In a dark and damp dungeon, the young lady of the Senestia ducal family was imprisoned.

 

Her once well-groomed hair was now tangled, stained with dirt and sweat; her clothes were torn and filthy, unrecognizable in their original color, and her skin bears scratches here and there.

 

Normally, even prisoners of noble birth are treated with a degree of decency—it makes them more valuable for exchanges of hostages.

 

However, the neglected state of Sushia indicated just how enraged the empire was with the betrayal of the Senestia ducal family.

 

“So, Sushia. What were you doing when you got caught?”

 

“I was so hungry that I was cooking stew in the forest, but the smoke gave me away and I was captured.”

 

“...”

 

It was her own doing.

 

 

-Munch munch.

 

When bread and soup were brought to her, Sushia began to devour her meal frantically.

 

“Eat slowly.”

 

“Sob... It’s been ages since I had a proper meal. Since being locked up here, all I’ve had is moldy, hard bread.”

 

Her cheeks, once gaunt, puffed out with food, making her resemble a hamster once again.

 

“Cough, cough!”

 

“What’s the matter! The food shouldn’t be poisoned.”

 

“My throat... I need water.”

 

Ascal, who was about to suggest she drink the soup instead, was speechless after seeing the completely empty bowl she had scraped clean.

 

After coughing, Sushia drank some water and soon regained her composure.

 

Ascal threw a blanket at her.

 

“It’s warm...”

 

Wrapped in the blanket, Sushia felt not only satiated but also warm, and finally had the leisure to scrutinize the person in front of her.

 

Sushia’s violet eyes scanned Ascal.

 

“Kyaaaaaaa, the devil of the empire! I knew I wasn’t wrong! Are you planning to fatten me up and then eat me?”

 

“You caught me.”

 

Ascal strode toward Sushia, who backed away until she was trembling against the dungeon wall.

 

“You’ve had it tough, Sushia.”

 

He stroked her hair. Despite everything, he had grown fond of her.

 

Even if only in dreams, it was painful to see her suffer.

 

Like a terrified hamster, Sushia slowly began to let down her guard.

 

“There’s no way the empire’s devil could be this kind.”

 

“I’ve been called a devil, but what have I done to earn such a name?”

 

“Well...”

 

Then it struck her, this man before her eyes. He wasn’t as scary as she thought.

 

Black eyes, black hair. He was certainly Ascal Debrue, the devil of the empire. But now, she felt more like throwing a tantrum at him.

​

Sushia continued, a strange emotion stirring within her.

 

“Always leading the empire with a cold ruthlessness, every time you pick up a quill pen, everyone trembles wondering what conspiracy you are crafting next. Your enemies are invariably outsmarted by your brilliant strategies, and then there’s your unmatched prowess as a swordmaster. No one who has seen your blade has lived to tell the tale...!”

 

Ascal had a realization. Clearly, rumors had taken on a life of their own.

 

Just as ridiculous rumors had inflated his reputation to that of the empire’s hidden dragon, here he was dubbed the empire’s devil.

 

“So, the devil of the empire has come to see me in person, is today my execution day then...? This meal, a last supper, right?”

 

Sushia was being overly dramatic.

 

“But before I die, please, I must speak with Her Majesty the Empress just once! There’s something I must tell her! In fact, that’s why I let myself get caught... although it’s true I did want some stew.”

 

“Follow me.”

 

“Yikes. Are we heading to the execution ground?”

 

Sushia attempted to grab the hem of Ascal’s clothing.

 

Ascal looked down at her with a bemused expression.

 

“I will grant you an audience with the Empress.”

 

 

“You are five minutes late, Ascal.”

 

The woman, clad only in a robe, clutching a pillow (previously used by Ascal), was none other than Yulia Barba, the empress of the empire.

 

“My apologies. I was held up by this baggage.”

 

“The girl beside you, isn’t she a daughter of the Senestia ducal family?”

 

Murderous intent flickered in Yulia’s eyes.

 

Sushia trembled like a mouse before a snake.

 

“Why have you brought a traitor here?”

 

“She says she has something important to tell Your Majesty.”

 

“I’m not interested in hearing it.”

 

Ascal approached the bed and snatched the pillow from Yulia’s grasp.

 

“Ah! That is mine.”

 

“It’s my pillow.”

 

“Isn’t what’s yours also mine?”

