[ West District ]
Aries rubbed a child's hand gently, keeping the child's little hands in between hers. She blew a breath on them, smiling at the child, whom she covered with a scarf.
"Do you still feel cold?" asked Aries to the child sitting on the bench in the plaza.
The child shook her head and grinned back. "My lady's hands are warm. I feel warm now."
"That's good then. Finish your soup before it runs cold. I'll get you a pair of gloves." Aries ruffled the child's hair and flashed the elderly and some women, who were sitting beside the child, a smile. They smiled warmly back at her, hearing them tell her to rest.
Aries had been busy helping everyone and warming them up, making sure every single one of them was being given equal service and attention. She would converse with the elderly from time to time and then play with the children in between.
Some townsfolk — men and women — were able to help the knights and the ladies. Because of their united efforts, everyone maintained warmth. The people had also heard the nobleman, who was in charge of the district, get scolded by the chief knight all because they didn't start giving relief until Aries and her entourage came.
The people weren't particularly happy for the nobleman, nor did they pity him. They were just glad that the Lady of the House Vandran, and also a candidate for the position of the empress, made time to see everyone. Normally, the people in charge would only prepare for the cold season food reliefs, but since the west district was now under Aries's jurisdiction, they didn't have to worry about warm clothes.
The lady of the House Vandran worried not only about her people's stomachs but also considered how to keep everyone warm and able to work for a living in the winter.
"My lady." Aries turned her attention to her side when Roman's voice caressed her ears. "Can I have a word?"
Aries furrowed her brows, noticing the solemness in his eyes, but didn't hurry. She faced the ladies — Suzanne, Sybil, and Veronika — who were resting after helping her.
"You should warm yourself up," Aries said, flashing them a warm smile.
"Do not worry about us, my lady," Suzanne replied with the same kind smile, while Sybil approached Aries and held her hands.
"My lady." Sybil looked up at Aries worriedly. "Everyone is now warm, but your hands are freezing."
Aries chuckled, holding Sybil's hands, which were wearing gloves. "I feel very warm. Do not worry, I have prepared gloves for myself."
"Please wear them. I'm certain everyone will be worried if you fell ill," Veronika chimed in, noticing that Aries, although candidly enjoyed helping others, always forgets to take care of herself. It was worrying at times.
"Yes…" Aries let out a shallow breath, as the three of them were becoming more and more like her guards. "Anyway, I'll have a word with the captain. Please keep yourself warm."
"Yes, my lady. Do not worry about us."
With that being said, Aries cast Roman a look. She nodded at him, following him to the corner where there were crates of extra blankets to be stored in the storage.
"My lady."
Her brows knitted as her slight smile faded, seeing the sudden change in Roman's countenance.
"Captain, your face tells me what you are about to say is terrible news," she expressed with a soft voice. "What is it?"
Roman gulped, preparing his heart to break the news to her. "A word came from the imperial palace. You are being ordered to return at once."
"So suddenly?" Aries tilted her head to the side. "His Majesty knew about my arrangements today."
"Yes, but you need to return to the empire at once."
"Why? Did something happen?" Aries asked, and when Roman lowered his eyes, she cut the gap between them. "Rome, what happened that I am being summoned back to the imperial palace?"
Roman couldn't hide the reluctance in his eyes. "Morro had returned."
"Morro? The raven?"
"Yes — I mean, no. Morro is someone who is a part of the marquess's group. He was fatally injured, and he was still unconscious. Therefore, they still hadn't known a lot of details yet."
"What about my brother?" she inquired, her heart thudding. "Was my brother alright?"
"The Marquess… hadn't returned yet. His Majesty had already sent reinforcement to help the Marquess. That's all we know for now, my lady."
Aries felt her knees turn soft as tofu, clinging to the stacked crates to keep herself from falling. Roman also held her elbows when she stumbled back. The abrupt noises they made caught the attention of the people nearby, furrowing their brows, seeing that Aries was distraught.
"My lady, are you alright?" Veronika rushed to them, and her eyes popped open upon catching Aries's ashen complexion. "My lady, what happened?"
Aries was clutching Roman's arms while shaking her head mildly. She didn't purposely ignore Veronika as she looked up at Roman, gripping his sleeve even tighter.
"Take me… back," came out a shaking voice. "I need to go with them."
Roman's jaw tightened as Aries's eyes shook, tears coating her eyes that gave it a desperate luster. He cast Veronika a look, and despite not saying anything, Veronika seemed to have understood Aries had to leave.
"Do not worry about anything," Veronika reassured. "We'll stay for Lady Daniella. Please take care of her."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
With that being said, Roman assisted Aries to the carriage. The latter couldn't bid everyone a proper farewell, but Roman briefed the knights to look after the princesses, while the princesses told the people Aries had to leave because of an emergency.
Aries insisted on going by Roman's horse to return to the palace quickly. Roman agreed with her after her prolonged insistence, going by his steed, and galloped their way back to the palace. No matter how fast they were, the anxiety in her heart significantly increased with the thought of Dexter's well-being.
'He is my family…' she thought, staring sharply ahead. 'Please… do not take another family of mine. Keep him safe.'
*****
Meanwhile, within the forest clearing in the thick forest in another land…
Dexter was hanging his head low. Blood covered the side of his head, holding onto his sword that was impaled on the ground. He breathed out a jagged breath, snapping his exhausted eyes up, only to see multiple figures surrounding him.
'Dani…' he thought, seeing that the people who were surrounding him charged toward him with their weapons all at once. "... I'm… sorry."
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