"By the way, who is this fellow making such a scene? Daniela?"
"Ah, the one with the broken arm is Riroy — the eldest son of a count's family from the South."
"Some nobody dared lay his hand on your shoulder?"
"I suppose that's how it is."
The first to react was, ironically, Leo — the very one who had broken Riroy's arm. Yet Leo's reaction felt less like outrage and more like he had simply found one more person worthy of his absolute devotion. In short, it reeked of excessive loyalty.
"H-how dare he. W-will you not punish that wretch properly?"
"Leo. I will show that man mercy."
Leo looked even angrier than Theodor. Riroy quietly sat back down. With Leo stepping forward, he couldn't get a word in. From here on, Leo — you're in charge of that one. That's probably for the best.
"Whether rules matter more, or common sense matters more — I truly cannot say."
"There are things one ought to do in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince, and—"
"If any man endures such an insult in silence, he is no man at all."
A crackling tension filled the air. This was a woman's battle of wills. The victorious heroine was pushing back against the defeated heroine. It almost seemed reversed. The victorious heroine was supposed to be on the other side.
"Ha — does the North send women to fight its battles?"
"Men may rule the world, but women rule men. Your Highness the Crown Prince, it is a well-known saying in the North. Do keep it in mind."
"Who do you think you are, lecturing me!"
"In truth, it was Your Highness's own lack of decorum that allowed this situation to escalate."
Of course, I had reacted rather sharply myself — but in moments like these, quietly shifting the blame is the wiser move. The Crown Prince's face was growing steadily redder.
"To lay hands so carelessly upon the body of the Grand Duchess of the North — had this occurred in the North, that man's head would already have left his shoulders."
"So that's your excuse, is it."
"However, if Your Highness felt that I was discourteous, I offer my apology."
Not a single person in the room took that for an apology. Riroy had long since retreated into silent observation. Theodor moved behind Daniela where she sat and rested a hand on the back of her chair.
"Allow me to demonstrate it in deed. As recompense for the offense, I shall send a shipment of the North's mastones."
"Those worthless rocks—"
"Oh? I had heard the South was struggling greatly from a lack of mastones. Apparently not. Then I shall compensate in gold coin."
"A few measly coins—"
"Then may I take that to mean Your Highness declines to accept the apology? Crown Prince?"
Kartina had by now taken hold of the Crown Prince's shoulder. It seemed like enough to bring the matter to a close. But the madness was not yet finished. Theodor had thought it was time to wrap things up — and yet.
"The North's reckoning will fall on Riroy alone, won't it, Theo?"
"Indeed. How touching that His Highness holds his friend in such esteem."
"What do you intend to do, Theo?"
"He will never set foot anywhere near the North again, and he will never know the North's favor for as long as he lives."
"And?"
"From time to time, a blade may find its way to him. Even if I don't will it, the people of the North will come calling — insisting on teaching him proper manners."
Theodor glanced sidelong at Leo. The sound of Leo's teeth grinding was audible. Daniela looked at Riroy and let out a quiet, mocking laugh. It was unmistakably a sneer.
"A blade, Theo? What a frightening thing to say."
"It's all right. Daniela, it is the heart of a Northerner who wishes to protect you. One day it will arrive at Winter Castle — that man's head. And then—"
They would say something like this: *Your Grace, I prove my loyalty thus. Though this man's head is too meager a token to demonstrate my devotion, I shall serve you for the rest of my days!*
"—saying something like that."
"Is that how it would go?"
"You know it yourself, Daniela. The people of the North are always ready to die for their Grand Duke."
"That's true."
"And you as well, Daniela. The people of the North are always ready to die for you."
Theodor turned his gaze to Leo. Leo had already caught the current of their exchange and was riding it perfectly — nodding along, the very embodiment of excessive devotion. Same as ever. The hallmark of a Northerner.
"Isn't that right, Leo?"
"M-my life belongs, always, to His Grace the Grand Duke and... to Her Grace, the Grand Duchess."
"So he says."
Daniela gave Leo a light nod of acknowledgment. Leo abruptly moved to drop to one knee, then caught himself and hastily resumed his stance. His loyalty felt almost genuine. He would sort things out with Leo a little later — but first, there was something else to attend to.
"In any case, the North will express its apology in its own way. Are we understood?"
The Crown Prince shot them a sour look. But they understood well enough. What was done was done, and continuing the argument would only send them in circles.
"The apology of some uncouth country bumpkins—"
"We will accept the Grand Duke's apology."
