This Time, To The Believed Path
Acknowledged

For the first time members of the Alphiella shadow regret the decision they have made.

Who would have thought that the one who would welcome them in the training area was the Marquis Forde Grandall.

Secretly they all began to curse their shadow chief, Dean, who did not tell the detailed information of their call.

They reenact the events of the first meeting of the shadow Alphiella and Purple Chain and the appearance of the Marquis who chased his wife last night in their heads, they began to feel unwell.

The two events are enough to make them have a trauma that they themselves are not aware of.

"Is this all those who can attend?"

Forde glanced at Adde and he replied.

"Yes, Marquis."

"All right then."

Forde grabbed his earrings and pulled out his two axes which instantly made Alphiella's shadow pale.

Upon seeing the shape of Forde's axe, the five shadows that accompanied Leana while going to the large labyrinth were startled.

"That man..!"

Adde was confused to see their reaction. He walked over to Helt.

"What's wrong?"

"The father of the Marquis, has almost the same color and carving as the dagger of Madam Leana!" Answer Helt.

Adde looked back at the axe and began to understand what they meant.

The Forde axe has a black color with a glowing blue carving. Adde started to feel strange.

'But the information about the dagger was only Rein, me and Zenox who knew it. So how can it be?'

When Adde was turning his brain, Alphiella's shadow was imagining various scenarios that would happen in the future in their heads.

"I'll introduce myself again. I am Marquess Forde Grandall, husband of Leana Grandall, your contractor and leader."

They all held their trembling bodies as Forde looked at them seriously. They felt that if they were unable to look back properly, they would experience much worse.

"I hear you are the ones my wife recognizes and trusts."

The Alphiella shadow swallows heavily with saliva because of their dry throat.

"Therefore, I will prove your abilities with my own hands."

Forde's sharp eyes were fixed on all of them.

"As regards our official meeting, I will grant you leniency. I'll come to you, so be prepared."

'Ah... Die me…'

The heart of Alphiella's shadow instantly became one. They had no other choice but to face the bitter reality before them.

With a heavy heart, they took out the weapons and prepared in their positions to receive an attack from Forde.

After once again noticing the faces of the shadows, Forde attacked them without giving a cue. The shadow that had been her first victim bounced backwards along with two people nearby.

Those who were nearby turned pale and late away from the position due to shock. Because of this Forde managed to subvert two of them quickly.

“Don't just shut up and stay focused. You guys are professionals, right?” said Forde with weight.

His eyes lit up seriously to knock them all down. With the encouragement of fear within them, the shadows finally made a standby position and some of them tried to attack him.

As time went on, one by one the shadows of Alphiella fell. Some of them tried to get up only to be toppled again.

Most of them decided to stay until Forde attacked them but Adde who knew their way of mind could only sigh in disappointment.

LAZY!

"DOLT!"

A shadow that tried to resist Forde's attack bounced backwards until it hit his friend in the back.

Forde justified his body and provoked them.

"Have you given up? Pathetic.”

But the provocation did not succeed in fully lifting their spirits, for which they made a new oath of expletive for themselves in the future.

"I'm sorry they're Marquis. Looks like their training is still lacking."

HIRSTING

Forde resisted Adde's attack coming from beside him easily. He did not even shift a bit from his position.

Adde withdrew his attack and stood not far in front of Forde.

"Are they serious about their work? You think you can take care of my wife?"

"It seems wrong in me as well that less gives harder training to them."

'No.. Please stop…'

Both the shadows that were still standing or those that had fallen held a sense of wanting to cry in their minds.

The training Adde gave them was hard enough for them but as a shadow, they had to get used to the practice.

And their chairman just promised a tougher workout than they do now?

Was he sure their chief wasn't trying to kill them slowly?

"It looks like you're different from them."

"UWAGH!!"

Forde moved quickly subverting the other shadow on his right side. Adde is on standby in his position awaiting an attack from Forde.

"Because I was trained directly by Miss Leana."

"Hoo…"

Forde returned his gaze to Adde with interest.

"Can you tell me? I'm interested in hearing that."

Forde smiled at him. But in the other eye, that smile looked like a killer's grin to his victims.

'Ah. I was wrong to say…"

Adde clenched his mouth tightly knowing that he would experience something difficult before his eyes.

"I will explain it in a more comfortable place, My Lord. But I can assure you that their training is not comparable to what the lady has given me."

Moreover how Adde realized at the end that Leana was secretly judging and deceiving him in the middle of training.

"Hmm.. is that so…"

Forde seems to be getting more interested.

'No no... What kind of practice does the head master actually experience to such an extent?!'

The Alphiella shadows around them add to the cold sweat that is able to wet their footing.

Forde put up his position, preparing to attack Adde.

"Then, let's get this activity over with and have a quick one-on-one conversation. Be prepared."

