1.
– This is the story before her regression.
The sole daughter of the Ferbache Ducal House, one of the four great families that elevated the glory of the empire, Francia led a life anyone would envy. Even the imperial family could not catch her interest.
If she desired something, her father—the Duke of Ferbache—would secure it by any means necessary. The knights of the family adored her to the point of reverence, and she lived a life akin to that of a princess.
With crimson eyes resembling the Duke’s and ebony hair reminiscent of the Duchess, Francia possessed stunning beauty. She was a masterpiece sculpted by nature itself. A faint scent, like freshly plucked fruit, lingered around her fingertips, radiating a sweetness unique to her.
When Francia took a single step, the world seemed to pause in quiet reverence, and people fell under her spell as though intoxicated by wine. Anyone who saw her fell in love, and marriage proposals from nobles of nearby territories and royalty from other countries flooded in.
Ordinarily, such adoration might have led to arrogance or diminished social grace. However, Francia was different. She understood relationships well and knew exactly why she was revered within the family.
She was the final legacy left by the Duchess before her passing.
Francia Ferbache was that very legacy.
Thus, her life, which was akin to the glory of her family, seemed destined to be smooth and untroubled.
Instead of attending Rogino Academy, she studied at home with tutors brought to the estate and worked diligently to become the next Duke of Ferbache.
Francia was a dedicated student, and the tutors, who were highly capable individuals, nurtured her potential. The people of the territory anticipated she would become a great ruler.
Moreover, the magic she wielded had purifying and healing properties, a rare and extraordinary gift. This further fueled the high expectations placed upon her.
For this reason, she was known as the Obsidian Saintess.
Her exceptional beauty was perfectly complemented by her abilities.
However, apart from being called the Obsidian Saintess, there was one process Francia had to undertake to inherit the ducal title of Ferbache:
Civil service.
Due to the northern Ferbache territory being rife with magical beasts, subjugation efforts were a daily necessity. Even without combat skills, a ruler had to command these efforts.
Therefore, to gain experience in subjugation and build her record as a civil servant, she traveled to the imperial capital.
It was at that point, when her previously peaceful and flawless life began to unravel.
2.
Before Francia officially began her role as a civil servant, she attended a social gathering to make her debut among the central nobility.
“What is the lady’s name?”
A handsome man approached her and asked. His soft, golden hair shimmered as it caught the light, and his golden eyes sparkled like jewels. His demeanor was pleasant.
“Francia. Francia Ferbache.”
She replied with a smile. This was her first encounter with a noble from the imperial center, and he didn’t seem to harbor ill intentions, so she gave her name without hesitation.
“Ah, so you’re the Obsidian Saintess, the famed Lady of Ferbache, shrouded in mystery.”
The man gave a bright, confident smile, his white teeth on full display. There was a slight air of arrogance about him, but his next words immediately explained everything.
“I am the captain of the Second Civil Service Corps and Rogino’s Little Sun, Fedelian Rogino.”
He was the crown prince of the empire.
His golden hair and eyes confirmed his identity.
Why hadn’t she realized it sooner?
Francia hurriedly bowed her head.
“I… I apologize for failing to recognize Your Highness the Crown Prince…”
She chastised herself internally. She was mortified. Regardless of her status as the daughter of one of the four great families, failing to recognize the crown prince was an inexcusable blunder.
“It’s fine. It’s understandable. You’ve stayed in your territory all this time, haven’t you? Even your debutante ball was a private affair attended only by close relatives. I didn’t recognize you either.”
However, Fedelian didn’t take offense. He smiled warmly and even brushed aside the strands of hair that had fallen over Francia’s face.
“If you really feel sorry, then join me for a meal next time.”
With his bright smile, striking features, and friendly demeanor, Fedelian left a positive impression on Francia. Of course, her feelings weren’t romantic.
“Alright.”
She smiled back and readily accepted his invitation. There was no reason to refuse. As captain of the Second Civil Service Corps and the crown prince, he was someone worth building rapport with for the sake of her future endeavors.
That moment marked the beginning of the ill-fated bond between the two.
3.
