FTA Ch 28

<Episode 28>

 

Kais wore a somber expression, lost deep in thought.

Meeting Alexion had only left him feeling even more unsettled.

 

‘Is it time for me to shut myself away in the magic tower again…?’

 

Things were becoming complicated in many ways so much so that he wanted to abandon it all and retreat to the magic tower.

He felt overwhelmed by a tremendous wave of fatigue.

 

The only reason Kais remained part of the First Subjugation Squad was because of his loyalty to his old friend Alexion.

Had it not been for that, he, as the owner of the magic tower, would have never dedicated himself to the Immotus Empire.

 

The magic tower was a place for independent mages who belonged to no faction.

Strictly speaking, Kais was not an imperial citizen.

 

Nor was he a subject of any other country.

Like all the mages in the magic tower, he was free from traditions, customs, rules, and laws.

 

‘…Gloria, no matter how you look at it, is the one who’s truly pitiful.’

 

Gloria was a victim, tossed around and exploited by powerful forces.

Alexion was planning to use Gloria to the very end and then discard her.

 

‘It’s that crazy scheme about crowning a new Saintess.’

 

Kais tried to dissuade Alexion from executing the plan.

But Alexion, Demonion, and even Joshua were determined not to back down.

 

His old friends were desperate to depose Gloria.

In the end, Gloria left on her own.

 

When Kais’s thoughts reached that point, guilt, sharp as a thorn, pricked his conscience, reminding him of things he had long tried to ignore.

 

It was no surprise that he felt guilty.

He was the one who uncovered Gloria’s powers.

 

And yet, knowing that Gloria—who had devoted herself to the empire with her abilities was suffering, he had done nothing.

 

Kais let out a groaning sigh, akin to a quiet moan of anguish.

In the past and even now, Gloria had no one by her side.

 

That truth lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.

The reality he had long tried to ignore was now weighing heavily on his heart.

 

‘…Honestly, haven’t I done enough to uphold loyalty?’

 

No matter how he looked at it, this nation seemed beyond saving.

Moreover, the thought of Alexion ascending the throne filled him with despair.

 

Recalling what Alexion and his allies were plotting…

 

‘It’s a good thing I never revealed Gloria’s other powers.’

 

That was a secret only Kais knew—not even Gloria herself was aware of it.

 

Her ability wasn’t just limited to healing.

 

* * *

 

“The princess said her bedroom is delightful and that she loves it,” Clode remarked as he approached Gloria.

 

After showing Unit and her knight escort, Loreline, to their accommodations, Clode came to find Gloria.

 

But Gloria, deep in thought, wore a serious expression and didn’t even glance at him.

Clode, unbothered, smiled and spoke again.

 

“You must have grown quite close to the princess.”

 

Only then did Gloria acknowledge him, meeting Clode’s soft gaze with calm eyes before shaking her head.

 

“No, we’ve only met two or three times.”

 

Even those brief encounters hardly counted, as they had been fleeting moments.

 

This was to be expected. Gloria and Unit led vastly different lives.

Gloria alternated between the Marquis’ residence and the temple, always busy.

During subjugation missions, she went to distant regions, making her schedule even more hectic.

Meanwhile, Unit, as the pampered youngest princess of the Meredithis Imperial Family.

Unit was rarely seen by anyone much less Gloria.

She had never stepped outside the palace.

 

“Really? That’s surprising. The princess seems to like you a lot.”

“I find it surprising too,” Gloria admitted with a sigh.

 

Despite resembling the crown prince Alexion, Unit was a sweet child.

Her affection made it hard for Gloria to push her away coldly.

Gloria let out another long sigh, unable to hide her distress.

 

*“…There’s no way the emperor will sit still.”*

 

The sly emperor’s face surfaced in her mind, causing Gloria to shudder slightly.

 

‘It’s already challenging enough to have hidden the Grand Duke.’

 

If the emperor found out that Unit was here…

 

Suddenly, a light knock echoed, followed by Loreline’s voice.

 

“Saintess, may I have a moment of your time?”

 

Hearing that, Clode stood from the sofa and prepared to leave.

 

“I suppose I should excuse myself now.”

 

He strode to the door and turned to Gloria before leaving.

 

“Well, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”

“Sure, I will,” Gloria replied.

 

When Gloria nodded, Clode gave his usual warm smile and left the room.

 

Once Clode was gone, Loreline, standing in his place, blinked with a slightly flustered expression.

 

 

 

“I assure you, it was never my intention, but if I was a disturbance in any way, I apologize.”

 

Loreline seemed genuinely surprised to find Gloria and Clode together.

Gloria, not feeling interrupted, lightly shook her head.

 

 

 

“No, it’s fine. Please, come in.”

“Thank you.”

 

When Gloria motioned for her to sit, Loreline took her seat with a knight’s precise posture.

 

 

 

“I wished to request a moment of your time to speak on an important matter.”

“Just call me Gloria. The princess calls me that as well.”

“Oh…”

 

Loreline looked surprised once again and stared at Gloria with a flustered expression.

Gloria reaffirmed her stance firmly.

 

 

 

“I’d prefer if you just called me Gloria.”

“Understood, Gloria.”

 

Swallowing her nervousness, Loreline composed herself.

Before diving into her actual request, she hesitated

She was rambling through an elaborate preamble.

The nature of her favor weighed heavily on her conscience, making it hard to bring up.

 

 

 

“I’m well aware that you’re in a difficult situation right now. To make a request of you in such a circumstance feels shameless, but…”

 

Loreline swallowed again, visibly uneasy.

 

 

 

“…but there is no one else I trust as much as you, Gloria.”

“Hmm.”

 

Gloria, feeling somewhat embarrassed, instinctively touched her cheek.

 

 

 

“While I don’t know what it is you plan to ask, there’s no need for such flattery.”

 

She had already decided to refuse whatever the favor might be anyway.

 

Gloria gave a light shrug.

 

 

“As you said, I’m already dealing with enough trouble, Dame Guidinium.”

 

At this, Loreline’s face turned pale, and she closed her mouth tightly.

 

 

 

“Your presence here, along with the princess, has already caused enough complications.”

“…”

“The emperor is a man who can fabricate crimes if needed. With things as they are now, it only gives him another excuse to lock me in prison.”

 

Even now, Gloria was constantly ridiculed as a fraud masquerading as the Chosen Child of the Oracle.

She never knew when the emperor’s knights might come to drag her back to the capital.

Not that she planned to go quietly.

 

“…It’s not mere flattery.”

 

After a long silence, Loreline finally spoke.

 

“I’ve witnessed with my own eyes that you, Gloria, are the most sincere person I’ve ever known and that you have made noble sacrifices without expecting anything in return.”

 

It was quite a firm tone.

 

Gloria looked at Loreline, finding it somewhat unexpected.

 

“I also know very well the horrible things the Imperial Family and the Temple have done to you.”

 

It was as though Loreline had been holding in her thoughts until this moment, now pouring them out all at once.

 

 

 

“They sought to shackle you, and yet you willingly bore those chains. You did so to protect the friends you grew up with.”

“…And?”

 

Gloria couldn’t help but feel startled.

She never anticipated Loreline would bring up *that*.

 

Her throat felt tight, like it was being choked, and a surge of emotion threatened to overwhelm her.

 

Her childhood friends—those she had wandered the streets with, hungry and desperate—were both her greatest weakness and an inviolable line.

 

Swallowing hard several times to steady herself, Gloria finally managed to ask:

 

“So what exactly is it you want to say to me now?”