Chapter 7: Guardian Knight - (1)

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the Empire was facing the greatest crisis in its recorded history.

The terrorist attack orchestrated by the cult of the Evil God had inflicted devastating damage. More than half of the Imperial Cabinet members were either killed or gravely injured, and both the City Guard and Royal Guard suffered catastrophic losses.

In fact, two of the Empire’s most powerful assets—Guardian Knights—were killed in action. That alone spoke volumes.

But the most critical blow of all was this:

With the exception of a single survivor, every member of the royal bloodline—known as the Royal Blood—had perished.

The Airen Dynasty, which had endured for nearly a thousand years, now stood on the brink of collapse.

If the Empire were to fall, the world itself would be handed over to the beings of the outer dimension.

And so, protecting the last surviving royal bloodline became the top priority—not just for the Royal Guard or the Empire, but for the entire world.

It was in that context that Lincia Airen, the sole remaining heir to the throne, was confined—under the pretense of protection—at the very top of the Imperial Tower.

From a broader perspective, it was a perfectly logical decision.

“...So please, Your Highness, try not to be so upset.”

“I’m not upset.”

“It’s just... anyone would think you were, from the look on your face.”

“I’m fine.”

They had tried to persuade her with reason for days on end, yet Princess Lincia—the Empire’s final hope—could not hide the unease in her eyes.

Standing on the balcony, she gazed down at the Imperial Palace with a troubled expression clouding her face.

On days too cold to step outside, she would pace endlessly between the room’s corners, as if trying to wear down the carpet with sheer repetition.

All Melina, the chief handmaid, could do was watch in helpless silence, her heart sinking deeper with every step.

‘Why is she like this...?’

It had already been four days since Lincia was brought to this place.

The top floor of the tower had been furnished with luxurious care, filled with elegant furniture. Though the space was limited, it was more than sufficient for two people.

Only food that had been magically inspected for poison was delivered, and even her beloved books were brought in.

Despite all their efforts, Lincia remained visibly distressed.

At first, Melina had feared the trauma of the attack had damaged her mind.

After all, losing one’s entire family and surviving alone—such a shock would be unbearable for a girl her age.

But after speaking with her, Melina realized something: Lincia understood her situation more objectively than anyone.

“Your Highness, the damage from the attack hasn’t been fully addressed. Another strike could happen at any time. Until it’s safe, staying here is what’s best for the Empire.”

“I know it’s dangerous. But staying here doesn’t solve anything.”

“An emergency council has been convened. I’m sure you’ll be allowed to leave soon.”

“An emergency council? If they’ve been meeting for four days straight, then they really ought to drop the word ‘emergency.’”

She simply couldn’t stand being here.

It was as if her soul were trying to escape the confines of the room.

Which could only mean one thing:

Lincia’s anxiety was tied to something—or someone—outside these walls.

She already knew the fate of her family. She’d even been informed that she would soon become the Empress.

So what was causing her such visible distress?

“Could it be... you’re worried about Sir Freud?”

Melina asked hesitantly.

Rumor had it that during the attack, Guardian Knight Freud Escoval had fought desperately to save Lincia.

He was now gravely injured and undergoing intensive treatment alongside fellow Guardian Knight Millia within the palace.

Given Lincia’s thoughtful nature, it made sense she’d be concerned about Freud.

“Ah, um... I don’t know...?”

At Melina’s words, Lincia visibly flinched. Her back trembled slightly.

That was all the confirmation she needed.

Bingo.

Suppressing a smile, Melina pressed on.

“If you’re worried about the condition of Guardian Knight Freud Escoval, I could look into it for you.”

“...Hmm.”

“Of course, a humble maid like myself has no right to pry into a Guardian Knight’s affairs.”

“...”

“But if someone of a higher status were to order me... say, a certain Princess, then I’d have no choice but to obey.”

Peeking at Lincia through lowered eyes, Melina caught the trembling of her irises and the way her lips wavered.

The sight reminded her of Lincia as a young child, and her heart warmed.

Eventually, Lincia let her pride go, crouching down and covering her face.

“...That’s an order, Melina. Please... check on Sir Freud’s condition.”

“As you command.”

Melina answered with a soft smile.

****

“Mmm...”

Would you believe the first thing I saw when I regained consciousness wasn’t a strange ceiling... but a strange status window?

Apparently, system messages had kept stacking up while I was unconscious.

