Chapter 1 The marriage of the imperial prince
I was jolted awake by a strong vibration, so intense that I almost cut the inside of my mouth. It seemed like the wheel of the carriage had scraped a stone and caused a violent shake.
Even so, what a strange dream it had been. Although I had never experienced it, the images lingered vividly in my mind, so vivid that they felt almost real. The feeling of unease was probably due to the blood-stained atmosphere in the dream, which was faintly nauseating. I rubbed my eyes several times, and as my blurred vision slowly cleared, the scene before me came into focus.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?"
The face of the girl who appeared before me made me unintentionally lose myself in her gaze.
She was small and slender, with platinum blonde hair tinged with a pale gold hue. Her skin, smooth and lustrous like a freshly bloomed white lily, and her eyes, reflecting the hues of a sunset, drew my attention. Her features were so perfectly arranged that they could be considered a work of art.
Such a flawlessly beautiful face peering down at me should have caused my heart to stir, yet I remained outwardly calm. That was because the body I was in wasn’t mine.
I had realized only the night before that my consciousness had entered someone else’s body. I spent the entire night trying to process my current situation.
Perhaps due to the influence of this body, my thoughts were clearer than usual, and my emotional fluctuations were muted. However, the biggest issue was—
"Your Highness?"
As I froze, still frowning, the girl—Sharon Bonzel—looked at me with a puzzled expression. Sharon seemed to be my servant.
"Shut up. It’s none of your business."
The words that came out of my mouth were not what I intended, but rather, they sounded dismissive. As I had suspected...
Sharon, perhaps used to my arrogance, neither frowned nor became upset, instead bowing her head as if it were only natural.
"Hah..."
She let out a small sigh and pressed her hand to her brow.
For some reason, I couldn't express my true feelings. This was also likely due to the influence of this body.
It may sound absurd, but I—Miyato Nenji—had apparently "possessed" a man named Henrik Retouar.
My chest was filled with emotions that didn’t feel like my own. Among them were dark feelings of hatred, overwhelming shadows of malice, and, conversely, a hidden sense of justice.
Yet, my consciousness remained intact, and my thoughts were the dominant force, allowing me to control my actions as if they were my own.
It wasn’t so much a case of split personalities, but rather the feeling that I, "I," had overtaken Henrik’s body.
"How far are we now?"
"We’ll reach the fortified city of Albarren in about three days. It will take another three days to reach the capital city of Eldoria."
I was currently traveling from the imperial capital of Handelberg in the Retouar Empire to the capital city of Eldoria in the Duchy of eEcudole Sorteria.
The two nations, which would never normally interact, had joined forces. The Duchy was a vassal of the Varan Kingdom, the enemy of the Retouar Empire, and the alliance between the Duchy and the Empire was considered an unprecedented act of betrayal by the Kingdom. The Duchy had declared its severance from the Kingdom and had formed a marriage alliance with the Empire, making me—an imperial prince—the groom.
Of course, it was obvious that there were significant circumstances behind this.
"Your Highness, you seem tired. Perhaps we should take a break. The road ahead will only get more difficult."
"I told you before, I don’t need any unnecessary concern."
“.....”
Sharon silently stared at me. She must have found my behavior rather strange.
"...Yes."
Resigned, I shrugged and reluctantly signaled my agreement.
Sharon, without delay, efficiently began preparing a late lunch. I could only watch passively as she worked. She moved so quickly and skillfully that the waiting time passed in no time. When the dish was finally placed in front of me, it resembled tacos with meat and vegetables wrapped in a white dough, but the quality was far beyond what one would expect for a brief rest during a long carriage journey. It had the feel of an ultimate camp meal, and I could feel my mouth watering. I tried to remain calm and composed as I took a bite, but the flavor exceeded my expectations, causing my eyes to widen in surprise.
As I chewed, savoring the filling that had been revealed, I felt a gaze upon me and looked up.
"What is it? Why are you staring?"
Thinking there might be food on my face, I casually wiped my mouth.
"No, I apologize. It's just that Your Highness’s expression seems different from usual."
Sharon, perceptive as always, squinted her eyes and spoke. Perhaps it was because I couldn’t say how delicious the food was, and my face betrayed my feelings. I felt embarrassed to have been observed so closely, so I quickly finished the rest of the food in a single bite.
