FTA Ch 32

<episode 32>

 

“…Gloria?”

 

“Ah.”

 

 

After a long silence, Unite looked at her with a somewhat anxious expression.

Only then did Gloria clear her thoughts and focus on Unite.

 

 

“Hmm, I was thinking of something else for a moment. Sorry, Princess.”

 

“Something else? What were you thinking about?”

 

 

Unite widened her eyes in surprise.

Blinking.

Her green eyes, shimmering like lush foliage, were filled with clear curiosity.

Her previous gloomy expression from apologizing now seemed completely out of place.

 

‘Are children really this quick to change emotions?’

It was so fast that it was hard to keep up.

Gloria glanced at Unitee, somewhat confused, and gave an awkward smile.

 

 

“Maybe…”

 

 

But before Gloria could finish, Unite unexpectedly blurted out a question.

 

 

“Were you thinking of Count Walter?”

 

“…Sorry, what?”

 

 

If she was referring to Count Walter, she meant Erhardt.

 

‘Why on earth is Erhardt suddenly mentioned here?’

Gloria was shocked to find that Unitee knew Erhardt, but even more confused as to why she was bringing him up now.

 

 

“…Why did you think I was thinking of him?”

 

 

Gloria asked, flustered.

But despite asking a question that seemed to puzzle her, Unitee appeared thrilled.

 

 

“I’ve always wanted to talk with you about Count Walter and you, Gloria!”

 

“Ah…”

 

“I’ve heard so much about Count Walter. They say he’s a devout and upright man, right?”

 

“…”

 

 

Gloria had no idea how to respond.

Unite, not only quick to change emotions, seemed to have a talent for changing subjects on the fly as well.

 

 

“Well, of course, I’ve never met him in person… but they say Count Walter is very handsome and tall…”

 

 

Unite clearly remembered the palace maids discussing Erhardt with intense admiration.

Whenever there was a banquet at the palace, for days, the maids would chat about the noblemen who had attended, evaluating them.

 

Unite wasn’t usually interested in those gossip sessions, but Erhardt was an exception.

After all, he was Gloria’s one and only older brother, someone Unitee deeply admired.

Whenever someone spoke about Erhardt, no matter what it was, Unite would remember every detail.

 

 

“Also, I heard that Count Walter is really kind to you, Gloria, which really made me relieved and happy.”

 

“Hm.”

 

 

Gloria couldn’t quite understand how the conversation had turned this way.

Unite’s sparkling eyes and cheerful words felt more perplexing with each passing second.

Gloria silently drank her tea with an awkward expression, listening to Unitee’s remarks.

After a while, Unite’s lively chatter began to take a more serious tone.

 

 

“So, I always thought Count Walter would be a perfect match for you, Gloria, as an older brother figure.”

 

 

Unite, who had been chatting nonstop like a chirping bird, suddenly let out a quiet sigh.

And her cheerful tone shifted to a noticeably lower one.

 

 

“Unlike my own older brother, whom I wouldn’t even want to call my brother.”

 

 

With those words, a cold aura seemed to subtly cloud Unite’s face.

For a brief moment, it seemed as if the chill on her face was almost a trick of the eye, before it disappeared just as quickly.

 

 

“…Princess?”

 

“Oh, I should not have mentioned that.”

 

 

Seeing Gloria’s flustered reaction, Unite smiled and changed the subject, pulling her cheeks in a playful manner.

 

 

“By the way, what’s your ideal type, Gloria?”

 

 

Unite’s innocent smile was startlingly mature for her age.

Gloria disliked it.

There’s always a reason why some children mature faster than others.

They must have their own reasons, things that make them grow up quickly, faster than the others, as if they must become an adult sooner than everyone else.

 

 

“I’ve never really thought about what my ideal type is, but…”

 

 

Gloria fixed her serious gaze on Unite as she spoke.