Adde increased his vigilance and defense, trying to find the best loopholes in order to survive and retaliate for the upcoming attacks.

"I'm ready, my lord."

Both have no intention of giving up and moving their bodies faster than anyone without restraint.

***

"This... invitation letter from the residence of Grand Duke Volfelance?"

In Leana's hand was a luxurious black and blue envelope. In the middle there is the coat of arms of the Grand Duke that is known to everyone.

"Is there no verbal message from him?"

"He said nothing."

Leana took the knife and opened the envelope. Inside are invitations for a party to be held at the Grand Duke's residence next week.

'By the way, I haven't talked about Forde to Eclipse…"

Ever since Leana opened her secret, Forde has insisted on helping her execute her grand plan.

Especially her husband put on a scary face when the name Duke Leon came out in their discussion.

When Leana tells him that she has left Duke Leon's affairs to the Eclipse, she can see Forde's frowning as if she's upset about something.

Leana doesn't know what's going on in her husband's mind, but she's happy that Forde is willing to accept her no matter what.

"Arcan, did you tell Eclipse about Forde?"

"I didn't say anything about it."

"Then please send him the answer to this invitation and letter."

“I'll do it soon, madam.”

“Ah, Arcan! Do you know where my husband is right now?”

Leana took a cup of tea and wiped it slowly. Arcan glanced to the left side of his eyes for a moment then replied.

"Marquis is training with the shadows."

Leana spilled the tea she drank from her open mouth. His eyes widened upon hearing the words issued by Solas.

Solas immediately provided a handkerchief for her while Leana gawked trying to understand the information she had just heard.

Forde's training with Alphiella's shadow!?

Leana immediately got up from her chair in panic and walked quickly towards the training hall.

As he opened the door of the hall in a hurry, he saw almost all the shadows there falling around the Forde.

In front of her husband who did not sweat in the slightest, Adde was overwhelmed with breathless breath and a slightly tattered condition.

"Ap-the…"

Leana was too shocked to see the scene before her that Forde realized its existence.

"Leanna."

With a fresh smile on her face, Forde waved her hand towards Leana who had turned pale.

What were the right words to explain the situation before him at this moment? He was very eager to know.

"Fo-Fordes? What's the matter…?"

"I just want to see their abilities that you acknowledge so much, Leana. With my own hands."

'Just look at it once I already know..!'

Leana closed her lips and held back the tears that would come out from the side of her eyes. She could only pity her shadow which was a victim of her husband's ability.

Leana took her husband's hand and pulled it slowly.

“F-Forde, are you hungry? How about we eat together?”

“Good. Let's eat.”

Adde who was still gathering his strength tried to catch up with the two.

“Mrs... Leana..”.

“Rest for today, Adde. I'll tell the others.”

With a slightly disappointed expression, Adde could only look down.

“Good, thank you madam.”

***

After they finished eating, Leana asked again the incident in the training area earlier.

“Forde, why are you suddenly taking shadow training?"

"I'm just curious about their strength that you've acknowledged so much. I have to really make sure that they are reliable people." replied Forde who slightly averted his gaze. The expression looks uninspired.

Forde was confused by Forde's unusual actions he found.

"The forte? What was? Is there something you're worried about?"

"I'm worried about you, Leana."

"Me?"

"I know you trust them more than I do, but you're also hurt even in their custody. So I can't trust them completely."

Leana blinked her eyes.

If others were to look at the Forde at this time, they might only see the figure of the forde who was upset about something.

But in Leana's eyes, the man before her was acting like a jealous child.

Leana realized something.

Forde jealous? To the shadow of Alphiella?

Knowing his nature, it should be possible for him.

Leana smiled and touched Forde's hands to calm her down.

"Forde, I am much stronger than you imagined."

Leana is a former shadow member and her body still remembers every movement and technique while she is still a shadow.

Forde looked at Leana with a worried expression.

"I'm sorry if I worried you. I promise to discuss it with you from now on."

Forde turned his hand and clasped Leana's hand. Leana was pleased with the answer her husband gave her.

Suddenly he had a brilliant idea.

"Forde if you still doubt my strength, how about we train together?"

"Huh?"

Forde was surprised by Leana's words.

"Wait, Leana-"

"Of course there's no need to hold back. Because I will prove my strength to you!" leana said with sparkling eyes.

Forde has a hard time seeing his wife.

"Leanna.. I can't..."

"Please, huh? Forde?"

"......."

Forde hesitated as he was faced with an expression pleading with his wife.

In his heart he wanted Leana to heal himself and rest until he recovered but at the same time he could not refuse his begging wife.

With a heavy feeling, Forde oun replied.

"I understand, but please prioritize your recovery first."

Leana widened her smile and walked up to Forde. She hugged her husband's neck and kissed him gently.

Forde who was very happy with the kiss from Leana pulled her body into her arms and enjoyed the warmth that their bodies shared.