The journey to the empire by carriage was an additional three days. By horse, it would've taken only a few hours depending on how stealth the stallion was. Despite the uncertainty of how long they'd be staying in the empire, the group packed light.
Mirabelle remained behind in the Mavez Dukedom to oversee the implentation of the training system crafted by Killorn's careful guidelines. Killorn made sure every single component was covered, from the budgets allocations to the soldier's breaktis and regints, until not a single stone was left untouched.
Killorn had taken Beetle with him, but left Gerald behind, for at least one of the other-in-commands should stay. Gerald was best at being as stern as Killorn and was always known as the Beta, second-in-command, which ant he best suited the position. Besides, with the cheerful Mirabelle and solemn Gerald, there was a perfect balance.
"My lady, my lady," Beetle cheerifully stated when he saw her curious expression. "Look, a flower bouquet for you."
Ophelia quietly blinked at the sight of the strange plants of all shapes and sizes. She curiously tilted her head, wondering when he had the ti to collect these. She glanced at her lap and saw that once again, the puppy did nothing, but eat dried at and then sleep.
With hesitation, Opehlia glanced out the window, where her husband was leading the pack. Killorn was engrossed in a conversation with one of the soldiers, not even pausing to see soone else was wooing his woman.
"T-thank you," Ophelia murmured, reaching out to grab it, but her attention was stuck on the beautiful scenery leading to the empire. The cold weather was lting the closer they traveled to the empire, but the trees and ground was still filled with a thin layer of snow.
Suddenly, Beetle pulled his hand away. "You must be careful."
Ophelia felt like a fool. Perhaps he was right, she looked like a shy maiden being courted. Awkwardly, she opened her mouth, but he shook his head.
"You see this white flower that resembles baby puffs but are shaped like a hanging bell?" Beetle described. "This one is for coughs and colds. It grows primarily in the northern region, where the weather is often frigid."
Ophelia blinked. Oh, a herb lesson, how fun. She peered closer at the plant.
"And this plant right here with sandy petals are rare to the north, but can sotis be found in the empire. They're for sore throats and stuffy noses," Beetle continued.
Ophelia wondered why the sudden introduction. Then, she peered out the window again and saw Killorn was still distracted. Her shoulders fell a bit.
Throughout the entire journey, they had only stopped for breaks, food, or to sleep for a bit, but Killorn seldom interacted with her. He was often talking to the soldiers, instructing them on the proper thod of this and that, or watching out for ssenger birds. Perhaps this was Beetle's attempt to cheer her up?
"Lastly," Beetle mused, presenting her a white flower with blue inner petals and thin black branches running through it.
Ophelia was instantly bewitched. "This is a flower native to the Mavez Dukedom, but lately, they've been found a bit further from our territory. These are one of the more deadly plants."
Ophelia pulled away, startled.
"You can pry off these black branches," Beetle murmured, demonstrating it for her and then he leaned real close and personal, dropping his voice. "Not many know the next part, can you keep a secret for , my lady?"
Ophelia naively peered up at him. His eyes were friendly, with specks of brown like swirling autumn leaves. His freckles beca even more prominent, peppered across his tanned skin, with his curly brown hair grazing ever so slightly across his thin eyebrows.
"Y-yes," Ophelia mumbled.
"The plant itself is harmless to werewolves," Beetle proudly told her. "But rumor has it, if these black parts are digested," he held up the black stems he plucked from the petal. "They can kill a grown vampire."
Ophelia's breath died in her throat. Her head snapped up at him in disbelief. F-for a human girl to murder a vampire, that was a cri worthy of banishnt or death by torture! She pulled away imdiately, but Beetle brought his horse closer and continued poking his head inside.
"I am telling you this my lady in the instance that you are ever attacked," Beetle murmured to her whilst sticking his hands inside.
Ophelia shakingly stared at him in disbelief, suddenly not wanting the flowers anymore.
"Take it and learn from these lessons, my lady. The empire is not kind to human girls—but neither is the world," Beetle stated.
"Oye, Beetle! Quit harassing our Luna!" soone loudly shouted just to poke and tease at him. Nervous chuckles followed, but everyone silenced when Killorn sharply turned his head.
Ophelia took the flowers with trembling hands. She breathed out, holding the flower native to Mavez Dukedom closer to her chest. She wanted to treasure such a flower, for she didn't know how long it'd be before she last saw it.
"What did he just say?" A deadly voice sliced through the frigid air. Soone gulped, not sure what to do.
