No one came after him, no one shouted for him to stop, and no one argued.
The nobles fell silent once again, but this time, a different emotion mingled with their silence.
Elliot returned to the mansion. The Old Butler stood guard at the entrance, and when he looked at Elliot, a light seemed to shimmer in his eyes. He actually froze for a moment before slowly bowing and opening the door for him.
Elliot sheathed his longsword, only to discover in surprise that the entire scabbard had burst into flame.
Once those blazing white flames had been lit, they would never go out again.
He tentatively rested his hand on it. The fire was not hot, but pleasantly warm.
The flames swept over his clothes without setting them alight. Instead, they left them smelling pleasantly of sunshine, as though they had been hung out in the sun.
"This is Lady Theresia's sword. According to legend, flames once burned along her blade, but they slowly died out later."
Conrad's voice came from behind him.
"Is this Theresia's will? But didn't Theresia die long ago?" Elliot asked in confusion.
Conrad said nothing. He simply gazed quietly at the flames, a trace of nostalgia flashing through his eyes.
"Theresia is the Empire's guardian deity. As long as the Empire endures, she will never perish. The time simply has not come yet, and she remains asleep."
This was the standard ending to stories about Theresia, used only when telling them to children. Only children would believe such an ending.
But Elliot looked at the longsword in his hand without a word.
Flames had ignited on Theresia's sword once more, and this time, they would not go out.
Conrad said no more. He bowed slightly, then withdrew.
Elliot looked around and hung the longsword