As a civil servant, Francia was always in danger. Scouting missions, sudden outbursts of horsemen, raids by bandit groups of free knights…
Things that normally wouldn’t have happened to her began to happen to her in a dramatic increase after she joined the civil service.
Of course, in each case, Fedelian Rogino came to the rescue.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, yes…
Francia looked at the Fedelian who had his hands wrapped around hers. She frowned naturally, but forced herself to smile.
“I came running as soon as I realized you were in danger. I’m glad to see you’re safe.”
Fedelian stepped closer to Francia, still wearing his cool smile.
She swallowed down her discomfort as he took her hand and stroked her hair.
“Go, thank you.”
“Enough thank yous. You’re safe.”
“…..”
Francia was very suspicious of Fedelian as the culprit behind the recent events, but she didn’t probe. What could the crown prince of a nation begrudgingly do?
He was just, well, unlucky.
That’s what she thought.
….
….
….
Francia had done her best as a government mage. She had brought the dying back to life and regenerated bodies that had been torn apart.
Each time, her value rose vertically, and she was sent on more and more missions. It was also the first time she met a man named Cassis Renokhonan.
Francia first met him when-!
Squeak!
It was on a demon-slaying mission.
Thud.
The demon was decapitated with a single blow and fell helplessly to the ground. Blue, sticky blood soaked the floor.
Ben Cassis Rennokhonen stared at her, his violet eyes piercing through her. His expression was impassive, but there was an unmistakable curiosity in them.
an unknowable interest stirred within.
“You are Francia Ferbache?”
“Yes, yes. How did you know…?”
“From what I’ve heard.”
Cassis Renokhonan turned her head quickly and sheathed her black sword.
“I’ve never had my heart pound so hard…”
He muttered in a crawling voice, and handed Francia a handkerchief.
“Oh, thank you…”
Francia took the handkerchief from Cassis and wiped the blood from her cheeks.
“Someday, I’ll return that handkerchief to you.”
That was the beginning of the second act.
4.
Two men’s interest in Francia soon turned into affection and eventually culminated in obsession.
No matter what they did, they couldn’t win her heart, and their affection twisted into something distorted.
It was no wonder Francia didn’t reciprocate their feelings. Their intentions were far too transparent, and their schemes were painfully obvious.
Thus, the two men joined forces to utterly destroy Francia. The process of forcibly claiming her included a major obstacle—none other than the Duke of Ferbache.
—The transcendent mage, the Duke of Ferbache, suddenly passed away.
While the public believed the Duke’s death was an accident, Francia knew the truth.
It was the handiwork of Fedelian and Cassis.
But there was nothing she could do. There was no evidence to prove their deeds, and the overwhelming power the two men wielded left Francia perpetually oppressed.
Fedelian consolidated his influence when the Emperor fell ill, positioning himself as the de facto ruler and heir to the throne.
Cassis secured his status by fully inheriting the authority of the Grand Duchy of Renochonen.
No one could stand in their way.
Even Empress Rudella Rogino, who had gained immense power through the support of the nobles, despised Francia, blaming her for stealing Fedelian’s heart. She sought Francia’s death sending assassins and attempting poisonings.
There was no place left for her in the Empire.
Thus, Francia sought help from an organization even the Imperial Family dared not provoke the Mage Tower.
The mages, recognizing her as the fabled “Obsidian Saintess,” treated Francia with great respect and soon introduced her to the Tower Master.
“Well, well… so you’re the Obsidian Saintess. I can see why they call you that.”
The Tower Master, with his strikingly handsome features, white hair, and green eyes, gave Francia a meaningful smile.
“Impressive. What do you think? I’ll help you—but you’ll have to pay the price.”
The price he demanded was for her to become his wife. The Tower Master believed that a woman with purification properties would heighten the purity of his magical energy.
Naturally, Francia fled. But once someone like her caught his attention, there was no way the Tower Master would simply let her go.
Thus, the two men who tormented her became three.
Of course, there was no harmony among them. While they had temporarily united in their pursuit of Francia, they never intended to share her.
As a result, the Empire—once in its golden age—teetered on the brink of collapse due to the clashes between the Emperor, the Grand Duchy, and the Mage Tower over Francia.
Golden wheat fields turned desolate, and lands once full of cheerful laughter were now shrouded in despair and starvation.
