Shuan's bright brown hair swayed in the wind. Her beautiful lines, reminiscent of the empire's most beautiful man, exuded a sense of sorrow, and his silver armor brought to mind a Prince from a fairy tale.
As I stood there quietly facing him, Shuan approached me first.
“Hello, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess.”
I nodded once at Shuan's polite greeting.
“I thought you wouldn’t come.”
“I thought you wouldn’t come.”
Shuan and I spoke at the same time. I frowned before he could question me.
"Why?"
Actually, I wasn't that offended, but I didn't want to give him the priority of asking questions.
"You've only recently married Grand Duke. I assumed you'd be quite busy cultivating your estate."
It could have been twisted and twisted, but Shuan was probably just being literal.
“Because I am so capable. And so is His Highness the Grand Duke.”
At my words, Shuan smiled bitterly.
“I see.”
I didn't like Shuan's bitter smile. I also didn't like the way he wavered, unsure of what to do between his sister and me.
If he had completely betrayed me and chosen his sister, I might have understood that as his choice. After all, I value myself above all else.
Shuan, who had been silent for a moment, asked.
“Why did you think I wouldn’t come?”
“You must be busy with your younger sister, who just returned to the family.”
At my words, Shuan was once again speechless. I decided to leave the story at that. It didn't make me feel better to harass him.
Above all, Julian didn't like me being with him, so I didn't want to waste any more time on it.
“The south building is large. Who lives there?”
“Marquis Eriant and Count Sasha are staying here.”
“Count Sasha participated in the expedition?”
When I asked as if it was unexpected, Shuan nodded as if he knew.
“Count Sasha himself didn’t come. He said he was sick.”
"Ah."
Of course, it was just malingering. Shuan seemed to think so too.
“Yes, that’s it.”
I turned around, as if there was nothing more to confirm. The Marquis of Eriant had Ari, and Count Sasha himself was on the Second Prince's side, so he would naturally follow Princess Abigail's orders.
Looking at this situation, it seemed like it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that Count Merlin was also one of Princess Abigail's people.
As I was about to head north again with Hela, Shuan called out to me.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess.”
I ignored his call and started to walk away, but turned around halfway.
"I know you don't like it. But I'll do whatever it takes to repay the debt."
“Then take your sister and go far away. That way, we can reduce the number of assassins who want to kill me.”
I turned away without even looking at Shuan. I felt like I'd just overheard a story.
Shuan could only watch Layla leave with a stern look. Layla was right. If only he could take Ari with him.
For days, Ari was persuaded. Princess Abigail repeatedly told her she couldn't have the throne and that she should give it up. The more she spoke, the more resolute Ari became.
'She is the only one who can become the Emperor of this country!'
"Why on earth do you think that? Her Highness the Princess has no proper foundation. And not only that, she's incredibly cruel."
'How cruel! She is my savior!'
Ari put her hand on her chest and shouted, "That's right." Shuan, trying to calm his confused mind, asked again.
'What do you mean, savior?'
When Shuan asked, seemingly unfamiliar with her sister, Ari snorted. It was an attitude completely unheard of in his always gentle and beautiful younger sister.
Since when? Shuan couldn't possibly know Ari's true feelings.
"You have no idea how hellish it was to live in high society as the empire's most beautiful woman. I was only fourteen when I made my debutante debut."
Ari didn't say anything more. She just looked at Shuan, who couldn't even understand this, as if he were an idiot.
Ari regained her composure, took a deep breath, and tucked her hair behind her ear. Then she spoke in an elegant voice.
'Let go of that woman's hand right now.'
'That woman.'
'I mean, Layla Winsley. The woman who dared to steal Her Highness' man.'
‘...Her Highness the Grand Duchess married through proper procedures.’
Ari covered her mouth and laughed. Her bright smile, as if she'd returned to her childhood, was somehow creepy. It seemed to tell Shuan that all the smiles Ari had ever seen were an act.
'Do you think I don't know that my brother has feelings for that woman?'
Shuan hesitated and then answered.
"Don't talk nonsense. This isn't something that should be said in this situation."
"I have something to say. I want you to help me trap that woman. Wouldn't it be difficult if you have personal feelings?"