 

“If you listen to her, I will give it back.”

 

Yulia Barba was plagued by mistrust. After countless assassination attempts and betrayals, she had come to trust no one. However, Ascal was the sole exception.

 

A tyrant’s only place of solace, the one pillar she could lean on, that was Ascal Debrue.

 

“Fine. Traitor, come here.”

 

“Yes, yes.”

 

Sushia approached the bed.

 

It was night. A chilly wind blew, and Sushia’s clothes were barely more than rags.

 

Seeing Sushia shiver from the cold, Yulia raised an eyebrow and gestured to one side of the bed.

 

“Get on the bed.”

 

“Yes, yes!”

 

And then she wrapped Sushia in a large blanket.

 

Only Sushia’s face peeked out from under the blanket. At the other end, Yulia did the same.

 

It was somewhat like a game of whack-a-mole.

 

“To share a bed, or rather a blanket, with a traitor... Is this what it means? How amusing. The daughter of Senestia. What is it that you wish to tell me?”

​

Sushia spoke, her voice carrying the nuance that her neck could be severed at any moment depending on her answer, yet lacking any real dignity in her current state.

 

“I’ve heard that the anti-imperial forces and the imperial army are about to clash!”

 

“And?”

 

“Could you please stop the fight, or at least delay it?”

 

“Why?”

 

“Unintentionally, I overheard my father’s conversation! He plans to betray both sides! There will be witches spreading fireballs, giants wrecking havoc on the battlefield, assassins lurking... it’s all very dangerous!”

 

Yulia laughed.

 

“How am I supposed to believe that? Do you have any proof?”

 

“Pr, proof is...”

 

“It sounds more like you were captured on purpose to feed me these lies to confuse me, like a spy.”

 

“Ugh...”

 

Sushia looked desperately at Ascal for help.

 

‘Why is she turning to me for help?’

 

“Besides, let’s say I believe you and withdraw the troops. Windwill is a critical military stronghold. Losing it would mean losing the war. It’s a lose-lose situation.”

 

Windwill.

 

Ascal faintly recalled.

 

In the novel, the imperial and anti-imperial forces clash heavily there. During the intense battle, suddenly a third faction emerges.

 

‘Was it Zinia, or what was it...’

 

And the Duke of Senestia was the leader of that organization.

 

The Duke of Senestia, appearing suddenly, revealed his identity and story in great detail, bringing forth the forces of darkness he had gathered.

 

Thus, three forces fiercely collided, and then an even more dramatic event occurred.

 

The fire-breathing dragon, Karnax, suddenly appeared.

 

A dragon that had been sleeping in the Windwill mountains woke up and started wreaking havoc.

 

This was the second of the empire’s three great calamities.

 

Eventually, losing most of her army and barely escaping with her life, Yulia Barba bit her lip till it bled as she retreated.

 

‘Well… We are screwed.’

 

Only with numerous swordmasters, archmages, and elite troops drawing aggro could one stand a slight chance against a dragon.

 

And if it’s a legendary ancient dragon, then there’s really no hope.

 

“How many swordmasters does the empire have now?”

 

“What an odd question. Duke Felix has already fallen in battle. The North has been destroyed by giants. Only you and I remain as swordmasters in the empire.”

 

“Could we seek help from the White Mage Tower?”

 

“They are staunchly neutral. Even in these dire times, they simply lock their doors and do not move.”

 

“Doesn’t the empire have a guardian dragon?”

 

Yulia looked at Ascal as if he was speaking nonsense.

 

“That’s a creature from legends found only in history books.”

 

“I see, Your Majesty.”

 

“Ah, my wise prime minister. Have you thought of a solution?”

 

Ascal provided a straightforward answer.

 

“Let’s just run away. Abandon the empire. Let’s go into hiding somewhere quiet.”

 

“...”

 

​

“Today is chilly, so we’ll need to gather a good amount of firewood.”

 

“I brought back a lot of herbs! They’ll taste great if we blanch them! Achoo!”

 

Deep in the nameless forest.

 

Yulia sat on a wooden chair crafted by Ascal, taking in her surroundings.

 

Everything was blanketed in snow. Opening her mouth, her warm breath visibly escaped.

 

“I’ve boiled some water. It’s cold, so come inside the cabin quickly.”

 

Ascal and Sushia hurried into the warm cabin as if competing.

