EUILV 07

Chapter 07

In the past, Seraphine was a princess of a kingdom and received a rigorous education.

At the time, it was essential for noble children undergoing education to have a slave who would be punished in their stead when they made mistakes.

Because a noble of lower status could not strike one of higher status, a slave boy of similar age would be punished instead.

Seraphine was no exception.

Usually, each teacher had one slave assigned to them to receive beatings during their subject.

And the teachers who taught Seraphine were especially displeased that they had to teach a princess without wings. Their pride was greatly wounded.

Their anger was directed elsewhere. Even a small mistake from Seraphine would result in severe punishment for the slave.

During every one of Seraphine’s classes, the sounds of whipping and the low sobs of the slave could be heard constantly.

After her lessons, some slaves were unable to walk, disturbing the next class scheduled for the other princesses.

Eventually, a separate slave was assigned solely for Seraphine, and the situation was resolved.

Because of this incident, a rumor spread that the second princess was an idiot.

People clicked their tongues, saying, “How foolish must she be to need a dedicated slave?”

More than half of them expected a new slave to be replaced every week.

Seraphine quietly endured all the false rumors and criticism directed at her.

And on the day her first lesson ended,

She secretly summoned the slave boy late at night, avoiding others’ eyes.

“I’m not going to punish you, so please don’t be too nervous. Come, sit here.”

She hadn’t even lit the room properly so no one would find out she’d called for him.

Only a single candle flickered in the dark.

The boy couldn’t even look properly at the princess, who relied on the dim light, and hesitated.

But when she said it was a command, he had no choice but to sit on the chair.

“Roll up your clothes.”

The boy hesitated briefly but obeyed obediently.

His appearance beneath the clothing was revealed. As expected, he was covered in wounds.

Seraphine bent down and applied ointment to the boy’s arms and legs.

“Because of my inadequacy, you’re the one suffering.”

“…No royalty touches a slave with bare hands.”

“Your wounds are as good as mine. The shame is mine to bear, so don’t worry about it.”

The boy was emaciated and small, likely from lack of food.

They were about the same height at best.

Every time she saw the countless scars etched into his skinny legs, Seraphine felt guilt.

“I’m fine. I’ve only done what I was meant to do, so please don’t dirty your hands for me anymore.”

“Don’t say it like that.”

“…”

“If you had been one of my sisters’ whipping boys, you wouldn’t be in such a terrible state now.”

“Princess…”

His voice trembled slightly. Seraphine didn’t notice the subtle shift in emotion right away.

“Did you do this for the slaves before me too?”

“No. I couldn’t.”

Seraphine smiled sadly. The previous slaves had been assigned by teachers, so she hadn’t had the chance to meet them personally.

She had no choice but to watch helplessly as countless slaves suffered because of her.

Now, she wanted to save this boy who had become her personal scapegoat.

“What’s your name?”

“…”

“Even if your freedom has been taken from you, surely you have a name. I want to know it.”

“I don’t have one.”

For a boy born and raised as a slave, having a name was a luxury.

Embarrassed, he lowered his head.

“Would it be alright if I gave you one?”

“I’m grateful for the offer, but even if you name me, no one will call me by it.”

“I will.”

With unwavering eyes, Seraphine answered gently.

Contrary to the rumors, the second princess was neither stupid nor weak.

The boy nodded, almost entranced.

“Icarus.”

“…”

“It’s the name of a man who once had wings. Though neither of us has wings, I believe one day it won’t matter.”

“…Thank you.”

From that day on, Seraphine studied late into the night to avoid Icarus being beaten.

Compared to her sisters, who showed dazzling progress in all fields, her pace was slower.

But with steady and persistent effort, she eventually drove away all the teachers assigned to her.

She proved there was nothing left for her to learn.

It was exactly one year after Icarus became her whipping boy.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Icarus remained by Seraphine’s side.

But there was no longer any need for a whipping slave.

Following protocol, Icarus would have to go elsewhere to continue living as a slave.

For the one who had stayed by her side like a shadow, Seraphine made a request to her father:

“Please grant Icarus his freedom.”

It was the first and last wish she ever made in her life. It was also the first favor she had ever asked her father directly.

