Chapter 1. The Blind Princess

The Sedas Kingdom fell. In just half a year.

No country had expected the Sedas Kingdom to be conquered so quickly. Located at the northeastern edge of the continent, the Sedas Kingdom, though small, was a fairly solid nation with a history spanning over a thousand years.

Moreover, the kingdom was situated in a location that was extremely difficult to invade. To the east and south of the kingdom, the Alanta Forest, filled with coniferous trees, stretched endlessly over high mountain ranges; to the west was a coast surrounded by cliffs; and to the north was an ice land frozen for half the year, teeming with barbarians. The Harmona River, known as the Goddess’s Milk Line, did cross through the kingdom, connecting to the center of the continent, but there were sections where the river narrowed, making it difficult to transport armies by boat.

For this reason, throughout the continent’s history, powerful nations never targeted the Sedas Kingdom—a land difficult to invade, and one with little to gain from conquest. Perhaps that was why the Sedas Kingdom could maintain such a long history.

The kingdom, blessed with natural defenses, had endured this way. Though not prosperous, the people loved the royal family for the achievements of many renowned kings, and the ministers pledged loyalty to the king with pride. But the peaceful history of the kingdom ended today. The black army of the Vistius Empire, the current hegemon of the continent, trampled the royal palace at the very heart of the kingdom and beheaded the king and queen. The Sedas Kingdom was about to be recorded as having knelt before the Vistius Empire.

“For the glorious victory of the Empire!”

“For the great Empire!”

The black army of the Empire, led by Roshan Vistius, held a victory celebration the day after seizing the royal palace. The palace attendants who barely survived the slaughter had to clean the blood-soaked palace and prepare food and drink for the conquerors under the watchful eyes of the invaders, even as they shed tears of grief.

“Move faster! You sluggish fools!”

While the survivors trembled in fear, the imperial soldiers showed their ferocious nature without restraint. Having faced death under controlled conditions until now, they began to release their stress roughly at the victory celebration, and the survivors bore the full brunt of their violence.

“For-forgive me.”

“Move before you beg!”

The surviving palace servants had their heads cracked by the soldiers’ cups amid curses, while the maids became objects of harassment. The knights did restrain their subordinate soldiers but kept the line loose enough to turn a blind eye to some transgressions. The soldiers, knowing from experience how much their superiors would tolerate, enjoyed the barbarism of conquest with calculated restraint. The kingdom was thoroughly violated by these brutal conquerors.

While the soldiers laughed and chatted, enjoying the victory celebration in the largest golden hall of the palace, Commander-in-Chief Roshan Vistius held a separate banquet with high-ranking knights. The small but splendid hall, where the royal family had held family dinners and events, showcased the unique elegance of the Sedas Kingdom with sculptures and master murals decorating every corner.

“To victory! To the Empire! And to Your Highness!”

One of the knights, a middle-aged man known for his boisterous personality, suddenly stood up, raised his glass, and shouted while looking at Roshan, who was seated at the head of the long table. The other knights followed suit, clinking their glasses and calling Roshan’s name. Their eyes were filled with pride as they gazed at their lord.

“They say the women of Sedas are especially beautiful, and it seems that’s no lie.”

“Kyaa!”

Just as the atmosphere had become quite merry, one of the drunken knights suddenly grabbed the waist of a palace maid who was serving them. Startled by the man’s sudden touch, the maid screamed in fear. Though not a loud sound, it was enough to draw attention.

Bang.

Knox, who was sitting close to Roshan, immediately glared at the knight in warning. The knight promptly released his grip at Knox’s dark gaze. As the maid fled, covering her face, laughter erupted from various corners. Knox narrowed his eyes once more at those who laughed. Everyone knew Knox’s strict nature, so they quickly closed their mouths.

“Knox. Let it go. If you keep making that face, everyone will think you’re getting upset over nothing. Have a drink instead.”

“We haven’t returned home yet. We mustn’t lower our guard until the end. And for a knight to harass a woman…… especially in front of His Highness……”

Frederick, sitting across from Knox, teased him jokingly. Knox glared at his friend before turning his head away. Frederick shrugged at Knox’s words and, instead of offering him more alcohol, filled his cup with water.

“Drink whatever you want. But Knox…… don’t you think His Highness seems strange?”

