Clop, clop,

The sound of hooves crossing the forest startled a flock of birds seeking early morning sleep, causing them to flutter up into the sky. Two men wearing short uniform jackets with red lion emblems on their shoulders appeared on the forest horizon.

The two men dismounted and began crossing the river towards a refreshingly falling waterfall. Though not wearing armor, their agile and fearless steps on the stone bridge were not ordinary.

As they reached behind the waterfall, a not-so-large cave came into their view. They walked into the darkness past the cave entrance, where vines looked as if they had been cut with a sharp knife.

“It must have been here.”

“To think it could reach the cave even with such severe injuries…”

As the slender young blond man spoke, the older man furrowed his brow and nodded. The dozens of poison-tipped spears that pierced the black panther contained enough lethal dose to kill two male lions.

Hiss, as the young man took out a small torch from his sleeve and lit it, the inside of the cave instantly brightened.

“Father, look at this. It’s the remains of burned firewood!”

Count Korad’s eyes sharpened as he followed his son’s hand to the cold, extinguished pile of firewood and the heap of branches and leaves piled up beside it.

“It seems the beast lit a fire.”

“No, though it survived, it fled with fatal injuries. Moreover, it’s nonsense for a black panther to light a fire. It wouldn’t have been foolish enough to stay here overnight after returning to human form. If it had returned to its original form, it would have immediately fled outside the cave.”

Count Korad shook his head and knelt down in front of the neatly stacked pile of firewood, finishing his words.

“Even assuming the beast lit a fire in human form, this isn’t its doing. This was stacked by someone without much strength – an elderly person, a boy, or… a woman.”

“Then, these branches and leaves must have been brought by another human, not the beast. To help the injured black panther…?”

As Timothy crouched down and sifted through the scattered leaves on the ground with his hands, the count nodded.

“Who… Who would have helped the monster? Anyone from the Empire, no, the continent, should know the law that requires capturing or killing a black panther on sight, or reporting it if unable to do so. Moreover, to fearlessly help such a cruel black panther. It doesn’t make sense.”

“The world is always full of things that don’t make sense. Like humans transforming into monsters.”

The count, who had spent half his life on battlefields, spoke with affectionate eyes to his son Timothy, who was still full of innocence.

His gaze shifted from his son and flashed sharply as he thoroughly examined the surroundings.

Count Korad, unparalleled in collecting and analyzing evidence at any scene, found faint footprints left on the leaves and dirt floor.

The beast clearly entered the cave as a black panther, on four legs. Following traces that normally couldn’t be found with the naked eye, Count Korad estimated. But when leaving this place, it walked out on two legs. Along with two or three other adult men.

The almost vanished large barefoot prints… And the footprints of two men who left shoe heel marks.

Judging by the clarity of the footprints, the black panther entered the cave first, and the next day, the man who had returned to human form left the cave with two men who found him.

But…

The count bent down and traced the almost disappeared small footprints on the dirt floor with his finger, speaking softly.

“A woman entered the cave with the black panther. It was the woman who lit the fire and warmed the beast’s body with leaves.”

“Then, are you saying some woman helped the black panther? Could that woman also be a beast? Or perhaps a witch practicing black magic?”

As he asked, examining the small footprints where his father’s gaze lingered with his large green eyes, the count replied.

“We can’t know who she is yet. What’s important is that the black panther, who had reached the brink of death, returned as a human the next day and walked out on two feet. Do you understand what that means?”

“Gasp, what happened to the beast’s wounds? Even if it returned to human form, it shouldn’t have been able to even stand up with the injuries on its abdomen.”

“I’m curious about that too. Enough to want to find the woman and ask her.”

Count Korad’s eyes lingered on the dirt floor again, then moved towards the deeper part of the cave opposite the entrance. The same footprints.

A day or two later, it seemed, the small footprints revisited the cave, passing by the pile of firewood and leaves and going a little further inside.

Following the almost vanished footprint traces, Count Korad walked deeper into the cave, with Timothy hurriedly following behind.

Discovering a small hole in the center of a stone tower made up of dozens of differently sized rocks,

“Ah,”

The count exclaimed and reached in to pull out a white note.

