episode_0022

Having received the summoning decree from Seriniel, Rasha returned to the family-owned mansion with a distorted expression on her face.

The servants averted their eyes at the blatant arrogance displayed on the surface. Nevertheless, Rasha’s aristocratic, graceful stride remained her advantage.

“Damn it… How did the princess suddenly get involved with the Windmill Mercenaries?”

Her carefully laid plans for the distant future had been thrown off course.

The Windmill Mercenaries.

As the second in line in the empire, they were a formidable force with the capacity to be reckoned with.

The opportunity to swallow up that tempting pie had been abruptly cut off from the start.

“If only that annoying brat wasn’t involved…”

Esutiel Elenote. That irritating little girl was the key to the plan.

Esutiel was the heir to a nobleman known as the “White Changeback.” And for her to inherit that title meant the possibility of her being elevated from a mercenary to a knight, a position that would protect her from the Windmill Mercenaries. Perhaps the mercenaries were already eyeing her for that reason.

Though the Windmill Mercenaries had gained considerable trust, in terms of honor, being compared to a knightly order was a source of shame. Even with the same numbers and reputation, placing the mercenaries and the knights on the same level was considered disrespectful.

“It was a golden opportunity to swallow up such a gem…”

Rasha’s family, even if decayed, still held considerable power. They had a good relationship with the Luarte Marquisate, another decaying faction.

Thus, if she could manipulate Esutiel and Lord Rihardt well and make them allies of the Luarte Marquisate, the benefits would be immense.

For the Windmill Mercenaries, for Esutiel, to choose the Seriniel Princess, who was nothing short of a formidable enemy, was truly mysterious.

“Ha… Haha!”

A sudden chuckle escaped her lips.

Yes, it was not just that which was unbelievable.

What was truly unbelievable was…

“What kind of twist of fate… that the Seriniel Princess is still alive.”

The power dynamics between the current imperial faction and the decaying faction were quite similar. In fact, there were observations suggesting that the decaying faction had the upper hand.

Despite this environment, there were only two reasons why the decaying faction cowered.

The absolute ruler of the current empire and the contemporary emperor, Harum Leterion, and the Seriniel Princess, who inherited his monstrous physique.

No matter how much wealth they had, how strong their military might was, how wise their advisors were, they were ultimately powerless against absolute strength.

If it weren’t for them, the balance of power would have shifted long ago and remained.

Therefore, it was inevitable to continue researching ways to eliminate the two asymmetrical powers.

For the past decade, they had been waiting for the foolish ones who believed in waiting for the emperor to grow old.

Their efforts over those years had finally borne fruit, leading to the creation of a single plan.

It was poison.

A poison potent enough to incapacitate them for a long time, if not kill the beings that transcended common sense.

They entrusted this poison to the assassins. To the men who boasted of using considerable power in the underworld.

Even if they were caught, there would be no trace left behind.

Rasha recited the intelligence gathered from the spy.

When the prey would appear,

Where they would roam and in what attire,

Even what they liked, everything was reported accurately.

They probably didn’t even know the severity of the poison or who the target of their poisoning was.

When she received the report that Seriniel had fallen from the surveillance, she sighed in relief. Finally, her long-awaited wish had come true.

“It must have been fate… that woman received the blessing of the gods…?”

Looking back, after receiving the advance payment, there was no news from the executioners. The amount agreed upon for the contract, conditioned on success, was enough to enjoy a lifetime of entertainment, even after deducting the remaining amount.

“Could it be that the poison was deciphered and they faced a counterattack…?”

No, that’s not it. Considering the Emperor as the opponent, countless clinical trials were conducted. If it was the still immature Seriniel, it would be difficult to resist. In that case, the remaining possibility is…

“Perhaps Reinhardt intervened while transporting them to a secret location…”

It was the most plausible scenario. This would also explain the connection between Seriniel and Reinhardt. If it wasn’t this, it would be rather strange.

*Sigh*

A sigh escaped.

Could it be that something about that woman’s excellence turned even crises into opportunities?

“Even though she is Seriniel, she should have made friends with Reinhardt first.”

I heard that his power is tremendous. He was someone who could potentially become a formidable opponent to the Emperor or the Princess. He could even become a key player in turning the tables later on, yet he was called by a nickname from the Princess.

“Rian, was it?”

Since childhood, Seriniel, who consistently viewed men as cold as stones, was the one who called him by a nickname. The idea that such a woman would address a man by a nickname was beyond imagination.

“But really, what’s the use of that? The current Princess is in a decent position…”

The authority to easily dispel the complaints of the nobles exists in the current royal family. Having gained the support of the people and ascended to the throne, transcending social status in love will be promoted as a virtue of the current royal family.

From the beginning, the Empress was a poor writer’s concubine who fell from grace – worse off than Esutiel. What could be the problem?

