Etherna, the heart of the Empire.
Lucia's steps as she walked through the bustling district were light and elegant.
When she passed, pedestrians busy coming and going stopped in their tracks.
Some dropped what they were carrying, and many bumped shoulders while dazed.
Lucia didn't even glance at them and walked only her own path.
The men's reactions mixed with awe had become a natural part of daily life.
'How much things have changed.'
Looking around the streets, she was overcome by a fresh sentiment.
Internal-combustion vehicles passed over the smoothly paved main road.
Beyond the shopping district, the ringing of telephones replacing Magic Communication Orbs sounded.
Gunwands hung at the waists of uniformed security officers.
Only the capital had paved roads and communication facilities, so they were mere luxury goods, but they proved the times were changing quickly.
Lucia entered a cafe with a lavish exterior with light steps.
Jingle—
The bell rang.
A subtle coffee scent and calm classical melody.
Lucia was guided by an employee to a terrace with a good atmosphere.
Someone was already sitting there. It was Rosenthal's youngest daughter, Azelin.
"You were already here early, Azelin."
A wide-brimmed hat and a mesh veil covered her face, but Lucia recognized her at once.
Lucia smiled and sat in the armchair across from her. Then she slightly lifted the hem of her dress.
"How's this dress? I'm planning to wear it to the upcoming Founding Day Festival. Isn't it pretty?"
A light chatter directed at her best friend.
At times like this, Azelin used to fuss over everything and pour out praise.
But now Azelin said nothing.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
She glanced at Azelin's hands. The hands holding the teacup were trembling faintly.
Then, the moment Azelin took off the hat with the veil.
"Azelin, you!?"
Lucia unconsciously covered her mouth with both hands.
"What happened? What on earth happened to your face!?"
"Luciaaa.... sob! Hic....! A-Astin...!"
Thick tears burst from Azelin's eyes.
She bowed her head as if collapsing onto the table. With a sorrowful wail, she began to pour out her story.
It was a story mixed with lies and exaggeration, saying her fiancé had coldly rejected her and taken revenge.
The whole time she listened to the grief-soaked voice, Lucia clenched her fists.
"How, how could he do that to his fiancée?"
She had been hearing stories about Astin from Azelin before.
Like constantly giving burdensome gifts, clinging to her every day and making her life miserable, or even self-harming by banging his head when she wouldn't go on dates.
Rumors that he was materialistic, vulgar, and violent spread widely in high society.
Even so, she had thought surely not, but in the end that scoundrel had done it.
"Lucia, I asked to see you because of this too. As you can see, I'm in this awful state... sob! I don't think I can go to the Founding Day Festival this time. People will point at my face and laugh...."
To use violence on his ex-fiancée. Even setting aside personal ties, it was an act against human decency.
Lucia asked in a cold, sunken voice.
"Isn't Young Master Astin coming to the Founding Day Festival this time too?"
"Yeah. I heard he'll attend as the family representative."
"Don't cry, Azelin. I'll go find him and make him pay."
It was not a mere empty boast or fit of temper.
Lucia, the star of the Empire's high society and the flower of the Academy.
Behind her stood a line of big shots who could toy with the Empire's political landscape.
His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, the next sun of the Empire; the second son of the Grand Duke family, who boasted overwhelming martial power; and even the top disciple of the Tower Master who led the Ivory Tower.
All of them held blind affection for Lucia and would keel over at a single word from her.
Setting all that aside, Lucia herself was a child of destiny born with rare genius.
If Lucia set her mind to it, socially burying someone like Astin was no trouble at all.
"Lucia, really, I only have you. Thank you. If it weren't for you, I'd really— sob!"
"Don't cry. It's okay. I'll take care of everything."
Lucia gently stroked her back with a pitiful expression.
Without seeing that Azelin's mouth, hidden by both hands, had curled upward.
'This one would be more helpful than my older brothers.'
Astin von Kardenos.
The leash that would strangle that arrogant bastard's neck was slowly and surely tightening.
