On a night that had been perfectly quiet, an unexpected heavy snowfall hit. Sharp winds swept through the duke’s territory, accompanied by a biting cold that could cut to the bone.

As the brutal disaster seemed likely to continue for some time, the duke’s household warned against going out for the time being. Additionally, they issued a ban on entering the Douglas Forest, located in the deepest part of the duke’s territory.

Footsteps overlapped on the snow-covered field, so tranquil that not even an ant would pass through. Feet sank into the snow that had accumulated overnight, with snow reaching up to slender ankles. While even beasts had fled far away from the desolate cold, a woman walked through the snowy field wrapped in just a thin blanket that couldn’t even cover her whole body. She was heading to enter the Douglas Forest, going against what the master of the duke’s territory had said.

‘…This should be the place.’

If there was a reason, it was nothing special.

She wanted to disobey the ruler’s words just once.

She thought she might be able to find eternal rest in this place where no one was around.

And finally, she arrived at her destination. The darkest and deepest part of the Douglas Forest. Here, her corpse would likely never be discovered, even in the future.

Kneeling down, Natasha took out a dagger from her bosom.

It was truly an impulsive plan.

A series of shocking events. Lost will and purpose.

She hated the world that didn’t respond no matter how much she cried out in endless suffering. She resented the man at the very top who controlled, ignored, and destroyed everything.

That’s why.

It was an extremely spontaneous plan, carried out because the world that didn’t give her even a moment to breathe seemed so cold-hearted.

‘If only there was even one person who would worry about me.’

Despite being so concerned about the safety of the people in his domain, there was no one to control the duchess going out in the middle of a snowy night. Even though she had left the duke’s mansion long ago, not a single guard came looking for her.

If only someone had asked where she was going, told her it was cold outside. If they had just expressed a single ordinary concern…

No.

If only Sieghart Asthart, that man, had apologized to her even once. If only he hadn’t deceived her with sweet lies.

If only…

As she unsheathed the sword, a carefully sharpened blade was revealed.

‘I despise you so much.’

A familiar illusion appeared before Natasha. The cruelest person in the world, indifferent even as she pointed a sword at her heart.

‘Just as you hated me, now I too…’

She gripped the sword more tightly. As the woman brought her arm down, the snow that had accumulated on her shoulders scattered in all directions. Amidst the ominous sound of wind like clashing blades, a real metallic sound mixed in.

A moment later, crimson blood that resembled her eyes spilled onto the ground.

‘It hurts…’

It hurt terribly.

Her savagely stabbed heart, her past riddled with knife wounds.

Her fading consciousness was predicting the end. The woman forcefully lifted her drooping eyelids. The illusory Sieghart was watching her final moments.

The man who killed her family and child, and now was killing her without even blinking an eye.

The man Natasha had loved so desperately.

Sieghart Asthart.

Natasha gave a faint smile towards the man.

As if proud to have finally let him go.

It was a peaceful day no different from any other.

Natasha Charliee, the beloved youngest daughter of the Charliee royal family, went out for an excursion with her maid Cayena.

They were sitting on a blanket under an elm tree, eating sandwiches, when Cayena spoke up.

“Oh, by the way, Your Highness. I heard a new jewelry shop opened in town.”

Cayena narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to catch the princess’s attention.

“A jewelry shop?”

“Yes, I heard they’ve gained some fame for their brooches. Apparently their men’s brooches are especially stylish and popular with women. It’s becoming a trend to give them as gifts to fiancés or husbands.”

She emphasized the last part in particular. The two burst out laughing as they thought of the same person.

“Cayena, you—”

“Oh come on, I’m just letting you know about something good! I heard you were worrying about a birthday gift for the prince!”

They had both thought of Alex Ludrio.

Alex Ludrio, Natasha’s fiancé and prince of the Ludrio Kingdom.

A year ago, he had visited the Charliee Kingdom and fallen in love with Natasha at first sight, courting her constantly ever since.

When her parents suggested she consider marriage as she was coming of age, Natasha naturally thought of Alex. Though she didn’t share the same feelings as him, it seemed better to proceed with their engagement talks rather than accepting a marriage proposal from someone she’d never met.

She had been planning to give him a birthday gift and talk things over, and the sharp Cayena had brought up a good gift suggestion.

“That’s why I was going to thank you.”

“Hehe, right? Hurry and go to town with Sir Dante. I’ll cover for you. You were just on a picnic with me, okay?”

After a big fight between the sisters, they had both been forbidden from going out for three days, but Cayena readily offered to help Natasha escape.

“Cayena, you’re the best!”

“You know what to bring back, right?”

“Three scones slathered with strawberry jam, of course!”

“That’s a generous payment!”

Later, Natasha snuck out of the castle with Sir Dante. They bought Alex’s gift at the jewelry shop and Cayena’s scones at a dessert shop before heading home.

That’s when it happened.

The palace that had been a beautiful painting was now depicting a tragedy. What greeted her was a castle in ruins.

“…The palace.”

The castle walls that should have been heavily fortified had crumbled helplessly. The buildings were disappearing, consumed by fire.

Severed heads of knights rolled across the grass that the gardener had so carefully tended every day, amidst pools of blood.

