The blaring trumpet announced the beginning of the duel, and Elze barely regained her senses. Her vision was blurry like fog due to the swirling wind and raindrops.

The attendants’ wails spread through the air in all directions. She wiped away the raindrops stinging her eyes and unfolded the news sheet.

<The Ixion Empire’s Invasion. The Emperor’s Mercy>

The news sheet contained the emperor’s message: “The Ixion Empire will withdraw its troops if the prince wins the duel against the duke.”

“Those imperial bastards should all be sent to h＊ll where lava boils. They should live there forever, suffering divine wrath…!”

“Poor prince… to leave us like this…”

As the duke raised his sword under the dark clouds, a ray of sunlight touched the blade, making it gleam blue. Feeling a chill, she closed her eyes tightly and prayed.

‘Please let the prince return safely to the embrace of the Talis Kingdom.’

Slowly opening her eyes, she saw the Talis king staring at the brown field with a vacant expression. The king was muttering while rubbing his dry, withered lips.

Beside the king sat the emperor, resting his chin on his hand with a bored expression. His black hair fluttered in the moisture-laden wind.

As the emperor brushed away the hair stinging his eyes, golden pupils appeared in his sharp eyes. He slowly blinked, taking in the people around him.

“…!”

Suddenly, Elze’s eyes widened. When his golden eyes, which seemed capable of devouring everything, looked at her face, her breath caught in her throat.

At the same time, his eyes shed their boredom and began to penetrate her intensely.

The veins standing out on his thick neck. His tightly closed lips as he gently bit his molars. His eyes trembling with moisture. Her body stiffened at his unfathomable emotions.

‘Why on earth…?’

She was just one of the maids working in the castle. There had never been an opportunity to create such intense emotions in him.

‘Ah!’

As she examined herself in confusion, she felt pain.

The tingling sensation at her fingertips instantly changed to a stinging feeling, climbing up her arm and devouring her shoulder. Then the pain carved into her flesh in circular motions.

‘It hurts…! Help me, please.’

She reached out to the maid beside her. But the maid didn’t notice her gesture and continued staring at the brown field.

“Hnngh… Your Highness, Your Highness! Oh God… please.”

The maid’s knuckles turned white as she clasped her hands together.

Following the maid’s gaze, she saw the prince sitting on the ground with his head lowered. His white tunic was stained with red bl＊＊d.

She heard the sound of someone collapsing nearby. She looked down to see the maid sobbing.

Amid the chaotic situation, she couldn’t grasp what action she should take. The pain in her shoulder persisted, and her anxiety increased with each thump of her heart.

She closed her eyes and took a long breath to endure the unbearable pain. The earthy smell mixed with a tangy scent tickled her nose. Her legs trembled weakly with fear that cut through her skin.

‘No one can help me in this situation. I have to solve this myself.’

She reached behind to feel her shoulder to assess its condition, but her expression hardened. As if the pain were an illusion, she felt only smooth skin on her shoulder.

‘There’s nothing there.’

That can’t be right. Then where was this pain coming from? Her fingertips grew cold at the pain of unknown origin.

‘No matter how I think about it… it’s because of the emperor.’

The pain had started after their eyes met. She glared at the emperor with reddened eyes. He was the one who had created all this confusion. The pain in her shoulder, the prince’s suffering, the country’s crisis.

But the emperor’s gaze had long since moved away from her. His eyes looking at the Talis king were like hers looking at him—filled with anger and resentment.

Just before the duke’s sword fell toward the prince’s neck, the Talis king rose from his chair.

“Wait…! Wait. I swear allegiance. Just spare Enoch’s life.”

The king, pale-faced, approached the emperor and knelt on the muddy ground. At the same time, the corner of the emperor’s mouth twisted upward.

“…When you plead so desperately, it’s hard to turn you away.”

The emperor rose from his seat and pressed down on the king’s shoulder.

“Seeing the Talis prince fight so bravely, I wonder if you looked just like that when you were rebelling.”

The king, with one shoulder slumped, clenched his fist.

“I’ve heard a dragon sleeps beneath this country, but I suppose this commotion wasn’t enough to wake it.”

His gaze passed over the Talis king, cold as winter…

“Taking many citizens beloved by the prince as prisoners would be cruel even for a devil.”

