Justification. It can kill a man, and it can save one. Especially when facing a particular problem, the presence or absence of justification can determine someone's choices entirely.
Daniela visited the room she had once occupied, for the first time in a long while. None of the Barth household servants followed her. The room was exactly as she remembered. Neatly tidied, but otherwise unchanged.
Daniela sank into the bed. She had sworn to herself she would never return to it.
Marrying someone she had never chosen for herself — that, she could bear. But what gnawed at her without end was something else entirely.
Helplessness. It wasn't a matter of power. The man she was to marry had fallen in love with someone else and cast her aside, and yet —
She had been unable to do anything. To say she had done nothing would be a lie.
She had at least made Kartina's life miserable, after all.
It wasn't that she hated her. She simply couldn't stand her. Every time she looked at Kartina, she felt powerless. Now that she had stepped off the path laid out for her, Daniela was afraid.
That was all. She had simply wanted to die.
"I heard there's a banquet this evening. Is that why you've come?"
"Oh — it's been a while. Nanny."
The nanny who had watched over Daniela all these years bowed her head in greeting. Though there was no ring on her hand, she regarded Daniela as one of House Barth's own.
As Daniela sat on the edge of the bed, the nanny gestured toward something behind her. A maid stepped forward carrying a dress.
A white dress. Not a single brooch. Nothing extravagant about it. But it was a gown fit to grace one corner of a banquet hall.
"Please, don't cry like that."
"Nanny. I'm sorry. I truly — I didn't want to come back."
"It's all right. Let us get you ready. The banquet will begin soon."
The nanny and the maids began to dress her. They cinched Daniela's waist, and the white dress slowly settled into place.
Tears fell. Daniela stood with her arms outstretched, weeping in silence. The maids were the same. The nanny gave no outward sign, but surely she was weeping inside. Power is cruel. Especially in the Empire.
"You're ready. Please take special care with the blue topaz."
"Thank you. Nanny. I'll repay you, I swear I will — I'll repay —"
"Rather than repayment —"
The nanny and the maids gently took Daniela's hands. The banquet was about to begin; she could leave no trace of tears. The nanny dabbed lightly around her eyes with the sleeve of her dress. The tears were absorbed into the fabric and vanished.
"You must live with strength. Do you understand?"
Daniela could not answer. She only nodded.
The banquet hall was magnificent. Chandeliers blazed with light. Music filled every corner, and laughter rang throughout. But Daniela stood alone in the middle of it all. No one spoke to her, and even those who caught her eye offered not so much as a passing greeting.
A party for the Imperial family — and, by some irony, the former fiancée was present.
"His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince arrives!"
At the servant's loud announcement, the Crown Prince entered slowly, dressed in a white uniform. Beside him, Kartina rested her hand lightly on his arm, her own gown matched to his in white. The music swelled, and the Crown Prince smiled brightly. Some applauded; others trembled with envy.
"Well, well. Who do we have here?"
A man who murmured quietly from behind, beneath the Crown Prince's greeting. A man with sun-darkened skin. His father commanded a great fleet at the far southern reaches — the man known as the "Southern Admiral."
A hand slid casually over Daniela's shoulder.
"It's been a while, hasn't it? Daniela?"
"…It has. Riroy."
"Shameless. What brings you here, of all places?"
The Crown Prince began to hold forth at length. Kartina smiled brightly beside him. Daniela's expression soured at the sight, yet the arm draped over her shoulder did not lift. The sound of teeth grinding.
"Irritating. If he weren't the Crown Prince, Kartina would be at my side. Wouldn't she?"
"…"
"A woman who couldn't even hold onto her own man — it feels like he stole Kartina from me. Disgusting. Doesn't it?"
When the Crown Prince raised his glass, the room raised theirs. A toast! A toast to His Imperial Highness! Riroy drained his glass in one swallow. As the Crown Prince and Kartina drew near, Daniela wanted to flee.
But Riroy's arm was iron. Pressing down, holding her in place — as if to say: stay here and watch this.
"What is Daniela doing here?"
"No idea. Looks like she came because she missed you."
"Pathetic."
Kartina stifled a laugh at the Crown Prince's words. She thought she had hidden it, but Daniela heard it all the same. The Crown Prince glanced at Daniela and drank.
"A white dress, is it. Our colors clash. How terribly disagreeable!"
"Your Highness, please calm yourself."
Kartina chimed in from beside him. The Crown Prince's gaze turned to her, and in his eyes was something deeply, wholly fixed on her.
