Chapter 73
Calips Leaves
They passed the border and entered the canyon region of the Kingdom of Mitnut where severe cliffs greeted them. Rather than take the valley route, Macaron chose a much longer, alternate path. If a battle broke out in the Mitnut canyon, it would demand heavy sacrifices. Although the long journey strained the troops, as with every journey it eventually reached its end: the army arrived before the supply route.
Waiting for the imperial army were the Shadow Knights who had already seized control of the supply line. Macaron reorganized the camp; the soldiers, following orders, moved briskly to set up barracks. After several meetings the nobles again marveled at Macaron’s superior strategy. Because he had brought Aint and the Shadow Knights ahead of schedule to sever the link between Mitnut’s reinforcements and the canyon forces, the war already leaned more than halfway toward the empire’s victory. The nobles had repeatedly insisted in council that they should strike the canyon forces before reinforcements arrived, but Macaron did not move the imperial army prematurely. Achieving the greatest result with the least sacrifice — that had long been Macaron’s principle.
This war also contained for him a second, unexpected stratagem. If Aint completed his mission safely, the advantage would essentially belong to the imperial army. Without the antidote, they could hardly survive a week. Since the supply line had been severed, the antidote could not be circulated from outside. Patience would ultimately bring victory to the empire.
Yet Aint, who had gone to carry out the mission, still hadn’t returned. Days passed as they waited for Aint, and anxious energy drifted through the barracks. Ultimately Momont could not hold back and spoke.
“Your Majesty, Sir Aint was due to join us two days ago. Has something happened to him?”
“…….”
“Even if there are sacrifices, perhaps we should move to the next operation—”
“Let us watch a little longer.”
Macaron shared in the anxiety. That evening, as darkness fell and watchfulness tightened, the cheerful clip-clop of hooves sounded — and Aint appeared.
“Your Majesty, Sir Aint has arrived.”
“……!”
Once Aint successfully rejoined the camp, Macaron’s strategy was implemented in an instant. The Mitnut forces, having been tipped off by Rainer and moving south, were ambushed and stifled by the Shadow Knights; they could not demonstrate their strength. The drug spread through the canyon turned the enemy forces instantly into a hellish sight. The war progressed faster than expected and the soldiers’ morale soared. As the waiting wore on, Macaron’s prestige rose anew.
At a time when everyone slept, only Macaron’s barracks were brightly lit. While he reworked strategy and ordered his thoughts, time flowed and the faint dawn light filled the tent. Rising from his seat in a moment, Macaron took out a magic tool he had kept carefully in the barracks. Winding the spring, images came to him of himself and Calips laughing happily in the air.
‘I miss you.’
. . .
‘I’ll be back soon.’
He pressed the feeling down, took out the pink stationery Calips liked, and with neat handwriting embroidered lines across the paper:
“My lady, I take up the pen because I miss you today. Nights here are warmer than I thought and the clean stars quilt the whole sky. Now there is not much left before the imperial army’s victory. Thinking that the day I can see you again is near, I find myself sleepless. There are many things I want to do first when I see you. Writing letters was like that… and now I have become used to that too. I have much I want to say, but that must wait until we meet. For now I shall stop.”
Having sent many letters before, Macaron hoped this day’s letter would be the last one written from the battlefield. He released the war dove.
The next morning at dawn, Aint and Momont approached with excited faces and bowed.
“Your Majesty, white flags have been raised all across the valley!”
Macaron hurried his horse to the ridge and the imperial army greeted him. Soldiers watching the flags flutter cried out as if the sky itself had opened in praise.
It was a bitterly cold winter. The domain was quiet and the air lonely because of the war. Villages that would normally be bustling preparing for winter festivals were only filled with cold air. Inside the manor nothing was different. Macaron’s absence created a much larger void than expected. Servants and attendants, made uneasy by his departure, glanced my way and I did my best to look fine. Fortunately, no one suspected I would leave. When I slipped into a sad expression, they assumed it was because Macaron had gone to war. In truth, their worry was for Macaron — that something might happen to him in battle. Since events were unfolding differently from the original story, Macaron’s fate was uncertain for now. At least Evelyn was active, so that eased one worry, but it was far from reassurance.
