It was midday when the report was received.
"Your Majesty, the Baroness has just left for Talamand."
Calix's hand, which had been organizing documents, froze for a moment on the paper before dropping limply. As the aide delivering the report quietly withdrew, only silence remained in the room.
Leaving was the right thing to do. He tried to convince himself of this, but the persuasion was hollow. His fingertips pressed down on the documents as if to crumple them.
Calix slowly raised his head and looked into the void.
The lingering images of last night came back vividly to life. Her eyes, a mixture of hesitation and longing; the sensation of her frail body trembling in his arms; the cautious breath brushing against his ear. All of it came back to life like reality and burrowed into his heart.
He could have held onto her. Actually, there was no reason why he absolutely had to let her go.
But he had to let her go. That was the right thing to do right now. Letting her turn around and leave on her own was the best course of action at this moment.
Calix closed his eyes slowly. His lingering regret turned into determination.
Even if je send her away now, he will bring her back someday.
Whether he makes her walk to him on her own or drags her back, one way or another, she will eventually return to his side.
To do so, they had to first eliminate the obstacles holding them back. As long as Fabiana and the Duke of Devon existed, it was impossible to fully embrace Odelia.
Calix's gaze turned cold.
The path was clear.
***
Upon returning from the Imperial Palace, Odelia was confronted with the people of the estate immersed in deep sorrow. The air was heavy, a mixture of grief, emptiness, and guilt.
The news of Allan and Gideon had already spread. The people of the estate were gloomy as if it were their own tragedy, and some had red eyes.
They even knew that Odelia had been unjustly framed and dragged away, and as if considering even that their own responsibility, they dared not speak to her first. It was Odelia who broke that silence.
“Everyone, gather together.”
Odelia called the people together. Gathering her trembling voice, she looked at each person one by one.
"Allan and Gideon... were friends and family to all of us."
She was unable to speak for a long time, then let out a deep breath.
"I will leave their room and belongings as they are. To ensure that we do not forget that they were here together."
The people's tears burst forth once again. That night, all the inhabitants of Talamand gathered inside the castle and held a funeral to honor the two.
In the candlelit garden, she bid her final farewell, calling out the names of Allan and Gideon. Odelia felt more at ease with the modest funeral held here than with the grand funeral at the Bardo mansion.
A few days later, the carriage of the Marquis of Bardo arrived at the castle.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Herse kicked open the door and immediately hugged Odelia tightly.
"I believed that my aunt wouldn't do that."
At the sound of a child's tearful voice, Odelia hugged Herse tightly and simply apologized.
I thought she wouldn't know, but come to think of it, there was no way she wouldn't. Seemingly quite worried all this time, Herse hugged Odelia tightly and sobbed for a while, burying her face in her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Herse."
Damian, who had been walking slowly from behind, stopped and opened his mouth heavily.
"Odelia, there is something you need to know."
Odelia felt slightly uneasy at the sight of Damian speaking with a stern expression.
The two of them headed straight to the drawing room after sending Herse to the nanny.
In the room where only the two of them were present, Damian finally managed to lift his cup long after the servants had brought out the tea; he looked as though he were hesitating.
"Lord Damian?”
It was only after Odelia called out softly that Damian put down his teacup and looked at her.
“Odelia”
"Yes."
"His Majesty instructed me not to speak, but I have a different opinion."
"Yes?"
"Do you know how Gideon died?"
"Isn't it an accident? It was referred to as an accident in court as well."
As far as Odelia knew, that was all. At that, Damian nodded slightly, as if he had expected it.
"Gideon risked his life to find evidence to testify about the Duke of Devon's corruption. I heard that he met His Majesty, and Duke Devon took his life."
What is that sound? Odelia's fingertips trembled as she held the teacup.
"Devon caught on. So he killed Gideon by making it look like a shipwreck. It was all a manipulation."
"If it's manipulation..."
"Everything from hitting the reef."
It feels like things are fading away. Odelia took a short breath and looked at Damian.
For some reason, she felt as if the blood in her body was drying up. What burned inside her heart was anger toward Fabiana and Devon, and the devastating sorrow of losing two friends.
"Why did His Majesty tell you not to speak..."
"It looks like he doesn't want you to get involved in dangerous situations."
"Then why did Sir Damian tell me the truth?"
"... Gideon is dead anyway, and now that Allan is dead as well, I don't think the Duke of Devon and Fabiana will leave you alone."
"..."
"Therefore, I believe you must identify the enemy yourself and respond accordingly. His Majesty is protecting you too much."
Damian let out a heavy sigh. Guilt weighed down on the back of his neck. But because of that guilt, he had to protect Odelia at all costs.
It might have been better not to tell the truth. However, now that so much had already gone awry, there was no longer any reason to hide it.
Sadness makes humans weak and helpless, but anger, at least anger, makes people act.
Perhaps, if Allan had known that Gideon's death was not merely a tragic accident but the result of someone's conspiracy, the outcome might have been different.
"Fabiana and Devon are not the type to give up easily. They are not the kind to just spout words at a banquet and be done with it. They are the ones who have endured the longest and dirtiest in the Imperial Palace. This trial has clearly revealed that you enjoy the Emperor's favor. There is no way they would just sit by and watch that happen."
Damian's fingertips pressed firmly against the armrest.
“We’ll be moving soon.”
Secretly and meticulously, just as he dealt with Gideon.
Odelia took a short breath. It felt as if the cold reality was slowly seeping into her skin.
She thinks she can now understand a little bit why Calix didn't tell her, even though he knew all of this. The weight he must have endured, and even the fear he must have felt that she wouldn't be able to handle it.
However, understanding and forgiveness were not the same thing. Odelia clenched her hands tightly on her knees.
"Come find me anytime if you need help. I want to at least atone for the sin of failing to protect my brother and Gideon by protecting you. Since you are already married to Allan, you are also part of my family."
Odelia lowered her gaze, unable to answer. Her heart was in turmoil. A mix of betrayal and understanding regarding Calix intertwined, and the tangled threads of her emotions would not unravel.
However, one thing was clear. Now, she had to prepare to protect herself.
Just as she had made her resolution, a servant rushed over with a pale face and knelt down.
"Lady Odelia! Something terrible has happened! The Imperial investigation team has stormed in!"
“An investigation team?”
"Yes, they are searching every corner of the territory, confiscating goods, and even dragging out merchants from the marketplace. They are also threatening to impose taxes under new pretexts."
The servant's trembling voice could not continue to the end. Odelia put down the glass and stood up immediately.
As Odelia caught her breath and looked at Damian with a cold, subdued gaze, as if confirming, he nodded silently.
A short while later, Odelia faced the scene in front of the castle gate. Beyond the gate, she could see desolate fields and an empty marketplace. An imperial inspection team, clad in red cloaks and armor emblazoned with golden eagles, had already entered the territory as if occupying it.
"Baroness, welcome back."
The man with the fierce appearance standing at the very front of them offered a perfunctory greeting to Odelia. There was not a shred of respect in his eyes.
"What is going on?"
"We are conducting an investigation under the orders of the Imperial Family. As reports have indicated circumstances of illegal transactions and tax evasion within this territory, it has been determined that a full-scale investigation is necessary."
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