"We should get going. We still have a long way to go and will be shaken around in this carriage for a while longer."
The journey would take more than a month. The road to Ecudole was poorly maintained due to national defense concerns. Since there was little trade benefit from that direction, if the imperial army were to advance, a well-maintained road would only help their march. As a result, the road had been neglected, and the few people who traveled it did so only for personal reasons.
While internally complaining about the uncomfortable ride, I looked outside when suddenly the carriage was rocked by another strong jolt.
"What’s going on?!"
It was twilight, the time when the sun was setting on the horizon. The once bright sky was gradually losing its brilliance, casting a dim light over the land. This was the time when people are most prone to carelessness, and I was aware that my guard had slipped.
I had been waiting for this moment. Or perhaps I had been followed all along.
"It seems we are under attack. Sharon, stay inside the carriage."
"...Yes, Your Highness!"
"Conrad!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"How many enemies are there?"
"There are more than ten, I believe. They seem to be men from the Kingdom. Be careful."
Conrad was Henrik’s most trusted man, a warrior known as one of the strongest on the continent.
"The Kingdom? Why would the Kingdom target me?"
"They must be displeased that Your Highness is marrying into the Duchy. The Empire’s interest in the Duchy’s silver mines is obvious, and the Kingdom cannot overlook this marriage alliance."
Conrad and I exchanged wary glances, speculating on the likely intention behind the ambush. It was clear they wanted to prevent the alliance, even if it meant stopping the marriage itself.
"Hmph, even if they kill me, it won’t mean much. But there’s no point talking here. We’ll have to fight them off. Conrad, give it everything you’ve got."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Having taken control of Henrik Retouar’s body, I was immediately thrust into a life-threatening situation.
The true atmosphere of a death trap is entirely different. The eerie rustling of the trees, the cold hostility that feels like it could tear at your skin. To be honest, I was trembling with fear and wanted nothing more than to flee from this place immediately. Yet, escape was not an option. If I ran, I could not face my mentor in heaven—or rather, now that I had entered this body, I could not face Holger, who had become as much of a mentor to me as the one in heaven.
I steeled myself, preparing for what was to come. I lowered my stance and gripped my sword, readying myself for the assassins' attack.
"You, assassins of the Kingdom, what business do you have with a prince who has been exiled and is about to be sent to the borderlands?"
The silence remained unbroken. Instead, an arrow was shot at me. Before my brain could even process the command, my body moved on its own. The sword I held made a sharp sound as it deflected the arrow.
"A rather rude greeting. Has the Kingdom fallen so low that it must target a prince with no power?"
"You should stop with the cheap provocations."
Breaking the silence, a group of about twelve men dressed in dark brown attire appeared. None of them showed any visible emotion. In the next instant, another arrow flew toward me, and I deflected it twice with my sword. My body had reacted instinctively, sensing the presence of the arrows, but in all honesty, I hadn’t been able to consciously react in time. Perhaps realizing that arrows would not suffice, the assassins switched to close combat, and all of them attacked at once.
"You think you can handle this?"
"Of course!"
Conrad, his voice filled with confidence, kicked the ground powerfully. However, facing more than ten enemies, even Conrad's impressive strength could not change the fact that their strength was unknown, and that I, too, had no accurate measure of my own abilities. I knew I would inevitably be a burden on him.
It seemed like it would be a tough battle. Yet, undeterred, Conrad wielded his powerful physique and overwhelming strength to knock down the enemies one by one.
Those who attempted to get near me were immediately pushed back, and I found myself facing the leader of the assassins. Though his face was hard to make out, there was an undeniable presence that set him apart from the others.
"You fight against that many elite soldiers at once, and still hold your ground. It seems you have a monster under your control."
"A miscalculation?"
"No, if we eliminate the prince here, everything will go as planned. You will die quietly."
"That’s a wish that won’t come true."
It was a high-risk battle, like something out of an epic period drama, facing multiple opponents at once. The danger was immense. If one of the attackers were to grab me and hold me in place, I would have no way to stop another from striking me from behind. Thus, unless there is a massive size or strength difference, facing multiple opponents at once is something I would always avoid. Conrad, however, was larger than me and had far superior strength, so he easily brushed off the enemies attacking him.
