Chapter 1.1

Chapter 1.1

The Princess of Hersia.

Deep in the night, when even the dark blue moon hid itself, a lone figure traversed a deserted path. The rough sound of her breathing broke the silence. A bead of sweat traced a path down Rosette’s spine.

“Huff, huff… hah…”

She had been riding Red Horse, the fastest in the Hersia Royal Palace, for hours without rest. Now, her breath caught in her throat, and the knuckles of her hands clutching the reins were stark white. She had reached her limit. She should have arrived ages ago, but her destination remained out of sight. How far had she come? As she wondered, several faint flames flickered in the distance.

“Finally… I’m here.”

A whirlwind of emotions crossed her face: the exhilaration of finally finding this place, and the terror of having to confront that man. The fate of her homeland rested on her shoulders. Rosette’s eyes, contemplating him, visibly darkened.

The several flames flickering in the distance were the torches held by the soldiers stationed there. Upon seeing Rosette, the soldiers drew their swords from their scabbards and pointed their sharp blades at her.

“Who goes there?”

“W-wait, it’s a woman?”

She was a bit taller than most women, but still a woman. Her slender frame, which even a loose cloak couldn’t entirely conceal, and her unarmed state were unusual. It was a bizarre encounter for such a place at such a time.

Moreover, for a woman to arrive alone in the dead of night seemed absurd. The soldiers hesitated, unable to comprehend the situation. Rosette addressed them in a solemn voice.

“I am Rosette Demianne, Princess of the Hersia Kingdom. I request an audience with His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of the Kaysen Empire.”

She presented her proof and arrived before the largest tent. She pushed aside the thick leather flap covering the entrance with the back of her hand and stepped inside. The air felt thick and suffocating, and Rosette instinctively held her breath. The scent of blood permeated the space.

This was her first meeting with Theodore Alexius, Emperor of the Kaysen Empire.

True to his moniker, “the murderer of war,” he sat casually, wiping blood from his sword. His movements were surprisingly delicate for his rough-looking hands. He furrowed his brow slightly at the sudden arrival of an uninvited guest.

“I offer my greetings to His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of the Kaysen Empire. I am Rosette Demianne, Princess of the Hersia Kingdom.”

She removed her hood, revealing her pale and clear face. Though she appeared mature, her face still bore the downy youthfulness of someone young. Her serious expression and gaze conveyed an extraordinary sense of duty.

This will be boring, Theodore thought.

This was Theodore’s first impression of her.

The woman was Rosette Demianne, the sole princess of the Hersia Kingdom, renowned as its most beautiful flower. With her silver hair and silver eyes, she was so beautiful that people lined up just for a glimpse of her. Unfortunately, she evoked no emotion in Theodore.

Despite her astonishing identity, he merely glanced at Rosette and silently continued his work. With his indifferent nature, he simply focused on carefully wiping the dried blood from his sword with a wet cloth.

His aloof demeanor clearly conveyed that Rosette’s interruption of his time was unwelcome. She hadn’t expected a grand welcome, but his reaction was even colder than she’d anticipated, and the tips of Rosette’s fingers tightened with tension.

The young and handsome Emperor of the Kaysen Empire exuded a sharp and dangerous aura, just as she had heard. His exceptional appearance made him undoubtedly the most handsome man she had ever seen, even surpassing any in her own kingdom.

Stories circulated about him, rumors that women threw themselves at the Kaysen Emperor like moths to a flame, desperate to win him. But in Rosette’s mind, he was nothing more than a cruel butcher, a scoundrel who had invaded her country. The blood he meticulously wiped from his sword must surely be the blood of proud Hersians. Realizing this, the metallic stench of blood made her stomach churn.

“What do you want?”

Theodore broke the long silence between them. His tone implied he had no business with her and she should state her purpose quickly and leave. Rosette took a small breath and began to speak the words she had prepared.

“As Your Majesty may have surmised… I have come to make a request.”

One request. She had only one thing to ask of him.

“Please, show mercy to our weak nation. Halt this march and protect this blue land, cultivated with such hardship by our people, Your Majesty.”

“Indeed… it would be a shame for this beautiful place to be burned to ashes.”