Southern Hartman Inted Islands.

In that place sharing the sea with the Warden Kingdom, large and small conflicts never ceased.

Pirates targeting merchant ships also appeared frequently.

The Inted Islands, with extreme heat in summer and severe cold lasting for months in winter, were infamous among knights.

It was said that to return alive from Inted, one must either make a contract with the devil or become a devil.

Of course, it wasn’t just because of the harsh weather and humidity.

“Huff, huff, huff.”

The rough breathing of men filled the cliff-side training ground overlooking the dark sea.

Had they been subjected to a sudden attack?

The faces of the knights armed with armor and iron swords were deeply shadowed with the fear of death.

“Let’s survive! Don’t give up!”

“Hold on for dear life!”

The knights, disheveled with dirt and sweat, gripped their swords anew.

At the end of their gaze, a silver-white radiance flashed.

“Oh, it’s coming…!”

Starting with one word enveloped in fear, screams began to run rampant.

“Argh!”

“Pl-please spare my life!”

Even the elite knights couldn’t block the silver-white radiance that swept through like a storm.

The last one fell face-first onto the training ground floor.

Only then did the brilliant silver-white light stop moving.

“Pathetic. I’m very disappointed.”

A woman revealed herself, trampling on the fallen men.

Her silver hair fluttering in the sea breeze sparkled like a moonlit waterfall, and her hand caressing the sword was as graceful as white jade.

With delicate features and a perfectly balanced physique without a single flaw.

Claudia, more often called the Silver Devil than the Silver Lady Knight, moved her red lips.

“Twenty men couldn’t handle one person. Can you still call yourselves my subordinates?”

“We-we’ll rectify it!”

“If I were a knight of the Warden Kingdom, you’d all be dead men.”

“But Commander, you’re not an ordinary human!”

“Run 300 laps around the training ground.”

“Didn’t you say we’d end today’s training with sparring?”

“400 laps.”

“We’ll all die at this rate!”

“500 laps.”

The color drained from the faces of the members.

A few plucked up the courage to plead.

“Don’t you feel any pity for your subordinates?”

“I’m training you pitiful ones so you don’t die in battle.”

“This isn’t an amount of training a person can handle!”

“You are not people, but knights guarding the nation’s borders.”

“Ah, Commander!”

“Taking responsibility for poorly guiding you, I’ll run 1,000 laps. Cheer up.”

Claudia started running around the training ground first.

There seemed to be no end to her stamina.

She had no awareness that she was special.

It was the reason she was called a devil despite having historical genius-level talent and diligence.

The dirt-covered members whispered among themselves.

“Doesn’t the Commander seem especially crazy today?”

“See that pile of wood over there?”

“Firewood, isn’t it? They brought in quite a lot.”

“Those are the training dummies the Commander smashed this morning. Consider them dead for now.”

“Do you have any plans to desert?”

“I think I might soon.”

Ignoring her subordinates’ complaints, Claudia gradually increased her running speed.

She tried to focus on training, but it was difficult to erase her thoughts.

All problems started with one letter.

− Radia, how are you?

I was glad you sent the review of “The Red Star of the Empire” despite being so busy.

I’ll send you the second volume as soon as it’s published to your garrison.

By the way, do you remember the spicy pepper I mentioned before?

I really want to get that pepper.

I want to convey my sincere feelings that I couldn’t express until now to someone precious.

What I really want to give is a ring, but I don’t want to burden them.

I want to have courage this time. I desperately need your help.

Your friend, Douglas.

Claudia naturally believed that ‘someone precious’ was herself.

It was certain that Douglas had finally escaped from the clutches of that cunning woman Elizabeth and opened his eyes to true love.

If not, why would he seek a pepper famous for its spiciness?

The method was a bit strange, but this was Douglas.

It couldn’t have been easy to confess to a childhood friend after being jilted.

‘Did you want to give me a gift that suits my taste so much that you even lied? A ring would have been fine too…’

Douglas’s gentle smile lingered whether she was holding a sword, eating, or lying in bed.

Claudia asked a merchant supplying provisions to get the highest quality Pimenta pepper.

Thinking it was an item she would receive back as a confession gift, the reddish pepper grains looked more precious and beautiful than rubies.

But it was all a misunderstanding.

− Thank you, Radia.

I couldn’t succeed in confessing, but thanks to you, Elizabeth was happy.

She came to like spicy flavors like you. Isn’t that unique?

I was very happy to be able to please her even for a moment.

It’s all thanks to you. I’m proud that you’re my friend.

May the blessing of the goddess Morasynsia always be with you.

Your friend, Douglas.

Friend.

That one word always stood between Claudia and Douglas.

Douglas would never know that he was slashing her love with his kind words.

She ran towards the cliff.

She wanted to forget both Douglas, who clung to Elizabeth even after being abandoned, and herself, who was in love with him.

While Claudia was stuck in the borderlands, Elizabeth lured Douglas into an even deeper pit of despair.

How far did she have to go to be satisfied with breaking Douglas?

Even after gaining the Emperor’s favor and securing the high position of the Crown Prince’s education officer.

“Were you here, Commander?”

Vice Commander Jason approached.

Claudia wiped the sweat that had flowed to her chin with the back of her hand.

“We received a message from our informant planted in the Imperial Palace.”

“Report.”

“They say the Emperor has been bewitched by a commoner woman named Elizabeth and has neglected state affairs.”

