episode_0008

Before the attack on Blair’s Heresy Investigation Bureau secret base, Primera Kingdom Royal Palace.

After a long meeting, Count Dalia was finally able to return to the guest room prepared in the palace.

Leaning back in his chair, the count poured whiskey into a glass on the table. It had truly been an exhausting day. For the count, who had lived his whole life as a knight, political strife was more difficult than battles on the field.

The thought of his beloved wife carrying out a dangerous mission alone weighed heavily on his mind. It seemed that only strong liquor could alleviate his anxiety.

Of course, the count trusted his wife and her abilities, which is why he had made the decision to let her go.

“She’s stronger than me, so nothing bad will happen.”

In reality, she was stronger than the black count of Blair. It was widely known that Count Dalia was the best knight in Primera, but he had no confidence in facing his wife’s deadly sword. Not that such a situation would ever arise between the devoted couple.

The unease in his heart did not easily fade away.

“I have a bad feeling. I should return earlier than planned.”

As soon as dawn broke, he made up his mind to return to his territory as the count.

Just as he was about to finish the remaining drink and pick up the bottle, an uninvited guest arrived.

Swoosh-

He had no choice but to rise from his seat due to the unexpected visitor.

The count welcomed the man who had come to the now empty guest room.

It was Charles II, the master of this palace and ruler of the Primera Kingdom.

“Is it proper for a count to drink alone like this?”

“Your Majesty.”

The king, showing courtesy, gestured for the count to sit again and took a seat opposite him.

“Why don’t you drink with me instead of drowning your worries in alcohol?”

The count filled the glass offered by Charles II with whiskey.

“Why do you look so serious while drinking? What weighty concerns are troubling you?”

“It’s a trivial concern. I was just thinking about the estate’s affairs.”

“Truly a noble concern! A true nobleman should take care of household matters before external affairs, shouldn’t he?”

“I am grateful for your consideration.”

The marquis wanted to avoid conversation, but his interlocutor was the king. He couldn’t refuse. Moreover, Charles’s persistent conversational style did not make it easy for the other party. The political power that had subdued the courtiers at a young age was not for nothing.

“Hmm… By the way, I heard today that your lady is applying to the academy? Her name was… Beatrice, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. She said she wants to become a knight like me.”

“Haha, if another knight like the marquis comes out, it will be a great support for our kingdom.”

“You flatter me.”

“The academy… It’s been three years since I graduated already.”

In his mid-twenties, Charles ascended to the throne immediately after graduating from the academy. The previous king was not competent, but he was not foolish enough to obstruct the intelligent prince. After handing over the throne to Charles, he lived a leisurely life.

As Charles sipped his drink, he seemed to momentarily recall the past.

His dark blue hair reflected in the glass.

“The Imperial Academy was a great opportunity to see a bigger world. It made even a prince like me realize that I was a frog in a well.”

“But even in such an academy, you managed to graduate as the top student.”

“Wouldn’t that be the natural result? I had to live up to the expectations placed on me.”

When he spoke the same words, Charles had a knack for making it seem like confidence rather than arrogance. He may not have the brute force of a marquis, but he was full of intellectual talents necessary for leading a country, such as politics, diplomacy, and administration. These talents had made him graduate as the top strategist of his generation in the academy. Therefore, Charles’s confidence was never unfounded.

“Many talents of the kingdom will apply to the academy, but Lady Dalia seems to attract particular attention.”

“Beatrice is not significantly different from other applicants.”

“No, isn’t she the daughter of you and Lady Blair? Don’t underestimate yourselves. And—”

Charles blurred the end of his words and his eyes sparkled. He looked at the viscount with keen eyes. Charles’s gaze was as sharp as the gazes of lively inspectors. It was because no one could know his inner thoughts. That’s why the viscount felt uncomfortable in front of the king.

“It’s also my personal feeling.”

“Are you talking about your feeling, Your Highness?”

“Yes, that’s right. Am I not good at sensing things? I look forward to Lady Beatrice becoming my successor soon. Can I arrange a position for her soon?”

“She is still a young girl who doesn’t understand the ways of the world. I worry she might be disrespectful to Your Highness.”

“I want to see her as a junior and senior in learning, not as a military officer. Just a light tea time.”

I never expected such a proposal. Among the many academy applicants, he singled out Beatrice and showed interest. The viscount was very uncomfortable, but he made an effort not to show it.

“If that’s what you wish, we will return to the palace with Beatrice soon.”

“I entrust it to you. It’s late, so please leave first.”

The viscount escorted Charles out of the guest room.

As the door closed, the viscount gulped down the strong whiskey in his glass in one go.

