Chapter 2. I’m Sorry, But I Have Amnesia

“Congratulations on your knighthood.”

At Doiman’s congratulatory words, Karsion gave a light smile. Inside, however, he was deeply moved.

He had come to Shutzen and officially received his knighthood.

He, who had been abandoned in a rural territory due to his weak constitution, had recovered both body and mind there and grown strong enough to become a knight.

“Just thinking about how smug my master will be makes my neck tense already.”

“Sir Orland will be very proud of you.”

“I bet he will.”

He’d probably claim all the credit and demand a celebration feast.

The wandering swordsman recruited by Viscount Pascal Iblaine had a difficult personality, but his skills were exceptional. Thanks to that worst combination, Karsion had suffered greatly. Orland’s training was incredibly harsh.

When Karsion showed signs of exhaustion, feeling like he might actually die, Orland had a knack for making irritating remarks that prevented his disciple from giving up.

<Repay kindness with enmity. You need to develop the strength to protect Iblaine territory, don’t you? If you’re going to be this weak, just quit everything. Just quit and don’t care what happens to this territory.>

<D*mn it…>

He really meant what he said.

Gritting his teeth, Karsion endured and persevered. Under his merciless master, he had no choice but to become stronger.

Though he hated to admit it, looking back, he felt grateful to his master.

Now he could officially protect Iblaine territory. In exchange for receiving knighthood, he had set a condition to be stationed at Iblaine territory. It might seem presumptuous to set conditions for the Emperor, but Karsion wasn’t an ordinary knight—he was a prince.

He had thrown a tantrum like he couldn’t do when he was young.

He insisted that if they wouldn’t designate Iblaine territory as his post, he wouldn’t accept the knighthood. The Emperor, who wanted to bring his well-raised son to Shutzen, merely clicked his tongue.

It meant that Karsion’s position in the imperial family remained just that. He had grown better than expected and seemed too valuable to leave alone, but he was still only the Third Prince.

Well aware of this fact, Karsion appropriately used his position to stay close to Renéee.

Now he needed to go down and boast to Renéee. How proudly would the Viscount and Viscountess Iblaine look at him? He would also treat his master to a drink, or rather, many drinks…

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

As he was happily thinking about returning to Iblaine territory, an urgent voice echoed through the air. Karsion and Doiman turned their heads simultaneously. A knight was running toward them in panic.

It was not an appropriate voice to hear on such a joyous day. Detecting the ominous tone, a chill ran through Karsion’s heart.

“Your Highness! Your Highness! A Black Dragon has awakened in the Denivbruk Mountains after a thousand years! I regret to inform you that the Iblaine territory…”

Despite beginning urgently, the knight couldn’t finish his sentence. A violent storm seemed to rage in Karsion’s hardened eyes.

“I apologize, Your Highness…”

Though it wasn’t his fault, the knight felt guilty just for delivering such news. He lowered his head. Everyone knew how specially the Third Prince regarded that territory.

Karsion had difficulty processing the news he had clearly heard. A dragon suddenly? The dragon that was said to have last been active 1,000 years ago… has now awakened?

Though he was standing firmly on the ground, he felt as if everything beneath him was crumbling. A darkness like an abyss engulfed him.

When he regained his senses, several knights were restraining him. They were all working together to prevent him from recklessly rushing to Iblaine territory.

“Let me go! Let go!”

“It’s dangerous to go alone, Your Highness! Please calm down!”

“No! Renéee, I’m coming now! Renéee!”

“We’re organizing a subjugation force! Your Highness, please! This would be nothing but s*icide!”

Every second was precious. If they were organizing a subjugation force, there was only one answer. Without delay, Karsion knelt before the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, please allow me to sacrifice myself for the Empire’s peace. I will subjugate the evil Black Dragon.”

Not only the Emperor but also the Empress, who heard the news later, sighed in relief while stroking their chests.

They had been worried that the First or Second Prince might take command, but the Third Prince had stepped forward first!

“Karsion Frederick Berhardt. I entrust you with full authority for the dragon subjugation!”

With a burning fire in his chest, Karsion headed south. He had heard that Iblaine territory was completely destroyed, but given the urgent situation, not all information was accurate. He had no choice but to go and see with his own eyes.