Standing beside his father, Timothy’s eyes wavered with confusion as he turned his gaze to the unfolded small note.

“What kingdom’s letters are these?”

They were utterly incomprehensible characters. Some looked like pictures, while others had shapes similar to the Empire’s letters.

“It’s an ancient language.”

Count Korad answered briefly, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, as he examined the cute handwriting.

Judging by the handwriting, it was a young woman. To think a young woman would know how to write in the ancient Gritar language…

The ancient Gritar language, used when ancient gods and mythical beings were actively involved in the human world. It was used until the early days of the Empire’s establishment but had disappeared from academia over the past thousand years.

“What does it say?”

“I can’t read most of it either. But, Emperor… Imperial Palace…”

Count Korad squinted his eyes, trying several times to form words before releasing the last word into the cave.

“From today… Two months later…”

As clear eyes that didn’t understand at all looked at his father, Count Korad le Hankrier, the Empire’s greatest beast hunter, straightened his posture and slowly opened his mouth.

“His Majesty the Emperor may be in danger. We must go to the capital.”

The old count, swearing never to repeat the mistake of failing to protect His Highness Crown Prince Luca, crumpled the note in his hand. The woman who could write in the ancient language held the key to capturing the beast.

“Oh my, how beautiful you are.”

“You look so pretty dressed like this. You’re just like a fairy.”

The head maid of Count Lorel and the other maids surrounding Arabel, who stood awkwardly in front of the mirror, praised her endlessly.

Of course, they raised their voices thinking it would be good for their positions to flatter the young lady favored by the Emperor… But even from an objective point of view, the three women were making a fuss over the lovely Arabel.

When she was first brought to the bedroom, covered in ashes, sweat, and tears, they didn’t realize, but the young lady was breathtakingly beautiful. Beyond just having clean, white skin, it was so clear and transparent that it seemed to emit light.

“My, how soft and delicate you are… Is this why His Majesty the Emperor is so eager?”

The head maid muttered to herself without realizing it as she helped Arabel bathe.

These maids had seen countless beauties thanks to the philandering count and his son.

When they first saw Arabel, she was surprisingly plain, and they couldn’t find anything special about her. It was surprising that the Emperor had brought such an unremarkable woman, who wouldn’t stand out among noble ladies, cherishing her in his arms.

A small, thin figure with an unremarkably beautiful face. It was only surprising that all her features – eyes, nose, and mouth – fit on that small, slender face. Her large, clear eyes, like those of a newborn fawn, were somewhat memorable.

She wasn’t glamorously pretty, seductively charming, or blessed with a mesmerizing figure, but strangely, she drew people’s attention.

Arabel didn’t possess the kind of fierce beauty that instantly captivated everyone around her.

However, she had a charm as subtle as moonlight and as serene as a lake. While she might not stand out at first, spending just a moment with her colored the surroundings with her kind and pure energy, making them warm and peaceful.

Arabel was the first noble to show genuine courtesy and gratitude without pretense. Her shy but sincere heart and actions tickled the maids’ hearts.

Although the maids were sick of nobles, they wanted to keep taking care of Arabel even without her asking. Arabel had a special quality that attracted people, beyond just being pretty or not.

“I don’t feel like myself. Can’t I just wear the clothes I brought?”

When Arabel, dressed in a lavender organza dress, asked this, the three women simultaneously shook their heads vigorously.

The dress had been specially tailored for the count’s son to give to his lover, but due to the Emperor’s visit last night, it was destined to never see the light of day from its box.

“The clothes you brought are all covered in ashes and unwearable.”

This was half true and half false. It was true that the two old dresses Arabel had packed in her bundle, hardly worthy of being called a noble lady’s dresses, were singed by fire. However, they weren’t so damaged that they couldn’t be worn after washing.

The maids shook their heads because the pretty dress suited her much better than they had expected. The count’s son’s lover was taller than Arabel and boasted a fuller figure, but it wasn’t a problem.

With skilled hands, the three women quickly altered the dress to fit Arabel perfectly. Quite a lot of cut-off fabric was rolling around on the carpet.

Thanks to years of serving the extravagant and fashion-sensitive countess, the head maid’s eye for detail and handiwork were excellent.