 

 

“I don’t think highly of people who rush to grow up quickly.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“I like people who are just ordinary kids.”

 

“…”

 

 

Unite widened her eyes in surprise.

Then, blinking absentmindedly, she seemed to be questioning whether she had heard correctly.

But that moment didn’t last long.

 

 

“Ordinary kids…”

 

 

Muttering to herself, Unite nodded as though realizing something.

Seeing that, Gloria couldn’t help but smile, relieved that Unite seemed to have understood her meaning.

 

 

“Gloria’s ideal type is an ordinary kid…”

 

 

This smile was possible only because Gloria didn’t hear Unite whispering to herself.

 

 

* * *

 

 

After a tea time with Unite, whose subject changes were hard to predict, Gloria had to deal with Unite’s frequent, bewildering questions several times a day.

Of course, Gloria didn’t mind the fact that Unite was approaching her with kindness and interest.

It was just that the questions she asked came out of nowhere, and were so unexpected, Gloria had never given them much thought before—so it was a bit awkward.

Nonetheless, Gloria tried her best to think seriously and respond to whatever Unite asked.

As a result, once a conversation with Unite began, she often found herself talking for a long time.

The problem was that Gloria had a lot to do.

Eventually, Gloria had no choice but to seek out Loreline during Unite’s nap time.

 

 

“Sir Kidinium must be a very capable knight, right? After all, he has been guarding you for a long time, Princess.”

 

“Ah, well…”

 

 

Loreline seemed flustered by Gloria’s sudden question, her face turning red.

She then hastily shook her head and waved her hands.

 

 

“You don’t need to be humble in front of me, Gloria.”

 

“I’m not being humble.”

 

 

Loreline seemed to be trying to hide her now completely flushed face as she lowered her head and muttered.

 

 

“…I’m serious.”

 

 

Gloria, watching Loreline’s bowed head, narrowed her eyes.

Though Loreline said this, there was no way she was truly an unskilled knight.

If she were, the Emperor would never have appointed her as Unite’s bodyguard.

 

 

“Sir Kidinium, I think I’ll have to go out a bit today.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

 

Loreline looked stunned by the sudden statement.

 

 

“What do you mean, out of the blue?…”

 

“I need to find a guild that buys monster corpses.”

 

 

Loreline froze for a second, then asked in disbelief,

 

 

“…You mean you intend to trade monster corpses?”

 

“Yes, I’ve been gathering money like this so far. I plan to keep doing that.”

 

 

Gloria shrugged nonchalantly.

On the other hand, Loreline was stunned and couldn’t seem to close her mouth.

 

 

“Why would you do such a thing… I-I’ll do it.”

 

 

Loreline said desperately.

She appeared confused and panicked.

Gloria firmly shook her head.

 

 

“Sir Kidinium, you need to stay with the Princess.”

 

“Ah…”

 

 

Loreline looked like she had completely forgotten.

Gloria could see this instantly, and though it amused her internally, she casually said,

 

 

“You never know when the Emperor’s knights might come.”

 

 

In fact, she wasn’t just worried about the Emperor’s knights; anyone with bad intentions might come.

If she were alone, it wouldn’t matter who came to find her. But the situation was different now.

Gloria was responsible not just for Leonad but also for Unite.

 

 

“So, Sir gidinium, you must stay by the princess’s side.”

 

 

It would be good if you could also protect Leonhard.

 

Gloria swallowed the rest of her words and quietly observed Loreline’s reaction.

 

 

“But…”

 

 

Loreline bit her lower lip with a serious expression.

After quite a long pause, she finally spoke again.

 

 

“I’ll go instead. Gloria, you stay here.”

 

 

Loreline’s voice, which had been trembling just moments ago, had suddenly become much firmer.

 

 

“You’ve already done enough for us, and I cannot sit idly by while you risk yourself alone.”

 

 

With a resolute expression, Loreline shook her head and added,

 

 

“No, I can’t let you do that.”