In close-quarters combat in the dark, archery was not ideal. It’s hard to focus only on the enemies during such a fast-paced battle. A stray arrow could end up hitting a teammate, which would only harm one’s own side. Thus, those with bows remained on the sidelines, leaving around eight men actively participating in the battle.
I exchanged a few blows with the leader, landing a slash. As expected, he was no ordinary foe.
"Hmph, you're not all talk."
Though his skills were formidable, my own swordsmanship was no less impressive. In fact, I was confident that in a one-on-one fight, I would not lose.
"Retouar Empire Swordsmanship...!"
The man spat out the words with disdain. Yes. The source of my confidence lay in the legendary swordsmanship of Retouar. It was a cultural heritage that had been honed over the long history of the Empire. After the Empire's collapse due to a coup, there had been no one to carry on the tradition, but I alone had inherited it.
"Such techniques can never be wielded by an ordinary person...! How much effort did you put into mastering them?"
The swordsmanship of the Retouar Empire has distinct stances and ranges, but the core style is centered around pure technique. It focuses on solid defense while luring the enemy's openings, and once an opening is presented, it never misses. It is a defensive-based style of swordsmanship. However, through Conrad's guidance, it evolved into a more aggressive style. Now, it involved actively striking, baiting the enemy into making mistakes, and slipping into their defenses. It had become something unique.
"Is this still not a miscalculation?"
In response to the leader's astonishment, I gave a provocative smile. He must have sensed the difference in strength between us.
Even so, one concern remained: the disconnect between my consciousness and my body's movements. Since my mind and body hadn't fully synchronized, I couldn’t say I was in an optimal condition. This was the cause of my attacks being narrowly avoided. It wasn’t easy to defeat a powerful enemy while my body and mind were still out of sync.
Still, thanks to the techniques ingrained in my body, my sword finally made contact. The tip of the blade grazed the man's right side. I felt a slight resistance as I drew blood. Seeing his momentary falter, I pressed on, closing the distance even further to deliver the finishing blow.
In an instant, the flash of fresh blood arced through the air, and I was certain I had dealt a fatal blow.
"Tsu!"
A sharp cry escaped from the man's mouth. As he staggered, still trying to retaliate, he quickly drew a dagger from his waist and aimed it at my torso.
I immediately reacted, jumping backward to avoid the strike.
"Hmph, so this is all you can do?"
The words slipped from my mouth. I glanced over at Conrad, who was fighting about thirty meters away. He had already knocked three men to the ground and seemed to be gaining the upper hand. At this rate, we would certainly win. For a moment, I got distracted, watching Conrad's fight, but I quickly realized that if I remained standing here, I would become an easy target for the archers overlooking us from the high ground. As I focused on the archers' movements, I caught sight of the leader rising to his feet.
He could still fight? I was taken aback by his sheer toughness. He drew another dagger from his belt and seemed to be summoning the last of his strength to make a desperate strike in an unpredictable direction.
For a brief moment, I thought the man couldn’t see me, but then I realized with alarm that Sharon was in the path of his strike. When did she leave the carriage?
"What are you doing?!"
I mustered all my strength and, with my leg muscles tense, I sprinted toward Sharon, positioning myself in the line of the dagger’s trajectory. It was a razor-thin window of time.
I tried to deflect the dagger aimed at Sharon with my sword, but the blow I made was too forceful, and my sword only cleaved the air. Still, I managed to position my body between Sharon and the weapon. In return, the dagger sank deep into my chest, and the wound began to burn with intense heat.
"Ugh... ha..."
I coughed up blood, unable to take a proper defensive stance as I was knocked to the ground. Sharon, startled, froze in place.
Even in this desperate situation, I couldn’t afford to collapse here. Seeing my vulnerability, the archers on the high ground would likely take the opportunity to strike. I barely managed to fend off their barrage with my sword, running toward Sharon to get her to safety.
I picked her up under my arm and rushed back to the carriage. Bloodied and battered, I collapsed onto the seat. The carriage, driven by the horses, had become a shield against the arrows. The leader of the assassins was already in a sorry state, barely able to stand.
—The immediate danger had passed. The moment I realized that, the heat in my chest transformed into a sharp, clear pain. It was only then that I truly understood that I had sustained a fatal wound.
—Ah, before I even had the chance to rejoice in my new life, am I to decay again?
