"It's not like it'll be a big deal if you don't do it today. You're not feeling well, so there's no need to push yourself."
"Fine. You can't cancel plans because of a hangover."
Erna muttered, as if she were feeling pathetic. Orpheus looked at her with pity.
“There’s no one who would say anything if Your Highness rested.”
“I can’t tolerate it.”
"Yes, yes. I understand. The meal will be delayed. I'll go check, in case my note didn't get through properly."
“Yes, please. And very cold water when you come.”
Orpheus nodded as if she understood and left Erna's room. Her face was not particularly bright as she headed toward the kitchen.
'I think you need to get some rest.'
If she tried to encourage her further, Erna would just say it was okay. Erna was always like that.
Erna never had a day off. Even the maids at the Grand Duke's castle had one or two days off a week, but there was never a day when Erna wasn't tending to the magicians, and the lights in her room were never turned off. In fact, Orpheus hadn't been particularly fond of Erna before meeting her.
Orpheus was a Hessengard. So, she couldn't have been happy to see a foreign, conquering Grand Duke, not a direct descendant of the long-standing Hessengard line. So, when Erna first suggested she work for her because she possessed magical abilities, Orpheus was glad to be freed from her maid status, but she wasn't happy about Erna.
Orpheus, who hated Erna, hid her true feelings and stayed with her to receive training as a sorcerer. As she did so, she gradually learned that Erna, whom she had thought was a puppet doing whatever the Kingdom of Havand ordered, would change her expression when receiving a letter from Havand, as if she had just witnessed the most horrific thing in the world.
Moreover, she was expected to ignore the Hessen Parliament, but she never missed a meeting with the members and respected their opinions to the utmost. When making policy decisions, she chose to maximize the benefits of the Hessen Parliament while giving less to the two kingdoms.
Moreover, she worked tirelessly every day, attending to state affairs while simultaneously seeking out and training magicians. Erna worked so fiercely for the Hessengard that it was almost as if she were truly human. Watching her in the same space, Orpheus found herself truly following her. Even when attacked by a monster, she flew to protect her. Before she knew it, Orpheus had become accustomed to Erna and was following her.
'But who on earth are you talking about?'
Orpheus wondered who Erna hated. Of course, one person immediately came to mind: Erna's husband, Callion.
Those outside the castle might not know, but those inside couldn't help but notice that the two weren't on good terms. They were like strangers, or worse.
But Orpheus soon smiled bitterly.
“Hey, how could that be?”
There was no reason for Erna to suddenly try to get close to Callion now. Whenever Orpheus brought up Callion, Erna was already openly displeased. So, how could she be the first to try to befriend Callion? Given how distant they were, Orpheus couldn't even imagine such a scenario.
'Then who the hell is it?'
As Orpheus was wondering who Erna was talking about, a voice called out to her.
“Sir Orpheus!”
“What a surprise. What’s going on, Cedric?”
It was Cedric, Callion's adjutant, who summoned Orpheus.
Unlike their masters, who were extremely antagonistic, Erna and Callion's adjutants, Orpheus and Cedric, were quite close. This was understandable, as their masters, who disliked encounters with others, had to be careful to avoid overlapping their paths within the castle walls as much as possible.
However, Erna and Callion were unaware that their adjutants met and talked frequently and tried to avoid seeing them more often.
“What are you thinking about that I called you so many times, but you didn’t hear me?”
"Oh, I have something to think about. Our Grand Duke has been acting a bit strange today."
“Is that the case for Her Highness, too? We do the same.”
“Why, Lord Callion?”
When Orpheus asked, Cedric shrugged and said.
"He's usually a sharp-witted man who comes to the Knights Templar, but today he showed up very late, and he even smelled of alcohol, which he doesn't usually drink. On top of that, he even suddenly asked me how to get along with people he dislikes."
“Yes? His Highness, too?”
When Orpheus was surprised, Cedric also looked surprised.