“I’m tired of hearing about His Majesty’s private life issues.”

“This time it’s a bit different. They say she’s even involved the young Crown Prince.”

“The Crown Prince?”

“Recently, innocent servants of the Crown Prince’s palace were arrested en masse.”

“Why?”

“It seems that woman reported that the Crown Prince had been poisoned.”

Claudia was momentarily speechless.

Who would try to assassinate the Crown Prince, who was only 10 years old?

The Imperial Palace was heavily guarded by hundreds of elite knights.

It was even harder to believe that there was a hole in the security since the Imperial Knight Commander was Claudia’s mentor.

“Even though neither the royal physician nor close attendants found any abnormalities, that woman insisted.”

“Surely His Majesty wouldn’t believe the one-sided claim of a non-expert and make arrests?”

“They say even women and young boys were tortured.”

“!”

“The atmosphere in the Imperial Palace is not good. Now that woman has become the education officer, I’m deeply concerned for His Highness’s well-being.”

“…”

“There’s even talk that the Emperor will make that woman the Empress.”

“No way!”

The mere thought of Elizabeth as Empress made Claudia nauseous.

For a very long time, Claudia had disliked Nikolai.

Even on the day she received her knighthood, even on the day she buried her comrade’s corpse, the Emperor was dallying with women.

There was no end to the dirty scandals surrounding the Emperor.

Still, he was the lord to whom she had sworn allegiance.

She believed that Nikolai still had some conscience as an Emperor.

It might have been a vain hope.

“It was barely prevented due to opposition from the nobles. All the elders are witnesses.”

“Has His Majesty truly lost his mind?”

“Everyone is waiting for the Commander’s decision. You must raise the flag, Commander.”

“Don’t act rashly. This is not something that can be done with just righteousness.”

“It’s the meeting of a tyrant and an evil woman. We must bring them down as soon as possible to protect the Hartman Empire.”

Claudia’s worries deepened.

An emperor who ruins the country consumed by desire should rightfully be executed.

But revolution required a bloody price.

Claudia never forgot that her sense of justice might be different from what the people wanted.

It was the same even if she had power, loyal knights, supporters, and backers.

‘Because of my hesitation, the people might suffer more. I know Elizabeth’s evil nature well. Maybe I should hasten the revolution…’

Claudia suppressed the rising impatience.

If she couldn’t erase her love for Douglas and her anger towards Elizabeth, she had no right to even mention the people and revolution.

Claudia ordered Jason.

“Find a way to return to the capital as soon as possible. I’ll judge after seeing everything with my own eyes.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Does the Emperor really have to eat in such a luxurious room?

Sitting in the dining room with expensive mirrors covering the walls, I scratched my cheek.

The ceiling was decorated with baby angel sculptures and crystal chandeliers, and wherever the eye fell, golden candlesticks with vine decorations sparkled brightly.

A dauntingly white tablecloth was spread on the 8-person table.

‘It would be no joke if kimchi soup splashed on it.’

Determined not to spill a single drop of sauce, I looked at Nikolai.

“Eat.”

That was all.

He said he wanted to discuss Franz’s education issues, but he started eating silently.

In the uncomfortable silence, I also picked up the silver spoon.

‘Yuck! Why is it so salty?’

I almost spilled the steaming pea soup.

Nikolai was calmly bringing the spoon to his mouth as if he couldn’t taste the saltiness.

Is it my imagination?

But the veal stew, salad dressing, and even the pie’s seasoning were a mess.

‘The aroma and appearance are decent, but the taste is terrible? It’s like they dumped all the salt, vinegar, and sugar in. It’s surprising Nikolai kept the cook alive given his personality.’

I wanted to question the bizarre taste.

No, I wanted to harshly criticize it.

But criticizing food wasn’t proper table manners.

Unable to muster the courage to eat more, I observed Nikolai.

Is his tongue numb?

Suspiciously, Nikolai was finishing the food without any sign of disturbance.

He didn’t seem to be savoring the taste.

He was just emptying his share of plates like a soulless machine.

The worst food and uncomfortable silence.

After rinsing my mouth with cold water, I put down the water glass with a clank.

“Your Majesty. Don’t you usually talk during meals?”

“Should I?”

“You said we’d talk while eating.”

“I was going to do it after the meal.”

Nikolai, looking alternately at my half-rotten expression and the untouched food, asked back.

“Is that not okay?”

“If you invite a guest, it’s polite for the host to lead the conversation appropriately.”

“I forgot. It’s been so long since I ate with someone.”

“You eat alone even though you have dozens of empresses?”

“It’s an old habit.”

I recalled Careth’s surprise when Nikolai offered me lunch.

The thought that it might be special treatment crossed my mind.

It wasn’t a bad feeling.

“Then let’s have a constructive and future-oriented conversation.”

“You don’t seem to have eaten properly.”

“It doesn’t quite suit my taste. May I ask first?”

“Go ahead.”

Nikolai gently dabbed his clean mouth with a napkin.

I asked straightforwardly.

“Who was the culprit trying to poison the Crown Prince?”

“That’s confidential.”

“But I’m the education officer and relationship improvement trainer. I’m also quite a capable medium.”

Nikolai chuckled as if amused.

But only for a moment, his expression became terrifyingly serious.

“I’ll tell you if you answer my question.”

“What’s the question?”

“What did you whisper to Franz?”