Ian Camel Aksen Pevernheim.

He was the offspring of the 4th Empress, who had been the least favored in the past. His position in the power structure among the princes was always at the bottom.

Despite possessing extraordinary swordsmanship skills and an exceptional mind, he pretended to be ignorant and weak. He lived quietly, trying not to stand out.

When the Emperor’s illness worsened, the princes all rushed into the political struggle to seize the throne.

As expected, he was the first to be trampled.

Weeds that get in the way should be pulled before they grow too large. Ian was sold off to a slave trader when he turned thirteen.

That was the greatest mistake made by those blinded by power.

Eight years later.

The boy who had neither power, nor backing, nor courage, returned with a path paved in blood.

The eyes that had trudged through the mud after being sold to a distant foreign land were no longer those of the naive boy from eight years ago.

Ian knew well how much power he possessed, and he knew how to wield it skillfully. He created opportunities and advanced step by step, adjusting when to retreat and when to push forward.

“I’ve really missed you, my brothers.”

The necks of his brothers fell one by one, the throne rebuilt upon a sea of blood, the bloodstained crown finally worn by his own hands. The return ended in perfect satiation.

It was a long-prepared slaughter. However, he did not rule by force alone. His ability to win people over was also extraordinary.

‘When faced with Your Majesty’s sincerity, there was always little else to do.’

During the long journey back to the imperial palace, those who would follow him to the death lined up. Even Dion Cedric, currently his aide, was one of those ensnared during that journey.

If Ian were to point a sword at him, Dion would tremble but willingly offer his neck, thinking, “There must be a good reason for this.”

That remained unchanged even now, five years after he had ascended to the throne.

Knowing this well himself, Dion tried to ask calmly.

“A trip… you say? If you wish to take a rest, I’ll have the villa in Jerden City prepared.”

“No. Somewhere further.”

“Then to the coastal region of Doha…”

“We’re going to the Instantia Empire. Right now.”

The Eastern Empire of Instantia was a country quite distant both geographically and diplomatically.

After the previous emperor, who had conducted aggressive territorial expansion, stepped down, a peace treaty disguised as diplomatic negotiations was signed, but that was all.

The small kingdoms caught in between were grateful for the rough strait that divided the two continents. The strait was a kind of unspoken promise that, whether for trade or diplomacy, matters crossing the continent should not be made too deep, as it had always been.

And now he wanted to go there.

‘Two bombs in a row is too much!’

The list of ‘(Annoying) Emperor’s Eccentricities’ that Dion had been secretly jotting down since the first bomb dropped became a scrap of paper after the second bomb hit.

It couldn’t be taken as a joke either. Our Your Majesty, who lacked any flexibility whatsoever, never uttered idle words.

Dion, sighing deeply inside, barely managed to receive the order.

“I’ll try to prepare as quickly as possible, but it will take quite some time to prepare the tribute and the delegation.”

“Then we’ll go quietly, without anyone knowing. With Eden here, we should be able to cross the strait without making waves.”

“… I beg your pardon?”

“For the chief aide of a country’s leader, you’re quite slow. I’m saying we’ll travel incognito.”

Dion’s complexion, which had been merely pale before, now turned a pitiful shade of blue.

Last time, he had asked for all the maps of the northern region of Instantia, and now this. Did he bury a treasure chest there or something?

It was just now that the turbulent times had passed and the political situation had stabilized. They couldn’t recklessly embark on something like this.

“Your Majesty, please reconsider. If you were to be discovered, it could affect not only Your Majesty’s dignity but also have repercussions for Rihalte.”

“How old-fashioned. Can’t I even take a vacation? Besides, if you just keep your mouth shut, it’ll be harder to get caught.”

Dion tried to object, but Ian rose, indicating that he would not allow any further argument.

“Prepare for departure tonight. I’ll be going now. Heidi will take care of my absence, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

He threw his coat over one shoulder and strode towards the door.

Just then, Heidi appeared, quietly opening the door, and chimed in naturally.

“That’s right, Dion. Don’t worry and go pack your bags. I’ve often acted as regent when my brother was on the battlefield, haven’t I? It’s not like it’s the first or second time. I was quite a good ruler, you know.”

“That was an unavoidable situation. What if some unexpected variable occurs and your return is delayed longer than anticipated!”

“This is an unavoidable situation too. Anyway, there are plenty of ways to pass the time, so don’t worry. You worry too much.”

“And Your Highness worries too little! How can I not be concerned!”

Dion shouted anxiously, but his cry was lightly dismissed. Ian passed by Heidi, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“I’ll try to return within three months.”

