Amelia's Fractured Resolve
Lately, Medel couldn't understand Amelia's behavior at all. She'd known her since their time in the Rubystone family, where Amelia always moved with meticulous plans. But recently, she'd suddenly gone to a secret auction house, rushed straight to the Heretic's Tomb right after her trial, and now...
"Are you... perhaps not feeling well?"
"I'm a bit tired."
"..."
...she'd even skipped the celebration feast hosted by General Chest and returned to her quarters. She didn't lie down on the bed but perched on the edge of her desk, lost in thought for a long while. Before, she never missed events like this to solidify her position.
"...Do you have something to say?"
Amelia asked with her eyes gently closed, as if sensing Medel's concern.
"It's... not a big deal... just a little..."
"..."
"You seem... a bit different from before..."
Medel's words came out haltingly, cautiously. Amelia waited until she finished before speaking.
"Are you upset that I wasted supplies again?"
"Ah, no... not at all. You even donated the leftovers to the paladin order... I think it was a fine response."
To catch the Lich, she'd brought out all her supplies and descended. Most were expensive potions or scrolls infused with Holy Power, used without hesitation. But the subjugation was already over by then. In the end, it was money down the drain.
"Or maybe... leaving Ludia's celebration midway made it look like I was jealous?"
"That's not it either... You explained politely to Ludia..."
Right now, across the way outside, the feast celebrating Ludia's group was in full swing. Slaying the heretic and even the Lich—a dazzling achievement. Plus, their selfless donation of a huge haul of magic stones to the church. It was enough to shake the position Amelia had carefully built.
"If it's not that, then it's fine, Medel."
"Yes..."
"Everything's still within my margin of error so far. If anyone from the family asks, tell them that."
"Understood, Lady Amelia."
"...Go rest. I'll lie down too."
After Medel left, the empty room fell silent. A single dim lantern illuminated her faintly.
"Haa..."
Amelia let out a sigh as tension drained from her body right there.
"What... is this, really?"
In truth, she vaguely knew it herself. That she was a little different from before.
"...Huu."
Even tapping her fingers and tracing the cause, it always led back there. Why was she so concerned about him?
Because his power tempted her? Because of the shock when he far exceeded her expectations at first?
"..."
She stared blankly at the ring on her finger. A wooden ring awkwardly fitted on her slender digit.
Right, this was another impulsive result. The reason she'd come here, too. And truthfully, leaving the feast early was because Ludia and Huu kept rubbing shoulders and whispering—it grated on her eyes.
"Ha! Ridiculous."
Amelia let out a hollow laugh. Then, one sudden question left her speechless.
...Will it keep happening?
"...Whatever it is, I can't let this continue."
After agonizing, she decided to set aside what she couldn't understand for now. Certainly, with Ludia surging ahead lately, her position had wobbled. Considering how she'd become a saintess candidate by outshining countless rivals in her family, this was unacceptable.
"I need to shut it off for a while."
With her resolve firm, Amelia raised her hand to gaze at the ring again. Then, gripping it with her right hand, she slowly began to pull it off.
"■■■■, I'll leave the rear to you."
"Until the very end with you... it was an honor."
"...Why..."
Her body stiffened. An inexplicable reason tangled her mind again. If it had been once, she could've forgotten the dream. But dreaming the same thing every few days...
She felt her strength draining.
"..."
A familiar yet nostalgic person. A pitch-black sky. And—
"I'll wait for you!!! Until you come back!!!"
"Haa... why him of all people..."
Thud.
In the end, Amelia slumped face-down on the desk. Feeling her energy sap from the vivid emotions in the dream.
"Why... does it feel so similar to him..."
A long sigh. And with the ring still not removed, she lay there for a long time.
* * *
The celebration feast Chest prepared was like sitting on pins and needles.
The food was excellent for a battlefield setup, and since it was the church, they weren't forbidden alcohol—the mood was great. But,
"(Bitch! Keep a close eye on that chewy scammer slut if she's badmouthing me behind my back!)"
"Yes, yes! Yunet sis hasn't said anything yet!"
A ticking time bomb was right up front, ready to blow. So I kept whispering with Ludia, watching nervously.
Yunet laughed and chattered shrilly beside General Chest. But occasionally, she'd flash a meaningful smile and whisper something to him while clinging.
"..."
Damn that crazy bitch. She's doing it on purpose, right? Loves watching hearts quail...
"Hahaha! Lord Huu! An honor! To think I'd shake the hero's hand!!"
"Ugh...(Ha... haha...)"
When a tipsy General Chest asked for a handshake, cold sweat poured like rain. He gripped hard, squeezing with force while grinning...
...Whew. Feels like he'll stab me any second.
"Lord Huu... are you okay?"
"(Kuh, heh... yeah, bitch... I'm beat today! Damn...)"
By the feast's end, I crawled back to quarters utterly drained. Fighting Luzadio wasn't this exhausting.
...All because of that chewy... no, no. That weird married woman. Gotta leave here quick. Before weird church rumors spread... must bail from the church.