“How dare a young child… ”

The viscount, who had swallowed the strong drink, looked outside the closed door and thought. This was why he didn’t want to respond to the summons. He just wanted to return to his territory as soon as possible.

After spending time with Theo, he once again wandered around the mansion.

An unknown anxiety made it impossible for me to sit still.

“What’s going on? Why can’t I settle down…”

Efforts to read books in the study, to admire the sunset in the garden, and to wield a sword again in the training ground did not last long. I just couldn’t concentrate. My mind was filled with anxiety little by little.

Feeling like something important was being overlooked.

How should I describe it…

Like the chill I felt when I forgot to return a book borrowed from the library and ended up overdue for over a month?

As with this kind of worry, you can never know until it hits you.

That’s why I was even more anxious.

I couldn’t even have a proper dinner.

I left without even taking a few spoonfuls.

And I walked.

I wandered aimlessly around the mansion.

Nowhere in this spacious mansion could calm my mind.

Suddenly, darkness fell.

Looking around, it had become late at night.

Only the moonlight coming through the window illuminated the way.

The candles adorned throughout the mansion were not lit.

Except for the few places that had been lit in advance to avoid sunlight during the day.

Normally, the servants would light them promptly…

“Where has everyone gone? Are they not concerned that the Count and Countess are missing?”

The vast mansion felt eerie.

Each of my footsteps sounded louder than usual.

Sniff-

What’s this smell?

A pungent odor assaulted my nostrils.

It could only be described as a stench.

But it was an awakening stench, so overpowering.

“A foul smell?”

It seemed like a smell I’d never encountered before. Or had I? It felt familiar…

Squelch-

As the stench grew closer,

I stepped on a puddle with my toes.

I nearly slipped.

Someone must have spilled water. If so, they should clean it up…

But could such a smell come from water?

The moon, previously hidden by clouds, revealed itself and once again illuminated the window with its light. The moonlight brightened my view. The puddle I thought was water turned out not to be water.

“Huh!!”

When people are startled, they become calmer than expected. I barely managed to stifle the voice that was about to escape. For the first time in my life, I witnessed it. Death.

A pool of sticky blood came into view. In the darkness, it appeared reddish-brown. In the middle of the puddle, there lay the gardener who had been alive and breathing until the afternoon. He used to greet me occasionally, a diligent gardener.

Is he really… dead?

The unfamiliar sight, detached from daily life, didn’t feel real.

I was worried and curious about his life and death, but my mind kept sending warnings. “Run away, it’s already too late. Run away quickly.” The man in front of me was already a corpse, and whatever had happened, I didn’t know, but I needed to run away.

The survival instinct urged compliance with the warning.

As if not having seen anything, they hurriedly turned their steps to leave.

But after a few steps, they couldn’t help but look back.

“Where’s Theo? Where’s Yulia? Where is everyone??”

The place where the bodies were found was a passage leading into the mansion.

To get to Theo and Yulia’s room, they had to pass through there.

After hesitating for a moment, they eventually walked back inside, calming their pounding heart.

“I have to save them…”

*

As they entered further into the mansion, the unpleasant stench grew stronger.

The source was the bodies of several more servants inside. Every time I encountered those who had lost their lives, I tightly shut my eyes and continued forward.

I didn’t like feeling relieved that the bodies weren’t Theo and Yulia, but I couldn’t help it. At least, they must be safe. Please, let them be safe!

Carefully, I ascended the central staircase to the floor where Theo and my room was located.

I still had to rely on the sporadic moonlight.

But then, I saw a light source.

Lanterns and torches!

A group stood together, illuminating the darkness from afar. There seemed to be at least ten of them.

Cloaked entirely in black, each of them was armed, pacing as if searching for something.

“Captain, are you sure about this place? We haven’t noticed anything specific yet.”

“I’m sure. I personally confirmed it.”

“What if they are indeed the Earl’s offspring?”

“It doesn’t matter. God will surely regard their sacrifice with pity. Consider it a necessary price to prevent greater danger.”

“We will obey your command.”

In the wide central corridor, they began opening the closest door. The man addressed as “Captain” calmly observed his subordinates’ actions.

“But Captain, considering this is the Earl’s domain, there seem to be too few people. There are no knights, and even the number of servants is woefully inadequate compared to the size of the mansion.”

“So I’m more convinced. If this is the mansion of the guardian knight, they probably wanted to minimize their visibility as much as possible.”

Upon hearing the chief’s response, the subordinates intensified their search. What were they looking for?

They were getting closer and closer to Theo’s room.

At this rate, Theo is in danger.