I worried he might be hurt or that something else might happen, so I checked the news feeds and the guild for reports every day before preparing the children’s breakfast. Seeing Macaron’s empty place, my throat tightened with thought of him.
‘Is he eating properly? Is he just getting by on a piece of bread?’
‘Is he sleeping properly? If it’s cold here, the camp must be colder.’
He had been gone only a month, but each day that passed added a new worry. There was nothing I could do for him, and knowing that I could only worry made me feel small. Coral was as cheerful as ever and, being young, seemed not to fully grasp her father’s departure, which was a relief. Kai seemed to know something, but he hid it in front of Coral. Kai was still too young to manage such emotions properly; I felt both proud and a sting in my eyes. After breakfast we strolled through the garden with the children. I carved Kai’s height into a garden tree, as he boasted that he had grown since last time. Recording the date, the growth over a year became obvious. Watching it, I remembered the phrases Kai used whenever we marked the tree and faintly smiled.
“Thank you. Um… Mama.” — 03.10.
“Please… do this.” — 05.02.
. . .
“Mama, you have to measure me until I grow this much!” — 09.11.
We had made that promise too. A small laugh escaped and my eyes moistened. Though children grow quickly, Kai and Coral still needed a mother’s shelter.
‘I wanted to watch them grow a little more…’
Even that was a luxury denied me. Over the past month I had built memories with the children inside the magic tool. I knew I would someday cry looking at these, but if I didn’t leave something behind I would regret it. Today I captured everything with the shutter of the device. Throughout the trip back Coral chattered about academy stories while Kai listened in silence. Normally Kai would tease Coral and be talkative, but lately his words had decreased noticeably.
‘How much does Kai really know?’
Children of Kai’s grade would likely know about this war: noble heirs are quick-witted and receive education on current affairs from an early age. Conversations about the war must have come up — perhaps even about the next empress and Evelyn. Maybe Kai could even guess I would leave. Sometimes Kai’s eyes grew moist and his behavior had changed. I had a rough idea but could not ask — I was afraid he might truly know. While the children went ahead, I returned to my room and a cold wind cut across my face through the corridor’s open window. That wind seemed to hide my sorrow and I simply looked out. Eve approached belatedly. Startled, she wrapped me in a cloak and began to scold.
“Madam. What if you catch a cold like this?”
“…….”
“They must have opened the window for cleaning. I’ll shut it quickly.”
“No. Let it be for a moment.”
I did not need to see Eve’s pity to know she felt it.
“Is it because of His Majesty?”
“…….”
I could not say it wasn’t because of Macaron. Even inhaling the empty air made me think of him; I was incurable. Thinking of him when I could not see him would only deepen the loneliness and sorrow, yet my heart would outvote my head every moment. That was nothing like what Eve imagined.
“It won’t happen for sure.”
Eve seemed about to say something heavy, then eventually brought up Evelyn.
“His Majesty likes you more than anyone. Rumor-mongering journalists have always existed. Don’t pay them too much mind.”
How I wished it were only such petty things I worried about. My head was full of different thoughts. I needed to ensure Macaron, Kai, and Coral could live well and adapt even after I left… I thought I should tell Eve now so she could prepare.
“Eve, I have a favor to ask.”
“A request from your servant? Go ahead, please.”
“I want you to stay even if a new lady comes. Please.”
Eve’s eyes widened in disbelief and she waved her hands.
“What nonsense are you talking about? A new lady? Does that even make sense?”
“It will happen soon.”
A heavy silence fell in the room. After a long moment Eve’s voice trembled like a leaf.
“……You really are leaving?”
I nodded slightly and Eve’s eyes filled with tears. I had always thought I would tell them someday, but had not expected it to be today. Still, telling them felt like a relief.
“If I leave, I want you to take care of Kai and Coral. In my stead.”
“…….”
“I know it’s selfish, but you were the only one I could trust. Will you do that?”
I felt sorry for asking Eve to share the burden of my sorrow. She cried far longer than I expected.
“Must… you really go?”
