「G6'S OFFICE」
The floor-to-ceiling window framed G6's figure as she sat with her back to the room, her chair turned toward the distant horizon. The capital town sprawled below, mountains reduced to mere smudges against the sky—small creations in the eyes of this unnerving woman.
She crossed her arms, her empty, cold gaze fixed on the distance.
Everyone could tell. This woman was empty. Emptier than a dried-up well. More suffocating than the depths of the ocean. More frightening than being stranded in open water with no land in sight.
"Lady Reise, I have completed all the paperwork for today. Master Ray also sent his assistant earlier to remind you to prepare for your return to the Estate for the Veneration of the Messenger of the Heavens." Tina stood before the desk, addressing the back of G6's chair.
"When are we leaving for the Veneration?" G6's voice was its usual—dry, cold, flat.
"In three days, Lady Reise." Tina's decorum remained practiced, precise.
G6 did not answer. Tina stared at the back of the chair as if she could picture G6's empty gaze fixed on nothingness.
"For this Veneration, we cannot bring Edmund or Lilia. They are Palace employees," Tina added.
"Alright."
G6 turned her chair. Her cold, distant figure met Tina's hopeful gaze.
She looked stunning in her fitted velvet crimson dress. Long slit sleeves framed her arms. The V-neckline was screened with white sheer fabric, modest yet provocative. The hem dropped to her heels, with a slit rising just inches below her thighs. She crossed her legs, the flash of skin deliberate, her chin resting on her palm. The defiant dress said everything about who G6 was.
A knock came at the door.
Edmund entered. "Lady Reise, lunch has been served." The man who had once been fazed by G6's rebellious clothing now looked calm—empty, even.
Tina observed Edmund for a moment, then returned her gaze to G6, who regarded her with uninterested eyes.
"Where will you be eating, Lady Reise?" Tina asked.
"In the cafeteria." G6 smirked. "I heard the menu there today is appetizing."
She stood.
"Let's go."
"What about Lilia?" Tina asked.
"Janin requested Lilia, so I sent her back to the West Villa." G6 walked past her.
Edmund followed.
Tina remained silent.
Every time they return from the UMD, they grow colder, she thought. And Lady Reise becomes more and more… distant.
She shook her head. No. I promised Lady Reise not to ask too many questions.
She took a deep breath and followed.
As they walked down the hall, they encountered Keith and Earl, both looking as if they had pulled an all-nighter.
What's with them? They didn't show up at the training arena earlier.
Upon seeing G6, their faces brightened.
"Reise! I missed you!" Keith called.
"Lady Reise, you've returned. It seems you were not around yesterday?" Earl added.
"What's with your faces?" G6 asked.
They fell into step together, pausing in the hallway.
"Well, we've been sleepless for four days," Keith admitted.
"Why?"
Keith looked reluctant to explain.
"We've been assisting Prince Dio with something important. Pressing," Earl said. "Brenda is also stuck in the Collegium library, searching for something under Prince Dio's orders."
G6's eyes narrowed.
Four days?
"Is this about the assassin who infiltrated the Palace four days ago?" she asked.
Keith's eyes widened. "Reise! How did you know about that? I heard the King issued a gag order."
"A gag order? Does His Majesty truly believe that will work? All members of the three Court Houses were present. The story may not be spoken aloud, but it spreads like plague through whispers."
"You're right. A gag order is useless." Earl nodded. "Besides, I contacted Zen earlier to assist Brenda with her tasks, so training will be temporarily halted."
'Reise, you need to involve yourself in this case,' Daunt's voice resonated in her mind.
'There's no need. Zen is sufficient.'
"I see. Then we'll be going to the cafeteria for lunch," G6 said.
"Oh, I'd love to join you, but we only came to Bastion to collect paperwork before returning to the Palace." Keith looked genuinely disappointed.
"Thanks to that, I'll have a peaceful lunch." G6 smirked.
Keith pouted.
"Then, see you. I hope you find that assassin." G6 continued down the hall.
Edmund and Tina bowed to Keith and Earl before following.
Keith raised a dismissive hand and walked toward his office. Earl nodded, but his gaze lingered on G6's retreating back—a silhouette of crimson against pale rose-gold hair.
This is going to be a mess, Earl thought, and turned away.
「CAFETERIA」
At the threshold of the cafeteria, G6 spotted Eliza speaking with one of the Company Knights, smiling and laughing.
Oh?
G6's eyebrow twitched with interest. She continued walking, and the eyes of the room—mostly men—immediately gathered on her.
She couldn't care less.
When Eliza turned and saw her, she smiled sweetly. "Hello, Lady Reise!"
'That woman has the nerve to greet you with such a facade after saying she hates you,' Daunt observed.
Eliza knew there was a chance G6 would ignore her. But G6 was here to eat—because, as discussed, the "menu" today was appetizing.
