📖 This novel has long chapters as it is translated based on volumes. 📖

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3.
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Suspicious Suitor

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this kind of pain.’

After Aderton left, Sascha fell seriously ill. Her temples throbbed, and her throat burned as if it were on fire. She couldn’t even drink water, let alone take medicine. The unknown fever ravaged both her body and mind.

When she barely managed to pull herself together, the first thing that caught her eye were the traces left behind. A pot filled with food enough to last for days sat on the stove, unfamiliar medicinal herbs crowded the shelves, and her once rough and unkempt laundry now carried the scent of fresh warmth. These were the remnants left behind by the unwelcome guest.

For days on end, Sascha focused solely on tidying up her home. But as they say, you might not notice when someone arrives, but you can always tell when they’ve left. No matter how much she erased and removed, unfamiliar traces kept reappearing. Those traces called forth memories she wanted to forget, stirring the emotions she had barely managed to suppress. If she could, she would have cut out those memories and stitched the wound shut.

There had been moments of suspicion—his unfamiliar words, his unusual way of thinking—but Sascha had closed her eyes and covered her ears. She kept telling herself, It’s fine, it’s fine, refusing to face the problem head-on. The price of that trust had been betrayal.

Aderton was a demon beast, masquerading as a human to deceive her. Not only that, but he had even pretended to be injured to fool her further. The very first person she had allowed by her side turned out to be the one she despised most. The fury of being utterly deceived refused to fade.

If only he had been a passing traveler, it wouldn’t have been so miserable. She could have simply bid farewell, dismissing it as a fleeting emotion. After all, human relationships wither faster than seasonal plants.

Sascha hated Aderton to death. She despised him for whispering sweet words only to betray her trust. But the person she hated the most was herself. Even as she loathed him, she couldn’t stop remembering his last moments.

‘Even as blood poured from his throat, he desperately cried out that it was the truth. Could it have been real?’

Sascha shook her head violently from side to side. The fact that she was still wavering made her feel pathetic. Perhaps it was because she was still in the place where he had stayed. Needing to clear her mind, she stepped outside and wandered through the mountains.

She roamed aimlessly through the forest, cutting down any demon beasts that appeared in her path. Even the weak ones she usually ignored became her targets. The more secure and peaceful the dangerous borderlands became, the more desolate Sascha felt. Eventually, she realized that this, too, was not a real solution, so she descended to the village.

The weather was nice, and the shops had set up their stalls along the streets. Sascha took a seat on a terrace and watched the world go by. The streets were lively, even in the middle of the day. No one passing by seemed to have a single worry or concern on their face. But even in the midst of such ordinary life, she couldn’t shake her mood.

‘Did that bastard feel like this too?’

The thought of having something in common with a demon beast left her feeling disgusted and filthy. Not that she wished for people to suffer or cry in anguish, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t pull herself out of this state. With a sigh, she slumped onto the table. A slight movement caused the ice in her glass to clink together with a clear sound.

“Sascha?”

A voice called out from above her. She lifted her upper body and turned toward the source of the sound. A figure in a robe stood before her. Just as she was about to confirm their identity, burly figures surrounded her table.

The hood of the robe was pulled so low that it covered their face down to the nose, leaving only a sharp chin and thin lips visible. Yet, Sascha instantly knew who it was.

“…Your Highness?”

At the mention of a particular title, the figure removed their hood. A cascade of silver hair tumbled down, resembling the mesmerizing sight of a pure white waterfall dissolving into mist.

“It’s been a while.”

The emperor who ruled the empire had two children—an intelligent yet fragile prince and a young, beloved princess. The prince, once the heir to the throne, had perished in the war against the demon beasts, leaving only one successor behind. But why would she be here, in such a remote place instead of the capital?

Sascha, still in shock, found the princess pressing a finger to her lips.

“Shh! You should call me Lady Juliana.”

“…Ah, my apologies, Lady Juliana.”

Realizing her slip of the tongue, Sascha quickly corrected herself. Without having the time to sort through her questions, she pulled out the chair in front of her. Juliana took the offered seat with a practiced ease, as if she had done it countless times before.

“Before I ascend as the Crown Prince, I am traveling to better understand the lives of the people.”

“You are ascending to the position of Crown Prince? My congratulations.”

In the empire, the emperor’s children were distinguished as prince and princess, but the heir—regardless of gender—was solely referred to as Crown Prince.

With the former Crown Prince lost, Juliana was the only successor left. It was a natural progression. However, how many years had it been since his passing? It would have been better if His Majesty had made the decision sooner. Sascha pushed aside her regrets and took a sip of tea.

“Sascha Lebe.”

“….”

“Come back. I need you. You know what happened to the imperial family’s standing after the black dragon, don’t you?”

When the black dragon led the demon beasts to the capital’s doorstep, the imperial family fled—taking carriages and escaping south. Even the supreme ruler, who should have protected the people, abandoned them. The empire’s citizens were shaken to their core.