“Your Grand Duke... Then surely it’s not Erna either?”
Nod, nod. Orpheus nodded with a serious expression.
“Oh my god, surely not...”
“The two of you...”
The two men raised their heads and gazed at the Grand Duke and his wife's bedroom, located in the center of the castle. It had been empty for ten years. Perhaps this year, they wondered, would this once-empty space finally be occupied by its inhabitants.
That night, Erna stood in front of the door to the master bedroom.
“Phew...”
From yesterday to today, it felt like she let out every sigh she ever had in her life. But she couldn't stop the frustration from pouring out.
Standing at the door again with a clear mind, she hesitated as expected. She was so hungover that morning that they couldn't have a long conversation. However, they both agreed that creating a successor was impossible. So they decided to figure out a way to support each other while they were still working and meet again that night.
Erna glanced at the clock in her room. It was 10:02. They had agreed to meet at 10:00, but two minutes had passed in the time she hesitated. Erna knew that, unlike her, Callion was a person who moved according to a set schedule, to the point of being frightening.
'He must be here already.'
If she were late, he'd surely look at her like she was a pathetic person who couldn't even keep a single appointment. Just thinking about that expression made her feel a pang of sadness well up inside. She quickly opened the door and went inside.
As expected, she saw Callion sitting on the sofa, just like yesterday. The only difference was that a thick stack of documents was now on the table where yesterday's bottles and glasses had been placed.
“You’re late.”
“...”
Erna couldn't respond to his cold words. It was true that she was late, as he had said. She been hesitating at the door for the past 30 minutes, but even if she said it, he'd probably think it was an excuse, and since she was late, it was meaningless. Furthermore, saying she hesitated and was late would have made her seem like she was the only one afraid of the situation, so saying so hurt her pride.
Erna looked around the room. As expected, the flowers in the vase had been replaced, as if the servants had been there. The blanket, which she'd curled up like a caterpillar that morning, was now neat and clean, without a single crease. The fireplace, too, had been cleared of the wood that had burned to charcoal the night before, and fresh logs were burning.
Erna found a place for herself to sit. The only seats left in the room were the sofa opposite where Callion was already sitting, the chair at the tea table by the window, and the bed. She pondered where to sit, then, as if she'd made up her mind, clenched her fists and walked forward.
Erna, who walked stiffly and awkwardly, like a wooden doll, collapsed onto the sofa opposite Callion.
“...”
Then his eyes, which had been sitting there, narrowed.
“What a surprise.”
This was the first time Erna had approached him so close on her own initiative. It had been Callion who had approached her first yesterday. Erna, with a calm expression on her face, crossed her arms and leaned back against the sofa, as if nothing had happened. Despite the incredibly soft and comfortable sofa, she felt as if she were sitting on a bed of thorns, eager to get up at any moment. Especially when she met Callion's gaze, which was fixed on her. But Erna held back.
“What we talked about this morning.”
At Erna's words, Callion put down the documents he was holding and looked at her properly.
“Are you saying that we can tolerate each other?”
“Yeah, that. I asked for advice...”
At those words, Callion's eyes became fierce.
“Surely you weren’t going around saying it was something between you and me?”
"Are you crazy? Do you think I'm going around bragging about this right now? I don't know if you know, but my adjutant, a sorceress named Orpheus, is here. I just casually asked her about it."
At the mention of "adjutant," Callion fell silent. In fact, he had also asked his adjutant, Cedric, a question, though it was a bit of a slip of the tongue.
After parting ways with Erna that morning, Callion returned home and sat in his room for a long time, dazed. He wasn't drunk. His mind was simply in disarray. When he finally came to, it was well past his usual time to leave.
He missed his appointment. And not because he was sick or anything, but simply lost in thought. Shocked by this, Callion ran towards the Knights.
"Your Highness, is something wrong? I was already worried, so I was planning to come see you."
