Volume 4, Chapter 59 – Loca

Fia stopped.

“I only want an answer, Reinhardt. Only one of you and Loca can live. Of course, you can also give up this opportunity and go to the gallows with your family.”

“I…” As if making an extremely difficult decision, Count Reinhardt swallowed hard. He seemed to have mustered all his strength to finally squeeze out the courage from between his teeth, panting heavily. “I… I agree. I implore you to exile me to the south!”

After saying this, he went completely limp, as if his bones had been removed, his face turning as pale as a candle.

Fia’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but she patiently tossed the pre-inked pen to him, her voice growing colder.

“You know what to do.”

“I’ll sign, I’ll sign…”

Looking at Erin Slate, who had already taken out a recording crystal, Count Reinhardt’s hands trembled like a Parkinson’s patient. It took him several minutes just to write his name.

The rest of the process was simple. He was returned to his cell, and Fia obtained his signed statement. However, she wasn’t particularly interested in it. Prince Schain’s crime of rebellion was already a solid fact; this statement was just icing on the cake. She had taken the time to come here only to see if he had any remorse for his daughter. The fact was, he had abandoned her once again.

Just a moment ago, he had put on the airs of a doting father, as if he regretted abandoning Loca because of the Darkborn Disease. Yet when faced with a similar situation, he had reverted to his old self. It was truly disgusting.

Following behind Fia, Erin Slate thought for a moment and then, as if to test her mood, said softly.

“You need not concern yourself with such a person, Lord Thanatos. Loca saw through him long ago. Not everyone is like you, who would go to great lengths to help others.”

“Hah, Loca was right. I shouldn’t have held out any hope for him.”

Fia let out a light breath. Count Reinhardt’s choice to save himself was sickening, but also a relief.

An evil person is an evil person from beginning to end. This was the result that would make everyone happy.

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“Then, Reinhardt…”

“You can deal with him as you see fit.”

“I understand.”

A slight curve appeared on Erin Slate’s lips. Keeping him alive was just a liability. Although her master had promised to exile him, she had not said she would guarantee his safety after his exile. A small accident could be arranged.

Then, as Fia walked out of the prison door, she met a red-haired young woman hiding behind it.

Loca.

Long before Fia’s arrival, Loca had entered the prison in advance at Erin Slate’s behest. The entire conversation with Count Reinhardt had been heard by her.

Seeing her, Fia shifted her gaze slightly.

Although she had not interacted much with her, Loca had left a deep impression. She was extremely affectionate towards her. When Fia had said she would treat the Darkborn patterns on her body, Loca had immediately taken off her dress, almost making her cry out in surprise. She was the type who was cold to outsiders but lively only towards her.

“Lord Thanatos.”

Seeing Fia, Loca immediately knelt on one knee in a salute. Fia quickly used [Telekinesis] to support her, preventing her from kneeling.

“There’s no need for formalities,” Fia said softly, feeling a little guilty. “I’m sorry. I did something unnecessary. I thought he would have at least some reluctance. I didn’t expect him to be like this.”

“No. I saw through him long ago. From the moment he abandoned me, I stopped seeing him as my father. He is an outsider, and has nothing to do with me. I am not at all surprised by his choice. Compared to you, Lord Thanatos, he is less than an insect. How could I let you apologize…”

Loca spoke so decisively that Fia couldn’t help but think she was just putting on a brave face. She looked into her eyes again, but they were only filled with sincerity and embarrassment. She was even scratching her cheek lightly.

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Suddenly, Fia felt that perhaps what Loca had said under the Holy Tree last night—that she saw her as her real parent—was not just to spite Prince Schain. She actually meant it.

Now that she had her, her parent, Loca naturally saw Reinhardt as a stranger. To make an analogy, it was like a parent who had committed the crime of abandonment suddenly showing up after the child had grown up. It would be difficult for the child to have any good feelings for their biological parent. To make a substitution, it was Veronica and Mother Yulisha. She had not a shred of goodwill towards Veronica, and only felt that Yulisha and the others were her mothers.

Fia finally began to understand her thoughts, and a delicate, wry smile appeared on her face.

“Then if I were to deal with him, you wouldn’t object, would you, Loca?”

“Of course. If it’s inconvenient for you to do it, I can take care of him for you myself,” Loca guaranteed, patting her chest.

“It doesn’t need to go that far…” Fia let out a big sigh. “Hah, alright. I completely understand. I apologize for my presumptuousness. What kind of apology would you like, Loca?”

