Reincarnate as the Villainess's Husband - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Warlord
After a brief but meaningful farewell with Cassandra, Neonidas provided a few key pieces of information to that spy loyal to the House of Duke Draevos. His words were clear and authoritative, each chosen with the precision of a chess master calculating their next move. Despite the professional focus in the woman’s eyes, a subtle hesitance was evident in her demeanor before Neonidas. When he finished, he exited without so much as a glance back at her.

A cool breeze, slicing through the sunlight, gently ruffled his cloak. Solara and Yuanna were waiting in front of the carriage, though Zalira was nowhere to be seen. Neonidas approached Solara and embraced her firmly, a gesture echoing the pleasant moments they had shared in recent days. Solara, accustomed to such warmth from him, still couldn’t entirely hide the faint blush that crept across her face each time.

He then turned to Yuanna, offering her a warm farewell and murmuring a few words that remained a secret between them, leaving no echo for the world to hear. With the farewells complete, Neonidas climbed into the carriage, his steps calm yet confident.

As the carriage began to roll forward, his gaze fixed on the horizon. His immediate destination was clear: the military headquarters. Word had come that Zalira was there, and this knowledge felt like an undeniable summons to him. Upon arriving at the headquarters, he made his way to where Zalira was said to be.

The towering structures, bathed in the morning light, were both familiar and strangely meaningless to him. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he scanned the bustling crowd for Zalira. He needed to speak with her; time was running short, and the next move was approaching.

Zalira, clad in her armor, stood surrounded by Neonidas’s primary guards. The air was tense, as though a fight could break out at any moment. Neonidas approached the scene, and the shift in the atmosphere did not escape his notice.

“Zalira, what are you doing here?”

Neonidas’s voice carried a firm tone but wasn’t entirely devoid of familiarity; it held the authority of a leader laced with the curiosity of a brother. Zalira paused before responding, her eyes fixed downward as she adjusted the straps of her armor, seemingly preoccupied. But Neonidas was not one to overlook the intent behind such evasive actions.

“Do I need a reason to be here?” she finally replied, her voice calm but tinged with subtle tension. Her sea-blue eyes finally met his, reflecting the steadfast determination he had come to associate with her.

“Zalira,” Neonidas said, ignoring her evasive response. “I want to believe you’ve come to see me off, but it’s clear there’s more to this.” His words were measured and confident as he scanned every detail of her armor. This was far too serious for a mere farewell.

“I’m coming with you,” Her voice barely above a whisper. Yet Neonidas heard her. The surprise on his face quickly gave way to a faint furrow in his brow. Zalira’s gaze held unyielding resolve, though it was accompanied by the delicate sentimentality that was uniquely hers.

“What about the Magic Center? Who will oversee it?”

“I’ve already taken care of everything. My assistant, who’s worked alongside me for years, will handle it all.”

Though Zalira tried to hide it, Neonidas understood her eagerness to join the war stemmed from her fear that something might happen to himself. Since childhood, she had protected her brother, and now, for the first time, he was heading into battle—a thought that likely filled her mind with anxiety. Realizing this, Neonidas took a deep breath and nodded to his guards.

“Prepare a carriage for her and ensure her every need is met during the journey.”

Zalira smiled at her brother’s words, then turned to the guards, scolding them playfully, “Hurry up, you little pests! War won’t wait like your plump wives!”

—

After parting ways with Zalira, Neonidas reached the capital via a teleportation portal the same day. The portal, located outside the capital, left him with a long journey before finally arriving at the palace. By the time he reached it, the sun was about to set. Upon entering, Empress Velriona, the palace steward, and several royal advisors greeted him.

Neonidas had come to renew his oath of loyalty to the emperor and be officially appointed as the Warlord of the Empire. Following protocol, he bowed his head respectfully to Empress Velriona before entering the palace together.

The throne room had been prepared for a grand ceremony to honor Neonidas’s appointment as warlord. A red carpet stretched before Emperor Gredor’s throne, flanked by banners adorned with the golden wolf emblem of the Donnadan Empire. Every corner of the room reflected the gravity of war and the splendor of the occasion.

The ceremony began with the attendance of the empire’s highest-ranking commanders and nobles. At Emperor Gredor’s command, Neonidas was summoned before the throne. All eyes were on him. Kneeling before the emperor, he waited as Velriona signaled the ceremony’s religious leader to begin.