Even as fatigue closed my eyes, I steeled my will.
And the next day,
"Eh?? Lady Amelia... is coming with us???"
"?!"
Yunet yesterday, Amelia today. Why take turns like this?
* * *
General Chest was renowned in the church. Steadfast faith, outstanding combat prowess, sharp mind. Knightly character earning everyone's trust. So, high-ups giving him secret missions was routine.
"Hmm..."
His new secret mission. Thought it'd be easy, but he pondered deeply. Sitting at his desk with a letter spread out.
"...? Honey, whatcha doing?"
"Wha?! H-honey!"
Thunk! A familiar yet terrifying voice from behind. Chest jolted, slamming his body over the desk.
Yunet narrowed her eyes.
"Hmm... something naughty?"
Her lips curled slyly, but Chest half-whined desperately.
"Haa... honey, please make some noise... no, what are the guards doing?!"
"They can't spot me coming and going with their skills."
"......"
Chest wanted to say this was the commander general's tent—separate public and private! But who was his wife? Daughter of a legendary paladin. Inherited his top-tier combat skill. Looks tempting if she shut up. But her personality... sigh-worthy.
"Huh? What's this. 'Investigate who Huu is'?"
"??!!!"
How?! Chest sprang up in shock. The letter that should be on the desk was gone. Panicking, he looked around—Yunet held it.
"Oh. What, you got a spy gig?? From that branch manager fox?!"
"Haa... what spy..."
Chest scratched his head with a sigh. That was his full reaction. Normally, caught with a secret mission? Panic! But Yunet did this all the time. How catch someone sharper than him?
"Perfect timing."
"Huh?"
"Tell me what you know about Lord Huu."
Since it was out, he decided to roll with it. He barely knew Huu, who stayed briefly. Little to say, and what there was, weird. But Yunet fought beside him—surely knew something.
"What about? Guy's quirky. Mute normally, chatty in battle?"
"Quirky..."
"And didn't hook up with Mari. Uncle was wrong. Tell him to find Mari a good man quick."
"Er... not that. Wait, that's important too."
Note for later. Tell the admin chief. He recalled the urgent dispatch from the chief: Mari has a boyfriend, check it out. See? Knew it wasn't true.
"How's his Holy Power? Definitely massive."
Chest recalled grabbing his hand, feigning drunkenness at the feast. Immense Holy Power from it—like dunking in a sea of concentrated divine energy. Yet visually undetectable. Just how far did that man's feats go...?
"Tons. Fights well. Probably stronger than Dad?"
"Stronger than father-in-law???"
"Yeah. You should've seen him smash Luzadio."
Chest's eyes widened at Yunet's words. Luzadio weakened as Lich's servant, sure. But father-in-law was top-tier on the continent. Stronger than that?? Honey didn't lie despite her quirks...
He watched her squat, mimicking battle by whacking the ground with a stick, puzzled.
"Any other oddities? Swordsmanship like the Hero's maybe..."
"That?? Just smashed him. Hero died centuries ago—how know? Moves clean, though."
"C'mon, seriously."
Yunet, gleefully pounding, saw his earnest face, tossed the stick, and pondered.
"Hmm..."
"Or any weird aura from him? Holy Power so thick it's iffy... mixed with something alien."
He confided fully in Yunet. Deep in that dense Holy Power, unidentified energy pulsed. But too brief to grasp fully. He was debating noting it.
Hmm... he went berserk under mana control back then...
Yunet racked her brain answering. She couldn't forget his rampage. Beast-like madness, superhuman strength. Human? But loaded with Holy Power—something unknown, whatever.
...Hmm... but tell straight-laced hubby? He'd freak. Poor sweet Ludia suffers. It resolved fine anyway? Act like nothing.
Thud thud.
"...Nothing."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Just tons of Holy Power, shitty personality. Maybe tainted fighting Luzadio?"
After long thought, Yunet's answer. Looked like something clicked.
But Chest, lifetime dupe to her poker face.
"Hmm... not impossible."
"Oh. Ludia likes Huu. No idea why."
"Not that."
Nothing useful. Zilch. Wife quirky but no liar or schemer.
Chest shrugged in resignation.
"Don't note Ludia liking Lord Huu. I'll watch if you write it."
"Just write about Lord Huu. That's off-limits."
He smirked, lightly swatting her arm.
Poor commoner Ludia vs. Rubystone Amelia. He knew backgrounds, church stance. Skip trivial info? Rubystones win. Guarding a young woman's first love... knightly duty, he thought.
"Oh, honey."
"Yeah?"
"Why'd you keep telling me to watch Lord Huu then?"
Occasion arose; another curiosity. At the feast, she whispered multiple times: Just shut up and watch Huu. Did as told, clueless why.
"Ahaha, that. Hehehehehe..."
"...?"
Yunet grinned at his puzzled face.
"Got her good! Uwahahaha!!"
"????"
"Damn satisfying! Hehehehe...!!!"
Yunet burst laughing suddenly.
'Sucker, watched plenty 'cause you're good. Good luck.'
She guffawed, tent shaking with mirth.