Artemis didn't know how to respond to Aeliana's question. After all, Aeliana made her point clear.
If Artemis confessed everything, she might suffer terribly for all the crimes she committed while guarding the southern borders.
However, if she doesn't confess, then she will definitely suffer.
Shortly after Artemis thought it through, she eventually surrendered herself to the present situation and confessed everything.
Over the years, she had been making secret deals with the border lords of the Holy Knight Empire, which included selling intel to each other. As a result, she avoided skirmishes with the empire and didn't have to worry about assassinations in her sleep.
It was the only way to survive in the border regions when one lacked both strength and backing to repulse any threat.
Even so, no matter how insignificant the intel she sold to the empire was, it was still an act of betrayal to her kingdom.