Raising his hands, the priest intoned in a deep, resonant voice: “May the blessings of our gods be upon this warlord. With the sword that brings justice and the heart that symbolizes sacrifice, Neonidas shall be the shield of our empire.”

After the prayer, Gredor rose from his throne and approached Neonidas, carrying a ceremonial sword. This sword represented one of the Empire’s oldest traditions—a symbol of its will and strength, entrusted to the Warlord.

Holding the sword before Neonidas, Gredor spoke: “This sword shall be raised not only against the enemies of the empire but also in the name of honor and justice. Neonidas, do you accept this sacred duty?”

Lowering his head, Neonidas replied in a firm voice: “My Emperor, I dedicate my life to this sword and to you. I will fulfill my duty with honor.”

Gredor placed the sword on Neonidas’s shoulder and formally declared him the Warlord of the Donnadan Empire. “Then, Neonidas, I hereby proclaim you the Warlord of the Donnadan Empire. This duty is not only an honor but also a great responsibility. Rise, and fight for our people.”

As Neonidas stood, everyone in the room unsheathed their swords in salute. “Victory for Donnadan!” echoed throughout the hall, the ceremony’s weight palpable in the air.

Gredor then placed a red-eyed wolf emblem, the empire’s wartime insignia, on Neonidas’s chest. This marked his official authority to make decisions during the war, even to the extent of deciding whether to plunder the Hindonpon Kingdom’s lands after victory.

However, with this authority came the responsibility of bearing the consequences of any defeat. After the ceremony, Neonidas briefly spoke with Velriona before retreating to his assigned chamber to await the night.

——

When night fell, Neonidas made his way toward the room where Empress Velriona was supposed to be. Velriona had dismissed all the servants and guards from their meeting room, ensuring that no one would see Neonidas as he entered.

As Neonidas quietly stepped into the dimly lit room, the soft glow of the lamps bathed the space in a warm ambiance. Velriona stood in the center, clad in an elegant and regal nightgown. Her gaze was fixed on Neonidas; her usual authoritative demeanor had softened, replaced with a more intimate and warm expression as she approached him.

Without wasting time, Neonidas walked up to her, gently stroking her hair as he leaned in toward her lips. But, to his surprise, Velriona pushed him away lightly. A flicker of confusion crossed Neonidas’s face.

“I-I’m sorry, but I can’t… Not here. This is my husband’s and my family’s home. I’m truly sorry, Neonidas, but I can’t do this here,” she said.

Her words did not entirely surprise Neonidas. He let out a quiet sigh. “Alright, that’s fine. But I wish you had told me sooner.” With that, he turned and began walking toward the door.

He could easily call the night a disappointment, but he understood Velriona. After all, she had endured this forbidden relationship solely for the sake of her daughter’s life. As much as she seemed to enjoy it, just as much as Neonidas did, she would never have agreed to it if she hadn’t learned that Allea’s life would one day be in danger.

At her core, Velriona was a loyal wife, even if her husband didn’t love her. The only thing that had driven her to accept this affair was her daughter’s life, but even then, she had boundaries. Her home was sacred, and she refused to taint it with such actions.

However, Velriona misinterpreted Neonidas’s abrupt departure and the sigh he gave before leaving. She thought she had hurt him. For some reason, her heartbeat quickened, and the idea of losing Neonidas filled her with an inexplicable fear.

The thought struck her like a bolt of lightning: this young man, who had so confidently expressed his love for her and stirred her heart in ways it had never been stirred before, might not always be by her side.

If he won the war, Velriona could already picture noblewomen—and even the most beautiful women of the Hindonpon Kingdom—throwing themselves into Neonidas’s bed. The thought caused an unbearable tightness in her chest. For the first time, Neonidas planted a seed of an unfamiliar emotion within Velriona’s delicate heart: jealousy.

This young man had entered Velriona’s life unexpectedly, turning it completely upside down. Now, his retreating silhouette only intensified the storm of emotions within her.

“Neonidas…” she whispered, her voice so faint and shaky it was almost inaudible. She wanted to stop him, but the conflict within her kept her rooted in place.

When Neonidas reached the door, he hesitated. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he took a deep breath, wondering if Velriona would call out to him or make another move. As he reached for the doorknob, he felt movement behind him. Velriona had rushed toward him and placed her hand gently on his arm.

“Wait,” she said, her voice steadier this time. “Maybe this isn’t the right place, but…”

She hesitated, carefully choosing her words. “But I do care about you. I need you to know that.”