FTA Ch 31
by winter<Chapter 31>
“Last night, suddenly, the princess’s entire body became feverish.”
Unite was deeply asleep.
Her lips were parted slightly as she breathed out hot, uneven breaths.
Her fevered face was drenched in cold sweat, making her seem even more pitiful.
“She couldn’t sleep well because the fever was so high. She woke up in the middle of the night, but only managed to fall into a deep sleep this morning.”
Gloria listened intently as Lorelai quietly explained, keeping a close eye on Unite’s condition.
Since the scar appeared on her own body, Gloria had not experienced any pain.
So, she found it difficult to imagine just how much pain Unite might be in.
‘It really seems like just a simple flu, though.’
As Lorelai said, besides the fever, no other symptoms were apparent.
Of course, even if it were not just a cold but some terrible illness, it would not be an issue.
Gloria’s healing power could cure any wound or illness, no matter how severe, effortlessly.
“She should’ve come to me last night.”
If Unite had come then, she wouldn’t have to suffer like this, lying there in agony.
Without wasting any more time, Gloria swiftly drew a dagger from the sheath at her thigh.
Seeing her actions, Lorelai, as though guessing what was about to happen, quickly stepped back.
‘It’s been a while since I did this.’
It seemed that things had been too peaceful.
Since she helped heal Leonhart, she hadn’t needed to use her healing powers.
Gloria silently gave a wry smile as she pressed the sharp blade of the dagger against her left palm.
Without hesitation, she sliced down, drawing blood.
Bright red blood trickled out of the freshly opened wound on her pale hand.
Gloria wiped the blood off the dagger with her sleeve before sheathing it again.
“Could you please bring a cup?”
Just like when she had helped Leonhart, Gloria could not force Unite to drink the blood by opening her mouth.
She seemed too frail and in pain for that.
Most importantly, Unite was a young child, much smaller and more delicate than Leonhart.
Soon, Lorelai returned with an empty cup placed by the bedside.
Gloria took the cup from Lorelai and squeezed her hand to release the blood into it.
“It has to be given to the princess before the blood cools.”
Gloria passed the cup filled with dark blood to Lorelai.
“…Thank you, Gloria.”
Lorelai took the cup with a stiff expression and approached Unite.
Gloria quietly watched as Lorelai carefully brought the cup to the unconscious Unite’s lips.
Lorelai carefully tilted the cup, ensuring that Gloria’s blood flowed safely into Unite’s mouth.
Even in her deep sleep, Unite instinctively swallowed whatever was in her mouth.
When the cup was emptied, Lorelai stood up from the edge of the bed.
“…I already owe you a great favor, and I felt it would be too much to ask for another.”
“I don’t think it’s a great favor,” Gloria said.
She confirmed Unite’s condition had improved in the blink of an eye.
She shrugged.
“And I promised to protect the princess for Sir Kidinium.”
“…”
“So, even if Sir Kidinium hadn’t asked, this is something I would have done anyway.”
Gloria said this nonchalantly, looking down at her left hand.
The wound, now, was already healing quickly.
“…Thank you.”
At that moment, Lorelai’s voice trembled with gratitude.
Gloria raised her head.
Lorelai was looking at her with a deeply moved expression.
‘Even though I told her there’s no need for thanks.’
Gloria, knowing that mentioning it again wouldn’t change Lorelai’s attitude, awkwardly nodded.
“Really, I truly thank you, Gloria.”
“…Well, okay.”
Only then did Lorelai seem to feel a bit relieved, turning to approach Unite’s bed again.
Gloria quietly watched Lorelai check Unite’s state.
Seeing someone genuinely care for another brought up a strange, indescribable feeling in Gloria’s heart.
“Well, you should rest now.”
After quietly observing the two for a moment, Gloria decided it was time for her to step aside to allow Lorelai to check on Unite more comfortably.
“Yes? Are you leaving already?”
“Sir Kidinium also must have had little sleep while watching over the princess all night. The princess will be fine, so you can rest while attending to her.”
In reality, Lorelai looked extremely pale.
It was almost a wonder how a person could look so gaunt in just one day.
“Oh, and if the princess’s fever comes back, please be sure to come find me.”
Before Lorelai could respond, Gloria opened the door and left the room.
* * *
After drinking Gloria’s blood, Unite quickly rose from her sickbed.
By early morning, she was already playing in the garden with Lorelai, acting as if she hadn’t been ill at all.
‘The ability to communicate with beings that aren’t human…’
Gloria absently watched Unite laughing joyfully, and thoughts drifted through her mind.
Perhaps Unite might even be able to communicate with monsters?
If that’s true, maybe it would be possible for Unite to tame them…
At the thought, Gloria was startled by her own train of thought and immediately shook her head in disbelief.
‘I really had a stupid thought, something even a mad fool might consider.’
She was different from the emperor.
She didn’t want to become that kind of person, someone worse than trash who used children like Unite for their own gain.
Although she wasn’t sure how long she could continue protecting Unite from the emperor,
At least, while they were staying here, she would try her best to make sure Unite could live without worries and in peace.
Even if unexpectedly, her household had grown by two people…
‘It’s fine. I can do it.’
Yes, she could.
Gloria reaffirmed her resolution.
With a sigh, she opened her bag.
Inside, countless gold coins glimmered quietly, visible at last.
…But would this be enough?
That question made Gloria seriously reconsider her situation.
‘Claude said he posted a job listing for chefs and servants…’
Once people were found to work at the castle, Gloria would need to pay them regularly.
But would this amount of money be enough to last?
As she pondered, the face of Erhardt, whom she had met a few days ago, naturally appeared in her mind.
More specifically, the document transferring ownership of Erhardt’s enormous wealth crossed her thoughts.
If she had known, maybe she should’ve taken a portion of it back then…
‘But that’s just like a fruit you can’t eat.’
Gloria dismissed the thought with a shake of her head.
She didn’t have another skill for making great amounts of money, so she would have to start hunting monsters again.
‘But first, I need to find a guild that trades monster corpses.’
She calmly organized her thoughts.
* * *
That afternoon.
Gloria agreed to have tea with Unite as a replacement for the lunch they couldn’t share the previous day.
This time, it was Unite who suggested they sit together.
“I’m really sorry for breaking our promise yesterday…”
Gloria glanced at Unite’s face, her eyes softening in understanding.
The reason Unite had skipped lunch the day before was because she had lied about it.
‘She probably doesn’t realize that the fever went down after drinking my blood.’
After all, Unite had been in a deep sleep the whole time.
If Lorelai hadn’t told her, there was no reason Unite would know that Gloria had visited her room.
Gloria subtly looked up and glanced at Lorelai standing behind Unite.
Lorelai smiled awkwardly, as though she could tell what Gloria was thinking.
As Gloria had guessed, Lorelai hadn’t told Unite anything about the situation.
‘Well, I understand why she kept it a secret. Drinking someone else’s blood isn’t exactly a pleasant experience.’
It was easy for Gloria to understand why Lorelai hadn’t mentioned what happened.
However, she couldn’t quite grasp why Unite had lied to her.
‘She could’ve just been honest and said she was sick.’
Unite had told Gloria a lie about why she hadn’t kept their appointment.
She had explained that she hadn’t shown up because she stayed up late reading, and then overslept.
‘Maybe she’s trying to hide that she was sick.’