IV
After leaving Cornelius’s workroom behind them, Olivia and Claudia had just made it to the end of the corridor that led to the central courtyard when Claudia’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
“What’s up?” Olivia asked, turning back to see Claudia looking even more serious than usual.
“I will take my leave of you here, my lady,” Claudia said.
“Huh? Come on, it’s lunchtime. Let’s go eat.” Olivia pulled out her silver pocket watch, opened the cover, and showed it to Claudia. The hands were pointing straight up. She’d just eaten those sweets, but this was this and that was that. If she didn’t eat properly, the troupe of musicians in her belly would start making a racket.
“My apologies, Lady Olivia. As much as I am grateful for the offer to dine with you, with the establishment of the Eighth Legion, there is a great deal to attend to. To be frank, I don’t have a moment extra to spare for eating lunch.”
Olivia cocked her head at Claudia. Attending to the establishment of the Eighth Legion couldn’t possibly be more important than lunch. More than anything else, you couldn’t fight a war on an empty stomach—that’s what the books said, and Olivia thought so too.
Claudia, meanwhile, was looking between Olivia’s face and the brand-new major general rank insignia at her collar with a gleeful smile, chuckling under her breath.
That’s scary, Olivia thought.
“R-Right. Then I’ll just go to the mess hall alone,” she replied. This looked like it would get tiresome if it drew out any further, so she decided to withdraw quickly. Claudia saluted, her face stern. Olivia thought her back looked even straighter than usual.
“Very good, ser! I hope you have a pleasant meal! Now, I must take my leave!”
“Um. Right. See you later, then.” Olivia waved awkwardly.
Claudia strode away with a spring in her step as though she were walking on clouds, muttering, “We’ve got lots to do...”
Awestruck, Olivia watched her go. Then, true to her word, she headed for the mess hall reserved for high-ranking officers. She’d come to the castle several times now, so she had no trouble finding her way. Hmm, she thought, Claudia was really laying it on thick with ‘my lady.’ She’s always called me by my rank, so it’s not that weird...but ‘my lady’? Should I start acting more superior? General Paul and Lord Cornelius aren’t very superior...but most other humans are...
Just then, Olivia noticed her own figure reflected in a window. She experimented with folding her arms and drawing herself up to her full height, legs planted apart. Olivia was, for the most part, indifferent to clothing, but she thought the dark blue of the uniform suited her rather well, and the way it set off her silver hair wasn’t so bad either. To her disappointment, however, she didn’t look at all superior. She tried a stern expression, then ran through a series of different poses, but none of them felt quite right. I guess it just doesn’t suit me. I mean, I still don’t even really understand what being superior is all about... she thought. Still, I’d like to pull it off at least once.
As she walked back down the corridor, she saw, coming towards her with precisely measured steps, the familiar figure of Otto—otherwise known as the “Walking Military Code” and “Mr. Rule-Lover.” These were, of course, names Olivia had given him. As usual, he was frowning. Olivia now remembered that Paul’s return to the castle with the others had come up in her chat with Cornelius.
Hah! My promotion to major general is coming in handy right away! This must be what they call Strecia’s will! She gave the golden badge affixed to her collar a quick flick, then walked on clearing her throat so as to be sure to draw attention to herself. She also clasped her hands behind her back to try and project as much superiority as possible.
When Otto noticed Olivia, he immediately stepped towards the wall and saluted.
Eee! Eee hee! Otto saluted before me! What a day! Olivia forced down the laughter that threatened to burst out of her. Without her even needing to show it off, it seemed news of her promotion to major general had reached Otto.
“Well, well, well, Senior Colonel Otto! Haven’t seen you around for a while!” Olivia said, getting well and truly carried away with her newfound superiority. Her point of reference was Dominic, the traitor she’d killed at Fort Glacia. He was the most superior human she’d ever met.
Otto replied without missing a beat. “It has indeed been a long time, ser,” he said. He actually said “ser.”
At this, Olivia couldn’t keep the laughter in any longer. “Tee hee!” she giggled.
Otto looked at her searchingly. “Did I say something amusing, Major General?”
Although she’d gotten used to it, Olivia still found military formality grating in general. Despite this, hearing it coming out of Otto’s mouth was like music to her ears.
“Oh, nothing,” she said. “Gee, it’s really been a while, though, eh? Hanging in there?” Getting further carried away, she gave him an experimental pat on the shoulder. In the past, if she’d tried anything like that Otto would have bellowed at her like an ogre, then banged his fist on the table, she had no doubt. Otto loved banging his fist on tables. Otto’s eyes briefly went to the hand on his shoulder, but then he looked back at Olivia without commenting on it.