***
"Whoa! I stood it up!"
"That's already the third person with this."
"If you keep at it, nothing is impossible. With a stubborn spirit, anything works."
Day two of coin training.
On the first day, not a single person succeeded, but on this day three people did. It could be called great progress.
"You've worked hard. Here, have some water."
"Haha, thank you, miss."
Celine handed out ice water and even wiped the knights' sweat.
Those guys had better not be harboring ulterior motives. It was strangely irritating.
"Your mental strength is at least good."
A satisfied smile also hung at the corner of Hendrickson's mouth.
It had been two days since he last heard phrases like 'young people these days' or 'greenhorns.' This too was great progress.
"Are you going to have your little sister weave a Ring too?"
"I'm considering it."
I gulped down water and carefully watched Celine.
She was the kid who had made a coin stand upright in just one try.
Her abnormal potential was not limited to the domain of martial arts—that is, the Solar Ring.
Mana calculation and arrangement also aligned with control of magical perception.
The immersion that condensed her senses to a single point, and even the delicate control.
It was obvious she would show tremendous talent in Artifact crafting as well.
'Her talent was overwhelming, and her own interest lay in that direction too.'
Rather than forcing a sword into her hand, it would be right to fully support the path of magic.
Actually, I had expected Celine's potential to some extent.
The danger of Celine, the Witch of Kardenos, could be called seventh rank. At least from what I experienced when I killed her myself.
Anyway, setting everything else aside, as long as it wasn't Luna, it was fine. That was the path to becoming a puppet of the Outer Gods.
"Y-Young Master."
My thoughts were cut off. A servant approached hesitantly.
"The Head of Household is calling you to his office at once, Young Master."
"Father?"
He must have been racking his brains in the Council of Elders to clean things up. Had the report already finished?
"Got it. Tell him I'll wash up and come."
I stood up and turned my head.
Ziiing—
I stared intently at the furball.
"What. What. What about me."
Hendrickson desperately pretended not to know. It wasn't like him to sulk either.
He must really hate seeing his old disciple.
***
"Sir Hendrickson has arrived. More precisely, I brought him here as a Military Advisor."
The Head of Household's office of Kardenos.
Father silently stared at me.
He kept his silence like that for a long while, and then—
"I heard."
He spat it out shortly.
"Do you have nothing more to say?"
"...."
"It's been a while since we met. Why not share some old feelings?"
"...."
He was originally a man of few words, but this was intentional silence.
I barely swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape.
"For now, shall I keep him in the annex?"
"Do as you like."
Father looked like he didn't want to talk about him anymore. Why were master and disciple like this?
Their average age was 60. It was an age when they were still clumsy at expressing emotions.
"Are you finished preparing to leave?"
At that point, Father got to the point.
"The Spirit Carriage will arrive at Kardenos tomorrow. You know what day it is."
"It's the Founding Day Festival. In four days."
I tilted my gaze shamelessly.
"What is there to prepare? I just need to not go looking like a beggar."
Like a certain someone who stinks.
Father let out a faint sigh and then spoke.
"It's the Founding Day Festival, held only once a year. Dress and decorate yourself as much as possible. Even when you go, don't forget to maintain dignity. Don't cause a ruckus like before, don't ogle women, and remember the string quartet and the minuet. Think of it as a rehearsal. I don't expect more than that."
He was asking for a lot.
I understood Father's advice.
It wasn't an ordinary social gathering but the Founding Day Festival. A banquet attended by every single prestigious noble in the Empire.
Azelin probably wouldn't come in that state, and the three brothers above her probably wouldn't come either.
They would be sharpening their claws to prepare for the Magic-Military Exchange with Kardenos.
Rosenthal was like that. Somehow unsettling things.
Rosenthal was secondary; there was another side that bothered me.
'If I go, I'll run into Lucia too.'
In Romance Fantasy, the Founding Day Festival is a huge event for the protagonist.
It combined a special noble investiture, a national auction, and the Emperor's award ceremony, and the debutante ball decorated the finale.
