Epilogue
The weather grew warm in the span of a few weeks. Sitting by the window in the common room, Hebaron heaved a troubled sigh as he gazed over the training grounds bathed in dazzling sunlight. Though the wind was still chilly, the sunlight was noticeably warmer. Aquarias had come around once again.
As the number of visitors swelled, Anatol had become more vibrant than ever.
Merchants from the Southern Continent brought all manner of rare goods, attracting traders from the West. Yet this feverish spell of prosperity seemed to bypass Calypse Castle.
For the past few weeks, the atmosphere within its stone walls had remained heavy.
“Why aren’t you ready yet?”
Snapping out of his reverie, Hebaron looked up to see Ursuline Ricaydo descending the staircase in full armor.
Hebaron surreptitiously swept his gaze over the knight’s immaculate navy surcoat.
The fabric seemed crisp and new. His armor was impeccably polished, reflecting its wearer’s fastidious nature.
Hebaron narrowed his eyes. He had a suspicion that the maidservants played favorites thanks to the other knight’s clean-cut image.
Ursuline frowned and glared back at Hebaron. “Did you not hear me?” he barked irritably. “You need to get a move on.”
Just as Hebaron rose languidly to his feet, Remus Baldo and Gabel Lachzion entered the common room.
“Sir Hebaron, we’ve been told that her ladyship is ready to depart,” Gabel said.
“Already?”
Frowning, Hebaron stuck his head out the window to get a better view of the castle gates. Two carriages laden with luggage stood waiting in the courtyard. It dawned on him that Lady Calypse was truly leaving.
Hebaron was blinking into the distance when Ursuline lost his temper.
“Do you intend to keep her ladyship waiting? Just stay behind if you don’t feel like coming.”
“Goddammit, I’ll be down in a minute.”
Grumbling, Hebaron raced up the stairs with a lightness contrary to his huge physique.
He snorted to himself at Ursuline’s fussiness.
Who would have guessed the assiduous knight would ever change his attitude toward the lady of the castle?
A bitter smile tugged at Hebaron’s lips as he donned his armor.
The change in Ursuline’s behavior was understandable.
The knight had grown fond of the dainty noblewoman, as they all had.
Not to mention, Ursuline had been part of the rescue mission at Croyso Castle.
After he had witnessed firsthand the horrible abuse she suffered there, his newfound compassion was only to be expected.
Ursuline was not the only one. The incident must have affected Elliot as well, as he had been one of the most vehement about going to war with the duke. Though none of the knights disclosed the details of what had transpired, Hebaron was certain that Lady Calypse had suffered a great atrocity.
Suddenly overcome with rage, he threw the cloak in his hands onto the floor.
Croyso.
Thinking about how that arrogant dog had instigated their current predicament made his blood boil. He irritably ran a hand through his short hair. Imagining his commander’s impassive face made him feel unbearably stifled.
Drawing out a sigh, he sank into a chair.
When he had first heard that Lady Calypse intended to leave for the Mage Tower, his immediate thought had been that the commander would never allow it.
However, the commander had shattered everyone’s expectations and relented.
He had even resumed his long-neglected duties as liege of Anatol as if he had never left.
By all appearances, everything seemed to have fallen into place.
Hebaron still felt uneasy at Riftan’s unnatural calmness. The commander’s reactions when it came to Lady Calypse were always unpredictable.
Damn it. As if worrying about it now will change anything…
He clicked his tongue and threw on his navy surcoat emblazoned with the white dragon of their order. Now in full armor, he stepped out of the room and came face-to-face with Ursuline’s disapproving glare.
“Why are you dawdling so? Are you waiting for the sun to set?”
“Cease your nagging,” Hebaron snapped. “What are you, my wife?”
Ursuline scowled in response. He looked as if he were about to unleash a barrage of further grumbling. Instead, he spun around as if he could not be bothered dealing with the other knight any longer.
Hebaron followed Ursuline as he set off. “More importantly…have you formally apologized to her ladyship?”
Ursuline stopped in his tracks. “No. I missed the right moment.”
With that, he resumed his quick strides.
Hebaron clasped his hands behind his head and taunted, “What a load of drivel. I had no idea you were so timid.”
It was unusual for Ursuline to not have a cutting retort ready, and this seemed to be one of those rare moments. He pursed his lips together.
Hebaron chuckled at Ursuline marching ahead with an indignant look on his face. It was amusing to see him acting so out of character, walking on eggshells around a woman as petite as Lady Calypse.
