“Princess.”
“I thought I would die of boredom.” Ganje sat in a chair, tapping her foot.
Isserion murmured to Ricardis from behind him, “She left her escorts behind.”
Those escorts? The ones who seemed tired and bored whenever Ganje opened her mouth? They would never leave her alone. They were the ones who had to monitor the rumors spreading from her mouth rather than worrying about her safety.
“It seems like you’re wandering alone despite the commotion, Princess.”
Ganje grinned, “They must be fast asleep in our tents.”
“…But to leave you alone?”
“I put them to sleep to keep them from making a fuss.”
Starz and Raymond, who were leaving the tent, stopped.
“May we ask how and why you did that?”
“There are many things I can’t discuss if they’re around. And as for the method…”
Ganje smiled mischievously and slipped her hand into her clothes. Starz stepped in front of Ricardis. Ganje raised her other hand, indicating that she had no intention of attacking, as something long and slender emerged from her pocket.
“It’s a fragrance blended with herbs that can induce hallucinations and sleep. I made it myself, and its effects are wonderful. If you ever need it…”
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})“Well… I don’t think I will.”
Ricardis gestured with his eyes, signaling his knights to stand down, and then he sat in front of Ganje. She was always approaching him, step by step, looking him over from head to toe, speaking through her actions and words. ‘Let’s talk, let’s have a conversation, you and I’ — Always saying that.
Ricardis didn’t think her persistent and unreserved behavior was merely a matter between individuals. So, Illavenia and Balta? How dare someone with a small claim to the throne challenge a future King like Haqab?
Their eyes met. Ganje dropped her gaze, smiling mischievously, “Your Highness Ricardis.”
“Not interested.”
Ganje widened her eyes in surprise. “Well… This is a bit embarrassing. Do you know what I was going to say? Why not listen to the rest?”
“No, thank you. Weren’t you about to talk about marriage?”
Ganje exclaimed and clapped her hands together in awe. “We have an old man in our royal court who claims to read the future. You’re much better than him.”
“Thank you for the honor.” Ricardis slowly ran his fingers through his hair while wearing a thoughtful expression.
Ganje sighed in disappointment.
“That’s a shame. I thought this was an opportunity to secure a husband of the Illavenian beauty whose name constantly falls from the lips of Baltan noble ladies.”
Ricardis chuckled. “You have high standards, Princess. I’m sorry, but I have high standards too.”
Ganje’s eyes widened, and after a while, she laughed. Ricardis also wore a small smile. His mind was in turmoil. He had taken the jab, but her request was sincere.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})He didn’t believe she had come this far simply because of love at first sight. Anyone could see that she was a sore in Haqab’s eyes. It was bewildering how she had survived until now. Because they were biological siblings?
Haqab was not a man for such sweet sentiments. Somehow, she had managed to survive, and yet, she chose to distance herself from her biological brother. While she may not be dead, there was still an underlying element of danger.
Perhaps Ganje came here to ally under the guise of marriage. But all of this could be part of Haqab’s scheme. It wasn’t something Ricardis could casually accept.
“There is a saying in Balta that one should listen to a person’s words up to three times. Because time and circumstances can change, it advises careful consideration. So, I will also step back for the remaining two chances. Until something changes.”
Three chances. It wasn’t an awful proposal for Ricardis, either. As she said, things could change depending on time and circumstances. She stood up, and Ricardis stood up as well.
“I will escort you to your tent, Princess. While the threat may be over, something else might occur.”
“Goodness… Are you saying you’ll escort back the woman you gave the cold shoulder to just a minute ago?”
“Why else would you put all the escorts to sleep?”
Ganje pouted and huffed. As Isserion was about to roll back the tent cloth, Ganje suddenly stopped. Ricardis also halted and looked at her.
“Shall I tell you an interesting story, Your Highness?”
Ricardis tilted his head. He wished she could finish quickly and leave.
“I was reminded of it when you mentioned a demonic beast. When do you think demonic beasts first arose, Your Highness?”
Ricardis’ eyebrows twitched. When demonic beasts arose?
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Well, since the day Idelavhim illuminated the world… roughly… a few thousand… tens of thousands… he wasn’t sure.
Ricardis replied with a grumble, “I’m not sure.”
It must have been a long time ago. Ganje, who understood the meaning behind his curt response, smiled significantly.
“It seems that the information differs slightly between Illavenia and Balta. You can consider my words as an interesting anecdote. According to our records, it was approximately three hundred years ago when the threat of demonic beasts emerged.”