G6 walked toward her and smiled back.
Eliza's eyes widened at the unexpected response. What irked her more was that G6 smiled for the first time with something alive in her eyes—warmth, expression, life.
"Hello, Miss Eliza. Have you eaten?"
Eliza bit her lip. "N-not yet. This is the first time I've seen you eat here, Lady Reise."
"Ah, yes. Someone told me there are many fun foods here." G6's usual cold, dry monotone now played in a livelier key.
Eliza noticed the knight she had been speaking with was now frozen, staring at G6 with flushed cheeks.
G6 noticed Eliza's subtle irritation, and her interest flickered.
That man is wearing brown. He must be from that reserved company.
"Is that so? Then, would you mind if I eat with you?" Eliza asked, smiling sweetly again.
"Alright. Shall we fetch our food?"
Eliza's smile did not reach her eyes. "Alright, Lady Reise."
"My Lady, please go ahead to the table. I will fetch your food," Tina offered.
G6 turned to her, still smiling, but her eyes held the same warning she gave when someone was being a bother. "It's alright, Tina." Her voice was calm, soft. Then, as she passed, she whispered, "Don't get in the way."
Tina looked troubled. She already knew G6 wasn't here to eat—because G6 hated crowds.
Edmund patted Tina's shoulder and nodded.
They followed G6 to the serving area, each taking a food tray. As they queued, nobles couldn't stop staring at G6's alluring figure.
"Man, I saw her earlier on the training ground. She looks completely different."
"Yeah, I was shocked too."
"Prince Dio is one lucky man."
G6 ignored the gossip and waited patiently.
Then, in the middle of the cafeteria, the play began.
A group of men wearing silver tops entered.
"THIS PLACE NOW STINKS OF COMMONERS!" one announced, arrogance painted across his face.
"You're right, Sir Dekker. Look at these fools. The Royal Collegium has never been tainted this badly," another added.
"I mean, isn't this place meant solely for nobles?"
"They said there was a recruitment drive as a precaution against potential war. What use are these physical enhancement magic users anyway?"
"They're not knights. They're a backup company—shields in battle, nothing more."
The men in black tops remained silent. They looked bothered, troubled, but could not speak. Because they were commoners.
What a sight, G6 thought. Come to think of it, I see no gold tops here. Brown for Bronze, Silver, and Black. So the superior company here is Silver.
In the corner, Pete met G6's eyes.
She smirked at him—a signal. A sign to begin the play.
Pete stood, scraping his chair loudly. He left his food untouched and walked toward the exit. To leave, he had to pass the gossiping men.
As he approached, Sir Dekker grabbed him.
"Hey, Black Company. How dare you walk past us without bowing?"
So that's Dekker Bellard.
The commoners and nobles nearby looked away.
"They're starting again," someone in the line murmured.
"Yeah, they've been at it for days."
"They must be furious because their Chief was shamed at the execution."
"Sore losers."
G6 waited quietly, watching. She smiled at the old man serving food.
"I-I'm sorry, Sir Dekker," Pete stammered.
"What? Because you're a commoner, you have no manners!" Sir Dekker yelled.
"Wait, Sir Dekker. Isn't that the kid training with the Pillars?"
Sir Dekker's brows rose. He scoffed. "Ah. That's right. It's this kid."
He pushed Pete's forehead with his index finger, over and over. "You… how did you climb your way to those obnoxious Pillars, huh?"
The crowd waiting at their tables quietly dropped their spoons.
Because one of those "obnoxious Pillars" was currently here.
"Oh? What's with these losers?" Sir Dekker scanned the room, oblivious. "Anyway, back to this brat. You want me to punch you in the face again? No wonder you keep getting on my nerves. You're being a pet to those feeling superior—"
CLANG.
The food tray slammed against his head. It clattered to the floor.
All the staff and knights froze, utensils hovering mid-air, eyes wide with shock.
"Oops. My bad. My hand must have slipped." G6 smiled tauntingly at the bewildered, raging Sir Deck.
"Lady Reise!" Eliza called out in panic.
"What's wrong? I said my hand slipped." G6's voice dripped with nonchalance.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?! YOU FUCKING POURED YOUR FOOD TRAY ALL OVER ME!" Sir Dekker's face was crimson with fury.
He looked ridiculously humiliating. Celery clung to his head and shoulders like grotesque confetti. Meat stuck to his uniform in soggy patches. Soup had soaked through his white undershirt, staining it an unfortunate brown.
He was incredibly furious.
G6's playful eyes shifted—emptied, cooled, hardened into something ancient and predatory.
"How dare a lowlife raise his voice against someone superior to him?"
She stepped closer. His bravado evaporated with each click of her heels. His back hit the edge of the table. There was nowhere to go.
Her grey eyes pinned him in place.
"You want me to make you chew this food tray right now?"
