Fifth Month, the 2nd day, 1386. 08:36.
"HMMM?"
I opened my eyes, feeling a ray of sun hitting my face. My gaze wandered around and I noticed that… we're in a different house now. It was a smaller one and it looked worn out. I rose from the ground and stretched.
But a sudden realization then hit me… I can't feel any other presence.
"Caius…?"
No response.
He's not here.
I'm wearing the same clothes from the other day. An outdated white dress with long sleeves. This means I wasn't dreaming. I was with Caius for the whole two weeks of recovery.
I looked around, and I saw my things on one side. My knight uniform as well as my boots and coat, even the sword that pierced Caius. I stood up and checked my clothes.
It was cleaned off from stains, and the holes behind my top and coat were also fixed.
I looked outside the broken window, it's obviously in the middle of the day. And I think I'm familiar with where this is.
I guess we got out of that forest. I figured it was just a closed space with magic. I can barely detect it since it's too high level for me. Caius, on the other hand, seemed to have noticed.
I wonder where he is now. I don't know if I should be down or angry. He left me alone here, but at the same time, I know he wouldn't do that. I, without hesitation, killed him that night, yet he still took care of me when I was injured and let me recover in peace.
I sighed. Whatever. Let's just get this over with. I have to head back to the palace and tell Hael I failed miserably in my final mission.
Pulling the old door open, the light hit me. I used my hand to put some shade on my face. The warm sun feels great to be honest.
I can feel a bit of excitement for today.
Ah… it's a great day to resign from my fucked up position.
WALKING from the forest to the Capital, I was able to see the festival going on for the crowning of Hael. It began two weeks ago, and I was only able to come now. I bought some sweets while I was passing by and people greeted me when they recognized me. But I told them to keep quiet since I'm not on official duty and was simply buying something to eat.
I arrived by the Palace gates after a few hours of walking. I wasn't tired, it was fun. It's been a while since I simply took a walk outside. I haven't been able to do so since I was always next to Hael, guarding him.
There are people coming in and out of the palace gates for official business, which leaves me confused. Is today the scheduled monthly assembly for the emperor and lords under him? Isn't that in two weeks?
"Is it today?" The guards glanced back at me in surprise.
"We greet you, Dame!" They greeted me with a rushed salute. Ah… they won't be greeting me the same way once they hear I'm resigning.
"Yes, today is the meeting between the lords and the emperor!" The other answered.
"At ease, I'll head there now then."
I walked past them, and I could hear their confusion.
"Isn't she supposed to be by His Majesty's side already?"
"Who knows, I haven't seen her in the past month."
Huh…? A month?
I've only been gone for two weeks, but why a month?
Did time flow differently inside that space?
I shook off the thought for a moment. I shouldn't really ponder about it now.
I walked around and finally arrived in front of the council room. The knight guards were shocked to see me and saluted. The same goes for people I met on the way here. They greeted me like I had only gone away for a mission, like I always did. I guess they didn't know anything.
Hael, you won't even tell your people that your precious dog already died?
"At ease." I halted in front of the door and knocked three times.
"Permission to come in, Your Majesty. It's me, Adela," I announced and there was long silence. Of course, he wouldn't expect me to come back so late, and alive as well.
The door then opened and I was greeted with confused glances from them. There was a circular table enough for twenty-one people to sit in. There is one vacant seat, as always.
The Lords of the Cabinet include only the most influential noble lords in the entire empire. There is a fixed number of twenty members, and all of them are equally powerful. This circle is made in order to prevent any sort of revolt or rebellion. Technically, it's the Imperials' Faction.
Now, all of them were either confused or annoyed at my interruption.
Hael, on the other, looked unhappy. He wore a cold smile on his face, and I simply stared at him.
Won't you at least give me your congratulations for surviving?
I stepped inside and bowed in respect.
"Good day, I apologize for interrupting your assembly," I said.
"I am glad to know you're back, but what brings you here, Adela?" Hael responded professionally. He didn't look fazed one bit, and that somewhat made me... impatient.
I stood up straight. I look directly at him, and for some reason, I don't feel it. I don't feel anything for this man. No love, no closeness... not even hate. It felt as if I was looking at a stranger, not the friend I had all my life.
My dear friend... who are you...?
"It's to inform you that I'm resigning from my position as your knight," I stated firmly.
A series of gasps were heard not only from the guards but from the council men as well. Other than shock, they must be confused.
The oath is not easily broken by some sort of resignation notice. It doesn't work that way and every person knows that. They must be thinking how in the world did I have the audacity to resign, when there's an oath that binds us literally?
Yes, this entire circle of lords… are the only few who are aware of my oath with Hael.
