The border region between the kingdom and the empire had mostly turned into a wasteland due to constant wars.
However, there was one exception—a pristine area filled with greenery that remained untouched.
It was a forest that neither the kingdom nor the empire dared to encroach upon.
This was the forest of the elves, who were known as the descendants of nature.
They were a unique race characterized by their pointed ears and sculpted, statue-like features.
However, their fanatical love for nature made them abhor humans, who often destroyed it for profit.
Thus, humans who tried to enter the forest without permission were greeted with a barrage of arrows.
“Well, I’m an exception.”
Perhaps because I spent a long time in the mountains, the elves welcomed me when I first came to the forest.
Despite being human, they said I carried the fragrant scent of grass and accepted me warmly.
Even though I had spent more time in human society now, they still considered me a friend.
“Thanks for guiding me, Silve.”
“An old friend visiting isn’t a burden at all.”
“I would have liked to visit the village and greet everyone, but I don’t have the time right now.”
“Don’t worry about it. As you know, we live far longer than humans, so we can wait as long as necessary.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
As I entered the edge of the forest, I encountered an elf on guard duty—someone I had met before.
Thanks to Silve’s guidance, I was able to safely cross through the forest from the kingdom to the empire.
Without my friendship with the elves, such a journey would have been impossible.
“How’s your younger sister doing these days?”
“Fabira? Thanks to the medicine you sent, she’s much better now. I’m still grateful for what you did. If it weren’t for you, my sister would still be suffering.”
“You don’t have to thank me; it was just common medicine in the empire.”
“That may be true for the empire, but for us elves, it was precious. We repay kindness no matter what.”
“Really, it’s fine…”
Silve’s younger sister, Fabira, had accidentally left the forest and been poisoned by a toxin used in war.
While the empire had an antidote, the elves couldn’t easily obtain it.
For elves, leaving the forest made them outcasts, and they were often captured as slaves and treated cruelly.
When I visited the forest by chance, Silve explained the situation to me.
I returned to the empire, procured the antidote, and gave it to them.
I had already earned their favor before, but helping them in such a dire situation solidified my place as an eternal friend to the elves.
“By the way, how have you been lately?”
“Me? Well…”
“Are things so tough that it’s hard to talk about?”
“It’s not that… Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing to say, but I’ve been lucky enough to meet someone I love, and I’m spending happy days together.”
“Oh! Is that true? Congratulations!”
“Thanks.”
“Bring your partner to the forest someday. We’ll give you both a warm welcome.”
“I’ll think about it if we get the chance to visit.”
Until a few days ago, I might have said I’d been captured and tormented by the enemy commander.
But now, I had a strong desire to stay by her side.
I’d never been in a relationship or married before, so it felt a bit vague to call it love, but for now, I believed it was.
“By the way, earlier, you mentioned wanting to repay your debt?”
“Is there something you want? Whatever it is, just say the word! Even if it’s the dew from the World Tree, we’ll gladly offer it to you!”
“I wouldn’t dare ask for something like that.”
The dew from the World Tree was a key ingredient in the elixir, said to be a cure-all.
If the antidote I gave to the elves were sold, they could build a tower out of it.
If I were a greedy person, I might have drooled and demanded the dew.
However, since I don’t place much value on material things, I waved my hand dismissively.
“What I want to ask is for you to deliver a letter to someone.”
“Deliver a letter? But for such a task, wouldn’t humans be better suited than us, who mostly stay in the forest?”
“It’s someone whose location is unknown. They have a strong aura circulating within them, so I thought the elves would be able to find them easily.”
“If you’re saying that much, they must be a formidable person.”
“They are strong, but they’re not an enemy. Just make sure my letter is delivered safely to them.”
“Understood. I’ll ask the scouting team operating outside to deliver your letter to the person you mentioned as quickly as possible.”
I nodded, satisfied.
I quickly wrote the letter and provided the recipient’s information on the spot, handing it to Silve.
He tucked the letter into his pocket and pointed in the direction leading out of the empire.
It was his way of prioritizing the letter’s delivery over guiding me.
It was a decision that made me feel good.
“The spirits say that bloodshed is stirring in the empire these days. Take care of yourself, Siyoon.”
