🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 1
Prologue: Esi
The victory banquet was held on a grand scale.
The vast Imperial Palace glittered brilliantly, overflowing with jewels and luxurious delicacies. The Empire’s crests and banners surrounded the palace and fluttered in the wind, while the cloudless sky above was filled with stars, as if illuminating the Empire’s victory.
Not only the palace, but even the streets were alive with celebration among the citizens of the Pleta Empire.
Children roamed the streets singing a new victory anthem no one even knew the origin of, while the adults gathered in the center of the square and danced along to the children’s song.
A war against the Mond Empire that had lasted a full six months.
The Pleta Empire had brought down the troublesome Mond Empire and become a great power that no one dared challenge.
The Emperor, Killian, known as the War Demon, had played a major role in that victory, but the triumph had also been hastened thanks to a new war hero.
That new war hero, Esi, deliberately ignored the people’s stares and hid her displeased expression behind her mask.
‘Why are they shouting my name so loudly?’
From the beginning, she had never intended to attend the victory banquet, nor had she expected to be welcomed. Her plan had simply been to quietly enjoy the party and leave the Empire as soon as possible.
However, the moment she entered the Imperial Palace—
Thanks to a loud-voiced attendant’s introduction, everyone inside the palace learned that the masked woman with watery blue hair was Esi.
And with all attention suddenly focused on her, her plan was utterly ruined.
“Hey, Esi. You’re pretty popular, huh?”
Henry, a commoner mercenary who was one of the few people close to Esi, nudged her shoulder with a grin.
Esi downed a glass of champagne in one gulp before giving her companion a faint smile.
“Henry, if you managed to survive and come back alive, shouldn’t you value your life a little more? I’m still carrying a sword, you know.”
“Ouch, my mistake.”
Still wearing his sly grin, Henry raised both hands and stepped away from her.
The nobles at the victory banquet didn’t dare approach Esi directly, but all of them were talking about her.
The nobles aligned with the Emperor praised the new war hero, while the aristocratic faction busied themselves doubting and belittling Esi’s abilities because of her unknown origins.
Of course, Esi welcomed neither side’s words.
“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”
In an instant, the hall fell silent, and everyone in the Imperial Palace turned their eyes toward the Emperor, Killian.
Esi, who had already emptied three or four glasses of champagne in a short time, also looked toward the Emperor seated upon the throne.
“It’s especially noisy tonight.”
At Killian’s words, the palace became so quiet that even breathing could be heard.
The aristocratic faction wore displeased expressions.
Faces itching to tear someone apart at any moment.
After glancing over them one by one, Killian discovered Esi and let out a chuckle before meeting her gaze.
“Everyone seems excited about the birth of a new war hero… What do you think, Esi Ahil?”
“His Majesty himself called her a new war hero!”
“A mere mercenary no different from the others is hardly a war hero.”
“How vulgar, coming to a victory banquet in the Imperial Palace wearing such a shabby mask.”
Because of Killian’s question, the nobles began murmuring again.
Most of it was ridicule and mockery aimed at Esi from the aristocratic faction.
Watching their reactions, Killian waited with a mocking smile to hear what answer would come from Esi’s lips.
“It’s nothing more than exaggerated rumors.”
Esi answered firmly.
No one could tell what expression she wore beneath the mask, but the aristocratic faction sneered at her, saying she at least knew her place.
“Exaggerated rumors, hm… Sir Jerry, you fought alongside her. What do you think?”
‘What is that psycho trying to do now?’
Esi had only spoken briefly in hopes that Killian would stop paying attention to her, but now her head was beginning to ache at the thought of whatever stunt he might pull next.
Normally, she wouldn’t care if someone angered him and got themselves killed.
But she refused to have someone die because of her during the victory banquet.
It would sour her mood, and any further attention was simply a nuisance.
“Of course, I acknowledge that her skills are impressive and that she rendered distinguished service, but I do not think she deserves to be called a war hero. The only person worthy of such a title is His Majesty the Emperor, who always led us from the front in every war.”
At Jerry’s shameless flattery, Esi nearly gagged internally several times.
Jerry, clearly proud of what he’d said, looked down on Esi with disdain.
“Doesn’t deserve it, you say…”
Shhk—
Muttering lowly, Killian suddenly drew his sword and slowly descended from the throne toward Jerry.
The nobles aside from Jerry clicked their tongues, already expecting another ugly scene.
Though his pace was slow, no one dared stop him.
Some even hoped it would end quickly, terrified they might be killed if they so much as spoke out.
“Y-Your Majesty?”
“Esi Ahil annihilated the Mond soldiers who ambushed us and saved my life. Mine—the one you praise so highly.”
“I-I spoke carelessly! Saving Your Majesty is indeed a tremendous achievement!”
Before Killian’s sharp blade, Jerry immediately prostrated himself and bowed his head deeply.
Even at a glance, his back pressed flat against the floor was trembling violently with fear.
“I find it irritating, all this whispering and tearing at people over petty nonsense.”
Though directed at Jerry, it was no different from a warning to everyone gossiping about Esi.
The nobles who had spoken so freely felt chills run down their spines.
“You’re unfortunate, Sir Jerry.”