Her voice dropped—deeper, colder, a blade wrapped in silk. The entire cafeteria held its breath.
"S-Sir Dekker! That's Lady Worthon!" one of his men whispered.
"I know that brat," he murmured, visibly intimidated.
"F-forgive me, my lady. I must have lost my mind."
G6 tilted her head. "I heard you called me obnoxious."
"N-no! That's not it! I wasn't talking about you!"
"Ah." G6 suddenly pulled Sir Dekker closer by his collar. "Are you calling me delusional? Haven't you heard? I have a very, very bad personality."
Sir Dekker was too afraid to speak back.
What is this? Why is her presence so heavy? She's just a woman!
"No, my lady. Please forgive this foolish humble man." He bowed his head again.
This is fucking boring. You failed to entertain me. So it's only natural to pay for it… right?
G6 pushed his collar away and crossed her arms. She looked at Pete, who also looked anxious.
"You see… Pete is under my tutelage. Which means this kid is under House Worthon."
The men who had been bullying Pete bit their lips. They knew there would be consequences for touching anyone connected to the Three Pillars. Especially Worthon.
"I wasn't aware… It's just a huge disappointment to suddenly have lowlives as knights when they didn't even go through the training and hard work we did. And we're nobles!" Sir Dekker protested.
G6 turned to Tina and Edmund. Both showed no signs of stopping her. Even Tina.
She looked back at Sir Dekker.
Listen to this fool blabber his useless mouth.
"You think I care about your feelings, Knight?" G6's sweet face began shifting back to cold. "You just have to pay for touching what's mine."
She leaned in.
"I mean… how dare a mere insect touch the plaything of a lion?"
She straightened.
"Eat those."
Sir Dekker looked up, confused. "P-pardon?"
"I said, eat the food hanging off you. The chefs here worked hard for it. It would be a waste to throw it away."
Everyone was shocked.
"She… wants him to eat the food spilled on him?"
"Gods, I mean, he's a bully, but this is too much."
"That's a huge humiliation."
The whispers spread from the lower knights' tables.
"Surely you jest, my lady?"
"Do I look like someone who jokes with useless people like you?"
"L-Lady Reise! Please… don't do this. Sir Knight is already humiliated enough." Eliza intervened, her voice worried, her expression pained.
G6 turned to her. "What do you mean, Miss Eliza?"
Eliza placed herself between G6 and Sir Dekker. "Lady Reise! I know what Sir Knight did is unforgivable, but what you're asking is also wrong!"
"Wow, is she the commoner who owns Benedictio?"
"Yeah… she's so brave to stand up against the Wicked Rose."
G6 just stared at her. "And who does Miss Eliza think she is to utter the words 'don't do'?" Her voice and face seemed soft, but her eyes were piercing.
She leaned forward to Eliza's ear and whispered, "Unless you want to scrape the food off him and eat it yourself… then I'll spare him his dignity."
Eliza's eyes widened.
G6 straightened and smiled.
"What is this commotion about?"
An authoritative voice cut through. Lieutenant Frenz Libert and Lieutenant Ursal Nocturne approached.
Boring.
The two lieutenants assessed the scene: Pete looking anxious and uncomfortable near G6, Sir Deck covered in food, the tension thick enough to cut.
Tsk. The Silver guys probably did something obnoxious again, Lt. Libert thought.
"Lady Reise, I may not know the full story, but it seems these knights have caused you unnecessary trouble. Please forgive Sir Deck for his disrespectful actions and words. I will see to it that he is disciplined accordingly."
"That knight touched what belongs to House Worthon. You know the rules, Lt. Libert," Edmund replied.
"But wouldn't it be better to settle this quietly?"
"Are you trying to stain the image of House Worthon, Lieutenant?" Tina's voice was sharp. "The rule is clear. No matter who, the moment someone disrespects or touches a member of the Three Pillars or their people, they must submit to the offended party."
Oh? There's such a rule?
'No wonder The Three Pillars are the backbone of this Kingdom,' Daunt confirmed.
"But this is also Bastion. And Bastion's rule is that knights are superior here," Lt. Ursal countered.
"If that's so, there is no argument. We all know who is superior in this place after His Highness the Second Prince." Edmund's tone was final.
Lt. Ursal and Lt. Libert fell silent.
This butler is right. No matter your rank or position, if a Pillar is present, you are always beneath them.
The tension grew thicker. People grew more anxious, more uncomfortable. These two lieutenants were superior to the knights—members of the Five Angels, no less. Yet all of that was meaningless in front of a woman whose only claim was being the daughter of a Pillar's Head Household.
"That is enough." G6's voice cut through. "Lt. Libert, make sure you straighten that man's brain."
Lt. Libert and Lt. Ursal were taken aback by her retreat.
"Discipline that insect in a manner befitting my house. Then I will take my leave."
