Part 1
Albert froze at Mia's pointed question but quickly masked his unease. For a fraction of a second, Albert's calm mask almost faltered. Mia stood a few paces away in the lamplight, arms crossed, amber eyes narrowed, and watching Albert observantly.
Albert forced a practiced chuckle. "Raise eyebrows? Master Philip?" he repeated as if the notion were absurd. "Unless you mean his social blunders, I can't imagine."
Mia's frown remained. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Mister Albert... did Master Philip interact with any … questionable associations recently?"
Albert raised a hand gently, cutting her off. "I understand your worry. But I can assure you, Master Philip has not been interacting with questionable parties recently." Leaning forward, Albert fixed Mia with a sincere look. "You know Lydia and I would be the first ones to intercede if Master Philip starts hanging out with the wrong crowd."
Mia searched his face as if trying to perceive any signs of deception. Finally, she exhaled and gave a slow nod, albeit reluctantly. "Alright. Perhaps I'm jumping at shadows. But we can't entirely rule out the possibility that Master Philip might have engaged in some activity that might have infringed upon the interest of some powerful party."
"You have a good point," Albert agreed, internally relieved. He gently closed the ledger on the desk, a clear signal that the interrogation was over.
Mia moved to the door, her posture still rigid. Before leaving, she paused. "You're loyal to him like family," she said quietly. "I respect that. Just... be more mindful of his activities. Something he is doing might be offending some people in high places."
With that, she slipped out into the dimly lit hallway.
The library fell silent. Albert let out a long breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The pleasant smile slid from his face like a discarded mask. "Sharp girl," he muttered under his breath. Mia had been inches from the dangerous truth, and his little improvisation would only buy them a bit of time.
He extinguished the mana-lamp and stood in darkness among the sleeping bookshelves. Faintly, down the corridor, he could hear Lady Elora's lilting laugh and Philip's warm murmur from the dining hall. Albert pinched the bridge of his nose, worry creasing his brow. He needed to discuss the situation with Lydia as soon as they had some privacy.
Part 2
Inside the estate's cozy dining room, candles cast a gentle glow over empty plates and half-filled wine glasses. Elora felt warm from both drink and relief. Across from her, Philip looked more at ease than he had in days, his jacket unbuttoned and his shirt collar loosened. He wore a fond smile as he listened to Elora's rambling anecdote about an Academy prank years ago.
Impulsively, Elora speared a slice of brandied pear from her dessert plate. "You have to try this," she murmured, walking over and offering it to Philip. He hesitated only a moment before accepting the bite from her fork. Elora's heart fluttered—such an intimate gesture, something she'd only dreamed of during lonely nights while he was engaged to someone else.
As Philip savored the sweetness, Elora realized she was openly staring. Perhaps it was the wine, or the adrenaline still lingering from the day's ambush, but she felt bolder than ever. She leaned down, placing one of her hands over Philip's hand on the table. "I still can't believe you're here with me," she said softly. Her voice wavered with emotion she could no longer hold back. "After everything... I was so afraid I'd lost you forever. First duty took you away, then Rosetta..." She bit her lip. It was easier to be honest under the pretense of drunkenness. "Rosetta is a princess, after all. Who doesn't want to marry a princess? For the longest time, I thought I was doomed to watch the perfect fairytale from afar for the rest of my life and never be able to physically be close to you again."
Philip's eyes widened slightly. "Elora, I never realized that is how you felt," he said, surprise mingling on his face. Of course, how could he have been? He totally did not inherit this part of old Philip's memory. Or did old Philip not know? Or… did the old Philip just not care enough to notice? After all, from the memory recalled so far, it seems that Rosetta eclipsed everything in old Philip's life.
She managed a shaky smile. "But life has given us another chance, hasn't it?" She drew a breath, her cheeks flushed with wine and nerves. "Rosetta left. And I'm here." Her hand squeezed Philip's gently. "I don't intend to lose you again, Philip. Not to anyone or any event. Even if that means I have to share your heart with someone someday, I'll take it. Having even a part of your love is better than losing you entirely."
