Outside the Fortress Walls of the Glacia County Castle.
A vast expeditionary force, numbering in the tens of thousands, had set up camp.
Inside the command tent at the heart of the encampment, the northwestern nobles who had volunteered for the demon subjugation awaited the princess’s orders.
“This is ridiculous. Being drafted and deployed immediately like this…”
One young noble grumbled, and others, who shared his sentiment, quickly voiced their agreement.
“I never imagined my first meeting with Her Highness would be in a military tent rather than a grand ballroom.”
“Hahaha! Same here.”
“No wonder there are rumors calling her a war fanatic.”
“I thought the stories about her leading the last northeastern campaign were just exaggerations. Turns out they were real.”
The young nobles, who had been eagerly anticipating the social gatherings hosted by the princess, now voiced their frustrations openly.
Before long, they began whispering about things that should have remained unspoken.
“Could she have been influenced by that butcher?”
“The greatest disgrace of Velodenit…”
“Now that you mention it, it does seem plausible. The two of them were together from birth, after all.”
“It’s strange, isn’t it? How she suddenly awakened from a mere Faint Light-level holy power to a Sacred Radiance-level.”
“When that city was discovered, it was engulfed in black flames. Could it be that she was the one responsible for.”
“You’re going too far. That couldn’t possibly be true.”
Just outside the tent, the princess, who had arrived at the scene, paused at the words drifting from within.
The saintess and cardinals of the Holy Church, who had been following behind her, also halted, watching the princess for her reaction.
“If she were truly in league with that murderer, wouldn’t she have refused the annulment?”
“Who knows? Maybe it was just for show. Who’s to say they aren’t laughing together behind closed doors?”
The reason the princess had thrown herself into endless battles after awakening her holy power was none other than her former fiancé—the greatest disgrace of the Velodenit Empire.
When he committed an unprecedented massacre, even the imperial family’s honor was tainted by association.
To erase that stain, the princess did everything in her power to prove herself in her own way.
“I didn’t do anything… So why do they keep dragging my name through the mud?”
It was infuriating to be lumped in with him and slandered simply because she was once his fiancée.
With each passing day, her resentment toward her former betrothed only grew.
Unclenching her fists, which had unknowingly tightened, Violeta stepped into the tent.
“Has anyone actually seen me laughing with him?”
“Y-Your Highness, the Little Sun of Velodenit!”
The nobles, who had been engaged in idle gossip, immediately fell silent and stood at attention.
Violeta slowly scanned their faces, one by one.
“I don’t care what any of you think of me. I never have, and I never will.”
“The only thing that matters is that I have come all the way to Glacia for one reason alone—to eradicate the demons.First and foremost, our goal is the demons. Second, the demons. Third, the demons.”
“My only concern is their destruction. And all of you should be here for the same reason. But if any of you fail to fulfill your duties—then be prepared for the consequences.”
The nobles, who had been so eager to run their mouths just moments ago, swallowed nervously.
Whether she had worded it politely or not, her message was clear: If you don’t pull your weight, I’ll personally see to it that you regret it.
“Now then, let us begin the strategy meeting. Everyone, take your seats.”
The meeting proceeded smoothly.
The noble commanders reviewed the scale of the Northwestern Demon King’s Third Elite Army, intelligence on the legion commander, the location of enemy forces, supply routes, and other critical details.
As the meeting neared its conclusion, the princess called upon the Count of Glacia.
“Taris Glacia.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“Before we end, there is one crucial matter that must be addressed.”
Elena, seated nearby, took a deep breath, as if bracing for what was to come.
“According to the reconnaissance unit’s report, there is a fortress near the border occupied by beasts. Do you have anything to say about this?”
“…Pardon?”
Having relinquished control over the territory’s affairs, the count was hearing this for the first time.
“I shall answer, Your Highness. I am Elena Glacia, acting lord of the domain.”
“Speak.”
“That fortress has been seized by rebels.”
“Rebels?”
“Yes. Recently, a man wearing a red mask appeared and established his stronghold there, inciting rebellion.”
“And what do rebels have to do with demonic beasts?”
“…There are rumors that this man commands them.”
At Elena’s words, every noble in the tent widened their eyes in shock.
“He commands demonic beasts?”
“Is that even possible?”
“Acting Lord, are you sure you haven’t misheard?”
“There has never been such a case in all of history.”
“Silence, all of you!”
The princess quieted the murmuring nobles.
“Acting Lord, tell me everything you know about this man.”
“First, it is said that he wields the power of raging black flames.”
“Black flames…?”
“Violeta’s eyebrows twitched.”
Additionally, he possesses a strange light that eradicates the miasma of the demonic beasts and can instantly heal wounds inflicted by it.
He is even capable of reattaching severed limbs and reviving those on the brink of death.
“At this, the saintess and cardinals of the Holy Church inwardly flinched.”
“Because of that, the commoners from nearby fortresses have been flocking to his stronghold, and his influence is growing by the day.”
“Is there anything else noteworthy about him?”
“…The people refer to him as the Sage.”
“Sage?”
“Unlike certain individuals who spend their time gossiping behind others’ backs, he values life and rules his people with virtue, hence the title.”
Darkin and the other nobles, who had been reprimanded at the count’s banquet, cleared their throats and avoided eye contact.
As she listened to Elena’s report, Violeta organized her thoughts on this so-called Sage.
“A man who governs well, possesses healing abilities surpassing even those of the saintess… and wields black flames like me…”
No one she knew fit that description.
“Regardless of who he is, a demonic beast is still a demonic beast.
