Calix's gaze was fixed entirely on her. Fireworks exploded one after another, painting the sky, and the eyes briefly reflected in that light held a strange resonance.
However, she was already lowering her gaze and raising her glass. The red liquid inside the glass swayed in the light, and her eyes were hidden beyond it, as if hiding.
With just a single beat out of sync, their gazes ultimately failed to meet. However, even that moment of missed connection lingered deep within their hearts, spreading intensely like a flame.
Just then, the sound of the bell announcing the New Year rang.
As a deep and solemn resonance spread from the spire of the imperial palace, the garden stirred in unison.
Not only in that area, but also in the square outside the imperial palace beyond, cheers, applause, and shouts of toasts echoed joyfully. People clasped hands and rejoiced at the beginning of the New Year.
Odelia brought the wine to her lips. A bitter taste brushed the tip of her tongue, but she needed even that. She covered her eyes with the glass, turned slightly, and walked toward the people.
It was a step without hesitation, like someone returning to their rightful place, as if this was not their proper spot.
Flames exploded again behind her back. The red light filled the night sky and soon scattered into a silver afterglow.
With the light at her back, Odelia quietly blended into the crowd. Left alone, Calix silently watched her retreating figure.
Even amidst the light of the bursting flames, the hem of the dress disappearing into the crowd stood out exceptionally clearly.
Calix still didn't say anything.
He merely held onto the sensation remaining at his fingertips and the wistful gaze buried in the flames for a long time, trapping that moment within his own silence. This moment of welcoming the New Year together in secret.
***
On New Year's morning, the grand banquet hall of the imperial palace was bathed in golden sunlight. The nobles stood in rows, all dressed in splendid ceremonial robes.
Befitting an annual event, majestic music rang out. Indeed, the atmosphere among the people—the excitement of yesterday—had completely vanished, and a weight befitting this ritual hung in the air.
Emperor Calix sat on the throne. He personally called each person over one by one and offered words of encouragement.
"I remember the loyalty your family showed last year. I look forward to it this year as well."
"May there be glory for your family in this new era."
"Dedicate yourself to the empire."
It seemed somewhat like a soulless formality, but the voice sounded quite sincere. As the Emperor, he knew how to convincingly embellish himself. The nobles bowed in return to the Emperor's New Year's greetings.
And finally, Odelia's name was called. As she stepped forward, the Emperor's gaze was fixed on her without wavering.
However, that gaze was somehow different from the one sent to others. It was as if it were still holding onto the moment of the fireworks from the previous night.
The moment Calix was about to open his mouth.
“Cough!”
Odelia let out a cough before she could even hold it in.
And understandably so, as Odelia could not fall asleep at dawn. The fact that their gazes had missed each other, even amidst the beautiful scenery of welcoming the New Year together, lingered in her heart.
No matter how tightly she squeezed her eyelids shut, sleep would not come. Whether she lay in bed or got up and sat by the window, her heart pounded incessantly.
Finally, she kicked off her bed, cut through the dawn air, and lingered in the garden for quite a while.
Even back then, a cough kept escaping. The cold she had caught while wandering through the cold dawn had manifested itself right at this very moment.
As a runny nose started to run, Odelia despaired inwardly.
'This is driving me crazy. What a disgrace.'
She felt her face flush just from the passing gazes of the nobles. As she hurriedly raised a handkerchief to wipe her nose and glanced around nervously, she met the eyes of Calix, who was staring down at her from the throne.
Odelia bowed her head low out of embarrassment. Calix's gaze lingered strangely on the back of her head for a long time, and a subtle smile flickered across his lips.
"This year... let's hope you don't cough as much and don't catch a cold."
A moment of silence fell over the banquet hall.
The Emperor... said such things? It was too trivial to be called New Year’s greetings, yet strangely affectionate to be called nagging. The nobles exchanged glances.
No one spoke aloud, but a subtle atmosphere spread out like ripples.
In the midst of that, Calix spoke again. This time, he spoke so softly that only Odelia could hear him.
"And do not hold onto the night for too long, for the dawn wind will grow biting."
A single word quietly added struck Odelia's ears hot.
How did you know that? Odelia's face instantly flushed red. It felt as if she had been caught lingering in the garden all night long.
She could not bring herself to say a word. With an elegant movement now ingrained in her, she bowed deeply to offer a polite greeting and walked down from the podium.
The moment she stepped down, people's eyes pierced her like needles. Odelia put on a composed expression, hoping her face hadn't turned bright red. Then, she widened her stride inside her dress and quickened her pace.
Her heart pounded loudly, more dazzling than the flash of fireworks.
After the New Year's event ended, Odelia hurriedly left the venue and returned to her quarters in the west annex.
Inside the room, the attendants were already bustling about, packing the luggage. Boxes filled with belongings were being organized and carried out one by one, and clothes and documents were being neatly packed into bags.
Odelia walked along indifferently. She stood in front of the mirror.
Was it because she replayed the moment from earlier at the thought that she was finally alone? In the cold, wiped mirror, her face was reflected, flushed more clearly than she had expected.
Just as she involuntarily closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh at the sight of herself, flushed red even up to her earlobes, a servant approached and asked cautiously.
"Lady Odelia, you were coughing this morning as well; do you perhaps have a high fever? Your face looks so flushed..."
Ah. Right. I did have a cold... Realizing it anew, Odelia pressed her temples with her fingertips.
It was true that it was hot. However, the answer lingering on the corners of her lips went beyond a mere illness.
"...It’s not because of the heat.”
The voice that flowed out briefly sounded like a confession to oneself.
The servants were a little puzzled, but relieved that their master was safe, they silently continued packing the luggage.
Odelia could not take her eyes off the mirror for a while, unable to shake off the Emperor's low voice that still lingered in her ears.
***
After getting into the carriage, Odelia casually opened the window and looked back at the imperial palace one last time.
Attendants and servants from each household bustled about, loading and unloading supplies. With the sound of horses' hooves leaving the palace ahead and the creaking of wheels mingling together, the imperial palace was lively and noisy.
As she gazed blankly at the castle walls enveloped in dazzling sunlight, the balcony far above caught jer eye. It seemed as though she could see a doll there.
Due to the backlight making it appear dark, the identity of the figure standing there was not clearly visible. However, the silhouette was strangely familiar. Broad, straight shoulders, and a posture with a hand lightly resting on the railing.
Odelia's heart sank for a moment. Even though she couldn't see the face or clearly recognize who the person was, she had a strong intuition that the gaze was directed at her.
Odelia hurriedly averted her gaze and closed the window.
Even as the carriage moved and the imperial palace receded into the distance, the shadow standing in the backlight did not fade from her heart.
The person standing on the balcony continued to gaze at the rear of the carriage receding into the distance. Even amidst the still bustling commotion, they paid not a shred of attention to any of it.
The face, which had been completely obscured by the backlight, was subtly revealed only after the clouds briefly blocked the sunlight. It was the Emperor, Calix.
Below the balcony, the wheel tracks of a receding carriage were clearly imprinted on the white snow that had not melted even during the night. Calix silently guarded the spot, not taking his eyes off it until the tracks disappeared.
A subtle smile, lingering briefly before vanishing, spread across the corners of his lips. It was the expression of someone not saying goodbye, but ruminating on something.
Calix lightly tapped his fingers resting on the railing, slowly averted his gaze, and turned his body.
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