At Steiber's words, the eyes of his friends and the members who were close to him all turned meaningful and joyous, like those of delighted children.
"Wow, finally? I'm really looking forward to seeing you unveil it in front of everyone."
"You won't believe how well it's preserved; it hasn't rotted at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if you all fall over backward in awe. Hehehe."
"Hehehehe."
"It may not be our catch, but since we’re part of the same Cavalry, it’s almost like we caught it. So, why shouldn’t we be happy?"
"Exactly. The one who caught it doesn't know how to smile, so it’s only fair that we enjoy it on their behalf."
While they all wore sly smiles, the other members were busy praising each other's outfits and happily chatting about their high expectations as they finalized their preparations to depart for the palace.
As departure time neared, carriages far more luxurious than those used during the harvest festival lined up in front of the Cavalry headquarters’s main gate. They were sent by Emperor Keilusa for today's stars, the members of the Cavalry. Among those who were delighted by the grandiose scenery was Lusan, who had boldly joined in as a medical officer. Standing next to him with a skewed posture was Enon, who didn’t seem to care for the whole affair. However, his attire was so attractive that he couldn't help but draw the attention of those around him.
Soon after, Ever, adorned in formal wear, descended the stairs that led to the dressing room with brisk steps.
Upon seeing the smiling Steiber and the members, she paused for a moment, then approached and spoke.
"Steiber, is something special happening? You all look so happy."
"Oh, Ever. You look marvelous with your hair down like that. Nothing much, really. We’re just excited about moving the 'Golden Carriage' soon. Hehehe."
Only then did Ever seem to understand the reason behind their smiles. A smile similar to Steiber’s appeared on her face.
"I see. Thank you for the compliment. Your hair looks great up as well. Have you considered doing it like that more often?"
"Hmm... applying oil and styling it every day might be a bit too much. But thanks for the compliment."
Steiber closed his eyes briefly and then reopened them, smiling.
"By the way, where is your expected partner?"
"Ah, Gakane went to help Kanna with Jimmy. It’s about the clothes."
"Ah, yes. I heard Jimmy has grown a lot lately, so he needed some major clothing adjustments?"
Steiber warmly smiled, thinking of the young boy growing up so quickly even though he should still miss his parents. Then, he subtly shifted his tone.
"Come to think of it, you agreed to dance the first dance with Gakane to help Yuder, didn’t you?"
"Huh? Oh, right. Yes, that's true."
Currently, in the Cavalry, there were fewer Omega Awakeners than Alpha Awakeners. Even if everyone paired up, there would still be leftover Alpha Awakeners. Though these remaining Alpha Awakeners could choose a partner without considering their secondary gender, after much thought, Ever had chosen Gakane, another Alpha Awakener. Even though there seemed to be no visible difference to others due to their differing primary genders, her decision was made out of a desire to help Yuder in any small way she could.
"So, has anyone pestered you for the second dance?"
"The second dance?"
"Yes, someone like Lord Elle, for instance..."
"Why would Elle's name suddenly come up in this context?"
Ever tilted her head, seemingly puzzled as to why the name of Pruelle Van Tain, who had recently become a temporary member of the Cavalry, would suddenly be mentioned.
"I decided to dance the second dance with Liv."
"Liv? Liv Dwayne of Jung?"
"Yes. She's an Omega Awakener and we share the same primary gender. She's not my first dance partner, but I thought it would be fine for the second, so we agreed."
"I see... And for the third?"
Ever furrowed her brow slightly.
"Steiber. I don't know what you're thinking, but Lord Elle is a good person. He's not particularly interested in me; he's just someone who dreamed of joining the Cavalry after the trial of the Apeto family."
Hearing Ever's words, Steiber flinched and gave a wry smile.
"Haha. Right, sorry. But if you'd seen Gakane's face when I said I'd dance with him, you'd understand why I'm so curious—"
"Everyone, are you all ready?"
Just then, Kishiar's voice resonated from behind them, drawing the attention of all the members present. Steiber and Ever paused their conversation and turned their heads.
"Wow."
Someone among the members standing next to Steiber quietly let out a sigh of admiration. Though silent, Steiber felt the same.
Whenever they saw Commander Kishiar La Orr, they were already bewitched by his appearance, forgetting even their accumulated years and experience. But today, he was, unquestionably, the most resplendent among all they had ever seen.
Kishiar had worn a magnificent traditional costume brimming with vibrant colors and jewels during the harvest festival. But today, he wore the complete opposite: a simple costume made from black cloth. It resembled the white costumes of the other members but had a far more profound gravity.
The sharp red fabric draped over his shoulders, arms, and waist made him look like a deity from an ancient painting. Seeing was believing; one couldn't imagine that a single piece of cloth could carry such a majestic yet humble aura.
