episode_0001

The warm sunlight poured onto the bed.

Perhaps due to the heat, I could barely open my tightly shut eyes.

“….”

A strange ceiling lay before me.

It wasn’t the Northern Palace of Irina.

If it were, dust would have poured from the ceiling pierced by my blow.

“Where is this…?”

A shabby 2nd-floor bed.

Clothes hung on it, perhaps belonging to a roommate.

Among them was the candidate’s training uniform.

At that moment, I realized.

This place was a squire dormitory.

“What on earth happened…?”

I quickly got up.

With anxiety gripping me, I looked around with a puzzled expression.

Suddenly, my gaze fell on the mirror hanging in the wardrobe.

“…!”

My younger self reflected back at me in the mirror.

Not the one about to head to the Northern Front, but the twenty-year-old me.

“A… A dreamlike state?”

I’ve heard that when facing death, one sees their life flash before their eyes.

Is this that moment?

“It feels too vivid to be a fantasy…”

With a heavy heart, I surveyed the quiet dormitory.

Shabby beds used by commoner candidates.

Practice wooden swords leaning against the wall.

The atmosphere of my youthful days as a squire lingered strongly.

“It’s been a long time.”

Among them, a particular uniform caught my eye.

A stiff texture with no insignia attached to the chest yet.

It’s worn only on the day a candidate is appointed as an official knight.

“Ha.”

A bitter chuckle escaped as I realized I was breaking free from the squire phase to become a guard for the weak princess after five years on the Northern Front.

Today marks the day my life took a wrong turn.

My gaze lowered to the uniform in my hands.

As if urging me to wear it, a warm sunlight streamed in.

“Let’s try putting it on for now.”

I slowly slid my arms into the sleeves.

Perhaps because I was twenty, my body felt thinner than before.

Well, back then, I was a poor commoner candidate.

Couldn’t eat properly, so I was scrawny.

As I finished changing and looked at myself in the full-length mirror,

Music from the palace resonated through the window.

The source of the music was the splendid Star Palace beyond the window.

I know that music.

How could a knight not recognize it?

It’s the music announcing the appointment ceremony.

Enthralled by the nostalgic melody, I headed there.

Slowly opening the palace doors, I entered.

Inside, a grand table gilded with gold stretched out.

In front of the table, candidates dressed in uniforms stood in formation like chess pieces.

As if waiting to take an exam.

“Vale, over here…!”

Cain, my former roommate from our squire days.

Thanks to his call, I naturally joined the formation.

“Why are you so late?”

Brown curly hair and freckles on his nose.

Meeting fellow losers who were banished together to the frontier, our smiles involuntarily rose.

“I must have overslept.”

Casually replying to his urgent question.

Then, Cain chuckled and warmly patted my shoulder.

“Kid, I knew you were nervous yesterday.”

With his words, the knights of the royal palace entered the palace.

Golden helmets and elaborate epaulets.

Seeing these young versions of those I once fought with, I felt a strange mix of emotions.

“They were all so weak back then.”

Unlike me, who viewed their past prowess objectively, Cain seemed excited.

He swallowed deeply, imagining himself joining their ranks.

“General Valderian is arriving. Everyone, show respect!”

At the grand knight commander’s command, the candidates tensed up.

Focused, they stood upright, gazing ahead.

――――――.

The clanking sound of iron boots.

A man in a lion-headed helmet, draped in a navy cape, strode in majestically.

His arrival silenced the bustling Star Palace.

“Today is the day of appointment you’ve eagerly awaited.”

Commander General Valderian.

He stood in the middle of the table, scrutinizing our faces carefully.

His eyes, rejuvenated to the prime of his middle age, exuded intensity.

Like a majestic lion in its prime, he overflowed with dignity.

“Old man, I was quite something back then.”

Five years from now, during the civil war over the imperial throne.

I sided with Irina, while he stood against me on the side of the crown prince.

At that time, I had risen to the rank of Swordmaster with the skills I honed on the frontier, allowing me to clash swords with him.

“In the end, I emerged victorious, but with him now, who knows.”

“When the princesses arrive, make sure to prove your worth to the fullest.”

The princesses.

A presence that made men’s hearts flutter just at the mention of them.

At the news of their imminent arrival, the eyes of the candidates sparkled.

“That’s how you’ll secure the position you desire.”

The Grand Marshal firmly placed his lion helmet down.

At his words, some knights flinched.

“Even if appointed where you don’t wish, there will be no change. Those who apply will face my judgment directly.”

Facing direct retribution by his hand.

The stern words silenced the courtiers in unison.

“Yes, that’s it. Give your best for honor’s sake.”

“Honor…”

The candidates in white uniforms would think so.

Being nobles guaranteed only honor for them to cherish.

But our uniforms are black.

Plain and simple, mostly commoners by birth.

Not even the princesses, destined to be driven out like me from the frontlines.

“It’s awkward knowing the future…”

For peasant knights, the best option is to become city defense guards.

At least then, they can remain in the capital.

However, these young commoner comrades are unaware of this fact.

Regardless of their origins, all they see are the princesses.

“Hey, who do you want to be assigned to?”

Lost in thought.

Cain whispered to me softly.

It seems he, too, is eagerly anticipating the princesses.