It was Kartina who cut him off. The Crown Prince said nothing. Daniela laughed again, that quiet, mocking sound — and it was enough to fan the dying embers of the dispute back to life. Though the Crown Prince had started it, to be sure.
"What's so amusing? Hmm?"
"Your Highness. You ought to speak. Did I not once tell you that a Crown Prince must conduct himself with dignity?"
"Ha! Was that when you were my former — my betrothed?"
The Crown Prince let out a derisive snort. Strictly speaking, the situation bordered on absurdity. His former fiancée had become the wife of the Grand Duke of the North. Whatever the noble world might make of it, the scene unfolding before them was pure farce. Utterly ridiculous.
"Since when did you have any connection to the North, Daniela? The moment my engagement to you was broken, you attached yourself to the North without a moment's hesitation."
"I found true love. I am grateful to His Highness the Crown Prince and to Kartina, in fact."
Daniela rose from her seat and offered a graceful bow. The Crown Prince began to smirk.
"True love. Well, I suppose if I think about living with a woman of such questionable character as yourself, it would be a stain on the Imperial family's dignity."
"Quite so, Your Highness. For a woman, a life spent beside a foolish man is a miserable one."
"What did you say?"
"Kartina. Why are you looking at me like that?"
Kartina clicked her tongue. It was Kartina herself who had made the Crown Prince her prize. And was she not the victorious heroine — the one who had won him? A life of splendor and the power of the Crown Princess's seat were hers for the taking. Of course—
"With a family of such modest standing, surely there has been no shortage of talk within the Imperial household?"
"Ah... ha ha ha..."
"No matter. My life is about to take a very different path from yours. Take good care of him. He may be the sort of man who abandons even you someday."
"You needn't worry on my behalf. He loves me far too dearly."
"Is that so? Standing there as you are."
Another quiet laugh. The battle of wills resumed. Kartina looked to the Crown Prince and Riroy, but neither of them showed the slightest inclination to rise. Who truly cherished his woman? Those two, at least, did not.
"A woman who is loved stands in the place of honor, wherever she may be."
"Love? Is that what you call being left behind like an ornament?"
"I mean that I will be the one standing at his back, supporting him."
"Men who leave things to women — how laughable."
"To walk beside him, and to give the man I love a sense of security — shouldn't I be at his back for that?"
Kartina moved to press her attack, but Daniela was more composed than anyone in the room. To think that a matter of position alone could fuel such a battle of wills. It made Theodor's knees go weak. Genuinely.
"In the North, we stand beside our men, walk with them, and speak of love at their side. A man must always cherish and treasure his woman. When hardship comes, you face it together; when you want to weep, you offer each other your arms. That is true love. I never understood it until now — but at last, I know what love is."
*Something I never found with the Crown Prince.* The final line was unspoken, but Daniela's eyes flashed as she said it. Was she looking for a fight? The Crown Prince shouted.
"You filthy wretch! Weren't you the one who clung to me, begging to become the Imperial consort!"
"Filthy wretch?"
"That's right. Clinging to one man, then the next."
Daniela raised a finger and pointed at Riroy, then Kartina, then the Crown Prince himself. The finger circled among the three of them before coming to rest on Kartina, who stood behind him.
"Who is the filthy one here?"
"You shameless—!"
Theodor covered Daniela's ears with his hands. The Crown Prince was hurling abuse, and Leo's face was flushing a deep, furious red. Pure rage. Theodor himself was no less irritated. But the thought of Daniela being touched by that naked malice — he didn't care for it. And the curses of a pathetic man only sounded pathetic.
"Daniela, may I say a word as well?"
"There's no need for you to get involved, Theo..."
"Even so. Staying silent after hearing something like that — it doesn't sit right. Are you all right?"
"Whenever you're ready, Theo."
Theodor approached the seats where the Crown Prince and Riroy were sitting. Leo fell in behind him, and together they looked down at the two men.
"You will answer for what you just said. Your Highness."
"Don't you dare look down at me!"
Theodor pressed down hard on the Crown Prince's shoulder. At first the Crown Prince thrashed and strained against it, but as the pain steadily intensified, he fell silent. He had been crying out about treason, about daring to lay hands on his person — but as the pain grew fiercer, all that remained were screams.
"To spew such words so carelessly. It is we who are owed an apology."
"Ugh — AAAGH!"
"I trust you will not forget this pain. Are we understood?"
The Crown Prince's screaming ceased. Theodor helped Daniela to her feet. No one found any words to add to their retreating backs. It felt, for the first time, like landing a clean blow on the victorious heroine.
Daniela's expression, too, was filled with unmistakable satisfaction.