Philip opened his mouth, stunned, but no reply came. His heart hammered too hard to form words. Elora's face was inches from his now, her green eyes shining with years of longing and recent tears. Gently, she closed her eyes and tilted her chin up toward him. Philip felt the world narrow to just this moment—the soft perfume of lavender in her hair, the warmth of her hand in his. He leaned in, drawn by half by her gravity and half by the effects of alcohol, his own eyes sliding shut.
But he never got the chance to close the remaining inch between his lips and Elora's, because at that instant the dining room doors flew open with a dramatic bang.
"Hello, my dearest friend and beloved…!" a flamboyant voice declared but paused midway. "Sis…"
Elora jolted back from Philip, gasping in shock. Philip sprang to his feet, half protecting Elora behind him on instinct. In the doorway stood the familiar figure of Colonel Kendrick in his dashing white military uniform, backlit by the hallway lamps. Though his expression was unfamiliar.
"Kendrick?!" Philip blurted, his surprise dissolving into an incredulous laugh.
Kendrick Nernwick swept into the room, golden hair slightly mussed from hard riding, and his expression went from one of shock quickly to one of mischief. "In the flesh!" he sang out, striking a pose. "I came as soon as I heard my best friend nearly got himself killed in his own orchard." He took in the scene—Philip's flushed face, Elora's wide eyes, the intimate closeness they'd sprung apart from—and his lips curled into a wicked grin. "It appears I may have also saved dear Elora from making an irreversible romantic mistake," he added with a teasing lilt.
Elora, positively scarlet, found her voice in a mortified squeak. "Brother, have you ever heard of knocking?" she huffed, trying to recapture a shred of dignity as she rose from her chair and smoothed her dress.
Kendrick ignored her protest, striding forward to clasp Philip in a quick, tight hug. "Are you alright, Philip? When news reached me of bullets flying across your property while my sister was here, I rode like a madman to get here," he said, genuine concern undercutting his playful tone. Up close, Philip could see the dust of travel on Kendrick's boots and the worry lingering behind Kendrick's smile.
"I'm fine, Kendrick," Philip assured him, returning the embrace with a grin. "A bit overwhelmed, but in one piece—thanks to everyone here. Your sister included." He shot Elora a fond look that made her blush anew.
Kendrick pulled back, eyes scanning Philip and Elora for injury. He tutted at a small tear in Philip's sleeve—evidence of the day's chaos. "And what's this? A battle scar on your brand-new suit? Scandalous." He wagged a finger melodramatically. "You have been busy, haven't you?"
Elora groaned softly, covering her face with one hand. Only Kendrick could turn a life-threatening ambush and a private dinner into an opportunity for theatrics.
With a flourish, Kendrick grabbed the whiskey decanter from a sideboard and poured himself a drink, then cheerfully topped off Philip's and Elora's glasses as well. Raising his tumbler high, he boomed, "To surviving the day in spectacular fashion!"
"To surviving," Philip and Elora chorused softly, clinking their glasses against his.
Kendrick took a satisfied sip and cast a glance out the dark window. "By the way, your orchard is looking delightfully perforated, Phil," he quipped. "Perhaps you can open it as a shooting gallery attraction." Philip snorted into his drink, and Elora managed a wry smile. At least Kendrick's gallows humor lightened the mood.
After a rather light but long conversation, Philip's adrenaline began to ebb, and fatigue showed in the droop of his shoulders. He fought back a yawn, but Elora noticed. She leaned over and laid a gentle hand on his arm. "You should get some rest," she whispered kindly.
Philip gave a sheepish nod. The day's excitement, from university dramas to deadly attacks to near-romantic revelations, was finally catching up to him. "You're right," he conceded, rubbing his eyes. "It's been... quite a day."
