i don't really read the novel but i kind of understand Esther and Kalid's relationship here. I think he did not do that to protect Esther. He betrayed her completely because he swore his loyalty to the "saintess". Although i really think he cared for her before all that happened. When he attacked Esther, his eyes were empty and cold so yeah he might be two faced or he was just influenced by the "saintess". yet again, this is just my understanding :)!
Spoiler
Later on Rabi would send Khalid to Tersia to get Esther’s blood. The mission failed because Esther talked to him and he realized that the mission was odd. He substituted it with pig’s blood. So Rabi failed (again) to find out that Esther is the real saint. Then she would send him again to deliver poison to another prince who wanted to poison Noah. But he didn’t know that it was poison but then figured out later on. Overall, Khalid in this timeline cared a lot for Esther than in the other timeline. (▰˘◡˘▰)
Spoiler :
Khalid was totally raised by the temple so the saintess her highest representative couldn't go wrong so he has done wrong.....
In this life he will totally fall in love with Esther....and each order from Ravienne after the one when she asked him Esther blood will seem strange....after Ravienne understood she received false blood she sent him to Noah bro with some poison....Khalid kept a little of it....in tge last judgement he will gives a report about it to the judge.....he will loses his paladin title.....
Novel reading can y’all tell me about the blond hair kid with green eyes? I wonder why he did that to Esther when it seems like in the beginning it looked like he did care for her? Is he a two faced btch? Or was he doing that to “protect” her?