Hael's smile faded.
"For what reason?" He had a demanding tone, as if he didn't know why either.
I don't know why he keeps me by his side, despite his deep hatred for me. He may have bigger plans in the future since my assassination mission failed. However, I don't plan to involve myself with him and his pettiness any longer, knowing he ordered me to have me killed.
I let out a bitter smile as I stare right into his golden eyes.
"I've failed you greatly, Your Majesty."
You have wasted me.
"That's my sole reason."
I believed, for the whole five years of being your knight, your feelings towards me would change. That we could be great friends. But it never did, even when I did everything for you.
I barely had any self-respect, but it isn't so little that I'd stay as your knight after such betrayal.
"If I may speak, Your Majesty," All eyes turned to the Earl Oleander, my father.
Hael nodded at him, and the earl faced me.
"You are aware that there's an oath binding you and His Majesty. Must you resign, this does not break anything. It means nothing, Dame—"
"The oath has been broken. I have no reason to stay," I cut him off, impatient.
"What?!"
"How is that possible?!"
There were mixed reactions from the lords to what I said, but I interrupted them all.
"I believe I am not obligated to give you an answer as this concerns my personal matters with His Majesty," I answered them with minimal detail.
Again, they were silenced. And Hael couldn't control his expression this time. He glared at me.
"I object to that decision," he responded. Well, I never expect him to agree without enough reasoning or proper argument from me. He is the Emperor after all.
"As I said," I stood my ground. "I am simply here to inform you. I have decided, Your Majesty. I am tired. Please let me go as a last act of kindness."
"No. I will not let you. You are my knight, Adela," he firmly said, nearly raising his voice. I raised a brow in confusion.
Your knight?
Are you toying with me right now? Through the years, have you ever considered me your knight? Or at least one of your people?
No. You wanted me gone. Out of your world.
And no matter what I did, that never changed.
I took hold of my sheath and clicked it open.
"Must you object once more, I will start a massacre, right here and now."
Once again, the tension rose. I could tell that they wanted to say something, but chose not to.
Why?
All of them know a thing or two about my actual job as Hael's personal knight. They can object or reject my decisions. No one will be able to stop me, however.
I turned back to Hael. "Your answer, my liege?" I asked him for his response on this matter.
With a clenched fist, Hael avoided my gaze. He seemed frustrated.
"Leave… you're in no position to enter this hall."
My lips curled up and I bowed for the last time as his knight.
"It's been a pleasure serving you. I will forever be grateful."
I'm free.
I left the room with a big smile on my face, knowing I took a new step towards a different life. It's another struggle, but I will definitely be at peace.
I know it.
HAEL was a high figure. The lords before him were impressed by his calm composure, even after his most trusted knight had just announced her retirement. To them, it was as if they witnessed lovers going through their separation. All of them knew how close the two were since childhood, they were deemed as inseparable by many.
No one would have thought that their oath would break. They couldn't help their curiosity, but they'd rather remain silent than ask him directly.
It may be a sensitive topic to him.
"I hereby declare this meeting… adjourned." Hael announced and every person clapped. In a matter of minutes, the hall was emptied, leaving Hael alone with his internal aide, Felix.
Felix observed his emperor, who remained quiet. He may not show it, but Felix broke a cold sweat. He was nervous because he knew; Hael was furious.
"Why is it that you couldn't find them?"
Felix felt shivers running down his spine hearing the emperor's tone. He hesitated to respond, but did so anyway.
"We lost them after they fell down the cliff—"
"I KNOW THAT! FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"
Hael slammed his clenched fist on the table, causing it to lightly break. "I am asking how in the world they escaped and recovered despite the ongoing search for the past month!"
Felix bowed down, he could not dare look him in the eyes.
"I beg for your forgiveness, Your Majesty. We were complacent," Felix's voice trembled. The air inside this room was suffocating.
Hael sighed and rubbed his temples. Frustration was an understatement to how he feels at this moment. He felt ecstatic the moment he felt that the oath had broken that night, but he should've gone there himself and confirmed their deaths with his own two eyes.
If she's alive, it must mean that that damned monster is breathing well too, Hael thought to himself. Because of this, Adela is now out of his control. There was only one way for that to happen, and he knew the moment he saw her.
She was surrounded by his scent. That alone would have broken the string of oath between the two of them, which makes him more frustrated.
The irony is that he was already at the top of the hierarchy. He is already the emperor. The supreme ruler of this land.
And yet, he knew himself that he can't have those two in the palm of his hands. That's how they always were.
Hael clenched his fist, enough to dig up the skin in his palms, out of pure anger.
"That fucking witch… must you always interfere with my plans? Even in this life?"