FTA Ch 21
by winter<Chapter 21>
“I hate magic.”
Gloria muttered to herself, and Claude who was standing beside her.
He spoke with a somewhat serious expression.
“If that’s the case, I’ll think of another way.” Claude said.
“…Why are you thinking about it?” Gloria asked.
Gloria tilted her head in confusion.
“Well, it seems that Miss Gloria is too kind and gentle hearted, so I’m worried.” Claude said.
Claude winked and smiled.
Gloria frowned, wondering what kind of nonsense he was spouting now.
“I’m not that kind.” Gloria explained.
She had never once thought of herself as kind.
She’d proved it when, given the chance to run.
She hesitated for a moment before leaving everything behind without looking back.
“I’m only kind to the people I want to be kind to.” Gloria explained again.
The monster subjugation mission was nearly complete, but there were still surviving monsters that posed a threat to humans.
Despite the situation, she decided not to help anyone else.
She was only focused on her own safety and had left for this place.
But Claude seemed to have a different perspective.
“Well…”
Claude spoke with an unexpectedly stiff and almost frightening expression.
“If Miss Gloria isn’t kind, then no one in this world would be kind.”
“…”
“Those who used you completely, taking advantage of you like they were stripping your very bones, and now they point at you, calling you fake, and yet… you spared them and let them live.”
‘If that isn’t kindness, then what is it?’
Claude’s voice carried a sharp edge as he added that.
“Miss Gloria, you don’t need to show mercy to people like that.”
Gloria just stared at Claude blankly.
Claude continued without waiting for her response.
“Honestly, it would be far more beneficial to show mercy to passing insects than to them.”
‘…Is that so?’
As she listened quietly to Claude, Gloria began to think there was a point to his words.
She looked at him again with a fresh perspective.
She had always found him handsome, but today, for some reason, he seemed particularly striking.
Claude noticing her silent gaze.
He flashed a smile and his eyes sparkling.
“Or perhaps, what if you were to show mercy to me? A poor soul who’s just been laid off and is now in need of a job?” Claude asked.
“…You’re still saying that, huh.” Gloria felt her patience drain quickly.
“I’m not planning on hiring you.” Gloria said.
“You’re really saying that, even though I’m much more useful than some random passing insect?” Claude asked.
“Yep. I still not hiring you.” Gloria replied.
Gloria said firmly, making her intention clear.
“I do like you quite a bit, but on a separate note, you’re suspicious.”
“…”
“I can’t trust someone suspicious with my home.” Gloria said.
When Gloria firmly conveyed her decision.
It seemed like Claude was visibly shocked.
His once soft, candy-like smile faded, and his expression hardened, as though it were slowly melting away.
It didn’t bother Gloria though.
She was actually quite satisfied that Claude seemed to have understood her clearly now.
“…Miss Gloria, you are truly remarkable.”
Claude muttered to himself, his voice barely audible.
“Yet… why does no one realize it?”
As Gloria began to walk away from Claude, she hesitated and furrowed her brow.
She glanced back, and saw Claude slowly raising his head from where he had been looking down.
“How about we have a probation period?” Claude asked.
“…Probation period?”
Claude noticing Gloria’s puzzled expression, added with a soft smile.
“It would be a time to assess whether I’m a useful employee before you officially hire me, Miss Gloria.”
His long narrow eyes crinkled with a mischievous grin.
“Of course, I wouldn’t expect to receive a salary during this probation period.”
‘…He’s saying he’ll work for free?’
‘That’s more suspicious.’
Gloria narrowed her eyes and stared at Claude.
Now she was curious why he was so eager to be hired by her.
* * *
At the same time, at the Lanark Marquis’ estate.
The mansion was bustling with activity as they welcomed the Marquis’ heir who had returned after the monster subjugation mission at the border.
‘Erhardt Walter Lanak’.
Heir to the Lanak Marquis title and the only son of the Marquis Gabrian1.
Erhardt was the leader of the Imperial Second Subjugation Force.
The Second Subjugation Force dealt with the monsters at the border that the First Subjugation Force couldn’t handle.
The reason the First Subjugation Force couldn’t handle the border monsters because Gloria who could faint just from being near the border.
He was a member of that force.
The border, far from the center of the Empire, was underdeveloped, and the conditions were harsh.
In such conditions, Erhardt had led the Second Subjugation Force to battle the immense monsters.
In the brutal battles, survival meant moving with desperation.
However, unlike the First Subjugation Force, which had someone like Gloria with remarkable healing abilities.
The Second Subjugation Force had no one of that caliber, and casualties occurred daily.
The number of injured soldiers, both large and small, was far too many to count.
Each time, Erhardt came to realize just how precious Gloria was, and how her very existence was a miracle.
He assumed that everyone else must have realized this too.
Or at least, those who had spent a long time with Gloria in the First Subjugation Force should have known.
But…
“Those idiots have gone and caused a mess.” Erhardt’s voice, muffled with clenched teeth, barely escaped from his lips.
He having returned from the long subjugation mission, but he didn’t even have the time to relax.
Now, confronted with an already complicated situation.
Erhardt felt nothing but despair.
He had long known that the First Subjugation Force was composed of idiots who lacked common sense.
He was vaguely aware of how they treated Gloria.
The First Subjugation Force was made up of the children of nobility, including royal descendants.
They were all fortunate enough to be born to capable parents and, in addition, possessed extraordinary talents.
But that was all.
They were arrogant fools who mistook their inherited abilities as achievements gained by their own strength.
Instead of acknowledging Gloria, who had attained heroic feats.
They had been cowardly, hiding behind her and using her accomplishments to become heroes themselves.
They believed that they were inherently different from Gloria, from birth, and would never admit her value.
Frustrated, Erhardt ran a large hand through his hair, pushing it back in one swift motion.
The golden strands of his hair slid neatly between his fingers as he tidied it.
“Where is the Marquis?”
Erhardt asked, tossing his silver armor carelessly onto the floor.
His blue eyes were fixed firmly out the window.
At that moment, Dennis the butler who had been quietly standing to the side was quickly answered.
“The Marquis left early this morning at the Emperor’s summon and went to the Imperial Palace.” Dennis answered.
“Has he mentioned when he will return?” Erhardt asked again.
“No, he hasn’t.”
Hearing this, Erhardt had a good idea of how the current situation was unfolding.
Marquis Gabrian was likely under the Emperor’s scrutiny.
It was only natural given that they couldn’t stop Gloria, the ‘Chosen One’ and a treasure of the Empire, from leaving the estate.
“Then, there has been no word from the Saintess?” Erhardt asked.
“…What?”
Dennis looked slightly surprised at the question, and Erhardt’s cold gaze turned toward him.
“I asked if there’s been any word from the Saintess.”
“Ah? No, I understand the question, Lord. But…”
“But?”
Erhardt’s deep brows shot up in a sharp arc as he responded.
Seeing Erhardt’s piercing expression, Dennis could tell that his mood was notably disturbed.
It seemed that the young master he served had not yet heard of the scandal.
In other words, the saintess whom they had taken in as an adopted daughter and trained for a long time at the Marquis’ estate…
In fact, the shocking truth that Gloria was a fraud who had been posing as a saintess all this time.
Dennis was filled with a sense of duty to deliver this news to his young master.
“Lord, it seems you do not yet know. The woman you believe to be the Saintess. In fact, a fraud who has been pretending to be the Saintess all this time.” Dennis explained.