The one who remained to defend the capital when even the emperor did not was Sascha—the hero.

When the frontlines eventually pushed back, and the capital remained intact, the imperial family returned. But the people, already disillusioned, no longer trusted them. Worse yet, the Crown Prince, who had joined the military, deserted the battlefield and was shot while fleeing.

Desertion during wartime was a severe crime. The law dictated immediate execution upon discovery, and the soldier who fired the fatal shot only realized the Crown Prince’s identity after confirming the body. Trembling with fear, he tried to secretly dispose of the corpse with his commander’s tacit approval, but he was caught.

Even the smallest injury to a royal’s body was a grave offense, but the enraged citizens rose in protest. The imperial family, wary of the public’s fury, ultimately gave the soldier a minor punishment before releasing him.

This was why Sascha’s existence carried such weight. Throughout the empire, but especially in the capital, the hero’s name soared to near-mythical heights. Some had even jeered at the emperor, demanding he abdicate and yield the throne to the hero. The mounting pressure was one of the reasons Sascha had disappeared without a word.

And now, the past I walked away from is standing right in front of me.

To be honest, she wasn’t pleased. It was obvious why Juliana had come all this way.

“…Isn’t the real reason for your journey not public sentiment, but the search for a hero?”

“Haha. It wouldn’t be entirely wrong to say that, so I won’t deny it.”

At the audacious remark, the knight standing behind Juliana stiffened in anger, but she simply raised a hand to hold them back. Resting her chin on her palm, she smiled.

Sascha knew from experience that, despite her pure and delicate appearance, Juliana wielded a sharp tongue. That was why, even in the face of her gentle demeanor, Sascha did not let her guard down.

“But I truly didn’t expect to run into you here. I only came because of an anonymous report.”

“A report?”

“Yes. Allegations that the local lord has been embezzling taxes. He’s been so preoccupied with squeezing the people dry that he’s neglected his duty of defending the borders.”

“That’s…!”

If true, it was a grave matter. The lords stationed at the empire’s borders received special treatment in terms of taxation and private armies. This was because they bore the immense responsibility of acting as sentinels for the empire.

And yet, the margrave had neglected his noble duty. When Kalceus invaded, there must have been warning signs, but they had been ignored. If investigated, the margrave would have no excuse.

Furthermore, the imperial family’s position was already precarious. They were desperate to divert attention elsewhere. Even if the margrave’s wrongdoings were minor, the emperor and his supporters would tear him apart to reestablish their authority. Meanwhile, the noble faction would try to minimize his guilt, fearing it might weaken their own standing.

The storm brewing over this matter would be far from small.

Sascha hadn’t expected Juliana to come all this way for something trivial, but the reason was even more political than she had anticipated. Realizing she had suddenly been pulled into a power struggle, Sascha’s expression grew serious.

“I need your help.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Sascha swiftly refused Juliana’s request. She had no intention of getting involved in a dirty political battle.

“Lady Juliana, the reason I defeated the black dragon was not for revenge or reward. I stepped forward simply because it was the right thing to do.”

Boundless righteousness. Some had mocked her as a stubborn idealist, an inflexible fool bound by rigid principles, and she had no excuse to deny it. But Sascha had followed the path she believed was right—because it was right. It was also the legacy of her parents, who had given their lives to protect the empire.

“The Lebe family never changes,” Juliana said with a wry smile.

The Lebe family, which had produced countless generals and knights, had always maintained strict neutrality. Because of this, they never became central figures in any political regime and were sometimes even resented. Yet, precisely because they remained unshaken in the face of external pressures, they were deeply respected by the people.

“All plans and execution will be handled on my end. You won’t have to concern yourself with any of it. I can assure you of that.”

“I can recommend sending an inspector or hiring mercenaries instead.”

“The inspector assigned to this region was bought off long ago. He’s received quite a bit in bribes—enough to build himself a new house every year. The mercenaries are the same. Since they’ve settled here, if anything happens, they won’t side with outsiders.”

“…”

Corruption among provincial lords, both large and small, was nothing new. However, it was obvious why Juliana was personally invested in this case. She wanted to restore the imperial family’s dignity by cracking down on corruption while simultaneously erasing some of their own past misdeeds.

She also wanted to make it clear to the world that, unlike the previous Crown Prince, she would not tolerate disgrace. The title of Crown Prince always carried comparisons, and Juliana, being young, still had an unstable position.

Seeing Sascha hesitate, Juliana puffed up her cheeks in frustration. Her childish pout made Sascha chuckle.

“You haven’t changed at all, Lady Juliana.”

To Sascha, Juliana was someone special. Her late father had been the previous Crown Prince’s swordsmanship instructor, and Sascha herself had trained alongside him, growing up almost like family. Juliana had often visited the training grounds out of boredom, setting up a spot nearby to watch the lessons.

