Yellodia was herself a noble, yet she did not much care for the ways of nobles. She had realized at the tender age of ten that even those with vast wealth and honor could not help but become humble before death.
The attitude of nobles who looked down on others, trusting in their innate station, was laughable and even contemptible.
‘Without a name to boast of, they wouldn’t survive a week.’
Though she thought such scathing thoughts, Yellodia greeted the lady without reservation.
“Hello, madame. A pleasant afternoon, is it not?”
“…Hello. Indeed, it is a pleasant afternoon.”
The woman’s low voice sounded composed yet detached. Feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity, Yellodia quickly took a liking to her and spoke.
“Is your family holding a promotion ceremony today? Congratulations.”
“It is thanks to the grace of Saint Hesus and Saint Ionell. …It seems your family is also being promoted, miss.”
“Ah, he is not family yet… but the one who will soon be family invited me to the promotion ceremony.”
As she answered, a faint blush rose on Yellodia’s cheeks.
The fact that she was to be engaged to Edward was suddenly becoming real to her.
The two of them would marry and build a home.
‘I’ll bear his children, too.’
Her heart began to beat at a slightly faster pace.
She had no idea how men and women joined together, but Yellodia knew how much the maids and servants who exchanged furtive glances desired one another. Whenever she realized that, she felt a ticklish sensation in the soles of her feet.
Then the lady asked Yellodia,
“If it is not too rude, may I ask your name?”
“Ah, I am….”
At that moment, a servant set down an iced lemonade at Yellodia’s seat. Beads of condensation clustered densely on the surface of the tall glass, making one feel refreshed merely by looking at it.
Yellodia blinked quietly, then looked at the servant.
“I am fine, so serve the lady first.”
“If you wait, I shall bring the lady’s as well,”
the servant answered evasively, with a somewhat troubled air.
“Then you ought to have brought the lady’s from the start. Why did you bring only mine?”
At Yellodia’s pointed question, the servant’s lips sealed shut, unable to speak a word. The lady, dressed in humble clothing from the very beginning, had not been the servant’s concern.
Yellodia lowered her eyes, quietly looked down at the table, then soon fixed her gaze upon the servant. Her deep green eyes held a cold, commanding dignity.
“I shall not take offense, so speak your excuse.”
“Th-that is….”
Unable to endure further, the servant took the lemonade set before her and placed it in front of the lady. The servant’s hand trembled faintly.
“P-please wait, and I shall bring another.”
“Very well. I shall wait.”
The servant left as if fleeing. The lady let out a brief, indecipherable exhale. “Hmph.”
“You have caused an unnecessary fuss. The people around us are looking at us strangely.”
At the lady’s remark, Yellodia’s expression quickly turned sullen.
“I apologize for the disturbance. Did I… cause you concern?”
“Not particularly… I only speak because I feel I have caused trouble for a noble young lady.”
“Hmm, I am quite all right. There are not many in the Empire who can harm me. You must be thirsty, so please drink.”
At Yellodia’s urging, the lady quietly looked at her, then slowly drank the lemonade.
An admiring gasp slipped unbidden from the lady’s mouth. It seemed she liked the cool, refreshing lemonade.
“I had a feeling you would enjoy it. I heard that with trade having resumed with the Kingdom of Parel, they brought in a great quantity of high-quality lemons.”
“I see.”
Having answered thus, the lady took another drink. Half the lemonade vanished in no time. Yellodia smiled brightly and watched the lady amiably.
The more she looked, the more the lady resembled someone, though she could not recall who.
The moment Yellodia opened her mouth again, a great horn sounded.
“It seems it is about to begin.”
Just as the lady said.
A military band led by horns entered the empty parade ground, followed by officers in pristine white summer uniforms marching in orderly step. Next came the regular soldiers.
“Wow! Incredible!”
In an instant, the parade ground was packed with officers and soldiers, and the crowd exclaimed in admiration without exception.
“Attention!”
“Present… swords!”
As the soldiers in white caps raised their swords in unison, a path opened toward the dais. It was a spectacular sight.
And through that path, the Emperor walked in, wearing a ceremonial uniform of red and gold.
“Wow! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
The officers and soldiers looked up at the dais with fervent gazes and stamped their feet. The pounding sounds thundered with a force that seemed to shake the earth.
“All personnel, to your positions!”
“Halt!”
At that instant, with a sharp snap!, the soldiers ceased all movement. Applause burst spontaneously from the guest seats. Among the excited onlookers, some even stood and whistled.
“It truly is magnificent.”
At the lady’s admiring voice, Yellodia too could not contain her excitement, her cheeks flushing red.
