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[FT: O King of the Fairies] Chapter 98
🕑 Added 2025-05-29 12:14:50 +0000 UTCYou’d think that after wiping half of the Spriggan 12, turning one of the most terrifying women on the continent into a very confused, very emotional human again, and cleaning up the battlefield like some janitor.
I’d get a break.
But no.
Instead, I found myself walking through the charred aftermath of our fight with Irene quietly trailing behind me, wrapped in my cloak.
And she was staying close.
Very close.
Not that I was bothered by it. I mean, sure, I’d just wiped out half the Spriggan 12, and my ego was riding high, but even I had to admit that Irene’s sudden softness was... unusual.
She kept glancing at me when she thought I wasn’t paying attention.
Spoiler: I always noticed. It was hard not to when someone was looking at you with that gaze.
“So…” Irene’s voice broke the silence as we crested a hill, the remains of the battlefield stretching behind us. She glanced at me, her eyes curious. “Are you not curious about why half the Spriggan 12 is here?”
I chuckled softly. “I already know about it. It’s about the Fairy Heart. Nothing new.”
Irene stopped in her tracks, her gaze sharpening as she stared at me, as if trying to process what I’d said. “You... How?”
I shrugged, trying to play it cool, but I could see the surprise flickering in Irene’s eyes. “Let’s just say I’ve got my sources.”
“You know... and yet, you don’t act surprised.”
“Guess I’m just used to things being a little strange.”
Irene’s lips parted, as if she wanted to ask more, but then she hesitated, her gaze drifting to the ground.
The silence between us grew, thick with unspoken thoughts.
Irene tucked herself deeper into my cloak. I wasn’t sure if it was the cold air, or... just something comforting about it.
Probably both.
We kept walking in silence for a bit before I felt her hand brush mine.
Not hold. Just brush.
I didn’t say anything. Neither did she.
But damn, my heart kicked up like I was some schoolboy getting touched by his crush during a group project.
Irene Belserion, former general of the Alvarez Empire, was now a soft-spoken, slightly awkward woman walking beside me like she was figuring out how to breathe again.
And me?
I was wondering how the hell I was supposed to act normal when the woman who just cried in my arms after centuries of agony kept glancing at me like I was the only thing tethering her to this new world she was trying to understand.
No pressure, right?
Still. I glanced sideways at her and smiled.
She noticed.
She smiled back.
This was going to be one hell of a ride home.
, I raised my hand slightly, and in the blink of an eye, the Regalia appeared—its massive, imposing frame materializing in front of us with a low hum of power.
She stepped forward slowly, almost tentatively, her fingers brushing lightly against the cold metal. The lines of her face softened, a distant, unreadable expression crossing her features.
“It’s just…” she started, then faltered, her words not quite finding their place. “Nostalgic.”
“It is..”
Without another word, I extended my hand to her, and without hesitation, she took it, her grip steady, but there was a trace of hesitation in the way she climbed aboard.
Once seated beside me, Irene remained quiet for a moment, her gaze now turned inward, lost in thought. A small sigh escaped her lips, barely audible, and I could see her shoulders relax slightly, as if the familiar hum of the Regalia brought back a long-forgotten comfort.
—
Eventually, we reached Fortress Leonhart. The massive structure loomed over us, and I could see Irene’s eyes widening as she took it all in.
“We’re here,” I said, gesturing toward the fortress.
“This is where you live?” she asked, clearly impressed.
“Yep. Welcome to my humble abode,” I said with a smirk.
We stepped off, and I gave Irene a glance, noting the way she seemed both at ease and distant.
“You’ll crash here tonight. Tomorrow, we head to Fairy Tail. I’ll introduce you to Erza.”
She glanced at me with a curious look, her brow furrowed a little. “Erza? Is she... like you?”
I snorted, shaking my head. “Erza is like a force of nature. She’s got more strength in her pinky than most people have in their entire bodies. You’ll see. But, she’s a pain in the ass sometimes, too. Like you.”
Irene let out a quiet chuckle, and it almost felt like I could hear the faint trace of real amusement behind it. It was nice seeing her like this—softer, less guarded than the woman I’d first met. I couldn’t help but smirk a little. "Trust me, you’ll be fine. They’ve got their quirks, but they’ll accept you."
Irene nodded but didn't respond immediately. Her eyes wandered, and I could almost feel her thoughts drifting back to a time when everything was just... different. Maybe even simpler, in some messed-up way.
I led her through the main corridor of Fortress Leonhart.