Ricardis pondered her words. The Illavenian Imperial family was a repository of history. Despite receiving education on various subjects since childhood, he had never encountered similar stories.
Weren’t demonic beasts something that existed since the world’s birth, alongside animals and plants? But this fact that it suddenly emerged a few hundred years ago…
“Huh.” He was bewildered. Ricardis covered his mouth.
The timing…
The timing… it aligns. The disappearance of the Blessed Night and…
[Then, which bloodline is born with strong magic? Where are they now?]
Laurel of the Snowfield. The mage family, who completed the other half of their duo… Their disappearance coincided with…
It couldn’t be a mere coincidence. The scattered pieces started to fit together perfectly, forming a complete picture. Though many gaps remained, the overall shape took form. Ricardis trembled slightly.
A red carriage wheel rolled through his mind. The wheel, soaked in the blood of demonic beasts, stained the filthy snow. The mutated beast existed not for the sake of preserving its life but for the death of someone else; ‘Its’ roar, exploding with fury even with blades at its throat, echoed vividly.
[T/N: Remember that the Radwiell name originally means ‘of Red Wheel’. It might be related.]
***
Year 282. The beginning of spring, when the buds just started to bloom. It was still chilly.
A village discovered the lifeless body of a young child in the field. Their limbs were brutally torn off, their heart missing.
Year 282, on the day when the first flower bud burst open.
Another body, bearing marks strikingly resembling those of the previous incident, was discovered. It was another cruel sight that seemed unimaginable for a human to commit. They determined it wasn’t the work of a beast because of the absence of claw or fang marks.
Year 283, during the season when the sunlight shone most intensely.
Authorities found a small village in a rural territory entirely decimated. It exhibited a similar pattern to the previous incident. They finally pinpointed the culprit as a mage who lived in that village. The mage testified that they had killed these people as offerings to Crean Tidanion. Everyone thought the case concluded until similar incidents simultaneously occurred in different regions.
One of the great powers that called upon the White Night and the Black Moon. Could it be that those with magical abilities suddenly went insane? People gradually began to avoid the mages.
Year 284, when red leaves carpeted the ground.
The official Imperial chronicles recorded that mages were devouring humans.
Year 284, when the wheat bowed its head.
People were enraged by the horrific incidents caused by the mages. Finally determined to address these events, the Imperial court deployed knights to launch a full-scale hunt. The scent of burning flesh filled the continent and every territory. Some witnesses claimed to have seen powerful mages captured by the Imperial court, but it was uncertain.
Year 286, on a day covered in white snow.
A poorly dressed mage ran through the streets, shouting at the top of his lungs. He spread unfounded lies, claiming that all the dreadful murders were a conspiracy by the Imperial court. Patrolling soldiers swiftly executed the man. It was unclear why the mage did not flee but ran through crowded streets instead. Perhaps that madness fueled by magical energy had overtaken him.
Year 287, the Blessed Night.
The existence of the mages, who brought ominous shadows to Illavenia, could no longer be found anywhere. Some argued that the White Night could not occur without the mages, but the light of the shining White Night this year was more dazzling than ever. Evidently, malevolent entities— those mages and demons— had obscured the light.
The beautiful land basked in the splendor of Idelavhim.
Illavenia, may you endure eternally.
***
The shadow-draped forest held a colder air than the meadow. Rosaline took a deep breath and looked around. With her senses sharpened, invisible distant landscapes became vividly painted in her mind.
Hooves struck the ground, causing slight vibrations. A squirrel scurried up a tree at the faint tremor. The rustling of leaves sent a ripple through the air, and dozens of birds took flight. Rabbits and deer fled, driven by an unseen threat.
“There, catch them! Over there!”
The men shouted, arrows swiftly soaring through the air. Cheers repeatedly echoed—the relentless footsteps of conquerors. Below them, the sound of crunching twigs and branches in the underbrush screamed.
The clamor ringing in her ears was deafening. Her head spun. Rosaline frowned and tapped the back of the Chocolate’s head. Chocolate, busy nibbling on grass, twitched its ears and slowly moved.
As they moved, the presence and sounds of people gradually faded away. Rosaline hugged Chocolate’s neck and pressed herself against it. The soft mane tickled her cheek; it was uncomfortable, but Chocolate let out a rough breathing sound. And even when a fox cub or a rabbit passed before her eyes, Rosaline did not chase it.
