Chapter 6
Clip-clop, clip-clop…
It was around noon when the sound of galloping horses echoed across the plains. Karl and his knights were riding fast.
Geographically, Ansena was to the left. But there was a steep mountain in the way. They had to choose whether to go around through the plains or cross the dangerous mountains.
Without hesitation, Karl turned his horse to the left.
“Your Majesty!”
A knight called out to Karl. It was Pritt, one of his closest men.
“What is it?”
“Let’s go through the plains. The mountains are dangerous for the horses. Their legs could break, or we could run into bandits.”
“There’s no reason to go around. Just ride carefully and follow me.”
As Karl pulled on his reins again, Pritt suddenly spoke out.
“I just can’t understand it.”
“What can’t you understand?”
The air turned cold. The other knights glanced nervously between them.
Pritt was a capable knight, but he had a strong and aggressive personality. He often complained, which was a flaw.
“We fought for three years in Debla before finally taking the palace. And now, at such an important time, you’re leaving the capital?”
“That’s my decision. If you’re that worried, go back to the capital.”
Josh quickly stepped between them.
“We’re all going with His Majesty. Pritt, that was rude. Apologize now.”
Even with Josh mediating, Pritt didn’t budge. But Karl didn’t care at all.
“What a waste of time. Let’s go.”
At Karl’s words, the knights began grabbing their reins one by one. Josh patted Pritt on the shoulder.
“Pritt, let’s finish the mission first—”
“All this over some woman…!”
Karl stopped. He turned his horse and came face to face with Pritt.
“Say that again.”
“…”
“I said, say it again, Pritt.”
Pritt clenched his fists.
“She insulted Your Majesty in front of all of us! And now she’s going to become empress thanks to our noble battle?”
“Pritt!”
Josh shouted, trying to stop him. But Karl’s sword was already raised high.
“Your Majesty!”
“Please don’t, Your Majesty!”
The knights rushed toward him. Karl’s sword cut through the air. Pritt closed his eyes tightly.
The blade struck the neck of Pritt’s horse.
Neigh!
The horse screamed and collapsed, dead.
“Ugh!”
Pritt fell to the ground. This time, Karl pointed his sword at Pritt’s neck.
“A noble battle, you say?”
“Y-Your Majesty…”
“Pritt. You killed hundreds in Debla. Do you really think that was noble? Or is it the power you gained from it that you think is noble?”
Everyone tensed at his sharp words. Karl was not known for being a kind ruler. But he had never drawn his sword on a subordinate before.
“If not for ‘that woman,’ we’d just be mindless killers. Like monsters.”
“…”
“And I kept someone like you around without even knowing what you were really fighting for.”
Karl’s sword moved to Pritt’s shoulder.
Tap.
The knight’s badge fell off. Pritt stared at it in shock. Karl spoke to everyone.
“As of today, Pritt is permanently expelled from the knight order. If anyone has a problem with this, leave now. I won’t stop you or blame you.”
No one stepped forward. It was proof of the trust Karl had built over the years.
“…Let’s go.”
Karl turned his horse toward the mountain. The knights silently followed.
Pritt watched them go, stunned. All he had left was his dead horse and the badge lying on the ground.
“…Damn it.”
Pritt grabbed a handful of dirt. In the distance, the knights’ horses disappeared in a cloud of dust.
Aura arrived at the central patrol station with the patrollers. The station was a decent-looking mansion.
“Please wait here.”
One of the patrollers went inside. Aura waited nervously.
A moment later, the door burst open.
“Aura!”
Aura froze.
“…Luan?”
She thought she was dreaming. What a strange coincidence. No, there was no way such luck would come to her.
A handsome man with light brown hair ran toward her. He was definitely the Luan she knew.
“Aura!”
Luan hugged her tightly. Tears welled up in Aura’s eyes.
“Luan…”
Her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees. Luan held her even tighter, trying not to cry.
“Aura… Aura…”
The two of them were childhood friends.
It was the day before Aura left for Casa three years ago. Luan came to see her.
“Please, let me go with you, Aura. The Casa Empire’s royal court is a harsh place. The rumors about the man who will be your husband are bad too. I’ll go with you—whether as a servant or a knight. Someone needs to protect you.”
“Luan.”
Aura held Luan’s hand. His face turned a little red.
“You can’t. You need to live your life here in Xenia.”
“This is my life. I’m from the Mayer family, and we’ve served the royal family for generations. And… we’ve always been together.”
Luan gripped her hand tightly.
“Aura. I… I love you…”
“Luan. That’s why this can’t happen.”
Aura had known for a long time—Luan had feelings for her.
