V
The Royal Capital of Fis, the Kingdom of Fernest
“Move out!”
Horns blared, announcing the departure of the Second Allied Legion from the capital. They advanced north, passing through the towns of Myst and Seinz on the way to the Emaleid Citadel, the greatest city in Fernest’s northern lands. There they would remain until the commencement of the Twin Lions at Dawn.
The Second Allied Legion was under the command of Blood, with Olivia—newly promoted to lieutenant general for driving back the Northern Perscillans—as his second-in-command. They rode side by side in the center of the formation.
“You make that look damn tasty.”
“Well, it is delicious. Do you want some, General Blood?”
“Only if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got heaps.” Olivia rummaged around in Comet’s saddlebag, then threw a few cookies over to Blood, who somehow managed to catch them. He popped one into his mouth.
“This is pretty good. Only it’s so sweet that now I want a drink. Don’t suppose you’ve got any booze in that bag of yours, Liv?” Blood asked, with a sidelong look at the saddlebag.
“Booze? No, I don’t drink, so I don’t have any.”
“Worst luck.”
The pair chatted away with a levity unthinkable in the face of the great battle that awaited them. Riding behind them, Claudia sighed heavily. Lieutenant Colonel Lise, riding alongside her, smirked.
“Is something funny?” Claudia asked.
“Oh, no! Nothing at all, Colonel Claudia!” Lise immediately wiped the smile from her face and saluted. Claudia rubbed her head.
The promotion of a senior officer had a run-on effect for the promotion of their juniors. In accordance with Olivia’s promotion to lieutenant general, Claudia had in turn been promoted to colonel.
She sighed again. “Lieutenant Colonel Lise, I forbid you from speaking to me as your superior.”
“Yes, ser!” Lise barked. Then, with an evil smile, she added, “You’ve really loosened up, Claudia.”
“Well, you know who I’ve got as a superior officer. I can’t help it if it rubs off on me.”
“I think it’s a good thing.”
“I don’t know if I’d say that...” Claudia muttered. “Anyway, what were you smirking about?”
“After that big sigh you gave before, I just thought you’re as much of a worrier as ever.”
“If you’d been listening to them, you’d want to sigh too. I’ve resigned myself to General Olivia always being like that, but General Blood doesn’t have to humor her...”
“Oh, I know. It’s a nightmare as his aide,” Lise said, then pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and started polishing her glasses. Claudia frowned at her.
“You don’t look very troubled for all that.”
“Well, you know. Despite appearances, General Blood has a decent head on his shoulders.” Lise put her glasses back on. She looked a little proud.
“You trust him, don’t you?”
“I wouldn’t be serving as his aide if I didn’t. Don’t you trust Lieutenant General Olivia?”
“Of course, I trust her more than anything. I just...” Claudia looked over her shoulder at the carriage that rattled along behind them. It was stuffed so full of snacks for Olivia a mouse couldn’t have squeezed in. After her loud declaration that such supplies were absolutely essential if she were to be in top form for battle, Ashton had run himself ragged going around Fis to gather it all.
“Ahh, that. It’s not a problem, though, is it? I know this isn’t properly respectful, but I think it’s kind of adorable.”
“You make it sound like someone else’s problem.”
“Well it is someone else’s problem,” Lise said, smiling brightly. Claudia made a face, thinking back on the events of some days past. After having been invited to dinner with Sofitia, Olivia had come back a few hours later with a look like nothing of any importance had happened.
“I’m back.”
“Good to see you. Did you come back without the carriage?”
“Yeah. I felt like walking.”
“I see... And did you make your decision?”
“Yeah. I decided to stay with the Royal Army.”
“You— You did?!”
“Yep, so that’s that. Anyway, I’m off to bed.”
At the time, Claudia had merely been overjoyed. She hadn’t asked why Olivia had decided to stay with the Royal Army. The thought had crossed her mind that if she did, Olivia might have a change of heart. In the end, she hadn’t been able to pose the question. For all her bluster with Ashton, she was in a right predicament. Ashton himself had thought it better not to ask Olivia too many questions for the time being, so he hadn’t brought it up either. The fact was, Claudia was just fine going along with it.
Well, for whatever reason, the general chose to stay with us. When you compare it to betraying us to join the Winged Crusaders, a carriage packed full of sweets seems trivial. Yes, it’s trivial...
“Oh, like hell it is!” The words burst out unbidden. Everyone’s eyes turned to her, full of apprehension. All, that is, except for Olivia, who looked positively terrified.
“You know, Claudia, I don’t think it’s really appropriate for an aide to go bellowing strangely,” Lise said, looking deathly serious.
“I didn’t mean to yell, I just... I’m sorry.” At this earnest apology, Lise, unable to restrain herself any longer, burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Sorry, sorry. You really never change, do you?” Lise said, wiping tears from her eyes as Claudia glared at her, then turned her nose up.
“As I’ve said before, people don’t change just like that.”
“True...” Lise acknowledged. “There are some people I wish would change just a little bit though.” She was looking over at Blood, who was laughing with Olivia.
“Lise, you’re not in love with General Blood, are you?” Claudia asked.
“The fact that you don’t hesitate to ask things like that hasn’t changed either.”
“Really?”
“Claudia, I know you too well for it to bother me, but I’d suggest you don’t say things like that to anyone else. I guarantee it won’t make you any friends.”
“Does General Blood know how you feel?”
“Excuse me, don’t just brush off my advice. But, well, the truth is I don’t know.” Lise, as the embodiment of both talent and beauty, had been the subject of much admiration at the Military Academy. The fact that nothing had ever come of it, Claudia was sure, was because none of her suitors had measured up to Lise’s exacting standards. Blood, who now had her affections, was a man of great skill who also enjoyed unswerving trust from his soldiers. No one could doubt that he was a first-rate general. She could more or less see what Lise saw in him.
“You should hurry up and tell him how you feel, then,” Claudia said. At once, Lise turned to goggle at her.
“My goodness. I thought you’d tell me, ‘Love has no place in times such as these,’ or something like that.”
“On the contrary, I said it because of the times. Death could come for any of us at any time—it could come tomorrow. Isn’t it natural to think we ought to live without regrets?”
“Hmm...” Lise said. “Well, then you’d better live without regrets too, Claudia.”
“Me? I do that every day.”
“Are you sure about that?” With an inscrutable look on her face, Lise’s eyes drifted over to where Ashton was deep in conversation with Evanson.
“What’s Ashton got to do with anything?”
“What? I was looking at Second Lieutenant Evanson,” Lise replied, a look of triumph in her eyes. Claudia let out a tsk.
“You’re implying something. Spit it out already,” she demanded. At this, Lise’s expression changed to one of pity.
“You know, I’ve always thought so, but you really are impossible with things like this...” she said. “But then, those are the things that make you Claudia.”
“Would it kill you to stop acting superior and say what you mean?”
“You have to work it out for yourself. It’s not for me to say. Still, if you’re not careful, you’ll find what you want snatched out from under your nose. And even if that doesn’t happen, there’s another mountain you’ll have to get past.” Leaving Claudia with this almost throwaway remark, Lise moved ahead to ride beside Blood. Judging by how he immediately became flustered, Lise had probably made some jealous remark.
I still don’t know what she was trying to tell me... Claudia watched as Lise put her nose in the air and turned away from Blood, and prayed that her friend would find happiness.
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