'Don't think I'll cooperate with such a thing!'
He scolded her, but she just laughed loudly. Shuan, as if he didn't want to hear any more, left Ari's room.
Ari's laughter, coming out through the crack in the door, was still vivid in his ears.
Now, Shuan was watching Layla's back. The wind was swaying her high-tied blonde hair, and she was speaking to the knight standing beside her.
It was truly strange. Not long after that conversation with Ari, a surge of demons occurred in the western Riar Plains. Ari, as if she'd expected this, calmly told Shuan to join the expedition.
'Everything will go according to Her will.'
So, does that mean Princess Abigail had something to do with this? Shuan shook his head, a terrible thought forming in his mind.
If Princess Abigail had possessed magic and indeed such a powerful sorcerer's talent, it would have been discovered as a child.
But if not, then how on earth... One way or another, it was clear that Princess Abigail had no qualifications to become the Empress.
Shuan watched Layla gradually move away. Then, Ari's voice rang in his ears again.
'Do you think I don't know that my brother has feelings for that woman?'
He thought no one would know. He didn't want anyone to find out because he felt unworthy. The mere thought of having someone else find out about his feelings was unbearable.
How did it come to this? At first, he simply thought she was an interesting woman. But her gait wasn't always radiant.
She sought information, created conflict, and even threatened someone. Nevertheless, Shuan was drawn to her unwavering pace, and his heart grew deeper. This heart, unworthy of anything, grew deeper.
After the troops from the palace and each clan had prepared, the date for the first suppression was set.
There was a lake called Iris in the Riar Plains, and the goal of this expedition was to reclaim Lake Iris from the demons.
Before the expedition began, I went to the wizard camp to check if the magic stone necklace Julian had gifted me was properly blocked. Fortunately, I received a reply confirming there were no issues.
After organizing their camp, the soldiers marched toward the demonic beast, carrying banners, spears, shields, and swords. I rode ahead of them, along with my father, Ruin, and Adam.
The wizards sensed the beasts' mana from afar and roughly estimated their numbers. The number of beasts they would encounter on the lake was approximately two hundred small, fifty medium, and thirty large.
A large force of thirty was a significant threat, and the soldiers were in an uproar.
But our Winsley family's soldiers were not afraid. They were the ones who always fought against the demons on the border.
The moderate tension between them stemmed from their accumulated experience. It was a testament to their determination to never underestimate their opponent, yet never be intimidated.
I looked out into the distance from my horse. The land was wide and flat, so even non-magicians could tell there were quite a few demons here.
Among them, the giant demon, its head sticking out of the middle of the lake, was quite threatening.
How large a body must lie beneath that vast lake? I've never seen a demon as large as that.
Father shouted loudly to boost the morale of the soldiers.
"It's just one of the mountains we've overcome so far! Let's show who protected the empire!"
Wow!
The soldiers shouted loudly. And soon, shouts could be heard from each army.
Finally, after the Emperor had finished expressing his gratitude to everyone and wishing them well, all camps began to advance.
As the footsteps of people and horses began to shake the ground, the demons that had been prowling the ground raised their heads.
The sharp, lizard-like pupils of the demons turned toward the humans. Soon, the demons' footsteps began to resonate loudly.
The sound of sharp metal clashing with claws was heard as people, horses, and demons ran wild together.
I mostly fought medium-sized beasts while on horseback. My ankle was almost healed, but I was worried it would recur due to the intense fighting.
It was when I firmly secured my body on the horse and thrust my sword into the mouth of the medium-sized demon, and then pulled it out.
Krrrrung―
Another demon's howl was heard right behind me. I immediately turned my sword around and tried to stab it behind me.
“Be careful!”
Someone stood between me and the demon. The demon took a few steps back from the sudden attack. As a result, I ended up with my sword drawn in the air.
“Young Master of Eriant.”
“Is your leg injury still not healed?”
Shuan had come to the hunting competition, so he must have known about my injury. I didn't like being worried and protected by Shuan.
I struck Shuan's blade hard, then rode my horse toward the medium-sized beast, this time piercing its neck. A spurt of thick blood gushed out, and the horse twisted. I stroked its mane and glared at Shuan.