"T-thank you for your wide and deep understanding, Lady Reise," Lt. Libert managed.
G6 stared at them for a moment, then walked away without another word. Edmund and Tina glanced at the lieutenants, then at Eliza, before following.
As they vanished from the cafeteria, the air lightened.
"Phew… Lady Reise is really a—" Eliza began.
"Are you Miss Eliza? The Benedictio owner?" Lt. Ursal interrupted.
"Ah, y-yes…" Eliza replied shyly.
"Don't forget your place." His voice was so cold it cracked her smile.
"P-pardon?"
"You may wield Benedictio, but Lady Reise is a noble. Not only that—she is one of the Guardians. Standing up to her like that doesn't mean you were helping. It only means you were dragging yourself toward the guillotine."
Eliza was silenced.
"Remember, the only reason you weren't apprehended for your actions today is because you were brought here by the Crowns." Lt. Ursal continued. "Live quietly. Do what you ought to do."
Lt. Libert was already scolding the Silver Company members.
Eliza bit her lip hard against the sting of reality.
"Let's go, Lt. Libert. Drag those fools to the training arena." Lt. Ursal left Eliza in stunned silence.
Why? Why am I being scolded? If it weren't for me, that knight would have been scraping food off himself! I saved him from humiliation!
What's so great about the Three Pillars? They're just replacements for lost signature magic! But I'm here now. It's with me now!
I will earn my place. I will make those who looked down on me eat their words.
Eliza stood frozen.
"M-Miss Eliza? Are you okay?" Pete asked.
She looked at him and smiled. "Of course. I'll go first."
She walked away.
Especially that damn Reise. What's so special about her anyway? She's just 'slightly' good at magic and combat. But her personality is rotten. I am far better than her.
As she walked through the silent halls, she maintained her placid, saintly face.
Pete watched her retreating back, then walked in the opposite direction. He shoved his hands in his pockets, replaying the scene: the cafeteria, the confrontation, G6's psychotic taunt, Eliza's intervention.
That woman is jealous of Teacher.
He scoffed.
She's so pathetic.
While all that tension and unfair power dynamics built up in the cafeteria of Bastion, there was something—somewhere—where the dynamics of power between powerful figures were much thicker. More unfair. And far more dangerous.
「MAIN PALACE—MEETING ROOM」
"What is the meaning of this, Your Highness?"
The meeting room was thick with tension—thicker than anything in the cafeteria. At the head of the table sat Crown Prince Amir, his blue eyes scanning the room's occupants as if staring directly into their souls. Prince Dio sat beside him. The heirs of the Pillars were present: Lord Jester Nocturne, Lord Ray Worthon, Captain Kepler De Lune.
"What? You deny it?" Crown Prince Amir asked.
The man in his forties slammed his fist against the table. "YOUR HIGHNESS, YOU ARE CROSSING THE LINE. HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE US!"
"How dare you raise your voice to the Crown!" Captain Kepler roared.
"Captain, how am I supposed to react when my entire house—no, my entire bloodline—is being accused of contempt against the Crown?!"
"Please, calm yourself, Marquess Eis. We are merely asking questions," Prince Dio interjected.
"Asking me? Is the sentence 'why did you kill the artificial mage?' merely a question with no accusation?" Marquess Eis's voice dripped with indignation. "You called me here to accuse me? We live quietly in the far west of this kingdom, far away from your political ploys! Do not involve us in your war against the Upper Court!"
"Are you suggesting we purposely killed the artificial mage so the Upper Court could not have him?" Crown Prince Amir's voice was measured, dangerous. "Are you accusing us as well, Marquess?"
Marquess Eis's fists tightened until his knuckles went white. "We are not the only ones who can wield ice magic here, Your Highness. Water and wind can create ice as well."
"I don't appreciate what you are implying, Marquess Eis. Watch your words." Ray Worthon's voice was cold.
"I am merely providing these narrow-minded royals with a wider perspective, Lord Ray."
Marquess Eis stood, his gaze sweeping over Crown Prince Amir and Prince Dio. "House Eis left the life of the capital long ago. We became a neutral, silent family. Do not summon me again for matters such as this."
He walked toward the door. His back turned to the young heirs, he paused.
"I lost my faith in the Crown long ago. From the moment the man who killed my sworn brother was given the position he was killed for." His voice dropped to a low, growling rasp. "This kingdom is doomed to ruin."
The door slammed shut behind him.
Silence settled over the room like a shroud. Ray Worthon was the first to move.
"I am leaving now." He stood, adjusting his sleeves. "The next time you accuse someone, ensure you have evidence. Do not waste my time."
He left without a backward glance.
Crown Prince Amir sat motionless in his seat, staring at the empty door.
Because he knew.
They all knew.
Their kingdom's court government was rotten to the core.
— To Be Continued… —