Winter Solstice Looms (5): The Tailor's Summons and the Forging of Conquest
The Ket family now knew that when Armed spoke of her "fiancé," she meant it. She hadn't used her exceptional magical prowess to hinder their reconnaissance, making it clear she had no intention of hiding him either. In truth, from the moment she'd openly declared him her "fiancé" to Ermiha, it was all but certain the engagement would become public knowledge across the realm.
Yet beyond the fact that Armed regarded this mysterious fiancé as her steadfast partner, everything else remained a fog. His identity, chief among them. None of the underlings serving the two countesses could identify him. Even coaxing statements from the guards who'd glimpsed him yielded nothing. Disguising themselves for the winter solstice and gathering descriptions was pointless by now. It had to be part of Armed's cunning scheme. If her goal was to seize control of the Ket household's atmosphere, she'd already surpassed it. Both countesses were now on edge over her every move.
The most reliable testimony was that he had a sturdy build and carried himself with the easy familiarity of someone well-versed in swords. Did Armed have some knight she was close to? The two countesses and their children recalled the knight who had stood against the Wild Hunt. With her already commanding legitimacy, skill, and popular support, if she were to bring in that knight to solidify her position further...
"That won't happen."
It was the assertion of Hekedian Ket's advisor, Nayd. His tone was utterly flat, devoid of inflection—like a doll speaking.
"Doesn't Lady Armed rarely form personal bonds in the first place?"
"But... that knight who toppled the Wraith King! She nursed him all night herself! Her own brother!"
Nayd adjusted his glasses with his index finger. The joints on his right hand's fingers gleamed like polished spheres.
"He didn't topple the Wraith King. He endured until dawn."
"Same difference! He basically won! The Wraith King's main force scattered without even breaching the outer walls, despite those sporadic signs inside the territory!"
"A highly controversial claim... In any case, young master, you needn't worry about this Kriel suddenly appearing to side with her."
Nayd's smile was all-encompassing, yet somehow devoid of humanity, awkward in its stiffness.
"I've investigated every quarter. Among those named Kriel, only one knight possesses the caliber to face the Wraith King."
"Where is that Kriel?"
"Please don't interrupt, young master. At any rate, he's a knight in the Western Army."
"The ones holding back the ancient dwarf remnants? Hm. Not a good omen for me, who carries dwarf blood..."
Ignoring his young master's superstitious prattle, Nayd continued with his findings.
"This Kriel is the sole knight of an independent ranger unit under the Western Army commander himself. Do you think someone bearing such heavy responsibility could casually trek to the Empire?"
"That's... convincing!"
"Alright. This is Kriel. You've all heard the name, right?"
"Argh, sis! This is too much, even for you!"
It was a family luncheon, the first in ages with everyone gathered. Hekedian Ket let out a scream.
The moment Kriel finished breakfast, Armed had burst in like a whirlwind and dragged him off to buy clothes. First up: a simple tailored suit. Old man Judre still needed time to finish his custom pieces, so they'd grabbed off-the-rack items for now. She even matched it to her own new outfit. Though not made as a pair from the start, it was plenty convincing as lovers' coordinated attire.
Next came the makeup experts. This was all part of maximizing Kriel's appeal. Tuon watched their efforts to liven up his complexion with keen interest.
[War paint to intimidate foes...]
[She's at it again with her weird ideas.]
And with that, Operation Dress-Up Kriel was complete. Armed paused for a beat, her face flushing as she hooked her arm through his. Perhaps to dispel the red tint, she bellowed heartily.
"Alright, let's go! Time to face that tiresome family of mine!"
It was midday, with the morning sun high overhead.
The Ket household shared luncheon and dinner together. Luncheon doubled as a briefing on afternoon territory affairs, and dinner wasn't much different. In essence, extensions of family politics. Armed had withdrawn from such "tablecloth politics," but this time was different. She moved to end all family politics tied to her in one decisive step.
Screeech.
The banquet hall doors swung open. At the vast dining table sat the two countesses, their families, and their key retainers.
Silhouetted against the backlight, striding in with confident poise, came the figure reminiscent of spring blossoms with her pink hair— the eye of the storm, Armed.
All eyes locked on her. Undeterred by the stares, Armed advanced. Trailing her was her fiancé, his sturdy frame standing out.
"Wow, long time no see, everyone?"
The long, rectangular table had the head seat reserved for the family head, but with him bedridden, it stood empty. Flanking it were the two countesses' factions. Closest to the head: the countesses themselves, then their children, followed by retainers.
The spot symmetric to the head—closest to the door—remained vacant. Armed marched straight there with heavy steps. Kriel naturally pulled out her chair, waiting for her to sit before taking the one beside her.
The atmosphere shifted. It was as if Armed now occupied the head seat; all watched her every move, awaiting her words. At the tail end of this change, the countesses—relegated from top seats to the bottom—stiffened.
Orishin whispered to Kriel.
[Hey, hold up. Isn't this Armed basically saying, 'Your petty political games are over. From here on, I'm purging and ruling the Ket household—declared right now!'?]
[A fitting debut for the Iron Lady befitting a Knight King. Most admirable.]
Before Kriel could reply, Tuon cut in.
[Not admirable at all!]
As the two swords bickered silently, Armed scanned the room and declared.
"What're you all doing? This is a meal."
"...How rude, sister."
Ermiha's opening salvo. Armed let out a soft huh, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Sorry. Been busy, forgot to give advance notice. But you gotta introduce him to the family, right? He's my fiancé."
"You meant that seriously."
"Of course. Here."
Armed raised her right index finger, tracing her fiancé's left shoulder line. Affection dripped from the gesture, plain for all to see.
"This is Kriel. You've all heard the name, right?"
No one could forget. It was etched on the knight statue in the fountain square.
The Wraith King's nemesis.
Hekedian shot to his feet with a gasp.
"Argh, sis! This is too much, even for you!"
Armed tilted her head with a hmph. Kriel sensed an innate arrogance in her every gesture. It was a side he'd missed during their mercenary days, when she'd chug potions with hollow eyes or cackle madly while unleashing explosive spells.
'She resembles the Ket count from the monster subjugation days.'
The calm emanation of authority mirrored her father's exactly. Perhaps that's why the others checked her.
"What's this about?"
"Damn it. I could stomach you assembling a mage corps with the money you got. You're wearing the academy's mask on the surface, after all. But Kriel? Bringing in the Wraith King's foe as your fiancé? First the stewards and butlers, now the commoners' support too?"
Less mockery than lament in his tone. Armed smirked. Kriel was struck by how she harbored no real enmity toward Hekedian—just mild disdain, like for a fool.
Sensing his gaze, she slipped her hand under the table, writing on his thigh: 'He's young.'
"Yeah, figured you'd say that. Listen up, everyone."
A few retainers' eyes flicked subtly. If Armed declared a bid for headship here, they might need to switch sides on the spot. The countesses sighed at their followers' shallow loyalty, beginning to sort the disloyal from the keepers.
"I'm announcing my engagement to Kriel at the winter solstice festival. And."
"I'm branching off."
One thing Kriel's swords had impressed on him bore heeding: just leave the family.
'If my presence makes you all so uneasy, fine. I'll go.'
Power and glory at the headship paled next to a life with Kriel. Far more appealing.