“But does Reinhardt really have a face that would make someone like him?”

I became curious again.

If he covers his face so completely even in broad daylight, it would be appropriate to assume that there is a serious flaw.

I, too, became curious and occasionally stared at him intently, but he never revealed any weaknesses.

The only meager harvest was the beautiful golden hair and aquamarine eyes that seemed to reflect the blue sky, even though they were covered to the fullest extent.

“Even though he covered it up so much, he was still so beautiful that he stole the gaze.”

…

……

……?

No.

No.

“… Huh…?”

At first, Rasherla’s thoughts entered a new phase. She didn’t miss the momentary sense of unease and held onto it tightly in her mind.

It’s an excessive inference.

It’s also a blatant leap.

Even though she clearly understood that, her thoughts kept tilting towards the accident.

“Is there a possibility…?”

The admiration-inducing beautiful blonde hair and the wall.

The power that rules over the top mercenary group at a young age.

An unknown figure whose reputation is only based on rumors.

The elements that make up the human known as Reinhardt lead to a focus on instinct rather than logic.

“The Emperor’s child…”

She muttered with a cracked voice.

Shortly after, Rasherla cleared her throat after murmuring to herself.

“Haha… Did the plan go awry, so did the accident go awry as well?”

It’s a fantasy carved out by desperate wishes.

If she looked at the situation with common sense, it would be a dream that she would quickly wake up from.

The royal family is the one that has pushed her life into ruin. Moreover, there is no reason for the child of the Emperor who was driven away from the system after his death to have any affection for the child of the concubine.

Therefore, Rasherla could only rebuke her own diminished intellect.

“Like a fool…”

Projecting desires onto the wind is nothing more than evidence of delusion.

What did she expect to achieve by getting excited?

Thud.

Rasherla stopped in her tracks. The room where Luate Hofjak stayed was within sight. She knocked quietly and then moved her steps to the room where her father was waiting.

Meeting her father after a long time, the daughter greeted him with a voice devoid of highs and lows.

“Are you well, Father?”

“What do you think?”

“Well, I feel like I have a long way to go to deepen my understanding like you, Father.”

“You seem to have misunderstood my intentions by causing a commotion.”

Lord Luarte gazed at his daughter, Oh Yeonha, with a faint smile. Suddenly, his chest heaved irregularly, and after a few coughs, he finally regained his composure.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Don’t worry, I will continue to live for that person who was unjustly expelled.”

“I don’t worry.”

Oh Yeonha stared at Lord Luarte with indifferent eyes. In truth, her heart had already left her father. Since she was a child, she had different thoughts from her father.

“I still don’t understand what drove this man to madness.”

Lord Luarte. He was a devout follower of the fallen deity.

As a follower, he had only one wish.

To restore the fallen child of the deity to the throne without any guilt.

Lord Luarte was willing to do anything for that. Even his attempt to manipulate the windmill and reveal his face was to secure military power to offer to the fallen child of the deity.

“Is this madness or is this madness?”

Oh Yeonha tried to hide her disgusted expression and reported to her father about the recent events.

She expected to be scolded harshly for matters related to the fallen deity, but Lord Luarte showed little sign of blaming her.

Instead, he smiled kindly and created a sense of distance.

Surprised by his unexpected reaction, Oh Yeonha took a step back.

“It’s okay, Oh Yeonha.”

“Father?”

“Is failure such a big deal? Yes, what’s a little failure…”

“…!”

Oh Yeonha quickly realized his intention.

This was not a smile that contained the soft concept of mercy.

He had something in mind that Oh Yeonha did not know.

“…What are you aiming for, Father?”

“Hmm, did you catch on? I am quite the eccentric.”

“Father.”

“Hmm.”

Lord Luarte stroked his neatly groomed beard. As if enjoying Oh Yeonha’s reaction. However, Oh Yeonha did not easily give in, and after some mental struggle, Lord Luarte finally responded.

“Do you remember what I said earlier? That I will continue to live for that person.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“But how can I do that if my time is running out before a month?”

“Why speak so negatively…”

“That’s why.”

He cut off Oh Yeonha’s empty worries in one go. Lord Luarte’s eyes were burning with passion as if he were a terminally ill patient reaching his limit.

A bad feeling crept in.

The madness of a man who had lost his reason was truly terrifying.

Before her eyes, her father spoke.

“I must pave the way for that person before I close my eyes.”

“Father…?”

“Yes, now that is my destiny and my prophecy. I will be the first light to lead to a new world…”

“…”

He was insane.

Completely out of his mind.

Oh Yeonha felt like closing her eyes tightly at her father’s behavior, as if he were breaking through the heavens in a sealed room.

In this way, the conversation between the two women continued like grinding gears.

Meanwhile, in a hidden corner unnoticed by anyone.

A man concealed his presence and eavesdropped on their conversation.