Chapter 52
That night, I was shaken awake from a deep sleep by my maid.
“Miss, please wake up for a moment.”
“Mm…? But it’s still dark…”
“Just for a little while. Let’s step out for a bit, then you can come right back to sleep.”
“Okay…”
Rubbing my eyes, I left the room in my nightgown.
For her to wake me up despite the impropriety, it had to be something serious.
Nervously, I walked through the dim corridor.
It wasn’t until we reached the area adjacent to the courtyard that I finally saw something resembling light.
It came from the row of lanterns set between the pillars and the faint crescent moon.
And there, in the faint glow, I immediately recognized the silhouette waiting for me.
“Abellus… sir?”
What could he be doing here at this hour?
He led me to stand beneath a lantern where he could see my face clearly. Then, after a long pause, he finally spoke.
“I know the day you were born.”
I blinked in surprise.
How did he know I’d been trying to find out my birthday?
But more than that, what truly surprised me was how sorrowful his voice sounded as he spoke to me.
“You were born in Kekaum. I remember seeing you wrapped in linen… It was the day before the invasion.”
“…”
I couldn’t say anything. I just stood there, enduring the overwhelming longing in Abellus’s gaze.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be too late.”
Then, he handed me a small box.
Inside, resting in the open box, was a pair of tiny golden laurel leaf-shaped hairpins.
“…Happy birthday.”
The laurel symbolizes victory and glory.
For something arranged on such short notice, it was a surprisingly well-thought-out gift.
Whether it was because she understood its meaning, or simply because it was her first time receiving a present—Abellus wasn’t sure. But seeing Calidora’s eyes fill with tears, he gently led her back to her room.
The water clock in the hall marked a time well past eleven o’clock.
As he stood quietly in the darkness, focusing only on his own senses, a figure from his past suddenly came to mind.
“Young master? Why are you sulking in the corner again?”
Lucius Ignitus.
The ever-optimistic adjutant to his father—someone whose sunny disposition had always left a warm impression.
“Ignored? Surely not. There’s no way madam would ignore the words of our adorable youngest master…”
“Ah, my apologies. If you dislike it, I won’t call you that. But being the youngest isn’t all bad, you know.”
“Haha, if you really don’t like it… then, young master, I have a great idea to help you stop being the youngest. My first child is due this fall. You could be their older brother. Or maybe even a big uncle. Either way, no more ‘youngest’ treatment.”
“Thank you, young master! I’m honored. And I’m sure the child will be delighted too.”
Thanks to that promise, today became his younger sibling’s birthday.
Tomorrow would be a time to reflect on past blessings and recognition. Perhaps the day after would be too.
And so, Abellus felt at peace.
“Miss, over here! Please look this way!”
At the excited shouts of the maids, I, who knew how to enjoy attention, smiled sweetly at them.
“Gasp!”
“Oh my goodness…”
See? Everyone here is so kind-hearted.
As soon as I came out wearing the hairpins I received, they couldn’t help but take notice.
Whatever had happened overnight, news had already spread throughout the household: that yesterday had been my birthday, and that Abellus was the only one who had given me a gift.
“You’re a genius,” Ankus said as he rushed out from the office.
Abellus didn’t show much reaction, but his gaze lingered on the top of my head.
Then Ankus ran over to me and lifted me up.
“Young master, just look at her. Isn’t she lovely?”
“…”
“And she’s even wearing your gift.”
Ankus didn’t seem ready to back down until Abellus gave a proper response.
Knowing that, Abellus did something uncharacteristic—he opened his mouth despite the awkwardness of the situation.
“…It’s not because of my gift.”
‘I knew it… Wait, huh?’
Was that a yes?
“A-Ankus!”
“Miss…!”
Ankus seemed just as shocked as I was.
The two of us just stared wide-eyed at each other, completely oblivious to the fact that Abellus had already made a hasty retreat.
Before we knew it, the lord of the house had also stepped outside.
‘Well, I guess we did make a scene outside the study.’
His attendant was whispering something to him quietly.
“I suppose yesterday was the young lady’s…”
I heard it all loud and clear.
“I suppose we should prepare a grand banquet next year,” the lord murmured, nodding.
Pretending not to hear, I quickly walked past.
Next year, I’ll act all surprised.
“M-My lord! The young lady heard you! Her cheeks puffed out…”
…Tsk.
Since then, a few banquets had passed, along with fourteen letters from Pauli, and enough time for the newly planted trees in the courtyard to glow green with life.
I had grown quite a bit too.
“Abellus!”
“Calidora?”
As usual, I greeted him in the morning. Abellus stared at me quietly.
“Is something wrong?”
“Say it again.”
“Say what?”
“My name.”
“Abellus?”
He nodded with a strangely pleased expression.
‘…What was that about?’
I didn’t get to ask.
Just then, the family’s messenger came running toward us.
He was in such a rush, he didn’t even recognize me and Abellus standing right in front of him.
It was clear something urgent had happened, so neither of us scolded him for his rudeness.
Instead, we were curious about the news he brought.
“I wonder what’s going on?”
“We’ll head to the study. Calidora, you may come too.”
“Yes!”
“Even your response has grown more confident.”
At the study.
The message the messenger breathlessly delivered was far more serious than expected.
“His Majesty the King staggered badly during the military inspection!”
The aides gathered near the lord’s seat stirred anxiously.
It was a simple statement, but the implications were heavy.
The current king of the Kingdom of Eterna, Spurius, had long been the subject of rumors regarding his health.
But the royal family had consistently denied them.
Now, this incident made it clear those rumors were likely true.
The lord’s expression grew complicated.
Our family had always played the role of the monarchy’s check and balance. He must be wondering what actions to take going forward.
I, however, felt anxious for a different reason.
‘I didn’t expect this to happen so soon.’
The current king’s heir—Servius Tinitrius.
Later known as “The Thunder King,” the Conqueror of Eterna.
He was the one who led the fall of the House of Ignitus.
There was a long and tangled story behind our family earning his hatred.
According to historical records, the king, even while bedridden with a terminal illness, refused to abdicate the throne for seven years.
This was because the Senate had chosen the king’s grown nephew, not his young son, as the next ruler.
As a result, the government of the kingdom became paralyzed, and the Senate eventually created several new positions to take over royal duties.
Once stability was restored, a new idea took root among Eterna’s nobles:
Eterna doesn’t need a king.
Let’s depose the prince during the interregnum and open the doors to a republic.
And the leading house in this movement was none other than Ignitus.
But during the chaos, Tinitrius seized the throne once again.
His first order of business as king? Eliminate the remaining republican factions—ours included.
‘The war that took Abellus’s life was started by his hands.’
The Legions of Divine Power have clear affinities, so deployment strategies result in vastly different outcomes.
In the war against Hela, Servius intentionally placed Abellus’s Fire Legion on the front lines across the river.
It was an unmistakable setup, and yet Abellus accepted the command without complaint.
Because the king had already compromised the other legions, only Abellus’s unit could hold back the approaching enemy.
Back in my room, I sat in a chair and made a vow to myself.
‘I must stop the restoration of the monarchy.’
