Chapter 111
Chapter 111
Alter had secretly prepared a gift for the Lover's Blessing Anniversary.
Brillie Illenat probably did something similar, but she hadn't shown any particular change yet.
Still, since it was just a type of food, it wasn't too hard to get.
'I bought something expensive... Is this enough?'
Since it was a present for his fiancé, it was essentially in the realm of a luxury item.
No one expects practicality from a luxury item, and people usually rely on its price and reputation.
He couldn't escape that trend either, so he had no choice but to indulge a bit in vanity.
'The color and taste are almost set. So I need to aim for something different.'
The taste and aroma of this food were so distinct that it was nearly impossible to alter them.
At most, it could be used as an ingredient in a specific recipe or the ratio of flavor and aroma might be slightly adjusted.
Of course, sometimes a unique variant would be created, but only by staking its value with money.
'It's not like I'm stingy with money, but I'm not sure Brillie Illenat will like it.'
From the start, Brillie Illenat was more frugal compared to other nobles.
Recently, she had spent quite a bit on ornaments, but since it was a gift for him, he bought it without holding back.
Brillie Illenat, as both a knight and swordswoman, had always preferred combat equipment.
'She'll accept it out of courtesy, but...'
"Hm hm..."
Brillie Illenat carefully knocked and entered the room.
Alter noticed that Brillie Illenat was hiding something behind her back, even as he looked at her.
It seemed likely she had brought a present for the Lover's Blessing Anniversary.
"Lady Brillie Illenat. Why are you hiding it?"
"It's just... I'm embarrassed."
"What's there to be embarrassed about? Other nobles must be the same."
"I'm a bit different. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't even try."
"...?"
With a hint of curiosity, Alter simply waited for Brillie Illenat to approach.
Brillie Illenat, after hesitating for a while, reluctantly placed her gift on the table.
"They say it's something lovers give to each other... but even if it's a political marriage, you can't just ignore it, right?"
"Marriage is on par with love, isn't it? If you truly hated me, you wouldn't have accepted marriage."
Alter belatedly opened a drawer and took out a small box.
He set it down on the opposite side of the table, then returned to his original seat.
"I'm not sure if you like chocolate... but I hope you'll like it. For everlasting and pure affection."
Alter quietly recited the phrase symbolizing this anniversary and smiled.
Brillie Illenat made eye contact with him absentmindedly, then let out a helpless laugh.
"What is this? Makes me feel like the fool here."
"It just means you're more considerate than I am. Would you show me a bit more lenience?"
"If I don't accept this, it's like rejecting your feelings. Did you know that?"
"I've heard a little about it."
"They say that only if you eat at least some of the chocolate from your partner, your love will be fulfilled. Do you really think that makes sense?"
"It's just a kind of legend, so it's fanciful. But because it carries meaning, that's how anniversaries come about, isn't it?"
Alter did not wish to deny the Lover's Blessing Anniversary.
Even if the anniversary's legend was a lie, it was born from human longing in the end.
Because everyone wants to be happy, even a simple anniversary is filled with special meaning.
"You want to say I should go along with it, at least for today?"
"To me, there's only you, Brillie Illenat."
"Hmmm... Right. That's not wrong, I suppose."
Brillie Illenat blushed in embarrassment, but soon sat down.
After eyeing Alter's gift, she finally picked it up slowly.
"Should I eat it now, while you're watching?"
"I don't mind, whenever."
"No. I want to follow the rules, at least. So there's no room for doubt."
Brillie Illenat untied the ribbon on the gift box and even removed the wrapping paper.
When she pulled off the thin lid of the box, there was something covered in a pure white color inside.
"... Is this white chocolate?"
"Yes. I heard it was made through a special process."
"I'd heard of it too, but thought it was just a rumor. I can tell a lot of care went into this."
Brillie Illenat cast a doubtful gaze, then picked up one of the pure white chocolates.
She took a bite and slowly savored its flavor.
"The aroma is unique. It's definitely different from what I usually eat."
"Then I'll try mine now as well."
Alter leisurely opened the gift he received from Brillie Illenat.
She glanced at him unconsciously, and reluctantly brought her own chocolate to her mouth.
What kind of reaction would his fiancé have after eating this chocolate?
'Isn't this... a bit different?'
Looking inside the box, Alter sensed something offbeat in the air.
At first glance it was just ordinary chocolate.
But although it seemed oddly crude, at least the scent was sweet.
'Why did she say she wondered if she shouldn't have done this?'
Alter, lost in thought, popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth.
A slightly bitter yet sweet flavor lingered on his tongue.
