Content warning mentions of suicide, murder, and illness

The following day Ophelia was exhausted while it was due to Darius once again, what she did for most of the night was much less fun. While the book had been interesting, names and dates of battles with methods and methodologies in which they won or lost. Ophelia felt less satisfied with her decision to stay up, especially considering that, unlike the other cadets of their group... She was forced to walk. 

Adjusting her rucksack she sighed as the group walked along a steep path of a mountain. The generals mostly conversed with themselves riding along on their horses. Ophelia glanced over the edge admiring the scenery as she walked. At least it was a nice day, she supposed... Hearing someone approach quickly from behind Ophelia turned and moved out of the way as yet another cadet fell forward in a clear attempt to try and push Ophelia off the edge.

Ophelia glanced at the cart counting, that's right... There were four... She remembered as she watched the cadet stumble over the edge. Why didn't she see him last night? She wondered as he fell. Ophelia watched making no attempts to stop his fall. "Hyde!" One of the cadets exclaimed startled from the cart. They had been snickering to themselves just a moment ago. Ophelia stopped staring at the cadet just holding onto a root that stuck out over the edge.

"How interesting," She spoke, "It seems like you were trying to push me off the edge..." She announced the group had stopped moving and the generals' attention was now on what was going on. "Like hell I was! You pushed me over!" The cadet named Hyde denied and then in the same breath decided to accuse her. "Aww don't be like that." Ophelia clicked her tongue and cooed, "I'm sure you know as well I do, you're in no position to lie." Ophelia replied with a smile glancing over at the three cadets who were attempting to approach to save their friend.

"You three obviously haven't seen what I did to the Snowfel soldiers in the forest," Ophelia spoke placing her hand on her sword's hilt. "Stay put if you know what's good for you." She threatened. The men froze and Ophelia chuckled, "Now, why don't you be a good boy and tell us what you tried to do and why?" She spoke lowly not feeling in the mood to be nice. She was tired and dealing with their childish antics was not something on her to-do list today. Especially after Hart handed her yet another thick book before they set out. 

Hyde glared gritting his teeth, he tried to crawl up by grabbing onto the edge. But the loose dirt gave out and he started to slip. Ophelia reached down holding him by the back of his uniform. "Come on now, my grip is slipping." Ophelia spat getting annoyed, false accusations were obnoxious.

"Hyde..." Ophelia heard Hart call sounding a bit nervous. That was interesting, a cadet that was nowhere to be found last night and a general who seemed concerned about his safety. It seemed that Darius wasn't the only one who liked to pick bedfellows from lower ranks. 

Hyde looked over at Hart looking conflicted before looking at his friends and then Ophelia. Ophelia leaned close and narrowed her eyes, "You're lucky I like your special friend." Ophelia said quietly just loud enough for Hyde to hear. Hyde's eyes widened considerably at this. She then tossed him over her shoulder walking up the path.

Everyone was surprised when Ophelia threw Hyde onto the back of Hart's horse like a sack of flour. "Keep a better eye on your subordinates, Hart." Ophelia spoke looking up at Hart who seemed relieved. "I'll have a talk with them later." Hart spoke stiffly, "Good idea. The last thing we need is him throwing himself off the edge again." Ophelia replied giving Hart a polite smile before glaring at the flustered-looking Hyde. 

Ophelia continued walking glancing at Lewis who grinned amused, "Sometimes got to put them in their place kid." he remarked before continuing on the path. Ophelia felt a stare on her and looked next to her to see Darius riding on his horse looking at her, there was no expression to give away his thoughts. Ophelia couldn't tell if he was upset with how she acted. 

Deciding that was something to worry about later she let out a yawn. Today would be a good day to take a nap. It was late evening by the time they made camp, a decision was made to go a bit further so they could arrive earlier the next morning. It seemed Lewis wasn't kidding when he said it was a two-day walk to get to the destination, it seemed like it was going to literally take forty-eight hours to get there. 

Ophelia settled down near her tent reading through the book Hart had given her. This one was about etiquette in each Dukedom. Much thicker than the previous book but it had five territories to cover. "We need firewood." One of the four cadets that hated Ophelia walked up and told her. Ophelia didn't even look up and turned a page. "Hey!" he shouted, "Are you a higher rank than me?" Ophelia asked still staring at the book. 

"No, but I've been here longer!" The cadet replied in a haughty tone, "Does that make you a higher rank?" Ophelia questioned again. "No..." His haughty tone faltered. Ophelia then looked up at the cadet, "Then fuck off." She sneered using her free hand to extend her middle finger with ease.

The cadet's face turned red from anger and embarrassment. While normally Ophelia wouldn't mind doing things around the camp. After the stunt today Ophelia refused to do jack shit for those four. "You...!" He started to shout, Ophelia shifted and then stood up, it was then she noticed how much younger this guy looked compared to her. He looked like he was just barely twenty, and that was being generous, "I'm not in the mood to argue with children." She said lowly. "Fuck off, I have shit to do that's more important than your little attitude." "I'm not little!" The cadet blustered out a vague angry response. Ophelia leaned down, "You're smaller than me." She grinned at him.

