Inside one of the many empty and silent rooms of the grand Mitsugoshi Trading Company, the air was permeated with a delicate fragrance.
At the center of the room, seated naked upon a chair of soft leather, was an elf. Her elegantly crossed legs barely concealed the vulnerable and, at the same time, seductive state in which she found herself. In her right hand, she held firmly a delicate quill, dipped in black ink, and with it she scribbled almost frenetically onto the fine linen paper.
"At that moment… Midnight stood before her despicable enemy, unshaken even in the face of threats, and made such a declaration with her noble and dignified voice..." she murmured, writing with passion.
Beta, the Second of the Seven Shadows, squirmed in her seat, unable to contain the fire burning within her body. Unconsciously, her left hand slid between her legs, trying to quell the searing flame raging inside. She twisted in the chair, her breasts rising and falling with her quickened breath, her cheeks flushed a deep red as she mentally relived, once again, the glorious scene of the man to whom she devoted her body, soul, and heart: her absolute master.
"Ahhh… my noble, my beautiful lord…! Only you… only you are worthy to be my master..." she gasped, leaning forward, pressing her thighs together while gripping the quill with trembling fingers.
"This time… Ahh~ Once again… I saw your heroic figure… hmm~… It was simply… magnificent!"
Even in Leon's absence, his presence was overwhelmingly real in Beta's mind and heart. There were no limits to her devotion; no walls capable of containing her overpowering love. The entire room was a sanctuary consecrated to him: the walls covered with quotations spoken by Leon during his missions, and countless hand-painted portraits of him, rendered from various angles, adorned every corner.
At times, unable to resist the uncontrollable emotion that consumed her, Beta would set down the quill, rise, and run to one of the paintings. She would wrap her arms around the portrait, pressing her body against the cold surface, and plant fervent kisses upon the sculpted lips of the man she loved so deeply.
But… it was only there, in the silence of her seclusion, that she could be so bold. In front of him, Beta knew: she would behave like a shy girl, eager to be noticed, yet always obedient, always worthy. Like a faithful, devoted little pet… completely bewitched.
She slowly moved away from the painting, ran her hand over her lips, and returned to the chair. She gazed at the quill and papers with determined eyes, taking a deep breath to calm the frenzy.
"Calm… calm, Beta…" she whispered to herself, caressing her thigh with the tips of her fingers.
"If I get too… excited… I might end up forgetting important details. I can't allow that… no… never!" She lifted her gaze, eyes gleaming with resolve.
"I am the one destined to record every gesture… every word… every glance of that perfect man…"
She wiped a bead of sweat that trickled down her temple, and only then did she notice the chair was soaked.
Blushing even more as she realized where that liquid had come from, she calmly picked up a handkerchief and discreetly wiped the surface, as though that excess of emotion were something trivial.
"Tsk… sometimes my fantasies… go too far…" she commented with an embarrassed smile.
"But who can blame me? When you love someone so intensely… so completely… how can you not let yourself be consumed by this fire…?"
Beta turned her attention to the manuscript and the passage she had just finished. It was the moment when Lutheran dared to threaten Leon shortly before his death.
"Ahhh… Leon-sama…" she sighed, closing her eyes at the memory.
---
"You're not afraid?! Even though you're the enemy of the entire world?! You're nothing but… an arrogant fool, Leon!"
Leon smiled with cold disdain, as if hearing the bark of a rabid dog on the verge of death.
"Try to destroy my arrogance, if you can…" Leon tilted his head slightly, in a gesture almost of pity. "Unfortunately, that is far beyond the capabilities… of a wretch like you."
---
Just thinking about that scene made Beta gasp again, pressing her legs together and squirming once more in the chair.
"The master's charm… is so… so… overwhelming!" she exclaimed, laughing softly between muffled moans. "I fall in love… I fall in love with you, Leon-sama… again… and again… and again…"
She could not, nor did she want to resist it. Her love and devotion were absolute, unstoppable, and eternal.
But it wasn't just Leon's grandeur, his arrogance, or his unshakable perseverance that fascinated her. No… there was something even deeper, more irresistible: the hidden tenderness, the gentle heart that, even while bearing the burden of false hatred alone, did everything to protect the heart and life of a simple girl.
"That… that is the true essence of my master…" she murmured, smiling sweetly.
"So strong… so unyielding… and, at the same time… so… incredibly… kind…"
She gently caressed the freshly written paper as if stroking Leon's very face, and, taking a deep breath, resumed writing, her gaze determined, passionate, consumed:
"This book… will be my offering to you, my lord… Every word, every comma… is an expression of my devotion… my loyalty… my eternal… love…"
---
Sherry Barnett… She was such a pitiful girl… and at the same time, extremely lucky.
"Well, I won't steal her spotlight this time…"
Beta murmured to herself, in a tone that mixed resignation with a certain silent relief.
After all, that girl had achieved something few dared to dream of: Leon's favor.
Although it was an absolutely enviable feat—and Beta would never deny that her heart burned with jealousy—she also knew that there was no room for her to interfere or try to replace Sherry in this part of the story.
That… that was simply Leon's mercy granted to a broken soul.
But that wasn't the kind of love Beta sought.
The love she desired was exclusive, non-negotiable, searing.
Sherry… no. That wasn't the passionate love Beta dreamed of receiving.
Besides, the girl was already pitiful enough, wasn't she?
She lost her mother when she was still a defenseless child… The man who took her mother's life ironically ended up becoming her adoptive father. And as if that weren't cruel enough, that same man died right before Sherry's horrified eyes, with her powerless to do anything.
