The fourteenth one.

It was hardly anything new.

Whenever the Imperial treasury ran low, Emperor Felix would choose another young noblewoman to take as his imperial consort.

Then he would use her as a hostage, demanding that her family offer up their wealth.

His excuses varied each time.

To expand the Imperial Palace.

To strengthen the Empire’s border defenses.

Or to provide relief for the impoverished.

Everyone knew where that money truly went.

Straight into the Emperor’s lavish indulgences.

‘No wonder she doesn’t want to be handed over to someone like him.’

Felix was still rolling his eyes in bewilderment, unable to comprehend what was happening.

‘What an idiot.’

The Newberic Empire’s once-abundant treasury had been depleted because the Emperor had recklessly waged wars against the other races.

As a result, Newberic’s territory had expanded ever so slightly.

And Felix had become a pauper of an Emperor.

Though outwardly, he still maintained a dazzling facade.

The sacrifices that sustained that splendor were noblewomen like Rachel.

Reiner tore his gaze away from Emperor Felix and looked at Rachel.

Unlike everyone else, who instinctively recoiled from his crimson eyes, she met them without the slightest hesitation.

The next moment, she spoke to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, may I have a moment to speak with Duke Reiner?”

“W-What?”

The corner of the Emperor’s eye twitched violently as he stared at Rachel.

“I’d like to catch up with an old friend. It will only take a moment.”

Rachel tilted her chin toward the exit, silently signaling for Reiner to follow.

Then she pushed the Emperor’s hand away.

Needless to say, Felix was left gaping in disbelief.

***

The two walked just far enough that the Emperor could no longer overhear their conversation.

Avoiding the curious ears around them, Reiner asked in a quiet voice,

“What exactly are you doing?”

Rachel lowered her voice as well.

“Please marry me.”

“Isn’t this the first time we’ve met?”

“Of course it is. But think about it. Duke, your reputation among Newberic’s nobility isn’t exactly favorable, is it?”

“So?”

“If I become your wife, you’ll attract attention within noble society.”

Reiner narrowed one eye.

“From what I saw today, you’re about as unpopular as I am.”

“…!”

As someone began drifting closer in an attempt to eavesdrop, Reiner straightened his shoulders and stepped in front of Rachel, shielding her from view.

He was so tall that Rachel had to tilt her head all the way back just to look at the back of his head.

The man who had spent years sailing from country to country to avoid the Emperor had a body forged by hardship.

His broad shoulders tapered into a perfectly sculpted waist.

His long legs were nothing like those of the frail noblemen attending the party.

Standing on tiptoe, Rachel whispered toward the back of his head.

“Don’t misunderstand. What I’m proposing is a contract marriage.”

“…?”

“A marriage based entirely on a contract.”

“As you know, once a woman is married in Newberic, she can no longer become the Emperor’s imperial consort. It’s legally impossible. So…”

“So we’d make a contract, and I would beat him to it?”

“Yes.”

“And all I get in return is a better reputation?”

“No.”

Rachel took a slow breath.

Her chest rose before gradually settling again.

Then, with agonizing slowness, she spoke.

“You can have me.”

Reiner turned toward her.

His eyes clearly asked if she’d just said something utterly ridiculous.

“I’m far more capable than you think, You won’t regret it. I can do anything. And the Emperor won’t be able to lay a finger on us. You won’t have to keep wandering from place to place on ships anymore.”

The words tumbled out in a rush.

Rachel looked up at him with wide, anxious eyes.

The weight of his gaze as he looked down at her made her stomach twist.

If he refused…

There was nowhere left for her to go except the Emperor.

Even now, she hated the way Emperor Felix watched them from afar with restless, possessive eyes.

“Please.”

At the sound of her plea, Reiner’s crimson eyes were fully revealed before his gaze softened into the slightest curve.

For an instant, it felt as though the air surrounding Rachel had grown warm.

In truth, the eyes everyone called cursed resembled the sun.

A crimson sun rising over the horizon, spreading gentle warmth.

“You’d better not disappoint me, Rachel Flynn.”

“Haa…”

Rachel lowered her thick lashes.

At last, it felt as though she could breathe again.

‘Thank goodness… Thank goodness.’

She offered a faint smile toward Count Flynn, who was watching anxiously from the distance.

‘Now all I have to do… is endure.’

Her gaze returned to Reiner.

‘So my goal from now on… is not to throw myself at this man.’

Rachel pressed a small hand against her racing heart.

***

“Rachel… I’m sorry. I’ve struggled for a long time over how to tell you this.”

Tears slowly welled in the eyes of the nine-year-old Rachel.

Her fingers gripped her dress so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

For some time now, Rachel had suspected she wasn’t human.

She possessed abilities that no ordinary person could.

She could go for days without sleep and never feel tired.

