“My lady, the Crown Prince of the Empire has passed through the gates.”

The Duchy of Brienne, located at the southernmost tip of the continent.

The knight commander entered the lady’s bedchamber, something that would have been unthinkable under normal circumstances. But now was no time for such concerns.

“Is that so?”

Amelia Przhemysl, the daughter of the Duke of Brienne, responded while trying hard to maintain a composed expression. She clasped her trembling hands tightly to avoid revealing the faint shaking.

“Yes. The army of the Olstein Empire will arrive at the castle within the hour.”

“I understand, Commander.”

Thank you. Amelia gave the knight commander a faint smile through the mirror.

Despite Amelia’s forced smile, the knight commander did not smile in return. With a dark expression, he bowed and left the room.

“My lady…”

The young maid who had been brushing Amelia’s hair began to sob quietly, unable to hold back her tears.

“How disgraceful, crying in front of the lady!”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Helen, it’s alright.”

Amelia gently reassured the maid, soothing the reprimanding head maid, Helen.

“Don’t be too harsh on her.”

“Forgive me, Lady Amelia. It’s my fault for not properly training the servants.”

“No, there’s no need to say that.”

In a situation like this, there was no point in assigning blame. Amelia gave a bitter smile and shook her head.

The maid, who had heard Helen’s stern reprimand—Helen being known for her strictness in training the servants—focused back on fixing Amelia’s hair. Amelia envied her for being able to cry. She, on the other hand, had to hold back her tears.

“It’ll be alright.”

As Amelia watched her hair being braided smoothly, she slowly continued speaking.

“They say the Olstein Empire has grown too large since the crown prince started his war. It seems we’re no match for them, especially for a small duchy like Brienne.”

Wherever the hoofbeats of the Olstein Empire’s army swept through, devastation followed. In one grand duchy, the entire ruling family was executed, and in another kingdom, all their wealth was confiscated.

Now, only a few ancient kingdoms and tiny nations like Brienne, tucked away on the edge of the continent, remained.

Amelia’s father, Duke Leonid, believed it was in Brienne’s best interest to surrender before they were invaded. He couldn’t bear to see their bustling ports, filled with the constant comings and goings of ships and the humble livelihoods of the fishermen, reduced to ruins by a war with the empire.

“Father said that now is the most opportune time.”

Like a lion crouching before pouncing on its prey, the Olstein Empire knew when to seize its chance. When they determined that it was time to consolidate their forces and rebuild the empire rather than expand further, Brienne’s timely declaration of surrender was accepted with little resistance.

As a result, instead of the full might of the empire’s army that had ravaged the continent like a plague, it was only the crown prince, accompanied by a few guards and cavalry, who would enter to formally accept Brienne’s surrender.

“So, maybe things will go smoother than we think. Don’t you think, Helen?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Amelia’s voice was as clear and pure as her blue eyes. Helen wiped away the brief tear that had lingered at the corner of her wrinkled eye and gazed proudly at Amelia through the mirror.

* * *

Duke Leonid watched as his daughter, Amelia, descended the staircase.

Her light brown wavy hair was neatly tied up, and she wore a simple black dress symbolizing Olstein’s empire—a dress more suited for a funeral. The design was stark and plain.

Ironically, this only made her features—her blue eyes glowing under her dark lashes and her slender neck—all the more striking. Her smiling face was unbearably pitiful.

‘She grows more beautiful by the day.’

Amid the chaos, his one and only daughter had become worryingly beautiful.

From birth until now, at the age of nineteen, Amelia had never once stepped outside of Brienne. She had blossomed, hidden deep within the safety of Leonid’s protection, like a flower in a greenhouse. She was innocent, untainted by the outside world.

Could his daughter, who had only ever read about war and conquest in books, truly grasp the significance of imperial rule? That was what weighed most heavily on Leonid’s mind. As thoughts of Amelia’s future darkened like storm clouds, heavy and oppressive, they settled deep in his heart.

“Father.”

Leonid forced himself to dismiss his worries when he saw Amelia smiling at him.

“You’ve come down early, Amelia.”

“I heard that the crown prince has passed through the gates.”

“Yes.”

Leonid gently took her cold hand.

“Amelia, don’t worry too much.”

“I’m not worried.”

Amelia shook her head.

“Surrendering was the best decision for the Duchy of Brienne. Even the knight commander said so. I trust you, Father.”

Leonid silently patted her hand.

In the lands that the empire had already conquered, most of the rulers and their families had been slaughtered. While Leonid and Amelia would not face such severe punishment for surrendering, their fates still rested in the unpredictable hands of the empire.

“Father, I may not be able to smile sincerely, but I’ve decided I won’t cry.”

As if she had read his mind, Amelia spoke.

“Today isn’t just about the crown prince of the Olstein Empire. The knights and officials of the Duchy of Brienne will be present too.”

“……”

“And since this is surrender for Brienne’s sake, not for the empire, I don’t think I should be sad.”

As she spoke, Amelia’s blue eyes gleamed like the sunlit sea of Brienne. Leonid gave her a bittersweet smile.

“Yes, you’re right.”

“It’ll all work out, Father. The crown prince may not be as terrible as we think….”

Nodding, Leonid looked at Amelia with a deep sense of melancholy.

* * *

Each step outside the castle felt like walking toward the edge of a cliff. It’ll be fine.

‘Everything will be alright.’

Amelia repeated the words she had been chanting to herself like a mantra.

A red carpet stretched along the brick road leading out from the castle gates. On either side stood soldiers and officials, their expressions somber. Some quietly wiped away tears.

