Chapter 166
Alter entered Brillie's room late, after supper had passed.
As always, on the surface, they needed to display a loving relationship as husband and wife.
So, from time to time, they did visit each other's rooms, but in truth, Brillie was always looking only at documents.
"Are you very busy?"
"No. Rather than being busy... I suppose I'm being greedy."
It was only then that Brillie put down her files and looked at Alter.
As the next head of house, she was overseeing the merchant company in a broad sense, while attempting reforms in many areas.
On top of that, she had to secure new sales routes for goods from the northern territory and southern region, so she had no choice but to put great effort into many things.
"Are you not having a hard time?"
"I can't say... that it isn't difficult. I've never had to use my head for these kinds of things before."
"To me, it already seems you have adapted to the work."
"It's not quite at that level. I still fumble through things every time."
"... Perhaps I'm mistaken, but Lady Brillie, I felt a similar aura from you as from Duke Illenat. Doesn't that mean your qualities as the head of house are showing?"
"What? I look similar to Father?"
"Yes. At least in terms of atmosphere, that's what I think."
Brillie looked puzzled at those words, then soon betrayed a subtle expression.
She had already heard similar things from her personal maid, and even some nobles and acquaintances had briefly mentioned it as well.
She thought they were just being polite, but if even her husband agreed, perhaps she should accept it a little.
"Hmmm... Surely you're not just saying something pleasant for me to hear?"
"I always wish for your happiness, lady Brillie, but right now I am speaking my honest opinion."
"Then let me tell you a story from the past."
Brillie stepped away from her desk and approached Alter.
Alter, wearing a faint curiosity, gazed back at Brillie.
"... Since I was a child, I often heard that I didn't resemble my father. I suppose they said that because I didn't act like a noble's daughter should."
"Did you use the sword, even then?"
"I was very interested, yes. But since Father forbade me from using the sword... I think a sense of rebellion grew in me. That's why I tried to secretly learn swordsmanship."
"It must have looked like you were going astray. I imagine other nobles thought much the same."
"That's right. I often got so annoyed that I thought about running away. I was convinced I could live well even without being a noble."
"So, is that why you took a sword and went to the battlefield?"
"Hm... Actually, I didn't have such intentions from the start. I just tried my best to escape so I wouldn't be caught."
"The capital is a fair distance from the frontier—how did you get there?"
"I saved up some money. I covered my face and climbed into a decent-looking carriage. Gave them a few coins and they drove me wherever I asked."
"......"
Alter for a moment lost the words to say, but then calmly accepted it.
After all, unless someone was also a noble, they would not recognize the duke's house's daughter.
And if she gave them plenty of money, anyone would do as told.
"So, when you went to the battlefield, you weren't discovered?"
"No. Because it was urgent, they accepted me as a mercenary. There were quite a few people like me, so it passed without much incident."
"But after the war ended, wasn't your identity exposed?"
"Oh, that... They kept asking about me, saying I'd accomplished a great feat. I thought hard about what to do, but then figured I could just prove my skill with it. So I confidently revealed my status and name."
"And everyone around you realized, didn't they?"
"Um... first, they were surprised I was a woman. I guess they never expected a noble's daughter would take part in battle. Then, the commander-in-chief came to treat me kindly... and a few days later, the family sent someone to fetch me."
Brillie, reflecting on the past, let out a wry laugh.
She was only now realizing just how reckless she had been.
Nevertheless, she survived without a scratch and ended up being recognized as a noble daughter who had earned achievements in war.
"It must have been terribly chaotic for awhile."
"Father was furious. I insisted I wanted to study swordsmanship properly, as I'd fought well enough. In the end, father was the one who gave in, and after that I trained and eventually entered the Sentinos knight order."
Brillie repeated the name 'Sentinos knight order' to herself, then shook it away.
Sentinos knight order no longer existed.
All that remained were herself, who had been the deputy-commander, and the captain, whom she had to eliminate.
"... Are you thinking of that person?"
"It's not right to call them a person anymore. Don't you think so?"
"......"
"There was a time he was a good man. A respectable superior, an excellent swordsman. But... what made him turn out that way?"
Brillie slowly murmured, immersed in a sigh.
In contrast, Alter could do nothing but silently watch over Brillie.
"Sometimes I imagined it—standing by the next Sword Saint and fighting enemies... wielding a sword. I admired it so much that I made it my objective. Now... none of it has any meaning."
"......"
"At first, I just wanted to know what he was thinking. That's probably why I kept hesitating. But now, it's different. Even if I understand the reasons, the sins will not disappear."
"......"
