Clack, clack.
Alicia descended to the hidden room. Once inside, she immediately began to tidy up—an important task handed to her directly by the queen. As she cleaned, she paused and looked at Wilhelm.
“Just how long do you intend to keep sleeping?”
She did not have a high opinion of the man; in her mind, all he did was haunt her queen. Wilhelm’s marriage to Luxeria was a purely political arrangement. Even if Luxeria had feelings for him, it was not a marriage of love. They would never truly be together, and Alicia understood that.
She also knew Wilhelm had been unfaithful and sought out other women. The queen may have laughed it off, but he must have hurt her deeply. Even if there was an ulterior motive to his public philandering, Alicia’s loyalty to the queen left her incapable of sympathizing with him.
“The longer he sleeps here, the more he burdens her,” Alicia murmured. “And yet…”
Alicia coughed. The Sacred Swords consumed vast amounts of magic when in use, and the one that pierced him right now was the Sacred Sword of Love. It held the power to protect those who loved its wielder or whom the wielder loved. That was why Wilhelm merely slept even while impaled on the blade. Luxeria must have been exerting tremendous amounts of magical energy at all times to keep the sword in use. It had to be an immense drain on her.
“Huh? Wait, why do I know this?” Alicia said. Her vision grew hazy, and she pressed her hands against her brow. Right, she had heard this before. Luxeria had once explained the power of the Sacred Sword of Love.
But why did she know that continuing to use the sword required so much magic? She could tell just by looking at Wilhelm—a threadlike conduit connected him and Luxeria, channeling magic from her body into his. Something akin to what’s inside me, Alicia thought. Wait, what’s inside of me?
Those five beautiful, horrifying blades must be eating away at Luxeria.
A strange image flashed through Alicia’s mind. Luxeria had fallen over, a maelstrom of power whirling above her. Luxeria toiled away, blood pouring everywhere as she kept exerting more and more effort. That horrifying thing was hurting her, killing her.
Wh-what is this?
More and more images that Alicia shouldn’t be able to see flashed in her mind. Racked with pain, she tumbled to the floor. Even as the agony rattled Alicia’s mind, the Luxeria she saw in her head whispered, “Don’t cry.”
Luxeria tried to comfort her even when she was tearful and in pain. Forget about me! Alicia thought, I want to protect you. I don’t want you to be sad. Why can’t I help you? What am I forgetting?
These thoughts gripped Alicia as the scenes flashed through her head. Overwhelmed, she lost consciousness.
✦ ✦ ✦
I was able to meet with Commander Aaron on short notice.
“It’s been a while since we last met outside of official business, Aaron.”
Unlike yesterday, today’s skies were crystal clear. I sat on the terrace, enjoying Alicia’s tea and cake. Apparently, she had fainted in the secret room yesterday. I’d told her to rest, but she continued to serve me.
Aaron hovered behind me like one of my guards. “Indeed,” he said. “I am glad to hear you haven’t forgotten about me.”
I didn’t look back at him, but I could hear the smile in his voice. I followed suit with my own grin. “Don’t be silly. One would never forget someone as hardworking as you. And it is this hardworking man whose help I seek.”
The air around us changed in an instant, as if Aaron had drawn a sword and was ready to strike. My grin only grew wider.
“Anything you wish, Your Majesty.”
“Give me ten of your best men. I’d like them to escort me out of the capital a week from now.”
“Where to, exactly?”
“Oh, just to appreciate a show being put on by some people we need to find.”
“Pardon?”
I laughed at his befuddled response. “To be more precise, we will be sneaking around a bit. Once we’ve enjoyed the show, we’ll be capturing a few people. We will go for a nice little stroll, but one where we remain inconspicuous. Our targets are rather belligerent, which is why I’d like ten of your most skilled fighters. Can you provide them?”
“Certainly, but I must ask why you are putting yourself in harm’s way, Your Majesty.”
“I desire a bit of sightseeing. The reviews of this show have been quite favorable, you see.”
“I-I’m afraid I don’t follow,” Aaron spluttered.
His confused gaze bore into me from behind, and I squared my shoulders. “I’m joking…sort of. This show has piqued my curiosity, you see. How many attendees will show up? How many have become pawns of the Great Five? I may even wish to say a few words at the venue. Is that not reason enough?”
“Then why not see the show after we’ve captured the people you’re targeting?”
“I wish to have this situation dealt with as discreetly and quickly as possible. Having me on the prospective battlefield to give orders in person would be prudent.”
“Very well,” Aaron acquiesced. “I will send ten of my finest warriors to your aid.”
“Thank you. If possible, I’d like you to pick them from the team that marched on House Radford.”
“Yes, I planned to do that from the start. If discretion is crucial in this situation, then those men would be best suited for such work.”
“Excellent.” I held back a sinister smile as I savored my tea. “You have my gratitude for sparing the time to see me. It would be lovely if you’d join me for a training session sometime.”
“Of course. But may I make a request, Your Majesty?”
I nodded for him to continue.
“We, the Kingdom’s Army, are the sword and shield of the queen. Should you require protection… No, should you require any service of us, we will do what we can to fulfill it. What I mean to say is…”
He paused for a moment. Wondering what he meant to say, I turned around and made to rise from my seat.
“You need not ask things of us, my queen. We are here to receive your orders. From the beginning, and until the very end, we will serve you. Never forget that.”
He punctuated this declaration with a warm smile. As smiles went, his was stunning.
“Sorry, Your Majesty, I may have said too much. You seemed like you were about to rush into the unknown—I felt I had to tell you.”
“No need to apologize. And I value you, Aaron. If I hadn’t made that clear to you before, then that is my mistake. I shall take your words to heart.”
He had given me his selfless, honest advice. And because of his honesty, I could trust him.
Once our conversation was complete, the commander and I parted ways.