Once a slave, always a slave.

There was a lot of opposition.

But Seraphine promised to obey her father’s wishes from then on, and so the king finally granted it.

“What’s the first thing you want to do now that you’re free? Surely you have a dream. Tell me.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Icarus replied,

“I want to become your knight, Princess.”

Royalty could take only one knight through a solemn oath.

A person devoted to the royal family.

People called them the “Royal Guardian.”

Since the position was for one person only, there had never been a slave chosen before.

Nor even an ordinary human.

Though Seraphine was the wingless princess, there were still plenty of candidates for such an honorable role.

If Icarus, with the lowest status in the kingdom, became her knight, it would be an enormous leap in status.

If not for the blind devotion in his gaze, one might have thought he desired power.

“I want to be your sword and shield and protect only you for the rest of my life.”

His eyes, fixed on her with unwavering sincerity, were pure.

At that moment, Seraphine believed this boy could achieve anything.

“It won’t be easy.”

“I know.”

“It’s not a decision made by my will alone. I hope you prove yourself worthy of being my knight.”

With a nod, she arranged for him to be admitted into the royal order of knights for training.

But as a princess with little influence, she couldn’t offer much support.

Starting from the bottom, the boy endured the contempt and jealousy thrown at him and fought tooth and nail.

Five years later, the boy became a man and was drafted into the war to protect the kingdom.

The young man, who repeatedly returned victorious from battle, had his abilities recognized.

He became a knight so exceptional that no one could deny him—even other princesses coveted him.

On the day when only one knight would be chosen to serve Seraphine alone—

“I will become your wings, Princess.”

—Icarus knelt and pledged his loyalty.

***

“Ah.”

As Seraphine recalled the past, she bumped into a passerby and stumbled.

Had Joshua not quickly grabbed her, she would have fallen to the ground.

“What’s got you so spaced out?”

“I was thinking… Sorry.”

His sister apologized so casually. It was unusual.

“Must be the cold.”

Thinking that, Joshua placed a hand on her forehead.

Before, she would have swatted it away immediately, so he hadn’t dared touch her.

But recently, she didn’t seem to mind physical contact, so he acted without hesitation.

“Why? Does your head hurt? Is the cold still not gone—?”

“It’s not that.”

Seraphine pushed him away.

It wasn’t harsh, but her demeanor clearly held distance.

Joshua felt uneasy and looked down at his hand, which had briefly touched her forehead.

Maybe her temperature was slightly high. It was too brief to be sure.

“Icarus killed our family.”

Seraphine’s thoughts were a whirlwind.

When she read the historical records, she thought it might have been a different Icarus.

Surely, he wasn’t the only one with that name.

But seeing the portrait felt like confirmation.

After her death, Icarus had killed her entire family and created a new world.

She wasn’t angry at him.

After all, the memory of her father pushing her into molten iron still felt fresh.

Still, the shock of the truth was immense.

“Where are you going? The carriage is that way if you want to go home.”

Joshua grabbed her, confused.

And joked,

“Don’t tell me… you’ve fallen for someone dead?”

“Maybe I have.”

Her quiet response left Joshua stunned.

“You really have no taste in men. What about that face makes you fall for someone? At this rate, you’ll fall in love with a stepped-on leaf in the street.”

Though Icarus wasn’t exactly unattractive, it was a brutal judgment.

Realizing that his provocations helped his sister focus, Joshua continued:

“Think about it. I see you every day and I look better than that portrait guy. How can you throw around the word ‘handsome’ like that?”

Seraphine chuckled softly.

“Yes, you’re handsome because you look like me.”

Joshua and Seraphine clearly looked like siblings. They must have both resembled their mother.

As he debated whether that counted as a compliment, Seraphine’s eyes widened.

She thought she saw a glimpse of a blond man.

Icarus?

It couldn’t be.

Everyone she once knew no longer existed in this world.

Nor should they.

“Sister! Where are you going!”

Her body moved before her mind could catch up. She didn’t hear Joshua calling out to her.

Seraphine, running thoughtlessly, breathed heavily and grabbed the blond man by the shoulder.