Chapter 233: It’s Up To You To Accompany Her Through The Rest of Her Life
The flames blazed warmly in the fireplace, driving away the chill of early spring’s night.
“To speak frankly, Your Majesty, you are far more candid than I imagined.”
Hearing Allen’s straightforward remark, Last smiled faintly.
“I thought, given your status, you would at least circle around with me for a while, displaying the power and dignity befitting the ruler of a nation, before finally getting to the point.”
“In the palace, projecting authority before vassals and great nobles, adopting an unfathomable air... that is not my preference, but my duty as a monarch.”
“A leader whose mind is easily read by subordinates has no qualification to be king.”
“However, in this Hailan Manor, my identity is not that of an emperor.”
“I am speaking to you now as a father.”
Allen scrutinized Last’s gaze. “Then, Last, can you tell me your answer?”
“My feelings for Shiltina?”
At this moment, not only was Allen scrutinizing him, but Last was also reflecting inwardly on his own heart.
After a moment of silence, he smiled.
“I do indeed harbor affection for Shiltina.”
“This affection might stem from a shared idealism, a sympathy born of common plight.”
“Or perhaps it began even earlier, back at the docks of Deep Blue Port, when I lay grievously wounded, eyes shut, waiting for death... and witnessed with my own eyes that starlight which incinerated the Iron Cross tide to ashes—”
“That rapier wielder who shone like the morning star has since occupied a place in my heart.”
Last answered calmly.
“So, if it were to end in marriage with her, I personally would not oppose it.”
“Even though I’ve now reached the peak of the Sixth Tier... compared to the Empire, I am but a speck.”
“Just like Your Majesty, who keeps your strength hidden in daily life, but once you wield the Holy Sword under your control... I fear even a Legendary would not be your match for a single exchange.”
Clearly, Allen at that moment appeared to be just an ordinary middle-aged noble.
But in Last’s Spiritual Sight, the man before him resembled an abyss of absolute darkness—so deep even light could not escape.
Such a sensation, Last had only ever glimpsed within the Historical Echoes of the Nightworld, from the moment Little Ai became the Judgement Angel, and from that fleeting image during the angelic war at the end of the Sixth Era.
Though belonging to different Higher Sequence Tiers, with entirely different Authorities and laws... there was no doubt they all shared the same rank of existence.
“Therefore, to marry the imperial princess, to obtain the Empire’s resources and support, and gain such a colossal backer...”
“For someone like me at present, it is undoubtedly a deal full of gain and no loss.”
“From any perspective, I cannot find a reason to reject Your Majesty.”
Last’s voice paused briefly.
“However—”
“All I’ve said is under one condition.”
“And that is, Shiltina must...”
“...be willing herself.”
……
“Last, you really are an interesting man.”
Hearing Last’s response, Allen couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“It’s clear—you are indeed like me. We are the same kind of people.”
“This so-called engagement, in your eyes, is merely a title... no different from secular law or morals.”
“You obey the laws and morals of the world only because it is necessary for daily survival—to remain inconspicuous, to appear harmless... but when the moment calls, these shackles will never restrain you.”
“That is how you can calmly work in a host club, pleasing female clients, even dressing as a maid... Your soul has long been hardened like steel. No matter the circumstances or the treatment you receive, it cannot shake your sneering iron heart.”
“If someone believes that after marriage, they can bind you with titles like 『father-in-law』, 『son-in-law』, or 『engagement』, making you submit and become a tool... then they are bound to suffer greatly.”
“Because in the depths of your soul, aside from that ideal called 『ideal』, everything else can be discarded without a second thought.”
Allen’s voice paused for a moment.
He gazed directly at Last with his light brown eyes.
“But fortunately, from the very beginning, I never intended to use this engagement to draw you in, to bind you to the Empire’s royal war chariot.”
“What I truly wish to change—”
“Is only my daughter, Shiltina...”
Allen’s gaze fell, focusing on his own chest.
“The royal family of the Empire has, generation after generation, guarded and passed down a Holy Relic known as the 『Holy Sword』.”
“The Holy Sword’s power goes without saying—even if its wielder is merely of the Sixth Tier, once liberated, they can rival the Legendary Realm... and if the one wielding it is already Legendary, they may directly attain a portion of angelic Authority and rank.”
“However, just as 『Equivalent Exchange』 is the fundamental law of the supernatural world... since the Holy Sword holds such might, using it naturally demands a price. Each liberation of the Holy Sword causes tremendous backlash to the user, not just physical, but spiritual trauma as well.”
“Normally, the soul injury caused by the Holy Sword’s liberation can be slowly healed by its scabbard—‘Avalon’, the Distant Ideal Land.”
“As long as the King does not liberate the Holy Sword too frequently, then the wounds to the soul can recover under the nourishment of the scabbard, leaving no lingering illness.”
He gently tapped his own chest. “However, as king, I made one willful decision.”
“I did not choose to keep the scabbard Avalon for myself, but buried it inside Shiltina’s body.”
