Five years ago. Enemy territory Eunibs.

The empress, Mariela Lucein, who was hiding in enemy territory wearing a black robe due to unspeakable circumstances, flinched.

This was because the armored soldiers advancing forward began to murmur.

In the distance, horses were running, kicking up dust.

The flag he was holding was clearly the flag of Tureshian.

The soldiers drew their swords, saying who was the madman coming to fight bare-handed.

But when one soldier’s stomach was pierced by the sharp end of the flag he threw, and then seeing the sword he drew, everyone froze.

The sword of the Tureshian imperial family. Then the man before them was…

“It’s Crown Prince Resban, the war maniac!”

The desperate voice of an enemy soldier rang out.

Sword Master, one who can cut through rocks like paper with a single sword… One who has reached a realm that is not human.

Resban’s horse was charging towards this place, and the tension among the enemy soldiers was reaching its peak.

“Defend!”

Belatedly, one enemy commander shouted, and the enemy soldiers formed a formation, but it was already too late.

Resban’s golden eyes flashed in the light.

Every time he swung his sword, soldiers fell like autumn leaves.

“Urgh…!”

Empress Mariela gritted her teeth as she looked at Resban.

Resban would write new history again today.

He would try to rise higher by achieving distant military exploits.

He did not kill those who surrendered, but showed no mercy to those who dared to confront him.

Blood splattered and screams echoed across the battlefield.

His vivid golden eyes seemed to boil like lava.

Far behind, Resban’s cavalry could be seen along with the dust.

Like thunder following lightning, the hyenas who would finish all this were also coming.

“Oh Tameron…”

A hoarse voice flowed from the woman’s lips.

“The demon destroying your holy land. A corrupt human who knows nothing but war… Please punish him…”

Just then, an urgent voice was heard from behind.

“I’ve found the item.”

A small-bodied man wearing a robe handed something to the woman.

It was a box full of some emerald-colored powder.

“Ah… How beautiful.”

The woman looked at the contents with moved eyes.

Meanwhile, the enemy territory was turning into a scene of pandemonium.

“We should leave now. We’ll be caught by His Highness the Crown Prince.”

At the small-bodied man’s words, the woman glared at him and said,

“I came to find Tameron’s treasure that might be destroyed by that evil one’s swordplay. If the Crown Prince harms me, Tameron will not leave the Crown Prince alone…”

“Die!!”

At that moment, an enemy soldier with a sword aimed at the woman from behind.

As the empress startled and tried to shrink her body, the enemy soldier’s sword broke.

And the soldier’s head fell off with a thud.

The empress’s face turned pale, and her eyebrows rose as high as they could go.

“…”

Soon, Resban, covered in blood, dismounted in front of the empress.

Dust rises as his feet touch the ground with a thud.

His piercing golden eyes were so cold and frightening that a person with weak nerves might wet themselves if they saw them.

Resban took off his helmet. His jet-black hair, untouched by blood, was revealed.

A high nose bridge and a chiseled jawline.

He looked at the empress with cold eyes and said,

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“…”

“Ah, no need to thank me.”

As Resban kicked the enemy soldier’s head with his foot, it rolled away.

The empress watched all this with horrified eyes and met Resban’s gaze.

Anyone could tell from their eyes alone that the two were in an adversarial relationship.

“…Let’s go.”

As she was about to turn around without even a greeting, Resban’s voice was heard.

“Hand over the dangerous item.”

The empress gritted her teeth.

Resban held out his hand.

In his other hand was a sword. And it was dripping with blood.

Eventually, the empress handed it over to Resban.

Resban looked at it obliquely and moved his lips.

“Henomos. It’s a drug that causes hallucinations, but I’ve never seen such a pure crystal. This is enough to make a dose for a thousand people.”

“…Henomos… is just a treasure to approach Tameron when offering sincere prayers…!”

But before the empress could finish speaking, the box was crushed in Resban’s hand.

“No, it only intoxicates you heavily and disturbs your mind with fantasies unrelated to reality.”

The empress’s eyebrows twitched.

“Tureshian law forbids the use of Henomos.”

The wind was mixed with the scent of blood.

At the cold gaze, devoid of any emotion, as if looking at an insect, the empress clenched her fists.

The empress thought Resban was not human, but a demon.

“One of the reasons Tureshian was trampled by enemies decades ago was that the soldiers’ discipline had loosened due to drug intoxication.”

