Chapter 10
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"I heard your trip to Selvre was fruitful."
A gravelly voice rang through the conference room. Listan's gaze fell on a man with red hair and a red beard.
The man's white skin didn't match his voice, but his massive frame gave off a murderous aura. The man with the fiery hair and the heavy personality was Carso Hawkman.
He was a mercenary, a representative of a civic revolutionary organization, the Arcana, a group of royalty, nobility, and commoners, a community of all who loved Reuben.
Carso Hawkman's hometown was a small town in the north-central provinces, not far from the capital, and further up the mountain range lay a small country rich in natural resources. The Duchy of Aether had been coveted since before the late Emperor's death.
It was a war of conquest that Dvor had been eager to pursue, but his stubborn military strategy had failed.
Most of his allies were killed in the campaign, and Carso Hawkman's father, whose son had been conscripted while serving as a mercenary in another country, was one of the unfortunate casualties.
This was not long after Dvor Cliffrid had inherited the throne. It was a fitting defeat for the bloodthirsty monarch.
The imperial family, the nobility, and the people who owned the country, centered around Listan Cliffrid. The current revolution was a union of many different groups.
"I wonder how much interest the Emperor will take in this. It would have to be someone who could shake him to his core."
A woman of rare appearance. To the outside world, many wondered about Amber Kaida, Listan Cliffrid's fiancée.
The thick corners of his mouth twitched upward, conveying a hint of sarcasm.
Carso had always had a repugnance for the pompous nobility and royalty.
It had always been his habit to act perverse in the presence of those in power, but since meeting Listan, that behavior had been curtailed.
'That's what you call killing a personality.’
Count Berheim shook his head, knowing Carso’s temper from firsthand experience.
Despite working together, there was a deep divide and discomfort with the old hierarchy. This would remain a problem even after the revolution's successful conclusion.
"She arrived yesterday, and as you well know, we ask that you all keep quiet until we are fully prepared. We don't know when this opportunity will come again. I trust you will all pay close attention."
"We don't know when something so rare will come along again, so of course we have to move with caution and assume that there are no second chances."
"There is another set time, a year from now, but that will only prolong the suffering of the powerless people. We must succeed this time no matter what."
Count Berheim and the dark-haired Viscount Fermer chimed in at Listan's request.
The eight men around the round table nodded in agreement. They were united in one cause.
The revolution aims for peace among the people.
That goal had at its core the collapse of inequality based on class differences. For that reason, there was no discrimination within the Arcana based on class, gender, or age.
As long as basic courtesies were observed between people, there were no major problems.
"If we don't succeed this time, armed conflict will be unavoidable, so we'll have to take our time and perfect perfection."
As if on cue, Listan looked to his left. Revolution was an inevitable option for the dwindling treasury and the people, who were suffering more and more.
Listan recalled the golden eyes.
He had never seen such eyes in his life, a rarity in the Reuben Empire, but his expression remained cold and hard. It was like a dense glacier that refused to crack.
The fate of the Amber Kaida he had bestowed upon her would be as unchangeable as the unmeltable glacier.
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Amber Kaida's seasons passed within the walls of Bliss Manor.
Her days were tightly packed, stretching from early morning to late afternoon.
She learned and memorized the history of the Reuben Empire and the Noble Almanac. From posture and proper dining etiquette to elegant conversation and social dancing to show off at the various balls.
Classes began immediately after breakfast and ended before dinner. The short breaks in between classes were sweet. And just like that, another day passed.
Tonight's dinner was with Mrs. Zendle. She learned and practiced the order of holding her utensils and chewing and swallowing gracefully. Even mealtime was a learning experience.
It was difficult for her to savor the food as she ate and recalled her past, but she was grateful that she was eating something at all.
Some days, her father would come by and take her hard-earned money, even the few pennies she had saved.
No matter how tightly she hid it, he always managed to find it. After he left, skipping meals became the order of the day.
Nothing left to eat after she had taken care of her mother and sister with the leftovers.
Mrs. Zendle praised Amber.
"Well done.”
"You're even better than I expected."
