Chapter 214: Ch 214: The Clash- Part 3
Kyle guided the Grand Duchess into his office and gestured toward the seat across from his desk.
Amanda walked with a practiced grace, but there was a weariness in her steps that didn’t escape his notice.
Once seated, she pulled down the cloak he had wrapped around her earlier.
Her ruffled and torn clothes, dirt-sared cheeks, and tangled hair were now fully visible under the office’s lamplight.
Even Amanda couldn’t hide the montary flicker of discomfort.
She was a woman of high standing, used to commanding attention through elegance and dignity—not like this, not with her vulnerabilities laid bare.
Kyle saw it. The way her fingers twitched at the edge of the cloak, the way her eyes refused to et his.
“Would you like to freshen up first? We can talk after.”
He asked gently, his tone devoid of any judgnt.
Amanda gave a quick shake of her head and straightened her back.
“No. We’ll handle the important matters first. I didn’t co all this way to stall.”
Kyle respected that. He nodded and took his seat, folding his hands over the desk.
“Very well, then.”
Amanda took a slow breath, centering herself before she began.
“Do you rember the letter I sent you? The one about the enemy nation choosing a new saintess?”
“Yes, I rember. You ntioned she had white hair, white skin, white eyes…”
Kyle replied.
Amanda gave a small nod, her expression tightening.
“That wasn’t just a stylistic detail. On my way here, I was attacked by two won—no, two creatures—who looked exactly like that saintess. White as snow. They used coordinated mana attacks and created a barrier around . When I finally overpowered them and attempted to capture them, they self-destructed.”
Kyle leaned forward slightly, his brows drawing together.
“That’s… familiar. When I encountered the Duchess’s soldiers under foreign control, sothing similar happened. One of them exploded to prevent capture.”
Amanda’s eyes sharpened.
“Then I was right to be concerned. This isn’t isolated. There’s a pattern.”
Kyle nodded slowly.
“But there’s more. People like that—white hair, white eyes, white skin—they’re nearly unheard of. The only known human condition remotely similar is a rare mana deficiency, but those afflicted usually lose the ability to wield mana entirely. And yet these attackers—yours and mine—were capable of high-level coordination and explosive mana use.”
Amanda’s lips pursed as she processed that.
“So not a disease or mutation. A design.”
She muttered.
“Exactly. Soone is making them. They’re not anomalies. They’re weapons.”
Kyle confird.
A heavy silence settled between them.
Amanda broke it.
“Then… they ca for not because I was simply a high-value target. They ca because I know too much.”
Kyle t her gaze evenly.
“It’s likely.”
Her breath hitched, and her eyes drifted toward the window as if searching for sothing in the fading light outside.
“I’ve brought danger here, haven’t I? If they’re after , then anyone around is at risk.”
She whispered.
“You’re not wrong. But running won’t stop them.”
Kyle said softly.
Amanda slowly stood from her seat.
“Even so. If my presence puts your people in danger, then I should leave. I won’t be the reason this village burns.”
Kyle’s voice sharpened just slightly.
“Sit down, Amanda.”
She blinked at the sudden command in his tone, and her gaze snapped back to him.
“You’re not going anywhere. You’re exhausted. You’re injured. You’ve walked into enemy fire alone, fought your way here, and now you think the answer is to isolate yourself?”
Kyle said, calr now but firm.
Her jaw tightened.
“I can’t let more people die for .”
“No one’s dying for you. They’re fighting with you.”
Kyle said.
Amanda stared at him, breathing shallowly.
“You don’t understand what it ans to be the Grand Duchess. My survival could shift the balance of this war.”
“I understand perfectly. But you ca to for a reason. Let help you. This isn’t a burden you carry alone anymore.”
Kyle said.
Amanda looked down at the cloak she still wore, fingers tightening around the fabric. Kyle’s scent clung to it faintly, and so did the weight of everything he’d said.
“…Fine. I’ll stay. But only until we find out more.”
She whispered at last, slowly sitting back down.
Kyle gave a soft smile.
“That’s all I ask.”
“You should rest for now. There’s a room prepared for you.”
Kyle said gently, standing from his chair.
The Grand Duchess looked up at him, her posture still dignified despite the state she was in.
But there was sothing softer in her eyes now, sothing tired yet grateful.
“…I appreciate the gesture. And I won’t deny it. If you want to help , then help . Just… don’t treat like I’m about to fall apart.”
Amanda murmured.
Kyle gave a small, understanding smile.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
As he guided her out of the room, Amanda allowed herself to lean just slightly on his presence. For once, she didn’t carry all the weight alone.
—
anwhile, across the village, Racheal trudged down the dirt path between rows of half-finished hos and mana-infused pillars.
She rubbed her arm nervously, her thoughts in disarray. Her pace quickened when she spotted a familiar silhouette up ahead.
“Master!”
She called out.
Sasha Brande turned around, a small frown tugging at her lips.
“Racheal?”
Racheal skidded to a stop beside her and imdiately began venting.
“I—I saw the Grand Duchess with Kyle. She looked so elegant even when she wasn’t trying. And she wore his cloak. His cloak, Master! I saw it with my own eyes!”
Sasha blinked.
“I know I shouldn’t have run away. But I felt so useless and inadequate compared to her. I an, I didn’t even recognize her, and then I fought her—and she still forgave ! She’s so composed, so powerful, so…”
Racheal continued in a rush, voice cracking.
She trailed off, her shoulders slumping.
“I didn’t know what to do, so I left.”
Sasha looked at her for a long mont before sighing and resting a hand on Racheal’s shoulder.
“…What should I do now? Please tell , Master.”
Racheal asked weakly.
Sasha shook her head slowly.
“I don’t know.”
Racheal stared at her in disbelief.
“You don’t?”
“I really don’t. I’ve never felt like this before either. So I can’t give you an answer I don’t have.”
Sasha admitted with a wry smile.
Racheal looked down, her throat tightening.
“But I do know this. Running away won’t help. We’ve both made mistakes today—so let’s face them together tomorrow. Deal?”
Sasha continued,
Racheal sniffled, then nodded slowly.
“…Deal.”
Sasha gave Racheal’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“You’re young. It’s okay to be overwheld sotis.”
“But I’m supposed to be strong. I trained to support Kyle. I want to be soone he can rely on… soone who stands beside him, not hides when another powerful woman shows up.”
Racheal muttered, her voice small.
Sasha looked at her carefully.
“Is that what this is about? The Grand Duchess?”
Racheal’s cheeks flushed.
“She’s everything I’m not. Graceful. Composed. She looked like she belonged next to him. I looked like a ss, pacing around like a nervous wreck.”
Sasha sighed.
“Racheal… no one looks composed when they’re flustered. And no one earns their place by comparison. You’re not here to compete—you’re here to be yourself.”
“I don’t know if that’s enough.”
Racheal whispered.
“It is. But if you think it’s not, then work harder. Not to prove sothing to her—but to prove it to yourself.”
Sasha said firmly.
Racheal’s eyes shimred, and she slowly nodded.
“Okay… I’ll do that.”
“Good. Now go rest. You’ll need a clear head for what’s coming.”
Sasha said with a faint smile.
Racheal gave a small bow.
“Thank you, Master.”
And with that, she turned away, a little steadier on her feet.
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