I was observing the knights' training at the practice grounds when Callius invited me to also visit the training center where new soldiers were being drilled.
Ronheim was renowned for its martial prowess—even among the common people, skill with weapons was highly valued. Every soldier I watched seemed remarkably capable.
According to Callius, the soldiers of Ronheim were as skilled as the knights of other territories.
'Everyone here is so impressive.'
I was watching the soldiers train with admirable spirit when Brentian suddenly rushed over and began reporting something to Callius with evident urgency.
"What's going on?"
When Brentian looked so anxious that I couldn't help but ask, Callius leaned close and whispered in my ear.
"Ninety percent of the things Brentian makes a fuss about are nothing but worries."
Brentian, meanwhile, was already listing his concerns.
"Are you even listening? We need to reinforce the western wall outside the castle immediately—an avalanche could be disastrous! And I heard there's a goat plague in Abene, so we need to spread warnings to the nomads... Besides, fights between drunks keep breaking out in the square these days. We need to deploy soldiers for security patrol..."
I whispered softly to Callius.
"I don't think these are just worries..."
Though I'd whispered it only to Callius, Brentian apparently heard me and nodded emphatically.
"Of course they're not! Did you hear what the Marchioness said, my lord?"
Callius looked at him with an expression that clearly said, 'I wonder if that's really true?'
"The western wall is so high there hasn't been an avalanche in over a hundred years. The nomads of Ronheim don't raise goats, so a goat plague isn't something requiring urgent attention. And are our people really the sort to tremble at the sight of a drunken brawl? Above all, none of this seems urgent enough to warrant rushing here to report it."
'Wow.'
I mentally applauded Callius for refuting Brentian's concerns point by point with such precision.
Brentian narrowed his eyes in protest.
"Isn't this more urgent than the Marquis taking his training camp date?"
Then he gestured toward the soldiers.
"Do you really have to smile like that in front of people who are locked up in training and can't go on dates themselves?"
The soldiers—who had been training diligently—set down their weapons and responded to Brentian's pointed remark.
"He's right!"
Everyone wore expressions that said they found this whole situation amusing.
'I'm not guilty of anything. I just followed Callius because he asked me to come.'
I used Callius as a shield and hid behind his shadow.
Callius touched his forehead in exasperation.
"This isn't just a date. The Lady should see what our military forces are like as well."
"But you look far too happy to merely be showing off military capabilities. Your face is positively glowing with smiles."
"Aha. So you're jealous?"
Callius chuckled and made a mischievous expression, as if he'd figured out exactly what Brentian was thinking.
"Jealous?!"
"I heard you were courting the blacksmith's youngest daughter recently. Did she reject you?"
"Ah, it's not that... I haven't decided yet whether..."
At first, Brentian had seemed like a stern, intimidating person. But the more I got to know him, the more I realized that wasn't necessarily true.
He suddenly turned to me, his shoulders slumping.
"Chloe... what does it mean when a woman receives a letter from a man who is obviously interested in her and doesn't respond for three days?"
"Oh my—no... Ah! That's not—!"
I hurriedly covered my mouth as an exclamation of sympathy escaped before I could stop it.
I quickly tried to say something encouraging to Brentian, but he shook his head.
"Yes. I can tell just from your reaction. You don't need to say anything."
Then he left the training grounds, stumbling slightly.
Callius smiled mischievously as he watched his friend's retreating back.
He looked more like a playful child than the affectionate, gentle Callius I'd grown accustomed to.
'Since Brentian and he have been friends for so long, this side of him must come out naturally.'
I was a little surprised because Callius's mischievous smile reminded me slightly of the way Karl teased me—but I didn't show it.
"It's not polite to laugh at times like this."
When I poked him in the ribs to scold him, Callius simply shrugged.
"He reaps what he sows."
'How can even his phrasing be similar to Karl's?'
Thinking of Karl suddenly made me realize it had been quite some time since I'd seen him.
"I hope he's doing well. What is Karl up to these days?"
'Like Callius and Brentian, I wish I had a best friend who was always there for me.'
'I miss you, Karl.'
'Now that everyone in Ronheim has accepted me, I think it's time for me to appear more confidently.'
'But strangely, whenever I think of Karl, I'm reminded of Lhasa's warning about not relying on empty words...'
I must have looked quite gloomy.
Callius suddenly bent down and brought his face close to mine.
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
I had been walking with my mind wandering when his face appeared so suddenly before me that I startled and took a step back.
Callius immediately grabbed my waist and pulled me closer.
"Careful. You might fall."
"Oh—thank you."
I tried to pull away from him, but Callius didn't release his arm from around my waist. Instead, he drew me even closer.
"What on earth makes you forget I'm even here? What—what could it be, I wonder."
