I stared at Lucifer with a somewhat bewildered look. Suddenly, he bowed to Aunt Ann.

“We’ll be going now.”

“Yes, I mean, sure.”

“Please speak comfortably with me.”

“How could I? That sweet, gentle little boy has now become a knight commander with a terrible temper.”

The two seemed to have been quite close.

“I apologize.”

“I understand, so I’ll pretend not to notice. But I don’t understand why things must be this way. Hasn’t the misunderstanding been cleared up now?”

“…”

Was this about me?

I stood awkwardly between them, staring blankly. Their expressions were so serious that it seemed difficult to satisfy my curiosity by interrupting.

“I lost my daughter, but I don’t want her friends to hate each other and be unhappy because of what happened that day.”

“You needn’t worry about that.”

“Do you promise?”

“Please trust me.”

I couldn’t understand why Lucifer was being so respectful to Aunt Ann. I could only think that there must be a past between them that I didn’t know about.

“Alright. Then I’ll trust you and leave our Lea in your care.”

Aunt Ann placed her hand on my shoulder and gave me a kind, warm farewell.

“Now, please, truly be happy.”

“Take care.”

With both hands full of Aunt Ann’s heartfelt gifts, I followed Lucifer with quick steps. My mind grew complicated watching his back as he walked with perfect posture, his red cloak fluttering.

Aunt Ann and Lucifer. The “that boy” Aunt Ann mentioned must certainly be Lucifer…

Somehow, an impossible thought kept circling in my mind. The absurd fantasy that Lucifer might actually be Carden. But he didn’t have Carden’s scars.

Yet why did I feel this strange uneasiness? I regretted not having asked the villagers about Lucifer’s identity earlier. I was about to raise my hand to knock myself on the head, blaming my foolishness. That’s when I noticed the pouch in my shackled hand.

“Lord Croisen, just a moment.”

He turned his head with narrowed brows, looking annoyed.

“Aunt Ann wants us to share this.”

I opened the pouch slightly to show him. His nostrils seemed to flare ever so slightly. Of course. No one could resist this sweet honey scent.

“She said you like it.”

“I don’t like it.”

“What? But…”

“I detest sweet things. So the princess should eat it all.”

—I hate sweet things. Lea, you like sweet things, don’t you? Eat a lot.—

I shook my head vigorously at the sudden auditory hallucination.

Get a grip, Lea. This man can’t be Carden. He’s not lying to give his portion to me like that boy would.

I deliberately recalled both his wrists again. Those deep scars from back then weren’t the kind that would disappear with age and growth. Unless someone with extraordinary healing abilities existed…

“Ah…!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Um… I have a question.”

My heart began pounding again. Even while telling myself not to expect anything, my heart strangely raced. Despite knowing nothing would change, that I would still be disliked and mistreated by Lucifer.

“What kind of purification ritual will I receive from His Majesty the Emperor?”

“His holy power will drive out all dark energy.”

“Because I might be tainted by darkness?”

“Yes.”

“Can it expel all evil things?”

“As far as I know, yes.”

This time my heart pounded for a different reason. Could it erase the negative effects the silver liquid had on me? Would I be able to live longer…?

The one year given to me, would it be good or bad if that time were extended?

“Are your questions finished?”

“Ah, no. Then can the holy power heal wounds too?”

Full of expectation, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. But soon I lowered my head. His gaze felt colder than the snow covering our surroundings.

His annoyance and irritation were too obvious. I should have asked the kind Terseon instead.

“Why do you ask that?”

“Oh… just…”

While fidgeting with my hands, I felt the jar of ointment Aunt Ann had given me. Then I noticed my hands, which were in terrible condition.

“I was wondering if my hands would heal after the purification ritual, making slave work easier.”

I spoke dismissively.

Judging by his reaction just now, I’d probably be scolded if I asked whether holy power could erase scars. He was already this cold; he might freeze the unfrozen lake completely.

I mumbled the end of my sentence while fidgeting with my hands.

“I don’t know. They say His Majesty’s power is mysterious, but I haven’t experienced it myself.”

My expectations deflated at his words.

I felt foolish for being disappointed. What was I stupidly expecting?

We soon reached the village entrance where the knights had finished preparations for departure.

“Is everyone gathered?”

“Yes! Preparations complete.”

“Then let’s depart.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the knights swiftly mounted their horses.

I also climbed onto a horse, supported by Lucifer’s strong arm. And soon, we left Solanie Village.

I kept looking back, carrying small regrets, remorse, and a wistful heart. And I made a tiny wish.

If I die after a year, I hope to be buried next to my precious friend Carden…

* * *

Another fortnight passed from that day.

The blizzard that supposedly hit the empire every year was milder this year. Instead, I heard news that heavy snowfall had caused significant damage in the duchy. Monster occurrences within the duchy had also increased.

“Fortunately, those strange shadows seem unable to approach as we get closer to the empire.”

