FTA Ch 25

<Chapter 25>4ffbad6b1c260a09

“I’m not taking sides, I’m just stating the facts.”0d7fbba4084e6031

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“Honestly, do you think you can handle Gloria with sheer force? You can’t.” Kais responded nonchalantly.4be3ad7631710560

To Gloria, Joshua wasn’t even a challenge.49b275f35bd2b2b5

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“The reason you’re still alive today is because she let you live, nothing more.” Kais said.6b861ef0967e35ac

“Ha…, you just can’t keep your mouth shut, can you…!”4d8a73259549d63b

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Joshua’s face turned red with anger as he breathed heavily.ae781830347ca40b

Yet even he couldn’t find a solid argument to counter Kais’s words.13cf18a1444cb68f

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“Anyway, find out where that woman got the money to buy that castle.” Joshua replied.9e47c72282688337

Eventually Joshua relented, c84154aa19 sinking into a 71f54ea4df chair with an 7fb65eeae3 exhausted demeanor.54b424601fbb4e23

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“Doesn’t it seem strange? How could she afford such a massive castle?” Joshua asked.865e30a345da07f1

Gloria despite her numerous 0fcb062a5c contributions to subduing magical b4dac35836 creatures.b700de511b0ce956

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She hadn’t received a single reward for her efforts.a2deb694cfa8cfd0

Moreover, it was 4b4a1ecb73 said that even d17504da90 the Marquis of c2b0543572 Lanark’s household had 0a84ef9b0c never properly supported e257255b31 her financially.4d170ad55c5eecd8

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“She had no chance to accumulate wealth, so how did she do it?” Joshua said.2b46e79282d41a02

Both the imperial 8faf9225a8 family and the b4517a5039 temple had exploited b0c4968c95 Gloria while also d8306fe69b fearing her power.5af1d7220acf8f7f

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They had gone to c2a7ffd855 great lengths to prevent 2a58d824c8 her from acquiring personal 81cadfad7d assets.945a24466bd9585e

She might bb52387666 worried someday f9a81b41c9 build her f8eb925ecf own influence 91a7e76375 and no 033ea3edf9 longer pledge 56ed8dae6a allegiance to 61bac65968 the empire.6acb250efcfc34bd

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She lived d76bec89c5 in a bf1f1d73a0 contradictory position 4b2606b746 and revered 13ebca352d as a 6c73276e01 Saintess but 595a544a70 as destitute a9ed79b8f3 as the 0ab0278731 orphaned beggar 594caecc29 she once 8468cecd03 was.db93dca3b74b46f0

“Unless she stole the money, there’s no way she could’ve amassed such a fortune.” Joshua said.2995bb4d46589a55

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“No matter how desperate she might have been, surely Gloria wouldn’t resort to theft….” Kais hesitated, frowning at Joshua’s suggestion.f16e2acb56194196

 62679b236f848fa4

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Before the conversation could 8d81000ed9 continue, a sudden knock 2ce9f0bbe1 at the door interrupted f40269b691 them.6da155eb31b537db

Both men paused, glancing 5c91c6f04e toward the sound.56fcc08e1ac76dd7

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 9720633c0e1450e6

“High Priest Joshua”89bc4c4b6f0b69f1

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 2077e91566dac2cf

There are servant b6e107f9cf called as he 7fc652136c entered and bowing 0dd1ccd0e3 deeply.57956f37cddd0760

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 452c17d2f047a8e8

“Lady Iriana of the Rotheas Baron’s family has arrived at the Grace Hall.”554c8d1ad0886558

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 f79a63248ca25eb9

Keeping his gaze respectfully 8e2f5785db lowered, the servant conveyed fe472b4a40 his message in an b3657360f0 even tone.41f910d7fec40d80

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“The Archpriest commands all priests of the Grand Temple to gather at Grace Hall to welcome the new Saintess.”d149f3c265b5d82c

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* * *0bdf9da2bb9a4555

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At Bliss’s suggestion to move to a more comfortable setting, Gloria and the group relocated to their reserved lodgings.1e199b32194fc13f