“Stop dithering and do it today, before she leaves,” Hebaron said. “It’s going to haunt you if you keep putting it off.”
In a silent warning to stay out of his business, Ursuline glared daggers at Hebaron before swiveling his head away.
They passed through the training grounds, Ursuline’s strides precise and controlled, while Hebaron trailed behind at his own languid pace.
When they reached the castle entrance, they saw a throng of servants gathered in the great hall.
Hebaron easily picked out the woman with dark auburn hair. Maximilian Calypse was accepting something from the old mage who had joined their ranks last year. Hebaron assumed that it must be an herb pouch.
“This is a good remedy for chills, and this aids mana restoration. The decoction in this vial helps ease seasickness. And this…”
Although it appeared that Lady Calypse was attentively listening to the old mage’s expounding without a hint of annoyance, Hebaron noticed her eyes occasionally flitting over the crowd. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.
Ursuline walked over to her and respectfully bowed his head. “Our apologies for keeping you waiting, my lady.”
Lady Calypse turned to look at him with a brilliant smile.
“I-It’s all right. I was…saying my farewells.”
Hebaron’s face crumpled, betraying his complicated emotions. Seeing her efforts to conceal her sadness made him feel as though he were committing a terrible crime.
She flicked a glance behind them and tentatively asked, “Wh-What about…Riftan?”
Hebaron hesitated. “The commander…is attending to urgent matters on the ramparts. He gave us strict instructions to safely escort you to the port.”
Lady Calypse’s smile dissolved. Hebaron inwardly cursed the commander as a dark shadow passed over her round gray eyes.
“W-We should…get going,” she said, her voice unnaturally bright as if to disguise her disappointment. “The princess…is waiting for us at the port.”
She was about to climb into the carriage when a loud cry sounded in the distance.
“P-Please wait!”
Hebaron jerked his head up. Ulyseon and Garrow raced through the grounds in their training uniforms. The servants hurriedly parted to make way for them.
“W-We wanted to say goodbye…” Ulyseon said, panting. He handed Lady Calypse a fistful of wildflowers. “We searched the whole mountain…but there were only small bulbs like these due to the cold. I know it’s not much, but would you accept them, my lady?”
Lady Calypse blinked at the squire’s offering before giving him a warm smile. As she carefully took the flowers from him, a boyish grin lit Ulyseon’s face.
The lad had grown noticeably taller in the last few months. He now arranged his features into a mature expression befitting a knight and said, “You must return in good health, my lady.”
“Th-Thank you. The same to you…Ulyseon.”
“Please be well, my lady,” said Garrow.
Lady Calypse smiled at the squires and climbed into the carriage. The twenty knights in the escort party, including Hebaron and Ursuline as her personal guards, mounted their horses in unison.
Hebaron stationed himself next to the carriage while Ursuline took the lead. After passing a sharp eye over the knights’ formation, Ursuline signaled their departure. The castle gates opened wide, and the drawbridge began to lower.
Surrounding the carriage on all sides, the knights slowly crossed the bridge and descended the hill. Down in the village, people flocked to the main road to catch a glimpse of the Remdragon Knights.
As they silently rode through the crowd, Hebaron peeked into the carriage window.
Through the half-open curtain, he could see Lady Calypse’s slender shoulders drooping in her seat.
Her long hair, tied in a single braid, seemed too heavy for her delicate neck.
A feeling close to guilt grated at him. He had been the one who asked her to testify after revealing the commander’s plight.
Hebaron rubbed his throbbing temples as he recalled Riftan’s rage. He wished that the commander would just unleash his anger as he had back then. Now Riftan seemed to be trying to repress all of his emotions. Hebaron had never seen him look so vulnerable.
Lady Calypse had somehow managed to convince the commander to let her go, but it was clear that it had not been an amicable agreement. It was not unusual to overhear the servants in the great hall expressing their concerns for the lord and lady.
Still, I didn’t think he would refuse to see her off….
Hebaron felt regretful. Perhaps he should have dragged the commander with them. Then again, who in their right mind would dare to mention her name with the way he was now? He was nothing but a stone statue devoid of all emotions.
Ever since they had found out Lady Calypse was leaving for the Mage Tower, the knights had spoken as little as possible whenever they were in Riftan’s presence. Everyone knew what she meant to him.
“I hear singing….”