As Killian’s sharp blade pressed against Jerry’s neck, red blood trickled down.
Jerry’s face turned even paler than before, as if all the blood in his body had drained away.
“P-Please spare me just once! Your Majesty, I was wrong! Please show mercy just this once!”
By now, tears and mucus covered Jerry’s face as he repeatedly slammed his forehead against the floor.
Even after his forehead split open and bled, fear numbed him to the pain, and he could only continue begging for his life.
Jerry’s desperate behavior and Killian staring down at him expressionlessly turned the glorious banquet into something terrifying and oppressive.
“Do you wish to live, Sir Jerry?”
“Yes, Your Majesty! Please, just spare me!”
At the slightly gentler tone and faint smile, Jerry answered instantly, clinging to hope.
“I would like to show mercy, but it seems my sword does not.”
Clang!
The sword Killian swung with a smile was blocked by another blade, producing a sharp metallic sound.
Jerry stared blankly at the sword that had stopped just short of his neck, his lips moving soundlessly before he fainted on the spot.
Without sparing Jerry another glance, Killian fixed a cold stare on the owner of the sword blocking his own.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing, Esi Ahil?”
“I wish you would stop.”
Esi’s sword, which had dared block the Emperor’s blade, looked pitifully plain in comparison.
Yet it did not yield. Instead, it held firm.
‘This is all because I’m drunk.’
Esi silently blamed the champagne she’d drunk earlier for the half-impulsive action.
“Many nobles share this man’s opinion.”
“I don’t mind. On a day like today, I do not want someone dying because of me.”
“Even if you think that, no one can stop me.”
“In any case… I’ll be leaving this place today.”
At those words, Killian’s expression twisted as the strength left the hand gripping his sword.
“What did you just say?”
“I said I’m leaving this place.”
“And who gave you permission?”
“Obviously, it’s my own decision.”
It was earlier than planned, but perhaps this was an opportunity.
The longer she delayed, the more troublesome things would become, so maybe this was for the best.
‘Though it would’ve been nicer if that man’s expression looked a little less horrifying.’
Killian’s gaze upon Esi resembled that of a beast ready to rip out the throat of its prey at any moment.
A long silence stretched between them.
It was such a suffocating silence that no one watching them could even make the slightest sound.
“So you have somewhere to return to?”
Killian’s voice finally broke the painful silence, echoing coldly through the palace.
Now his sword point was aimed directly at Esi.
A razor-sharp blade that looked capable of drawing blood with the slightest touch.
Anyone else would have recoiled in fear, but Esi stood perfectly straight without the slightest sign of intimidation.
“I intend to go wherever my feet take me. I’ve never been the type to stay in one place for long.”
“Do you really think you can leave here as you please?”
At his anger-laced words, dozens of imperial guards surrounded Esi from behind.
But rather than fear, Esi merely let out a small laugh.
“Do you think they can capture me?”
“Of course not. That’s why I plan to step in personally.”
“Then that changes things.”
Despite her words, Esi only shrugged once, as though she felt no fear at all.
Dong— Dong— Dong—
Amid the subtle tension, the temple bells rang in the distance, announcing nine o’clock sharp.
“…Allow me to make a proposal, Your Majesty.”
Esi sheathed her sword, dropped to one knee, and lowered her head before Killian.
“A proposal?”
“I do not wish for a joyful day to be ruined because of me. However, I also dislike being tied down to one place.”
“So?”
Since it was not the answer he wanted, Killian’s expression remained icy.
His sword still pointed directly before Esi’s eyes.
“So let everyone enjoy the victory banquet tonight. I will leave ten minutes before midnight, and from midnight onward, you may search for me. If you find me, I will do whatever Your Majesty desires.”
“You’re confident you can disappear in just ten minutes?”
“Yes. If you simply find me, I’ll return quietly without resistance. I swear it upon the name of Romes.”
Killian looked at Esi with a somewhat softened expression.
Even if every guard present attacked at once, it still wouldn’t be enough to capture Esi.
But if the Imperial Knights, Sharon, were deployed and managed to locate her, they could drag her back before him.
‘Though I don’t know what Romes is…’
Killian had learned during the Mond soldiers’ ambush just how weighty a vow sworn upon Romes was to Esi.
A person who wagered her life on the name of Romes.
As if her own life meant nothing before that name, she had risked herself to save him.
Killian nodded, believing she would absolutely keep such a promise.
More than anything, during the war he had gradually realized that the woman before him was not someone who could be imprisoned against her will.
“I accept your proposal. Try running away.”
“Thank you. Though if you wish to find me, you’ll need to know my face, won’t you?”
After thanking Killian, Esi turned toward the crowd and removed her mask.
Beneath it, a large scar covered nearly the entire left side of her face.
Several people frowned upon seeing it.
“It’s not a face easily mistaken for someone else’s, so I hope you search carefully.”
With Esi’s smiling remark, the party resumed once more.
At first, everyone remained too focused on watching Esi to enjoy the banquet, but before long, the atmosphere rose to match the grandeur of the victory celebration.
Only Killian, his royal guards, and the knight order Sharon kept their attention fixed on Esi as they awaited midnight.
However, from midnight onward—ten minutes after Esi departed—
No one ever saw her again.