Then a man standing at the very forefront of the officers came into Yellodia’s view.
‘Wow…’
The man standing before the soldiers wore a pure white uniform with a long sword at his waist. His left breast was densely covered with medals.
It was Edward.
“That must be the one taking office as Vice Admiral this time, Count Adrian.”
“The one to be engaged to the daughter of Duke Savie?”
“He is too far to see his face, but he gives quite a different impression from what I had heard.”
Pretending not to notice the gazes subtly directed at her, Yellodia fixed her eyes on Edward.
It was her first time seeing Edward in a white uniform, but even from afar he was strikingly dashing and handsome.
Once the soldiers finished forming their ranks, Edward turned toward the Emperor.
Then, the Emperor looked upon the soldiers and raised his voice.
“Behold! Here stands my brave knight, who has protected the Empire and my very life! I appoint Edward Kieri Adrian as Vice Admiral of the Feorn Navy, and he shall receive the blessings of Saint Hesus and Saint Ionell until his dying breath, and even beyond death.”
The Emperor extended a gleaming treasured sword to Edward.
Edward received the sword with both hands and knelt in reverence. At that moment, thunderous cheers erupted.
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
“Long live His Excellency the Vice Admiral!”
“Long live the Feorn Empire!”
Feeling her chest swell, Yellodia stared blankly at the Emperor and Edward. It was a sacred yet solemn sight, as though a scene from a myth were being enacted.
The Emperor personally bestowed medals upon those who had distinguished themselves in the recent naval battle, led by Edward. Among them were Edward’s adjutants, Baihern and Libia.
At the sight of officers saluting the Emperor with stiff, rigid postures, some exclaimed in admiration while others burst into laughter. And most wore proud expressions, steeped in emotion.
After the medal ceremony ended, the pass-in-review of the troops commenced.
The units marched in formation and saluted the Emperor. As if they had trained long and hard for this day alone, their movements were flawlessly precise, without a single misstep.
The Emperor sat in a seat overlooking the parade ground and watched the scene with satisfaction.
Finally, when the review concluded, the soldiers were given free time.
Quite a while seemed to have passed, for dusk was beginning to settle, and a reddish sunset flickered over the sea.
‘Why hasn’t Brother Hesder returned yet?’
Once curiosity took hold, Hesder would lose sight of everything else. No doubt he was deeply engrossed in conversation about some newly published paper, losing track of time.
Yellodia began to grow anxious and looked around.
Before she knew it, the soldiers had scattered for dinner, and most of the nobles were rising to find places with a good view of the fireworks.
The lady who had been keeping Yellodia company until then suddenly asked,
“It seems you are troubled?”
“My youngest brother has not yet returned. The day is growing darker, and I don’t think I can simply wait here indefinitely until he comes back.”
Without thinking, Yellodia answered while looking toward where Edward was standing.
At that moment, as if sensing her gaze, Edward—who had been giving orders to his adjutants—turned toward the guest seats.
“…!”
Yellodia gasped in surprise. He was coming straight toward her.
As Edward drew near, people’s gazes grew markedly more blatant.
Even from afar, his appearance had been striking and eye-catching, but up close, Edward bore a sharp, cool bearing. His high, straight nose bridge and his large, distinct eyes—though with faint double eyelids—gave an exotic impression.
“So he is the one….”
Someone muttered so and gulped dryly.
‘What should I say? Congratulations—I should start with congratulations, right?’
Yellodia’s mind churned as she tried to think of what to say to her fiancé. Her knees felt strangely weak and trembling, and she was nervous.
When Edward, finally arriving right before her, smiled, her mouth opened without her realizing it.
“You were here.”
“Shouldn’t you be busy? And not attending to your duties?”
“I have finished all the most important matters.”
Yellodia blinked repeatedly. She had never imagined that the lady who had been by her side this whole time would exchange such familiar words with Edward.
The lady praised Edward in the same detached voice as before.
“You looked very impressive.”
“Thank you. It is thanks to the soldiers having trained hard all this time.”
Edward wore a gentle smile and this time turned to Yellodia.
“I had not expected to find the two of you sitting side by side. Did you enjoy today’s inspection?”
“Yes. It was truly magnificent. However….”
Yellodia glanced subtly at the lady, her eyes expressing curiosity. Edward made a soft sound in his throat and answered.
“You have not introduced yourselves yet. This is my aunt.”
“Yes…?”
“Greetings. I am called Selina.”
The lady rose from her seat and introduced herself with courtesy.
Yellodia was startled and looked back and forth between Edward and the lady in bewilderment.
Never in her dreams had she imagined that the lady was Edward’s aunt.