“Let go of this immediately! Do you even know who I am?!”
“Drag him out.”
“I am the Emperor! The 12th Emperor, I say!”
“To be precise, you were supposed to become the 12th Emperor. But you never even had the succession ceremony, yet you’re already so full of vanity.”
“How dare you! Release me at once and bow before me!”
“It seems reasoning with you is pointless.”
After the all-out battle in front of the Fortress of Bebratum.
My unit, the Hound Division, stormed through the Imperial Palace with unstoppable force.
Any troops that tried to stand in our way were crushed without exception, and the fortress had already fallen due to the Imperial Princess’s stratagem.
Finally, we reached the audience chamber where Crown Prince Armin resided.
And we successfully dragged him out.
“Isn’t there anyone out there?! Protect me from these insolent wretches!”
Armin desperately called for his retainers, but his cries were in vain.
Those who knew the fearsome reputation of the Hound Division had long since abandoned resistance, instead begging for mercy.
They knew they couldn’t escape punishment for siding with Armin, yet they still surrendered willingly.
It meant that they feared becoming the Hounds’ prey more than death itself.
“Just how terrifying was the prime of the Hounds for them to react like that?”
“Hahaha! It was truly dazzling!”
“Dazzling, my ass. We left blood in our wake wherever we went, making people shudder at the mere sight of us. At least in Imperial lands, we behaved somewhat, so we didn’t get cursed at too much.”
The two people speaking had opposing views—Darkin, the vanguard commander, and Lucien, the rear assault and sabotage commander.
One was a brute who could tear iron shields apart with his bare hands.
The other was a devious old man who specialized in infiltration and destruction magic.
As enemies, they were a nightmare.
But as allies, they were more reliable than anyone else.
To them, I was “the captain’s adorable protégé.”
Even though I was well into adulthood, their hands naturally landed atop my head.
“Back then, everyone was as hot-blooded as you, and that was nice.”
“Even if the world didn’t see us favorably, those were precious memories to us.”
“So make sure to enjoy your youth while you can!”
“Time flows mercilessly. If you don’t want regrets, seek and embrace your own happiness.”
They offered their wisdom as life’s seniors.
It was the kind of advice elders always gave, but it wasn’t wrong.
I engraved it in my heart.
My happiness.
Once, I dreamed of achieving great feats.
But now, my aspirations had changed.
Living a simple life with someone who truly loved me—that alone would be enough.
Ahh! I just wanted to return to my kingdom as soon as possible.
But before that, I had to see things through to the end.
“Ugh! How dare you lowly scum put me on the execution platform! This is treason against the royal family!”
“The one disrespecting the royal bloodline is you, Armin.”
“Ariel…!”
Crown Prince Armin was bound to the guillotine in the capital square.
Before him stood Princess Ariel, while the people watched.
Even in his final moments, Armin struggled and screamed, directing his venom at his sister.
“If only you didn’t exist…! If only you hadn’t killed Mother, I would have become a great Emperor, leading this Empire to prosperity—”
“I’ve told you time and time again—I didn’t kill Mother. The one who killed her was our wretched father, the previous Emperor.”
“Still spouting such nonsense! My retainers all said the same thing—you were the one who caused her death! You are the root of all evil!”
“How foolish for a Crown Prince to abandon his own judgment and let himself be brainwashed by sycophants…”
“Silence!”
“The one who should be silent is you!”
Ariel erupted in fury, shouting down her brother, who was still in hysterics.
The woman who had always responded calmly, the one who swallowed her anger in silence, was now showing her emotions for the first time.
Seizing control of the conversation, Princess Ariel finally began to unravel the resentment that had been building inside her.
“How many times do I have to tell you I didn’t kill her?! Mother was already weakened after giving birth to me, and she died because she drank the poison ordered by the Emperor! That war-crazed lunatic is the reason we lost her!”
“That can’t be…”
“Do I look like I’m lying even in this situation? If I wanted to get under your skin, I would have just mocked you and said I did kill Mother! You idiot!”
“I even showed you irrefutable proof, but you refused to accept it! Even a child could see who was truly at fault, yet you stubbornly clung to the wrong answer! And now, when it’s time for you to take responsibility for choosing the wrong answer, all you can do is whine? Then just cut off your dick, you bastard!”
Oh wow…
I never expected to hear words like dick and bastard come out of Princess Ariel’s mouth.
The murmuring of the crowd grew even louder after her outburst.
No one had ever imagined that the cold and composed princess would utter such crude language.
“Hahaha! This is a masterpiece! A masterpiece!”
“The princess sure has a sharp tongue. I like it.”
Darkin and Lucien burst into laughter, clearly entertained by her fiery response.
Having served Princess Ariel for the past ten years, I had never seen her like this before.
Not that I minded—it was just refreshing.
“Put the guillotine on hold for now. Prepare for the prince’s castration first.”
“Your Highness? Are you sure about this?”
“Does it sound like I’m joking?”
“Right away!”
Even the executioner, who had beheaded hundreds of people, was now drenched in sweat.
He was clearly shaken by this unprecedented order, but under the princess’s fierce gaze, he had no choice but to bring out the cutting tool.
The sight of the bloodstained blade finally drained the color from Crown Prince Armin’s face.
Even the guillotine hadn’t scared him, but this—this terrified him.
The men in the audience, including the Hounds who had been watching from a distance, all turned their heads away.
It was simply too brutal to witness.
“You’re joking, right? This is just a joke… right?”
