“You could have just said ‘sorry’ with one word, but you’re creating an atmosphere as if you’re making some serious confession.”

“This is absurd. So in the Empire, do people just hit someone and say ‘Hey, sorry about that?’ and walk away?”

“The absurdity is on this side. Do you think our country’s people are some back-alley thugs?”

“Who said that?”

The room, with its softly fragrant flowers and sultry candles casting a warm glow, the bed half-draped with red curtains, was unmistakably a newlywed’s chamber. However, the newly wedded couple, dressed in clothes so thin their skin nearly showed through, were busy arguing with veins popping in their necks mere hours after becoming husband and wife.

The woman, her jet-black hair roughly pushed back, frowned her fair, delicate face and said,

“One hit is returned with two. That’s how we apologize, Your Majesty.”

At this, the man, who looked as gentle as a large puppy, widened his eyes and slammed the table.

“What kind of apology is that! In which country is that considered an apology?”

“In our country.”

The woman snorted. The man, who had been looking at her with an incredulous expression, also let out a dry laugh and turned his head away sharply. As they turned away from each other like sulking children, coincidentally, both were thinking the same thing.

‘How can such a thing exist!’

“This cannot be!”

The thunderous shout that seemed to split the air came from the Knights Commander Merton. His large face was so red with anger that the thick sandy-colored sideburns growing along his ears seemed even more prominent today.

“How could Your Majesty do this to Her Highness the Imperial Princess! Not only have you broken the late Emperor’s will, but this…!”

“Silence, Merton.”

A low voice resonated from a figure, clearly female, whose upper body was obscured by a canopy descending from the ceiling. Though not particularly mature, it carried an innate authority that froze the expressions of the lined-up knight commanders on either side.

With a soft rustle of the canopy and collar brushing against each other, the owner of the voice, Imperial Princess Erdene, emerged from the slanted shadow.

Her hands, clasped as if in prayer to cover her lips, were taut rather than delicate, covered with traces of calluses and scars. There was also a fairly long scar just below her face, but it was near the chin and not noticeable unless closely inspected. Her small face, in contrast to her rough hands, created a strange harmony with its fierce and stubborn yet beautiful features.

Telma, her adjutant sitting directly to her right and overseeing the Eril Knights, the elite forces of the Empire, spoke in a tone barely suppressing her indignation.

“Commander Merton’s words are not without reason. How much hardship has Her Highness endured to lead this war against Biotin to victory? Isn’t it right for the Princess who returned victorious to wear the Imperial Crown? But how…!”

“I said be silent. It’s already been decided.”

As Imperial Princess Erdene gritted her teeth warningly, even Telma, who rarely held her tongue, pressed her lips tightly shut. Though her expression remained displeased, silence fell once again.

But even the silence couldn’t comfort Erdene’s devastated heart. Then again, what could comfort this feeling?

Her eyes, swollen red with indescribable anger and ruthless hatred, trembled faintly. Seeing this, Telma couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke again, as if pleading.

“Your Highness, this is truly unacceptable…”

“What can be done even if it’s unacceptable?”

Erdene glared at Telma with fierce eyes. Though she hadn’t raised her voice, the atmosphere turned chilly.

Erdene spoke again.

“I asked what can be done, Telma. The imperial decree has already been issued, and I must leave this place before dawn breaks tomorrow. Will you bring me the new Emperor’s head in the meantime? Do you have the confidence to do that?”

Telma’s mouth fell open. Although there was nothing to worry about since all the knight commanders and their subordinate officers here were loyal to Erdene, her statement just now was, strictly speaking, grounds for beheading. What shocked Telma even more was the vague realization that Erdene truly desired it.

Erdene snorted at Telma, who remained silent.

“If not, then don’t bring it up again. I might end up chopping off your head.”

Silence fell once more. The imperial knight commanders, who had weathered countless battles and experienced all sorts of hardships, making a year feel like a day and a day like a year on the battlefield, now looked more despondent than any defeated soldier.

They’ll burst into tears any moment now. Just as Erdene thought this indifferently, as if prophesying, sobbing sounds actually came from somewhere.

“Her Highness endured all the hardships, yet this…”

Commander Aiman, with his large head and bumpy skull that his colleagues often teased as a ‘potato head’, was shedding tears with his thick lips and nose contorted. His body seemed to be trembling, as a faint clanking sound came from the joints of the armor he wore.

Oddly enough, the sight of this large man sobbing gave Erdene a moment of respite. She looked around at her subordinates who had lowered their heads with gloomy expressions, then chided Aiman.

“Stop whimpering like that with your bear-like body, it’s unsightly. It’s not like I’m going to die.”

It was her best attempt at a joke, but this time there was no response from her subordinates. Erdene knew the reason and didn’t scold them further for keeping their mouths shut with grim expressions.

Not going to die?

No, she was indeed going to die.