"Hm? Oh, I wasn't thinking about anything in particular. I was just thinking about the friend I mentioned before..."
"The man who is supposedly the most handsome in the world?"
Somehow, it felt like a shadow had grown thicker over his expression...
"Yes..."
"You're always thinking about that man."
I laughed a little because it sounded strange to hear Callius refer to Karl as "that man" in such a pointed tone.
Then Callius's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"I suppose he's a friend who makes you smile just thinking about him."
"Yes, that's right."
"You must miss your friend terribly. You keep thinking about that man even when you're standing right next to me."
'What... the way he's speaking is a bit...'
I looked carefully at Callius's expression before asking.
"Are you... angry?"
"How could I be? Why would I be angry? There's absolutely no reason for me to be upset."
Callius smiled brightly—perhaps a bit too brightly—and pulled open the training ground gate.
Unfortunately, he pulled the handle with slightly more force than necessary.
"I'm curious about him too, actually. He's such a good friend to you. If you get the chance, how about inviting him to Ronheim? As your husband, I'd like to treat your dear friend with the utmost sincerity. He's probably curious about your well-being as well, so I'd be happy to invite him to Ronheim and let him stay for as long as he wishes."
Those were such kind, generous words.
I was so moved that I clasped my hands together and looked up at Callius with genuine delight.
"Really? I would love that!"
From somewhere nearby came a loud CRACK and the sound of something breaking.
I suddenly noticed that Callius was holding a doorknob—broken cleanly in two—in his hand.
"Oh! The doorknob! Are you all right?"
"Ah."
He looked down at the broken handle in his palm with a slightly dazed expression, then tossed it aside as if it were nothing.
"Don't worry about it. That doorknob was going to break eventually anyway."
'...Was it?'
* * *
After finishing my day's activities and returning to my room, I fell into deep thought while watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of crimson and gold.
I was glad that Callius wanted to invite Karl because he wished to treat my friend well. But I was worried about how Karl might react.
'How did Karl respond when I told Callius the truth and asked him to reveal himself?'
I remembered the sight of Karl getting angry with me—his expression unusually serious and stern.
I hated seeing Karl angry. I was frightened of it.
I was afraid that my closest, most trusted companion might leave me.
"Can I bring it up again? I don't want to upset him. I already asked once and he said no... but is it all right to ask again?"
I was feeling depressed and sighing when—
"Chloe!"
I turned around at the familiar, welcome voice.
Behind me, as always, Karl had appeared as if by magic. He stood there smiling bashfully.
"Why do you look so sad? What's wrong?"
"Karl! It's been so long! Where have you been?"
"I've been here often, actually. There were always people around you, so I just hid myself. But I was always watching."
"Really? I had no idea..."
I sat down with Karl, smiling, and told him everything that had happened recently.
The curse that had made me sick. The ritual performed to suppress its power. How people now called me Marchioness instead of Princess. All of it.
When I expressed how happy and joyful all these changes made me, Karl asked with slight concern.
"Isn't it partly because everyone thinks you're some kind of saint? What happens when they realize you're just an ordinary person with no mystical powers?"
The question stung. Karl had accurately exposed the worry I'd been harboring deep inside.
"But Callius said I saved many lives by freeing his people from starvation—"
"People always want more once you do something for them. The people of Ronheim will expect you to solve everything for them, like a saint would."
"...That might be true."
"Marquis Rodrian is the same. He's kind to you now, but what if he changes his mind? What will happen then? You know how kind Andrea was to you at first, don't you?"
I was momentarily speechless.
But I tried to carefully refute his point.
"Some people don't change, though. Like you. You haven't changed."
"I'm your special friend. Are you comparing me to just anyone else?"
"That's not what I meant—"
"No one else is like me. I came all this way for you. For you..."
Something felt wrong.
'Why do I feel so intimidated listening to Karl's words?'
'Why... why do I hear Andrea's voice in Karl's tone?'
"Chloe, I'm doing this for you."
"You have no idea how much I care for you."
"Where else in the world can you find someone who treats you as well as I do?"
Karl was saying exactly what Andrea had once said.
Word for word. Phrase for phrase.
When I realized it, goosebumps erupted across my entire body.
"Stop it! Stop talking!"
The shock of being reminded of Andrea through Karl—combined with the fear Andrea had instilled in me over all those years—came flooding back simultaneously.
I shook my head violently, covering my ears as if having a seizure.
"Stop it, Karl! Please, just stop!"
That was when it happened.
The door to the shared bedroom burst open.
Callius rushed into my room, his expression filled with alarm.
"What's wrong, Chloe?!"
Callius had arrived—but he couldn't see Karl.
He never could.
Because Karl was only visible to Chloe.
To everyone else, she was screaming at empty air.
---