—Who, and why, has given me such a trial?
—If I must die again, then at least I wish I could return to nothingness.
I could see a revolving lantern of memories. The end of my previous life was surprisingly anticlimactic. My hobbies had been watching Western movies, reading books, and playing games, and occasionally, going fishing with my parents was a small joy. I had never desired anything extravagant. I was an entirely ordinary man, and I believed with no doubt that I would simply die of old age without anything remarkable happening.
However, at the age of nineteen, I contracted a serious illness. I took a leave of absence from university to focus on my treatment. It turned out to be a rare disease, and despite my efforts, I passed away at the young age of twenty-two. There were times I thought it was simply bad luck to die young, but I came to realize that death comes for everyone equally; whether it comes early or late is merely a matter of fate, a kind of balance struck by the world.
So, this must have been my fate from the start. Even after possessing Henrik, my end—dying young—was something that could never be changed. This was the destiny the world had chosen for me.
—With this marriage, perhaps I might gain the opportunity to reclaim the Empire.
I came to understand that harboring such expectations was futile.
The hope I had nurtured in my chest for the future completely withered, and I could feel the decline in my vitality, which was becoming more apparent.
"Your Highness, please hold on! Your Highness!"
A frantic voice echoed in my ears. The relentless pain in my abdomen made me involuntarily open my eyes. Through my blurry vision, I could see Sharon administering treatment to me, her hands moving quickly. My body was bathed in a faint light.
"What... are you doing...?"
"What do you think... I'm giving you first aid!"
"Why did you foolishly go outside?"
"Why... why did you protect me? Normally, Your Highness wouldn’t even glance at someone like me, and would have immediately discarded me!"
So, I protected her. Even though I had done nothing but live my life without creating anything, in the end, I was able to help someone. Without hesitation, my body moved instinctively. And more than anything, I felt a sense of fulfillment in being able to mimic the dying moments of my late mentor.
"Heh... I’ve probably been overly harsh on you until now. You must hate me, right?"
"No, that’s not true..."
Sharon’s gaze wavered. Just moments ago, she had maintained a cold, expressionless demeanor, but in this brief moment, she had shown me a wide range of emotions, each burned into the back of my eyelids.
In the flickering, unclear vision, I gathered the last of my strength to speak.
"Well, it doesn’t matter. I believe you lost your mother. She was the current emperor’s lover."
"How do you know that...?"
I understand what you're trying to say. I've always maintained an indifferent attitude towards everything except self-improvement. I've never once offered Sharon any kind words. My detailed knowledge about the people around me stems solely from my distrustful nature. Because I’m suspicious, I always make sure to know who the people around me are.
"It must seem strange to you, but I’m not telling you to die with me. So take this."
With my bloodstained hand, I pulled a gold coin from my pocket and handed it to Sharon.
Sharon’s mother, whose life had been ruined by the actions of the current emperor, who showed no trace of compassion. I couldn’t simply dismiss her fate as someone else’s business. Offering some compensation to her daughter, even if I was in this broken state myself, was the last form of atonement I could offer.
"I can’t accept this!"
Sharon gasped, shocked at the contents of the bag. These were the same gold coins given to me by the current emperor, Geleo Watan Samigaret, under the pretext of a farewell gift when I left the Empire. It wasn’t an act of kindness, but a mere gesture to maintain the Empire's dignity. However, the amount was far too large for an ordinary commoner. It was enough for Sharon alone to live in comfort for the rest of her life.
"Your mother was from Ecudole, wasn’t she?"
"Y-Yes... My mother was indeed from Ecudole."
The current emperor had several women from Ecudole in his court. Sharon's mother, among them, was particularly beautiful, and I heard that the emperor had kept a tight hold on her. It was only natural that Sharon, who resembled her mother so strikingly, would be afraid of him.
"The current emperor had intended to make you his mistress as well, since your mother was. He probably thought he could trap you with sweet words, pitying you for having lost your mother, but that would have been nothing more than an imposition on you. You followed me to escape his grasp, didn’t you?"
At my words, Sharon's eyes widened. Despite my fading consciousness, my words came out fluently.
"...Yes, that was indeed my sole purpose. My mother suffered a mental breakdown due to the constant pressure from the emperor's demands. Even so, she was forced to comply, and eventually died from exhaustion... I was terrified that I would end up the same way."
