These words were indeed baffling.

She stared at Eden, wanting him to say more, to explain, but he said nothing more.

This time, it was Arsia who grew more and more furious, she became agitated.

"Wait for death then, you heretic!"

Leaving these words behind, Arsia's figure disappeared below the firelight.

............

Veldor and Casas, the two elders, had always been worried about Eden holding heretical ideas, eventually being declared a heretic by the people present.

By then, no matter what they did, they couldn't save him, if the Emperor decided to sentence him to death, he could do so without anyone saying otherwise.

"His performance this morning was still fortunate."

Pastor Casas said,

"Although he was silent and did not defend himself, it's still better than being obstinate, which would have had no good ending."

Veldor slightly nodded, then said with a complex expression,

"Was he afraid?"

Pastor Casas replied:

"Perhaps."

Veldor fell silent, inexplicably feeling a sense of disappointment arise in his heart.

This outcome was very likely not to result in Eden being judged a heretic, allowing him to survive, but Veldor did not feel much happiness, a deep disappointment crowded in.

He became disappointed in Eden.

Wasn't it for the priest's firmness and perseverance, his fervor, that he had been running around for him?

Yet now, Eden seemed cowardly, and Veldor momentarily felt as though he might have misjudged him.

Facing death, facing accusations, many people would be fearful and cowardly—this was nothing to blame anyone for, yet Veldor still felt disappointed.

"If he could survive, Lord, let me remain disappointed,"

Veldor thought and quietly prayed.

The afternoon bell rang, and after the noon prayer, Eden was once again brought to the courtroom.

He walked to the dock unhurriedly, the people's gaze converging on him once more, and this time, they were surprised to find the priest had seemingly transformed, standing upright with his chest out.