"Just a little slower here. Yes, just like that. Very good, young lady."
Dylan Eckbon was always angry and violent. Tired and pain were most of the words that came out of Linda Eckbon's mouth.
It was difficult to elicit a good response from Lena, who had lost her voice and her motivation.
A pleasant conversation or a compliment from Amber’s family was not possible, and it wasn't easy despite her efforts. Her willpower was no surprise.
But these people were different. Mrs. Zendle, Meti, and Aiden always had a smile on their faces. The words that came out of their mouths were just as good as their bright smiles.
"Miss. You are so beautiful. You are the loveliest, most beautiful person I have ever seen."
Meti was a lovely person, too. If she thought she was beautiful, then she must be beautiful, Amber thought.
"You're doing great. I'm fine, so relax."
Aiden, despite his stiff first impression, was a gentle, polite man.
So were most of the people who passed her in the mansion. There was no shadow of violence or poverty in their cheerful faces.
Despite what she saw as a lack of substance, Mrs. Zendle always guided her with kindness and assurance.
Such a way of speaking was very foreign to Amber. She had never heard them from her father or her mother.
Even though it was an extension of her education, she felt uncomfortable eating alone with Mrs. Zendle. She opened up, and Mrs. Zendle was kind enough to invite Meti and Aiden to join them.
Their presence added to the relaxed and lively atmosphere. It was warm and sunny, just like the time she'd spent with Mr. Finley's family.
Amber smiled. The smile that spread across her face came when she least expected it. They were spontaneous laughs, just because she was happy and joyful.
It was the kind of laugh that came without much thought or consideration, and it was the kind of laugh she'd come to recognize more often since she'd moved here.
*****
After a hectic day of work, Amber took a bath and relaxed in her room. She may be resting, but she was studying, and her mind was full of what she'd learned today.
She had a stack of books on the table in one corner of her room, and notes and books were spread out on her dressing table.
She couldn't escape the pressure to do well. She couldn't put the books down and often stayed up late at night reviewing what she had learned that day.
She would often go through the steps of the day's dance by herself in her room until she fell asleep exhausted.
She had never been exposed to dance in her life. She'd never had the luxury of listening to refined music, let alone losing herself in its rhythms.
Things like history and table manners were memorized. She would read and read and read, and did over and over again, until she had seen it so many times that it became second nature. But not so with dance.
This was the first time Amber realized how stiff she was. Her body was like a piece of wood. Just remembering the sequence of foot movements was overwhelming.
With her body and head playing separately, it was no wonder she couldn't keep up with the beat.
For her, dancing was about never doing what she wanted to do. Her teacher, Mrs. Zendle, was exhausted, and Meti, who started out strong, quickly gave up.
Even Aiden, who prided himself on his patience and persistence, was beginning to struggle. She had no dancing skills, but she was quick on her feet.
Even if she was smaller than Aiden, she couldn't help but stepped on his feet. Amber stomped on him countless times, and even the sturdy Aiden was getting tired.
"I'm fine. I'm fine, Miss. So make yourself comfortable. You can stomp all you want.”
He was smiling as he said it, but he couldn't hide the tiredness in his voice.
As Amber reviewed the steps she'd learned today, she frowned in frustration.
How could she be so bad at this?
Her feet tangled and she tripped. Her body was stiff. Grace was nowhere to be found, even after watching countless times. She couldn't believe her body was so unresponsive.
Exhausted, Amber flopped down on the bed.
"Hah...."
Her shoulders sagged with a heavy sigh. She felt so sorry for Aiden. It was like tormenting an innocent person.
She stared at her feet for a long time. How little paws could be so unwilling to listen to their owners. Amber stomped her foot on the floor in exasperation and looked up.
Something that sounded like the wind and the whinny of a horse caught her ear. Like a magnet, she headed for the balcony.
She opened the window and a cold breeze hit the tip of her nose. She didn't stop walking, even though she was still in her nightgown, because she heard human voices.
She slipped out and peered under the railing. There were people on the mansion's porch.
The coachman and Aiden. And that man....
***
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