FTA Ch 27
by winter<Episode 27>
‘Leonard’s friends wouldn’t have arrived already.’
Gloria quickened her steps, descending the staircase.
Soon, the figures gathered in the hall came into view.
Spotting Claude first, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
Today marked Claude’s first day as the probationary steward, after all.
Feeling a bit lighter, Gloria turned her gaze to the people standing across from Claude—or at least, she tried to.
“Lady Gloria!”
Before she could do so, someone suddenly ran into her arms.
Gloria nearly slammed the intruder into the ground on reflex.
Her bewildered gaze fell to the source of the embrace, and when the black robe slipped to reveal golden hair.
Something about the color seemed awfully familiar.
“…Your Highness?”
“Yes, Lady Gloria.”
A small girl nestled her face into Gloria’s chest before peeking up.
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
“It’s me, Unite.”
“…”
Unite Meredith.
The youngest member of the Meredis royal family, beloved by the entire empire.
As Gloria confirmed the identity of the charming little girl before her.
She couldn’t help but wonder if she was still dreaming.
* * *
Gloria squeezed her eyes shut several times, then opened them again.
Unfortunately, the scene before her remained unchanged.
Unit’s face, filling her vision, was twisted as though on the verge of bursting into tears.
Even that looked undeniably adorable… but that wasn’t the issue right now.
Gloria’s eyes darted around, brimming with panic.
Finally, her gaze landed on the woman standing in front of Claude.
It was none other than Unit’s personal escort knight.
Gloria recalled seeing her before, at a banquet she had once attended at the emperor’s invitation.
She stared at the knight quietly for a moment before speaking.
“Why is Her Highness…here?”
The knight’s dark expression deepened, and she silently shook her head.
Before Gloria could process further, Unite’s resolute voice interrupted:
“I couldn’t stand it anymore, Lady Gloria!”
“…”
What exactly was it that this tiny princess couldn’t bear anymore?
As Gloria pondered that thought, she looked back down at Unit.
“Lady Gloria, you are the true hero of the Empire, more deserving than anyone to enjoy the finest things…”
Tears welled up in Unit’s eyes as she gazed up at Gloria. Eventually, they spilled over, rolling down her pale cheeks.
“But, but… how can everyone be so cruel?”
“Hmm…”
Where to even begin explaining? Gloria scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Unite’s wide, expectant eyes made her more flustered.
Should she even explain the complicated politics of adults to someone as young as Unite?
Ten years ago, the Immotus Empire, plagued by the ever-growing threat of monsters, received a divine oracle—a miracle.
The oracle, spoken through the Divine Emperor, coincided with Unite’s birth.
Being born on such an auspicious day marked her as a special child.
Though she wasn’t the “child born of the lowest place” mentioned in the oracle, being the only child born on that day made her an object of reverence.
On top of that, her cherubic looks and sweet disposition won hearts everywhere.
Entire festivals were held across the empire in her honor every year.
Naturally, the emperor adored Unite. He used her popularity to rally public support back from the temple, solidifying his power.
The temple, which had exploited Gloria similarly was no different.
In some ways, Gloria and Unite were quite alike.
Both were children thrust into the roles of symbols, exploited by powerful adults to hide their sins from the public. It wasn’t strange that Gloria felt a sense of kinship with Unite.
Apparently, Unite felt the same.
“…They’re all fools! Idiots! Complete and Absolute morons!”
Unite’s tear-filled eyes now burned with fiery determination.
“Lady Gloria, don’t worry anymore. I, Unite, am here to help you!”
“…”
What on earth was she saying now?
Once again bewildered, Gloria shifted her gaze to Unite’s escort knight.
When their eyes met, the knight gave her another silent shake of the head.
* * *
“Are you seriously telling me an eleven-year-old managed to slip past the palace’s impenetrable security and vanish without a trace?”
Kai shook his head with a look of disbelief.
