Execute if entity is there is always coming back as true when no player is around.

execute positioned -1552 48 -1376 unless entity @e[type=minecraft:elder_guardian,distance=..40] run scoreboard players set #monument cleared 1
execute if score #monument cleared matches 0 run say §cThe Monument has not been cleared.
execute if score #monument cleared matches 1 run say §aThe Monument has cleared.```

This is my code. I'm force loading the area before I run these checks, but somehow it's being able to run the first command despite there clearly being 3 elder guardian's in the area.