“That child is far too much like her mother—stubborn, inflexible, always ending up bruised and battered. I feared she would repeat her mother’s path, so I hid the scabbard within her, hoping it would protect her from harm.”
“Yet doing so came at a price—I lost the protection of the scabbard. The backlash from each liberation of the Holy Sword, the irreparable soul wounds, must all be endured by me alone.”
“For this reason, though my strength appears formidable, my soul has long harbored a hidden affliction—when the latent dangers within my soul finally erupt, that will be the day of my death.”
Allen slowly turned his head, looking toward the photo frame on the table.
It was a family portrait: a much younger-looking Allen, and the same Cecilia whom Last had glimpsed briefly within the Historical Echoes.
Between them was a young girl with a chestnut ponytail, a plump little face beaming brightly.
This was Shiltina as a child.
Since meeting her, Last had never seen Shiltina show such a carefree and genuinely happy smile.
“As king, I dare say I’ve fulfilled my duty and can be called a competent monarch.”
“But as a father, I am undoubtedly a failure.”
“I did not give Shiltina a complete childhood, and with the state of my soul now, I can no longer walk beside her for the rest of her life.”
“So, Last—”
Allen’s gaze once again locked onto Last.
“I hope... that it will be you, who accompanies her through the latter half of her journey.”
“With your company, she can gradually correct her stubbornness and rigidity, returning to a normal life... instead of walking the same tragic path as her mother.”
“In this way...”
“When the final day comes, I can pass without regrets, and be reunited with her mother in the ideal land.”
“As for what you said—about Shiltina’s own will—”
Allen’s voice paused slightly.
He stared at the burning firewood in the fireplace, his expression shifting subtly.
In that moment, Allen was no longer the gentle middle-aged nobleman from before, but had once more become the sovereign ruler of the world.
“Shiltina.”
“She will agree. She must agree.”
“She is my daughter, a member of the royal family—before the fate of the Empire, no one has the right to choose.”
……
“In the Granwell Kingdom, there are not too many cumbersome rites, nor is there a need to pick an auspicious date.”
“Since both sides agree to the marriage and no objections exist... then your wedding with Shiltina shall be held in the Imperial Capital, three weeks from now.”
“This will be the grandest wedding in all of the Western Continent——”
“Likewise, it will also be the first day that Shiltina makes her appearance before the world as the 『Imperial Princess』, 『Heir to the Holy Sword』, and 『Future Empress』.”
The conversation between Last and Allen ended swiftly, and could be said to have gone smoothly for both host and guest.
Only after Last left did Allen slowly retract his gaze from the doorway.
He continued to stare at the family portrait on the table in silence.
The entire manor was utterly still, save for the crackling of firewood in the fireplace.
It was unclear how much time had passed when a set of rapid footsteps, growing louder from afar, shattered the silence of Hailan Manor.
The front door was suddenly thrown open, and the cold wind of early spring surged into the room, scattering the warmth released by the fireplace.
A girl with chestnut hair cascading down her back stood at the manor’s entrance.
Shiltina looked around at the all-too-familiar furnishings and decorations of Hailan Manor, then her eyes fell upon the family portrait on the table.
At last, her gaze landed on Allen. In those light brown eyes shone a complicated emotion.
“Father.”
“I heard from the manor maids that Last already came to see you, didn’t he?”
“As expected, it’s only when something concerns him that you’re willing to come back and see me... Shiltina.”
Allen’s calm voice revealed no trace of emotion. “That’s right. I’ve already spoken with him.”
“By now, Last should already be aboard the special train back to Starfall University.”
“Then...” Shiltina pressed her lips together. “What was the result?”
“Shiltina, you understand Last better than I do... you should know that a so-called engagement is nothing more than a symbol to him. He won’t be bound or restricted by it in the slightest.”
“A proposal that brings him only benefits and not a single drawback—naturally, he wouldn’t oppose it.”
“Your wedding will be held in the Imperial Capital, three weeks from now.”
Allen slowly rose to his feet, looking down at his own daughter.
“So, Shiltina——”
“Are you ready?”
“To marry Last, then inherit the Holy Sword...”
“To become my successor, and also the future Empress of the Empire——”
“To carry the weight of the Granwell Empire and the fate of tens of millions of its people.”
Shiltina gently pressed her lips together, and her chestnut hair fell slightly forward, concealing her expression.
Seeing this, Allen’s calm voice sounded again.
“Yesterday, I encountered a 『Gravekeeper』.”
“If my senses are correct, then it should be a 『Quasi-Angel』.”
“A Quasi-Angel... Gravekeeper?”
Hearing two terms that clearly caught her attention, Shiltina lifted her head.
“Yes, that’s right, a Quasi-Angel.”
“Back when it was still Legendary, its fate was already permanently inscribed on the 『Eternal Night Stele』.”
“Thus, even though it now surpasses the realm of the Legendary, its fate is still bound by that Holy Relic stele, unable to reverse the River of Time like a true Angel, unable to exist in every moment of time without weakness.”
“But aside from that, whether in power or Authority, it is no different from a true Angel.”
“That Quasi-Angel Gravekeeper told me that it came to the Imperial Capital this time for one person only——”
Allen’s voice paused slightly.