I read through them one by one, then checked my body. I was practically mummified in bandages—unsurprising, considering I’d pushed myself to the brink of death.

No idea how long I’d been out. My limbs creaked when I moved, which probably meant I’d been lying here for quite some time.

The good news? Act I hadn’t started yet.

According to the notification window, I still had seven days before the story officially began.

In other words, I was currently in a liminal space—the unknown period between the Prologue and Act I, never shown in the original game.

“Ugh…”

I lifted my body.

A jolt of pain, sharp like a thousand needles stabbing me all at once, shot through every limb.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I focused on breathing, in and out.

I looked around, but the room was too dark to make out anything clearly. The only light came from the long, narrow skylight, where a faint glow slipped in through the crack.

As my eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, I heard a rustle beside me—then, like marbles rolling across polished stone, a soft, elegant voice.

“You’re awake.”

Startled, I turned in that direction.

A woman was sitting at the edge of the bed.

She was stunning—golden hair that shimmered in the dim light and piercing blue eyes.

She wore a simple green linen gown, but even its loose fit couldn’t hide the elegant curves of her figure.

“How’s your body? Are you alright?”

“...Well, more or less, I think.”

I gave a vague reply while studying her face, trying to piece things together.

Who is she?

She seemed to know me—or rather, she seemed to know Freud—but I had no clue who she was.

After a moment of silence, she stood up and approached.

She wasn’t very tall. If anything, she was just a little taller than Lincia.

She placed a hand gently on my wrist, then on my chest. After checking, she gave a small nod.

“You seem to be fine.”

She let out a quiet sigh, then looked straight at me.

Her eyes were cold, her face drawn and tired, as if barely holding herself together.

“Uh, I mean… thanks, I guess. For checking on me.”

“I didn’t come out of concern. I’m a patient here too.”

She lifted one bare leg slightly.

Just like me, it was wrapped tightly in bandages.

“I heard the story. That you saved the Princess.”

The blonde woman sat down again as she said it.

“Quite the feat.”

“Ah, well… it just happened that way.”

“No need to downplay it. At that time, I was uselessly crawling on the ground. As a fellow Guardian Knight, I can only feel ashamed.”

Her words triggered a sudden realization.

A fellow Guardian Knight.

There was only one woman inRaising the Empress who ever referred to herself that way.

The Royal Guard’s lone female knight—Guardian Knight Millia.

She was a recurring character in the game.

A loyal protector who stayed by the Empress’s side until the very end.

She dies in Act IV, of course.

The game described her as a sharp-tongued beauty, but reality had her beat—by far.

“Still, I suppose it’s a relief. With you alive, we have at least a sliver of hope left.”

“Uh, yeah. Thanks.”

“I wasn’t complimenting you.”

Millia cut me off coldly and stood up.

“Anyway, it seems you’ll live. That’s enough.”

She turned around, limping slightly.

“The Council of Elders will convene soon to discuss Her Highness. There are barely any knights left in the Guard, so the Council has ordered all remaining ones—including you and me—to be assigned to protect Her Highness.”

“Got it.”

“That’s all I came to say.”

She spat out the words without warmth, and her hand reached for the doorknob.

“Hey, Millia.”

“……”

I called out to stop her.

There was something off about her tone—sharp, distant, almost hostile.

The cold voice, the guarded eyes, the way she spoke like she was forced to—it all felt deliberate.

I hadn’t been in society long, but I could still tell when someone didn’t like me.

And Millia definitely did not like me.

I wondered if I had done something wrong.

But then I noticed it—her hand, trembling as it gripped the doorknob.

That’s when I realized how wrong I’d been.

Millia turned her head toward me.

Her eyes burned—not with resentment, but unmistakable contempt.

“...Please, don’t say my name.”

With that, she limped away down the hall with determined steps.

Like a passing storm, Millia left as suddenly as she came, but thanks to her, I’d finally gotten a bit of my senses back.

“What the hell was that about…”

Then, I suddenly remembered what Lautrec had said to me during the attack.

‘You’ve proven yourself. Truly, you are a knight worthy of pride.’

He had said “proven yourself”.

Which meant—until then, he didn’t think I was.

“What the hell did this Freud guy even do before I woke up…”

I clutched my aching head.

Was this... one of those types of stories?

****

“...Sir Freud was flirting with a woman?”

Elsewhere, Lincia Airen glared fiercely after hearing Melina’s report.

-- The End OF The Chapter --

 

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