Princess Irena of the Sail Kingdom.
In truth, Princess Irena wasn’t a princess from the very beginning. She had lived a life not much different from a commoner, let alone royalty.
And then, overnight, her life changed.
In an instant, she became a member of the royal family, a princess.
The reason for this was largely due to the late king having no successor.
With no heir to inherit the throne, the royal family began searching for those who carried the bloodline of royalty.
However, as they couldn’t find any direct descendants close in blood, they dug into distant genealogies.
And that’s how Irena’s father, Carendia, was able to inherit the throne.
But perhaps therein lay the problem.
Unlike the nobles who had family names from the start, Carendia didn’t even have a surname to inherit.
He was, in essence, a distant descendant of a distant branch, with commoner blood far more prevalent.
The fact that Carendia, who had received a royal surname solely for inheriting the throne, was a thorn in the side of the nobles.
The nobles, who prided themselves on inheriting blue blood from birth, did not recognize Carendia as king.
“For such a shabby person to be the King of the Kingdom! This is an insult to the Kingdom!”
Furthermore, they considered the King a disgrace to the Kingdom.
It was from then on.
The word ‘rebellion’ was etched into the minds of the nobles.
The nobles clashed with King Carendia over even trivial matters.
Those clashes extended beyond the King and nobles, even affecting the young Princess Irena.
“…”
Irena, who had been lost in past thoughts, opened her eyes.
“You look tired?”
A captivating voice sounded beside her.
“Ah, Celia. I was just reminiscing about the past.”
“The past…”
Celia thought for a moment and uttered a single word.
“Memories?”
To onlookers, it seemed like an ordinary conversation.
However, at the word “memories,” Irena’s expression slightly soured.
She, an ordinary girl, had become a princess overnight.
As a child who was no different from a commoner entering the royal family, there were countless things she had to learn.
Etiquette and dignity were basic, followed by language acquisition and literary studies. Soon after, she learned the history and politics of the kingdom.
After studying, she learned to dance while listening to music.
Leisure time was a luxury.
Thus, young Irena’s days passed by so busily that she couldn’t even afford to rest.
Moreover, even though her father became king, the nobles disliked her father.
That animosity inevitably extended to the princess.
The maids within the royal family and the governesses educating the princess were all connected to the nobles.
From this alone, it was natural to assume her royal life would not be smooth.
‘Memories?’
No, Irena didn’t want to call such memories memories.
‘Where did it all go wrong?’
From a young age, Irena had pondered this problem.
Was it simply because her father was a distant relative with strong commoner blood?
Of course, that was partly true.
If her father had legitimacy, the conflict wouldn’t have escalated to this point.
However, she believed the fundamental problem lay elsewhere.
‘It’s all because of a lack of power.’
Even if her father had legitimacy, without power, it would have been no different from the current situation.
This would continue even when she ascended to the throne.
Irena wanted to reverse the current situation.
To do that, she needed power.
To gain power, she reached for forbidden books.
Demon summoning.
And the result led to the present.
“Now, shall we begin?”
The voice beside Irena was captivating, always. The voice, seemingly sticky, gently wrapped around her ears, exuding sweetness.
As if the devil’s whisper.
“Come to think of it, they are devils.”
The horns above Celia’s head were proof of that.
Even if she had made a deal with devils, Irena gained power thanks to them.
Moreover, the devils didn’t even demand her soul.
Although her support within the kingdom was still weak, it was not an important problem.
She had gained far more power than the nobles’ support.
‘Yes.’
The way to save the kingdom now was not through the nobles’ support.
And her father was not the answer either.
Princess Irena turned her head and looked at Celia.
The princess’s eyes, which had been wandering moments ago, were gone, replaced by a burning gaze.
“Celia.”
She declared simultaneously.
“I will take the kingdom into my own hands.”
“Heh, you understand what that means, don’t you?”
Princess Irena nodded slightly.
There was a reigning king.
Yet, the princess declared she would ascend the throne?
In short, she was plotting a rebellion.
It was an act no different from the nobles, but she had a just reason.
“It doesn’t matter. If things continue as they are, it will end up the same way anyway.”
Celia smiled slyly upon hearing the princess’s confirmation.
Then, she took Irena’s hand.
Irena also relaxed her grip and entrusted her body to Celia.
Celia gently pulled Princess Irena. She guided her to a randomly placed chessboard.
Irena’s hand, guided by Celia, grasped a piece.
It was the white queen.
With Irena’s hand in hers, Celia moved towards another piece.
“First, let’s cut off the nobles’ hands and feet.”
What was struck down first by the queen was a pawn. But the pawn’s color was the same white as the queen.
“They must pay the price for encroaching on the domain of the Great One.”
Irena nodded at Celia’s first command.
“How dare they send adventurers into the domain of the Great One. They deserve to die a hundred times over.”
A hint of anger tinged Celia’s voice.
“I will prepare immediately, Celia.”
Irena agreed with her actions.
The royal family had clearly forbidden entry into the Silent Mountain Range.