It didn’t take long for the peacefully ordinary day to plunge into the most unfortunate day.

“Princess, wait…!”

Someone urgently grabbed Natasha’s arm as she stood in shock. It was Sir Dante, the royal knight who had just accompanied her to town.

Quickly assessing the situation, Sir Dante brought a horse and mounted the princess. Holding back even his breath lest the enemy discover a survivor’s presence, he began to gallop away resolutely.

“You must hide in here.”

An unknown knight’s cloak was draped over her body. As the overwhelming smell of blood washed over her, Natasha finally grasped the situation.

That her home and beloved people…

Had vanished like a mirage.

After riding for a long while, the horse finally stopped.

Arriving in an unfamiliar village, she changed into shabby clothes at Sir Dante’s suggestion. She disguised herself completely, hiding even her detailed features with a hood and glasses.

Then Sir Dante said:

“Princess, you must stay here quietly. If someone knocks on the door, open the back door and hide in the barn.”

He left, and returned the next day with a newspaper reporting on the recent events.

“The Fall of the Charliee Royal Family – Will the Kingdom Become a Vassal State of the Empire?”

It was the Imperial Knights of the Letius Empire who had invaded the Charliee Kingdom. The knight order, acting on the Emperor’s orders, had stormed the royal palace and annihilated the Charliee royal family.

From about 200 years ago, after the great Letius Empire failed to make the kingdom its vassal state, the two countries had maintained hostile relations.

Though small, the Charliee Kingdom was rich in resources. For the empire with vast lands but lacking resources, it was the perfect prey.

But they couldn’t wage war to take the kingdom like before. Other great powers would object, fearing the Letius Empire’s monopoly on power, while smaller countries would worry about becoming the next prey.

So the empire chose annihilation instead of war. With the rulers who governed the country destroyed, maintaining the kingdom would be difficult.

If they weren’t careful, the situation could go beyond becoming a vassal of the Letius Empire – the kingdom could be scattered and come under the ownership of various great powers. After the royal family’s extinction, Duke Kshant, who was given full authority, reached an agreement to establish the Duchy of Kshant and ten nearby territories as a grand duchy, while the rest of the territory was ceded to the empire.

After settling the territorial dispute, the allied empire and grand duchy pledged peace. Unlike the barbaric method used to take the kingdom’s territory, the two countries seemed to maintain friendly relations.

The empire supported the grand duchy and contributed to establishing a new foundation for the kingdom’s people. They also created welfare policies for the kingdom’s people within the empire to help them settle quickly.

The Grand Duchy of Kshant, which arose with the royal finances and support, and the Letius Empire, which improved the quality of life for the kingdom’s people, both seemed to have regained peace.

Except for Natasha Charliee, the only one left behind.

As long as Natasha existed, the royal family was not extinct. Therefore, if she came forward, she could reclaim the lost royal family.

That was the “theory” at least.

The Letius Empire had to swallow up the Charliee Kingdom while avoiding the eyes of other great powers. The method they chose was the extermination of the royal family. They made it so there would be no one left to continue the royal line, then took over the empty shell of a country.

Making half the kingdom a vassal state and half a grand duchy was indeed a wise choice befitting the great Letius Imperial Family, avoiding backlash from the great powers while increasing their territory and resources.

Therefore, there could be no flaws in the great Letius Imperial Family’s pioneering. There could be no intervention from someone with the right to reclaim the royal family. That would be like putting a blemish on their brilliant achievement.

So if Natasha’s survival was revealed, her life would also be in danger. The grand duchy, which had faltered when the royal family fell, would prioritize their own peace over the kingdom’s restoration. In the end, returning to the grand duchy wasn’t a very safe option either.

Sir Dante said it would be better to keep hiding until the situation improved, prioritizing the princess’s safety over immediate revenge. Natasha, who had just passed girlhood, also felt more fear than desire for revenge, so she didn’t move rashly.

Instead, she vowed that someday she would surely reclaim her lost home. She determined to survive somehow, to give birth to an heir of Charliee, and for that heir to have an heir…

With the hope of someday reclaiming her lost home and family, she lived hiding her identity in a rural village, and a year passed.

That day, Natasha was returning home after buying groceries at the market. As she was leaving the market, she spotted an unusual man.

Though his appearance was completely covered, the aura he gave off was extraordinary. He was clearly not a man who would come to a village where commoners lived.

As Natasha glanced at him, she soon shuddered at the eyes she met.

Though they were red like hers, the man’s eyes were just like the blood of a beast. They were starkly different from Natasha’s, which were said to be like watery apples.

The man eventually stopped walking, aware of her gaze. He turned his head towards where Natasha was standing, as if he had figured out who was interested in him.

A sudden gust of wind made the man’s cloak flutter. The sword hanging at his waist revealed its presence slightly.

‘That’s…’

The sword bore the crest of the Asthart ducal family.

Only then did Natasha realize the man’s identity. Though she had never met him, she had seen him countless times in the newspapers.

The confidant of the imperial family and ruler of the Asthart duchy, Sieghart Asthart.

The man was a person of the ‘imperial family.’

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.