Kendrick clapped him on the back, careful to avoid the bruised spot where Philip had hit the ground during the ambush. "Off with you, then. Doctor Kendrick prescribes a full night's sleep," he declared.
Elora stood as well. "I'll walk you to your room, Philip." She wasn't about to let him out of her sight just yet, not while traces of danger still lurked in her mind.
Together, the three made their way out to the corridor. At Philip's bedroom door, Elora lingered. She squeezed Philip's hand in both of hers. "Good night, Philip," she said softly, eyes shining. There was so much more she wanted to say—Stay safe. I'm here. We'll figure everything out and… don't sleep too much with that woman... But with Kendrick watching and the moment delicate, she kept it simple.
Philip looked at her with a tenderness that made her heart skip. Though in reality Philip was just dizzy from being drunk. "Good night, Elora. And... thank you. For everything." The way he said her name, the warmth in his gaze, sent a flutter through her stomach. Despite the interruption, despite all the secrets and chaos, in that small exchange, Elora felt his affection clear as day.
With a final nod to Kendrick, Philip slipped into his room to collapse into well-earned sleep.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Kendrick's jovial expression faded. The emerald-eyed playboy visage dropped away, revealing the concerned brother underneath. "Ellie, we need to talk," he said quietly, using her childhood nickname. He gently took Elora by the elbow and guided her down the hall, away from Philip's door and any curious ears.
Elora's heart kicked with apprehension. She had never seen Kendrick look so serious so fast.
Part 3
Not long after that conversation with Kendrick in the carriage, Elora found herself alone with Mia at her own mansion.
The redheaded bodyguard's expression was tense, her voice barely above a whisper. "My lady, I have to speak to you urgently ... It's about Master Philip."
Elora's stomach tightened. She gently closed the door to ensure privacy. "Go on," she said, though a part of her already guessed what Mia was about to broach.
Mia took a slow breath. "Something isn't adding up," she began, searching Elora's eyes. "The way Miss Natalia fought today—what she did was beyond normal human ability. I know you noticed it too." She hesitated, then gathered her courage. "I've been by your side long enough to pick up a bit of knowledge about unnatural science. There are forbidden arts, summoning rituals... Lady Elora, do you think it's possible that Natalia is a... a summoned familiar bound to Master Philip?"
Elora stared at Mia, utterly caught off guard by the blunt suggestion. Of all the things Mia could have said, this was the most dire. Private summoning of living beings had been outlawed in the Empire for almost a century. To be even suspected of breaking that law was dangerous. Elora's pulse jumped. "Mia, that's a serious accusation," she replied, keeping her tone measured even as her mind reeled.
"I know," Mia said quickly, eyes flicking toward the door to be sure they were truly alone. "And I pray I'm wrong. But there were other clues. We found a heretical verse on one of the attackers—a line from the Book of Narys. If those assassins believed Philip broke the ban on summoning, it could explain why they're targeting him."
Elora felt her mouth go dry. She remembered Natalia's strange choice of words in the orchard: "My origin isn't simple... I barely understand it myself." At the time, Elora had dismissed it amid their tense stand-off over Philip's affections, but now... Could it be true? Her rational mind rebelled—Philip, practicing forbidden magic? And yet Natalia was undeniably extraordinary, and the world was suddenly acting as if Philip were a threat.
She forced herself to speak calmly. "Mia, listen to what you're implying. Philip is the most gentle, honest man I know. He wouldn't dabble in dark magic. Yes, Natalia is... unusual, but there could be other explanations. Perhaps she was enhanced by alchemy, or trained with some great martial art master from some eastern land. Not every miracle is a sin."
Mia pressed her lips together. She had expected Elora to react with skepticism, but concern drove her on. "If Philip has inadvertently gotten himself involved in something forbidden," she said, "he might be in grave danger—from the authorities, from zealots, or from... whatever he summoned, if that's the case."