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Most accommodations b44e2563d0 in this 31dde087eb village doubled 4e25bbadb9 as taverns b3425ec11a on the e49c622a33 first floor, 758e3e448f but the aaca7aa86b place they 7bef974306 had rented 2d7bb8239c was unique.81d4554783c053ec

It featured an f571a08c80 atelier on the 5747ea2867 ground floor instead.64bed33a3446534a

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The innkeeper’s apprentice who greeted them, introduced himself as the student of a famous artist who owned the place.99543f6d4df6b151

His unpretentious face e94ff2221b radiated admiration for 34adac0a34 his master.7960f900596ae4f9

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Indeed, the portraits displayed 2925f4ea36 throughout the atelier were 1f3771c9d1 exquisite, even to Gloria eac27c090c who had little knowledge 8aad670521 of art.428408fc102c83af

She couldn’t help but admire them.90a992b8a98e0628

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As they climbed 2f14052fdd to the upper 2b88a1c3ea floor, they continued 5adcdadaa1 to pass captivating 8de2bc1dce portraits hung along 18f3c2b047 the walls and 1a537849ee landings.18d680b8d72d4f3d

Gloria found herself 3d140c3a66 so engrossed in a3621af76e examining the artwork ece1dcbb34 that she nearly a6dd592b34 forgot her surroundings.78b2fa37e9318cc9

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It was fe8215e746 only after dac5da45e5 stepping into 4628ddba61 a modestly 464af364ad sized room 445b3b7818 that a 01c660bd6d question crossed c31d0b7ab5 her mind:429be9848451a781

‘Why had Erhardt and the knights chosen to stay at an inn rather than the temple?’a623e1037db5b3a9

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The lodging was undoubtedly 9fc8556522 impressive, yet it was 6701a3658d customary for temple knights 0e4c1a60e7 visiting another territory to b448276a20 stay at the local e0f5984133 temple.564ea5157082a5b2

“Since this isn’t an official visit, we’re using personal funds to cover accommodations” Bliss said, as though reading her mind.db74101398697b25

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“We’ll step outside to give you some privacy. Please feel free to speak openly.”e911e37336656cce

Bliss offering his usual d1c8f89013 polite smile, pulled out e37b3b4494 a chair for Gloria e42b8a739c and then left with aa9989b72e the silent Demian.ba4460f85d169cec

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With a soft click, 5d12e93c37 the door shut, and 8d0a79fcf2 silence filled the room.a0c5a8544af4d53b

Gloria feeling slightly 485cf102f5 awkward and rubbed 9d76a73d9a her cheek before 09254b6ac6 taking a seat.5cc5c5861b1dd000

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Erhardt quietly sat down 9e17a91a6e across from her.4dd689162ddc8308

‘Since this isn’t an official visit…’f0938d498c7a2002

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Gloria hesitantly lifted her 25086b0e39 gaze, only to lock 2a1d5e1867 eyes with Erhardt the f6cfe9f9f6 next moment.3b5792f5c20b0428

 3bd695aa387e0d0e

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‘Why was it?’ Her throat went dry, and she swallowed nervously.9ed4fe2b92907b00

‘It had been three years, hadn’t it?’b4be85e192bde5c7

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He seemed even e979e2bb23 more mature than 56eba90ef5 she remembered, and 075e2b27d0 his appearance felt 6e202ed045 strangely unfamiliar.aa353b531f4e7b8d

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Gloria found 26af68569c herself feeling a323cbd953 awkward.0740b15cf61ac410

She had let go 073c46d7a2 of her childhood crush ef33c17aca on him long ago.e866da964c453cfe

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Yet something a0e1e59e24 about this 5e1a91ac47 encounter tickled 564d4e3885 her heart, 5b2e35bd58 leaving her 8f935fb652 both flustered 40c304fd89 and oddly d8bcb68be9 unsettled.167b28f658ecd925

Lowering her head again, 0198431e29 she absently fiddled with d6c899bc35 the handle of her 4f77d73562 mace, only to accidentally 206fcb92bc drop it.76b916ca12d00dc5