Before entering the Imperial Palace, we stopped at a castle in the final territory. After the Kires incident, I was kept close to Lucifer with my shackles on, allowing me to overhear his work.

“Oh, it was terrible. It seems the Dark Clan loses power as we get closer to His Majesty’s influence.”

Terseon handed documents to Lucifer with a disgusted expression. Lucifer’s gaze shifted to me while reading them, full of displeasure.

“Indeed. Thanks to His Majesty’s protection, we narrowly avoided losing more knights to the Dark Clan targeting the sacrifice.”

I lowered my head with guilt at his reproach. Though it wasn’t my fault this time either, I had nothing to say since the original sin was mine.

Even the knights with whom I had formed some friendships, except for Terseon, kept their distance and grew wary of me.

“But it’s strange. I wonder why those shadows only attach themselves to knights with behavioral issues. And specifically only those with ill intentions toward the princess.”

“I’ve heard that’s the power of darkness. According to His Majesty, the Dark Clan exploits people’s negative emotions.”

“Ugh, I’ll always maintain only good thoughts.”

I turned slightly backward to hide my smile at Terseon’s words. The vice-commander of the Holy Knights I knew seemed perfectly capable of that.

Unlike the prickly Lucifer, he was kind and gentle.

“But if their power is this strong even far from the duchy, wouldn’t things be worse in the duchy itself?”

“Well, Duke Johannes will handle things appropriately.”

Lucifer was indifferent to the duchy’s affairs. He seemed more concerned with safely returning to the empire.

“And once the princess’s purification ritual is complete, the black shadows will likely lose their power too, so the duchy should stabilize.”

Lucifer and Terseon both turned to look at me.

I was cleaning his armor with a clean cloth and lowered my head, embarrassed by the two men’s gazes.

The events happening because of me weren’t very welcome. I felt sorry too.

“But I thought the duchy was warm and prosperous even in winter, but I guess that wasn’t true.”

“It was an abnormal prosperity gained in exchange for sacrificing people to monsters.”

“Indeed, it’s absurd that the rest could be happy by sacrificing innocent people.”

I found some warm comfort in their conversation.

Though Lucifer was a cold and prickly man, he was righteous enough to be chosen by the Emperor. Despite his declaration that he would make my life hell, he hadn’t particularly tormented me.

So our relationship had no issues other than him making me his slave. Except for the shackles, he practically neglected me. Even the contemptuous look in his eyes whenever he glanced at me had subsided considerably.

His behavior changed significantly the closer we got to the Imperial Palace.

“By the way, when we return to the Imperial Palace, will we join the Emperor’s royal guard?”

“I don’t know. We’ll follow His Majesty’s orders.”

“I wonder if the land distribution went well for those who remained in the duchy?”

From what I heard, among the 10,000 soldiers who entered the duchy, many were commoner knights. Next were nobles without titles to inherit.

They would receive land according to their merits from conquering the duchy and gain titles.

“I still think our commander should have become a grand duke or governor.”

“I have no interest in such things.”

“Why not? Then even I, as your close aide, would benefit.”

Lucifer narrowed his eyes and glared at the grumbling Terseon.

“I told you to stay in the duchy if you wanted that. I said there would be no such rewards if you followed me.”

“Ah, yes, yes. I know. I’d be happy just to enter the Imperial Guard with you. Well, His Majesty probably wouldn’t want to send away his potential son-in-law to the duchy.”

“Unnecessary talk. Is everything prepared?”

“Yes, we’ve gathered all the evidence. His Majesty will be very pleased.”

“We’ll finish this evening, so make preparations.”

Shortly after, Terseon seemed to have finished his report and gathered his documents to leave. He glanced at Lucifer cautiously and then approached me.

“Do you have any honey bread left?”

“No, I ate it all yesterday. I’m sorry.”

I had savored the long-lasting pastry for as long as possible. I even licked my fingers after eating the last piece yesterday, feeling regretful.

“Tsk, that’s too bad. I’ll have to ask my grandmother to make plenty when I get home. The commander likes it too.”

Terseon didn’t know Lucifer’s taste. He hadn’t touched even one piece.

“Terseon. Do you have business with the princess?”

“Oh, no, not at all. I’ll be going now.”

While Lucifer didn’t interfere with anything else and generally neglected me, he blocked knights from approaching me like this. No one knew who the black shadow might entice next.

Terseon walked quickly to the door and flung it open.

But there was an unfamiliar woman at the door. A woman who sparkled like a real princess, with elegant golden hair and blue eyes that were both glamorous and graceful.

“Oh, Your Imperial Highness! What brings you here?”

Imperial Highness?

Lucifer stood up when he saw the woman at the door. Frost seemed to form in his eyes. But his manner was more respectful than ever.

“What brings you here personally?”

The Imperial Princess ignored both Terseon and Lucifer, walking past them to stand in front of me. She looked me up and down.

Then, with a haughty face, she spoke sharply.

“I came to see the joke of a commoner knight taking a foreign princess as his slave. I wondered if this was born from your filthy inferiority complex.”