In the manor of Duke Valerius, long-ti ally of the Donoghan family, there were delicate gardens, especially the hydrangeas that bordered their estate.
And the finest among them was his daughter, left behind by his deceased wife...
Scarlet Valerius.
It is said that she sotis walks without excessive escort, that she listens when commoners speak and does not hesitate to use her pocket money to pay their tithe.
It might just be a political strategy, so thought...
However, in an empire where the majority of nobles were perceived as odious and hateful, the simple appearance of the kindness she showed was enough to create a difference.
...
Duke Valerius’s office was located in the West wing of the manor, a high-ceilinged room whose walls were covered with bookshelves and military maps. A large window overlooked the hydrangea gardens that had made the duchy’s reputation.
The duke, seated behind his dark wood desk, slowly swirled a glass of red wine between his fingers. His face was calm, focused on the stack of reports in front of him.
"Business has continued to decline by 2% since January... I should--"
The door burst open, pulling him from his thoughts.
She had short deep-green hair and bright golden eyes flashing with agitation; she didn’t even take the ti to greet him.
Her slender, model-like figure appeared in the duke’s view, who was surprised to see her here.
"What are you doing here, Scarlet? Shouldn’t you be at the academy?"
She walked straight up to the desk.
"What does this an, Father?"
"What, my little Hydrangea?"
She paid no attention to the nickna her father had given her.
"The academy was supposed to send students to contain the rift in the Eastern district, and they still haven’t arrived."
The duke set his glass down.
"Ah... You’re talking about that. I’m aware."
"Aware?" she repeated, incredulous. "People are getting killed by monsters while we wait for administrative formalities."
He clasped his hands on the desk.
"The protocols exist for a reason. The academy faction has priority on these interventions."
Scarlet shook her head.
"Protocols don’t protect anyone. The duchy’s knights can intervene imdiately."
"And expose themselves needlessly."
The duke’s tone remained asured.
"How is it needless?"
"You heard , darling... Listen, Scarlet..."
He slowly stood up.
"The affected areas will soon be officially placed under academic jurisdiction. Director Akhazel has already drawn up a contract quickly. We must let the younger generation perform. If I send our knights now, they will fight, perhaps lose n, and then the academy will reap the resources."
Scarlet stared at him, shocked.
"Are you telling you’re refusing to help because we wouldn’t be rewarded?"
"I refuse to send my n to die for zero benefit."
He walked around the desk.
"My knights are not pawns. Many have families. I consider them more than replaceable executors."
"And the commoners who are dying?" she retorted. "They don’t have families?"
The duke held her gaze.
"They do. But I cannot save everyone."
"You could save so, Father. I don’t recognize you anymore. Since when have you been heartless?"
"Since your mother’s disappearance..."
A silence settled...
He continued in a firr tone:
"It will be the academy faction that takes the resources. They have already sent the intervention request. If we intervene outside the frawork, we will be accused of encroaching on their authority. And I don’t have ti to have the Holy Cathedral on my back."
"Plus business is already going badly..." he muttered to himself.
"anwhile, children are being attacked."
"Scarlet."
He placed a hand on her cheek...
"The commoners will suffer. I don’t deny it. But it’s a necessary evil. Preserving our strength is essential in the current context. Tensions between Dantalion and Pendragon could escalate at any mont."
She gently pushed his hand away.
"So we wait for them to die to preserve our strength?"
"We wait for official coordination."
She took a deep breath.
Normally, Scarlet was gentle, sotis even shy in society. However, faced with injustice, her temperant changed. She beca direct, impulsive, unable to look away, just like her boyfriend who had been playing the dark Sasuke role since Isabella’s disappearance.
"I cannot accept this," she said.
"You are the heir to the duchy. One day you will succeed . You must learn to think strategically."
"And you must rember why people respect our na."
The duke stared at her for a long ti. She held firm.
Finally, he declared:
"My decision is made."
Scarlet remained motionless for a few seconds, then turned on her heel.
"As duke, I order you to stay out of this matter!"
"And as your daughter, I don’t give a damn what you say, Father!"
She stord out, slamming the door.
The duke sighed, picked up his glass again and stared at the wine for a few monts without drinking.
"Scarlet... Unfortunately you are reckless just like your mother. I don’t want anything to happen to you like it did to her..."
...
A few minutes later, Scarlet crossed the castle courtyard at a brisk pace. The servants stepped aside as she passed.
She reached the stables and addressed the stable master.
"Prepare my horse. Now."
The man hesitated.
"Miss, without the duke’s order--"
"I’m not officially mobilizing anyone."
She held his gaze.
"I’m simply going to the barracks."
He understood he wouldn’t get more explanations.
Shortly after, Scarlet mounted her personal white horse.
The delicate hydrangea of the Valerius duchy spurred the animal and left the courtyard at high speed.
The knights’ barracks were located at the northern end of the estate. When the guards saw her arrive, they bowed.
"Lady Scarlet."
She dismounted and imdiately asked:
"How many units are on alert?"
A captain replied:
"All are ready, but without the duke’s order, we cannot leave the territory."
She nodded.
"I know."
She remounted and advanced her horse to the central courtyard. The knights present instinctively gathered.
"You have all heard the reports," she began in a clear voice. "A rift has opened in the Eastern district. And the academy that was supposed to handle it still hasn’t arrived."
Murmurs ran through the ranks.
She continued:
"Many of you have families from those neighborhoods... parents... friends... your wives..."
Faces grew sadder and sadder.
"I cannot give you an official order. But I can ask you this: how many of you are willing to intervene of your own initiative to protect the civilians until reinforcents arrive?"
A brief silence, then one hand rose. Then two. Then dozens.
A knight in the front row declared:
"My sister lives 1 km from that rift... I won’t wait for her to die."
She nodded, then drew her sword...
"Those who follow do so of their own free will."
In less than ten minutes, a fifth of the forces had gathered. About four hundred knights, the most seasoned of the duchy. The weakest among them being a C- rank warrior.
Scarlet took the reins of her white horse again and took the lead.
"Everyone! To the Eastern district."
The barracks gates opened.
Under the determined gaze of the delicate hydrangea of the Valerius duchy, four hundred knights left the estate without official order... Despite her gentle and kind appearance.
She was nevertheless a charismatic and courageous woman... Scarlet Valerius.
If Kaiser were there, he would say: "That fucking Kris is way too lucky."
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