Apart from the golden embroidery on his outer garment, he had no other decorations, yet he appeared even more grand and overwhelming than before. A long earring in his ear and a single ring on his hand were his only adornments, and even those were void of any jewels.
His golden locks and red pupils alone held more brilliance than any gemstone.
Caught up in the spectacle of the towering Commander, Steiber's focus was momentarily diverted until he noticed another person standing a step behind Kishiar. Dressed as differently as the Commander was, he was Yuder Aile, a proud member of the Cavalry and a spiritual pillar of sorts.
"Oh..."
Steiber had only heard that Yuder wore a matching outfit to accompany the Commander during his time in the western region, but he had never seen it. Yet, the outfit he saw now seemed neither less nor more impressive than what he had heard.
Like the Commander, Yuder had swept his black hair back. Though wearing a lighter coat embroidered differently from the harvest festival, one could instantly tell he was Kishiar's counterpart. This was mainly because the belt tying his coat was astonishingly made of the same red fabric that Kishiar wore.
Dressed in a white formal uniform with a vibrant red sash stylishly knotted around his waist, and wearing white gloves—emblazoned with the emblem of the Cavalry instead of his usual black ones—the Commander's assistant Yuder shone like a chilly dawn star, his usual pallor nowhere to be seen.
In a sense different from Kishiar, Yuder seemed as though it was only natural for him to stand at the forefront, representing everyone else present. A strange yet captivating aura filled the eyes of the young man, who was only in his twenties. It was as if he had spent his entire life looking down at others from above.
"Why has everyone suddenly gone quiet? I know I'm extraordinarily good-looking, but it's a little embarrassing when even my men lose their composure like this."
Only after Kishiar broke the silence with a playful smile and a jest did the members regain their sense of reality. Bursting into hearty laughter, they lightly tossed comments back and forth, agreeing that he was right, how they were surprised all over again, and bowed their heads before their leader.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"Yes!"
Kishiar and Yuder climbed into the carriage. As the long procession of carriages began to move toward the imperial palace, passing the grounds of the Imperial Knights and heading out into the streets of the Seventh Wall, people couldn't help but express their awe.
"The Cavalry has arrived."
The palace, which was to host today's feast and party, was bustling with activity once the carriages arrived.
"Welcome, Your Highness."
The hurriedly-arriving attendants greeted Kishiar and the Cavalry with proper ceremony. Following their guidance into the front yard, Kishiar flashed a smile at Yuder, who stood beside him.
"It seems these clothes are quite astonishing. There's not a single person who isn't startled."
"Isn't that precisely what you intended?"
"Of course, that's true."
Today, Kishiar had actually chosen to wear a black formal suit, re-tailored from 'Da Fiel'. Originally a dress belonging to his late mother, the former Empress, it still added unparalleled grace to him even after two alterations.
'I was curious why I was told not to discard the red lining... I never thought it would be used like this.'
Kishiar had removed the dark-red fabric that had been used as a lining and had it wrapped over his clothing. Though simple, the end result looked as if it had been made to be worn that way from the very beginning.
He didn't stop there; he even took a portion of that fabric to make a new sash for Yuder's suit. Until today, even Yuder had been unaware of this fact. The surprise he felt upon seeing and experiencing it was indescribable.
It was just an outer piece of fabric and a mere sash, after all.
Yet even without coordinating their formal attire, the two drew more attention than if they had matched perfectly.
Yuder maintained his usual composure as he observed the expressions of those who were astonished first by Kishiar's formal outfit, and then doubly astonished by his own waistband. As he walked confidently toward the hall where the ceremony would be held, he never once lowered his tense jaw or relaxed his straight back.
"Please wait here for a moment before entering."
A servant led them to a spacious waiting room and then disappeared. It was only then that the other participants, who had been tense, began to relax and chat, examining the surrounding sculptures and decorations.
Yuder did not touch any of the snacks or drinks prepared for light refreshment. Instead, he gazed at the closed door, slowly reviewing the sequence of events he was to follow during the ceremony.
'After entering, receive the award in the pre-notified order, greet everyone, and return to my seat. Then the dance music will start,' he thought.
"Yuder."
As he was reciting the sequence of events for the umpteenth time and considering any variables or other noble participants that might be present, he heard a voice beside him. Turning his head, he saw Kishiar smiling, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"If you stand like that, people will mistake you for a sculpture. Whoever brought such a fine piece of art has excellent taste."
"You're particularly jocular today."
"I'm always serious, you know."
"…"
This was a ridiculous statement, and it had nothing to do with how tenderly Yuder was feeling toward Kishiar. Before he could maintain his silence for too long, Kishiar stepped closer and brushed back the strands of hair that had fallen onto his forehead.
"If you stand like this without realizing that your hair is disheveled, others might approach you and ask if they can do the same. So, be careful," Kishiar cautioned.
