I’m a Former Saint Exiled to the Forest, but for some reason, the Cold-hearted Magician keeps visiting me. - Chapter 5

While Evelyne was at home, there came a knock at the door.

She opened it, expecting the usual visitor, but it wasn’t Serge standing there with his black hair and stoic demeanor.

Instead, it was a young woman dressed in the ceremonial garb of a saint, black fabric adorned with silver and crystals—a symbol of purification.

It was Leticia Ange.

The surname “Ange” was an honorific granted to saints, marking their status and recognition.

Despite being the same age as Evelyne, Leticia had an ethereal beauty that made her the envy of many in the royal capital. She was lauded as the ideal saint, purifying countless battlefields and pacifying monsters steeped in malice—a heavenly emissary, some said.

But now, the woman before Evelyne wore none of her usual saintly grace. Instead, her expression was twisted with disdain as she glared at Evelyne.

“Evelyne. Why aren’t you dead?”

“That’s a harsh way to start a conversation,” Evelyne replied with a faint smile. “Considering it’s thanks to my work that you even have your title as a saint.”

Leticia’s beautiful face contorted with irritation, but before she could retort, Evelyne continued.

“It’s rare to see you out on your own. A shabby place like this, in the Forest of Corruption no less, must be your least favorite kind of location. Oh, right—this is the Forest of Corruption. Without purification powers, you’d be dead in ten minutes. Magicians with protective magic or saints with strong purification powers could bring someone else here, but your strength is only enough to cover yourself, isn’t it? Silly me for asking.”

Evelyne barely finished her sentence before Leticia’s hand came flying toward her. Evelyne leaned back just in time to avoid the slap.

Leticia’s face was flushed with anger and humiliation as she glared daggers at Evelyne.
“That sharp tongue of yours hasn’t changed,” Leticia snapped.

“Well, I’ve got to say my piece,” Evelyne replied. “Otherwise, how else can I repay the favor of being branded as the ‘villainous saint’?”

After Evelyne had come to the royal capital, most of the work she’d done had been attributed to Leticia.

The two didn’t look alike, save for their golden hair, which had once been Evelyne’s pride. Though now dulled, it had been brilliant in her saintly days.

But the church had never fully accepted Evelyne, a commoner who lacked the grace and manners of a noblewoman.

Instead, they chose Leticia as their “face”—a noblewoman with refined beauty, though her purification powers were weaker.

Even now, Leticia, the church’s golden child, stood before Evelyne with barely concealed disdain but made no move to leave.

“You lost your achievements, were branded with infamy, and thrown into this place. And that’s all you have to say?” Leticia sneered.

“Oh, it’s not just that,” Evelyne said cheerfully. “It’d be nice if you’d provided better food, or if you’d made sure to kill me properly. Leaving loose ends is sloppy. Or perhaps I’m just your backup plan in case you couldn’t find another scapegoat for the church?”

“You’re unbelievable! Six months, and you couldn’t even fake your own death!” Leticia shouted, her composure slipping further.

Evelyne, unfazed, raised her hands in a calming gesture.

“Careful, Letty. If you keep going, it’ll sound like you wanted me to run away. Officially, I’m here on assignment, so I can’t just abandon my post, can I?”

“You’re not a saint anymore! You can go wherever you want!” Leticia snapped, stepping closer.

Evelyne instinctively covered the brand on the back of her left hand but smiled all the same. Leticia, her voice breaking, continued bitterly.

“Get angry! Hate me! The purification powers are untraceable, and I’ve stolen all your accomplishments because of it! Meanwhile, the church tried to silence you entirely. You should be furious…!”

“So it was you who pulled the strings,” Evelyne murmured.

She’d suspected she’d only been exiled because Leticia’s abilities weren’t strong enough to cover for her absence. When Leticia’s credibility faltered, the church had likely sought a new way to maintain their image.

Had Leticia not intervened, Evelyne would have been quietly killed, perhaps in an “accident” or from an incurable illness. Instead, Leticia had ensured she was sent to the Forest of Corruption—a place even saints couldn’t survive, where no body would be found.

Yet Leticia had gambled that Evelyne, with her purification powers, might escape to a neighboring country if she chose to.

When Evelyne voiced her deduction, Leticia trembled with indignation but spoke with forced arrogance.

“What nonsense. You should’ve let the Forest of Corruption swallow you whole. You should’ve died without leaving a trace.”

“Mm-hmm, sure. Well, I’m not going anywhere,” Evelyne replied with a shrug. “I’m quite satisfied with my life here.”

“Satisfied? In this shack? After all you’ve been through?” Leticia spat, gesturing toward the ramshackle hut that was more prison than home.

Evelyne glanced over her shoulder at the tiny house, then back at Leticia with a serene smile.
“Well, they do say, ‘Home is where you make it.’”
This time, Leticia’s slap landed squarely on Evelyne’s cheek.