Upon arriving at the Knights' compound, his adjutant, Cedric, greeted him with a bang. Without being asked, Cedric began to ramble on about trivial matters that had transpired at the Knights' compound between last night and this morning.
"Fine. You can't cancel plans because of a hangover."
Erna muttered, as if she were feeling pathetic. Orpheus looked at her with pity.
“There’s no one who would say anything if Your Highness rested.”
“I can’t tolerate it.”
"Yes, yes. I understand. The meal will be delayed. I'll go check, in case my note didn't get through properly."
“Yes, please. And very cold water when you come.”
Orpheus nodded as if she understood and left Erna's room. Her face was not particularly bright as she headed toward the kitchen.
'I think you need to get some rest.'
If she tried to encourage her further, Erna would just say it was okay. Erna was always like that.
Erna never had a day off. Even the maids at the Grand Duke's castle had one or two days off a week, but there was never a day when Erna wasn't tending to the magicians, and the lights in her room were never turned off. In fact, Orpheus hadn't been particularly fond of Erna before meeting her.
Orpheus was a Hessengard. So, she couldn't have been happy to see a foreign, conquering Grand Duke, not a direct descendant of the long-standing Hessengard line. So, when Erna first suggested she work for her because she possessed magical abilities, Orpheus was glad to be freed from her maid status, but she wasn't happy about Erna.
‘Staying in the same space... was actually about you.’
Moreover, she was expected to ignore the Hessen Parliament, but she never missed a meeting with the members and respected their opinions to the utmost. When making policy decisions, she chose to maximize the benefits of the Hessen Parliament while giving less to the two kingdoms.
Moreover, she worked tirelessly every day, attending to state affairs while simultaneously seeking out and training magicians. Erna worked so fiercely for the Hessengard that it was almost as if she were truly human. Watching her in the same space, Orpheus found herself truly following her. Even when attacked by a monster, she flew to protect her. Before she knew it, Orpheus had become accustomed to Erna and was following her.
'But who on earth are you talking about?'
Orpheus wondered who Erna hated. Of course, one person immediately came to mind: Erna's husband, Callion.
Those outside the castle might not know, but those inside couldn't help but notice that the two weren't on good terms. They were like strangers, or worse.
But Orpheus soon smiled bitterly.
“Hey, how could that be?”
There was no reason for Erna to suddenly try to get close to Callion now. Whenever Orpheus brought up Callion, Erna was already openly displeased. So, how could she be the first to try to befriend Callion? Given how distant they were, Orpheus couldn't even imagine such a scenario.
'Then who the hell is it?'
As Orpheus was wondering who Erna was talking about, a voice called out to her.
“Sir Orpheus!”
“What a surprise. What’s going on, Cedric?”
It was Cedric, Callion's adjutant, who summoned Orpheus.
Unlike their masters, who were extremely antagonistic, Erna and Callion's adjutants, Orpheus and Cedric, were quite close. This was understandable, as their masters, who disliked encounters with others, had to be careful to avoid overlapping their paths within the castle walls as much as possible.
However, Erna and Callion were unaware that their adjutants met and talked frequently and tried to avoid seeing them more often.
“What are you thinking about that I called you so many times, but you didn’t hear me?”
"Oh, I have something to think about. Our Grand Duke has been acting a bit strange today."
“Is that the case for Her Highness, too? We do the same.”
“Why, Lord Callion?”
When Orpheus asked, Cedric shrugged and said.
"He's usually a sharp-witted man who comes to the Knights Templar, but today he showed up very late, and he even smelled of alcohol, which he doesn't usually drink. On top of that, he even suddenly asked me how to get along with people he dislikes."
“Yes? His Highness, too?”
When Orpheus was surprised, Cedric also looked surprised.
“Your Grand Duke... Then surely it’s not Erna either?”
Nod, nod. Orpheus nodded with a serious expression.
“Oh my god, surely not...”
“The two of you...”