At least, a part of her was already dead.

[This is the timeline separator]

The Hirschsten Empire, occupying the vast northern region of the Singles continent, was famous for its citizens all possessing aggressive and combative temperaments.

Its territory was wider than any other inland country, but it was desolate, with rugged mountain ranges of rock jutting out and farmland woefully insufficient. Moreover, they had to endure exceptionally long winters and summers boasting tremendous heat, making it impossible to survive without being strong.

“To even secure a gold mine! This is all thanks to Her Highness’s bold tactics!”

Erdene sat unwavering atop a massive warhorse, leading thousands of soldiers at the forefront. As Commander Aiman, who had been encouraging the soldiers from behind, opened his mouth with a hearty laugh, Telma on the opposite side shook her clenched fist.

“Of course! Those mouse-like creatures of Binotin managed to hold on for a year, but who are we? They chose the wrong opponent to mess with, and badly at that.”

The Hirschsten Empire had long coveted the prosperity of the various kingdoms located inland, beyond the boundary region of shallow mountain ranges and swamps. From their latest target, the Kingdom of Binotin, they had gained some plains, wetlands, and mines, and the morale of the soldiers returning with news of victory was sky-high.

However, Erdene had not smiled even once since the war ended. Despite spending as long as a year on the battlefield, she didn’t seem at all pleased about the journey home.

Telma, who had been observing, cautiously asked.

“Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

Erdene frowned and gripped the reins tightly. Something… was bothering her. As if a heavy, damp lump of mud had gotten inside her armor, she kept feeling on edge and irritable. The biggest problem was that she couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason.

“Your Highness, you’re not feeling unwell, are you?”

Even Commander Merton, who rarely worried unnecessarily, spoke with a concerned voice, causing Erdene to furrow her brow deeply.

“Have you seen me sick anywhere? It’s not that, it’s like the feeling of not being sure whether you wiped after using the bathroom.”

At this, Aiman made a deflating sound with his lips pursed.

“What’s wrong with not wiping? Anyway, if you’re swinging a sword for three days straight in armor, the inside becomes…”

“Shut up, you filthy one. I don’t mean it literally.”

Telma interjected.

“Then what’s bothering you? Your complexion doesn’t look good at all.”

Erdene, frowning again, only glanced towards Telma.

“Telma, how long has it been since we started the war with Binotin?”

“It’s been a little over a year and one month.”

Erdene nodded.

“Yes, how much back and forth did we do during all that time? Against those small fry. We originally set out expecting it to take three months, but it took much longer than anticipated. We even heard the news of His Majesty the Emperor’s passing belatedly, didn’t we?”

At that moment, the surrounding knight commanders and officers closed their mouths with solemn expressions. Meanwhile, Aiman suddenly became indignant and gritted his molars.

“That position was originally meant for Your Highness.”

Erdene chuckled dryly.

“And what of it? The golden castle of Hirschsten and the Emperor’s crown have already fallen into my brother’s hands.”

Though her reply was casual, her expression wasn’t particularly good either.

During the year or so spent on the battlefield, Selem, the Emperor of Hirschsten and Erdene’s father, had passed away. He had been in perfect health when they left, making it incredibly shocking news.

However, what shocked Erdene even more was the news that her twin brother, Tenek, had ascended to become the new Emperor of the Empire.

[In our Hirschsten, we value those with outstanding martial arts skills the most. Erdene, my brave daughter. The next Emperor’s throne is yours. Even at just fifteen, you make my elite officers crumple like broken scarecrows before you!]

Selem had long ago earmarked his daughter Erdene as the successor to inherit his position. It wasn’t just words. She had trained in martial arts while simultaneously mastering everything necessary for an emperor.

All of that had come to naught.

Erdene changed the subject again.

“After passing the half-year mark, we even advanced with the momentum to erase Binotin from the map, but they managed to endure and escape well. They were unusually skillful.”

Commander Merton nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, we thought it strange too. Wasn’t it the first time prisoners escaped from the Hirschsten military camp, especially from among the elite soldiers led by Your Highness? There were only three of them, and they all died, but still.”

“That’s what I’m saying, Merton. Binotin even managed to thwart our operations once or twice. Clearly, someone was spying. We searched thoroughly but couldn’t find out in the end. But…”

Erdene’s blue eyes flashed with a strange light as her voice trailed off.

“Can you understand how it ended so anticlimactically with our victory?”

Telma spoke.

“Many of the soldiers are also saying it feels off. Of course, it’s thanks to Your Highness outflanking them with the cavalry reserves, but why did they struggle so hard only to surrender so easily?”

Erdene turned her gaze towards the distant landscape, slowly swaying with the horse’s movement. As she sank into thought, the other commanders, except for her adjutant Telma, quietly retreated to the back.

A war that ended too easily…

Come to think of it, the event had been as good as foretold from that moment.

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.