The morning sun crept into the room, and Ophelia fluttered her eyes open, feeling Alexandra's familiar warmth behind her. Alexandra's arm rested lightly around her waist, and as Ophelia shifted, she felt the steady rise and fall of Alexandra's breathing. Turning toward her, Ophelia met Alexandra's already awake gaze. Without a word, Alexandra stroked her face gently before leaning in to press a soft kiss on her lips.
The two eventually stirred from the bed. While Ophelia headed to the shower, Alexandra picked up her sword, resting against the bedside, and began sharpening it slowly with a nearby tool.
Once her shower was finished, Ophelia wrapped herself in a towel and brushed her teeth. The maids entered just as she stepped out, assisting her into a stunning dress. It was deep emerald green, with flowing fabric that clung lightly to her frame and intricate gold embroidery along the hem and bodice. Her silver hair was styled to cascade down her back, a soft contrast to the bold dress.
Alexandra emerged from her own shower moments later, her towel slung casually around her neck, her body bare. She froze upon seeing the maids and immediately bolted back into the bathroom. Ophelia chuckled softly, dismissing the maids with a small wave. "You can come out now," she called after seeing her maids leave.
Alexandra peeked out before stepping into the room again, this time modestly wrapped in her towel. She quickly dressed in her undergarments, followed by fitted training clothes and finally her armor, before joining Ophelia on their way to breakfast.
In the dining hall, the Holy Knights were already seated, their boisterous laughter filling the room. Tridra sat among them, stiff and out of place, silently picking at her food. The knights stopped their banter upon noticing Ophelia's arrival. They stood, along with the servants nearby, bowing deeply. "Good morning, Duchess," they said in unison before returning to their meal or tasks.
Ophelia took her seat beside Tridra, with Alexandra sitting on her other side. She joined the conversation with the knights, her voice as smooth as ever. "So, I believe the Church has permitted you all to become my personal knights?" she asked, cutting into a sausage.
Captain Edwin grinned broadly, raising a fork with a potato skewered on its end. "Yes, My Lady. They caved the moment they saw your synchronization rate. You should have seen the looks on their faces—utterly stunned!" His laugh was hearty, infectious.
Breakfast continued with light chatter and laughter. Tridra remained silent, only nodding occasionally. Once the meal ended, the knights moved to the courtyard to train while servants bustled about the estate.
Meanwhile, Ophelia headed back to her chambers, her mind already planning the day's tasks. However, she stopped when Tridra caught her gaze in the corridor. "Duchess," Tridra began, her voice steady, "yesterday, you asked me to swear my loyalty to you. May I do that now?"
Ophelia paused, her expression churning ever so slightly before landing on a soft gaze. As she extended her hand, Tridra dropped to one knee without hesitation, her head bowed. "Duchess Aubessec, I hereby swear my loyalty to you. Please use me till your heart's content." She kissed the back of Ophelia's hand, her voice unwavering.
"Rise," Ophelia said, her tone ever so slightly warm.
Tridra stood, her gaze meeting Ophelia's as she continued. "Since this morning, I've given it a lot of thought," Tridra said. "But everything brought me back to you. If it wasn't for you, I'd still be in that cell, destined to lose my mind. I hope you'll fully accept me as one of your people."
"Just a few hours of thought feels very foolish…"
"However, I had nowhere else to go when I thought about my current situation."
Ophelia's gaze lingered, assessing. "Then… do you not feel any survivor's guilt? You are likely the sole survivor of the Black Trumpet in this capital."
It looked as if the mask Tridra had been wearing since this morning had finally slipped and Tridra's lips quivered, her breath hitching. "I… I…" Her voice faltered, but she gritted her teeth and finally spoke. "Please allow me to confirm whether they're truly gone. Give me five days. I'll find them and try to bring them to you. If I fail, I'll return immediately."
Ophelia's expression remained unreadable before she responded. "Three days. In three days, at noon, I will leave with my Holy Knights and my servants to head to my territory. Complete your mission by then."
Tridra's eyes lit up with determination. "Yes, My Lady," she said, bowing deeply before turning on her heel to begin her task.
Ophelia couldn't help but smile. A small warm smile.
Not even an hour later, the sunlight filtered through the heavy drapes of Ophelia's chambers as she stood before the map pinned to the wall, her fingers lightly tracing the marked locations. The room was quiet except for the occasional flicker of a candle flame, its soft glow accentuating her contemplative posture.
A knock at the door broke the stillness. Veronica, her trusted maid, entered with a slight bow, her demeanor tense. "Mistress, you have visitors."
Ophelia didn't turn, her focus still on the map. "Dismiss them," she replied, her tone as calm as it was cold, accompanied by a flick of her hand.
Veronica remained rooted to the spot, her head still bowed. "I apologize for the disrespect, Mistress, but I must urge you…" She hesitated, swallowing nervously before continuing. "These families are quite reputable. If you do not take action, they could tarnish your reputation, which is currently peaking. I believe it would be in your best interest not to send these ones away."
This piqued Ophelia's interest. She finally turned slightly, her silver hair catching the faint light. "What families?" she asked, a glimmer of curiosity in her voice. "I did not expect any families to approach me. This is… interesting."
Veronica hesitated before replying, "Auric, Castellan, Morvant, Van Eryth, and Elvarez."
Ophelia's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Ah, some of the ones backing Stegertath, are they not? Is he making a move against me?" She stroked her chin thoughtfully, her gaze distant. "Antagonizing me so early reaps no benefits for him. He's always been thorough… This is unlike him."
She muttered, almost to herself, "Has my presence changed him so much?" Her eyes narrowed, thoughts racing. 'Before I regressed, Stegertath fought for the Holy Empire until his last breath. Is there another force at play? Could it be… No… it is… him.'