It was quite an ordinary chocolate, yet subtly different from others.
'Could it be... Brillie Illenat...?'
"How does it taste?"
"It's good. But as you said, it does feel a bit different."
"What's different?"
"It seems a little off at times, but somehow it fits together well. It's not the type sold in the shops, right?"
"... You're not lying, at least. I felt the same way."
"You made this yourself, didn't you?"
"Yes. That's right. After several failures, I finally managed it. At first, it wouldn't even mix properly."
Brillie Illenat, after revealing the truth late, recalled the memories of that process.
Though she secretly received some help from the chef, she ultimately made the chocolate by herself.
Since this was her first Lover's Blessing Anniversary with Alter, she had put some heartfelt effort into it.
"I didn't even think to make it myself. That's really impressive."
"It's nothing special. I just followed the recipe."
"Well, I couldn't even do that, which is why I just bought mine. I can't compare to your effort."
"That's not true. This isn't easy to find, either, is it? There must have been lots of people wanting to buy it... I'm sure you went through some trouble too."
"Luck was on my side, I guess."
Alter replied mildly, taking another piece of chocolate.
If a gift held sincerity, it could touch the recipient.
That's why he and Brillie Illenat both did their best in their own way.
As their marriage was promised, they had to build trust in each other.
'It'd be nice to just get married quietly and live in peace like this... but that's still a distant dream.'
Alter was still conscious of the future that had not yet arrived.
Currently, four dragons remained in Hazlodein, and in a previous timeline, commoners had risen up in rebellion.
That didn't mean things would suddenly take a positive turn, so he would have to be prepared for battles to come.
'It won't be smooth. Most likely, Brillie Illenat and I... won't be able to escape this current.'
Ultimately, all of it would threaten the Agnes Empire, and both he and Brillie Illenat would be affected.
Countless soldiers would have to fight, and the powerful could not shirk their duty to defend the empire.
On top of that, the Knight of True Flame was acting according to some plan, so he was bound to be a huge variable.
'If he absorbed a dragon's magic power to become stronger... could he be after the other dragons, too?'
* * *
The Knight of True Flame had completely adapted to his new power after enduring a long trial.
Now, he no longer suffered from the burning pain, and the scarlet flames were fiercer than ever.
If he could gain so much from a single dragon, just how much stronger could he become by stealing the power of others?
"... Soon, it'll appear."
The Knight of True Flame had already left the eastern territory, tracking down the location of another dragon.
Dragons possessed huge bodies and immense strength, but strangely enough, their presence was rarely revealed.
It would only be possible to meet one if they intentionally appeared, like Benelrode the Incandescent.
"You're next, Grafden the Deep."
The Knight of True Flame was waiting for a dragon to appear, cloistered at the remote edge of the southern region.
Most of the land in the southern region was used for agriculture, but at the extreme edge, people rarely ventured.
To the residents there, it was considered an ominous place, and for good reason—countless people had gone missing or died there over the years.
"You must be the one who's been killing people."
Resolute, the Knight of True Flame gazed out at the pitch-black earth.
The dragon's magic coursing through his body heightened his sense of his kin's presence.
That energy had been growing sharper for days; in truth, it was advancing toward the Agnes Empire.
"I can never... be a hero now. I'm just an arrogant villain."
The Knight of True Flame recalled the soldiers who had died back in the eastern territory.
Whether he tried to reduce casualties among the eastern army, deceive the dragons, or simply waited for the right time to achieve his goals,
making excuses now only felt even more pathetic.
He couldn't prove his true intentions in any way, so he'd have to accept whatever results followed.
"Brillie Illenat. You'll cross paths with me again."
The Knight of True Flame knew that this was inevitable.
He was a foe to all the people, and Brillie Illenat was the Sword Flower guarding the Agnes Empire.
Even if he slew a dragon alone, no one would believe him.
"... Alter Radiant. You blocked a dragon's breath. What are you hiding?"
The Knight of True Flame truly regarded Alter Radiant, Brillie Illenat's fiancé, with wariness.
Out of all the opponents he'd faced, Alter was the only one who had stirred his magic.
What's more, Benelrode the Incandescent had tried to eliminate him first, and the names of other dragons had even been mentioned.
There was certainly some grand secret within Alter Radiant.
"But it's useless. I will not fight you."
The Knight of True Flame had already abandoned his will to protect humanity.
He only maintained a shred of conscience because he had once lived as a human himself.
Above all, he couldn't erase the traces of his past, so he was forced to withdraw.
"I just need to take that bastard's power. Isn't that the best outcome for you all, too?"