The two men raised their heads and gazed at the Grand Duke and his wife's bedroom, located in the center of the castle. It had been empty for ten years. Perhaps this year, they wondered, would this once-empty space finally be occupied by its inhabitants.
That night, Erna stood in front of the door to the master bedroom.
“Phew...”
From yesterday to today, it felt like she let out every sigh she ever had in her life. But she couldn't stop the frustration from pouring out.
Standing at the door again with a clear mind, she hesitated as expected. She was so hungover that morning that they couldn't have a long conversation. However, they both agreed that creating a successor was impossible. So they decided to figure out a way to support each other while they were still working and meet again that night.
Erna glanced at the clock in her room. It was 10:02. They had agreed to meet at 10:00, but two minutes had passed in the time she hesitated. Erna knew that, unlike her, Callion was a person who moved according to a set schedule, to the point of being frightening.
'He must be here already.'
If she were late, he'd surely look at her like she was a pathetic person who couldn't even keep a single appointment. Just thinking about that expression made her feel a pang of sadness well up inside. She quickly opened the door and went inside.
As expected, she saw Callion sitting on the sofa, just like yesterday. The only difference was that a thick stack of documents was now on the table where yesterday's bottles and glasses had been placed.
“You’re late.”
“...”
Erna couldn't respond to his cold words. It was true that she was late, as he had said. She been hesitating at the door for the past 30 minutes, but even if she said it, he'd probably think it was an excuse, and since she was late, it was meaningless. Furthermore, saying she hesitated and was late would have made her seem like she was the only one afraid of the situation, so saying so hurt her pride.
Erna looked around the room. As expected, the flowers in the vase had been replaced, as if the servants had been there. The blanket, which she'd curled up like a caterpillar that morning, was now neat and clean, without a single crease. The fireplace, too, had been cleared of the wood that had burned to charcoal the night before, and fresh logs were burning.
Erna found a place for herself to sit. The only seats left in the room were the sofa opposite where Callion was already sitting, the chair at the tea table by the window, and the bed. She pondered where to sit, then, as if she'd made up her mind, clenched her fists and walked forward.
Erna, who walked stiffly and awkwardly, like a wooden doll, collapsed onto the sofa opposite Callion.
“...”
Then his eyes, which had been sitting there, narrowed.
“What a surprise.”
This was the first time Erna had approached him so close on her own initiative. It had been Callion who had approached her first yesterday. Erna, with a calm expression on her face, crossed her arms and leaned back against the sofa, as if nothing had happened. Despite the incredibly soft and comfortable sofa, she felt as if she were sitting on a bed of thorns, eager to get up at any moment. Especially when she met Callion's gaze, which was fixed on her. But Erna held back.
“I've decided to try my best.”
“Try your best? At what?”
At Erna's words, Callion put down the documents he was holding and looked at her properly.
“Are you saying that we can tolerate each other?”
“Yeah, that. I asked for advice...”
At those words, Callion's eyes became fierce.
“Surely you weren’t going around saying it was something between you and me?”
"Are you crazy? Do you think I'm going around bragging about this right now? I don't know if you know, but my adjutant, a sorceress named Orpheus, is here. I just casually asked her about it."
At the mention of "adjutant," Callion fell silent. In fact, he had also asked his adjutant, Cedric, a question, though it was a bit of a slip of the tongue.
After parting ways with Erna that morning, Callion returned home and sat in his room for a long time, dazed. He wasn't drunk. His mind was simply in disarray. When he finally came to, it was well past his usual time to leave.
He missed his appointment. And not because he was sick or anything, but simply lost in thought. Shocked by this, Callion ran towards the Knights.
"Your Highness, is something wrong? I was already worried, so I was planning to come see you."
Upon arriving at the Knights' compound, his adjutant, Cedric, greeted him with a bang. Without being asked, Cedric began to ramble on about trivial matters that had transpired at the Knights' compound between last night and this morning.
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