episode_0057

No one can be born by choosing parents.

Let’s compare two boys born on the same day in the same year. One boy was a genius with outstanding talent that would advance human development by 20 years. On the other hand, the other boy did not have outstanding abilities, but he was a genius who would find his role through hard work.

Did the first boy become a great man whose name will be remembered in history? He was born into a poor family, suffered from malnutrition under abusive parents, and died at a young age. On the other hand, the second boy was born into a prestigious family and was educated with the love of his parents. Although he did not become a great man, he became a proud son and a great father, and he became a respected prime minister and was laid to rest with many people seeing him off.

Even if two boys change the cradle they were born in, there is no guarantee that their future will also change. The former boy may have been born into an aristocratic family and die young from illness, or may have been unable to develop his talents due to his arrogance. On the other hand, the latter boy may have become a knight for his outstanding achievements in war. However, it was just another possibility, and the reality was that one of them passed away before becoming an adult and the other enjoyed a long life.

Anastasia believed that fate exists and is divided into those that can be chosen and those that cannot.

Born as the eldest daughter of a fallen nobleman, Anastasia lived a much better life than that of a street beggar, although she was not wealthy. Even though they had no power to show off, they had never suffered unfair treatment due to their class like commoners. I have never had fancy dresses or expensive jewelry, but I have never been exposed to the cold. Her father was blunt but not one to raise his hand carelessly, and her mother was irritable but gave her a normal level of love. Families with sincere faith prayed every day and never did anything that was not moral.

Anastasia thought that it was her destiny to meet an ordinary man, start a small family, and live an easy life without any highs or lows. But she chose her fate differently. Obviously, that was a choice.

The summer of Anastasia’s fifteenth year, she saw an apostate hanging on a guillotine. The woman with her eyes closed and her tongue sticking out had an ordinary appearance. Although her body was not yet decomposed, it was impossible to tell the life she had lived just by looking at her face. There was nothing Anastasia could know other than the fact that she had been interrogated for heresy as an apostate and sentenced to death by the Inquisition. Considering that hangings were not uncommon and that they were a spectacle or entertainment for people who lacked entertainment, it was not surprising that Anastasia, a beautiful young woman, did not show any disapproval at the sight of a corpse.

But Anastasia became excited when she saw the hanging woman. It wasn’t because I was sexually excited about corpses. She was thrilled that someone was choosing someone else’s fate. I was fascinated by the possibility that one person’s choices could affect the fate of another. The idea of a mere human being, neither a god nor a king, deciding the direction of another person standing at a crossroads was impossible to compare with the ordinary life of raising a happy family.

That night, Anastasia told her parents that she wanted to become an Inquisitor. Thanks to their respect for her wishes and their support both financially and spiritually, the Inquisition gained a young heretic inquisitor with strong faith.

‘I dared to worship heresy and forsake God…! Please have mercy…’

The first man Anastasia interrogated confessed his crime to a brutal beating. She accompanied him until he was sentenced to death at trial and hanged.

Every being was like its own small world. Anastasia’s heart was filled with joy as she saw a world fading away and collapsing due to the choices she made. She didn’t always doom them to death. However, the majority fell into the abyss of destruction and abyss due to Anastasia. Anastasia enjoyed causing pain to anyone she got her hands on. Watching the poor lambs suffer at her hands and be swayed by her choices was Anastasia’s greatest joy. Because she was so absorbed in her work as an Inquisitor, she could not even watch her parents die. Additionally, she abandoned her noble family name and remained as Anastasia.

She was destined to become a rare murderer who killed countless people while pretending to be an ordinary woman. However, she chose the future of becoming an Inquisitor. And most of the people she touched were destroyed. Was that the fate that was originally destined for them? Anastasia did not agree with that. Their fate was determined by her choices.

Anastasia was willing to become the pain of others.

.

The Ordelaffi family did not respond to the summons sent by the Inquisition. On the contrary, there was even news that the nobles were uniting around Duke Ordelaffi. After a long meeting, the Inquisition ordered the arrest of Lady Ordelaffy. With several Inquisitors accompanying the army, the decision to appoint Anastasia as the commander of the army had a clear intention. The Inquisition had no intention of abdicating their authority. The option of backing down with a ‘moderate agreement’ like Madame Verdier was not considered.