"Why does this woman keep standing here? Move away. Your presence is an intrusion on my time with Kartina."
"Why so harsh? She was your fiancée once. Ah — how about leaving Kartina behind instead?"
"Insolent. Riroy."
"Ha. Is it acceptable to take the woman I loved first? Your Imperial Highness."
Their eyes met. Riroy's arm bore down harder on Daniela's shoulder. She tried to pull free several times, but each time Riroy only pressed her down more firmly.
"Please, stop — because of me —"
"No! Kartina."
It was always like this. Left aside, stood there as though she were nothing. And in the end, every gaze that returned to her was ice-cold. The tears Daniela had been holding back fell — one drop, then another.
"Are you crying?"
"Revolting to look at."
Those few words carved into her again. She could do nothing. She wanted to run, but her legs would not obey.
"The North — ah, yes!"
The doors opened.
Black clothing. A head taller than anyone else in the room. The only person in this banquet hall with black hair. Colorless attire amid the splendor of finery. Not a single ornament. As the figure walked slowly forward, Daniela searched his eyes — and found none of the cold light she had seen there just yesterday.
"What is the meaning of this? Right now?"
A head taller than the Crown Prince. Riroy and the Crown Prince both turned to look at the man drawing near. He gazed steadily at the arm Riroy had draped over Daniela.
"Shall I help?"
The man asked. Daniela gave a small nod. Tears fell in drops from her blue eyes. Riroy had not yet lowered his arm. A silence deeper than the one that had greeted the Crown Prince's entrance filled the banquet hall entirely.
"Leo,"
"Sp — speak your command."
"That man's arm displeases me greatly."
Leo drew his sword. The Crown Prince's personal guards leveled their blades at Leo. It was over in an instant. Without even using his sword, Leo felled every guard with his bare fists. With each punch he threw, armored soldiers in helmets crashed to the floor.
Denting the steel of their helmets, Leo stepped in front of Riroy.
"Wh — where shall I c — cut, my lord?"
"Can you not see for yourself?"
He seized the arm that had been pressing down on Daniela and wrenched it upward toward the ceiling. Riroy's arm twisted. A scream rang out. The man's expression did not change in the slightest. Neither did the man holding the sword. Leo pressed the blade against the crook of Riroy's elbow.
"It hurts — it hurts! It hurts!"
Riroy's screams grew louder. As Daniela pulled free of him, she rushed toward the man. Tears soaked into her dress, but she paid it no mind.
"P — please, stop. Grand Duke."
"Leo, you're taking too long."
"Grand Duke, Grand Duke. Please —"
Leo raised his sword high toward the ceiling. One downward stroke, and Riroy's arm would be cleanly severed. But what stopped Leo in the end was a single word from the Grand Duke.
"Enough. Leo."
"Yes — yes, my lord."
He released the arm and sheathed his sword. Riroy began to slink away. Leo returned to his place behind the man. The man drew Daniela gently into his arms. It felt as though her tears were soaking into his chest.
"This — this is outrageous."
The Crown Prince stepped backward. The groans of Riroy and the fallen guards filled the air; the nobles simply stood and watched. If anyone moved to approach, Leo's eyes flashed from where he stood behind the man.
"To think you are the Crown Prince."
The man spoke as though he already knew this Crown Prince he had never once met. Holding Daniela within his arms, he lowered his gaze. The Crown Prince gripped Kartina more tightly.
"H — how dare you — drawing a sword in my presence — this is treason!"
"Treason, Your Highness? The North has never once defied its loyalty. I merely sought to give that man the punishment he deserved for his rudeness."
"That man is my friend, Riroy —"
"That is beside the point, Your Highness. No one may treat a Wintergard that way in my presence."
The Crown Prince continued to retreat, one step at a time. The man did not move, yet to the Crown Prince it felt as though he were drawing closer with every step.
"Drawing a sword! Injuring these guards — is that not a threat against my person?"
Kartina's expression grew steadily rigid. She gnawed at the nail of her left hand. The other nobles were still frozen in place.
"Your Highness, and Grand Duke —"
"Be silent."
The man silenced Kartina with a single word. Daniela still could not pull herself free from his arms. She could hear nothing. Or rather — only a ringing in her ears, circling endlessly.
"This is not a place for the likes of you. Girl of House de Bosch."
"H — how dare you speak of my fiancée in such a —"
"Your Highness. Had the North truly intended to threaten you, it would not be your guards lying on the floor. It would be your head."
"What did you say!"
The head of House Barth came stumbling into the banquet hall. He was met with a most bewildering scene.