At Steiber's words, the eyes of his friends and the members who were close to him all turned meaningful and joyous, like those of delighted children.
"Wow, finally? I'm really looking forward to seeing you unveil it in front of everyone."
"You won't believe how well it's preserved; it hasn't rotted at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if you all fall over backward in awe. Hehehe."
"Hehehehe."
"It may not be our catch, but since we’re part of the same Cavalry, it’s almost like we caught it. So, why shouldn’t we be happy?"
"Exactly. The one who caught it doesn't know how to smile, so it’s only fair that we enjoy it on their behalf."
While they all wore sly smiles, the other members were busy praising each other's outfits and happily chatting about their high expectations as they finalized their preparations to depart for the palace.
As departure time neared, carriages far more luxurious than those used during the harvest festival lined up in front of the Cavalry headquarters’s main gate. They were sent by Emperor Keilusa for today's stars, the members of the Cavalry. Among those who were delighted by the grandiose scenery was Lusan, who had boldly joined in as a medical officer. Standing next to him with a skewed posture was Enon, who didn’t seem to care for the whole affair. However, his attire was so attractive that he couldn't help but draw the attention of those around him.
Soon after, Ever, adorned in formal wear, descended the stairs that led to the dressing room with brisk steps.
Upon seeing the smiling Steiber and the members, she paused for a moment, then approached and spoke.
"Steiber, is something special happening? You all look so happy."
"Oh, Ever. You look marvelous with your hair down like that. Nothing much, really. We’re just excited about moving the 'Golden Carriage' soon. Hehehe."
Only then did Ever seem to understand the reason behind their smiles. A smile similar to Steiber’s appeared on her face.
"I see. Thank you for the compliment. Your hair looks great up as well. Have you considered doing it like that more often?"
"Hmm... applying oil and styling it every day might be a bit too much. But thanks for the compliment."
Steiber closed his eyes briefly and then reopened them, smiling.
"By the way, where is your expected partner?"
"Ah, Gakane went to help Kanna with Jimmy. It’s about the clothes."
"Ah, yes. I heard Jimmy has grown a lot lately, so he needed some major clothing adjustments?"
Steiber warmly smiled, thinking of the young boy growing up so quickly even though he should still miss his parents. Then, he subtly shifted his tone.
"Come to think of it, you agreed to dance the first dance with Gakane to help Yuder, didn’t you?"
"Huh? Oh, right. Yes, that's true."
Currently, in the Cavalry, there were fewer Omega Awakeners than Alpha Awakeners. Even if everyone paired up, there would still be leftover Alpha Awakeners. Though these remaining Alpha Awakeners could choose a partner without considering their secondary gender, after much thought, Ever had chosen Gakane, another Alpha Awakener. Even though there seemed to be no visible difference to others due to their differing primary genders, her decision was made out of a desire to help Yuder in any small way she could.
"So, has anyone pestered you for the second dance?"
"The second dance?"
"Yes, someone like Lord Elle, for instance..."
"Why would Elle's name suddenly come up in this context?"
Ever tilted her head, seemingly puzzled as to why the name of Pruelle Van Tain, who had recently become a temporary member of the Cavalry, would suddenly be mentioned.
"I decided to dance the second dance with Liv."
"Liv? Liv Dwayne of Jung?"
"Yes. She's an Omega Awakener and we share the same primary gender. She's not my first dance partner, but I thought it would be fine for the second, so we agreed."
"I see... And for the third?"
Ever furrowed her brow slightly.
"Steiber. I don't know what you're thinking, but Lord Elle is a good person. He's not particularly interested in me; he's just someone who dreamed of joining the Cavalry after the trial of the Apeto family."
Hearing Ever's words, Steiber flinched and gave a wry smile.
"Haha. Right, sorry. But if you'd seen Gakane's face when I said I'd dance with him, you'd understand why I'm so curious—"
"Everyone, are you all ready?"
Just then, Kishiar's voice resonated from behind them, drawing the attention of all the members present. Steiber and Ever paused their conversation and turned their heads.
"Wow."
Someone among the members standing next to Steiber quietly let out a sigh of admiration. Though silent, Steiber felt the same.
Whenever they saw Commander Kishiar La Orr, they were already bewitched by his appearance, forgetting even their accumulated years and experience. But today, he was, unquestionably, the most resplendent among all they had ever seen.
Kishiar had worn a magnificent traditional costume brimming with vibrant colors and jewels during the harvest festival. But today, he wore the complete opposite: a simple costume made from black cloth. It resembled the white costumes of the other members but had a far more profound gravity.
The sharp red fabric draped over his shoulders, arms, and waist made him look like a deity from an ancient painting. Seeing was believing; one couldn't imagine that a single piece of cloth could carry such a majestic yet humble aura.