A smile lingered in his eyes.

“Who else? The princesses, of course?”

I chuckled at his question.

“Asera, what princess am I from? Just being able to stay in the capital is fortunate enough.”

Of course, I also doggedly tried to attract the princesses’ attention.

But unable to overcome my background, I was ignominiously driven to the northern frontlines.

Realizing this fact, I couldn’t even consider becoming a princess’s guard.

But…

“…”

In the final moment, tears fell from her eyes, obscuring her cheeks.

The lingering sensation felt as if her tears still remained.

“Bittersweet.”

Preserving memories with Irina intact.

I no longer wanted to be her guard.

Even if it meant comfortably enjoying wealth and glory.

Nor could I connect with them.

“Well, with your skills, you could easily aim to be a guard.”

“Forget it, I just want to live quietly and long.”

Encouraged by my contemplative stance, a comrade I missed offered words of encouragement.

I simply chuckled and patted his shoulder.

However.

My hand, patting him, abruptly stopped.

“Surprising. Everyone has their limits, you know.”

A rather irritating voice came from behind.

“Yeah, usually they’re clueless and overstep their bounds.”

Candidates in white uniforms.

They smirked and sneered at us.

“If you go to the border, take good care of the frontlines.”

Nobles mocking Valderian in hushed tones to avoid being heard.

Kain, irritated by their attitude, clenched his teeth.

“Asera, we’d be the ones at a loss if we retaliate against them.”

I quietly restrained Kain.

Upon which, they grew louder in their taunts.

“Oh, one person might manage. If it’s the second princess, that is.”

At the idea that even commoners could become princess guards, my comrade’s eyebrows twitched.

“Why…? Is there an issue with the second princess?”

To his question, I hesitated briefly before answering.

Then, with a vacant look, I replied, gazing into the void.

“The second princess is the abandoned princess.”

“Abandoned…?”

Except for Irina, all the other princesses had mothers who were foreign royalty.

Thanks to that, they had strong support both domestically and internationally.

Thanks to that, even on the day of exile, they could escape to their motherland and save their lives.

But Irina…

Her mother was a commoner.

There was no one to support a half-bred princess like her.

Even the aged emperor passed away, leaving her truly alone.

“I see, that’s how it is.”

With a bitter smile, I let out a deep sigh.

Even though I wanted to explain more, I kept my mouth shut at the general’s call.

“All stand in your places!”

Valderian’s thunderous command.

Following his command, we straightened our postures.

The star palace fell silent.

Beyond the splendid stained glass, bright sunlight poured in.

Soon, the massive doors opened.

Golden hair bathed in radiant sunlight.

Followed by someone clad in noble white robes entering the hall.

First Princess, Leia Andalucia.

Sharp blue eyes set in her pure white face.

At 22 years old this year, she gazed at the new knights with her long, sharp eyes.

As the princess’s lips curved upwards, some knights’ lips also twitched.

With each step she took, her sensual hips swayed.

Along with her steps, the men’s hearts also fluttered.

“Please, take your seats.”

Following the grand marshal’s courteous gesture, Leia sat down.

“Thank you, Valderian.”

Leia was the only military officer and commander among the nobles.

She was famous for combining military prowess with beauty.

However, no one knew of the ambition hidden within that beauty.

—

“The Third Princess is entering!”

Behind the First Princess, someone shouted loudly from the direction of the door.

Subsequently, a woman dressed in a ruby-colored dress entered the palace confidently, with healthy skin.

Third Princess, Lydia Andalucia.

Unlike the graceful and formal Leia, Lydia’s entrance was very lively.

The sound of her heels felt like Eastern-style music.

“Why are this year’s candidates so thin?”

Lydia confidently surveyed the candidates.

Then, she casually sat in the Second Princess’s seat, crossing her arms.

“They all look too weak to even use their strength.”

All the candidates tried to stand tall and look straight ahead.

However, their gazes were inevitably drawn to the two beautiful princesses like magnets.

It was natural for men.

But why?

My head still turned towards the open door as if waiting for someone.

The two princesses also awaited the final protagonist.

However, the wide-open door remained silent.

“…”

In the prolonged silence, Leia checked the time with a pocket watch.

Yawning, Lydia bared her sharp fangs.

“Shall we begin first?”

Valderian, seated at the corner of the table, politely asked.

Upon which Leia nodded maturely with her characteristic gaze.

“Understood. Well then…”

The grand marshal declared the commencement of the appointment ceremony in a refined voice.

In response, the knights all readied themselves in unison.

At that moment,

—

Valderian closed his mouth, which had been about to shout loudly.

Because the firmly closed doors had opened.

Dust floated lazily into the sunlight.

Beyond it, the silhouette of a graceful woman appeared.

“…”

No one stood beside her.

No one even called out her name.

Yet, the woman confidently entered the star palace alone.

“I apologize for being late.”

Still, her beautiful silver hair.

The elegant white dress clinging to her body.

And even her captivating green eyes that caught everyone’s attention.

“Second Princess, Irina Andalucia.”

Dozens of knights gathered in the hall.

There, the princess introduced herself alone.

“…”

The moment I saw Irina’s face,

I felt like this might not be the end, after all.

As if it were a fantasy….

Her figure was as faint as the day she died.