FTA Ch 12
by winter<Chapter 12>
“We all agree that the woman is dangerous. She harbors great resentment toward both the imperial family and the temple.” Demonion explained.
“Yes, that’s right.” Alexion replied.
Alexion nodded with a hardened expression.
Demonion slowly turned his gaze to Kais, who had been silently staring at one side of the table with an unreadable expression.
“Moreover, she is nothing but an obstacle to our plans.”
Demonion twisted his lips into a sly smile.
“That woman must disappear.” Demonian said
The voice was chillingly devoid of emotion.
Alexion looked at Demonion with wavering eyes.
He knew exactly what Demonion was talking about—it was Alexion himself who had devised all these plans in the first place.
And yet, for some reason, facing Demonion’s utterly expressionless face at that moment, Alexion couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Breaking the silence, Kais finally spoke.
“But the situation has grown more complicated, hasn’t it? Things are veering away from our expectations.”
Kais attempted to lift the heavy mood with a playful smile.
“Even the emperor, not just the temple, is searching for Gloria now…” Kais said.
This is turning into quite the mess.
With a chuckle, Kais stood from his seat.
“Seems Gloria is more useful than we initially thought.” Kais thinked.
“Yes, more than we anticipated.”
Alexion followed Kais’s lead, smiling faintly.
“Anyway, His Majesty appears intent on testing the saintess.”
“…Testing her? How?”
Kais turned to Alexion with a bewildered expression.
Pressing a hand against his pounding head, Alexion began to explain.
“To confirm whether she truly bears the blessings of the gods.”
“I see.”
Demonion furrowed his brows in irritation, making no attempt to hide his displeasure at the situation’s increasing complexity.
“His Majesty still harbors doubts.”
Alexion cast his gaze at Demonion and then to Kais.
“He’s skeptical and wary of the sudden emergence of Iriana Lotheas.”
It was only natural.
Anyone would find the abrupt appearance of a saintess suspicious—especially at a time when humanity had just begun to glimpse the end of its long war against the monsters.
“Iriana Lotheas will also have to face the emperor’s test.”
The emperor was a deeply suspicious old man—a truly bothersome trait.
Alexion let out a bitter laugh, running his fingers through his hair.
It was then that Kais, tilting his head, posed another question.
“But do you really think Gloria will agree to the test?”
Alexion and Demonion turned their gazes toward Kais simultaneously.
“No, I mean, come on. Everyone knows what Gloria’s personality is like.”
Kais scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.
“Do you honestly think she’ll meekly join the subjugation squad if we go find her?”
Just considering Gloria’s personality, it was surprising she had quietly left the capital in the first place.
And now, to approach her and bring her back? That was no different from stirring a hornet’s nest.
In other words, it was a reckless and foolish plan.
Kais shook his head vehemently.
“If we go find her, we’d be lucky to not get hit with a mace.” Kais said.
“…”
With that, silence enveloped the meeting room, where some of the most powerful figures of the Immotus Empire were gathered.
Every day, new names were engraved on the massive gravestone.
They were the names of those sacrificed to the monsters—specifically, commoners whose bodies could not be properly recovered.
Among them were the names of Gloria’s long-time friends.
Gloria instinctively searched for her friends’ names.
Midway down the gravestone, her hand reached out, tracing the names one by one.
“I survived, just as I promised. And now, finally, the chance has come to leave this place, so…”
Gloria spoke softly, her voice trembling.
“So, I’m going to leave.”
Her voice cracked, but she continued.
“I won’t be coming back.”
She closed her eyes, picturing the faces of her lost friends and tracing their names with her fingers.
“So, please don’t resent me too much.”
At last, Gloria managed to say all she needed to. But she couldn’t bring herself to leave.
This gravestone was the only proof that her friends had once existed in the world.
But now, she was preparing to abandon even that.
Gloria closed her eyes tightly.
Her friends were gone; there was no bringing them back. The past was irretrievable.
All she could do now was endure and move forward.
“…I’m sorry,” she murmured to no one in particular.
Her voice, carried by the wind, scattered into the empty air.
“I swear I’ll avenge you.”
So…
She would find a way to survive, no matter what.
With a face contorted in sorrow, Gloria managed to add one more word.
“Wait for me.”
“Did you return safely from where you went?”
Startled by the voice as she scaled the wall, Gloria turned around to find Leonard standing there.
“Yes, as you can see.” Gloria said.
Removing the robe she had been wearing, Gloria walked toward him.
“You’re looking healthier than yesterday.”
Leonard was indeed recovering by the day, regaining more of his former vitality.
Watching him return to full health was a small joy for Gloria.
It even made her comfortable enough to leave him alone at the estate during brief outings.
“…Could you stop saying that,” Leonard muttered under his breath.
Pretending not to hear, Gloria walked into the mansion, and Leonard naturally matched her pace beside her.
“So, where did you go?”
“To see my friends one last time before leaving.”
“Were they sad to see you go?”
“Hmm…”
She found it hard to admit that her friends had died long ago.
Smiling awkwardly, she avoided answering, and Leonard thankfully didn’t press further.
“Are you really leaving?”
Instead, he asked another question.
“Why? Are you reluctant to see me go?”
Gloria deliberately replied in a teasing tone, though his response was unexpectedly sincere.
“No, not at all.”
Gloria froze for a moment, looking back at him.
“Thanks to you, I’m finally free of this hell.”
Leonard’s steady gaze met hers as he spoke.
“Why would I feel reluctant?”
“Yes, that’s how it should be.” Gloria smiled brightly.
In that moment, Leonard stiffened as if he had seen something entirely foreign to him.
Unfazed, Gloria stretched out her arms toward him.
“Alright, time to let me carry you.” Gloria said.
“…What?”
“I told you repeatedly that you shouldn’t strain yourself yet. A short distance might be fine, but from here to the bedroom is too far.”
“….”
“So, I’ll carry you to your room as a special service today.”
Leonard questioned if his hearing had suddenly failed, but her words echoed loud and clear.
He clenched and released his fists, certain he felt no pain.
There was no denying the vitality coursing through him. But what she had just said was so absurd he couldn’t process it.
“Did you… just say you’d carry me?” Leonard asked.
“Yes, precisely that. How many times do you need me to repeat it?”
“…”
Leonard clamped his mouth shut while Gloria narrowed her eyes at him impatiently.
“While your recovery is impressive, rushing things will only delay your return to full health.”
Then, with a decisive tone, she added,
“So, stop hesitating and let me carry you.”