Chapter 25
"Master, Master!"
Luminos ca running, wailing. He clung to Quinas' coffin and wept.
"I'm late, I'm sorry. Please forgive this unworthy disciple."
Shawn wiped away his own tears at the sight. Despite being expelled from the guild after a fight with Luminos, it seed he still had so affection left.
Louis approached Luminos to comfort him. Despite his large fra, Luminos leaned on Louis and cried.
"Damn it... I couldn't even see my master off! What kind of disciple am I?"
"It's alright. Stop crying. It doesn't suit your size."
Louis signaled to Shawn to co over. Shawn hesitated but then joined them.
Luminos and Shawn looked at each other. Then, they burst into tears simultaneously.
"Damn it!"
"Curse it!"
They hugged each other and sobbed. The nobles around them shed tears, moved by the scene.
Leto muttered,
"They're putting on a show."
"You said you were envious of them as a child."
"No matter how envious, I never wanted to be in that position."
Luminos sniffled and ca over to us.
"Sniff... it's been a while, Your Majesty."
"Yes, Luminos. You're late."
"A new dragon was born in the western borderlands, so I had to go there. I heard the news as soon as I returned and ca imdiately. I couldn't have co any sooner."
"Who said anything? Greet the Empress first."
Luminos snorted angrily. The relationship between the royal family and the mages guild had historically been strained, not because of personal relationships, but because of history.
"Your Highness, Guild Master Luminos greets you."
"Yes. It's been a while, Master."
Luminos had frequently visited the Matrion family as a child, being friends with Shawn and Louis. So he was acquainted with Livia too.
"You've had a long journey."
"No. I regret not hearing my master's final words."
Leto spoke,
"He left a ssage for the master too."
"Really? What did he say?"
"He said to stop fighting so much."
Luminos furrowed his brows.
"...Don't lie."
"Believe what you want. I've conveyed the ssage."
Leto extended his hand to .
"We seem to have t everyone. Let's head back, Empress. The coffin will be sealed tomorrow morning."
"Alright."
I took his hand and stood up. Even standing, Luminos' size was truly enormous. Leto spoke to Luminos.
"And Master, visit the palace soon."
"...What for?"
"Didn't you hear? Stop fighting so much."
That 'fighting' referred to the guild and the palace. A good thing, really. We need to maintain a good relationship with the guild.
On the way to the Emperor's palace, I asked Leto,
"Why did you call the master to the palace?"
"That's... a secret."
"You have many secrets today. You're hiding two things from ."
Honestly, I was curious. Especially about the will Quinas left. It seed he said sothing important.
I tugged at Leto's sleeve.
"Please tell ."
He looked surprised, alternating his gaze between
and his sleeve.
"Aren't you grateful to ?"
"...I haven't even said thank you yet?"
Judging by his expression, he genuinely hadn't realized. I didn't do it for the recognition, but still.
"You haven't."
"That makes
a real jerk."
He didn't bother denying it.
He seed to have a good idea and said to ,
"If you stop by my room for a mont, I can tell you everything. The thank you and the will."
"Do you really need to go to your room for that?"
"Yes. That's how it is."
Leto playfully tugged my sleeve. My hand, which hadn't let go yet, followed.
I gave in and followed him to his room. It was my first ti in his bedroom.
The room was neat and clean. It even had the fresh scent I often associated with him. He must have used essential oils regularly.
Leto stood
in front of the mirror, holding my shoulders as if to keep
still.
"Wait here for a mont."
He went to the console. He seed to take sothing out, hiding it behind him.
"Even if I asked you to close your eyes, you wouldn't listen, would you?"
"No. What is this about?"
"Well, I can't help it. I wanted to give it to you in style."
He put sothing around my neck. It was the erald necklace I had declined in my letter.
"It suits you perfectly."
In the mirror, he smiled with satisfaction.
"This... I sent a letter saying I couldn't accept it."
"With that expression, it doesn't seem convincing."
I couldn't deny it. My face in the mirror was telling
how much I liked the necklace.
He held my shoulders and spoke calmly.
"Accept it. You eased Professor Quinas' pain. Think of it as a reward."
"......"
"Thank you."
Leto lowered his head. His hair brushed against my cheek. Then he kissed the necklace chain, which was actually my neck.
I was startled and stepped back.
"What... what are you doing!"
"What? I can't kiss my own necklace?"
He was shalessly blunt. I covered my neck with my hand. It was warm.
"Yes. Now that it's mine, don't do that."
"I'm honored that you accepted it."
"Yes. Then, I should be going."
I needed to escape. If I stayed any longer, I would get caught up in his gas.
"You still need to hear the will. You were curious about Professor Quinas' ssage."
