"What? Kyle isn't here?"

In the castle of the Alcott Empire, the current Emperor Cyril sat upon his throne.

He was a blue-haired, overweight man dressed in extravagant clothing. His neck, wrists, and fingers were adorned with an abundance of golden accessories, heavily laden with large gems, giving him the appearance of a nouveau riche... or someone corrupt.

However, instead of displaying concern, the Emperor wore a suspicious expression.

"That brat... Is he planning another coup? Did he mention where he went?"

The knight kneeling at the foot of the raised platform trembled under the Emperor's scrutiny and replied in a shaky voice.

"I-It seems he responded to Princess Sophia's distress signal. But that was already five hours ago, your highness..."

"Sophia...?"

The Emperor whispered, sounding uncertain.

"...The first Princess, your highness," the soldier reminded him.

"Ah, right. There's her too..." Emperor Cyril nodded. "I believe she set off about half a month ago, heading west. So she really needed rescue in the end? Useless as usual..."

Of course, the knight knew that she hadn't left half a month ago but rather three weeks ago. However, pointing that out, when it was not significant enough for their topic, might provoke the Emperor's fury toward him, so he kept his mouth shut.

It was wisdom born from experience—and from the desire not to end up like the corpse lying beside him. His knight companion, his friend, had been killed simply because he was too nervous and spoke out of turn.

In this place, their lives were worth no more than the speck of dust on the ground.

"Did he join Sophia's expedition, perhaps?" Emperor Cyril mused. "Then, he might return after that is over. You report back to me once the two of them arrive."

"Y-Yes, your highness!"

And finally, that was his cue to leave.

The knight stood up, keeping his head low, and walked backward halfway before turning around and briskly walking away. Each time he had to report to the Emperor, he felt as if his lifespan was reduced by at least a decade.

As the soldier exited, another figure stepped in to take his place.

It was a woman, standing tall and proud.

Her attire was flashy, leaning more toward the seductive side. She wore a deep blue dress that accentuated her willful curves, with deep slits along the hips, and a pale white fox fur stole draped around her shoulders, perfectly accentuating her calm cerulean blue hair.

Her thin, sharp green eyes were fierce, staring straight at the Emperor without fear.

"Father, I suggest sending someone to check on those two," the woman said, addressing the Emperor as if they were equals. "Kyle has brought half of the wyvern squad with him. If the two of them join forces and stage a coup... it would be no joke."

The Emperor hummed, resting his double chin on his fist.

"Tiffany, huh?" he huffed, acknowledging her. "I don't recall allowing you to speak, but your words do make sense. Wyvern knights are powerful, after all."

If her prediction became reality, even Cyril would find it troublesome. However, since the Empire operated on the principle of survival of the fittest, such an outcome would ultimately be acceptable.

"Since you suggested it," the Emperor grinned, pointing his flabby finger at the woman. "You should go and check on them yourself. I'll permit you to take three thousand knights and five hundred mages."

Upon hearing his swift decision, the woman, Tiffany, smiled—a seductive smile that captivated the hearts of all the men present in the throne room.

"As you wish, Father."

Of course, while the Emperor believed he was offloading the responsibility onto her, this was precisely what she desired. She aimed to gain access to her own troops and confront Sophia and Kyle, who stood ahead of her in the line of succession.

She offered a slight bow, her respect for the Emperor barely perceptible, before turning to leave. She didn't have much else to say to her father anyway.

"Crow."

After leaving the throne room and walking down a dark hallway, she called out.

In an instant, something emerged from a pillar's shadow, the darkness behind the princess, transforming into a humanoid figure that knelt before her.

"As you've heard, I can order 3,000 foot soldiers and 500 mages. Select the best among them and form my army," she said, her lips curling into an excited smile. "We'll set off at first light tomorrow."

"Yes, my princess."

The man responded in a deep, echoing voice before vanishing again.

He truly felt like a shadow, appearing and disappearing without anyone noticing.

Tiffany didn't seem to mind; she appeared accustomed to his antics. Instead, she moved to a nearby window, gazing at the setting sun, and whispered to herself.

"Finally... I can eliminate those two thorns in my side..."

Of course, at that moment, she had no idea of the events that were about to unfold. If she had, she might have chosen to flee in the opposite direction, escaping as far as she could.

...

Although the sun was still up, the dungeon beneath Axevaria Kingdom's castle was shrouded in darkness. There were no windows to let in any light.

The air was thick and humid, leaving no hope of escape.

In one of the cells, a lone figure sat, mumbling to herself. She was shackled by chains on her arms and legs, which allowed her a limited range of movement. They were long enough to allow her to walk around her entire cell. But it did not change the fact that she was being treated like a prisoner.

"…"

But that wasn't the worst of it.

Initially, her arrival there filled her with elation. She treated her captivity almost like some twisted form of foreplay. She felt optimistic, even joyful, believing she had found "the one" for her.

However, when her "express delivery" finally arrived, her heart plummeted.

Kyle lay right outside her cell.

He was there… unmoving.

The dim light obscured his battered and broken figure, but his bloodshot eyes, filled with agony and despair, locked onto Sophia's.

It was a nightmare for her.

"No way, no way, no way…"

She whispered repeatedly, struggling to comprehend what she was witnessing.

After all, she had genuinely believed that when someone came to rescue her, she could take Axel with her as a "prize" back to the Empire. That was why she had been smiling, seemingly enjoying her circumstances.

She had believed the Empire was invulnerable, unmatched by any other nation.

But now… that belief was faltering.

Only fear remained in the heart of the unfortunate princess.

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