“…”

“So if you’re wandering into enemy territory to find a drug that should be disposed of, you should be prepared.”

The empress flared up and shouted.

“Are you threatening me, the empress, Your Highness?”

“I’m just informing you.”

Resban, who had turned around, easily cut down two soldiers rushing at him.

“If my soldiers had coveted such things, I would have beheaded them.”

In the burning battlefield, his voice was heard like an afterimage.

“…Next time, even Your Majesty the Empress will be no exception.”

His blood-covered back looked like the incarnation of a demon.

Rather than anger, goosebumps rose all over her body first.

The empress parted her dry lips and muttered.

“Oh Tameron… To that cursed demon…”

The scene of the burning enemy territory was reflected in her eyes.

“Please punish him.”

**

“Although I still maintain my opinion that Esika Klaus is not suitable as the Crown Prince’s match, since Your Majesty is so adamant, I will arrange a time to meet and talk.”

The emperor nodded with satisfaction at the empress’s words.

“Yes, there’s no need to be prejudiced. Of course, the incident with the empress’s niece is regrettable, but if we’re to be fair, it’s not Esika Klaus’s fault…”

The emperor took a sip of tea and said,

“As superiors, we should be broad-minded and understanding, what else can we do?”

The empress nodded.

There was a smile on her lips, but her eyes were not smiling.

She was still thinking that she was fighting a spiritual war on the battlefield.

“Well, how do you plan to proceed with what you mentioned, Empress?”

“I’m thinking of hosting a tea party, inviting the royal family and high-ranking nobles. If we introduce her there, she’ll be able to adapt better to the royal family.”

“That’s a good idea. Please do so.”

“Also, I’m thinking of inviting the girl who will become Breyton’s wife that day as well.”

“You mean Aria Heinz?”

“Yes. If they get married, they’ll become sisters-in-law, so it would be better to introduce them on this occasion.”

As it was a reasonable suggestion, the emperor nodded.

“Alright, proceed with that as you see fit, Empress.”

The empress nodded and lifted her teacup to drink.

An evil light was flickering in her eyes.

**

“Straighten your back more, shoulders at right angles.”

Resban’s low voice was heard.

Esika, who was sitting on the balcony looking at the garden, let out a small sigh.

“Relax.”

Resban went behind her and adjusted her posture, putting strength on her shoulders.

It was a strangely embracing posture from behind.

“Are you really… just teaching me?”

The royal etiquette is said to be very strict, and they nitpick even small things.

It was Esika who first asked Resban to teach her royal etiquette.

Since the empress had sent an invitation for a tea party, she needed to make basic preparations.

She’s not the type of person who would enter enemy territory without any preparation.

When Esika asked to be taught royal etiquette, Resban said with a look that seemed to have expected it that he would stay at Esika’s mansion for a few days.

They were spending their third day together.

“…Well.”

Resban tilted his head forward slightly to look at Esika.

His eyes were deep, and it seemed like his lips would touch hers at any moment.

His lips moved again.

“Just when I think you’re doing well.”

“…”

“I keep wanting to touch you.”

For some reason, Esika’s cheeks tingled at his low voice.

Esika turned her body slightly to push Resban away.

Is this person really that war-maniac Crown Prince?

His hands, which were firm from holding a sword, were delicate and soft when correcting Esika’s posture.

“But I’ll admit one thing.”

“What is it?”

“You’re learning etiquette faster than I did.”

It couldn’t be helped, as she had been well-versed in the imperial etiquette of the Middle Kingdom when she was a spirit.

Although there were detailed differences with Tureshian, the basic demeanor was ultimately the same.

So she only needed to correct minor things.

“I’m naturally talented.”

A smile passed over Resban’s lips at Esika’s self-praise.

When was the last time he smiled this often?

It must be the first time since childhood.

Resban found each day spent here quite comfortable. To the point where he might want to move his residence here instead of taking her to the imperial palace.

“…”

In the paradise she created, Esika was smiling brightly.

Her silver hair fluttered in the gentle breeze.

The woman who had rarely shown her face in his dreams for a long time was now before his eyes.

Resban felt he could somewhat gauge what happiness was, something he couldn’t find even among the countless enemy territories and treasures.

“There’s something on your lip.”

Unable to resist, he raised his hand again to caress Esika’s lips.