The head maid’s skilled hands neatly braided Arabel’s long, fluttering brown hair on both sides, then coiled it up from the base of her skull.

After securing the updo with a purple velvet ribbon, she added accent by pinning a small hairpin adorned with pearls and amethysts on one side of her hair.

They caught the young lady who kept trying to escape and applied natural tint made from crushed rose and peony petals to her plump, adorable lips, which suited her perfectly. Her lips looked like sweet fruit berries.

The maids’ lips twitched, imagining the Emperor’s pleased expression.

Although the neckline wasn’t deeply cut, the round-neck dress was enough to alluringly reveal her milky, slender neckline.

The high-waisted empire dress covered the shortcomings of Arabel’s small and thin frame while accentuating her graceful and elegant advantages.

Finally finished with the preparations, the head maid and maids looked at their work with satisfied expressions.

“See? We didn’t do much, but you look so pretty. This is your true appearance, young lady.”

As the head maid spoke sincerely with her hands clasped, Arabel’s face turned bright red.

Her reflection in the mirror looked unfamiliar and awkward, but… she felt a little excited. Because of the person who would soon see her like this.

‘He’ll definitely tease me.’

As Arabel thought this, even the nape of her neck turned a deep pink.

Knock, knock,

When the maid opened the door, the Emperor was standing there.

The Emperor’s beauty, backlit by the sunlight coming through the window opposite, was so dazzling that it was hard to look at properly. Even though he was only wearing a simple navy uniform, he was so handsome it made one’s heart flutter.

Moreover, with a perfect spoonful of decadence added to his classically handsome face, the three middle-aged women silently gulped.

“I came to take you to breakfast together.”

The fact that the Emperor came personally when he didn’t need to… The quick-witted trio understood. After bowing to the Emperor, they quickly walked past him and left the bedroom. Not forgetting to close the door tightly behind them.

“Did you sleep well last ni…”

The Emperor’s long-legged approach suddenly stopped. His gaze fixed on Arabel in front of the mirror, and he closed his mouth in a straight line without finishing his sentence.

Arabel quickly turned, grasped her skirts, and curtsied, bending her waist and knees. The Emperor’s face changed to a subtle expression as he tilted his head.

“I slept well, thanks to you. Did Your Majesty also sleep peacefully?”

With her cheeks flushed as if rose petals had been rubbed on them, Arabel asked without being able to look at the Emperor directly.

Even without looking, she could feel the Emperor’s gaze. It felt as if hundreds of butterflies were fluttering in her chest.

Thump, thump, the sound of the Emperor’s shoes drew closer. Gray shoes entered Arabel’s downcast eyes. Long, firm index and middle fingers lifted her chin, making her face him.

As golden heat spread through the center of his crimson eyes, his red lips slowly parted.

“Do you intend to go down to the garden like this for breakfast? To the gathering with the local nobles who have assembled to welcome me?”

As his husky baritone voice penetrated her ears, Arabel’s eyes wavered in confusion.

‘Does he not like this appearance? He must be displeased.’

It must look unsophisticated compared to the noble young ladies of the capital.

Even if she was a fake empress candidate, it might be embarrassing to show her to the nobles… As this unconsidered fact dawned on her, her large eyes drooped helplessly, but the hand supporting her chin folded, placing the thumb on Arabel’s lower lip.

The thick thumb slowly smudged Arabel’s lips… wiping away the deep pink tint on her lips.

As a startled Arabel took a step back, his other hand caught her waist.

He pulled her thin body into his arms, trapping her so she couldn’t escape. In the bedroom so quiet that even breathing could be clearly heard, the Emperor’s deepened crimson eyes glared at her reddened lips.

The thumb that had been slowly rubbing her lips stopped at the center of her lower lip.

As pressure was applied to the thumb, her lips parted slightly, creating a gap. The Emperor bent his waist and head deeply, bringing his eyes level with Arabel’s. His red eyes persistently chased her fleeing innocent gaze, trapping it deep inside.

His head tilted to the side, drawing closer until almost touching, and he blew hot breath between her lips and whispered.

“Oh my, your lips are a mess. We can’t go out to eat like this. I’m afraid we’ll have to have breakfast in the bedroom and then set out on our journey.”