I stopped.
"...Alright. Tell ."
"He said not to be consud by hatred."
He must have ant the High Priest. In the original story, Leto didn't hear those words. That's why he beca so desolate.
"I agree. I hope you won't be."
He gave a faint smile. I left the room.
Thump— thump— thump—
My heart was pounding uncontrollably. It had been like this since Leto kissed my neck.
I touched my neck again. It felt as if his lips were still there.
I looked back at his door.
'...He did sothing unnecessary. Making
feel strange.'
In a small hut near the capital, Elisana was eating thin soup.
With five gold coins, she could have bought a bigger house. But Elisana didn't want to draw attention.
A mage who increased her power through impure ans. Among mages, she was already a criminal.
Fortunately, no one in the guild knew her face. Thanks to the robe she always wore.
Although she had shown her face at the Temple recently.
'Damn... it was a mistake.'
Knock, knock.
At the sound of the knock, Elisana quickly put on her robe.
Knock, knock, knock.
She stood by the door, ready to attack if soone broke in.
"Who is it?"
"We're from the Temple."
"......"
"We have a new commission."
Elisana gritted her teeth. The High Priest had tried to kill her. And now a new commission?
"If I intended to harm you, I wouldn't have co myself. Open the door."
"You're that priest from last ti?"
The young, indifferent blonde priest. But there was sothing special about his aura.
"Thanks for rembering ."
"Are you alone?"
"I'm with the High Priest."
'The High Priest ca here?'
It was unlikely he ca to kill her himself. Elisana hesitated but opened the door.
"May we co in?"
Dante walked in without waiting for an answer. The High Priest followed. Elisana didn't lower her guard.
"What a humble abode."
Dante looked around and comnted. Elisana asked,
"What's your purpose?"
"Don't be insolent, girl."
The High Priest approached nacingly. Dante sighed.
"His Holiness is not in a good mood these days. Be careful."
Indeed, the High Priest's expression was very dark. Since Quinas' death, the nobles had changed. They were fascinated by Livia's painkiller and praised her.
If this continued, Livia would make all kinds of dicines. The Temple's prestige would plumt.
That's why the Temple urgently sought Elisana.
"I'm giving you a chance to change your life."
Elisana looked skeptical.
"Show your face, Elisana."
"No."
"Dante."
"Yes."
Elisana thought Dante would threaten her. She was about to cast a spell when he took sothing from his coat.
He pulled out a portrait.
"This is..."
"It's the portrait of the late Empress Ianna, the current Emperor's mother."
"......"
"She has the sa red hair and violet eyes as you."
Empress Ianna was a beautiful woman with a look of kindness. She exuded both elegance and loveliness.
"I know why you always wear a robe. Such a distinctive appearance makes you a target. Unless you were born into a noble family like Empress Ianna."
"Why are you telling
this?"
"You can beco like her."
Dante glanced at the High Priest. The High Priest spoke with gleaming eyes.
"The man and woman you saw in the 'Forest of Mages' are the Emperor and Empress."
"......"
"Approach the Emperor. You can do it."
Dante glanced at the High Priest.
'So this is the plan. No wonder he suddenly ordered
to find Elisana's whereabouts.'
"Approach that man...?"
"Not that man, the Emperor. The most powerful man in the empire. Soone like you can't dream of this opportunity again."
The High Priest said firmly.
"Empress Ianna is the Emperor's greatest wound. He won't ignore you. Just catching his interest will be a success. The rest depends on you."
"......"
"You could beco his concubine, his mistress... or even Empress."
"......"
"Knowing your personality, you'd aim for Empress."
Dante raised an eyebrow.
He could guess the High Priest's plan. To drive a wedge between the Emperor and Empress. If successful, it would be harder for the Empress to make dicines. Even better if she were deposed.
'Using beauty as a weapon. This is insane. What fool would undertake such a dangerous task?'
But Dante was pleasantly surprised. Elisana removed her robe.
Dante flinched. She was even more beautiful up close.
A petite and fragile figure. Fine, delicate features. A sowhat decadent and languid aura.
A smile spread across the High Priest's face.
"Excellent. No wonder you hid your face."
"...What should I do first?"
Dante was puzzled.
'She didn't even ask for paynt. It's as if she was waiting for this opportunity.'
"I know a viscount couple who are moving to the capital from a distant province. Join them as their adopted daughter."
"Yes."
Elisana answered without hesitation.
"You'll need a new na. Elisana won't do."
"Yes."
"Let's see... how about ril, after the saintess?"
ril. She smiled faintly.
"A na doesn't matter to ."
At that mont, Dante saw it. A gleam of sothing in her violet eyes.
It was definitely ambition.
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