"Mia," Elora chuckled, as if amused by Mia's suggestion. Though Elora realized Mia was right, for the sake of Philip, she had to clear Mia of her suspicions. "I know Philip too well. I grew up with him. I know that he is a proud guy, almost arrogant. He certainly would not associate with some sketchy crowd of outlaws. Even if he wants to, his stern grandfather would almost certainly have prevented it. Let's just leave the investigation to the authorities."
"Understood, my lady," Mia said softly. "I only spoke out of concern—for him, and for you. I... I care about both of you."
Elora gently placed a hand on Mia's shoulder, appreciating the weight of those words. Mia wasn't just a guard; she was a friend. "I know you do. And I'm grateful." Her voice was sweet and soft. "But speculation isn't going to get anyone anywhere. In fact, my guess is that whoever is behind the assailants might have intentionally left behind that tiny piece of evidence trying to sow doubt and discord among our two families."
Mia nodded as if she came to some sudden realization. Elora offered what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "Besides," she added wryly, trying to lighten the mood, "if Philip were really capable of summoning living entities, given his personality, he certainly wouldn't have taken the constructive dismissal so lightly. It doesn't quite fit."
That earned a tiny smirk from Mia. "Fair point," she admitted with a chuckle.
Elora guided Mia toward the door. "Try to get some sleep," she said kindly. "Tomorrow will bring its own challenges." Mia acquiesced with a bow of her head.
When Mia left, closing the door behind her, Elora let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her composure wavered at last, now that she was alone. Mia's words echoed in her ears: summoned familiar… forbidden magic… Elora pressed a hand to her temple, as if that could halt the racing of her mind. She knew Mia was right, but she needed time to think of a way of getting Philip out of this mess and the fewer people who knew it, the better.
Part 4
Next morning, under the pale light of dawn in the courtyard, Kendrick stood waiting for Elora. He had wanted to continue their prior discussion with Elora when she was no longer intoxicated.
Elora crossed her arms. "So, what is it that can't be spoken openly?"
He pressed his palm to the glass, scanning the horizon as if searching for watchers. Then he exhaled, comedic bravado melting into a grim expression. "Elora… I have news about Philip. Something he doesn't even know yet. The deployment he will be going on is far more dangerous than publicly stated."
Her pulse kicked up. "Deployment? Wait, I didn't even know there was a formal deployment order for him! He never mentioned—"
"That's because it's not yet announced, nor official in public records," Kendrick said. "But from a contact in the War Office, I learned Master Philip Redwood is being assigned to Osgorreich Imperium." A note of sadness tinged his voice.
Elora's mind spun. She'd heard the empire talk of "minor border skirmishes" for months. The papers boasted of near-complete victory. Why would they send Philip into what was presumably a trifling police action? She swallowed. "Are you sure?"
Kendrick nodded heavily. "I pressed my source for details. He claims some higher-ups want Redwood in the thick of it—where losses are catastrophic. Commanding supply convoys in the midst of the most intense war zone on Earth. You probably heard from the media about the border skirmishes that had been happening between Osgorreich Imperium and Arussian Empire. But the truth is … it's actually a full-blown war with almost a million casualties, if you include civilians. And even our casualty count is in the thousands despite only providing support in weaponry."
Elora blinked, utterly taken aback. "That... that's impossible," she stammered. "We would have heard—Parliament, the newspapers, someone would have said—" A chill ran through Elora as she realized that her brother was privy to far more classified information than she would ever be. If what her brother was saying was true, then the public had been fed a big lie by the media.
Her stomach lurched—someone was orchestrating a lethal trip for Philip. "Does Duke Redwood know?" she asked, voice tight.
Kendrick's gaze turned pained. "He likely does, but he can't block it. The War Office hushes it up, claiming it's a routine posting. By the time word spreads, Philip could be gone. Possibly killed in action. And they'd spin it as heroic—blaming the Arussians, like always. End of story."
Elora felt the blood drain from her face. "They're… they're sending him to die?" Her mind reeled. The orchard ambush could have been one attempt. This forced deployment was probably the backup plan after Philip succeeded in surviving all those assassination attempts. So whoever wanted Philip dead, he must be very influential. "But… but why?"