“I’ve always dreamed of owning one of these. You’re going to die soon anyway, so why not grant my one and only wish before you go?”
“No! Anything but that—ARGHHH!”
The men of the Empire would never forget this day.
The day they realized that defying Princess Ariel could literally turn them into women.
With Crown Prince Armin executed, the imperial succession was decided.
Princess Ariel was officially designated as the next ruler, becoming the Empire’s first Empress.
Those who had supported her were handsomely rewarded, while those who had sided with Armin lost everything—except their lives.
Even then, most of the noble heads chose to follow the fallen prince in death.
“It’s finally over.”
The night before the succession ceremony, a grand banquet was held in honor of me and the Hound Division.
Lavish food, music, and entertainment filled the palace as everyone laughed and celebrated.
The cuisine, befitting a royal feast, was exquisite.
Yet, as I took a bite, I couldn’t help but recall the simple toast I had shared with Retia at the kingdom’s port.
“Haha…”
No matter how delicious the food was, it felt lacking without the person I wanted to share it with.
The fact that I thought a T-bone steak was inferior to a piece of toast… I must be seriously lovesick.
Quietly, I rose from my seat and slipped out of the banquet hall.
“Leaving already?”
Just outside the hall, leaning against the wall, was my master.
He had been waiting for me.
As expected, he had predicted I would leave at this moment.
I could never outmatch him.
“Yes, thank you so much for granting my childish request.”
“Hah…! The position of Imperial Knight Commander was left vacant for the first time in a while, and you’re turning it down?”
“There was a time when being a knight commander was my dream.”
“And now it isn’t?”
“No, now I just want to live a quiet life as a devoted husband with my wife.”
At my answer, my master chuckled and ruffled my hair until it was a complete mess.
There was so much warmth in her touch—it was the affection of a true mentor.
Even though I had revealed that I was now affiliated with a different nation, she still saw me as her disciple.
“Even your master isn’t married yet, and here you are, getting ahead of me? You better pay extra taxes for that!”
“Hahaha! I’m sorry!”
We spent a heartwarming moment together, just like in the past when I trained under her.
For a brief moment, it felt like I had returned to those peaceful days in the mountains.
I really cherished those times.
“I can’t keep holding back a disciple who still has a long journey ahead. You should go now.”
Would I be able to be there for my master’s final moments one day?
Suddenly, the thought of the inevitable future made it difficult for me to take a step forward.
Perhaps sensing my hesitation, she flicked my forehead.
“Ow!”
“What kind of traveler walks around weighed down by unnecessary thoughts? If you’re worrying about me, don’t. Now get going.”
I was just about to leave when—
Arms suddenly wrapped around me from behind, holding me tightly.
I was momentarily startled, but then a familiar voice whispered into my ear.
“Don’t go.”
“P-Princess?”
“Don’t go. You are my knight, aren’t you?”
I had already sensed Princess Ariel’s change in feelings.
Her attitude toward me before I was captured and after I defected to her empire had been completely different.
She had opened her heart and now considered me someone she needed.
She genuinely cared for me, and though she could be a bit stubborn at times, I had grown fond of her kind smiles.
It was a positive change.
If I could see this side of her more often, I might have considered staying.
But unfortunately, I had found a happiness I could never give up.
“I’m sorry.”
Gently prying her arms off me, I walked forward without hesitation.
I couldn’t look back.
I didn’t know what kind of expression the princess would be making after my rejection, but if I saw her face, my resolve might waver.
So, without a single glance back, I left.
Goodbye, Empire.
Goodbye, my old homeland.
Goodbye, Princess Ariel…
“I’m finally back!”
After a long journey, I had finally returned to my kingdom.
I had been so eager to see Retia that I had ridden nonstop, pushing my horse to its limits.
Unfortunately, I arrived in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep, so I couldn’t expect my beloved wife to welcome me at the door.
Still, I was satisfied just knowing that I would get to see her peacefully sleeping face.
Carefully, I opened the bedroom door.
“Welcome home!”
“Huh? You’re still awake—Gah!”
I inhaled sharply, my throat tightening in surprise.
It wasn’t that I was shocked she was still awake.
Retia was a light sleeper, so she could have easily heard my footsteps and woken up.
What really caught me off guard was the sight before me—
Retia, sitting gracefully on the bed, wearing nothing but revealing lingerie.
The dim candlelight flickered, casting a sensual glow over her figure.
“W-What are you wearing?”
“Of course, it’s my victory lingerie! To properly comfort my husband after his long struggles in a distant land!”
“Did you know I’d be coming home at this exact time?”
“Not exactly. But after hearing the news that the civil war in the Empire had ended thanks to your brilliant efforts, I figured you’d return sometime tonight and got ready just in case!”
She was my wife, but sometimes, she scared me.
Travel schedules were unpredictable due to unavoidable delays, making it hard to pinpoint an exact arrival date.
Yet she had managed to prepare perfectly, as if she had a tracking device on me.
“But more importantly, you’re finally back with me.”
“Of course! I promised you, didn’t I?”
“Ahh… I’m so happy!”
“Whoa!”
Suddenly, Retia tackled me onto the bed, pinning me down.
As she straddled me, my eyes couldn’t help but focus on the way her chest bounced in the process.
Wow… mammaries.
“Since you kept your promise to me, I think you deserve a reward, don’t you?”
She licked her lips seductively, her eyes glinting with mischief.
It looked like I was about to find out exactly what it meant to be squeezed dry by a hungry wife tonight.
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