"You want to see the world he's building?" Hart asked, "Yeah." Ophelia turned back to Hart and the alpha man chuckled softly, "I'm beginning to see why Lionel likes you so much." Hart said with a small smile, "I'm a very likable person contrary to popular opinion." Ophelia replied in a joking tone.  

"Thank you for speaking with me Reeds." Hart spoke, "Anytime, just make sure to keep your friend on a short leash." Ophelia replied, and Hart, gave a bitter smile in response, "We're not exactly close right now." He replied vaguely. Ophelia getting what he was saying grinned, "Hey maybe Officer Spade would be interested in becoming closer." She suggested, Hart smirked, "Maybe... But I think Barnabas might be a better friend." Hart smirked at Ophelia.

Her eyebrows rose high and she laughed, "Silver foxes are hard to catch Hart. You be careful." She warned with a laugh in her voice. "I'm a pretty good hunter Reeds. I'll be fine." Hart waved her off with a relaxed tone. 

Everyone settled in for the night shortly after the talk with Hart ended. Ophelia had little choice but to sleep in the tent with Lionell due to the sudden downpour that came over them in the middle of the night. Curled up on her bedroll the sound of raindrops hitting canvas lulled her into sleep. 

In her dreams that night Ophelia dreamt of traveling in colorful carts. She noticed in this dream she was a bit older and often helped her father with chores, his face was still blurry in her dreams but the slightly gray twist-outs were familiar. In the evenings her mother helped her wash her hair, in a manner that Ophelia found familiar. 

Small habits that Ophelia had, she realized came from her mother. The sound of soft humming filled her mind as she felt a wooden comb gently glide across her scalp. "Hmm, such a beautiful young alpha you've grown into my heart." Her mother cooed softly placing a kiss on Ophelia's temple. "Mama..." Ophelia felt flustered despite the smile on her lips. "Going to break many hearts." Her mother teased, the words echoed in Ophelia's mind as she woke up, a small smile on her lips.

That was the most recent memory she had... Every other dream she had been young or very small. Her mother called her an alpha, which meant it was shortly before they were separated. Such a precious memory... Ophelia let out a long breath as she slowly sat up. Rain still hit the tent in sheets. Despite the rain she got up and put her coat on heading out of the tent, it was hard to tell the exact time due to the dark skies. But it was clear it was morning. She looked over and saw the other cadets hiding in the cart from the rain. Ophelia wondered if they even bothered to bring their tents with them. 

Ophelia spotted Hart peering out of his tent at the rain. His eyes widened when he saw her just standing in the rain. Ophelia didn't do it for any particular reason, to be honest, she was tired of hearing Lionel's snoring. "Cadet, are you trying to get sick?!" He called motioning her over. Ophelia walked over and Hart let her inside his tent, "What the hell are you thinking just standing there in the rain like that?" Hart sighed as Ophelia squeezed her hair dry. "I just got tired of hearing Lionel snore," Ophelia replied,  she was mostly dry thanks to her coat. 

Hart sighed shaking his head, "Then just go to Darius's tent I'm sure he'd let you in." Hart folded his arms. Ophelia tilted her head, "I didn't want to bother him." She responded feeling confused, sure the commander wanted more of her based on their interactions so far but... Ophelia imagined she was just a passing fancy for Darius. 

Hart stared at her silently, "What?" Ophelia asked confused, "You'd be doing us all a favor if you bothered him." Hart stressed the word bothered as if he meant something else. Maybe it was the lack of sleep from the last couple of days but it didn't quite click for Ophelia. "Honestly I'm risking my life by having you in here." Hart announced suddenly, "Risking your life?" Ophelia asked confused. "Yes get out and go to Darius's tent!" Hart pushed her out of the tent back into the rain. Ophelia looked at Hart dumbfounded as he closed the flap to his tent. 

Ophelia looked over at Darius's tent which was just a few paces away from Hart's. She happened to glance over at the cart and noticed the other cadets watching. So Ophelia decided to head to the woods deciding to find a nice tree to huddle under. It wasn't thundering so it should be fine she supposed. 

Finding a healthy enough fir, Ophelia flopped down on the surprisingly dry ground under it and sighed. "Must get its water from underground sources." She mumbled to herself wrapping her coat around her tightly. She sat there quietly, it seemed like it had been forever since she had a moment truly to herself. Ophelia leaned back and let out a long sigh, her thoughts wandered back to her conversation with Hart just yesterday.

