I, Guiliniweier, Embrace the New and Abandon the Old

—It's best not to see Altria.

After much thought, Guiliniweier couldn't figure out how to face Altria now.

"Altria, I've thrown in my lot with Tristan. I'm not going on pilgrimage with you anymore. Sorry—you'll have to go alone."

Could he really say that? Of course not. Better to avoid seeing her; any meeting would only be painfully awkward. He'd had countless chances these past three days to see her, but each time he'd subconsciously evaded the notion. Altria would never stay under Bavanshi's command, nor endorse what he now planned. He was certain of that. Yet, he knew it was time to let her go.

Since he was unsure of Bavanshi's reaction, Guiliniweier decided on decisive action.

System: You find Queen's Knight Aster guarding the prison entrance.

System: You request Knight Aster to release the Prophet's Child Altria, but he refuses.

Not surprisingly, Aster refused. But now that he held full authority over New Darrlington, he could have arranged Aster's reassignment or otherwise freed Altria covertly. Still, he chose the simplest method.

System: You defeat Queen's Knight Aster by force.

He could beat Aster, so why fuss? But when he knocked Aster unconscious, he noticed Maid Riko quietly appear. Guiliniweier felt a chill.

He thought: these two Queen's Knights he could handle, but this maid… she must be deeply skilled, perhaps one of Morgan's loyal retainers, unlikely to be in any way weak. Could he even land a blow on her?

As he wondered if he could still trigger Trial of Endless—he saw Riko bow calmly and present a tray.

"I admit I was a bit overconfident just now."

His heart sank. Riko remained composed, as if unaffected.

"I came only to deliver a meal to the Prophet's Child; nothing else concerns me."

He glanced at the tray piled high with black bread. "All black bread?"

"She's a prisoner, of course I wouldn't serve balanced fare. But still, she must eat enough."

"Hmm… Altria perhaps doesn't eat much?" He recalled Altria's appetite—though hearty, not as voracious as some from the human realm. Yet this amount would last days.

"She finished every meal I sent. Perhaps grief turned to appetite?" Riko offered lightly.

"Don't joke—it's grim." Guiliniweier tried another approach: "Could you please let Altria go?"

Riko smirked. "You do pose difficult requests—and aren't you pushing your luck? If Lady Bavanshi questions it later, just say it was all my doing: you never saw me; I quietly let her escape after delivering the meal. How about that?"

"That's acceptable. I can bear that small risk. Only… your approach seems to misunderstand a woman's heart."

Riko sighed lightly. "But I know you: if she remained here, you couldn't focus on your work. I agree."

"Much obliged," Guiliniweier bowed sincerely. "Please don't tell her it was at my behest. Just say you forgot to close the cell door."

"Is that wise?" Riko asked softly. "Then in her eyes you become a two-faced cad who forgets promises."

He smiled wryly. "Isn't that exactly my behavior now? I did promise to journey with her… but that life is impossible for me."

"Still not going to see her? Next time you meet, you might already be enemies."

"No," he shook his head. "Though Altria seems simple-minded, she'd never approve of what I'm about to do. Better to keep the secret—and the distance."

"You mean because of her Fairy Eyes?" Riko said coolly.

"So you know," he admitted.

"I have it too; it's not rare. But you've surely noticed it can no longer read your thoughts: there's a special aura around you that blocks mind-reading."

"Really?" Guiliniweier blinked and checked his status: indeed, a new buff appeared:

Mind Veil: A special aura surrounds you, permanently immune to mind-probing skills; others cannot read your thoughts.

"How did that appear? I didn't have it before." He mused.

"Who knows? So many strange things have happened to you; what's one more?" Riko shrugged. "Besides, I've never seen anyone use currency so freely to boost their power…."

He nodded: with his array of skills, Noble Phantasms, and gear, perhaps a later reward or simulator upgrade granted this passive. Who could say?

"Then? Will you still see her?"

"No." Guiliniweier shook his head. "Let her think me a scoundrel. I've chosen my path."

"Whether that path is truly dark remains to be seen," Riko said, glaring. "And remember: Bavanshi isn't anyone's substitute—never was, never will be."

He watched her depart into the prison. "You're more of a mother to Bavanshi than Morgan herself," he murmured.

System: You release the Prophet's Child Altria, avoiding direct contact.

Meanwhile, he went to a tavern to meet Oberon, who had sneaked in to gather information.

"I've freed Altria. She should be flitting about outside like a headless chicken—please look after her."

"Indeed, she's not a bad child. But I fear I must disappoint her."

"Don't let her come after me again—we're not on the same path."

After reading his brief note, Oberon burned it, then departed New Darrlington under cover of night. Guiliniweier confirmed neither Altria nor Oberon remained nearby, and exhaled: Bavanshi had been surprisingly pliable.

When she learned he'd freed Altria, she wasn't furious but delighted he stayed—insisting on a celebratory feast:

"So you chose me in the end! Of course you did—who'd trust that rustic fairy? Staying to serve me, Morgan's sole heir, was wise indeed! Though I'm not celebrating you personally; I rejoice that false claimants are gone. Such joy demands revelry—say, shall I host another banquet and randomly lop off half the guests' feet?"

He strongly objected—funds were nearly gone—but at her final remark, he staggered inwardly.

"Since you've decided to remain, I must give you a proper lesson in common sense."

He gripped Bavanshi's shoulder, tone grave: "Your reasoning puzzles me—why do you believe a ruler must excel at killing? For governance, killing is merely a means, not the goal."

"Huh?" Bavanshi blinked. "But Mother excels at killing… and Beryl excels too. He always speaks of things I can't grasp."

Guiliniweier was astonished: indeed, as Riko warned, Bavanshi's basic understanding was severely lacking.

"You misunderstanding your mother's conversations with Beryl has nothing to do with your prowess in killing; that's mere coincidence. The reason you didn't comprehend was your lack of knowledge and context, not your combat skill."

He sighed. "Have you considered that Mother ceased praising your kills simply because she never supported your killing? The first time you killed, she patted your head—perhaps she was relieved you could protect yourself?"

He fixed her with a serious gaze: "For any good parent, their true joy comes from their child's growth. Perhaps Morgan was simply comforted that you could survive—but once that need passed, the praise faded. If your only aim was to win her approval by slaying others, you misunderstood entirely."

Bavanshi hesitated; he continued gently: "True loyalty or respect isn't built on bloodshed for its own sake. A ruler's duty is to serve and protect the realm, not revel in murder."

The lesson settled in the tense air as Bavanshi reflected on his words. Guiliniweier knew he'd embarked on a dark path, but felt this instruction was necessary. As long as he stayed by her side, he might guide her towards a healthier understanding of leadership—and thereby salvage New Darrlington from ruin.