“No, no, no… that’s why I said, you don’t need to apologize at all, Lord Thanatos,” Loca waved her hands in front of her in a panic. Then, like a thief, she cautiously glanced at Erin Slate behind Fia, then shrunk her neck and said timidly, “But if it’s possible, I… I hope you can pat my head…”

“Is that all?”

“That would be enough to make me happy!”

In fact, Loca had wanted something more intimate, but with Erin Slate here, she was a little afraid. As someone who had come from under her, she knew her possessiveness all too well.

However, Fia did not know what she was thinking. She tilted her head, a look of confusion on her face. Just a pat on the head as an apology? She was too easy to please. She gently stroked her head as she had asked. Sure enough, a look of contentment appeared on her face, and she even squinted her eyes.

It reminded her of Liti and Milu, even though Loca was a young woman about the same age as Estelle.

Where did the Eldest Princess find so many obedient and sensible subordinates?

Then, as if she had remembered something, Fia asked.

“By the way, how did you sneak in here, Loca?”

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“With the certificate Lady Erin Slate gave me. I just had to disguise myself as a soldier here, and I could come and go freely. Ah…”

As Fia withdrew her hand, a look of wistful loss appeared on Loca’s face.

Fia asked with interest.

“That is to say, if the soldier you were disguised as suddenly disappeared, the people here wouldn’t notice?”

“Yes. Because you can’t get past the barrier at the entrance without a certificate, and the certificate is a one-time use, you need to go to the military to get a new one each time you enter or exit. So no one would suspect the identity of the person coming and going.”

“I see. Give me your hand, Loca.”

“Yes…?”

Not knowing what Fia was going to do, Loca extended her hand suspiciously. And Fia immediately pulled her towards her, and then, amidst her surprised cry, suddenly swept her up in her arms, like a princess carry.

“Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh?! L-L-Lord Thanatos!”

“Lord Thanatos, what are you doing?!”

First came Loca’s panicked shout, followed by Erin Slate’s dumbfounded voice.

Although Fia was also a little embarrassed, it was not to the point of blushing. She just felt that since Loca saw her as a mother, then she should also do something that would make her happy. Admittedly, she was actually younger than Loca, but her mental age should be more important here.

Because she had no memories of the past, Fia couldn’t remember what kind of past she had had with Loca, yet Loca had always trusted her, which made her feel guilty. However, beautiful memories could be created from now on. She felt that this would probably make Loca happier, so she did it. As long as she created enough beautiful memories now, she could slowly fade the sense of guilt she felt for having forgotten her.

Of course, she had the courage to do this because she didn’t see Loca as a peer at all, but had substituted her relationship with Yulisha. She felt that if she were to be held by her mother like this, although she would be shy and embarrassed on the surface, she would be very happy in her heart—it should be said that Fia would never tell Yulisha this, not even if it killed her.

Because Loca was struggling restlessly, Fia had to emphasize.

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“Alright, be quiet. I’ll use illusion magic to make it look like you’re not with us. I’ll take you out of here, so don’t move.”

“B-b-but… but this… L-Lady Erin Slate…”

With Fia’s command, Loca immediately quieted down like a little cat. Her body trembled slightly, and she looked to Erin Slate for help as if she were afraid. The result was that Erin Slate had a seemingly magnanimous expression.

“Since Lord Thanatos has decided, you should just obediently accept it.”

“I…”

I absolutely didn’t do it on purpose!

Loca really wanted to say that, but she was afraid of exposing Erin Slate’s secret, so she could only keep her mouth shut.

And then, she found that Fia was already carrying her and walking towards the main gate.

A fresh fragrance began to enter her nostrils, and a slender and warm feeling was also transmitted to her body through Fia’s chest.

It was exactly the same warmth as when she had been held before.

Somehow, Loca felt her heart gradually calm down. Although she still did not dare to hug Fia back, she subconsciously leaned her body a little closer. Shyness and embarrassment made her close her eyes, yet she couldn’t help but peek through a small slit at Fia’s long eyelashes and soft lips. That fair collarbone always made one want to lick it.

Is this a dream?

Oh, gods, even if I’m punished by Lady Erin Slate later, please let this last a little longer… it would be even better if I could just faint!

With this prayer in her heart, Loca suppressed the indescribable joy and the urge to cry in her heart. She sniffed lightly, trying to breathe in as much of Fia’s scent as possible, to remember the feel of her smooth and delicate skin, until a bright light came into her vision.