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The metal shaft 0f13e8f4e8 hit the floor c1bcc2a865 with a loud cb078acd93 clang.b7e65ea974b37e77

Startled by the noise, Gloria looked up quickly only to see Erhardt’s face, which remained calm and expressionless as though he hadn’t heard anything.38c88c59328044ae

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For some reason, 847e610bb2 her lips felt 560815e0b8 parched, and she 8e36bd6f3a moistened them with 4326dbb2a6 her tongue before 226c142888 continuing the words 89e7d5b2d9 she had left 7a043950dc unfinished moments ago.29bc4ae9820da67d

“So, did you come here to see me?” Gloria asked.a0e76d0c5e5c573f

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“Yes, I did.”802e0a714ef8396d

Erhardt nodded, 7af9744496 his golden 2da7ed67f2 hair glinting 422730fa2f softly as fd68c4e747 it shifted.09586bd30d9e11a4

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“I came to see you, Saintess.” Erhardt explained.87bbc865727f6b9b

It was entirely dd1aa71ffb unexpected.532937e5bc2ca8ab

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Gloria had 7a60adef9d never imagined 585786b189 Erhardt would e91f377f31 seek her 61c80d6d7d out.2831b536d37b1777

After all, 1b6a16dbbb he was 4f53035b01 an extremely 2de675b6a0 busy man.a279a44dcaaf8341

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That was how she 7569747288 remembered him constantly occupied.df98bfa4c13a3c4d

During the 788d8be62e three years ac7ed0e8a3 she spent 1d2447aa86 at the dadbaed385 Marquis’s estate 805f296781 before moving 071428d46e to the 5fece05cb6 Grand Temple.979ea1fac9e3241e

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Her encounters with 29bea5f327 Erhardt had been a17b8072e0 rare, few enough f3c559db91 to count on 3daee7a1cc one hand.6eff736fbbb75ff9

And even 92f35152e3 those sparse 9224f8c220 meetings ceased a659abd127 entirely once e91628a892 she began a139b4155b her training f5d7cb438a at the 4c97d15df2 temple, as 90a7b6929e Erhardt had ac4899aace joined the 80a7ebc9c9 subjugation unit 9f3be25cf2 upon reaching 29992e0394 adulthood.daf7cecd425155eb

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From that point 01d1f800db on, he would 1bf5d87410 leave on monster a055b3afc3 hunts lasting months 7d00740f8a and returning only 0129a2017a briefly.a3527aad9a42c6f3

As she searched her fce8e65aa1 memory for the last fe27ed2a2e time she saw him, a373feb440 Gloria recalled the first 31eddde558 time they met.46d6e47467c7b72b

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She had 5a539447f1 been nine 54f85e6583 years old.,,bb6f4570be1ebb5e

She sent to 89b5723b73 live at the 541bdc795b Marquis of Lanark’s 96546c0c86 estate by the b9fcb5757f Emperor’s decree.0b12430ecf63e4e5

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That spring, she had met Erhardt’s who had fifteen years old.4bb082d432296a36

He had been a 422cb68d1b boy with a stern 89906c0d25 demeanor, seemingly devoid of 72577dec17 emotion yet paradoxically kind.a8a6b6ff8acfe776

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Though burdened by the responsibilities of an heir, he had made an effort to look after his sudden young ‘sister’.9b8e049c0fdc2a54

Gloria’s feelings for him 3bfda3ed7d back then had been 032c6b7c92 like a cruel twist b191fb60a0 of fate.326710d7ff6d05e0

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He had seemed unreachable, ad99a8a7c7 with countless barriers separating 94bc0dc4e2 them.157e35b8ee79dae7

The greatest obstacle 3d60008a1e between them without 56eca9c958 question, He had 66ad062cb0 been their vastly f55ddd4a9a different social statuses.3c5ef60471e7dc07

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Living at the 23c3678fec Marquis’s estate, Gloria 499dc82cf5 had come to d3d3a72f08 understand that divide 7000ac1d1d all too well.be3ffcabd9fdab3e

