132.

He had asked seriously, but Cardier responded playfully.

“Abandon you twice?”

“……Abandon?”

“If you pick up a dog, you have to take responsibility until the end.”

“…….”

“Your thinking is truly disrespectful, Ro.”

He added, lightly tapping the bridge of her nose with his finger. His smile was bright and clear, without a trace of shadow—just like when they first met, back when she was sixteen and he was twenty-four.

“Don’t joke around.”

“Well, I’ve never really thought about it, but I suppose I’ll just have to wait again.”

“…….”

“I’ll always worry about wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, and you’ll follow your beliefs without looking back at anyone.”

“…….”

“What can we do? The one who loves more is bound to lose.”

Despite his casual tone and teasing manner, his eyes were utterly serious. Only then did Ro realize that Cardier’s answer was an extremely restrained expression of his true feelings. Before she could respond, a loud voice rang out from the watchtower.

“Land!”

Land. Ro immediately stood up, shading her eyes as she stared toward the horizon. Just as the lookout had said, Cyclid was beginning to appear faintly in the distance. At first merely a tiny speck, gradually the iconic clock tower and the monastery perched atop the cliffs became clearer and more distinct.

“You were all here.”

“Your Imperial Highness.”

Ro hurriedly bowed alongside Cardier. Since noble etiquette hadn’t been required during their journey, she nearly collapsed from trembling legs, but somehow managed a passable bow. The Imperial Princess, however, simply waved both hands dismissively.

“We’ll arrive in Cyclid in just a few hours. But then again… it seems preparations aren’t quite ready yet?”

“Preparations?”

Ro asked, tilting her head in confusion. The Imperial Princess looked surprised, then raised one eyebrow and turned to Cardier.

“You haven’t explained yet?”

“There wasn’t enough time. My wife only recently regained full consciousness.”

“Then I’ll explain it myself.”

“Your Highness.”

Cardier stepped in front of Ro as if to stop her, but the Imperial Princess was insistent.

“A new dress has been prepared for you in your cabin.”

“A dress? What’s this all of a sudden…?”

“I sent a direct letter to His Imperial Majesty describing your exploits. You are now officially the hero of the Portmuth Naval Battle.”

“……Pardon?”

Ro blinked, thinking the Princess must be joking. It was simply too incredible to believe at first. But the Princess’s expression was completely serious, devoid of any hint of amusement.

“It was reported that you disguised yourself as a man to rescue your husband and, at the final moment, bravely beheaded the enemy commander.”

Ro’s face turned pale as she blinked rapidly. Someone must be playing a cruel prank. Otherwise, such a thing couldn’t possibly… Cardier clicked his tongue in disapproval toward the Princess, then softened his expression and gently took Ro’s arm.

“I know you hate commotion, but this was the only way to protect your honor.”

“…….”

Ro nodded stiffly, like someone swallowing a stone. Of course, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable. If the truth—that she had been kidnapped by pirates while disguised as a woman—spread, her reputation would be ruined. It was better to get ahead of the rumors and package the story favorably. At least then, no one would throw stones at her to her face.

“Fine, I understand. But why must I suddenly wear a dress?”

“Because His Majesty has issued an order for you to proceed directly to the Imperial Palace upon arrival in Cyclid.”

“What’s this now…?”

“A grand victory celebration is to be held. Apparently, invitations have already been sent to most of the nobility.”

Ah, that was it. This was what Calypso had meant by “going to the palace.” Now everything made sense. Calypso had spoken as if predicting a fixed future, but in truth, that fate might have been avoided—except for this one path. But a victory banquet? While an invitation from the Crown Princess could be politely declined due to illness, it would be unthinkable for the central figure of the celebration to miss the Emperor’s summons.

“The dress I sent should fit you fairly well, as your height is similar to that of a noble lady. Wear it for now, and once we reach the capital, we’ll have new ones tailored.”

At this point, resistance was futile. She knew that the moment she stepped off the ship, portrait artists would swarm her, drawing every imaginable image to be splashed across the front pages of newspapers. Seeing Ro reluctantly nod, the Imperial Princess softened her expression and gave the order.

“Very well. Then go and change your clothes.”

* * *

A massive crowd gathered at Cyclid’s harbor upon hearing the news that the navy had returned victorious and that the Viscountess Montrosa had arrived. Ro had braced herself somewhat for this since learning of her newfound fame, but even so, she was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. To hide her anxiety, she gripped the railing tightly with both hands.

The cheers of the citizens grew louder and clearer as the ship approached Cyclid. Half were praises for Cardier and the Imperial Princess, while the other half chanted only one name—Lea’s. The public, already fond of her before she left, now seemed fully ready to hail her as a true hero. Ro herself, however, was anything but prepared.

“Viscountess!”

“Long live the Imperial Princess!”

“Admiral Montrosa!”

“Be happy!”

Countless well-wishes, filled with fervent emotion, rained down at their feet. When Ro bent down and picked up the simplest bouquet among those showered upon her, a thunderous roar erupted. While public favor would be crucial for facing what lay ahead, such attention clashed deeply with her nature. It felt awkward. Ro quickly climbed into the carriage prepared by the Imperial Princess, as if fleeing. The Princess, who had been waving out the window, caught sight of Ro’s stunned expression and burst into quiet laughter.

“It’ll take over ten days to reach the Imperial Capital. Even riding the fastest horse along the main road, it would take five days to reach the capital, but if we stop in cities along the way, welcoming crowds like this will gather every single day.”

Ro half-listened to the Princess as she glanced outside. She had been so dazed that she’d gotten into the carriage without thinking, and in the process, had been separated from Cardier.

“What about my husband? Won’t he come with us?”

“He must first report to the naval headquarters according to protocol. He’ll be delayed for several days.”

“Then perhaps I should wait and go up together with him.”

The Princess shook her head, looking troubled.

“The court physician advised that you should be brought to the Imperial Palace as soon as possible.”

“…….”

“And besides, time is tight for preparing your dress for the celebration. The Duke and Duchess of Valdemore are also waiting for you.”

With the Duchess of Valdemore now mentioned, Ro had no clear excuse to refuse. The Princess softened her expression and handed her a newspaper. Ro took it with a puzzled look, but as soon as she unfolded it, she understood. The front page was half-filled with an illustration: a short-haired woman, her chest tightly bound with bandages, riding atop a fearsome-looking man and slashing his throat. The following weekly magazines were packed with similar images.

“All of this…?”

“I told you,”

the Princess said, laughing at Ro’s reaction.

“You are now the hero of Portmuth.”

“…….”

“The Emperor wishes to see you as soon as possible.”

* * *

The journey toward the capital, Madcel, proceeded as slowly as the Princess had warned—like a snail crawling forward. Every other day, they were engulfed by enormous welcoming crowds, and the frequency only increased as they drew closer to the capital. The one fortunate thing was that, from the midpoint of the journey onward, Ro was given a carriage entirely to herself—thanks to the Princess noticing her discomfort.

As they neared the capital, Ro began suffering from nightmares without warning. Dark tales of gods and witches had quietly seeped into her weakened body and mind, clouding her thoughts. Because of this, despite eating well and receiving medical care, her recovery progressed slowly.

Only after a full ten days did their procession finally enter the capital city of Madcel. Ro leaned her forehead against the window, gazing outside.

A landscape she had seen before, somewhere in the past, unfolded beyond the glass.