A few days had passed since the tumultuous incident at Midgar Academy.
In the silent room, lit only by the gentle crackling of the fireplace, Leon held a simple, imageless wanted poster between his fingers.
"Alpha… was it you who did this?" he asked, his voice calm but slightly curious.
Behind him, Alpha embraced him delicately, resting her face against his broad back. The blonde elf lifted her gaze to the poster Leon held and nodded serenely.
"Yes, it was me," Alpha admitted without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Leon frowned slightly, tilting his head toward her.
"Why? I've told you already… I don't care about these things."
He let out a small sigh as he said that. To Leon, the infamous accusations, the lies, and the attempts at defamation were just minor obstacles on the path of someone who aimed for the top. He had long prepared himself to bear such burdens. If he couldn't endure slander, he wouldn't be worthy of the title he sought: to become the king of the world.
But Alpha simply tightened her embrace, pressing even closer to him as she looked at him with sweetness and determination.
"I know, Leon… I know you don't care," her voice was soft but filled with emotion. "But… I'm not as tolerant as you."
She rested her chin on his shoulder, briefly closing her eyes as if gathering strength.
"I couldn't let them incriminate you like that. I couldn't stand by, powerless, while they threw all that filth at you."
Leon let out a resigned chuckle, running his hand through the soft, golden hair of the elf.
"Ahhh… I knew it. You're too serious, Alpha."
She lifted her eyes and smiled softly, savoring the affection. The light in her gaze made it clear: there was no regret in her actions.
Everyone has things they simply cannot compromise on.
Alpha could accept being slandered. She could, with effort, tolerate the Night Raid bearing the weight of crimes they hadn't committed. But allowing Leon, her beloved, to be tainted by such false accusations? Never. That was far beyond the limits her heart could endure.
Those vile, despicable enemies wanted to push all the blame onto Leon, hoping to break him. How could she just stand there and accept that? She loved him deeply, with all her being.
"This time… it was simply my stubbornness," she confessed with a sad little smile. "But… it's good to know that, at least, it also frustrated our enemy's plans."
Leon smiled and tilted his head, allowing Alpha to rest more comfortably against him.
"Honestly… I'm surprised I didn't think of it first."
Alpha chuckled softly, satisfied. In a casual gesture, Leon crumpled the wanted poster and tossed it into the fireplace. The flames quickly consumed it, turning it into ashes, just like the false accusations it carried.
Thanks to Alpha, Lutheran's revenge had failed. The entire elaborate plan to incriminate the Night Raid, with carefully prepared evidence and materials, was reduced to nothing.
Lutheran's mistake had been fundamental: all the evidence he gathered was linked to crimes that occurred within Midgar… without even realizing that the kingdom was already under Leon's control.
To falsely accuse him in his own territory… what stupidity.
The previous night, Alpha had gone personally to the palace and, without mincing words, ordered the King of Midgar to nullify all charges, forcing the truth to come to light.
At the same time, the attack on the Magical Swordsman Academy and the kidnapping of Alexia were also officially attributed to the true culprit: the [Cult of Diablos].
Now, the people of Midgar directed all their hatred and revulsion at the cult. The enemy's plan had not only been thwarted but masterfully reversed.
However… aside from the cult, there was one person, a young girl with pink hair, who couldn't accept such an outcome.
Alpha, with a curious expression, broke the silence.
"Speaking of which… why did you do that?"
Leon, who was pensively watching the flames in the fireplace, averted his gaze, as if he didn't know what she was talking about.
"I don't know what you're referring to," he replied with feigned ignorance, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Alpha raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, and cupped Leon's cheeks with both hands, forcing him to face her.
"Leon…" she said with a gently reproachful tone. "Don't try to play dumb with me. You know exactly what I'm talking about."
She leaned in, staring into his eyes, serious.
"Why did you choose to bear Sherry Barnett's hatred?"
Leon sighed, closing his eyes for a brief moment.
Alpha continued, her voice full of conviction:
"Everything that happened to her… was the Cult of Diablos' fault. You could have told her the truth. You could have freed Sherry from that burden, made her direct her anger at those who truly deserve it."
She pressed his cheeks slightly, as if urging him to answer.
"Why didn't you, Leon?"
He remained silent for a few seconds before finally opening his eyes and looking at her.
"I spent some time with Sherry," he began, his tone reflective. "And I know… she's a genius, very capable. If she keeps going down this path, she'll undoubtedly become a huge headache for the Cult in the future."
Alpha frowned slightly, trying to understand where he was going with that.
"Then… why?"
Leon, before she could finish the question, slowly shook his head.
"Precisely because of that… it's dangerous."
Alpha's eyes widened a little, surprised by his answer.
"The Cult of Diablos wouldn't leave someone like her alone," Leon explained.
"As soon as they realized her talent and hostility… they'd do everything they could to eliminate her."
"That's why I redirected her hatred toward me. I'd rather she hate me… than draw the Cult's deadly attention."
Alpha bit her lower lip lightly, absorbing every word.
"Even if she hates Midnight…" Leon smiled. "Midnight will never harm her."
He let out a deep sigh.
"No matter how talented she is… she won't be able to do anything if she can't find me."
And, indeed, Sherry could never imagine that the very man she hated most… was also the one who comforted her in her most desperate moments.
Alpha sighed, shaking her head with a mixture of irritation and admiration.
"You could have just brought her to the Night Raid," Alpha said, half-joking, half-serious.
Leon laughed, hugging Alpha and burying his face in her golden hair.
"Alpha… you know it wouldn't be that simple. Sherry's already suffered too much in her life… Let her be. Time… will dilute all that hatred."
Alpha closed her eyes, surrendering to that embrace.
"You… really are too kind…" Alpha murmured with a resigned sigh, as the fire kept crackling, consuming the last ashes of the wanted poster.
(End of 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."