Her smile twisted into an eerie grin, sending a shiver down Veronica's spine. "So, he has revealed himself early," Ophelia murmured, her voice laced with satisfaction.
Turning fully, she gestured for Veronica to come closer as she soon opened up her walk-in closet and pulled out some nostalgic tight leather pants and a flowy white dress shirt that pooled at her wrists. Soon, she finished changing and walked to the estate's grand entrance, her servants opened the heavy double doors, revealing a gathering of nobles flanked by their knights.
First, there was Lord Auric of the Auric Family. A broad-shouldered man with golden hair and piercing blue eyes, his presence was commanding. Dressed in a navy doublet embroidered with gold patterns, he held himself with the serenity of someone used to being in control. The two knights behind him wore silver armor with the Auric family crest—a golden lion etched prominently on their chest plates.
Then there was Lord Castellan of the Castellan Family. A slender man with sharp features and slicked-back black hair, Lord Castellan's pale skin and dark eyes gave him a calculating air. He was draped in a long, burgundy coat trimmed with black fur, his gloved hands resting on a cane. His knights wore dark, sleek armor that seemed more for intimidation than practicality, adorned with an insignia of crossed swords over a tower.
Next, Baroness Morvant of the Morvant Family. The Baroness was an older woman, her steely gray hair tied into a bun. Her stern expression was accentuated by her deep green gown, simple yet elegant, adorned only by a single emerald brooch. Her knights stood tall in forest-green cloaks over their chainmail, bearing the Morvant sigil—a tree with roots shaped like claws.
Next, Lady Van Eryth of the Van Eryth Family. Lady Van Eryth had an ethereal beauty, her silver hair cascading over a deep violet dress. Her violet eyes glimmered with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. The knights accompanying her were clad in lightweight, violet-tinted armor, with their helmets resembling raven beaks, each bearing the family's emblem—a soaring raven.
Then finally, the most intriguing guests, the Young Pair of the Elvarez Family. The young man and woman, presumably siblings, both in their late teens, stood with an air of arrogance. The man, tall and skinny, wore a fitted crimson coat with gold accents, his dark brown hair falling over his sharp eyes. The woman mirrored his features, however with long dark brown hair falling to her waist and a crimson gown flowing gracefully around her. Their knights were clad in blood-red armor, their shields marked with the Elvarez sigil—a flaming sword.
As the nobles stepped forward, their gazes met Ophelia's. Unfazed, she stood at the top of the steps, her silver eyes sharp and unyielding. Her subtle smile returned as she addressed them.
The air grew heavy as they glared her down, a dozen sharp gazes locked on Ophelia, their presence like a storm at the gates. She didn't flinch. Instead, she stepped to the side, her silver hair catching the light, and gestured smoothly toward the open doors of her estate. "Please, come in," she said, her voice calm.
The nobles stepped through the grand entrance, their armor and silks glinting under the soft glow of enchanted chandeliers. The space was larger than any of them had anticipated, with polished marble floors reflecting the intricate patterns of the high ceiling above. A grand staircase spiraled upward, flanked by towering statues carved in flowing, elegant lines. Despite their animosity, a few of the nobles exchanged brief glances, silently conceding that the decor was, indeed, impressive.
Ophelia led them deeper into the estate, her footsteps echoing in the silence. She opened a pair of tall double doors, revealing a large meeting hall. The long table at its center gleamed, surrounded by high-backed chairs. The walls were lined with tapestries that depicted landscapes, battles, and distant realms, while a massive fireplace at the far end filled the space with a low, steady warmth.
The nobles filed in, their knights standing stiffly behind them, hands resting on the hilts of their swords. Each noble took a seat while Ophelia moved to the head of the table, her presence commanding yet measured. She didn't sit but stood, her hands resting lightly on the polished wood as her sharp gaze swept across the room.
"I was not warned of your arrival in advance, so… what brings you all here?"
The air in the chamber grew tense as Lord Auric, his imposing figure seated among the nobles, leaned forward with a slight smirk. His voice carried the authority of someone who believed himself to speak for all present.
"I believe we should cut to the chase," he announced, his tone firm but calculated. "Once you obtain whatever is in those ruins, hand it over to the Red Cloak Faction. If you do not, we will have to take it by any means necessary."
The room fell silent, the nobles glancing at one another with subtle nods of agreement. All eyes turned toward Ophelia, who remained still, her expression unreadable. For a moment, the quiet stretched, and then, slowly, her face transformed. An ear-to-ear smile spread across her lips, her silver eyes narrowing so much they almost appeared closed.
The shift in her demeanor sent shivers down the spines of every noble in the room.. It wasn't just the smile—it was the aura that came with it as if the air itself had thickened and grown cold.
"As you wish," Ophelia responded, her voice carrying an eerie calm. The nobles visibly stiffened, their unease growing. Just as they were beginning to wonder if she had conceded, her smile widened further, and she added, "If you beat one of my men in a fight, that is. One of your knights against one of mine."
The declaration caught the nobles off guard, and their confusion was quickly replaced by wariness. They exchanged glances before finally, their eyes landed on Lord Auric, who exhaled sharply before turning to the knight standing to his right. The knight, a tall figure clad in polished black armor with the insignia of the Red Cloak Faction etched on his chest, gave a single, firm nod.
Lord Auric's smirk returned as he straightened in his chair. "I can agree to that," he said, his voice carrying a confident edge. His smile mirrored Ophelia's now as if the challenge had played perfectly into his hand.
"Actually. You know what…" Ophelia's grin widened. "Let us do a 2-on-2 battle. Me and one of my knights against you and one of your knights. Would that not be more interesting?"