Ophelia's heart skipped at the ferocity of her husband's voice. She quickly poked her head out. Imdiately, she regretted the action, but seeing Beetle's wry smile, she knew she had to step in.
"L-look, f-flowers," Ophelia shyly admitted, holding it out for him to see alongside her face.
Killorn narrowed his eyes. He gestured for his n to ride onwards, whilst he lagged his horse behind. Beetle smiled to himself and before Killorn could whack him on the head, the man rode faster to the frontlines. It was almost as if Beetle's intentions were to get Killorn closer to Ophelia.
"They're ugly," Killorn said the second he reached her side by the carriage window.
Ophelia's lips parted in confusion and she glanced down at the flowers. "N-no, they're not. L-look, t-this one is n-native to Mavez Dukedom."
Killorn's lips twitched. "You think I wouldn't recognize a flower I grew up seeing?"
Ophelia's face turned red at his words. She pulled away from the window and glanced at her lap to hide her embarrassnt. Of course he knew. Here she was, being excited like a child to show him the gift, but he reminded her of the truth. Suddenly, her handso husband let out a soft chuckle.
"I've neglected you, my lovely wife."
Ophelia's head snapped up. Her heart lted at the sight of his majestic face. "O-oh no, y-you've been s-so accommodating…"
Killorn offered her a shake of his head. He reached for her hood and pulled it down, catching her by surprise. Then, he tenderly stroked her hair, his black gloves a sharp contrast to her pale hair. The weather was warr in the empire than it was in the Dukedom, filling her silver hair with a slight yellow tinge. If he didn't know correctly, he thought he was stroking white gold.
"We're almost there, Ophelia. Just a few hours away," Killorn spoke in a patient and low voice. She timidly glanced up at him, her eyes bewitching him within seconds. There was a twinge of excitent within those athyst gaze that peered up at him with too much earnesty.
"W-won't j-join in the carriage?" Ophelia nervously asks him. "I-it's so large and g-grand for one person."
Killorn paused and glanced in her direction. Then, he slowly shook his head, his hair moving with him. "No, I must continue leading my n."
"O-oh…" Ophelia murmured. "A-are you going to stay by my s-side for a bit l-longer? We haven't had a proper conversation f-for three days."
Killorn quirked a perfect brow. "We did. I asked what you wanted every al ti, if you'd like a snack, or if you were comfortable."
Ophelia's shoulders dropped. That wasn't what she ant. "I-I wanted an a-actual conversation."
"When we get to the castle, you will always have my attention when I am available," Killorn reminded her in a patient and composed voice. She peered up at him, almost ecstatic by the thought. He felt his chest ache.
Ophelia was tragically beautiful. There was not a single mont where he was lost admiring her looks, whether it was her adorable button nose, or the slight flush of her milky cheeks, or perhaps, when her gaze were lit up to rival stars upon the night skies.
"And when we're there, we shall rest for as long as you please, before I entertain you in bed—" he cut himself off.
"HALT!" Killorn commanded and imdiately, everyone ca to a stop.
Killorn's grip tightened on the reins of Eggshell when he saw the red banners approaching closer. Irritation filled his eyes as he roughly yanked the curtains of the enormous carriage shut.
"Everest," Killorn gritted out at the sight of the man dressed in gold and red.
Everest sat proud and regal upon his white horse, his blond hair like gold under the sunlight. He tilted his head, his ruby red eyes surveying them.
"I've co to greet you into the empire, we have a surprise awaiting you," Everest mused, but his attention was stuck to the carriage, where he could've sworn he caught a glimpse of the white hair and purple eyed-beauty.
"Whatever it is, shove it back to where we ca from," Killorn deadpanned. "I have no need for it."
"Ah, but we prepared it especially to welco the new defenders of the Empire's last defense, the Mavez Dukedom. You know, ever since you took the status of Alpha a few months ago with your Forest of Blood incident, we never got to properly congratulate and crown you—"
"Alpha!" a voice cried out in disbelief.
Imdiately, Killorn's head snapped up in ti to feel the ground tremble, wicked giggles filling the air, and then, the flash of horrid green skin.
"You've gotta be kidding ," Everest murmured, his attention aligning in the sa direction. It was a good thing he ca with his soldiers as well—all of whom bear an irritable loyalty to the Mavez Dukedom.
Everest drew his sword at the sa ti that Killorn took him out.
"An ambush on all sides… there's hoards of goblins heading our way!"
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