Chapter 44: The Imperial Heretics (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: The Imperial Heretics (6)
Eri was sure Cloud resented her. If not resentment, then he had to at least view her negatively.
But what was this?
Why had he brought her to his room?
Where did this talk of a dungeon suddenly come from?
No, more importantly, why were Neria and Ophelia already in his room?
What in the world was this situation?
Fortunately, it seemed she wasn't the only one in the dark.
Neria and Ophelia wore expressions similar to hers.
That meant the only person who could explain the situation was Cloud.
But that very same Cloud…
“Thanks, Frillite. You saved me a lot of trouble.”
“It was nothing. What are friends for? Here, take this.”
“Hm? What’s this round token?”
“It’s a Guest Pass. A pass that proves you are an honored guest of my family. It won’t hurt to carry it around.”
“A Guest Pass… Isn’t your family the most prominent one in the Empire? Can you really just give away a guest pass from a family like that?”
“Just don’t abuse it. Then it’s fine.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t do anything to cause you trouble. Thanks, Frillite.”
He was chatting casually with the famous Hero, Frillite.
Watching the two of them, Eri was utterly astonished.
Based on their interaction at the social gathering, she had guessed they were acquaintances.
But they were close enough for her to give him a Guest Pass?
And not just from any family, but a Guest Pass from the Ferdiac family?
‘…Even most royalty would have to tread carefully before that pass…’
To give something like that away as if it were a simple gift.
Just what kind of trust had been built between them?
“Well, I should be getting back now. Have a good talk.”
“Thanks for your help, Frillite. Let’s grab a drink again sometime.”
“Ale, you mean.”
“…Right, ale.”
Seeing Cloud’s sullen expression, Frillite chuckled and left the room.
‘What in the world did I just see?’
Frillite… smiling?
And what was that?
The two of them drink together?
Eri’s head spun as too much information flooded in at once.
It was then.
“Um, Cloud…?”
Neria spoke up.
His gaze, which had been fixed on the door Frillite had just left through, turned to Neria.
“What is it, Neria?”
“Are… are you close with Hero Frillite?”
“As you can see.”
“I-I see.”
Eri saw it.
Neria’s eyes were trembling faintly.
So, Neria was concerned about it too.
“So… how did you become friends with Hero Frillite?”
At Neria’s question, Cloud tilted his head.
“Is that important?”
“Huh…?”
“I asked if it’s important.”
Cloud’s sharp tone was like a line drawn in the sand.
Not only Neria but Eri and Ophelia tensed up as well.
As she thought… he hadn’t truly forgiven them.
“Ah… no. It’s not important.”
Neria shook her head with an almost excessive vigor.
‘…Now that I see her, she’s changed a lot too.’
Neria had always acted like a strict and resolute knight in front of Cloud, vowing never to show a weak side to him.
But now…
‘Then again… Neria is probably the one who feels the most guilt and desperation among us.’
She probably wouldn’t be able to act as decisively as before for a while.
She couldn’t risk earning his animosity.
Meanwhile, Cloud wore a satisfied smile at Neria’s answer.
“That’s right. That’s not what’s important right now. What’s important is that we’re all gathered here again! It’s great to see you all again! I knew we were a soul-bound team! Let’s go on a fun dungeon adventure together!”
With his sharp refusal, Cloud had killed the mood, only to single-handedly revive it. In a bright voice, he began to explain their journey ahead.
Partway through, Ophelia raised her hand to ask a question but was ignored.
Cloud didn’t stop his explanation, and she had to lower her hand with an awkward look on her face.
After he finished, Cloud looked at the three women and said, “Alright, everyone got that? We’re leaving the imperial capital early tomorrow morning. Get some good sleep now. The room isn’t huge, but it should be big enough for the three of you. I’ll go down and sleep in the hall.”
Before the three women could even reply, Cloud opened the door and stepped outside.
Just before the door closed completely, he spoke again.
“Oh, and one more thing. I’m telling you this in advance. If any of you ever feel like, ‘This party is so pathetic, I can’t stand it!’ then come and tell me anytime. Don’t even think about doing something stupid like stabbing me in the back. If I have to go through that again, I think I’ll feel… pretty damn shitty.”
His final words were chilling, completely devoid of any humor.
Eri, Neria, and Ophelia flinched. They knew the “again” he mentioned was referring to what they had done.
Just as they were about to apologize for something, anything…
“Well, good night!”
Cloud shut the door.
-…
Silence filled the room.
*
The plan was to leave as soon as the sun rose the next day.
But that was no longer possible.
“This is the first time we’ve met like this, just the two of us. Hero, Sir Cloud.”
The wife of the Emperor, the Empress, had summoned me.
Thanks to her, I was now enjoying teatime in the middle of a ridiculously large and ornate imperial garden.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The Empress set down her teacup with a graceful smile.
As you travel this world, you hear all sorts of things in taverns.
One of those things was a rumor that the Empress of the Empire was the most beautiful woman on the continent.