They say a dragon’s breath can melt even bones…

But it should be fine. Master Orland was there. With such a strong swordsman, he must have protected them. Renéee, the Viscount and Viscountess Iblaine, and the mansion staff who had treated him warmly.

Even against a dragon, that had to be the case.

Though the possibility was slim, Karsion couldn’t abandon his thread of hope.

Iblaine territory contained his entire life.

Renéee Iblaine was his everything.

‘Please.’

‘Just be alive.’

‘Let me at least recover your body.’

‘Even just a fragment of bone…’

But as time passed, his wishes grew smaller and more desperate.

Cruelly, Karsion couldn’t find anything in the devastated Iblaine territory, and where hope had vanished, only anger remained.

‘Bastard!’

‘Dragon bastard!’

For three long years, he tracked the Black Dragon through the Denivbruk Mountains, fighting, regrouping, and fighting again.

At the end of that long journey, Karsion rose as an imperial hero who had subjugated the evil Black Dragon.

People welcomed the returning knights with enthusiastic cheers. Flower petals scattered beautifully in the spring breeze from buildings and throughout the streets.

And Karsion watched it all with empty eyes.

What was the meaning of all this?

When Renéee wasn’t by his side.

When he couldn’t even confess to the woman he loved like a fool.

Amidst the enthusiastic atmosphere celebrating the hero, Karsion firmly resolved to live alone for the rest of his life.

* * *

Two more years passed. It was a day five years after Renéee’s death.

Karsion walked through Shutzen’s bustling district with an indifferent face. A statue of the hero who had saved the empire from the Black Dragon’s threat stood majestically in the square, but no one recognized him in his shabby attire.

It seemed beyond ordinary people’s imagination that the Third Prince would walk so boldly through the streets dressed as a commoner. Thanks to the public’s limited imagination, Karsion could move freely through the busy district.

It was a kind of escape. He wasn’t sure exactly what kind of escape it was.

Perhaps he wanted to feel something. For someone who had lost all reason to live, the sight of people living earnestly was merely curious. Maybe he wanted to gain even a little of their vitality this way.

Of course, it had no effect.

He lived because he couldn’t die. Living wasn’t fun, and his heart had hardened like stone long ago.

Occasionally, he would spot troublemakers, beat them up under the pretext of capital security, reform them, and quietly return to the palace—this routine repeated sporadically.

Capital security.

It was the result of the Emperor and Empress’s scheming.

To keep their son, whose value had skyrocketed after being hailed as a hero, in Shutzen, they bestowed upon him the position of “Head of Capital Security.” The head of capital security couldn’t leave the capital for long.

It was an absurdly shallow ploy, but Karsion accepted it. For someone who had lost the will to live, such trivial matters weren’t worth arguing over.

So today was just one of many meaningless days passing by.

That was certainly the case, but…

“…Renéee?”

Karsion thought he had finally gone mad. Seeing Renéee in the crowd? Thinking it was an illusion, he closed his eyes tightly and opened them again. Of course, he couldn’t keep them closed for long. What if she disappeared in that moment!

Before he could process it, Karsion was desperately running, pushing people aside. His heart chilled at the thought of losing her. With his gaze fixed on the back of her head with its high-tied black hair, he ran like a madman.

“Huff, huff!”

He caught her.

Grabbing her shoulder and turning her around forcefully, the surprised face of the woman with wide eyes slowly registered on his retina.

Eyes as clear and bright as a lake, in teal.

Unforgettable eyes.

A woman who looked exactly like his first love, no, who could only be Renéee Iblaine, stood before him. It was impossible, but that didn’t matter.

Renéee was alive.

The woman he had searched for over five years…

“Renéee? Renéee! It’s me, it’s…”

Karsion embraced her tightly. He had missed her so much. He had longed for her desperately. He hugged her as if he might crush her. So that he would never lose her again. So that he would never let her go again.

“Um, who are you?”

But the voice that returned scraped across his heart.

“…Don’t you recognize me?”

He asked in a trembling voice, stepping back, and the woman smiled apologetically.

“I’m sorry, but I have amnesia.”