Neudämmerung — Aschenfall Fortress — Same Day, Dawn
Adelheid was on the main tower balcony, watching the kingdom wake.
The sun was just beginning to rise, painting the distant mountains orange and purple.
Three weeks since Kaito had left for Vestria.
Three weeks during which she had ruled in his absence.
And each day felt heavier than the last.
Not from incompetence—Adelheid knew how to lead. She had been Supreme Commander long before this moment.
But leading in Kaito's name was different from leading with Kaito.
He had something she didn't: the ability to make people believe everything would be alright, even when there were no guarantees.
Adelheid could only offer strategy. Efficiency. Discipline.
Sometimes, that wasn't enough.
A knock at the tower door.
"Come in."
Gorman entered, his face more somber than usual.
"Commander Adelheid. We have a problem."
Of course they did.
"What kind of problem?"
Gorman unfurled a scroll with numbers and annotations.
