A Changed Brother

"Are you sure, Kain?" asked Layla with a sad expression. "I know more than anyone how much this means to you. Even if I have to kidnap a civil servant to create a medal for me, I wouldn't want to take this."

"It belongs to you more than it does to me," said Kain as he threw the medal at her, and Layla snatched it. "You have been a great friend to her, but I'm nothing but the father who killed her."

"That's not what happened!"

"Please, take it and leave. If Zonas leaves prison, the empire will have a better chance of surviving the next ordeal. This is the right choice for all of us."

"I… thank you. I promise that you won't regret this."

After that, Layla squeezed Ai's shoulder, signaling the two to leave. The man who lost his earlier vigor slumped in his chair as he stared blankly at the desk.