The debutante ball was where Young Ladies about to come of age picked someone to dance with. On the surface.
In reality, it was an event-style ball for marking future spouses.
-Lady Lucia! I have waited only for this moment. Please dance with me!
-Lucia. If I can be with you, even a pit of fire would be fine. The moment I first saw you, I knew love for the first time.
-Your beauty is more dazzling than ten million gold coins, my lady. Whatever jewel is brought, your eyes shine brighter.
-Miss Lucia. My heart is a blazing flame whenever I see you, like a single flower. Please take my hand soon.
Lucia looked at the four men and hesitated.
The Tower Master's top disciple, the second son of the Northern Grand Duke family, the head of the great merchant guild, and the Crown Prince of the Empire.
Who would be the man to receive her choice?
It was the moment everyone's attention in the hall focused on the tips of Lucia's feet.]
I knew. I had seen it all.
It went without saying, but she picked the Empire's Crown Prince.
Among the many candidates, the official male lead was the Crown Prince. Because he was the next Emperor of the Empire.
The rest could be seen as trophy-like male leads.
-When you return, seduce me.
"...."
-Make me love only you. It's a dream I couldn't fulfill in this life.
Why did that bitch have to say something like that at the end?
I didn't know. She could do as she liked. The original goal was to save the world.
Bringing Lucia to my side was part of the process, but right now there were many other things to worry about.
***
"...."
I remembered falling asleep in the bedroom.
I felt a floating sensation and looked around.
It was a dream.
So this was a lucid dream.
In one corner, a crude simple bed was visible.
On the large wooden desk in the center were operation maps and bundles of documents.
A place where not a single luxury could be found. Only practicality for the battlefield filled this space.
It was familiar. It was the commander's tent.
"Yo—"
Like a ghost, I was looking down at 'Astin' from an observer's viewpoint.
Astin was crouched leaning against the wall. He waved a hand lightly at someone.
The dim lamplight flickered. A shadow gradually grew and squirmed.
Lucia was approaching Astin.
A scorched uniform stained with blood. A longsword that had fed on blood and oil. A left eye covered by an eyepatch.
I had thought it was just a dream, but it seemed to be an afterimage of memory.
Lucia took a seat beside Astin as if collapsing.
"A deserter appeared again."
"Who."
"Hexon. That lunatic bastard."
"Huh. That bastard said he'd guard my back even if he died."
"He's a homo. Guess he meant it in a different way."
The Lucia I knew was always like this.
A girl who never lost her silly jokes even on a hellish battlefield. She was far from the reverse harem protagonist in a Romance Fantasy.
"You sure talk like a fucking asshole. Shit, I'll beat the crap out of you."
"Look at this guy. You gonna hit a woman too?"
"In my eyes, you're not a woman, bitch."
"......For crying out loud."
A faint bitter smile spread at the corner of Lucia's mouth.
Tap, tap.
She pointed at her eyepatch and spoke.
"Hey. Don't stay on that side. I can't see your profile, so come to the other side."
"Do I have to look at your face while we talk?"
"I'm telling you to come to the other side so I can feast my eyes a bit."
"You are handsome. It's not a face to waste in war."
"Ah, just don't come. Get lost. Acting all high and mighty, you idiot."
"Look at that mouth on you. Are you really Young Lady Lucia, the star of high society?"
"Wow. How long ago was that?"
Lucia burst into laughter. It was a cheerful laugh unsuited to a battlefield.
Astin laughed along and asked casually.
"You crazy bitch, star of high society and all. Honestly, you regret that time, don't you?"
"What?"
"Being tangled up with all those men."
"Why ask the obvious? I don't know what I was doing while the world ended up like this."
"Yeah, you should've stopped chasing men."
"Thwack!"
"Guh!"
Astin rubbed his side. Lucia, having pulled back her elbow, glared at him.
"You keep saying I'm crazy about men, but that's a misunderstanding."
"Bullshit."
"I've never once clung to men. They clung to me. They were so obsessed that I just ran away."