"Even in a poor country, with that much gold, your relatives would take you in. That was probably the plan from the start, wasn’t it?"
I smiled faintly, feeling a sense of relief, as if I had finally done what I needed to do, and I let go of my consciousness.
"I cannot abandon you, Your Highness! Please, hold on!"
Her desperate voice pierced my ears, but gradually, it became more distant. I was certain that I was about to die.
◆
"Your Highness, Henrik, Your Highness!"
Sharon called out to Henrik, clearly distressed. There was no response, but she was momentarily relieved to see that he was still shallowly breathing. However, she knew this would likely last only a few more minutes, maybe seconds. She continued to desperately administer treatment.
Sharon had no hesitation in calling Henrik a "scoundrel." Since the day she became Henrik's servant on her mother's orders, she had endured much mental anguish. Even the smallest mistakes in daily tasks would earn her sharp reprimands. Those were still the more lenient times, and it wasn’t uncommon for Henrik to yell at her for not picking up on his unspoken demands.
After losing her mother and being consumed by despair, the relentless scolding she received shattered Sharon's heart deeply. However, it had also caused her to grow significantly. She became capable of handling all her duties flawlessly, and she had grown emotionally tougher, no longer shaken by minor things. Nevertheless, the fact remained that Sharon had always harbored undeniable disgust toward Henrik up until this point.
Despite this, Sharon had accompanied Henrik during his marriage to escape Geleon’s grip, as Henrik had rightly deduced. She had never met the current emperor directly since she had worked as Henrik’s servant, but she was certain that if she remained in the Empire, she would eventually be forced into the same situation her mother had endured. Sharon knew better than anyone that her appearance set her apart from others, and she was acutely aware of how the emperor might target her just as he had with her mother.
In addition, she had hoped that accompanying Henrik would provide her some security for a while. Eventually, she had planned to rely on her mother’s relatives. It was true.
Now, Sharon was desperately treating Henrik, hoping against all odds that he wouldn’t die. She couldn’t understand her own actions or the change in her feelings.
What was even harder to understand was Henrik's actions.
Henrik, who had always looked down on and despised those around him, had protected Sharon and suffered grave injuries because of it. There was no hesitation in his actions at all.
Moreover, he even handed her gold and told her to run. It felt like he had completely changed, as if someone had taken his place.
(And he knew that my mother was from Ecudole... I never told anyone that.)
Sharon had never shared her personal circumstances with anyone, nor had Henrik ever shown interest in them. Yet, he seemed to know everything about her situation, even details about her mother, and Sharon couldn’t hide her shock.
"Grandfather... I... I don’t think I can keep my promise... I couldn’t save the people of the Empire... I’m sorry... truly... sorry."
Muttering deliriously, a single tear fell from Henrik’s eyes. Sharon couldn’t believe her ears. She had no idea who "grandfather" was, but more than that, hearing Henrik say "save the people" was something she could never have imagined.
Henrik was someone who constantly reprimanded others for even the smallest of things, and he had never shown any signs of caring for anyone. She had no doubt that he was treated as a pariah in the palace. To hear him speak with such empathy was unimaginable. Such words couldn’t have been spoken as mere ramblings; they had to come from his heart.
(Could it be that... Your Highness was concerned about my future...?)
If this had been the old Sharon, she would have immediately shaken her head in disbelief.
Perhaps, during his long solitude, he had been silently watching over her, ensuring she would be able to stand on her own. Thinking back, there were times when he had pointed out things that a normal person would never have noticed.
Henrik never neglected his daily training, always pushing himself to the limit. Sharon had accepted this as the natural duty of someone who carried the Empire's future on their shoulders.
But now, she realized it wasn’t that simple. Henrik had been ruthlessly cutting away any softness, constantly striving to save the people of the Empire.
(If Your Highness has been fighting alone to save the people from the Empire's oppression...)
"...Shi..."
Sharon trembled, overwhelmed with emotion.
(I thought I was alone after losing my mother… but His Highness has endured a far longer solitude.)
And given his position, he never knew when his life might be taken. Compared to that, Sharon’s struggles seemed insignificant.
She instinctively reached out to touch his cheek but quickly withdrew her hand, shaking her head. That would be disrespectful.