 

“Here’s some hot cocoa to warm you up.”

 

“This luxury... Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

“I’m no longer Your Majesty. Call me Yulia, or... even that might be risky. Just call me Lia.”

 

“Lia’s cocoa is the best! Oh, if only we had some cookies too.”

 

Indeed.

 

The three of them had fled the empire.

 

And thus began their life of hiding deep in the forest.

 

Compared to the splendid imperial palace, the cabin was much smaller. Yet, somehow, Yulia found the cabin much more comfortable than the palace.

 

Just drinking warm cocoa and stew, looking out the window.

 

“Truly, this is peace...”

 

What might be happening in the empire now?

 

Perhaps they were desperately searching for the empress and the prime minister, assuming they’d been kidnapped.

 

A month had already passed since they started this life on the run.

 

“Do you think the three of us are a good match?”

 

“It’s not so much a good match as it seems like you’re the one benefiting.”

 

“Is that so? Hehe.”

 

She was happy.

 

Yulia Barba thought.

 

How wonderful it would be if this life could continue forever.

 

Where did it all go wrong?

 

Was it when the crown prince, overwhelmed with duties, half-madly claimed to have found a legendary Pegasus and died while riding it?

 

Or was it when she fiercely competed with Serena Barba, branded her a witch, and forcefully succeeded the throne?

 

Her memories go back even further.

 

When she was six years old.

 

She was very possessive.

 

She hated losing anything, and whatever she liked, she had to have.

 

Otherwise, she always ended up losing it to her sister—whether it was toys, our mother’s attention, or anything else.

 

Even back then, she was fighting with Serena.

 

They each grabbed an arm of the teddy bear, pulling until it was nearly torn apart.

 

“This is mine! Yulia! You can’t have it!”

 

“No! You already have five dolls! I want one too!”

 

“Hmph. Get mother to give you one then.”

 

“Mother won’t make one for me...”

 

Serena had hair similar to their mother’s, while she inherited her father’s blond hair.

 

Perhaps that’s why Mother never paid any attention to her.

 

She was always absorbed in something.

 

“Waaah!”

 

“Fine, keep it. I have plenty of dolls anyway.”

 

Eventually, the teddy bear was torn in two and fell to the floor.

 

Even as the servants tried to console her, Yulia continued to cry. The bear wasn’t the only thing she had lost.

 

And then he appeared.

 

“Why are you crying?”

 

She later learned that his father had achieved great honors, and that’s why he, his son, had come to the palace.

 

“The teddy bear got torn?”

 

He nodded. He, slightly taller than her at the time, seemed so brave.

 

After borrowing a few things from the servants, he quickly stitched the teddy back together with a needle.

 

“Look. It’s a rabbit doll now, much cooler than a teddy bear. It’s one of a kind in the world!”

 

“...Is it for me?”

 

“Of course. It’s yours.”

 

It was a bit clumsy, but the rabbit doll, sewn with care, was smiling broadly. Yulia found herself smiling without realizing it.

 

“Thank you. What’s your name?”

 

“Well, my name is—”

 

She never heard his name. The servant suddenly appeared, hastily grabbed his arm, and pulled him away, as if he had committed a great rudeness.

 

But from that day, Yulia became happy.

 

Every night, she went to sleep dreaming.

 

Because she finally had something of her own.

 

Something unique in the world.

 

As time passed, she tried to find him, but she could never seem to.

 

Haha. Hidden away in the countryside, how could he?

 

So, when she finally did find him.

 

Does he know the expression she had?

 

And the expression she wore when she joyfully approached him, only to realize that he had forgotten her.

 

She wanted to keep him by her side, even if by force.

 

But he always tried to run away.

 

It doesn’t matter.

 

She was confident that she could catch him and bring him back, no matter how many times, even dozens of times.

 

But now, she was content with this.

 

Ascal.

 

Her first love, and her last.

 

She will let him go.

 

‘Only you, please.’

 

‘Live happily.’

 

.

.

.

 

The next day.

 

“...Lia has disappeared.”

 

“The battle at Windwill isn’t far off, right? Probably.”

 

Ascal put on his coat.

 

“You can stay here. Sushia.”

 

“Nonsense! Of course, I must come with you! I can’t manage without you!”

 

“True. You’d starve.”

 

“Hehe.”

 

Yulia had run away.

 

Now it was time for him to go after her.