Knox paused as he was raising his water cup and turned his head to the side at Frederick’s words. He could see Roshan sitting nearby, his head slightly tilted. Knox looked at his lord with a serious expression before speaking a little late.

“……Frederick. We serve His Highness as our lord and receive his commands. It is not right for us to observe His Highness and predict anything.”

“It must be because of the princess, don’t you think?”

Frederick paid no mind to Knox’s rebuke. He freely voiced what he had been thinking since yesterday. Knox frowned at Frederick but said nothing. He too had been wondering if his lord was showing interest in the princess of the defeated nation.

“She truly was beautiful. I’ve never seen such a beauty in my life. But what does it matter? She seems imperfect.”

“Imperfect?”

“Haven’t you heard? The princess has a defect. We’ll need to confirm exactly after she regains consciousness, but according to the physician, she seems to be blind? And even while ill, she rambles nonsense…… You’ve seen it several times. You know how it ends for such fragile ones. They either lose their minds while suffering like that or pass on to the next world.”

Frederick always wore a smooth, smiling face, but he was the most ruthless among Roshan’s knights. He showed no compassion for the defeated. But unlike him, Knox felt some pity for the princess. Her homeland was defeated, and her family was all dead. And now her body was not even whole…… It was sad.

“Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter. As long as her appearance is intact, it doesn’t affect bedding her. It might even be better. Women are best when they’re docile, don’t you agree?”

Frederick continued making distasteful jokes despite seeing Knox’s dark expression. Knox rebuked him with a stiff voice, finding Frederick’s words uncomfortable.

“Stop it.”

“Knox? Don’t tell me you’re interested in the princess too?”

“That’s not it. Making crude jokes about a vulnerable woman is something a knight should never do. That’s why I’m saying this.”

“What does it matter? She’s not even a lady anymore, just a prisoner who’ll be dragged away to live as a slave. You know our great emperor’s temperament well, don’t you? Once he loses interest in the princess, he’ll surely give her to others for amusement……”

Just as Frederick was about to continue, amused by Knox’s reaction, a chilling presence suddenly wedged between the two men. Both Frederick, with his smiling expression, and Knox, with his frown, involuntarily shuddered and turned their heads. They saw their lord, Roshan, staring intently at them from his seat at the head of the table.

Unlike in battle, Roshan, having removed his armor, was dressed quite comfortably. Wearing a loose white tunic with a silk cloak draped loosely over his shoulders, he leaned back in his chair, his disheveled black hair framing a bored expression that somehow radiated light.

Like looking at the first human a god had molded in his own image. People who saw him for the first time, regardless of age or gender, would freeze momentarily.

But Frederick had no time to admire his lord’s handsome appearance and bowed his head. Roshan, despite his relaxed posture, emanated the presence of a well-forged sword, and he did not look particularly pleased.

Frederick felt cold sweat running down his back as Roshan’s indifferent gaze continued to focus on him. It was clear that he had somehow displeased his lord, though he didn’t know why.

‘Surely not……’

Frederick suddenly recalled his lord’s unfamiliar demeanor just before throwing a spear at the queen, standing still and staring at the princess. But he quickly told himself it couldn’t be. The lord he had observed for over ten years had been plain to the point of having excessive disinterest in women. He had frowned at the attention of countless beauties, both in conquered territories and within the Empire.

“……It’s noisy.”

While Frederick was confused, Roshan, who had been staring at his bright blonde hair, suddenly spoke. Everyone at the table fell silent and looked up at him, as he rarely opened his mouth at such gatherings. Roshan briefly surveyed the gathering before slowly rising from his seat.

“I will retire first. Enjoy yourselves, my lords.”

“Your Highness. I will accompany you.”

Knox stood up to follow him. Hayden, who was sitting diagonally from him, also put down his glass and immediately rose. But Roshan gestured for both men to stay and began walking away.

“But this is enemy territory. Even though we’ve conquered it, to walk alone without escorts……”

Hayden followed a few steps behind, expressing his concern to Roshan, but Roshan remained adamant. He paused briefly and spoke coldly to Hayden.

“Enough. I don’t want it.”

“As you command.”

Hayden withdrew at his lord’s will. The knights watched Roshan’s back as he left the banquet hall until the door closed. But despite the many gazes, Roshan did not look back once as he exited the hall.

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