“Ugh…”

But it wasn’t easy to make a decision.

Should I run away pretending not to have seen anything, or should I intervene? I can’t decide.

Intervene? Then what should I do?

Knock them down?

By what means?

I’m weak, aren’t I…?

And I’m not Beatrice, am I?

Fear overwhelmed me. Before I knew it, cold sweat dripped from my tension.

But how do I escape from here… leaving my family behind…!

“Oh, a little mouse was hiding here?”

A chilling voice came from behind.

Really, it was right behind me.

“Ahh!”

Due to the voice that startled my already tense nerves, I couldn’t help but scream loudly. It was a scream like those heard in horror movies. I couldn’t believe that such a frail sound came from me.

Screaming, I stumbled backward and fell on my backside.

“Ha… haa…”

Suddenly, I found it hard to breathe. Every nerve in my body was on edge.

Instincts are screaming. It’s dangerous.

“A woman in her early 20s with black hair… I found her!”

The man with the chilling gaze looked me over and spoke.

Hearing his words, the assailants who had scattered in all directions gathered around.

I struggled to get up and started to retreat. But soon I was blocked by a wall.

My surroundings were swarmed by numerous intruders.

Even those from other floors joined in, making it seem like there were at least thirty of them.

“W-what are you guys? How did you get in here…”

I tried to assess the situation with a trembling voice. My face, seen through the mirror hanging from the ceiling, had turned pale blue.

“We finally found her. We thought there was no guardian knight, so we were sure.”

“Chief, since I found her first, will I get a special reward later?”

“To discuss wealth in a sacred mission is impure. But it’s fine. Seek whatever you want. We are qualified.”

The intruders were thrilled upon finding me, as if they finally obtained what they had longed for.

“An.. answer, why are you in the mansion-”

Crash!

I attempted to satisfy their curiosity once more, but soon succumbed to the violence inflicted upon me.

My cheek felt numb.

Wait, did I just get slapped?

And not just any slap from a woman??

But it was different from an ordinary slap.

It was a hand with a deadly intent that lacked any restraint.

“Daring to speak as if you’re someone of importance, you trash.”

The man referred to as the chief exuded cold fury.

He, who was a stranger to me, attacked me as though he had placed his parents’ enemy in front of him.

“Hahaha, you’ve lived as a noble until now, isn’t this too much, chief?”

“Aren’t you being too disrespectful to the lady?”

The man’s subordinates teased the chief.

Of course, their purpose was to mock me.

Their gazes were filled with enmity, so I could tell that much.

“Even if you entrust your body to a guardian knight, have you forgotten the splendid life you led by deceiving commoners in your youth, pussy?”

“What nonsense are you spouting, you guys-.”

The man in front of me reached out, towards my chest.

“Scream!”

Instinctively, I screamed once again.

However, the man’s sinister touch stopped when he grabbed the necklace I was wearing. It had been hanging around my neck since the moment I possessed this body, so I hadn’t thought of taking it off.

He held up the necklace that had left my neck.

It was a beautiful necklace with a silver chain and a pendant adorned with sapphires.

“Look, our empire’s treasure! Are you still keeping it? Even though you’re not qualified?!”

Empire…? Now that he mentioned it, the pendant’s design resembled that of the empire.

But why am I carrying it?

“Your despicable life ends today, Triss Green.”

The man sent a signal to his subordinates.

Then the one who first discovered me took a step forward, drawing his sword.

Srrrk-

“To grant me such an honor, I am at a loss for words. Chief.”

The man with the drawn sword approached me with a satisfied expression.

Dangerous.

Dangerous.

Dangerous.

“Ugh..!”

I wanted to scream in terror but held it in.

I was holding onto a mind that seemed about to snap.

Think, think! Do something!!

“Well then, farewell? Princess.”

Princess? Me?

New information?

But damn, I don’t have time to think!!

The man had approached me without my noticing.

I’m going to die!

I could only tightly shut my eyes and cower.

Is it going to end so futilely like this..

“Screaam!!”

At that moment, the men’s screams were heard. Like the smell of burning.

Several intruders at the rear were on fire.

The intruders turned their bodies toward the source of the problem.

A young boy was walking from the end of the corridor.

A boy with black hair resembling me.

Theodore de Daliah.

My younger brother.

Theo’s two eyes emitted light even in the darkness.

His sharp emerald green pupils were looking at this place.

“Don’t torment my sister…”

It was just a very young kid walking, but the intruders, tense, drew their weapons and entered combat mode.

“Darn! Has the prince already awakened? Prepare everyone! We must suppress them!!”

The long, endless night did not come to an end.

My long nightmare was just beginning.