Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 1059, page 09.1058: 'Growth Through Facing the Truth'

"Are you free now? Summon a guard, we're going to the colonial governor's residence."

Horatio's voice echoed in the empty room.

Just in case, he has already put on the power armor that was custom-made for him by the master forge Architect Latti.

The dark blue armor reflected a cold metallic sheen in the sunlight, making his figure appear even more imposing, yet without the ruggedness and bulkiness of a Space Marine. Instead, its form-fitting design, based on the combat nun's power armor, exuded a deadly elegance and symmetry.

"Yes. But before that, could you come with me on a mission?"

Jadvig's voice was hesitant, her eyes darting around, unable to meet Horatio's gaze.

"A mission? I haven't assigned you any missions." Horatio raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat puzzled. He quickly recalled whether he had given Yadviga any unfinished tasks.

"No, it wasn't a task you assigned."

Her gaze darted away for a moment, then she finally sighed deeply, as if she had made up her mind. "Do you remember the military trial we initiated after the defense of the Minerva Monastery?"

“I remember it, it’s still fresh in my mind. It was a very memorable trial.”

"The victim, Matthew Antoine, was the son of a senior gardener at this estate."

He should have inherited his father's skillful hands in tending flowers and plants, but when the military reformers needed soldiers, I... I encouraged these young people to join the army and serve the Emperor.

But then that happened…”

Her voice lowered, filled with deep self-reproach, "I... I was never ready to tell his father about this."

I know I'm running away, running away from facing a father who lost his son because of me, and in such a tragic way.

Until I saw you on the altar at the Enlightenment Cathedral, personally pinning medals on the face of the old warrant officer with severe burns and his son who had died in battle.

At that moment, I told myself that I had to give a formal explanation.

This is not just about facing him, but also about overcoming the weakness in my heart.

I must become a mature leader, and I can never grow by running away. I cannot be a weak sister, a resentful daughter, or an officer who avoids problems; I must become a capable leader as quickly as possible.

“Okay. I’ll go with you.” Horatio’s voice was calm and firm. “First, you must be clear about what kind of cause you are undertaking. Only then can you calmly face all the sacrifices and costs that come with this path.”

Yadwiga nodded vigorously.

The two of them, one in front of the other, entered the garden bathed in golden sunlight through the back gate of the palace.

The sun was shining brightly, making every leaf a lush green, creating a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere.

The air is filled with the fresh scent of flowers and the warm aroma of wheat wafting from the distant rice paddies.

An elderly woman from Polaberia, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, is kneeling in front of a carefully trimmed spherical bush.

He had a damp scarf tied around his neck for some coolness, and the huge garden shears in his hand were making a crisp "snip, snip" sound.

Although the Władysław family has long since fallen from grace, the people living in this palace estate still fulfill their generational duties as they have for centuries: the steward earns a meager income by selling the estate's agricultural products to pay the workers and maids, purchase goods, and maintain the estate; the head maid arranges for the maids to clean the palace's perpetually dusty grounds every day; and the gardeners diligently trim the gardens and tend to the flowers and plants.

All of this was just like those peaceful years before the first invasion of the "Tooth Catastrophe".

When Jadviga and Horatio walked up behind him, the old gardener's long horse ears, peeking out from under his straw hat, twitched sharply. He then turned around.

"husband……"

Upon seeing the armored, dashing woman before him, he instinctively reached for that familiar title.

But he stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence and changed his words to, "...Miss."

He adjusted his straw hat, nodded slightly, and performed a gesture reminiscent of an old era.

"By the way, Miss, how is my little Antoine doing in the army? I heard from the butler that his dragoon unit has been transferred to the Imperial Navy."

This unit is currently stationed in Stutzianchi. Is he there too? When... will he have time to come back and visit?

Faced with the old gardener's series of expectant questions, Jadwiga froze.

She suddenly lowered her head, her brows furrowed tightly, her lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word.

"If you want to become a qualified leader, this is something you'll have to face every day. You can overcome it all."

Horatio whispered encouragement in her ear in a voice that only the two of them could hear—a voice devoid of emotion yet full of power.

She bit her lower lip, her nails digging deep into her palms.

She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.

Finally, she suddenly raised her head, her beautiful eyes filled with pain, but also with an unprecedented resolve.

“Your son, Matthew Antoine, he…is very brave.”

Upon hearing this, the old gardener's smile instantly froze. The heavy shears in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

"He fought bravely against the Greenskins on the battlefield of Minerva. At that time, we were ambushed by the enemy, and he... he chose to stay behind with some of the bravest soldiers to cover the retreat."

In the end, he sacrificed himself in his own chariot, perishing alongside an army of green-skinned warriors many times his size.

She concealed the dishonorable and humiliating cause of Matthew's death—dying at the hands of his own people, his fellow Star Guardians, from unequal discrimination and the arrogance of the privileged class.

She rewrote a heroic story for this young soldier.

“This is his uniform.” Yadviga took a neatly folded, brand-new dragoon uniform from the soldiers behind him. “His compensation will be paid to you in full later. This is… a condolence payment for the families of fallen soldiers.”

She took out a heavy wooden box that she had prepared beforehand and handed it to the old gardener.

Her movements were somewhat stiff and hurried; it was clear that this was the first time she had visited the families of fallen soldiers as a commander.

But it's already quite good.

"His soul has returned to the Golden Throne, and beneath it he will continue to serve the Lord of Mankind. The God-Emperor will remember every loyal warrior."

Horatio stepped forward and, on behalf of the speechless Jadvig, delivered the following inspiring words in an incredibly skillful, even grand, and ceremonial tone.
"Thank you to your family for your service and sacrifices to the God-Emperor."

(End of this chapter)