What lord would leave their post at a time like this? Even if there were, that was not her way.
Odelia's expression remained unwavering.
Dressed in a perfectly neat appearance, she looked as if she were fully prepared for battle.
"I'll take care of it and leave within an hour."
Philip opened his eyes wide.
"An... hour?"
Odelia straightened her dress hem and spoke.
"Because I don't want to be late."
Philip could not speak any further. He slowly knelt and raised his sword with both hands to offer it.
"...As per the Lord’s command."
Chang.
The cold metal made a heavy sound.
She took a step and drew her sword without hesitation.
The blade sliced through the air and was revealed. Light-laden steel gleamed beneath the hem of the dress. The sight was strangely beautiful and overwhelming.
"Send a carrier pigeon to the imperial palace just in case, Philip."
"If you are referring to a support request..."
Odelia spoke briefly.
“I will arrive on time.”
Outside the city gate, the dawn air was strangely chilly.
The sound of horses' hooves approached, shaking the ground along with a cloud of dust. They were not just a simple band of bandits.
Northern nomadic tribes, a group referred to as the so-called 'barbarians'.
Following Fabiana's downfall, power began to reorganize. Taking advantage of the Empire's attention shifting to court politics, they attempted to cross the border secretly on several occasions. They were constantly on the lookout for an opportunity.
'Talamand is not a mere territory. It is the northern gate and shield of the Empire.'
These were the words of her mother and father, the late masters of Talamand.
The owner of the shield was standing there now, wearing a dress.
The band of bandits surged toward the castle walls in an instant. A shout erupted from the red dust.
"Break down the city gates!"
"Wipe out whatever is inside!"
However, before they could even touch the gate, it clicked open by itself.
"...Dress?"
Before the bandits could even fully perceive it, the sword grazed them like lightning.
The wrist of the person at the very front was severed right off.
"...!"
It was only then that the guys realized the movement was so fast they couldn't even scream.
“W-what!”
Odelia turned her sword and gripped it. The hem of her ivory robe swayed quietly in the middle of the battlefield.
“This is the lord.”
***
The grand banquet hall of the imperial palace was already brimming with warmth. Fragrant scents, sparkling chandeliers, and melodies that echoed ceaselessly.
The trains of the ladies' dresses rippled like waves, and the ministers and nobles, with smiles on their faces, constantly kept each other in check.
However, the look in Calix's eyes as he sat in the midst of all that commotion was.
"It is utterly hollow."
"In my opinion, even the pebbles on the street seem to sparkle brighter than His Majesty's eyes."
"Hey, how disrespectful."
"Isn't that the same thought you have?"
As the ministers said, Calix showed no emotion or warmth. His demeanor, possessing the grace and dignity of an Emperor, was perfect, but his eyes looked withered.
"Your Majesty, she is my daughter, Olivia. I have brought her here to pay my respects to Your Majesty."
"Our family will also pledge our loyalty to Your Imperial Majesty's new era."
"Your Majesty, my eldest daughter is well-versed in both piano and poetry."
The ministers vied with one another to push their daughters forward. The young ladies in the front row held the hems of their dresses neatly and bowed shyly, while the ladies in the back row subtly covered their mouths with hand fans to catch Calix's gaze. However, the response they received was almost the same.
"It's nice to meet you. Please enjoy the banquet."
"..."
"It was good to see you. Have a good time."
"Your Majesty."
"It's nice to meet you. Please enjoy the banquet."
...No matter how you look at it, isn't that gaze looking somewhere else?
Anyone with a shred of common sense could not have been unaware of who the Emperor was waiting for.
"It must be because of that Lord of Talamand, just as I expected. I mean Lady Odelia. Honestly, to be treated like an invisible person like this—it really takes a toll on my dignity—"
"But even if she is the Lord of Talamand, she won't be coming today. I secretly overheard earlier; seeing as she urgently sent out carrier pigeons, something serious must have happened. It's certain. She won't even have time to come as she's busy sorting that out..."
"The timing is off."
"You know, timing is really crucial in a relationship between a man and a woman."
The ministers, slightly offended by Calix's attitude of looking at their daughters as if they were passing cows or chickens, grumbled for no reason.
Calix was also aware of the situation.
A report just arrived that northern nomads have descended upon the border near Talamand and that Odelia has personally set out to suppress them.
Odelia has been like this in the past, and will be like this now. She is always the first to step forward, lead troops around the scene, care for the wounded, and hold her post until the very end.
It was only natural that she could not afford to attend the banquet. Calix quietly set down the glass he was holding.
Even if Odelia did not come here today, he knew very well that it was not because she was turning her back on him, but to protect someone.
That fact alone was enough.
Even without revealing their relationship here today, the two were already more firmly connected than a relationship publicly declared by some covenant.
So he had no intention of rushing her, nor any reason to feel hurt. As long as Odelia was safe.
If Odelia could walk her own path, that was the most important thing to her, and it would certainly be meaningful to the Empire as well.
Calix quietly let out a sigh.
'...Still.'
It was also true that he had been imagining her entering through the open front door today wearing an ivory dress.
However, he soon let go of that thought on his own.
I miss you.
But I can wait.
He was the Emperor, and at the same time, he was a man who was trusted by Odelia more than anyone else.
Calix closed and opened his eyes, briefly concluding.
"...Just stay safe."
That was enough.
On one side, the ladies were still raising their voices and struggling to attract Calix's attention.
"Your Majesty, this dance is..."
"Your Majesty, my daughter and..."
“Your Majesty, please take a moment."
“It’s unfortunate”
Calix slowly opened his mouth. It was a firm voice.
"Today, I am waiting for only one person."
If she doesn't come, it can't be helped.
It meant that he would wait until she came, so don't do anything pointless.
At that one remark, the ladies standing in front fanned themselves with a look of regret, and the ministers stepped back with awkward smiles.
Calix's gaze was fixed solely on the front door of the banquet hall.
Time just kept flowing cruelly.
***
Fierce battles continued from three directions.
Damian led his troops to break through the left flank, while Cedric commanded the shield unit at the front, blocking the enemy's advance.
Philip led a small elite force in a surprise attack on the rear, cutting off the enemy's flow of command.
“Left side cleared!”
“We broke through head-on!”
"Enemy suppression in the rear is complete!"
The front lines in three directions collapsed almost simultaneously.
There is only one thing left.
A group led by the leader of the bandit gang that held out in the center until the very end.
Odelia quietly walked forward holding her sword.
The moment her toes touched the ground, Odelia's body sank low.
Whoosh!
The sword sliced through the air and swung in a crescent shape. It grazed the nape of the neck of the bandit charging from the front.
The bandit fell backward from the horse, spewing blood.
Odelia flicked a small stone with the tip of her foot. The stone flew and lodged precisely in another bandit's temple.
Thump!
The bandit collapsed without a scream, his eyes rolling back.
The third one charged forward, bringing his spear down. As the tip of the spear sliced through the air, Odelia turned her waist deeply to approach, deflected the shaft as if it were not on the sword, and slashed across it.
Bang!
The sturdy spear shaft shattered into pieces and flew to the sides.
"What..."
Odelia's knee struck the jaw of the panicked man clutching the remaining piece. The man collapsed, gasping for breath.
Every moment was the correct choice. Not a single movement was in vain. Not a single moment did her expression waver.
And at the end.
The battlefield was already quiet.
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