But the person who broke that rule was a person named Henrik.
He disobeyed the royal family’s entry ban and even secretly hired adventurers to send them into the mountain range.
Of course, most of the adventurers who went up the mountain range met their deaths.
The few adventurers who survived became prey for the goblins.
The adventurers had already paid the price in their own ways.
But that did not mean Henrik’s wrongdoing was covered.
First, the crime of infiltrating the domain of the Great One with adventurers.
Second, the crime of disobeying the royal family’s commands.
Therefore, Celia chose Henrik as the first person to pay the price.
Irena also agreed.
Henrik had served the Count faithfully for a long time as the butler of Count Beerton’s mansion.
As such, he would have a lot of information about the Beerton family.
And Count Beerton, whom Henrik served, was the leader of the Aristocrats.
For Irena, the Aristocrats were an eyesore that needed to be eliminated.
Therefore, shaking the Beerton family first was not a loss. Instead, it was a great gain.
“No. Since we’re at it, I’ll take care of him myself, so Princess Irena, please proceed with the next plan.”
“Understood, Celia.”
Now, Henrik the butler could be forgotten.
Rather, it would cause him far more pain than the princess stepping in.
Celia moved Irena’s hand once more.
The queen who had knocked down the pawn began to move again.
“Nobles who have betrayed us are no longer needed.”
The queen, who had struck down the pawn, then knocked over the knight, rook, and bishop in succession.
Of course, all the pieces the queen struck down were white.
“The fall of the nobles.”
Irena murmured softly.
She had been following Celia’s commands wholeheartedly, wishing for their downfall.
Now it was only a matter of time.
“And finally-”
Only one white piece remained on the chessboard.
This time, Celia released her grip.
However, Irena applied force.
With her objective clear, her actions were bold.
She knocked down the king herself, not with Celia’s strength.
“Now, let us spread His will throughout the world.”
The sweet whisper of a demon was heard.
* * *
Count Beerton’s mansion was experiencing a tumultuous day.
Passing through the garden tended by gardeners, one would enter the mansion, where the footsteps of servants first echoed.
From the flame-blazing kitchen, the delicious aromas of food being prepared by chefs filled the air.
Although it seemed like each task was proceeding chaotically, upon closer inspection, it was the result of careful attention to ensure everything was done on time.
*Clap-*
Amidst everyone’s busy movements, someone clapped their hands.
It was Henrik, the butler.
“Make the table spacing wider over there!”
“The Count’s honor is at stake here, so no mistakes are tolerated! Hurry up!”
His hair was covered in white, and his face was lined with the traces of time, but Henrik’s voice was full of strength.
His left eye, marked with a scar, could no longer see the light of the world, and numerous scars covered his hands, but there was no problem in issuing commands.
In fact, he was so busy that he had to lend a hand himself.
Suddenly, it was decided that a banquet would be held at the mansion tomorrow.
To prepare for the sudden schedule, preparations had to be made from dawn until night.
Therefore, Henrik was busy directing all preparations.
While Henrik was busy, someone approached him.
“Hm?”
It was a maid.
But it was a maid whose face he had never seen before.
‘Was there someone I didn’t know?’
Henrik, who knew everything about the mansion, had no face he didn’t know. But he didn’t suspect anything in particular.
‘I must be getting old.’
Or perhaps they were new maids who had arrived a few days ago. Henrik’s thoughts were brief.
In preparing for the banquet, this was the priority.
“What is it?”
Henrik asked the maid in a low voice.
The maid smiled faintly and opened her mouth.
“The Count is looking for Butler Henrik.”
“Hmm.”
Now that he looked at her, the maid’s speech and actions were clumsy.
‘A new maid who arrived a few days ago? I’ll have to tell them to educate her again.’
Still, her appearance was beautiful.
No, it wasn’t just ordinary beauty.
He had a strong intuition that she might not remain just a maid.
“I will go to the Count shortly.”
Henrik immediately turned around.
As he was about to take a step, he turned his head.
“Yes, what is your name?”
If she was a new maid, he would eventually have to memorize her name and face. That’s why he asked the maid for her name.
“I am ■■■.”
“I see.”
Upon hearing the maid’s answer, Henrik immediately quickened his pace.
He had to speed up, lest he keep the Count waiting any longer.
As he walked, Henrik’s mind was occupied with matters of the mansion.
He mulled over how to finalize the preparations for tomorrow’s banquet, and even his brief conversation with the maid moments ago.
‘Indeed, her surname was missing.’
Perhaps the maid was just an ordinary commoner.
Well, if she had noble blood, she wouldn’t have come as a maid in the first place.
However, Henrik rated the maid’s beauty as top-notch.
Perhaps someone from the Count’s family would fall head over heels for the maid.
The eldest son came to mind.
He was the Count’s eldest son, a young lord who was fond of women and gambling.
‘Women have always been a cause for caution.’
Well, for the maid, becoming the eldest son’s plaything wouldn’t be so bad.
It was a relationship where those without power obeyed those with power.
That’s how life was.