We cannot advance while leaving enemies at our rear.
“Everyone nodded in agreement.”
We will take that fortress first.
The Sage and his followers are now the primary target of this expedition.
“The demon subjugation will come after.”
“Your Highness, I have a request.”
The one who raised his hand was Darkin Lunamic.
“Speak.”
“Grant me the honor of leading the vanguard. I will personally capture this Sage and bring him to his knees before you.”
“…Very well.”
“And I request the acting lord accompany me. She is well-versed in the land and its people, which will be invaluable to our efforts.”
Elena, startled, turned to glare at Darkin, only to find a subtle smirk on his lips.
“That makes sense. You have no objections, do you, Acting Lord?”
“…Acting Lord?”
“…No. No objections.”
Refusing at this point would only seem suspicious.
In the end, Elena had no choice but to join Darkin in leading the vanguard.
With their target set, the princess wasted no time.
The army mobilized immediately toward the Sage’s fortress.
***
Nightfall,The Sage’s FortressThe vanguard, led by Darkin, arrived at the fortress late into the night.
Inside the command tent, surrounded by the encamped troops.
“…!”
“You! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
Elena erupted in fury, shouting at Darkin.
“Why are you so upset, Acting Lord?”
“Do you even need to ask?!”
Darkin cut her off mid-sentence.
“Why? Is there a reason we shouldn’t fight the Sage?”
“…What did you just say?”
As Elena saw the sinister smile on Darkin’s face, she finally realized—he had figured out her connection to the Sage.
It all stemmed from the night she had been humiliated at the small church gathering before the princess’s arrival.
Ever since that day, Darkin’s twisted desires had begun to fester.
He wanted to possess Elena, the beautiful lady of the county, but at the same time, he wanted to utterly break her, to make her pay for his own disgrace.
In the days before the princess arrived at the county, Darkin had sought her out numerous times, only to be turned away under the excuse that she was too busy.
His frustration grew into obsession.
He bribed her servants to track her movements and discovered that, every few days, she would secretly leave by carriage.
Paying off her coachman, he learned where she was going.
Disguising himself, Darkin infiltrated the Sage’s fortress.
What first stunned him was the sight of the demonic beasts living peacefully alongside humans.
The shock was so profound that it remained burned in his memory.
But what burned deeper was something else—an all-consuming, twisted jealousy.
Elena, whom he had only ever seen in her disheveled state at the count’s manor, would transform entirely whenever she visited that damned man in the red mask.
On those days, she radiated a beauty that she never showed to anyone else.
For hours, Darkin wandered around the outskirts of the fortress, his legs growing numb, watching as Elena strolled alongside that red-masked bastard, exchanging affectionate conversations.
Every now and then, in the midst of their talks, she would flash a smile more radiant than a single blooming flower.
And the more he saw it, the more his twisted desire festered.
That pretentious bastard in the red mask… What does he have that I don’t?
Darkin had rarely, if ever, experienced being denied something he desired.
It was an unfamiliar and infuriating experience—something being off-limits to him yet freely given to another.
It felt unfair.
It felt disgusting.
He wanted to show her.
That the one truly deserving to stand by her side was not some red-masked nobody, but the heir to the Marquess of Lunamic, the one who served the Constellation of Moonlight—himself.
“Lady Elena, you are guilty of conspiring with a traitor. But before I expose you, I’m giving you a chance.”
“A chance…?”
“Yes. Tomorrow, when I conquer that fortress and kill that so-called Sage—swear your loyalty to me.”
Elena let out a hollow laugh, her expression dripping with disbelief.
“Hah… What a joke. I’d rather die than be engaged to you.”
“Engaged? That’s quite the fantasy for a traitor.”
Did she not understand?
He never meant to marry her.
He meant for her to serve him—as a slave.
To satisfy her master until her body was utterly broken.
“Until there’s nothing left of you!”
Darkin’s vile desires spilled out unfiltered.
That was how certain he was of his own victory.
“…!! You…!”
“You should be grateful, Lady Elena. Imagine what would happen if I reported this to the princess right now.”
“Do you even have proof?”
“Proof?”
“Evidence. That I conspired with him.”
Darkin hesitated for a moment before curling his lips into a sneer.
“I’ll make some. Once I conquer that fortress, all I have to do is say you were involved.”
For a brief moment, Elena looked startled, but then—she smirked.
As if she found him utterly pathetic.
“This isn’t a situation for you to be laughing, my lady.”
“Try it if you can.”
“You trust that man quite a lot, don’t you?”
“You? You couldn’t even compare to a speck of dust on him.”
“We’ll see about that soon enough. I look forward to it—the sight of that masked bastard groveling under my boot, begging for his life.”
***
The princess’s main army, which had been following at a distance behind Darkin’s vanguard, marched onward.
The setting sun painted the sky in hues of crimson and orange, while smoke from cooking fires curled into the twilight air.
Inside the command tent, as dinner was being prepared, the saintess spoke.
“Does it trouble you, Your Highness?”
“…It would be a lie to say otherwise.”
“Truthfully, I’m quite curious myself. About this Sage.”
“In a few days, we’ll meet him soon enough.”
“Yes. By now, the battle may have already begun.”
“It may already be over. Darkin is an exceptional talent, expected to lead the next generation of Lunamic.”
Just then—From outside came the thunderous sound of galloping hooves, followed by a panicked soldier’s urgent cry.
“Urgent…! Urgent report!!!”
“The vanguard…!! The vanguard has been annihilated!!!!”