Despite her delicate appearance, she possessed incredible strength.

And that was only the beginning.

Her wounds healed with astonishing speed.

No matter how much she ate, she never gained weight.

Her eyesight was also exceptionally sharp, allowing her to see everything in perfect clarity.

There was no way she could possibly be human.

Rachel had already suspected as much.

What truly upset her was learning that the man she loved more than anyone—Count Flynn—wasn’t her real father.

Her uncle…

“So… my father was an elf? Father… isn’t my real father?”

Count Flynn gave a slow, pained nod.

“Wait…”

Rachel’s chest tightened.

If she didn’t do something with these overwhelming emotions, she felt as though she might burst apart.

“…May I go outside for some air? Alone?”

“Of course. But don’t go too far. Stay where you can still hear my voice. Understood?”

“Yes, Fath—”

Unable to finish the word, Rachel bit her lip and turned away.

She walked slowly at first.

But the moment she disappeared from Count Flynn’s sight, she broke into a run.

She ran as tears streamed down her face.

She ran until she was gasping for breath.

After fleeing for what felt like forever, Rachel suddenly tripped over something and fell.

“Ah!”

Looking back, she saw a black-haired boy curled up on the ground.

The tears pouring endlessly from her eyes had blurred her vision so badly that she hadn’t even noticed him.

“Sob… What’s wrong with you? Why are you lying here?”

The boy didn’t answer.

He didn’t even move.

Rachel wiped away her tears and gently turned him onto his back.

His face was so pale that it looked like a corpse’s.

The sight shocked her so much that her tears stopped instantly.

“Are… are you dead?”

Gathering her long hair into one hand, Rachel leaned down and pressed her ear against the boy’s chest.

Thump…Thump…

A slow heartbeat.

Thump…Thump…Thump…

“Gah!”

Rachel jerked her head up in surprise.

All she’d done was listen to his heartbeat.

Yet suddenly, her entire body felt as though it had burst into flames.

“Ah…!”

Then—

The moment she saw the boy’s eyes slowly crack open, she was struck speechless.

She had never seen such beautiful eyes in her life.

They burned like tiny suns.

That mysterious crimson glow flickered between his barely opened eyelids before disappearing again.

Flustered, Rachel quickly looked around.

Only then did she notice the bag the boy had been carrying.

It was filled with mushrooms.

“Why would you eat something so filthy…”

Looking more closely, she realized how ragged his clothes were.

Rachel sniffled and leaned closer, bringing her nose near his face.

A sharp, bitter smell reached her.

“He must’ve eaten poisonous mushrooms.”

She hurriedly got to her feet.

“Wait here for just a moment. I’ll go get someone. Father should still be nearby—”

As she turned to leave, the boy suddenly caught her hand.

His lips trembled as though trying to form words.

Rachel leaned closer and cupped a hand around her ear.

“Mom…”

The unexpected word froze her where she stood.

“Mom… don’t go.”

At the sound of his weak voice slipping through pale lips, tears instantly welled in Rachel’s eyes again.

“Sniff… Did you lose your mother too?”

Rachel leaned toward the boy, who struggled for every shallow breath.

She brought her lips close to his.

No one had taught her to do this.

She simply knew.

She had the strange certainty that this would save him.

It was just like the mysterious abilities that occasionally awakened within her.

No one taught them to her.

She had never learned them.

She simply… knew.

“Haa…”

Rachel stopped just before her soft lips touched those of the crimson-eyed boy.

Then she gently breathed into him.

The life force overflowing within her slowly flowed into the boy.

Little by little, color returned to his pale face.

Slowly.

But unmistakably.

A moment later—

“Cough! Cough!”

The boy awakened, gasping for air.

Startled, Rachel stumbled backward and fell onto the ground.

Bright red lips.

Flushed cheeks.

And above them—

Two eyes that shone like the sun.

At that very moment, Rachel instinctively knew…

She was going to fall in love with this boy.

The boy frowned slightly as he looked at her.

“Did… you save me?”

Rachel slowly nodded.

Though his breathing was still uneven, he quickly regained his composure.

“Tell me your name.”

“…”

“I’m Reiner Graham.”

Rachel remained silent.

The truth was…

She couldn’t tell him.

“I’m a duke, but I have nothing. And now… I owe you my life.”

Rachel cried out in alarm.

“I-I’m sorry!”

The crimson eyes that had widened in surprise softened into a warm smile.

“You’re a very kind girl.”

As Reiner smiled, Rachel felt a sharp ache in her heart.

“I’ll repay you. When we meet again someday… I’ll repay this debt.”

He studied her face carefully, committing every feature to memory.

“It’s all right if you won’t tell me your name. I’ll find you somehow. No matter how long it takes. I’ll find you.”

At that very moment, Reiner made a solemn vow before God.