I caught Irene subtly scanning her surroundings. Her eyes drifted from one glowing seal to the next, from the floating rune orbs above to the channels of mana flowing beneath the polished obsidian floors. She didn’t speak at first, but the quiet awe in her gaze gave her away.
“This place…” she finally murmured as we passed a crystal panel displaying the fortress’s mana flow and external wards—all calm and stable, of course. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
Before I could respond, a familiar voice chimed in above my head.
“Aye, welcome to the Demon King’s Castle.”
NIMO hovered in front. “Complete with traps, self-cleaning corridors, and enough power to scare a council of old men into retirement.”
I sighed. “It’s not a villain’s lair. It’s a fortress.”
NIMOwaved a paw dismissively. “Refined or not, it still screams ‘sinister overlord’s bedroom’s just down the hall.’”
I shot him a glare, but before I could retort, I noticed Irene touching the wall, fingers gently tracing the ancient glyphs carved into the stone. Her expression had softened.
“You’ve woven old magic into the foundation,” she said quietly. “This is amazing.”
I gave a small smile. “Take a bit of this and that. Let’s just say I had a few... unconventional sources.”
“You built this yourself?”
“More or less.”
Irene chuckled and glanced at me. “You’ve created something incredible. I didn’t expect this.”
NIMO swooped down between us. “Don’t forget the secret hot spring room! With enchanted mist, scented oils, and a ridiculous number of towels. This place has more luxury than the king’s palace in Fiore.”
Irene raised an eyebrow. “Is that true?”
“I mean… technically, yes,” I said with a sheepish grin. “But I didn’t intend for it to be excessive. I just like being prepared.”
She gave me that look again. “So this is where the feared mage of Ishgar lives. A fortress, hot springs, and a flying... creature.”
“I’m the guardian spirit of the demon castle, thank you,” NIMO said, crossing his little arms.
“You’re a talking nuisance,” I muttered.
NIMO ignored me, of course. “Just wait until she sees the training yard. Or the cake pantry.”
We finally arrived at the east wing, and I gestured to a rune-inscribed door that glowed faintly at our presence. With a small pulse of magic, it slid open, revealing a spacious chamber fitted with warm lights, carved wood furnishings, and a four-post bed that looked like it could host an entire guild meeting.
I turned to Irene. “You’ll rest here for the night.”
She paused at the doorway, fingers lingering on the frame.
She looked at me then. Something unspoken shimmered in her eyes, but instead of words, she gave me a nod and a quiet, “Thank you.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Dinner will be in about an hour. You’re free to explore, bathe, raid the library, threaten NIMO, whatever suits you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, a rare smile tugging at her lips. “And maybe just a little threat. For fun.”
NIMO beeped. “Why am I always the first target?”
“Because you never know when to stop talking,” I said.
As she stepped inside the room, she glanced back once more, her eyes warm, expression softer than I’d ever seen it.
And when the door finally closed, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
I lingered at the door for a moment longer, watching it shut softly behind her. But then, just as I turned to go, it creaked open again. Irene peeked her head out, her crimson hair tumbling over one shoulder.
“Aiden.”
“Yeah?” I said, turning back.
She hesitated for a second, then asked, “When it’s time… to meet Erza. Will it be at Fairy Tail? Or… here?”
I studied her face. There was no fear there—but something quieter. A delicate uncertainty. Not the kind that came from doubt, but from caring too much. From wanting something to go right, without knowing how.
“It’s your call,” I said. “Where would you rather it be?”
She looked down for a moment, fingers tightening slightly on the doorframe. Then, quietly: “Here. If you don’t mind.”
There was something in the way she said it—soft, almost shy. She wasn’t asking as a general or a queen, but as a woman who… well, maybe felt safer here. With me.
I gave a small nod. “Then here it is. Tomorrow morning. I’ll bring her.”
She smiled again, gentler. Warmer. “Thank you,”
Then her eyes lingered on mine, just a heartbeat too long.
For a second, it felt like she might say something else. “Goodnight, Aiden.”
“Night, Irene.”
The door closed once more, this time with a soft click. I stared at it for a few seconds longer than I should have.
NIMO, of course, didn’t miss a beat. He hovered behind me, his eyes flicking smugly.
“She likes you,” he said sing-song.
“Drop it.”
“You’re blushing.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You’re emotionally compromised.”
“You’re an overgrown firefly.”
He spun in the air. “You like her too.”
I didn’t answer. Which, in NIMO-speak, meant I definitely didn’t deny it fast enough.
Because honestly?
Yeah. I did.