The army led by Anastasia did not deploy quickly and secretly. Rather, a letter was sent again to the Ordelapi territory, informing them of their advance. Although it was a strategically foolish move, the Inquisition had no intention of suppressing the nobles by force. Even if they wanted to, the size of the Inquisition’s army was slightly less than that of Duke Ordelaffi. Even if the battle was fought against a coalition of nobles, there was no chance of victory. However, those who aim spears and shoot arrows at them will be judged heretics. Even if he was a noble, he could not be safe from being judged for heresy.

“Now that it has come to this, let us have Lady Ordellaphy appear and receive a fair trial. We can’t all become heretics because of one princess. That’s not true…”

The Count, who had said that at the meeting, fell silent in front of Duke Ordelaffi’s sad gaze. However, the Duke guessed that the longer the current situation lasted, the more people who would agree with that opinion would appear. That prediction finally became reality when the army of the Inquisition faced the army of the nobles. Although no one boldly advocated forcibly expelling the princess in front of the duke, several nobles said that one princess could not be considered a heretic.

A maid hurriedly ran to Duke Ordelaffi, who was struggling to make a decision.

“You mean that kid left the room!”

When the duke arrived, Etrusia had already finished preparing and wearing armor. Before the duke could say anything, she looked at him with clear eyes.

“Your Majesty. Please allow me.”

There was no need to say what the permission was for. The duke nodded. Etrussia, who came out of the castle, saw soldiers belonging to the Inquisition. Anastasia was standing in front of him. Etrusia felt like she was out of breath for a moment, but soon came to her senses and walked. Her hair shined golden in the dazzling sunlight.

The princess stepped to the front of the line. The soldiers, who were well aware of the Golden Horseman’s stature, cheered. In the face of a force that literally shook the world, not only the soldiers of the Inquisition but even the Inquisitors hesitated.

However, Anastasia did not back down and opened the order with the Inquisition’s seal.

“Lady Ordelaffi. I have orders to arrest you. This is a legal order issued by the Inquisition, and anyone who disobeys it will be considered a heretic.”

The noble soldiers murmured when they heard the word heresy. Anastasia, holding a sword in one hand and an order in the other, approached Etrusia. Every time she took a step closer, Etrusia gasped at the fear etched into her body.

Finally, Anastasia, standing nearby, spoke as if scolding a child.

“This is your destiny. Lady Ordellaphy. Obediently receive the aura.”

Anastasia chose the fate of the princess before her eyes. As always, with very few exceptions, the princess’ fate would be decided by Anastasia’s hands. Etrusia spoke softly, but loudly enough for Anastasia to hear.

“I understand that pulling a sword out of its sheath means that you are ready to be cut by the sword at any time.”

Before Anastasia could frown, Etrusia drew her sword. The sword caught in the sunlight shined like a flash.

“I am Etrussia! She is the daughter of Ordelaphi and the golden rider who cut down countless demons! I choose my fate!”

Etrusia rejected Anastasia’s choice. Neither Anastasia nor anyone else could react to Etrusia’s movements. Even Duke Ordelaffi, who had traveled through numerous battlefields, could not read the sword’s trajectory.

“Ugh…!”

The Etruscan sword accurately slit Anastasia’s throat, which was not protected by armor. She was struck by a sudden surprise attack and fell to the ground. The Heretic Questioners, who were not accustomed to combat, as well as the soldiers they were under, were shocked by what had happened so suddenly and froze.

Likewise, the noble soldiers held their breath and watched Anastasia fall. In the silence, Etrusia raised her blood-stained sword.

“Follow me! Follow the golden rider! Follow your hero!”

After hearing those words, the soldiers as well as the knights raised their spears and swords high. Everyone shouted loudly.

“For Ordelape! For Etrussia!”

“For the golden rider! For our heroes!”

The soldiers’ loud shouts sounded faint to Anastasia. Several scenes flashed through Anastasia’s blurry eyes. Before she faded into consciousness, she had a small question about her fate. But no one answered that question.

In the midst of a moment when history was changing, Anastasia died quietly.