He had received the report that Unit had left the palace, and after hearing the emperor’s summons, he had entered the palace early in the morning to meet with the emperor.
The emperor had ordered him to find Unit by any means necessary before the news spread widely.
In front of the emperor, he had bowed his head and nodded obediently, but there was no need for him to do that in front of Alexion.
Kai, with a serious expression, repeated the same question to Alexion.
“Are you absolutely sure she’s not in the palace? Did you check thoroughly?”
“…Unite didn’t leave the palace alone.”
Alexion revealed a fact he hadn’t dared to share with the emperor.
“Her personal escort knight, the one who’s been by her side since she was a child, disappeared with her.”
“…”
So, that little girl had genuinely planned this escape.
The realization left Kais momentarily speechless.
He could only gape in disbelief while Alexion remained silent, seemingly understanding his friend’s reaction.
After a moment, Alexion pulled open a drawer and placed something on the table.
“Here, this is the letter Unite left for His Majesty.”
In that moment, Kai felt the words “That little brat really meant it” rise up to the tip of his tongue, but he forcefully swallowed them.
Instead, he quietly lowered his gaze to the letter that Alexion had spread out.
*Father,
This may come as a surprise, but I, Unite, am leaving for good.
I can no longer bear to live as part of the shameful Meredith royal family.
Please remove my name from the imperial lineage.
I won’t say much else.
I’ll never forget the love and care you gave me.
Farewell.*
* * *
Kais read the letter with his jaw hanging slack.
It was audacious beyond belief
Especially when considering its recipient.
“So, what do you think?”
“…What?”
Snapped back to attention by Alexion’s serious tone
Kais tore his eyes away from the letter and looked at him.
Alexion furrowed his brows slightly and repeated his question.
“What do you think after reading the letter?”
“Hmm…”
What did he think?
Kais hesitated briefly before voicing his honest opinion.
“Even if she’s a princess favored by the emperor, this is… a bit much.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Alexion sighed as though exasperated.
“Unite has always shown an unusual interest in the Saintess.”
That Unite was interested in Gloria?
That was surprising.
Kais didn’t let his astonishment show in front of Alexion, but his poker face shattered with Alexion’s next words.
“Once Unite learned to read and write, she sent hundreds of letters to the Saintess.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. As incomprehensible as it is, she did.”
Alexion let out a dry, incredulous laugh.
“Of course, I intercepted and burned every single one of them.”
“…”
Kais didn’t know how to respond to a friend who so casually admitted to such an act.
“Why are you confessing this now…? Or rather, why bring it up at all?”
“Because Unite must have fallen for the Saintess’s wicked schemes.”
“…”
“There’s no other explanation for the timing being this perfect.”
Perhaps it was due to Alexion’s years spent wielding a sword on the battlefield rather than navigating court intrigue
But this theory seemed more than a stretch.
Kais found himself at a loss for words, staring at Alexion incredulously.
“What reason would Gloria have to manipulate the princess?”
“Who knows?”
Alexion clenched his jaw and growled.
“Perhaps, fearing her precarious position, she decided to ally herself with power.”
As Kais stood in stunned silence
Alexion pressed on.
“Come to think of it, the rumors that the Saintess kidnapped the Grand Duke might not be unfounded either.”
Of course, Kais couldn’t admit it, but those rumors likely held some truth
Alexion believed as much because he had sent assassins to the Grand Duke’s estate not long ago.
However, Alexion had no intention of revealing that part to Kais.
Kais was the Master of the Magic Tower, after all.
Despite their long friendship, Kais wasn’t someone Alexion could fully trust.
Unlike Demonion or Joshua, Kais was an outsider, and some things needed to remain hidden from him.
“Maybe she’s already caught wind of our plans and is trying to counter them.”
“…You’re serious?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“…”
Alexion raised a brow, as if daring Kais to argue.
But Kais could only stare back, rendered completely speechless by his friend’s unshaken certainty.