"The Knight of True Flame is a feat of the Agnes Empire. Even without me, someone would have to step up and deal with him. So, all I can do is continue to fight as I always have."
"......"
"So... I'd like you to help me, Lord Alter. It might be dangerous alone, but if you're with me, I might manage."
Though Brillie showed a bitter gaze, she did not abandon her expectation of a companion.
At their first meeting, Alter had appeared to be a fragile nobleman, but now he was the next great mage who had defeated several dragons.
Because of that, she could keep a blind faith, and treat him as a reliable partner.
"Yes. I will surely protect you. Because you are my companion."
Alter answered earnestly, meeting Brillie's gaze.
The gaze, always upright, now gently settled in.
It felt as though a long-hidden inner self had been revealed, and his heart seemed to lean toward her involuntarily.
"Lord Alter......"
Unconsciously, Brillie moved closer.
Alter watched her, unable to make a move himself.
At this moment, he wondered if he should entrust everything to Brillie.
"All you have to do is stay like that. That's enough."
Brillie, cautiously raising her face, soon touched Alter.
Their lips met and began to savor each other's warmth.
At the same time, Alter's body tensed, and Brillie instinctively gripped Alter's shoulders.
"......"
"......"
Every so often, faint sounds escaped into the silence.
Longing for the other, and undiscovered affection began to entangle.
Because it was their first experience of this kind, they blushed with heat, slowly becoming intoxicated by the atmosphere.
'Is this right? Am I making a mistake right now?'
Alter closed his eyes, trying to follow the flow.
Brillie was leading the mood, and all he could do was quietly follow.
Was it all right to show such a passive attitude to his own wife?
'I don't even know how long I'm supposed to do this...'
Caught up in doubt, Alter's hands twitched.
He'd managed to kiss Brillie somehow, but couldn't tell when he should break away.
Of course, the mood could continue a bit longer, but it only made him more anxious.
'For now, I should just stay still. If I ruin the mood for no reason...'
After much agonizing, Alter finally noticed a subtle change.
The warmth of her lips faded, and he could feel no more of that sensation.
When he belatedly opened his eyes, Brillie was stepping back.
"......"
"......"
A distinct silence grew between the two.
It was terribly awkward, and neither could muster the courage to speak.
What should one do in a moment like this?
"Um... was it strange, by any chance? Since it was my first time, maybe I got something wrong."
"Ah... There was nothing wrong at all."
"If that's so, then I suppose it's fine."
Though Brillie trailed off her words, she quickly averted her gaze.
She'd acted without much thought, but in the end only embarrassment lingered.
Perhaps she should have waited a bit longer before they kissed.
"I wondered if maybe I was the one who made a mistake. I've never done anything like this before... I was quite nervous, actually."
"Really? I couldn't tell at all. From my perspective, you responded well."
"I didn't do anything, so I don't know if you can call that responding well. I'll try a bit harder next time."
"......"
Shrouded in silence, Brillie glanced sideways at Alter.
The feeling of the kiss still lingered on her lips.
It was simple, yet burning, so she couldn't forget the moment with Alter.
'It was something I'd have to face eventually... But is this really all right? I still don't know.'
* * *
Something was stretched along the ground, without a hint of movement.
Fragments that had once been armor lay scattered everywhere.
By appearance alone, it could not be described as anything and would have to be regarded as a bizarre form.
"Grrrk... grrrrr......"
Something seemed to twitch slightly and then subsided.
A voice was surely coming out, but it could not be considered human.
Rather, it was closer to that of a monster, and all around was a dense aura of mana.
"Crrrk... Kgaaaa!"
With a piercing cry, something began to seethe.
At the same time, the fragments of armor gathered and merged into one.
First, fierce flames erupted, closely followed by flashes of bright yellow electricity.
Finally, only after an aura of corrosion was emitted did the form stabilize.
"I... will not die... like this... Kyaaaa!"
The form abruptly swelled and then contracted.
Its composition slowly transformed, twisting and decomposing over and over.
No longer belonging anywhere between human and monster, it was simply and completely being devoured.
"I will reach the ultimate state... Once I'm stronger... someday......"
This form still retained some shred of self, but only in part.
Having absorbed the power of dragons one after another, its body structure was inevitably collapsing.
Despite that, it managed to preserve its own life, but everything else was slowly fading away.
"Not... yet achieved... gruuuh... graaa......"
Engulfed in pain, the form was seized by a strange sense of alienation.
Even knowing the ending destined for it was empty, it pressed forward relentlessly.
Despair welled up from within, and all it could do was stare toward oblivion.
"Brillie... Alter Radiant... Agnes Empire... all of you... I will destroy you... If not for you... I would have..."