(Now that I think about it, perhaps His Highness was strict with me not out of cruelty, but to ensure I could survive on my own.)
Perhaps he had constantly reprimanded her to help her move past the grief of losing her mother, to push her forward. Sharon felt a certainty settle within her.
(I must be the one to support him.)
Henrik had sworn to "bring peace to the people and the Empire," yet despite his intentions, people continued to abandon him.
That was exactly why she had to remain by his side as his one true ally. Henrik was human, just like anyone else. There would be times when even he felt weak. Someone who was relentlessly hard on himself—what would he have to lean on in those moments? He could make excuses, he could complain, but Sharon doubted he ever would.
(If I am to stand beside him, I must become strong enough to withstand his burdens, even if he needs to take them out on me.)
Sharon continued her desperate efforts to treat him, but Henrik’s wounds were fatal—his organs had been shredded beyond repair. Despite her efforts, his breath finally ceased.
Even so, there was no panic in Sharon’s face.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!"
Conrad, having finished off the remaining enemies, rushed over. The moment he saw Henrik’s lifeless body, his twisted expression was filled with deep despair.
"Damn it... His Highness sacrificed himself to take down their leader, and yet… if he dies, none of it will matter!"
"...Conrad-sama, please step back."
Sharon, her pupils wide, gently placed her hands on Henrik’s body. It was still warm.
"W-What are you doing?"
"I am going to bring His Highness back."
"You can use magic, that much is clear—but revival? Is that even possible?"
"...It won’t be easy. But I will succeed."
Sharon took a deep breath.
"With my soul as the offering, I shall breathe life into this fallen vessel. I surrender my very being and transcend the laws of this world!"
She recited the incantation exactly as her mother had taught her. It was an intricate spell—its success depended on the tone, the rhythm, even the inflection of each word. The stronger her will, the more powerful the magic would become.
(Your Highness, I will not let you die here. I will bring you back!)
More than anything, maintaining focus was crucial for grand magic. Even the slightest distraction would lower the chances of success.
So Sharon poured all of herself into the spell, speaking directly to Henrik’s lifeless body, willing him to return.
"Listen carefully, Sharon."
"What is it, Mother?"
"I've never spoken to you about this before, but you have the ability to use magic."
"Magic?"
"I know it may not make sense to you yet. But there is something very important you must remember—you must never use it carelessly in front of others."
"Why not?"
"Because if people find out that you can use magic, especially the wrong kind of people, they may try to capture you and force you to do terrible things."
"Terrible things…? That sounds a little scary."
"It is, isn’t it? There are two kinds of magic: minor magic and great magic. Great magic is especially dangerous. You must only use it for someone truly precious to you."
"…Dangerous?"
"As your mother, I would rather you never knew about it. Because you are the most precious thing in the world to me. But this is your life, Sharon. I don’t want my own selfish fears to take away your ability to protect someone important to you. You may not understand it now, but one day, a moment will come when you must decide. Because this is something only you can do."
"Something only I can do?"
"You have the power to bring a person back to life—but only once. However, it comes at a terrible cost."
"A cost?"
"Yes, and that cost is—"
Memories from childhood raced through Sharon’s mind—the day she first learned of magic, the day she discovered she could wield it, and the day she realized its dangers.
(If Mother were here to see what I’m doing, she might scold me for making a mistake. But… this is the person I want to trust. The person who risked his own life to save mine. The person who cared about my future. I know I’m not wrong.)
A certainty settled deep within her. She knew—without a doubt—that she was making the right choice.
The resurrection spell could only be used within a few short minutes after death. When Sharon had lost her mother, she had been found too late—her body had already begun to decay beyond what magic could repair. That regret had burned inside Sharon ever since, the guilt of failing to save the most important person in her life.
That was why, in this moment, the choice had never existed in the first place. She would save Henrik—her benefactor’s life.
Even if she clung desperately to the justification, as if making excuses, it was ultimately for herself—to prove to her mother in heaven that she had made the right decision.
"Please… let this work!"
This was the first time Sharon had ever attempted resurrection magic. There was no guarantee of success.
Even so, she believed.
She had faith in herself.
And most of all, she willed it to succeed.
A powerful will could serve as the very source of magic.
So Sharon prayed. With all her heart, she prayed.