Chapter 15
Elion was born a prince, but he did not grow up in the imperial palace. Instead, he spent his childhood at his maternal grandfather’s estate in the provinces.
Florencia, too, spent more time in the provinces than in the capital due to her frail health.
Because Elion’s grandfather’s territory bordered the duchy of the Miren family, the two often played together from an early age.
They were each other’s only friend of the same age.
Now, sitting across from one another at a table, they conversed in a relaxed tone.
“Is the High Priest not present?”
“Yes, he had to leave urgently for provincial business this morning.”
“I see.”
Elion nodded and lifted his teacup, taking a sip of black tea.
“I heard from the High Priest that you would be coming because of the barrier reorganization in the capital.”
“That’s right. Do you think the reorganization can be completed quickly?”
Elion set his teacup down and asked in a rather businesslike tone.
“First, we need to identify exactly what the problem is.”
“How long will that take?”
“I can’t be certain yet. The time needed depends on what the issue turns out to be.”
“…I suppose so. Then when can you begin the work?”
Elion looked somewhat urgent in both tone and expression. Florencia smiled softly and nodded.
“We’ll have to start tomorrow. If there truly is a flaw in the barrier, then tens of thousands living in the capital are at risk.”
“Thank you. Then could I receive a copy of the investigation plan?”
“Of course. I’m forming an investigation team and will begin meetings immediately. I’ll send the draft plan to the Imperial Knights this evening.”
“If you need the knights’ cooperation, just say so.”
“Yes, I will.”
Having finished the discussion, Elion rose from his seat.
Given the state of emergency, he could not remain away from the Knights’ headquarters for long.
“I’ll be going now.”
“But…”
Florencia also rose, hesitating as she spoke.
Elion paused and waited for her to continue.
“Yes?”
“Are you truly well? You said you suffered from fevers and headaches throughout the year.”
“Yes. Strangely enough, I’m fine now. I suppose it must be thanks to your prayers. Thank you, Saintess.”
“…”
Florencia looked up at Elion, her lips curled into a shy smile.
But her mind was tangled in confusion.
‘A week ago, his mana was a complete mess, and now he says it’s fine? Impossible. Not even mana stabilizers could guarantee recovery. How in the world…?’
Florencia had countless questions, but chose to remain silent.
Unless Elion confessed honestly on his own, she had no intention of prying.
Even if she asked, it was unlikely she would get a truthful answer.
So she smiled sweetly and said instead:
“Then take care. Don’t go too far.”
“Farewell, Saintess.”
Watching his retreating figure, Florencia bit down hard on her lower lip.
If she didn’t, she feared she might cry out his name and run after him to grab hold of him.
For the past five years, Elion had been constantly on the battlefield.
She had prayed over and over that she would see him again soon.
Thus, when she learned that he would finally return to the capital, she felt as if she could fly.
But then, one day, Elion came to the High Temple.
It was because of his unstable mana.
Florencia’s divine power was strong, yet strangely it did not improve his condition.
She concluded that Elion’s illness was different from the usual cases of those suffering from unstable mana.
So she decided to create a special mana stabilizer just for him.
She hoped it would be an excuse to see him regularly.
But that hope was completely shattered.
‘I thought I could keep him by my side… that I could see him closer, longer, more often…!’
Her chest ached sharply.
Her face grew hot, her eyes welling with tears.
‘How could he suddenly be fine overnight?’
It made no sense.
Something was hidden.
‘Whose help did he receive? What treatment? What medicine? I have to find out everything.’
Florencia clenched her trembling fists tightly.
This might be her last chance to keep Elion by her side.
If he left the capital this time, he might never return.
She wanted desperately to follow him to the north, but her place was in the High Temple.
She could not leave.
‘So Elion… don’t leave. Stay here. Stay by my side.’
Elion was her first love.
As a child, she had always dreamed of a future together with him.
She imagined the abandoned prince and the frail noble lady building a family and living peacefully in the provinces.
But misfortune struck when her divine power awakened, and Florencia became a saintess with extraordinary healing ability.
Everyone else rejoiced at heaven’s blessing, but she despaired.
For she could no longer dream of a life building a family with a single man.
At first, she tried to accept fate and give Elion up.
But there are things in the world one cannot give up, no matter how hard one tries.
For Florencia, that was Elion.
‘Even if we cannot marry, it’s fine. I’ll just keep you near me in another way.’
Her golden eyes gleamed dangerously.
Elion had just returned to the Imperial Knights’ headquarters and was catching his breath when—
There came a loud knock, and Fred entered hurriedly.
“Your Highness, abnormal mana fluctuations have been detected in the northern capital. It is expected that monsters will appear soon.”
“Has the exact location been identified?”
“Yes, between Stol Village and Bayhe Village.”
Before Fred could finish his report, Elion was already running.
“Summon the elite unit immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And tell them—the last one to arrive writes the report.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Fred followed after Elion, who was already vanishing into the distance, muttering under his breath:
“In the end, I’ll be stuck with the report again.”
It would be the fifth time in a row he had been last.
Fred tapped twice on the red communication stone attached to the bracelet on his right wrist.
The response came instantly, as if the other party had been waiting.
—“Hey, Fred, what is it this time? Don’t tell me it’s another sortie?”
“Nathan, you guessed right. Northern capital, between Stol and Bayhe villages. Last one in is report duty!”
With that, Fred ended the transmission and dashed at full speed.
Perhaps this time, he thought, he wouldn’t be last.
At least, he allowed himself to hope.
“Kuaaahhh!”
The last monster shrieked hideously before collapsing to the ground.
“Haa… haa… haa…”
Elion exhaled raggedly, shaking the monster’s blood off his sword.
Even for a Swordmaster, facing more than twenty monsters alone was exhausting.
“Captain, couldn’t you have waited for us?”
“Indeed. How could you enjoy all the fun by yourself?”
The elite knights, arriving late, complained in disappointment.
“You were the ones who were slow.”
Elion slid his sword into its sheath, answering flatly.
The knights’ grumbles continued.
“You could have waited just five minutes. Why are you always in such a rush, Your Highness?”
“It’s not just this time, either. You’re always like this. As if you have no regard for your life.”
“What kind of Swordmaster acts like he has two lives to spare?”
That was as far as their complaints went.
They stopped, cowed by the menacing distortion of Elion’s face.
Known as the most handsome man of the Imperial Knights, his expression when his ferocious nature surfaced resembled that of a monster.
It was as though his very facial muscles rearranged themselves into something entirely different.
But Fred, failing to notice in time, muttered again:
“Please, Your Highness, learn to value your life.”
“Fred, you’re quick to run your mouth. And you—do you value your own life?”
“Of course, I obviously—”
Fred stopped mid-sentence, swallowing hard.
For it was then he finally saw Elion’s cold blue eyes, gleaming with a deadly light.
Danger.
“I—I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
“Good. Then enough said.”
As Elion turned and mounted his horse, Fred let out a long sigh of relief.
But his relief was premature.
Elion’s icy voice followed.
“Since you all seem restless, you’ll run a hundred laps around the training grounds upon return. Understood?”
“Y-Your Highness…!”
“That’s too—!”
The knights hung their heads, faces full of despair, and reluctantly answered:
“Yes, Captain.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Ignoring them, Elion toyed with the violet communication stone bracelet on his wrist.