And as the saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind”.f3a4a82f9a09f10b

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The longer they were e062f8772a apart, the easier it 9fa969132b became to bury her 02e52e0ab6 feelings.d9a3b1aa5fd394e0

In truth, it 9b4dcd7f02 hadn’t even been 2c58c61272 a fully formed 9ef4501ce7 love to begin 97eda2cdd9 with a childish b4b3ea63ce crush more than fed3cc3cb3 anything else.e879b10bcea09d16

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Looking back, 73ef1e8286 she wasn’t 6e79eb8e11 even sure f37668d444 if it 17452f42e6 was truly ecaf4b2e3a love.78a4e66b2403fc87

Perhaps it had simply cc0c50a924 been a fondness for 892acc789b the only person who cfa968e465 had shown her kindness.67a8419e42c2bb53

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But one 6886cff947 thing was 8c2b75e404 certain: during 0834c5a7f2 those difficult 6c9cce2ab4 times, he ca2cd715dc had been 738c0d987c a source 883d532d95 of great 7ee6bba175 comfort.f6321a761907f7f3

Just knowing e7532ea761 that he 779470649d was living 3afba97519 under the d51820d745 same roof 503e99359e as her d7bddd4b41 had given ab2d440968 her strength a5639c2455 to endure 45453f22b2 her overwhelming 812345c71f reality.c6b1b209acf41c3b

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‘Yes, that’s how it had been.’,a3a05ce5da1bbb0f

‘And perhaps that’s why his sudden visit now left her feeling betrayed.’31a776200738a456

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Unable to suppress 54bbb1352c her bitter emotions, a7812dcd03 Gloria offered him b4337f1af6 a self deprecating 3bc62b29ca smile.51683062d4eb7ec8

“You’re busy enough as it is. You’ve wasted your time and I have no intention of returning to the Marquis’s estate.” Gloria said.aa068c05c31ccba0

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“I didn’t come here to take you back to the Marquis’s estate.” Erhardt replied.8751febf625b0923

“…What?” Gloria confused.ce582daaa7b6b3b9

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“Not for a single moment did I ever entertain such an idea.” Erhardt explained.d830976068c61721

“…”a4ab81c54b93f13b

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Gloria was at a 9f57ec18bf loss for words.266d9e872d7bac7b

Erhardt’s unexpected reply ff19f8663e left her unable 8033123296 to gauge how 3008fe461d she should respond.34b2dab91c6b128b

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All she could 1dab7fd198 do was stare e40dff7c4d at him with 8758277495 wide eyed, as 45439ebac6 he placed a 60152b3112 heavy stack of f2fdb88f30 documents on the 355f7b4707 table before her.1c0f84f87aa7eeac

“Saintess”af2c4c23c6422b96

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Erhardt began, sorting 05687e267e the papers into 1ffc194bbd neat piles.459946eb80beb8dd

Then fixing his gaze 875883a8e1 back on her, he d32e9b17f1 spoke again.a8cf36b08b6abb67

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“Though it’s late, congratulations on reaching adulthood.”41074d328cc0939e

Gloria felt even da8f4a2959 more at a 58c6146127 loss.ca54af4bfd5edb2b

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It was as edb728cfcc if she had e8c4abff0a forgotten how to ff5031ad2a form words.3c26c9d6c1b433e6

She stared 4489ea8499 blankly at 54409f646e Erhardt, her 282ac006ff mouth slightly 0614e80eac open then 7158fb128a slowly lowered 0adaa6a406 her gaze 6828eddf43 to the 4e8f1784fe papers.ce45002437370dcf

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“It may not be much, but I brought everything I could for now.” Erhardt said.373de3463a26e953

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The stark 093154ff00 black lettering 495e76f3e6 on the db392aa527 pristine white ec0ef9f33c pages contained 14398c1a0c shocking revelations.3cdf501a2215a927

“The remaining assets, for which the transfer process is still ongoing, will be delivered to you as soon as the formalities are complete.” Erhardt explained again.3685cebeff689529

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