“I am, ser. Your consideration is appreciated. I am glad to see you in good health yourself.”
Olivia observed Otto’s expressionless face and remembered she’d heard that senior officers weren’t happy to find themselves serving under their former subordinates. She didn’t care about her position one bit—if it meant even one fewer place where she had to conform to military formality, that was good enough for her. Though that wasn’t the only reason she’d accepted the promotion.
Olivia didn’t know how Otto really felt about all this, but he didn’t show an ounce of irritation. He was acting as though Olivia had been senior to him from minute one. Guess they don’t call him the Man in the Iron Mask for nothing, she thought.
“Yep, as always,” she said, then remembered she was being superior and added, “I mean, fighting fit as always, sonny! Hey now, how’s the missus and the little one? They live in the capital, don’t they?”
Otto’s eyebrows angled down ever so slightly. “Yes, ser,” he said. “We do reside in the capital, and I am happy to say they are both well.” He was definitely getting suspicious. Olivia didn’t actually care about his wife and child, or rather, she couldn’t find it in herself to care about any humans when she didn’t even know their names and faces. This was no more than an imitation of an important person she’d happened to overhear talking about their family.
“Splendid, splendid,” she said. “I’ll bet you were happy to see them again after so long, eh?”
“Yes, I suppose, ser,” Otto replied at length. Olivia gave an exaggerated nod.
“To be sure, to be sure. I myself can’t wait to see Z again. Well, keep working hard at your duties, Senior Colonel,” she said, then, with a final guffaw, went past Otto and started off down the corridor.
“Excuse me, Major General,” he called out from behind her in a glacial tone, “but may I have a little more of your time?” Slowly and jerkily as a rusty gear, Olivia turned back to him.
“Wh-What is it?” she asked, while in her mind she fervently repeated, Major general is more important than senior colonel, major general is more important than senior colonel...
Otto hesitated a moment, then said, “Your rank badge is crooked, ser. Also, your uniform is a little creased. Untidy dress reflects an untidy mind, and as a general, you ought to set a good example for your soldiers. Especially now that you will have a whole legion under your command. I trust that you won’t forget it, ser.” He reached out and quickly adjusted the badge at Olivia’s collar.
“Thank you, ser!” The words burst out of Olivia before she could stop herself. She clasped her hands over her mouth, but it was too late. Otto’s expression became severe, and he glared at her.
“It’s not proper for a senior officer to call their subordinate ‘ser,’ Major General,” he said.
“I’m very sorry, ser.” She’d said it again. She was even bowing her head deferentially to him. She groaned internally. Even though she hated military formality, for some reason now it rolled off her tongue. She wondered if this was a curse Otto had inflicted upon her.
“Dear me, another one, almost in the same breath as the first. What a conundrum. As a major general, one has to show firmer resolve, or else one cannot set an example for one’s subordinates.” Otto was utterly ruthless in his onslaught. His lecture went on and on, impressing upon her the importance of self-discipline and keeping an even closer eye than before on her subordinates. This was just like things had been—her promotion to major general had been for nothing.
Otto rounded off his speech by telling her that her room was a pigsty. Olivia wanted to shout at him that there was no way that had anything to do with anything, but she knew she’d only end up weathering a fierce counteroffensive. How long is he going to keep talking? she wondered. Otto seemed to have forgotten how to close his mouth. Other officers passed them every now and then in the corridor, but despite Olivia’s pleading looks, they all only saluted before hurrying away, pity and sympathy mingling in their eyes.
Why won’t anyone help me? If Ashton were here... Never mind, Otto scares Ashton. If Claudia were here, I know she’d help me...
She now regretted not making Claudia come and eat with her, even if she’d had to drag the other girl. She’d been having fun until a moment ago, but the feeling had evaporated in a flash. She knew this was only her just deserts for kicking a hornet’s nest—in the end, Olivia thought fervently, it was always best to stick to what you knew.
“As such, Major General—” Otto began, but then there was a sudden thud, and his attention was drawn away from Olivia to where the offender was frantically scooping up the piles of papers that lay strewn across the corridor.
Thank you, whoever you are! Olivia called silently. This is my chance! There was a momentary break in Otto’s spiel, and she quickly thanked him. She thought she was going to go mad if she had to hear any more.
“Thank you for your attention, ser,” Otto replied. “I must also offer my late congratulations on your promotion and assignment to the command of the Eighth Legion.”
“G-Good, as you were,” Olivia gabbled. Otto gave her a crooked smile, then saluted again. Eager to get away as fast as possible, she quickly saluted back, then hastened away.
A sharp voice called out from behind her, “Please, ser, walk slowly in the corridors!”
Olivia fled at top speed.
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