To think that the little princess, who had once waddled around on chubby little ankles, was now sitting across from her, making political proposals. Sascha felt both admiration and sorrow. If the former Crown Prince had been alive to see this, he would have been overjoyed.

Having watched Juliana since she was young, Sascha felt a bond no different from that of a sibling. When she heard of the Crown Prince’s tragic end, she had silently swallowed her grief alone. Rather than condemning him for his reckless decision made in fear, she had only wanted to mourn him.

And as dishonorable as his death was, she couldn’t begin to imagine how much pain Juliana must have endured. What must it have felt like to lose her brother without even being able to hold a proper funeral for him?

The memory of Juliana, proudly showing off her first lost baby tooth, contrasted sharply with the composed young woman sitting before her now. It wasn’t a welcome sight—because she knew how much suffering Juliana must have endured to reach this point.

Sascha let out a long sigh. She couldn’t just send Juliana away, not without concern. Her guards were likely skilled, the best fighters within the capital, but compared to Sascha, they were nothing exceptional.

The margrave was a powerful figure in this region. If Juliana arrived with only a handful of soldiers to investigate him, he wouldn’t take her lightly. In such a closed-off province, there was no telling what harm might befall her—or how easily it could be covered up.

“…Alright. I will assist you in whatever ways I can.”

In the end, Sascha decided to support the young Juliana. She had spent too many years watching over her to simply ignore her now. Upon hearing Sascha’s agreement, Juliana’s face lit up with joy.

But Sascha, fixing her with a firm gaze, solemnly declared,

“However, there is one condition.”

* * *

Every newspaper in the capital published an extra edition. The long-absent hero had resurfaced.

Rumors had swirled endlessly about the hero’s whereabouts, but according to the reports, they had been acting as an inspector under the emperor’s decree after slaying the black dragon. They had been investigating corruption among officials and nobles, forwarding their findings to public hearings. At the same time, they had been saving people by exterminating demon beasts across the provinces. The stories of the hero’s good deeds seemed endless.

Moreover, the hero had attended the Crown Prince’s ascension ceremony, presenting Juliana with a pure white sword. Moved by the hero’s loyalty, Juliana had bestowed a new title upon them, and the two of them became the talk of the empire.

After the coronation, the celebratory banquet followed. The nobles in attendance whispered among themselves as they glanced toward a lone figure standing in the corner.

“Is that truly the hero?”

“But if it is, then…”

Their murmuring trailed off.

A high ponytail of fiery red hair. Silver armor with a flowing crimson cape. A legendary sword, gleaming whenever the cape shifted. The newly consecrated holy sword, adorned with sapphire, gifted by the Crown Prince.

Every detail was unmistakably the hero, Sascha.

Yet, the reason for their uncertainty was clear—Sascha’s face was hidden behind a blank, expressionless white mask.

“But I heard their sword aura was red.”

“The only member of the Lebe family capable of using sword aura died on the battlefield, except for the hero.”

“Then it must be Sascha.”

Hearing this, those who had been unsure nodded in understanding. They were eager to approach, their curiosity burning. However, the hero seemed indifferent to their attention.

‘I want to leave.’

Sascha had set two conditions for Juliana. First, they would never reveal their face during their time assisting her. Second, after the coronation, they would leave and never be sought out again.

As soon as the ceremony ended, Sascha bid their farewell. However, neither Juliana nor the emperor allowed it so easily. They hadn’t seen Sascha in so long, and they couldn’t bear to part so soon.

In the end, after much pleading, Sascha reluctantly agreed to at least make an appearance at the banquet.

‘It would be strange if I attended the coronation but not the celebration.’

Even so, the banquet was dull. Like all formal occasions, it followed the same tedious order as before, and Sascha barely endured the boredom.

“Don’t yawn.”

“Juliana—no, Your Highness.”

“Call me whatever you like. You are always welcome to.”

Had Juliana not appeared at that moment, Sascha might have yawned right then and there. While the mask would have concealed it, that wouldn’t have been proper. Straightening up, Sascha adjusted their posture.

“Everyone seems eager to talk to you. You could at least indulge them a little.”

“I don’t know. No one’s approaching me.”

“That’s because you don’t seem approachable. If someone tried to greet you, they’d probably start weeping from nervousness. The banquet hall might not even need alcohol with all the tears.”

Juliana’s teasing made Sascha shrug. There was no way that many people were interested in them. You always see me in such a favorable light.

As if reading their thoughts, Juliana sighed.

“You don’t know yourself at all.”

Just as Sascha was about to argue, someone approached. Upon recognizing them, Juliana’s expression brightened.

“Aderton!”

“It has been too long, Your Highness.”

Sascha froze at the name that reached their ears. No way. It can’t be.

But it was.

The man standing before them was undeniably Aderton. The same Aderton who had betrayed them and disappeared. The demon beast.

“And it has been a while, Sascha.”

He smiled and extended a hand. That familiar, insufferably smug smile. Sascha felt their vision blur with red.