“Don’t interfere in my battles.”
As I stood there quietly facing him, Shuan approached me first.
“Hello, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess.”
I nodded once at Shuan's polite greeting.
“I thought you wouldn’t come.”
“I thought you wouldn’t come.”
Shuan and I spoke at the same time. I frowned before he could question me.
"Why?"
Actually, I wasn't that offended, but I didn't want to give him the priority of asking questions.
"You've only recently married Grand Duke. I assumed you'd be quite busy cultivating your estate."
It could have been twisted and twisted, but Shuan was probably just being literal.
“Because I am so capable. And so is His Highness the Grand Duke.”
At my words, Shuan smiled bitterly.
“I see.”
I didn't like Shuan's bitter smile. I also didn't like the way he wavered, unsure of what to do between his sister and me.
If he had completely betrayed me and chosen his sister, I might have understood that as his choice. After all, I value myself above all else.
Shuan, who had been silent for a moment, asked.
“Why did you think I wouldn’t come?”
“You must be busy with your younger sister, who just returned to the family.”
At my words, Shuan was once again speechless. I decided to leave the story at that. It didn't make me feel better to harass him.
Above all, Julian didn't like me being with him, so I didn't want to waste any more time on it.
“The south building is large. Who lives there?”
“Marquis Eriant and Count Sasha are staying here.”
“Count Sasha participated in the expedition?”
When I asked as if it was unexpected, Shuan nodded as if he knew.
“Count Sasha himself didn’t come. He said he was sick.”
"Ah."
Of course, it was just malingering. Shuan seemed to think so too.
“Yes, that’s it.”
I turned around, as if there was nothing more to confirm. The Marquis of Eriant had Ari, and Count Sasha himself was on the Second Prince's side, so he would naturally follow Princess Abigail's orders.
Looking at this situation, it seemed like it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that Count Merlin was also one of Princess Abigail's people.
As I was about to head north again with Hela, Shuan called out to me.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess.”
I ignored his call and started to walk away, but turned around halfway.
"I know you don't like it. But I'll do whatever it takes to repay the debt."
“Then take your sister and go far away. That way, we can reduce the number of assassins who want to kill me.”
I turned away without even looking at Shuan. I felt like I'd just overheard a story.
***
Shuan could only watch Layla leave with a stern look. Layla was right. If only he could take Ari with him.
For days, Ari was persuaded. Princess Abigail repeatedly told her she couldn't have the throne and that she should give it up. The more she spoke, the more resolute Ari became.
'She is the only one who can become the Emperor of this country!'
"Why on earth do you think that? Her Highness the Princess has no proper foundation. And not only that, she's incredibly cruel."
'How cruel! She is my savior!'
Ari put her hand on her chest and shouted, "That's right." Shuan, trying to calm his confused mind, asked again.
'What do you mean, savior?'
When Shuan asked, seemingly unfamiliar with her sister, Ari snorted. It was an attitude completely unheard of in his always gentle and beautiful younger sister.
Since when? Shuan couldn't possibly know Ari's true feelings.
"You have no idea how hellish it was to live in high society as the empire's most beautiful woman. I was only fourteen when I made my debutante debut."
Ari didn't say anything more. She just looked at Shuan, who couldn't even understand this, as if he were an idiot.
Ari regained her composure, took a deep breath, and tucked her hair behind her ear. Then she spoke in an elegant voice.
'Let go of that woman's hand right now.'
'That woman.'
'I mean, Layla Winsley. The woman who dared to steal Her Highness' man.'
‘...Her Highness the Grand Duchess married through proper procedures.’
Ari covered her mouth and laughed. Her bright smile, as if she'd returned to her childhood, was somehow creepy. It seemed to tell Shuan that all the smiles Ari had ever seen were an act.
'Do you think I don't know that my brother has feelings for that woman?'
Shuan hesitated and then answered.
"Don't talk nonsense. This isn't something that should be said in this situation."
"I have something to say. I want you to help me trap that woman. Wouldn't it be difficult if you have personal feelings?"
'Don't think I'll cooperate with such a thing!'
