Lucia accepted Saint Garling's arrangement and joined the Figarland Family's guard unit, throwing herself into relentless training every single day.
Her reasoning was simple. If Lloyd could not return on his own, then she wanted to at least become strong enough to do something for him with her own hands.
But Lloyd had been unable to endure the horrors of the laboratory and had died there at just eight years old.
Naturally, such a truth would never be revealed to the outside world. Only a handful within the Figarland Family and a few key Celestial Dragons knew what had really happened.
Lucia, however, knew nothing of Lloyd's death.
Ironically, her ignorance was a blessing. Lloyd had been the very reason she kept pushing forward. If she had known he was gone, she likely would not have survived her own despair.
Her happiest day came when Saint Garling returned from God Valley and told her that Lloyd had escaped the laboratory.
He couldn't return to Mary Geoise for certain reasons, but he was alive.
Hearing this lifted the enormous weight on Lucia's heart, and she trained with renewed fire, waiting for the day she would finally see him again.
Six years later, that moment came.
Saint Garling found her and informed her that Lloyd was coming home.
Lucia, now a captain, was so overwhelmed she nearly lost her composure.
Before dawn, she led her subordinates to the meeting point, waiting breathlessly for him.
When the elevator doors opened, she spotted him immediately.
The little boy who once clung to her and called her Sister Lucia had grown into a tall, strikingly handsome young man.
He did not seem to recognize her at first, now that her helmet was off, but it didn't matter.
Lucia felt that every day she had waited had finally been rewarded.
Her Saint Lloyd was standing before her once again.
…
Memories of Lucia resurfaced in Lloyd's mind, his gaze softening when he looked at her.
He remembered the girl who had once followed Saint Garling into the laboratory to save him.
He reached out and brushed his fingers across the scar under Lucia's left eye.
Her body trembled, her gaze locking onto his in stunned silence.
"Lucia, I'm back."
Lloyd's voice was calm, but to Lucia, it was like a hammer slamming into the most fragile part of her heart.
Tears flooded her amber eyes instantly.
This was Mary Geoise, where strict hierarchy dictated every action, so she swallowed the urge to embrace him and instead forced a smile.
"Young Master… welcome home."
Lloyd gave a slight nod.
Their eyes met and lingered.
The Golden Armored Guards behind Lucia didn't move a muscle, not daring even to raise their heads.
Spandine, standing farther back, didn't dare breathe too loudly.
The suited officials behind him stared at the floor, knowing that pretending to count ants was the safest option.
Lloyd raised a hand and gently wiped Lucia's tears.
"Take me to see Uncle Garling."
"Yes, Young Master." Lucia's voice softened.
As soon as she turned around, her expression iced over, and she barked at the kneeling guards,
"Form ranks and escort the Young Master home."
At once, the guards rose and arranged themselves into two flawless lines behind Lloyd.
Spandine swallowed hard and shouted from behind them,
"Saint Lloyd, I'll be waiting for you at the ship!"
No one acknowledged him.
Lloyd and the guards had already moved far ahead in a grand procession.
Celestial Dragons riding slaves passed by on the road.
Seeing the formation, they whispered to each other:
"Isn't that the Figarland Family's private guard? Who's that leading them?"
"No idea. Haha, isn't that Lucia? She's looking prettier every year. I wouldn't mind having her as my attendant."
"In your dreams. Saint Garling said publicly she's reserved for his nephew, Saint Lloyd."
"Oh? If you hadn't mentioned it, I would've forgotten about him. They say he's a direct heir, but he's been missing so long we don't even know if he exists."
"That's true. Father said this generation of the Figarland line had no heirs. Saint Garling and Saint Gulando aren't exactly interested in women. If this keeps up, the family might disappear."
"Good. If they vanish, their resources get divided among us."
Their careless chatter carried through the air.
Lloyd's face remained unreadable.
Lucia only sneered.
No matter how the Figarland Family changed, these fools would never qualify to covet anything belonging to it.
Even after years in the Figarland estate, Lucia felt she had only seen a fraction of its true depth.
With Lloyd's return, the family would continue.
She hated that her status meant she could not contribute to that legacy.
A bitter ache spread through her chest.
"You look pale, Lucia. What's on your mind?" Lloyd asked, his voice unexpectedly gentle.
Startled, Lucia looked up at him and quickly shook her head.
"It's nothing, Young Master. I only felt troubled hearing those people speak so rudely about you."
"Troubled? For me?"
"Yes, Young Master. You're the rightful heir of the Figarland Family. Your status is unparalleled, yet you had to endure such hardship. The glory that should have always been yours is only returning now."
She didn't voice the darker thoughts that lingered inside her, but everything she said was sincere.
Lloyd exhaled lightly and looked ahead.
"Aren't you the same? Uncle Garling told me you were once a princess. If your kingdom hadn't fallen, you would've lived far better than in this so-called Holy Land."
Lucia hadn't expected him to remember her past.
Her lips trembled.
"Young Master…"
He continued without looking at her.
"You're a captain now. You've done well. But I know you've suffered these years."
Lucia's emotions finally broke free.
Ignoring the horrified stares of those around her, she threw herself into Lloyd's arms and sobbed.
"Saint Lloyd… I missed you so much! Where have you been all these years?"
Lloyd rested a hand on her back, his voice calm and steady.
"I lived in a country called Sorbet for six years. Now, I've joined the Navy."
"The Navy!? But with your status, why would you—"
Lloyd let out a quiet sigh, his eyes lifting toward the Figarland estate coming into view.
"To gain strength. Otherwise, I'd be failing his expectations."
_____
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