“That is the Gravekeeper’s nemesis, a human boy named Last.”
“The Gravekeepers have passed down countless ages, with the legacy of the 『Fool’s Library』 now resting on that boy’s shoulders... Between them lies a blood feud stretching across several Eras, one of irreconcilable hatred. The Quasi-Angel referred to him as a 『despicable Fire Thief』.”
“And right now, that human boy is within the Empire’s borders... If the Granwell Empire is willing to hand him over to the Gravekeepers, not only would we gain the friendship of an ancient and secretive organization, but they are even willing to offer a true Holy Relic in exchange.”
“I told them this matter is of great importance, and besides, capturing a high-tier Transcendent who is immune to prophecy and divination within the Empire will take time.”
“In one month, I will give them a clear answer.”
“Father!”
Shiltina sharply turned to Allen. “You’re not thinking... of handing Last over to the 『Gravekeepers』, are you?”
“Of course not.”
Allen shook his head without the slightest change in expression. “Even if I set aside the feelings my two daughters have for him... Last himself does not belong to the Granwell Empire, but to Starfall University.”
“If I dared exchange Last for a Holy Relic today... that Snow Ferret and the old Headmaster would dismantle the entire Imperial Capital tomorrow.”
“Yesterday, I had a brief clash with that Quasi-Angel.”
“After witnessing the might of the Holy Sword, at least within the month I promised, the Gravekeepers surely will not act rashly.”
“But——”
He looked down at his daughter. “What about after one month?”
“This is a blood feud stretching back several Eras, a clash of ideologies. Between the Shoreguards and the Gravekeepers, there can be no peace.”
“Even if I choose to reject the Quasi-Angel in one month, it certainly won’t give up... it will try everything to find Last’s whereabouts.”
“That boy is, at best, only at the peak of the Sixth Tier now. Admittedly, he’s exceptional, seemingly protected by Fate, immune to all prophecy and divination, and has often defied higher tiers——”
“But none of that matters to a Mythic Being who has already set one foot into the Angelic domain... Last will be caught by the Gravekeepers. It’s only a matter of time.”
Shiltina lowered her gaze, remaining silent.
“I know what you’re hoping for... whether it’s the old Headmaster of Starfall University or that Snow Ferret, they both care about him deeply. There’s no way they would allow Last to be captured by the Gravekeepers.”
“But that Snow Ferret is still recovering, not yet returned to its peak. It might manage against a normal Legendary, but against an Angel it would be strained.”
“And the old Headmaster is already aged... they might be able to protect Last once, twice... but how could they possibly protect him for a lifetime?”
“After all, an assassin will always have the easier task than a bodyguard.”
Allen continued to look down at the silent Shiltina with a commanding presence that brooked no resistance.
“If you do not marry Last... then the Empire will have no grounds to interfere in the war between the Shoreguards and the Gravekeepers.”
“A nation cannot go to war with a secretive organization, whose weakest member is a Legendary, just to protect a boy unrelated to it.”
“And if you do not inherit the Holy Sword, then you’ll either watch the one you love be captured by the Gravekeepers... or you’ll follow the Forester’s creed—『As long as a knight still draws breath, he must never let a comrade die before his eyes』—and place yourself between Last and death.”
“But with your Sixth Tier strength, dying alongside him would be the only outcome... That cannot be called bravery, only blind and foolish self-destruction.”
“But if you marry Last, and inherit the Holy Sword, everything will be entirely different.”
Allen’s voice, previously cold as ice, suddenly softened.
“The Empire will not go to war with the Gravekeepers for an unrelated boy——but if he is the Empress’s consort, then everything changes.”
“And Shiltina, you are the most compatible with the Holy Sword of any royal in recorded imperial history——at the age of seven, you already resonated with the Sword in the Stone.”
“Now, after more than a decade of nurturing and tempering by the scabbard within your body... your soul has completely merged with the Holy Sword—they are one and the same.”
“Once you inherit the Holy Sword, you will become the greatest Holy Sword wielder in history——”
“By harnessing its power, you will open a second Higher Sequence Tier, the one known as the 『Sovereign Domain』... You will rise to Legendary in a short span, perhaps even achieve Angelhood, and through the advantage of a 『Dual Sequence』, swiftly close the gap between yourself and the ancient Angels.”
“And by then, it will be you, as his wife, who stands by Last’s side. No matter who sets their sights on him—Legendary or Quasi-Angel—you will personally cut them down.”
Allen gazed at his daughter, who stood in silence, eyes downcast.
His voice held the warmth of a father’s love, but far more of the unyielding authority of a monarch.
“It sounds like the only choice, doesn’t it?”
“Shiltina, you can marry the one you love, and gain the power to protect what you cherish.”
“All you need to do is inherit the Holy Sword, become my successor... and bear the weight that befits the 『Holy Sword』—the fate of tens of millions within the Empire.”
“And the only price you must pay—”
“Is to cast off your stubbornness.”
“And abandon that so-called 『Forester』... rigid, outdated, and inflexible foolish ideal.”