He wanted to know how serious she was with Darius... While yes she had never thought about her future... Honestly, she just assumed they'd lose interest in each other eventually. That's how all her romantic relationships went in the past, interest was eventually lost and the omega she had been busy taking care of at night soon made their way down the aisle to another alpha. 

The first time it happened Ophelia was at a loss, she wondered if there was something she did that made the omega run away from her. But now... 

Should Darius become emperor it stands to reason that some backwoods alpha like herself would not be the most beneficial to have by his side. Not that Ophelia didn't think she deserved to be by Darius's side. There was a certain amount of pride she had to develop when dealing with the harsh nature of peasants and villagers. She had been treated poorly for most of her life due to her dynamic, position, or whatever other excuses they could come up with. 

But Ophelia knew her worth which was why she fought so hard just to survive for so long.

Darius was clever and resourceful, despite whatever feelings they had for each other he'd pick the best option to rule next to him. Someone that would help stabilize his position and be able to handle all the responsibilities that came with being an empress. Ophelia blinked a few times at that thought, why did she specifically assume there'd be an empress? Shifting Ophelia rested her elbow on her knee and covered her mouth feeling her cheeks burn.

To be fair... Ophelia thought to herself, she was pretty smart and resourceful herself.

She sighed running her fingers through her hair and taking her hair down. A flustered smile was on her lips, she was ridiculous she knew it. But Darius... He had a way of making her want things she shouldn't want... He had a way of making her just as greedy as he ever was.

Ophelia sat there minding her own business until she was suddenly hit in the face with a glove. Snapping back to the present, Ophelia looked and saw Cadet Hyde standing in the rain looking furious. "Duel me!" He shouted at Ophelia, "If I duel you, you'll die." Ophelia replied standing up, "If you want to fight we can fight." Ophelia dusted herself off, she then stood to her full height and was hit with a glove again this time against her chest.

Both Hyde's gloves were on the ground, Ophelia looked down at them before looking at Hyde. He was soaked from the rain and his eyes were red as if he had been crying. Ophelia sighed and grabbed him by the arm pulling him under the tree. As much as she wanted to let her temper get the best of her... He looked pathetic.

So instead, she took off her coat and wrapped Hyde in it, he stood there biting his bottom lip looking furious and ashamed. "I'm not in the mood to kill anyone today," Ophelia told him, tears filled Hyde's eyes. "He doesn't want me anymore." Hyde choked out as tears spilled down his cheeks. "Who?" Ophelia questioned, "Ambrose." Hyde sobbed, and Ophelia assumed that he was talking about Hart. 

Putting an arm around Hyde's shoulder Ophelia stood next to him patting his upper arm. 

"No one's worth that many tears if they throw you away so easily," Ophelia spoke staring at the rain. "But I..." Hyde whimpered leaning against Ophelia, a shaking breath came from him. "I love him," Hyde mumbled softly. "Do you prove your love by trying to kill people?" Ophelia questioned, Hyde stared at her with swollen eyes. "How is that different than you and the commander?" He questioned.

Ophelia opened her mouth and then closed it. "Well, at least when I do it I kill our enemies and not one of our people." She looked away, and a bitter laugh came out of Hyde, "I wanted him to become emperor. Everyone back in Heart wants him to be Emperor with the commander." "If he's with the commander he can't be with you." Ophelia argued, Hyde smiled at Ophelia, "Yeah but... If he's emperor... He can shine at his brightest." Hyde's eyes shimmered softly as he spoke.

He really believed that Hart was supposed to be emperor. 

Ophelia removed her arm from Hyde and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Hart would be a terrible emperor and partner for the commander." Ophelia spoke, "Oh and you would be better?" Hyde questioned sharply. Ophelia folded her arms and narrowed her eyes, "You certainly think so enough to try to push me off of a cliff." She replied.

Hyde fell silent and stared at her. Ophelia felt her temper flair, everyone seemed so damn sure that Darius had locked in on her. They had slept together once! That didn't always mean anything! Darius was free to keep going on with her or move to someone new! It pissed Ophelia off to have so many people so sure of what their relationship was when it hadn't even started yet!

"Don't think because I grew up with nothing that I believe I don't deserve anything." Ophelia spoke sharply, "If I want to be with the commander I will become someone he thinks is worth being with." Ophelia turned to face Hyde fully. "If being with him means I'll be empress then I'll become empress." She pinned him against the trunk of the tree with one hand placed behind his head as he leaned against it.

"But for right now what he and I have between us is between us, no one else." Ophelia announced, "But if you're so sure that I'll be empress..." Ophelia grabbed Hyde's chin, "Why the hell haven't you been kneeling?" She questioned lowly.