Chapter 15: Farewells and Frontlines

(Note: From this chapter onward, Seraphina will be referred to as Seraphine.)

The corridors of the royal palace were eerily silent that evening. Polished marble floors reflected the golden hue of the setting sun streaming through stained glass windows. A chill lingered in the air, despite the summer warmth outside. As Seraphine stepped inside the palace gates, her usually firm expression was replaced with a melancholic one, her brows slightly furrowed and her gaze distant.

Clad in her silver knight's armor, now dulled with wear and streaked with dust from patrol, Seraphine walked slowly through the hallway. Her boots echoed softly against the stone floor with every step. Her deep chestnut hair, slightly tousled from the wind, clung to her forehead as if weighed down by thought. She looked burdened—haunted by something more than fatigue.

Once inside her room, a modest chamber with stone walls, a narrow bed, and a small window overlooking the western tower, she began to undo the straps of her chestplate. Her fingers trembled slightly.

Just then, a firm knock interrupted her.

"Lady Seraphine," a soldier's voice called from the other side of the door.

She hesitated a moment before answering, her tone guarded but calm. "Yes? What is it?"

"The Commander has ordered all knights to assemble in the training field. It's urgent."

A deep breath escaped her lips. Without saying another word, she fastened her armor back in place and exited the room.

Hovering near the ceiling, invisible to all but her, Han followed. His brow furrowed as he glanced at her—her expression was unreadable.

The training field was a wide open ground behind the barracks, surrounded by high stone walls and torches already lit along the perimeter as dusk approached. The ground was scarred from countless training sessions, and a few practice dummies still stood at the far end.

Nearly a dozen knights, men and women alike, stood in straight rows. Their armor clinked softly as they shuffled to attention. Han floated above them, observing silently.

At the front stood the Commander—a tall, imposing man in his early fifties named Commander Ardan Virellius. His hair was silvered at the temples, a thick scar ran down the right side of his face, and his commanding presence demanded obedience. He wore ornate black and crimson armor marked with the sigil of the House of Caelum. His sharp voice echoed across the yard.

"Attention!" he bellowed.

The knights straightened.

"The situation at the eastern borders has escalated. The Count has given his command—we will be deployed to the frontlines in two months. Reinforcement is necessary, and the conflict may stretch into years."

A heavy silence fell over the field.

"No one knows what lies ahead," Ardan continued. "This may be the last time you see your homes, your loved ones, your families. Do what must be done. Say your goodbyes. But do not treat this leave as a vacation—train harder. Be prepared. You are dismissed."

As murmurs rose among the knights and they began dispersing, Ardan raised his hand.

"Seraphine, stay back."

She stepped forward quietly, her back straight but her eyes unsure.

"I know… you and your father haven't spoken in years," he said, voice softening. "But he's not the man he once was. He's broken, not cruel. He still watches over you from afar… Give him a visit before we leave. He deserves at least that."

Seraphine's face turned pale. Her lips parted as if to argue, but no words came. Instead, she simply lowered her gaze.

"…I'll think about it," she said quietly.

With a brief nod, she turned and walked away, her steps slower than before, her eyes clouded with thought.

From above, Han muttered under his breath, "Shit… this shouldn't have happened."

His wings flapped uneasily as he flew after her, keeping his distance.

"Only two months? How the hell am I supposed to get her to fall for Ronan in two months? Damn it… This mission's getting harder by the day. Was it ever possible to begin with?"

Han clenched his jaw, his voice rising into a frustrated whisper. "That damned demon… I really shouldn't have taken this cursed deal."