“Why? Even thirty years wouldn’t be a problem.”

Heidi swatted Ian’s hand away and sat on the desk in the office with a grin. Her hand tracing the edge of the desk as if it were already hers was quite brazen.

“Is this seat mine now? Ugh, how gloomy. Brother, your aesthetic sense doesn’t match mine at all. I’ll have to change the desk first, since I’ll be sitting here for at least thirty years.”

There was only one person in the room looking distressed.

The poor aide rubbed his throbbing forehead. Seeing how well they got along, it seemed they had been conspiring for quite some time.

Ian had already left the room. Dion let out a muffled sigh.

Heidi approached him, handing him his coat and patting his back. It was less of a comforting gesture and more of a ‘you should get going too’ kind of meaning.

“Your Highness…”

Dion gazed at her pitifully like a rain-soaked puppy, but Heidi firmly shook her head.

Finally, as she pushed him towards the door, he asked while being slowly pushed out.

“Your Highness, please be honest with me. What are you going for? Could it be Beelzebub’s-”

“That’s part of it. Among other things.”

“But how could you not give me any hint about this all this time!”

“Because I knew you’d jump around like a frenzied grasshopper like this. You know now before leaving, isn’t that enough? I didn’t leave you behind, did I?”

Dion showed signs of being somewhat upset but soon accepted it willingly.

“I won’t question it further since it’s already happening, but… what do you mean by ‘among other things’?”

“Well… actually, for me, the ‘among other things’ is more about Beelzebub, but it’s too troublesome to explain it all. Just someone I need to find.”

“Who on earth could it be that you have to go all the way to the Eastern Empire…”

Heidi’s steps came to a stop in front of the door. As a puzzled Dion turned his head, Heidi shoved him out the door.

“There’s just something, though my brother denies it, I’m sure of it.”

“Woah, w-what is it?”

Dion regained his balance with twisted legs. Meanwhile, Heidi had also come out and pulled the double doors shut.

Turning around while humming a short tune, she grinned.

“What do you think it means to think of only one person for over ten years?”

.

.

.

At a time when everyone was asleep, there was a clandestine movement at the back of the imperial palace.

A group in black, disguised as commoners instead of shining armor, moved busily relying on a single dim lantern. It was Ian and the select few knights who would accompany him on his journey.

Heidi, who had arrived dragging Dion like a sack, was also among them. She briefly waved her hand towards Ian, who was mounted on his horse.

“Have a good trip. You don’t have to come back if things go wrong.”

“Somehow, I feel like I’m leaving a fish in the care of a cat.”

“As you know, brother, I’m quite perfect in many ways. No matter how you look at it, the throne seems to suit me best.”

“Your introduction is too long. What is it you want to say?”

The smile that had been constantly on Heidi’s lips grew longer.

“So, if you don’t want to lose it, make sure you find your first love and come back, brother.”

“I’ve told you several times, it’s just repaying a debt of gratitude.”

“But why do I feel like brother is going to find a lover rather than a benefactor?”

Ian also raised the corners of his mouth towards the still grinning Heidi. An invisible tension rose sharply between them. Only Dion’s face, watching the two from a distance, grew even more haggard.

“It seems you’re so worried about your brother leaving on a long journey. I’ll take that to mean you don’t want to get your lovely Helios back.”

“Are you joking?”

“Actually, I have no desire for the throne, it’s just tiring. I might just leave the secular world and not come back.”

Having recorded yet another defeat today, Heidi pouted her lips.

“Alright, I get it. How petty, making such a fuss over your only sister’s little joke.”

Even while grumbling, she repeatedly checked the saddle’s knots. When she stroked Helios’s side soothingly, the horse made a pleased whinnying sound.

Heidi grabbed the reins and held them out to Ian.

“Anyway, whether you’re repaying a debt or falling in love, just make sure you find her properly. You know well… that not a single second was wasted in your journey to get here.”

Her face was a mix of strange expectation, worry, and a bit of impatience.

Ian turned his head away, muttering as if making a promise to himself.

“Don’t worry. I will definitely find her.”

With that answer, Ian spurred his horse. Soon, the sound of hooves faded as the black figures gradually disappeared.

As the cityscape grew dimmer and they entered the wilderness, Ian looked up at the sky.

A pitch-black night without a single point of faint light. The night he had to part with her was just like this too.

‘Helena. I’m finally coming to you.’

Three weeks before she declared divorce in Evergale. Across the sea, on the western continent, a secret wave was rising.