He scolded her, but she just laughed loudly. Shuan, as if he didn't want to hear any more, left Ari's room.
Ari's laughter, coming out through the crack in the door, was still vivid in his ears.
Now, Shuan was watching Layla's back. The wind was swaying her high-tied blonde hair, and she was speaking to the knight standing beside her.
It was truly strange. Not long after that conversation with Ari, a surge of demons occurred in the western Riar Plains. Ari, as if she'd expected this, calmly told Shuan to join the expedition.
'Everything will go according to Her will.'
So, does that mean Princess Abigail had something to do with this? Shuan shook his head, a terrible thought forming in his mind.
If Princess Abigail had possessed magic and indeed such a powerful sorcerer's talent, it would have been discovered as a child.
But if not, then how on earth... One way or another, it was clear that Princess Abigail had no qualifications to become the Empress.
Shuan watched Layla gradually move away. Then, Ari's voice rang in his ears again.
'Do you think I don't know that my brother has feelings for that woman?'
He thought no one would know. He didn't want anyone to find out because he felt unworthy. The mere thought of having someone else find out about his feelings was unbearable.
How did it come to this? At first, he simply thought she was an interesting woman. But her gait wasn't always radiant.
She sought information, created conflict, and even threatened someone. Nevertheless, Shuan was drawn to her unwavering pace, and his heart grew deeper. This heart, unworthy of anything, grew deeper.
***
After the troops from the palace and each clan had prepared, the date for the first suppression was set.
There was a lake called Iris in the Riar Plains, and the goal of this expedition was to reclaim Lake Iris from the demons.
Before the expedition began, I went to the wizard camp to check if the magic stone necklace Julian had gifted me was properly blocked. Fortunately, I received a reply confirming there were no issues.
After organizing their camp, the soldiers marched toward the demonic beast, carrying banners, spears, shields, and swords. I rode ahead of them, along with my father, Ruin, and Adam.
The wizards sensed the beasts' mana from afar and roughly estimated their numbers. The number of beasts they would encounter on the lake was approximately two hundred small, fifty medium, and thirty large.
A large force of thirty was a significant threat, and the soldiers were in an uproar.
But our Winsley family's soldiers were not afraid. They were the ones who always fought against the demons on the border.
The moderate tension between them stemmed from their accumulated experience. It was a testament to their determination to never underestimate their opponent, yet never be intimidated.
I looked out into the distance from my horse. The land was wide and flat, so even non-magicians could tell there were quite a few demons here.
Among them, the giant demon, its head sticking out of the middle of the lake, was quite threatening.
How large a body must lie beneath that vast lake? I've never seen a demon as large as that.
Father shouted loudly to boost the morale of the soldiers.
"It's just one of the mountains we've overcome so far! Let's show who protected the empire!"
Wow!
The soldiers shouted loudly. And soon, shouts could be heard from each army.
Finally, after the Emperor had finished expressing his gratitude to everyone and wishing them well, all camps began to advance.
As the footsteps of people and horses began to shake the ground, the demons that had been prowling the ground raised their heads.
The sharp, lizard-like pupils of the demons turned toward the humans. Soon, the demons' footsteps began to resonate loudly.
The sound of sharp metal clashing with claws was heard as people, horses, and demons ran wild together.
I mostly fought medium-sized beasts while on horseback. My ankle was almost healed, but I was worried it would recur due to the intense fighting.
It was when I firmly secured my body on the horse and thrust my sword into the mouth of the medium-sized demon, and then pulled it out.
Krrrrung―
Another demon's howl was heard right behind me. I immediately turned my sword around and tried to stab it behind me.
“Be careful!”
Someone stood between me and the demon. The demon took a few steps back from the sudden attack. As a result, I ended up with my sword drawn in the air.
“Young Master of Eriant.”
“Is your leg injury still not healed?”
Shuan had come to the hunting competition, so he must have known about my injury. I didn't like being worried and protected by Shuan.
I struck Shuan's blade hard, then rode my horse toward the medium-sized beast, this time piercing its neck. A spurt of thick blood gushed out, and the horse twisted. I stroked its mane and glared at Shuan.
“Don’t interfere in my battles.”
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