Apart from the golden embroidery on his outer garment, he had no other decorations, yet he appeared even more grand and overwhelming than before. A long earring in his ear and a single ring on his hand were his only adornments, and even those were void of any jewels.
His golden locks and red pupils alone held more brilliance than any gemstone.
Caught up in the spectacle of the towering Commander, Steiber's focus was momentarily diverted until he noticed another person standing a step behind Kishiar. Dressed as differently as the Commander was, he was Yuder Aile, a proud member of the Cavalry and a spiritual pillar of sorts.
"Oh..."
Steiber had only heard that Yuder wore a matching outfit to accompany the Commander during his time in the western region, but he had never seen it. Yet, the outfit he saw now seemed neither less nor more impressive than what he had heard.
Like the Commander, Yuder had swept his black hair back. Though wearing a lighter coat embroidered differently from the harvest festival, one could instantly tell he was Kishiar's counterpart. This was mainly because the belt tying his coat was astonishingly made of the same red fabric that Kishiar wore.
Dressed in a white formal uniform with a vibrant red sash stylishly knotted around his waist, and wearing white gloves—emblazoned with the emblem of the Cavalry instead of his usual black ones—the Commander's assistant Yuder shone like a chilly dawn star, his usual pallor nowhere to be seen.
In a sense different from Kishiar, Yuder seemed as though it was only natural for him to stand at the forefront, representing everyone else present. A strange yet captivating aura filled the eyes of the young man, who was only in his twenties. It was as if he had spent his entire life looking down at others from above.
"Why has everyone suddenly gone quiet? I know I'm extraordinarily good-looking, but it's a little embarrassing when even my men lose their composure like this."
Only after Kishiar broke the silence with a playful smile and a jest did the members regain their sense of reality. Bursting into hearty laughter, they lightly tossed comments back and forth, agreeing that he was right, how they were surprised all over again, and bowed their heads before their leader.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"Yes!"
Kishiar and Yuder climbed into the carriage. As the long procession of carriages began to move toward the imperial palace, passing the grounds of the Imperial Knights and heading out into the streets of the Seventh Wall, people couldn't help but express their awe.
"The Cavalry has arrived."
The palace, which was to host today's feast and party, was bustling with activity once the carriages arrived.
"Welcome, Your Highness."
The hurriedly-arriving attendants greeted Kishiar and the Cavalry with proper ceremony. Following their guidance into the front yard, Kishiar flashed a smile at Yuder, who stood beside him.
"It seems these clothes are quite astonishing. There's not a single person who isn't startled."
"Isn't that precisely what you intended?"
"Of course, that's true."
Today, Kishiar had actually chosen to wear a black formal suit, re-tailored from 'Da Fiel'. Originally a dress belonging to his late mother, the former Empress, it still added unparalleled grace to him even after two alterations.
'I was curious why I was told not to discard the red lining... I never thought it would be used like this.'
Kishiar had removed the dark-red fabric that had been used as a lining and had it wrapped over his clothing. Though simple, the end result looked as if it had been made to be worn that way from the very beginning.
He didn't stop there; he even took a portion of that fabric to make a new sash for Yuder's suit. Until today, even Yuder had been unaware of this fact. The surprise he felt upon seeing and experiencing it was indescribable.
It was just an outer piece of fabric and a mere sash, after all.
Yet even without coordinating their formal attire, the two drew more attention than if they had matched perfectly.
Yuder maintained his usual composure as he observed the expressions of those who were astonished first by Kishiar's formal outfit, and then doubly astonished by his own waistband. As he walked confidently toward the hall where the ceremony would be held, he never once lowered his tense jaw or relaxed his straight back.
"Please wait here for a moment before entering."
A servant led them to a spacious waiting room and then disappeared. It was only then that the other participants, who had been tense, began to relax and chat, examining the surrounding sculptures and decorations.
Yuder did not touch any of the snacks or drinks prepared for light refreshment. Instead, he gazed at the closed door, slowly reviewing the sequence of events he was to follow during the ceremony.
'After entering, receive the award in the pre-notified order, greet everyone, and return to my seat. Then the dance music will start,' he thought.
"Yuder."
As he was reciting the sequence of events for the umpteenth time and considering any variables or other noble participants that might be present, he heard a voice beside him. Turning his head, he saw Kishiar smiling, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"If you stand like that, people will mistake you for a sculpture. Whoever brought such a fine piece of art has excellent taste."
"You're particularly jocular today."
"I'm always serious, you know."
"…"
This was a ridiculous statement, and it had nothing to do with how tenderly Yuder was feeling toward Kishiar. Before he could maintain his silence for too long, Kishiar stepped closer and brushed back the strands of hair that had fallen onto his forehead.
"If you stand like this without realizing that your hair is disheveled, others might approach you and ask if they can do the same. So, be careful," Kishiar cautioned.
