206: Triumph over the sinking ship

Triumph over the sinking ship

By the time the newborn sun peeked from behind the horizon, Adela stood at the edge of the pier, flanked by every Emorian Captain in the navy of the Archduchy. The distinguished knights and Commanders of the Archduke's army, however, were notably absent from this momentous occasion. Their absence was a strategic decision to avoid escalating tensions with Varinthia, as attending the event could potentially strain delicate diplomatic relations between the two kingdoms.2

Feeling Aldric's bracelet around her wrist, Adela stared at the metallic embodiment of her recent nightmares, floating in the gentle waves before her. A stoic expression lingered on her face as she observed the pride of Varinthia's final moments.

"It's payback time," she whispered, resolute burning in her green eyes.

Dressed in her riding attire, Adela lifted her gaze and locked eyes with Bastian who was wearing Kolhisian civilian clothing. He regarded her with curiosity, having explained the necessary steps for using the bracelet to sink the ship. She planned to adhere to his instructions meticulously, as the task had been entrusted to Bastian von Conradie by Aldric himself.

Adela raised her hand, palm facing downwards, as if holding an invisible scepter. She closed her eyes, focusing her thoughts, and whispered words that resonated with the magic within her—an unfortunate connection she shared with the warlock. The air around her seemed to react, filling and crackling with energy as the bracelet responded to her command.

"Hell," Bastian cursed under his breath. "You truly are as enchanted as he is," he marveled.

Indeed, it was true. Aldric had entrusted the knowledge to Bastian because the latter couldn't use it for malicious purposes even if he possessed the metallic bracelet. Only individuals with magic flowing in their veins could harness the power contained within the Varinthian metal.

Unperturbed by the comparison, Adela's gaze remained fixed on the distant ship, her mind filled with uncertainty about whether her command would reach its intended target. All of a sudden, the metal shuddered as if roused from a deep slumber, eliciting astonished gazes from the Emorian navy surrounding her.

"Glory to Emoria!"

"Glory to Lady Adelaide de Lanark!"

Excited shouts filled the air, echoing the newfound sense of empowerment and relief among those witnessing the scene, for they have secretly harbored a deep-seated fear towards the menacing metallic monster.

A mischievous grin stretched across her face. "Be careful what you wish for, Aldric." 

Gradually, the ship rose from the water's surface in defiance of the grasp of gravity. It hovered in mid-air and awaited its mistress's command.

Amidst the masculine cheers and jubilation, Adela's voice rang out, cutting through the uproar with one simple, feminine order.

"Sink."

The ship responded to her order, initiating a deliberate descent. Its metallic hull sliced through the water's surface, generating rippling waves that drowned one of Adela's most terrible memories from the captain's room. Her cold green eyes tracked the ship as it disappeared beneath the water, and she watched without flinching as the vessel vanished into the depths, leaving only a trail of frothy bubbles in its wake.

Good riddance.

Adela lowered her hand with a detached expression. The power she had commanded was not stolen but earned through her own merit. If Aldric had doubted for a moment that she would accept his proposal of marriage, he should now realize his grave error.

Though she couldn't see their faces, she could sense the underlying emotions emanating from those behind her—respect, admiration, and undeniable fear.

"You are all dismissed now," she said, not looking any of them in the face.

Unlike the knights who often indulged in chest-thumping displays, the navy captains saluted Lady de Lanark with a stomp of their foot and pressed the edge of their hand to their forehead.

When Adela and Bastian were finally alone, she tilted her head and looked up at him, "It worked!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her elation.

Bastian's expression was devoid of excitement or a smile. Instead, he stood in his place, observing the woman beside him with one discerning eye. Only when she smiled innocently now did she resemble the kind-hearted woman he had once known before witnessing her transformation into the vengeful 'winter fairy,' as Aldric had constantly referred to her behind her back.

"...Of course it did," Bastian replied, his tone lacking enthusiasm. "I'm just surprised that you actually went through with sinking it."

Adela shrugged, a hint of defiance in her voice. "And I was surprised that Aldric sent you in his place."

Bastian let out a casual snort as he folded his arms across his chest, a gesture that painfully reminded Adela of her lover. "How would you feel if someone opened a hole beneath the Archduke's manor?"

"This is different," she retorted defensively.

He shook his head, his expression grave. "They're exactly the same. You've just submerged a part of Varinthia in Emorian waters, and the ship's Captain won't stand idly by... I can only imagine what he and his men will face after all of this."

Adela frowned, her curiosity getting the better of her. What exactly was Bastian's relationship with Aldric, anyway?

"...I have my reasons," she mumbled, searching his face for a trace of understanding.

"I'm sure you do!" Bastian laughed wholeheartedly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Whatever he did to deserve it, I don't think I want to know!"

Her expression softened, relieved that Bastian remained close to Aldric while unaware of the true nature lurking beneath his façade. But a part of her contemplated whether she should reveal the truth to Bastian after all. 

"...Do you genuinely like him?" she asked, her stare focused on the vast expanse of the sea.

Bastian smirked, a playful glint in his eyes. "Yeah! He's like a more relaxed version of my brother. It's always entertaining to be around him."

She couldn't argue with that even if she wanted to. Prior to the events in the captain's room, she too had enjoyed the lightness and laughter in Aldric's presence.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Bastian positioned himself between her and her view of the sea, blocking her line of sight.

"Why did you do it?" His voice took on a serious tone as he loomed over her. "Lying to my brother like this... Don't you realize how much he despises dishonesty?"

She bit her tongue, anything she might say could potentially exacerbate the issue at hand.

Bastian clicked his tongue in disapproval. "...I'm not accusing you of being a liar. I'm suggesting that you address this situation directly. Meet with Egon, explain everything... This kind of significant deception must hurt you the most."

With a dissatisfied expression, she lifted her chin and stared defiantly at him. "You may not have the complete picture, Bastian. And I don't appreciate being judged in this manner."

"I know enough, Adela. Aldric informed me that you rejected his proposal outright. Then, a few days later, my brother mentioned that you were considering another man's proposal. What more is there to know?... You need to resolve this situation," he urged.

She sighed. He did have the complete picture after all.

"I understand your loyalty to Egon as your brother. But he has another woman under his roof. He's likely with her right now..."

He furrowed his brow. "Yes, but Olga..."

"Bastian! I can no longer tolerate his neglect. I won't back down, and I sincerely hope you'll keep your knowledge to yourself."

He rubbed his stubbled chin and smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "After what you just did? Haven't you effectively put an end to all the rumors about any kind of engagement between you and Aldric of Varinthia?"

"Bastian..."

"Alright, alright," he raised both hands, surrendering. "I have one condition."

"...Let's hear it,"

"You'll come with me and see for yourself what the deal is with Olga," he proposed.

pqdm.com