"Anyway, it's a reverse harem, bitch."
"You keep saying words I don't understand. Am I... a man...? A man-chaser or something?"
"Man-chaser."
"Yeah. Man-chaser, reverse harem. What do they mean? They're bad, right?"
"They mean something good."
"Cut the bullshit, you shithead. When have you ever said anything nice to me?"
Sigh, forget it.
Lucia tapped the floor with her heel. It was a habit that came out whenever she sulked.
Lucia was the one who couldn't stand an awkward atmosphere first. She always was.
"I have one more thing I regret."
"What."
"Keeping my useless chastity until now."
"Are you insane?"
"Hey. Have you ever been with a woman?"
"You really are a crazy bitch."
"We might die soon, so let's be honest. Hmm? You've never been with a woman either. I know. Don't you want to try?"
Lucia gestured with her chin at the simple bed. That alone wasn't enough.
She brought her right fist to her mouth and moved it back and forth. At the same time, she pushed her tongue into one cheek to make it bulge.
"I'd be fine with someone like you. Aren't you?"
"......."
"Better to die by me than by the Black Ones. I'll kill you by sex. That's a good way to go, isn't it?"
"I'll kill you too."
"Ooh?"
"Where did I put my gun?"
"......Can't even joke around."
Thinking about it now, it seemed it hadn't been just a joke.
Lucia searched inside her clothes. She pulled out a cigarette and put it in her mouth.
She lit the cigarette with a flame that sparked from her fingertip.
"Hey. Turn your face away and smoke."
"Ahh— I want to have sex."
"Just get out of here."
"Okay. I won't ask for that much. I should've tried proper love. I haven't even kissed anyone."
"Cut the bullshit."
"I'm serious. I want to cling to a man too, really. Kiss the man I love and have se— hehehe...."
Cigarette smoke rose in billowing clouds.
Lucia took off her eyepatch. She touched the eye discolored dark gray.
"You know. Sometimes I wonder if I ever really loved those men."
"Why? Because there were many men, love wasn't easy?"
"It's just... those men loved me blindly. From their perspective, because they gave love, they seemed to think they had to receive just as much. But people's hearts aren't that simple."
"It's hard. So hard."
"I think that's why. Because I received too much, it became a burden, and because it was a burden, it wasn't love."
"Are we going to keep talking about this?"
"And above all."
Lucia heaved a sigh deep enough to sink the ground.
"When all those men died, I wasn't that sad."
"......."
"Even on the day the Crown Prince—no, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor died. Of course I was sad. But it was the sorrow of facing the death of comrades. It probably wasn't love, right?"
"His Majesty in heaven must be crying."
"I know. But what can I do? This is how I honestly feel."
Thump.
She placed a hand on Astin's shoulder.
"But I think I'd be sad if you died."
As soon as Astin heard the follow-up, he froze.
Lucia stared at him for a moment, then covered her mouth and giggled.
"Pfft— look at that dumb expression. Are you listening to that seriously, idiot?"
"Ah, fuck."
"Did you get your hopes up? I'd be sad, but it's the same. I'd be sad because you're my comrade. Oh comrade~ can you hear me~"
Starting with a hum, Lucia straightened her chest.
"High mountains— deep valleys— you know? The one you taught me."
"I never taught you that. You just heard it however you wanted."
"Silent— lands— through the snow-covered front... we... go—"
After that, Lucia sang whatever military songs came to mind. They were all military songs she had heard from Astin, and he was hearing them for the first time.
Song flowed through the tent where there were only the two of them.
Her voice, like rolling jade beads, did not suit the solemn military song at all.
Whether she knew or not, Lucia sang the whole thing with force, even adding staccato.
***
"......"
I woke from sleep.
Day had broken.
I listened to the sparrows chirping and looked out the window.
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
The door opened and a butler entered.
"Good morning. You woke early, Young Master. A carriage has arrived from the imperial capital."
"The Founding Day Festival?"
"Yes."
"Time really flies fast."
It was time to go.
It was also time to meet.