Knight Commander Duran walked out of the command post.

He was a handsome man with a robust and nimble figure, sporting blond hair.

Asha had crossed paths with him several times in her previous life.

Duran Dandelion.

Just like the head of the Dandelion family, he possessed an appearance that reminded one of a dandelion.

His lustrous thick blond hair was as beautiful as hers, and his eyes were a deep green, soft yet resolute like midsummer grass.

He was a man with a firm heart that would never break, even if trampled upon or caught in a storm.

He silently faced Asha for a moment.

Their green and purple eyes met in the darkness.

Duran intuitively sensed that this woman was the very one the bandit had spoken of.

Her description matched, and moreover, he had already heard that there were no female hunters in Ricaon.

Then, Asha was the first to speak.

“I am the Empire’s butterfly.”

At those words, the soldiers surrounding them simultaneously gasped.

Only Duran asked with an unruffled face.

“Have you been abandoned by them after staying in Ricaon, or have you come to negotiate with me?”

At the pointed question, Asha was slightly surprised internally but resignedly answered.

“……The latter. So, please take me captive, and don’t pursue them any further.”

Asha ended her speech by quietly extending both hands forward.

Duran stared at her for a while, then ordered the knights beside him.

“Capture her.”

“Yes!”

They tightly bound Asha’s hands and body with rope.

Her body involuntarily shook at their rough movements, but Asha did not resist and stood calmly, looking at the floor.

Duran asked her.

“Did you come here alone without consulting your leader?”

“……Yes. After all, your pursuit of Ricaon must be for me.”

“But you could have escaped, why……”

“I saw the future.”

The knights were astonished at Asha’s firm response.

She was the Empire’s butterfly.

Her butterfly ability could indeed be considered a form of prophecy.

“If you saw the future, then……”

“I realized that I couldn’t escape from you. The end was only death. The Cactus Knights, I heard, never let go of a target once identified, even chasing them to hell. Was I wrong?”

Duran closed his mouth.

It was true.

Even if he died in the process, he would never return to the Emperor emptyhanded.

Like a dandelion symbolizing strong vitality and stubbornness, he would persist on the battlefield, eventually beheading the enemy commander.

Duran said with a strange smile.

“You seem to grasp the situation faster than your leader.”

Asha stared intently at him.

“Promise me. If you take me, leave them alone.”

Her violet eyes were lofty like the full moon in the dark night sky.

Duran pondered for a moment before replying.

“I only follow His Majesty’s command. I will present your words, but I cannot guarantee anything. As you know, His Majesty’s hatred for the minorities is so immense that it’s not a simple matter to resolve.”

Asha’s expression became troubled.

“However, if you really are the butterfly and can blossom His Majesty’s flower, all minorities, including Ricaon, may lead a much safer life than now.”

“……That’s enough.”

Asha said, somewhat relieved.

“Please return to the Imperial Palace as soon as possible. Otherwise, when they find out I’m gone, the Ricaon people will come after me.”

Duran nodded, then ordered the knights to prepare to leave immediately.

While everyone was preparing in an orderly fashion, he collected Asha’s belongings.

When he saw the dagger, Jackal’s face suddenly flashed in her mind, and Asha’s heart ached.

Durant, who had been watching her bitter expression from the side, said,

“This is a weapon, and I will keep it.”

Having held a sword all his life, he recognized at a glance that this dagger was no ordinary blade.

And judging from the expression she just made, he also realized that it was a precious item to her.

Asha knew she would never be able to touch that dagger again, but she was thankful just for his offer to keep it.

“Then let’s go now.”

Asha got on the horse with a man who was her subordinate.

But it was just as they were finishing preparations to depart from the camp.

From a distance, a terrifying arrow flew with a whoosh, hitting the arm of the subordinate who was holding the horse’s reins.

“Ugh…!”

The subordinate clutched his arrowpierced arm and groaned.

When Durant looked back, he saw a man far away, riding a horse from the hill and rushing down with fierce momentum.

His grayishblue hair wildly fluttered in the wind, and his eyes shone eerily like blue flames in the darkness.

Asha’s eyes widened gradually.

He had discovered her departure and was racing down the road alone.

Jackal pursued them like an angry wild horse, whooshing arrows as he chased.

Asha cried out to Durant in desperation.

“Please! Don’t kill that man…!”

Durant, who was about to give the attack order, hesitated for a moment.

Asha pleaded with him once again with a desperate face.