Every time, not long after the Duke's funeral had ended, Fabiana would shut herself away in her palace, citing her father's death as the reason.
Court doctors came and went in turn to examine her, and the results were all the same.
Excessive shock and physical and mental exhaustion.
Eventually, she obtained the Emperor's permission and left for long-term recuperation with her still-young child.
Her absence subtly changed the atmosphere of the court. Some ministers cautiously kept their words to themselves, while others busily moved about to fill the void.
In the midst of this, another name stood out prominently.
Talamand, a territory that continues to flourish even amidst the harsh north winds, and Odelia, the woman who built it up.
The ministers gathered before Emperor Calix and spoke in unison.
"Your Majesty, how about inviting the Lord of Talamand to the imperial banquets and hunting competitions that will take place from the end of the year through the New Year?"
"The prosperity of the territory is the prosperity of the empire, so it would be best to show it off widely."
The ulterior motive was obvious.
To summon the masters of prosperous territories to the imperial palace, forge bonds with each other, and share the power
***
On a morning when a thick winter fog had settled, the castle walls and spires stood tall amidst the snowy landscape, majestically overlooking the empire.
As the carriage stopped in front of the marble steps of the Imperial Palace, a servant approached and opened the door.
Cutting through the cold air, the one who emerged from the carriage was Odelia from Talamand.
Odelia took a step and looked up. Calix was waiting at the far end of the red carpet. She bowed her head and offered a respectful greeting, paying the Emperor the proper respect.
In that brief moment as Odelia lifted her slightly tilted head, the air flowing between them became strangely lighter.
Although it was a gathering held as a political invitation, at that moment something deeper and older than the rituals seemed to exist.
The place where Odelia would stay during the end of the year was the quarters on the second floor of the western annex of the Imperial Palace, directly adjacent to the garden.
As the door opened, a faint scent of roses greeted her first. Despite it being winter, the well-heated interior was cozy, and a low orange flame burned in the large fireplace, appearing as if it had just been kindled.
The front window was tall and wide, bringing the snow-covered palace garden in like a painting.
An armchair where one could deeply sink into sat by the window, and warm tea was already prepared on the small table beside it.
The furniture in the room was decorated with restrained curves and sophisticated carvings, but what caught the eye were the fine details.
For example, the bed was covered with a cover featuring a pattern similar to the embroidery she had used in Talamand, and books and stationery suited to her taste were neatly arranged on the cabinet next to the fireplace. A large oil painting depicting the snowy mountain scenery of Talamand hung on the wall by the window.
Odelia slowly turned her eyes and looked around the inside.
This space existed naturally as if it had been prepared long before she came here
"It gets more sunlight than the other rooms in the imperial palace. You can also see Talamand clearly from here."
Calix, who was standing by the doorway looking at Odelia, said nonchalantly.
Odelia chose her words for a moment. She quietly bowed her head.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
As the brief conversation ended, a moment of silence fell between the two. Then, simultaneously, they looked up and said, "Over there."
Their eyes met in mid-air. Both of them. Left speechless right then and there.
The light streaming through the window stained Calix's eyes silver, and Odelia could read his subtly softened expression in that light.
Back then, when the air was changing little by little, but surely.
"Your Majesty!"
Both of them averted their gaze at the same time.
Calix walked toward the fireplace pretending to be indifferent, while Odelia straightened the fabric with her fingertips as if she had been examining the bedsheets all along.
Is this the warmth coming from the fireplace? Only the servant who appeared from outside the door quietly pondered such a question to himself.
***
The banquet hall was brightly lit with golden chandeliers and dazzling candlelight. Seasonal delicacies and rare wines were laid out on the long table, giving an indication of the social standing of the people gathered there.
The court ministers and their families were filling the seats, all dressed in splendid attire. String music played softly in the background, but the greater resonance was the laughter and voices exchanged as glasses clinked.
"The prosperity of Talamand is truly the pride of the Empire."
"For the estate and the family to stand firm, the Madam alone would not be able to handle it. How long have you been alone?"
The ministers spoke in a polite tone, but beneath it flowed a meaningful atmosphere.
Odelia was sitting near the seat of honor, not far from Calix, and whenever her name was mentioned, the ministers' eyes were subtly turned toward her.
"You won't be able to hold on for long under the title of 'widow.' For the sake of Talamand's future, wouldn't you need a partner to shoulder the burden of that land with you?"
As a few words were uttered, other ministers quietly joined in. Someone subtly mentioned a cousin's nephew, and another mentioned the youngest son, dropping hints as if suggesting that they look for a 'good match.'
They looked at Odelia while feigning respect on the surface, but it was not difficult to read their blatant calculations.
Odelia calmly raised her glass. There was not a trace of disarray in her expression or gesture. Her gaze reflected in the glass was also cold and clear, like ice holding light.
"Talamand is a land I protected with my own hands. And I will continue to do so."
At the neat voice that flowed lightly through the banquet hall, the people momentarily froze their smiling faces, then forced smiles back and continued their conversation.
Even in the ensuing conversation, the nobles and ministers would occasionally probe Odelia, carefully masking their desire to fill the seat beside her with someone they knew.
It was then that Calix, who had been silently holding his ground as if to say he would not intervene in their conversation, spoke up.
"The owner of Talamand is a woman capable of choosing her own mate. She is more certain than anyone else of that ability."
His calm words flowed gently rather than solemnly, and the ministers' lips hardened.
It was an incredibly natural tone, as if simply stating the facts rather than scolding anyone, yet there was a clear firmness within it.
Even if the Emperor hadn't openly embarrassed them, it was certain that there was no longer any excuse to continue the conversation. Changing the subject, they simply clinked their glasses while forcing smiles.
Odelia, momentarily out of the public eye, quietly lowered her eyes.
Now, it wasn't that difficult to feign an unwavering face. But deep down, she was a little grateful.
His words just now were no different from a light shield he had cast to protect her. Thanks to that, she escaped unnecessary stares.
But that was not all. At the same time, that single remark clearly revealed her. As the Emperor, he had praised Odelia, the mistress of Talamand.
Amidst the dazzling lights and laughter, for that brief moment, a solid shadow fell over Odelia.
The dinner continued until late. Light laughter and laughter echoed throughout the venue, and the music grew lighter.
However, Odelia was not drunk at all. Glasses were passed around several times, but her gaze remained as clear as it was at the beginning.
As she rose from her seat intending to return, the attendants guided her to the western annex of the imperial palace.
As she left the spacious banquet hall and entered the long corridor, the heat and laughter of the banquet hall faded away, replaced by a deep silence and cold air. Footsteps echoed distinctly on the marble floor.
Just then, a figure slowly approached from the shadow of a pillar in the corridor. The silhouette cast over the red carpet was Calix.
"It was a long night, wasn't it?"
It was a voice quite different from the one at the banquet earlier. A calm and gentle voice. Odelia stopped in her tracks and bowed her head.
"I'm not sure if I've caused any trouble."
Calix gazed at her for a moment, then turned his eyes to the gathering beyond the corridor. The lake garden, where the night mist was gently rising, was shining quietly.
"You can ignore what they say this evening. No one can decide your will for you."
Odelia lowered her eyes for a moment, then raised her head and looked at his face.
"Those words... are like giving me a shield."
"If it's a shield, you have the strength to lift it yourself."
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