He scanned the frightened crowd. People flinched at his piercing gaze.

“I will take just one humble thing as a trophy.”

The emperor’s gaze, as if predetermined, turned toward Elze without hesitation.

He briefly took her in as he touched the ring on his pinky finger.

People began to turn their heads toward her one by one, noticing the emperor’s gaze. Cold sweat ran down her spine as she became the focus of attention.

‘It can’t be…’

With Talis becoming a vassal state, there was no reason for him to show interest in her. It would be natural to take a member of the royal family or high nobility as a hostage. So his gaze on her must be a meaningless coincidence.

‘It can’t be me.’

Elze lowered her head to the ground. The sound of approaching footsteps, thump, thump, confused her ears, mixing with her heartbeat. A foot entered her fixed gaze. She gasped.

“What’s your name?”

The emperor grabbed her chin and lifted her head. She only moved her lips, unable to answer. His expression hardened gradually. After briefly stroking her neck, he spoke.

“…Can’t you speak?”

She nodded, shrinking her shoulders at the touch of his fingers on her neck.

“Can you write?”

After hesitating, she shook her head.

“A mute maid who can’t read or write.”

The emperor turned to the Talis king with a twisted smile. The edge of his lips twitched slightly.

“I think this qualifies as something humble, don’t you agree?”

Elze desperately looked at the Talis king. However, seeing the king nod weakly, the last thread of hope disappeared from her face.

The emperor looked down at the maid sprawled on the ground and spoke.

“What is this maid’s name?”

“El, Elze. It’s Elze.”

The maid quickly rose from her seat and answered, panting as if about to lose her breath.

‘Why me of all people…’

If she could understand his actions even a little, she might have been less afraid. Her body felt powerless. As she tried to lower her head, his hand gripping her chin tightened.

“Yes, don’t bow your head, look at me.”

Once again, their eyes met. Unlike his rough hands, his tone was relaxed and gentle, as if soothing a frightened child.

His solid upper body was like a fortress built firmly. His presence before her made her feel cut off from the world.

“Now I am your master, Elze.”

As raindrops fell on her eyelids, she blinked with difficulty. He reached out and rubbed her eyes.

“Stay by my side for a long time.”

She felt heat from his hand. The contrasting sensations of his warm body temperature and the cold raindrops created a strange feeling of rejection.

‘I can’t bear this…’

Her mind was hazy from not being able to breathe properly. Through half-closed eyes, she could see him blurrily. As she tried to focus, there was a snapping feeling, and everything went dark.

* * *

“When imperial people catch prey, they cruelly tear off the animal’s skin before mourning the poor creature.”

“To think we must be ruled by those with such vulgar customs…”

“They don’t even have proper customs. They don’t maintain proper hierarchy and just copy systems from neighboring kingdoms.”

The sound of splashing water was accompanied by the scent of roses tickling her nose. Elze frowned and opened her eyes as steam settled on her eyelids.

‘Did I faint…?’

She turned her head to look around. Though the bath was warmed with hot air, the atmosphere was cold.

“…Are you awake?”

The corners of the maid’s faintly smiling lips trembled. Seeing that bitter smile made the back of her head feel cold, reminding her of the emperor’s persistent gaze. Suddenly, a chill filled her body. She rubbed her trembling arms with her hands that had been immersed in warm water.

“We’ll make you clean. This perfume will make your hair look beautiful when applied. More than now.”

“Just relax in the warm water. Don’t worry.”

Elze stared blankly at the maids, blinking. She wished they would clearly tell her the reality she was facing. A desperate hope that she wouldn’t have to leave the kingdom kept rising like a mirage.

The maids busily moved around, deliberately ignoring her gaze.

“Everything is ready, Elze.”

After some time had passed, a cautious voice was heard as she numbly received their ministrations.

Elze barely raised her head to look at her reflection in the mirror.

Everything was ordinary. She didn’t have lovably curly hair or smoothly flowing straight hair. Her golden hair had an ambiguous wave to it. Her eyes, the same color as her hair, were neither particularly bright nor dark.

Even after washing her eyes and looking carefully, she couldn’t find anything about herself worth coveting.

As questions about the emperor’s decision arose again, she heard the door fling open.