He tried to stutter out a response and blurted out, "You bitch!" Before running off. Ophelia rolled her eyes unoffended before sitting back down on the crate near her tent. She opened up the book going to start reading again but...

"Cadet Reeds," Hart called approaching her, Ophelia let out a frustrated chuckle closing the book. "Yeah?" She asked, Hart, let out a breath, "Can we speak privately?" he asked, "Sure...?" Ophelia was surprised by Hart's request. Ophelia was led off by Hart away from the camp, a bit further than expected but not too far. Hart too a few steps away from her and let out a breath before turning around.

"First I'd like to apologize for the other's behavior." He said giving a slight bow towards her. Ophelia tilted her head, "I'm used to being antagonized so it doesn't really bother me." Ophelia replied waving him off. "It'd be nice to know why..." She added with a sigh. Hart stood up straight and stared at her, "You do realize everyone in the army knows that the commander is attracted to you." He deadpanned. Ophelia had been looking off in the distance vaguely before her eyes snapped back to Hart. "What?" She asked startled. 

"Reeds..." Hart sighed, "He flirted with you in front of the entire army on multiple occasions. He literally gave you a higher wage just to get you to join because he was attracted to you." Hart's tone was exasperated, "Also as someone who often has the misfortune of riding next to Darius in the march... There are things that I've heard..." Hart trailed off, and Ophelia furrowed her brows. "Are you going to finish that thought?" She asked, Hart's eyes were fixated on a spot behind Ophelia. She turned around and saw nothing. "No... I feel as if my life would be in danger." Hart deadpanned. 

Ophelia folded her arms, "So maybe we haven't been very subtle..." Ophelia confessed, "You nearly pounced on him in the strategy tent in front of all five generals and your commanding officer." Hart's expression was exhausted as he spoke, Ophelia looked away before grinning slightly despite herself. "yeah I did." She chuckled amused with the memory. "You two are ridiculous," Hart spoke flatly. 

"Have you thought about approaching Officer Spade...? I feel like you two might get along." Ophelia remarked casually, "We're drinking buddies." Hart replied, "I didn't take you for a drinker..." Ophelia responded feeling surprised, "I've learnt to adapt." Another exhausted expression appeared on Hart's face.

"Reeds." Hart called, "The men with us come from my family's territory." Hart explained, "They want me to be Emperor next to Darius, even my family wants that." He continued, Ophelia blinked a few times trying to figure out what this had to do with her. "What does that have to do with me-?" She barely got the sentence out before Hart replied. "I've never seen Darius like this with anyone. He's had his share of passing interests but you..." Hart took a breath trailing off.

"How serious are you?" He asked, "About the commander?" Ophelia questioned, "Yes." Hart replied, Ophelia thought about it before responding. "I'm going to be honest, I've never thought about my future before in my life." She confessed, "Alpha women often die young Hart. So making plans about my future wasn't really an option." She explained.

Hart frowned hearing this, "Women like you are taken care of by the church why would you die young?" he questioned, "Murder, suicide, and flowering cough mostly." Ophelia replied. "I always thought I'd be murdered." Ophelia glanced up at the sky. "So I imagine the casual approach to death is a result of previous attempts on your life?" Hart ventured.

"That's right." Ophelia's eyes landed back on him, "Men tend to get testy when they think someone they want wants you more." Ophelia motioned to herself as she spoke. "How many?" Hart looked morbidly curious. "I lost count after fifteen." Ophelia replied instantly, "Men?!" Hart gawked looking surprised, "No when I turned fifteen." Ophelia corrected shaking her head. 

A cold silence settled for just a moment between them. 

"I hadn't realized." Hart replied in a smaller voice, "Yeah well church likes to cover that sort of thing up when taking donations from the nobility." Ophelia replied frankly. "But to answer your question about how serious I am about the commander... Let me put it this way, if he asked me to kill you..." Ophelia took a breath before smiling, "I would." She finished with a relaxed smile on her face. "Not much of a threat Reeds, everyone listens to Darius's order-." Hart replied Ophelia cut him off, "I didn't say I'd do it if he ordered me." Ophelia corrected him.

"If he asked, I'd kill almost anyone in the army without hesitation. The only person I'd hesitate to do so with is Lionel. But that's because I like the old bastard and he'd probably kick my ass." Ophelia folded her arms nodding to herself as she spoke. "What about going back to the church you grew up in?" Hart questioned, "Sure as long as I didn't have to hurt the girls. I'd gladly get rid of the priests and nuns though." Ophelia replied. 

"I'd burn that damn place to the ground without being asked," Ophelia added before shaking her head at the thought, there was no use in getting into a rant. "Right now I'm not hoping for a spot on a throne. I won't delude myself into thinking a bit of attention means I'll get a crown." Ophelia looked away.

"But I am hoping to be useful to him because I'm curious..." Ophelia spoke, "About what?" Hart questioned, "About what kind of world he's building." Ophelia scanned the area before landing on a nearby tree. A vague human shape sat within the thick branches and leaves. "I want to see it." She said smiling knowing now for a fact that the commander had been listening to her the entire time.