There was a time she thought about it too. If she didn’t have to marry for political reasons, marrying Luan wouldn’t be so bad. He was kind and warm.
But now that the political marriage was real, the right thing to do was let Luan go. So he could meet a good woman and have a happy family.
Aura hugged Luan.
“I’ll be happy. I promise.”
“Aura…”
“So please, I hope you’ll be happy too, Luan.”
That promise from three years ago had not been kept. Aura’s appearance proved it.
“Aura, you…”
Luan couldn’t finish his sentence.
Aura was too thin and looked sick. She even had a wound on her neck and a bandage on her ankle.
“What in the world happened to you?”
She forced a smile.
“I had a rough time. But wait—Luan, are you the leader of the vigilante group?”
Aura looked at the men Luan had brought with him and asked.
Luan nodded.
“Our family name is better known than most among the young men in Ansena, so it ended up this way.”
“Of course. You’re the proud eldest son of the Mayer family. That’s amazing. I feel so safe now.”
With Luan here, there was hope even in Ansena.
She touched his face gently.
‘It feels like a dream. I thought I would never see Aura again.’
“Let’s go inside first, Aura. You need to change your clothes. It’s too cold to walk around dressed like that.”
Luan helped Aura to her feet. He held her hand tightly and led her to the branch office.
It was a hand he had managed to hold again, and he never wanted to let go.
The inside of the vigilante group’s branch was quite large and clean. You could tell they tried hard to make it look nice.
Aura cleaned herself with a warm towel and changed clothes in an empty room.
Luan had prepared the winter clothes for her. A traditional Xenia pattern was embroidered on the chest.
When Aura came out, Luan took her to the reception room.
“I can’t stay long, Luan. I just need to say what’s important and leave quickly.”
“Okay. Come here first.”
Simple food was prepared in the reception room.
Aura waved her hand.
“Luan, I really don’t have time for this—”
“I need to at least feed you something before you go. Come on.”
“…Fine. I’ll eat while we talk.”
Aura sat down and began to eat the soup.
The warm, soft soup went down her throat.
Maybe the journey here had been too hard—just the warmth of the soup made her want to cry.
Luan sighed as he watched her trying to hold back her tears.
“After Xenia fell, there were all kinds of rumors about you. That you were locked in a tower, or not locked up, that you ran away, went mad… and even…”
Luan hesitated and then said quietly,
“There was even a rumor that you had died.”
“I’m sorry I made you worry. I was locked in a tower, but as you can see, I came back alive… I’m fine. But more importantly, tell me what happened after Casa took over.”
Aura said she was fine, but she didn’t look fine at all.
Still, Luan knew her pride well, so he didn’t push further.
“Okay. First of all… the dead crown prince lowered the people of Xenia to slave status.”
Slaves.
At that word, Aura put down her spoon.
She had expected it, but hearing it from Luan made her lose her appetite.
“Everyone was scattered and lived as slaves. Young nobles like me barely hid in remote places.”
“What about after Karl became emperor?”
At the mention of Karl’s name, Luan’s expression hardened. He spoke reluctantly.
“He made us second-class citizens right after his coronation.”
Second-class citizens had many restrictions. They couldn’t own land, do business, or take part in politics.
But still, it was better than being slaves, so Aura felt a little relieved.
“How is the current situation?”
“Not bad. Since the royal court designated Ansena as a Xenia district, many people have gathered.”
“What about the mages? I haven’t seen any mages.”
Luan poured tea into Aura’s cup.
“The mages just haven’t gathered yet.”
“No, Luan. Something’s strange. It doesn’t make sense for Xenia to fall so easily. The mages wouldn’t have just stayed still.”
“Aura, the mages are fine. Look, I’m fine too.”
The Mayer family was the most famous mage family in Xenia.
As the eldest son, Luan also had strong magical power.
He gently stroked Aura’s arm with his elegant hand.
“Don’t worry about us. We can rise again, starting from Ansena. Right now, just think about yourself and stay safe. For our sake too.”
His gentle words were filled with sincerity, and Aura felt her heart soften.
She almost cried again. She had missed this warmth for so long.
But she couldn’t stay here any longer.
If the royal army found her here, the Xenian people might also be punished.
“Luan, I’m actually running away from Karl.”
“…I thought so. I had a feeling.”
“The royal army will come soon. I need to leave before they arrive. I’ll come back once things calm down.”
Aura took out two golden buttons from inside her clothes.
“Use them where they’re needed.”
“Aura…”
“Tell the royal army I stole money and ran off. Never fight back against them.”
At that moment, Luan grabbed her hand.
“Let me go with you. I can’t let you go alone.”