“Thanks for the warning. I’ll see you again.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
After exchanging farewells, I headed for the exit.
It had been several months since I’d last returned.
The estate of Count Belpar, located some distance from the capital.
In the slums of the estate, Ariel, the imperial princess, was hiding in an abandoned house.
She was in hiding after narrowly escaping a task force sent by Crown Prince Armin to eliminate her.
However, the door to the abandoned house burst open, and someone entered.
“Your Highness, the enemy has discovered your location! You must evacuate immediately!”
“…Hah!”
“Your Highness?”
“This is already the umpteenth time… There’s no need to deliberate anymore.”
Ariel drew the sword hanging at her waist.
Her loyal servant, who had been urging her to flee, flinched at the sight.
“Wh-why are you doing this?”
“I’m not merciful enough to let someone who has repeatedly leaked my location to the enemy get away with it.”
“Wh-what are you talking about? I’ve devoted myself to you! Didn’t I just come here to inform you of the enemy’s approach?”
“Do you think I don’t know that you’re planning to leak more information to Armin after getting me to evacuate, just to collect a reward?”
“T-this is slander! You have no evidence, only suspicion!”
“Your suspicious behavior was enough to make me keep an eye on you.”
From the shadows of the dimly lit corner emerged a man clad in black, wearing a mask.
He pulled out a document from a pouch strapped to his thigh and handed it to Ariel.
The servant, upon seeing the document, began to tremble, his teeth chattering as if he had been caught red-handed.
Panicking, he turned his back on Ariel and ran toward the door he had entered through.
However, his vision tilted unnaturally.
In an instant, he saw his own headless body collapse before him.
As he tried to process his death, a blank sheet of paper spread out before his eyes.
It was the document Ariel had received from the masked man.
“That’s right. There was no evidence from the beginning! But perhaps feeling guilty, he confessed himself?”
“Agh…!”
“If your document ended up in my hands, there’s no way Armin’s task force would have made it here. It’s a simple fact if you think about it.”
Ariel began to laugh mockingly.
She watched the traitor meet his end in cold silence, tarnishing his final moments with her scornful laughter.
“Foolish man.”
Having dealt with the traitor, Ariel stepped out of the abandoned house.
A thick scent of blood hung in the air, bodies lay scattered across the ground, and the emperor’s task force, clad in dark armor, stood waiting to confront her.
The knight leading the soldiers dismounted his horse and pointed his bloodstained sword at Ariel’s throat.
“Ariel, by the command of the new sun, His Majesty Armin von Claudius, I hereby grant you death as a traitor to the empire.”
“That coward who always schemed behind my back, trying to kill his sister, is the empire’s so-called sun? The empire is truly doomed.”
“How dare you insult His Majesty and the empire! Right here, I will…”
The knight in black armor raised his sword high, swearing to kill her.
But his last words were cut short.
“The princess is right. The empire is doomed.”
A single blade cleaved through the knight, from his head to his waist, ending his life instantly.
The blow was merciless yet effortless, contradicting the casual tone of the voice.
Blood gushed from the knight’s bisected body, soaking the ground.
“The empire is already in decline.”
The one who cut the knight down sheathed his sword with a smooth motion.
Despite the obvious opening he displayed, none of the task force soldiers dared to move.
Even the knight, a warrior of master-level skill, had failed to sense his presence and left his back exposed.
It was clear to everyone that the person who had killed the knight was a far superior swordsman.
The task force stood frozen with grim expressions, while Ariel’s face lit up with a radiant smile.
Her lifeless eyes now sparkled with life and energy, as if the person reflected in them was someone she had desperately yearned for.
“Siyoon!”
Overcome with joy, Ariel ran toward him with open arms.
It was such a dramatic reunion that she believed Siyoon would embrace her in return.
But contrary to her expectations, Siyoon held out his hand, stopping Ariel from hugging him.
Confused, Ariel looked up at Siyoon with a puzzled expression.
“Siyoon? What’s wrong?”
“Hahaha! I’m sorry, Princess. I’m also delighted to see you again, but I happen to belong to someone now, so I’m afraid I can’t accept a hug.”
“What did you say?”
The brilliant starlight that had filled Ariel’s eyes faded to black once more.