Maybe… maybe that was it. A sort of divine compensation that allowed Sherry, so marked by tragedy, to receive Leon's compassionate love.
From Beta's perspective, in the end… that girl had won life's lottery.
"Forget it… it's just the Master's merciful love."
Beta sighed, pushing away the thoughts that threatened to corrode her heart.
"Sherry Barnett can keep that. Ahhh… The Master's heart is so big… no woman could ever occupy it alone."
She smiled, resigned, but also comforted by the idea that Leon was such a grand being that he could indeed share his affection without diminishing what Beta felt for him—or what he represented to her.
"There's no harm in giving that poor girl a little love. After all… there's no way she could… sleep with the Master…"
This last phrase was whispered, as if it were a fragile shield with which Beta tried to protect her own heart from the pain of jealousy.
She shook her head, banishing the images she didn't want to contemplate.
At that level… she could still handle everything with a certain calm.
What she didn't know—and perhaps it was a blessing that she remained ignorant—was that Sherry, in fact… had crossed that boundary.
If Beta knew that…
She would surely lose her mind completely.
"Well…"
She stretched her arms, relaxing.
"Today's writing… ends here."
A mischievous smile spread across her lips.
"I should reward myself…"
With a glint of mischief in her eyes, Beta leaned forward and slid her hand beneath the tabletop, activating a discreet hidden mechanism.
A secret compartment opened silently, revealing a small, thin book, carefully protected from the world.
The truth was… it would be absolutely impossible for the Mitsugoshi Trading Company to be invaded by enemies, much less the private room Beta used. But even so… she wouldn't take any risks.
The fact that she had created this secret compartment solely to store that object showed how precious—and perhaps a bit embarrassing—that thing was to her.
With a sigh of anticipation, the elf took out the booklet and opened it with barely contained enthusiasm.
It was a kind of manga—or rather, a personal masterpiece, carefully crafted by her, which had taken an entire month of intense work to complete.
"Hehehehe~"
Beta could barely contain the giggle of pure satisfaction as she ran her fingers over the cover.
On it, Leon was depicted sitting on his throne, imposing and irresistible, with a gaze that blended tenderness and sadism.
In his hand… a chain.
And, attached to the chain, a collar adorned the delicate neck of a completely naked elf…
Beta herself, of course.
Her heart raced with every page she turned, admiring each stroke and scene she had meticulously drawn, reliving her most intimate fantasies with Leon's majestic and unattainable figure.
This… was her absolute masterpiece, a treasure she distributed exclusively among the members of Night Raid who completed the most difficult missions with excellence.
Of course, they were custom-made for each of them by the best artists of Night Raid.
A prize… only for the most worthy.
And, ironically, Leon…
Had no idea that something like this circulated secretly among the Night Raid members.
If he knew…
Beta blushed just imagining the possibility, hugging the booklet possessively against her chest.
---
At the Swordsman Academy…
"You… you're really leaving?"
Alexia's voice broke the silence, laden with reluctance and suppressed desperation.
"Yes."
Leon answered with the same calm and objectivity as always, his eyes fixed on the horizon without hesitation.
"I've already accomplished all my objectives here in Midgar."
Alexia clenched her fists tightly, struggling to maintain her composure.
But she couldn't.
"Then… I will go with you!"
The words burst out in an impulsive cry, charged with emotion and an almost childish plea.
Unexpectedly—or at least for many—Leon was leaving.
In just over a month, his mission in Midgar had been completed.
The alliance contract between Palettia and Midgar had been successfully signed… or at least, superficially.
The King of Midgar, however, had long been absolutely obedient to Leon.
The signing of that contract served only to preserve appearances, to offer Midgar a little dignity before the world.
What Leon didn't know—and perhaps it was better that way—was that his father, Orphans, had secretly inserted an additional clause in the alliance… a clause the King of Midgar had signed with almost suspicious enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, the recent tumultuous events in Midgar had dealt a severe blow to the kingdom's prestige…
But for Alexia… none of that mattered.
The only thing she truly feared… was the imminent separation.
For the first time… she had fallen in love.
And she would never accept a long-distance relationship.
Well… strictly speaking, it was still unrequited love—or at least not openly returned—and the prince, so difficult to win over, remained unshakable, indifferent to all the seduction attempts Alexia had bravely made.
Leon approached, extending his hand naturally and gently stroking the princess's silver hair.
His gesture was as affectionate as it was enigmatic.
"If you want to follow me… just come."
Alexia widened her eyes, surprised by the direct and… permissive response.
"I'm sure your father won't refuse."
"R-Really?! Is… is that really possible?!"
Leon nodded with that casual, carefree half-smile.
"Yes. But… you should think of a plausible reason to accompany me to Palettia."
Alexia immediately lifted her chin, placing her hands on her hips with theatrical confidence.
"I've already thought of that!"
She paused dramatically and then declared:
"Just as you came to the Swordsman Academy, I will go to the Magic Academy of your kingdom… as part of an academic exchange, a living symbol of friendship between our kingdoms!"
Her voice sounded firm… but her eyes shone with a determination far more personal and intense.
However, what set her apart from Leon was precisely that: she had no intention whatsoever of truly attending the Magic Academy.
All she wanted… was to follow Leon.
To be by his side, day after day, no matter the place or circumstance.
And deep down, she already knew: he wouldn't stop her.
---
(End of the chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."