When I first heard it, I dismissed it as just another rumor meant to flatter the Empire.
‘Now that I’m here, I can see why that rumor started.’
I didn’t know about being the most beautiful on the continent, but the Empress was, without a doubt, a stunning beauty.
Her silver-blue hair was elegantly braided. The myriad of dazzling accessories on her hair and dress couldn’t compare to her radiant beauty.
On top of that, she exuded the noble air of royalty.
The rumor probably started when nobles gushed over her, and their coachmen or servants overheard and spread the word.
But why would someone like her summon me?
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. If I may be so bold, could I ask why you have summoned me? I have no idea what it could be, so I am a bit nervous.”
The Empress let out a small laugh.
“Hehe, I’ve heard a great deal about you from Frillite, Sir Cloud. What she told me was so different from the rumors I’d heard that I was quite puzzled. Then I heard what happened at the social gathering yesterday. I simply grew curious and had to summon you. Was it an imposition?”
Yes, it fucking was.
“Not at all. Who would refuse a summons from Your Majesty? But you say Frillite spoke of me to you?”
“Yes. Frillite and I are close friends, you see.”
“…Pardon?”
Frillite told me I was her first friend.
“If it’s not too rude to ask, may I know when you first became acquainted with Frillite?”
“It was four years ago, from the time she was chosen as the Hero.”
The Empress’s face brightened as if she were fondly recalling the past.
Four years ago was before Frillite and I became friends.
Frillite had told me I was her first friend, and she wasn’t the type to lie.
Which meant…
‘She’s deluding herself into thinking they’re friends…’
From Frillite’s perspective, she was probably just making conversation with a superior. But it seems this Empress interpreted it however she pleased.
‘The rumor about the Emperor being a pathologically jealous husband who controls his wife’s life must be true.’
If not, there was no way she would think they became friends after just a few conversations.
…What a pitiful woman.
Feeling sorry for her, I listened to her story as attentively as I could. The Empress’s smile deepened, perhaps satisfied that her words were being heard.
“Ah, that’s right. I didn’t summon you today just to talk, Sir Cloud. Alfred, would you bring what we prepared?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Alfred, who had briefly left at the Empress’s command, returned with an ornate box decorated with gold leaf.
“Open it.”
Alfred opened the box.
Inside lay a sky-blue gemstone necklace.
It was a large, round, sky-blue gem.
“This is…?”
“It’s a necklace made of moonstone. It clears the mind of the wearer. And, of course, it raises resistance to mind-corrupting magic. I would like to gift this to you, Sir Cloud. Or perhaps it is not to your liking?”
“Not at all. Who would refuse a moonstone necklace?”
An accessory made of moonstone.
It didn’t have any other special effects, but it was an item that guaranteed protection against the Confusion and Berserk status effects.
It was an item I needed to acquire for a companion I’d recruit later, so this was perfect.
The lore stated that moonstone was extremely rare for its effect, so you could only craft one accessory from it in the game.
I carefully accepted the box Alfred handed me.
“But why are you giving me such a precious gift?”
“It is not of great value to the Imperial Family, so please don’t feel burdened. It is merely a personal gift from me, hoping to befriend Sir Cloud, who will one day become a noble Hero.”
“To befriend me… Is this for the sake of the Empire?”
The Empress’s eyes crinkled into a smile.
“It’s closer to supporting my husband.”
*
After receiving the gift, Cloud exchanged a few more words with the Empress and then left the Imperial Palace.
A woman was staring intently at his departing back…
‘How in the world did this happen…?’
It was Adreana, the core swordswoman of Gis’s party and his trusted confidante.
The reason she was spying on Cloud was simple.
‘That pommel. It belongs to my family…’
The pommel Cloud had casually picked up during the Contest of Four Loves.
The crest engraved on that pommel was the symbol of her family.
‘I was always so annoyed because of my damn father.’
Her father was a scoundrel who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. While traveling, he slept not only with nobles but with any commoner he found even remotely attractive.
Thanks to him, these so-called half-siblings would show up at the main house once or twice a year.
Naturally, they couldn’t take care of so many of them, so they were dealt with quietly as they arrived.
But this half-sibling was different.
‘I can’t believe Cloud was my brother all along.’
Perhaps he wasn’t.
Until recently, he hadn’t been carrying that pommel.
But there was a difference between the Cloud without the pommel and the Cloud with it.
Without it, he was too weak. With it, he was incomparably stronger than before.
So she thought.
Perhaps he had started carrying the pommel now that he was strong enough to protect himself.
‘Cloud said he was an orphan, right?’
The circumstances fit together in many ways. Her speculation was gradually turning into conviction.
‘As an orphan, he must have a strong attachment to family.’
What if she were to exploit that?
She might be able to get Cloud in the palm of her hand and control him.
And if that happened…
Gis’s love would be all hers!
‘For today, I guess I have to thank my damn father.’
Thank you, Father