Amelia straightened her shoulders and tried to harden her expression. A whirlpool of anxiety gripped her heart.

‘What will happen to Brienne after the surrender?’

What will happen to my father and me? Will we be executed like the other lords of conquered lands?

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t afraid of death. What scared her even more was the thought that her death might be in vain. The terrifying future of the Duchy of Brienne falling, without its leaders, as a helpless victim of the empire haunted her.

I’m the duke’s daughter. I need to think and act for Brienne’s sake now. But there were no etiquette books with guidelines on how to surrender to an empire.

“Your Grace!”

A soldier on horseback rushed over from a distance.

“The imperial army is in sight.”

“Understood.”

Leonid nodded. As the soldier stepped aside, a large force could indeed be seen approaching from the hillside.

‘The Olstein Empire’s army.’

The number of soldiers wasn’t overwhelming, likely due to the long journey they had taken. However, the towering soldiers in their jet-black armor and the high-flying black banners of the empire were enough to strike fear into anyone’s heart.

The army, which had first appeared like a blot of black ink on the horizon, was now steadily drawing closer.

The large imperial emblem embroidered on the banner came into view. Sunlight reflected off the soldiers’ armor, and soon the ground began to vibrate under the heavy thuds of the horses’ hooves. Just as the grand sound of the imperial trumpet began to resound, Amelia instinctively closed her eyes tightly.

“Has someone died?”

A mocking voice reached her ears.

She slowly opened her eyes to see a knight with an arrogant expression mounted on a massive warhorse. Amelia guessed that this was the man who had spoken to her. His broad shoulders and solid physique were typical of an imperial soldier. Unexpectedly, he had a strikingly handsome face under his neatly combed black hair. His sharp nose and strong jawline gave him a commanding presence.

“A fitting outfit for a funeral.”

“…”

“Did you hate the idea of surrendering that much?”

The man sneered. He clearly didn’t approve of her black dress. Without realizing it, Amelia stepped forward.

“I was just trying to be respectful…”

“Impertinent!”

A loud voice suddenly rang out nearby. A spear tip gleamed sharply before her eyes.

“How dare you talk back to His Highness the Crown Prince!”

Amelia froze, not because of the soldier threatening her, but because he had called the man in front of her “His Highness the Crown Prince.”

‘Is this man the Crown Prince?’

Amelia looked up at the man in disbelief. He was still staring at her with that same mocking gaze.

“…”

Until that morning, she hadn’t fully grasped the fearsome nature of the Olstein Empire. But now, standing before the Crown Prince, she could sense why. His face showed no trace of sympathy or mercy. His handsome features and emotionless eyes only made him seem more inhuman. The muscular body under his uniform looked like it could mercilessly destroy anyone in its path.

“Amelia!”

Her father, Leonid, urgently called her name. Snapping out of her daze, Amelia quickly bowed her head and stepped aside.

“We greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Her father’s voice was heard, and Amelia, following suit, tried to suppress the tremor in her voice.

“I, I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“What an amusing welcome,” the low voice came from above her.

“The young lady dresses as though she’s in mourning…”

“…”

“And there’s no concept of a proper guard.”

At the Crown Prince’s remark, Leonid’s face showed signs of panic.

“Your Highness, what do you mean by…?”

Instead of answering, the Crown Prince dismounted and began walking toward them. His movements were slow, deliberate, like a looming shadow. He was tall enough to easily look down on the top of Amelia’s head, and the black cape fluttering behind him seemed more menacing than dignified. The sword in his hand gleamed, smeared with sticky blood.

“There were bandits in the forest.”

“My deepest apologies, Your Highness.”

Leonid’s face turned pale. Amelia felt her heart racing. Of all days, bandits had appeared today.

“You didn’t orchestrate the attack, did you?”

The Crown Prince asked as he casually pulled out a white cloth. With one swift motion, he wiped the sword, which instantly stained the cloth red. The sword now gleamed again, ready to strike.

“I would never dare, Your Highness,” Leonid hurriedly explained.

“How could I possibly commit such an act against His Highness?”

While Leonid’s face showed desperation, the Crown Prince only regarded him with indifferent eyes. The uncomfortable silence stretched on, almost unbearable.

Amelia lowered her head in an attempt to steady her nerves, but the sharp sensation of cold steel suddenly touched her chin. A chill ran down her spine.

“I wouldn’t recommend it,” the Crown Prince said as he used the sword to lift her chin.

“It wouldn’t be a great start to my governorship if I had to execute someone on my first day.”

As he delivered his cold threat, he smiled slightly, as if asking for her agreement. Amelia struggled to keep her trembling jaw steady. Only then did she notice that a soldier standing behind the Crown Prince had pulled out a scroll and begun reading in a loud voice.

“By the decree of the Emperor of the Olstein Empire, to the Duchy of Brienne…”

The imperial order was direct, with no unnecessary embellishments.

“…From this day forth, the Duchy of Brienne shall be made a province under the Empire’s rule, and His Highness, Crown Prince Josef Restec, is hereby appointed as Governor of Brienne.”

The Governor would act with all the authority of the Emperor.

Anyone who defied the Governor’s orders would face appropriate punishment.

It was only toward the end of the imperial decree that Amelia fully grasped its meaning.

Josef Restec—the emotionless eyes staring back at her belonged to the Crown Prince of the Olstein Empire.

He was now the one who would govern Brienne, in place of her family, the Przhemys House. Her life and her father’s life were now in his hands, just like the sword tip that hovered so dangerously close to her throat.