The night at the Imperial Palace had a completely different atmosphere from the night at Talamand.
Lanterns were lit in an orderly fashion between the tall palace buildings, and guards were passing through the corridors at regular intervals. Despite the late hour, the administrative district of the imperial palace was not completely asleep; the footsteps of scribes carrying reports and the sound of doors opening and closing created a quiet tension.
Just then, a small shadow fell on the office window.
It was a messenger bird.
A guard approached and untied the small container tied to the carrier pigeon's leg. A thin sheet of paper was rolled up inside. Calix took it and slowly unfolded it.
[Talamand Port.
Bernadia Empire Delegation.
Accompanied by a military ship.
Negotiations broke down.
Possible diversionary landing.]
Odelia's typical report was concise and free of embellishments. It contained only the details necessary to explain the situation, all organized precisely.
However, his gaze stopped at the last line.
There was one more sentence written there, scrawled in quick succession.
[Your Majesty, do not come here. There is no reason to leave the Imperial Palace.]
***
Same time.
An arrow flew through the darkness. It struck the shield set up on the hill with a dull thud. At the same time, a short explosion erupted from below.
Bernadian soldiers were lined up at the bottom of the hill, aiming their muskets, and the sparks and smoke bursting from the muzzles were clouding the night air.
“Shield forward!”
The shout of a Talamand soldier rang out from the hill.
Odelia's soldiers had already formed their ranks. A palisade and an earthen mound had been hastily built atop the hill, and behind them stood longbow archers and spearmen in a line.
“Shoot!”
Arrows rained down into the darkness.
Several soldiers staggered and collapsed at the bottom of the hill. However, the Bernadian army did not retreat either.
Bang—with every gunshot, dirt on the hill flew up. Bullets dug into the mounds of earth, scattering shrapnel.
“Ready to fire!”
The Talamand soldier shouted.
Two small field guns were already positioned on the hill. The artillerymen hurriedly pushed in gunpowder and loaded iron balls.
"Firing!"
A heavy roar shook the night air. As shells fell down the hill, dirt and sand flew high into the air. Several Bernadia soldiers were blown into the air.
But they didn't stop either.
Torches were moving in a line at the bottom of the hill. Bernadian soldiers were crawling up the hill little by little, with their shields leading the way.
There was a person looking down at the scene from the hill.
It was Odelia. She was sitting on her horse, looking down at the situation. A black cloak was draped over her armor, and her hair was slightly tousled by the sea breeze.
"The left flank is being pushed back slightly."
Odelia immediately turned her head at Philip's report.
"Turn half the archers to the left and prepare the cannon for the second shot."
"All right."
Philip gave the signal.
A moment later, arrows rained down once again.
The battle continued like that for a while.
After passing the peak of the intensity, the movement slowed slightly at some point. This was because the Bernadians began to regroup at the foot of the hill. It was a brief moment to catch their breath.
"They are realigning over there right now."
Odelia did not miss that opportunity.
"The next attack won't come from the front, but from the right. They're going to try to climb up that hill ridge."
Philip nodded.
"So, is that why you saved a shot from the right-hand cannon?"
"Yes."
Odelia continued speaking while looking down the hill.
"The general over there is a savvy man, too. He must have already realized that a frontal assault is impossible. In that case, he will bypass it."
It was the moment Philip was about to speak again.
"Eup..."
“My lord?”
Odelia did not answer. No, she could not.
She bowed her head and closed her eyes for a moment. She felt her stomach suddenly twisting. Was it because of the sea breeze? However, it wasn't that kind of discomfort. It felt like jer stomach was being severely turned upside down.
"...For a moment."
Odelia spoke in a low voice, turned slightly from her horse, and bowed her head.
Philip's eyes widened at the subsequent action.
“My lord!”
Odelia gagged.
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, she hardly threw up. This was because there was nothing in her stomach.
After catching her breath for a moment, Odelia slowly stood up.
"...It's okay."
Odelia took a deep breath and straightened her body again.
Movements of Bernadia's soldiers were still visible below the hill, and torches were swaying slowly in the darkness. We were in the middle of a battle. This was not a time to worry about such trivial matters.
"It's probably just indigestion."
Philip looked at her for a moment, then spoke very quietly.
“Odelia.”
Odelia's gaze stopped at that one word.
Philip usually called Odelia 'Lord,' but occasionally, when it was a truly private matter or a serious situation, he called her by her name.
Odelia knew that. So she spoke up even sooner than that.
"No, I'm telling you, I really just have indigestion."
She tried to speak nonchalantly and laugh lightly, but even she felt it was somewhat awkward.
Philip was still looking at her.
After a brief silence, he spoke.
"You only ate one potato today."
Philip's voice was low and neat.
"That one I brought earlier."
The sea breeze swept over the hill.
Odelia's gaze dropped to the floor for a moment.
It felt as if the warm sensation of the potato she had eaten earlier still lingered in her hand. And a dream came to mind.
Forest path, potatoes falling from the sky, two potatoes held in the hand.
Philip watched her, who remained silent, and then spoke.
"I will call the doctor."
The tone of voice had completely reverted to a formal tone.
Odelia immediately lifted her head.
"No, no, wait a minute, Philip."
She spoke quickly.
"There’s no reason to necessarily think that way."
Philip let out a sigh and spoke quietly.
"...Someone who doesn't usually take naps is sleeping for two or three hours, skipping meals, claiming to have no appetite, telling me to clear away food coming up from the kitchen because they hate the smell, and suddenly saying they can't even touch food that used to be no problem."
After saying that much, Philip closed his mouth for a moment.
And the moment he finished speaking, his expression changed subtly. The face that had been speaking as a friend just moments ago slowly sank. It was the face of a secretary again.
He took a step back and spoke neatly.
“My lord.”
The voice had returned to a completely public tone.
"It is difficult to make a hasty judgment at this point, but it is clear that the symptoms I mentioned do not match simple indigestion."
"..."
"Therefore, calling the personal doctor is the most reasonable course of action. The examination will not take long. Furthermore, even in the midst of combat, it is absolutely necessary to check the Lord's health."
He paused for a moment. And added.
"In particular, if my assumption is correct... this is all the more true. The battle is continuing even at this very moment. That is why we must verify this with such precision. If the situation you, Lord, are also surmising is correct, our current combat methods must change."
"It's not even certain yet, aren't you getting ahead of yourself?"
"So you don't want to think that way?"
Gunshots rang out again from below the hill.
Bang-
However, at that moment, a strangely quiet atmosphere flowed between the two.
Odelia couldn't say anything.
Even after Philip finished speaking, she couldn't open her mouth for a while.
Her gaze very slowly dropped toward her stomach and then came back up.
And for a moment, just for a very brief moment, a kind of wavering that had never been shown even once throughout the battle flashed across Odelia's face.
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