Kendrick's mouth twisted bitterly. "I can only guess. Perhaps Redwood's political stance threatens powerful interests. Or a rumored personal grudge, we can't know for sure. A lowly colonel like me can only guess at the intention of those in power." A self-deprecating laugh slipped out.
Elora braced against the windowsill. Her mind churned with worry, heartbreak, and fury. "This is madness. The orchard attack was madness. And now… assignment to suicide mission. The empire's press claims Osgorreich Imperium and Arussian Empire were about to sign a border agreement with the help of the Continental Republic." She glared at him. "Don't tell me that's another blatant lie?"
The flamboyant noble gave her a grim, ironic smile. "Another whopper, indeed. My dear Elora, we live in a realm of illusions. The conflict is rumored to be catastrophic. If the empire admitted the conflict has no end in sight, mass panic or riots might break out, especially with so many supply shortages. They're burying the truth to keep supplying the public with hope that inflation is only temporary."
Elora felt a wave of nausea. "But Celestica—the Empress—would never allow this. She's known for her compassion."
Kendrick's laugh was tinged with bitterness. "Celestica is kept in her own gilded bubble. The government, with the help of the media and military, carefully crafted an image of a prosperous empire and fed it to her. Due to her docile nature and her own isolation ever since Emperor Winston's death, she easily accepted what she was told. After all, the image of the empire they conveyed to her is the very image of the empire during its heyday right when Winston wedded her. They fear that upon discovering the truth, her empathy might lead her to rash reforms that might disturb the delicate balance that is holding the empire by a thread right now. Moreover, any reforms might hurt entrenched aristocratic privileges, leading to reactions that might blow up this neat house of cards faster." He snorted. "One comedic tragedy, isn't it?"
Elora blinked, images swirling: Celestica, an all-powerful figure, yet lied to about her realm's plight. "So the Empress is ironically kept in the dark too? Don't tell me the entire empire is a rotting structure propped by illusions."
Kendrick's tone softened, seeing her distress. "I'm sorry to drop this on you. But I had to warn you, especially if you're starting to plan a future with Philip. You can't plan without having all the information, right?"
She closed her eyes, frustration and heartbreak swirling. "I see. Then they aim to remove Philip quietly. A war zone is the perfect place to orchestrate an 'accidental' death."
Kendrick exhaled. "Yes. Given that even the Duke can't defy the order, I suspect it's from the absolute top."
Elora's pulse hammered, the day's events spinning in her mind. I used to think I was well-versed in empire affairs. I knew nothing.
Elora's fists curled at her sides. She drew a shaky breath, her aristocratic poise fracturing under raw anger. "Fate is trying to take him from me again. But I won't let it this time."
Kendrick stepped closer, gently resting a hand on her shoulder. "My beloved sister, be careful. Opposing them openly could upset the balance."
Elora's eyes flared with tears of fury. "I'd rather see the empire in flames than Philip in danger. If they send him off to die, I won't stand idle in safety."
A hush fell. Then she swallowed, gaze steeling. "If he's assigned to Osgorreich Imperium, I'll go with him. I will settle in a city nearby where he is deployed so that I can offer him comfort whenever he is off duty."
Kendrick's eyes reflected both admiration and dread. "Elora… Osgorreich Imperium is not exactly the place to be right now."
She cut him off with a fierce look. "I don't care. I'm not losing him, Kendrick. Even if I must join him in that horrific war zone, I'll do it. A life without Philip…" She trailed off, swallowing the lump in her throat. "It's not a life worth living."
Kendrick squeezed her shoulder gently. "Give me some time. I will try to find out who or what forces are behind Philip's deployment, and I will find a way to stop it. No one is taking our Philip from us."
After a long moment, Kendrick murmured into her hair, "But please, don't mention the content of today's conversation to anyone."