And then, as if the chaos weren’t enough, the reckless experiments of rogue mages caused dungeons to erupt across the continent, signaling an apocalyptic era.
The only nation left standing was the Holy Kingdom.
Francia fled there.
The Holy Kingdom, a land where magic was called divine power, was home to rare healing mages and a society centered on religion.
“You’ve endured much hardship, Sister Francia…”
The people of the Holy Kingdom were fundamentally kind. Whether due to their doctrine or their nature, most treated Francia with warmth.
Finding solace at last, Francia became a priestess of the Holy Kingdom. Thanks to her unwavering devotion, she rose to the rank of bishop.
Though the continent spiraled into ruin, Francia found peace so long as she remained within the Holy Kingdom.
But that peace was fleeting.
“Ah, Sister Francia… You are a gift from the gods!”
The Holy Kingdom’s Archbishop set his sights on her.
He, too, knew that purification properties enhanced the purity of mana, and Francia’s stunning beauty stirred his lust.
“These people are insane…”
In the end, Francia fled barefoot even from the Holy Kingdom, continuing her wandering life to escape the four men who pursued her. All she had were a single dagger and a few provisions.
During her aimless journey across the continent, she was drawn to an ancient ruin by an inexplicable flow of mana.
Deep within the ruin, she found a staircase that descended endlessly. At the bottom, she discovered a library as vast as a fortress, with towering shelves and tables that stretched on like waves.
At the center was an inscription,
[The Celestial Mage welcomes you.]
It was the archive of a legendary figure from myth.
5.
Even after reaching the Celestial Mage’s archive, Francia’s life did not change.
The apocalypse brought about by rogue mages continued to unfold across the continent, and the four men relentlessly pursued her as ever.
Furthermore, the rune scripts in the Celestial Mage’s grimoires were so advanced that even Francia, an elite mage, struggled to comprehend them. They were rooted in principles of transcendence far beyond ordinary understanding.
The only items of any real use were the artifacts.
Francia took a few grimoires she could vaguely decipher and portable artifacts before resuming her wandering across the continent.
She wanted to live.
Yet, at times, she couldn’t help but resent her fate.
“Why does this only happen to me…?”
Her once tranquil life had been flipped upside down in an instant.
From the moment she entered public office to inherit her title, everything began to unravel.
Francia wondered if she had been cursed all along.
Perhaps she should have realized it when her mother died giving birth to her.
“Ah…”
Consumed by despair, she walked endlessly. Her feet were covered in wounds, and her once fair skin and breathtaking beauty were now mere shadows of their former glory.
Then, during her aimless journey—
“Krraaahhh!”
She unexpectedly encountered a monstrous beast.
Judging by its size and the oppressive mana radiating from it, it was at least first-class.
No, perhaps it was of the highest rank.
But Francia’s senses were dulled beyond recognition.
“So, this is where I die…”
She didn’t even think to run.
She was far too exhausted for such thoughts.
Not that escaping was even a possibility to begin with.
“Haha…”
A hollow laugh escaped her lips.
Her long years as a fugitive were finally coming to an end.
Standing before the monstrous beast, Francia slowly closed her eyes.
She no longer harbored the will to live.
But then—
’shing!’
A dark, azure blade cleaved through the air, illuminating the space before her.
The light it cast was as enchanting as a star-filled night sky, dazzling and beautiful beyond words.
“…Have you lost your mind?”
Snapping out of her daze, Francia turned to face the speaker. A man stood there, glaring at her with a deeply furrowed brow.
“Gasp…”
The moment her eyes met his, Francia felt her breath catch in her throat.
His features were so breathtakingly perfect that she thought, *If a master artist from history sculpted the ideal human face, it would look like his.*
The man sheathed his sword with a sigh.
“I won’t ask what possessed you to wander in such a dangerous place, but if you have nowhere else to go, follow me.”
Having spent so many years fleeing, Francia couldn’t find the words to respond. She simply nodded and followed him.
Throughout the journey, the man remained silent.
The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and their footsteps on the forest floor. The heavy silence felt awkward to Francia, so she mustered her courage to ask,
“…What’s your name?”
“Yohan.”
“My name is Yohan.”