Kenny's warning gave him enough time to escape. In a split second, he pushed Anna away, evading Annina's sword. He reached for Annina's wrist, but she kicked him in the chest, sending him sprawling.

Stepping forward, Annina gripped her sword, her emotions in check. She stared coldly at Kenny, her husband whom she had loved since youth. Kenny got up, Anna standing by, unmoving.

"Do you find it amusing to deceive me?" Annina pointed her sword at him, her voice firm. "You had this woman pretend to be a maid living next door? You orchestrated this kidnapping, didn't you? Do you not think this is absurd? Did you think I would never find out?"

Kenny avoided Annina's gaze, grabbing a long piece of wood by the fireplace to defend himself. His expression shifted from panic to defiance. "Hey, don't make it sound so noble. You're the one who betrayed me. I told you many times, but you forgot. I told you I was a dead man. It's you who insisted on pursuing the truth. You messed things up."

"What are you talking about?" Annina looked at his distorted face in disbelief. Lit by candlelight, she no longer recognized him. Tears streamed down her face, choking her speechless. Something in her heart died.

Kenny became more brazen, gripping the wood tightly. He shouted, "You could have just listened to me, done nothing. Why did you have to find me? You betrayed me to the High Priest! You're the one who made me a laughingstock!"

Annina laughed bitterly. "So, you think it's all my fault?"

"Yes, it's all your fault!" Anna walked over and stood behind Kenny, smiling sweetly.

Ignoring them, Annina turned and walked away, never looking back. She rode into the forest, tears fading into the night.

In Heidi's priestess chamber, Annina rested her head on her friend's shoulder, no longer crying. In this heartbreak, Heidi hugged her silently. "Luckily, we priests don't have to marry," Heidi chuckled bitterly. "Otherwise, I couldn't bear it. I never thought this malicious woman had been lurking near your home. She must not be a werewolf but a shapeshifting, spell-casting half-breed."

Annina looked up. "The so-called kidnapping was a conspiracy they planned. I will never forgive them." Her eyes burned with fiery vengeance. She had mourned her love enough, but she was not one to drown in grief. As an elf, she could control her emotions well, her experience as a young warrior shaping her strong character.

"What are you going to do next?" Heidi asked, her lips tight, ready to support her friend unconditionally.

Annina thought for a moment, then smiled coldly. "Let the people see the true face of their former leader."

Three days later, under a clear early summer sky, people gathered in the city's central square, eagerly anticipating the inauguration ceremony of the new High Priest, Eosha. Acting leader Liam, accompanied by his guards, maintained order in the square, engaging warmly with the tribal members. Elder Gabriel led other elders and officials in the council chamber, preparing scrolls and other ceremonial items.

As the ceremony approached, Milia emerged from behind a pillar, shedding her disguise of coarse cloth to reveal a stunning red dress. With head held high, she strode confidently towards the central altar. Recognizing her, the crowd began to murmur with curiosity, watching her every move.

Some in the crowd started to stir, loudly questioning whether Kenny was still alive. Milia paid no heed, walking directly to the center of the square and ascending a few steps to the altar. She turned to face the crowd, all eyes on her. Liam gestured for his guards to stand down, having been informed by Milia beforehand and supporting her actions.

Taking a deep breath, Milia looked at the people of the Lawrence tribe, with whom she had spent the past few years. In that moment, she bestowed upon them the power to make a just judgment.

"You know me as Kenny's wife. From today, I will no longer hold that title. I am Milia, and I come from the Elven tribe." With unwavering resolve, Milia removed the wedding ring from her finger and cast it to the ground.

"Kenny betrayed me and deceived all of you. Yes, he is still alive and has recently returned to us." The crowd erupted into a frenzy, discussing the shocking revelation.

"Kenny was once my husband and the leader of the Lawrence tribe. However, he made grave mistakes, and like you, I was unaware of them. The body found at the edge of the forest cliff was not Kenny but another person used as a decoy. Kenny did this to evade his debts. Our former High Priest protected him, and the High Priest has paid the price for his actions. Now, it is time for Kenny to face his responsibilities." Milia's fiery red dress fluttered in the wind, her chestnut hair swirling like flames. In that moment, her beauty radiated for herself alone.

Having spoken her truth, Milia swiftly descended from the altar, showing no intention of disrupting the forthcoming priestly ceremony. The crowd followed her, bombarding her with questions. She simply smiled and nodded in response, choosing not to provide further answers. Evading the crowd, she turned into a quiet alley where Ethan awaited her. He draped a thick black coat over her shoulders, and the two departed together, their steps in perfect harmony.

Meanwhile, Liam and his guards reveled in the bustling atmosphere of the Wild Rose tavern. As people congratulated him and probed for the day's hottest news, Liam feigned ignorance, deflecting their inquiries. "Tomorrow marks my official assumption of office. Let me enjoy being a carefree soldier today," Liam proclaimed to the bartender, buying drinks for the entire bar. The crowd cheered, momentarily setting aside their curiosity about Liam.

The following day, the streets and alleys of Lawrence Castle buzzed with the astonishing news. Milia and Ethan wrapped themselves tightly, blending into the street crowd, passing through the market and heading out of the city. The sunlight shone unusually bright, signaling the onset of a hot summer.

By the riverside on the outskirts, Milia finally discarded her disguise, feeling the cool breeze. She exhaled, turning to the somewhat silent Ethan beside her. "You knew all along, didn't you?" "I'm sorry," Ethan looked at her gaunt face earnestly. "I couldn't bring myself to say it. I heard that Mrs. An had kidnapped Kenny, suggesting their relationship had ended." Milia shook her head. Even if Ethan had told her at the time that Mrs. An was actually a woman named Angelina and had an affair with Kenny, would she truly have believed it? Who would believe without seeing their spouse's infidelity firsthand?

Heidi and Alec arrived shortly afterward at the riverside as planned, and the group shared the latest news.

"It was Thomas who told me about Mrs. An. When I visited him in the temple dungeon, he was already on the brink, realizing that no one would come to save him. He was abandoned," Ethan confessed to everyone. "Although I found it hard to believe the affair between her and Kenny, I didn't know at the time if Thomas was just rambling."

Heidi sat cross-legged on the grass, playing with a small stone in her hand, listening to Ethan's account with a tilted head and bright eyes, as if she had thought of something. She suddenly interjected, "The news is spreading. Kenny dares not return openly to the Lawrence City-State anymore. He might even elope with Mrs. An, no, Angelina. What about the matter of him killing Joseph? Is it just going to be overlooked?"

Ethan didn't mind her interruption. After she finished, he leisurely continued his response, "Thomas also told me another thing. He has a final secret that can serve as the ultimate weapon to destroy Mrs. An and Kenny's gang."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions became attentive, their gazes focusing on Kenny. He pursed his lips and blushed slightly. "Yes, Thomas said he's planning something big to destroy Mrs. An and Kenny, to let us watch his masterpiece."

Kenny gazed at the distant mountain peak, lost in thought. Beyond the mountain was the Lawrence City-State, where he could no longer return openly. He turned back to look at Angelina, who had brought a plate of toast, still with the familiar sweet aroma of bread, but everything else was no longer the same.

"Darling, come here. Isn't my toast your favorite?" Angelina sweetly smiled at him.

"Sure," Kenny agreed, walking to the table and sitting down, casually asking her, "Why did you give the vial to Milia?" His voice was very gentle.

Angelina's hand, slicing the bread, paused for a moment, then she smiled gently, "What's wrong, are you angry? Perhaps I didn't expect this elven lady to value justice so much."

"Are you doing this to force us to break up?" Kenny's voice grew colder.