Necromancer's Descent

92 - Increasing Tension

Odelgarde's Point of View and Story

Of course I knew that an incident such as what had happened wouldn't be over just like that. With how public it had been, it couldn't be considered just a lover's spat. It was a political incident, and the pride of Anneliese's family, the royal family, and the church was at stake.

Despite being young, foolish and hotblooded, they could in some way be considered representatives... and property and investments.

The next day, I was visiting Anneliese to check up on her because of this concern. Both Karin and Cornelius were away from the capital for months at a time, so I was... concerned if she'd do something foolish. Though, when I got there, it seemed as if Anneliese was still in shock. She'd already sent a maid to notify the school that she would not be in attendance that day.

To my surprise though, Prince Cornelius came to visit Anneliese.

I remember how the pale morning sun seemed eeriely dull as they sat on the balcony in Anneliese's room. How both their expressions were tight as tea was served for them without a word, and I stood guard per orders of Cornelius. As a 'witness' that they had discussed the matters of the day before.

"I apologize for yesterday, Anneliese. It is my fault, for taking so long, and for hesitating to have this talk with you. Karin was more insecure about the situation, and more spiteful of you than I expected," Cornelius spoke with a calmness that didn't make the apology sound terribly sincere.

"She certainly did not hide her hostity, though undeserved." Is all Anneliese responded in return, with calm, but lingering bitterness.

"Certainly... although, unfortunately, her concern didn't come out clearly. Her issue is not that there are people working outside the battlefield. I spent the rest of yesterday going around with Karin, and clearing that issue up with the other students."

Anneliese, upon hearing that, drew her lips into a line.

"How terribly kind of you towards her for her mistake. So, are you here to apologize for her to me too?" Anneliese speaks bitterly, but Cornelius just stares quietly at his tea before taking a sip. Letting the silence linger for a bit too long.

"No. I told Karin how you're considered a genius of magic. Her issue is why such a genius is in the capital rather than at the front line, where such powerful magic could be used to turn the tide... and I agree. You're not just some defenseless person, as many others in the capital. I don't understand how you're not considered one of Karin's heroes. It's a waste."

I mentioned this before, but Anneliese had been made to study magic related to the social scene. So as you might expect, Anneliese was dumbfounded.

"Your highness, you moreso than anyone know why I was not taught offensive magic. If both the future king and queen went to the battlefield, then the country would risk losing everything. You also know how much pressure there was to have our marriage before you went to war, so the country wouldn't be without an heir. That's the reason I wasn't taught offensive magic patterns."

Cornelius had been rather insistent about delaying the wedding, and before Karin came, Anneliese had hesitantly supported him because they both felt that they were too young.

"You could have learned it when they weren't looking," was all Cornelius responded to her words.

"I did not have the choice," Anneliese responded sharply.

"You always had a choice. Like Karin, and Karin chose us, she chose the battlefield for us, unlike you." Cornelius' quiet words hung quietly in the air for several moments, as I remembered his glance of disgust for Anneliese yesterday.