Henrik stopped his scattered thoughts and knocked on the Count’s study door.
“Hm?”
But there was no response from beyond the study.
He knocked again, but the result was the same.
“May I come in?”
The Count’s study remained quiet.
‘What is it?’
Henrik slowly opened the study door.
At the same time, he entered the study that had been opened.
And he suddenly remembered what had happened earlier.
The message from Count Beerton, whom he served.
“– I will be returning with the Church’s envoy tomorrow, so ensure the party preparations are thoroughly completed before then.”
Yes, the Count had clearly said that and then left.
This meant the Count was not in the mansion.
Then why would that maid have said such a thing?
Could he have returned so quickly?
But then Henrik shook his head.
‘No, that’s impossible.’
If he had returned to the mansion, he would have known.
‘I’ll have to reprimand that maid later. Her name was…’
The problem was that he couldn’t recall the maid’s name. Up to this point, Henrik slowly raised his head.
“…”
“Oh?”
Inside the study, Count Beerton was nowhere to be seen. However, knights clad in armor were present instead.
“What is the meaning of this-!”
Knights entering the Count’s study without permission.
This was a challenge to the Count.
Henrik surveyed the knights.
Their entire bodies were covered in armor, and their faces were hidden by helmets, so he couldn’t identify anyone.
But Henrik approached one of the knights with anger.
“Disarm immediately!”
And he removed one of the helmets.
“……!”
“Clack?”
What revealed itself inside the helmet was a monster.
“S, Skeleton?!”
“Clack! Clack!”
Why was a monster armed in knight’s armor?
Henrik looked around.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
There wasn’t just one monster.
Everyone here was a monster, not a knight.
“Y, You don’t mean…!”
The fact that monsters were inside the mansion must not spread.
And this was happening precisely when the Count was with the Church’s envoy.
‘I need to call the knights immediately!’
He had to quickly report that monsters had infiltrated the mansion. Henrik turned back toward the study door, but the maid he had seen earlier was there. The maid smiled brightly, but her appearance was different from before. The horns on her head indicated she wasn’t an ordinary human.
“You…!”
But Henrik’s words were not finished. A skeleton disguised as a knight struck him on the neck.
His consciousness faded.
………
……
…
It didn’t take long for Henrik to regain consciousness.
The problem was that when he came to his senses, he was not in his luxurious mansion but in an unknown place.
It was a place like a cave.
Although the sudden situation might have caused him alarm, Henrik instead let out a loud cry.
“Do you know who I am to dare do this to me!”
This was clearly a kidnapping.
And not just any kidnapping, but the kidnapping of a butler who served the Beerton family.
Currently, Count Beerton’s position in the Sail Kingdom was immense.
The leader of the Aristocrats was Count Beerton.
The Aristocrats were a group with as much authority and influence as the King.
In other words, kidnapping the butler was equivalent to rebelling against the influential Count. Knowing this, Henrik cried out even louder.
“I will not hold you responsible for this matter! So, it would be best to stop this charade!”
However, his voice echoed only like an echo, with no response.
After shouting for quite some time, Henrik gasped for breath and cleared his throat for a moment.
As a serene atmosphere settled, someone was seen approaching in the distance.
“Stop this charade-”
But upon confirming the approaching figure, Henrik’s mouth shut.
“……”
The approaching figure was not human.
It was a giant monster with two heads.
Its height was as if three adult men were combined.
“A, an Ogre…?”
Having worked as a butler for the Beerton family for a long time, Henrik knew a little about monsters.
He had heard that Ogres were 3-star monsters, manageable by moderately skilled adventurers.
However, this was the first time he had seen one with two heads.
And behind the Ogre, the maid from earlier was visible.
The only difference was that she was wearing a stylish red dress, not a maid’s uniform.
“How dare you send adventurers into the domain of the Great Ones. Are you ready to pay the price?”
Adventurers?
What was she talking about adventurers for? Henrik racked his brain, trying to understand what she meant.
After a few seconds passed, an idea struck Henrik.
“Ah.”
Could she be referring to the matter of secretly sending adventurers into the mountain range?
But that was only sending them into the mountain range.
It was true that he had disobeyed the royal family’s order, but it had nothing to do with monsters.
Seeing his expression of not understanding what the problem was, the woman who had been a maid stepped back.
“Mr. Ogre is a monster brought by the Great One I respect.”
The Ogre was acquired through an auction at the Underworld Merchant Guild.
“Mr. Ogre, please begin.”
The maid, or rather Celia, gave the command to the Ogre and disappeared.
Simultaneously, the Ogre approached Henrik.
“What to do. Left.”
‘Oran’, the right head of the Ogre, spoke to ‘Wehn’, the left head.
“The administrator said so. Humans, to torment. We follow the administrator’s orders. Right.”
In response to the right head ‘Oran’s’ question, the left head ‘Wehn’ replied.
The biggest difference between them was that the left head ‘Wehn’ had only one eye.
Henrik, witnessing the absurd situation, thought as hard as he could.
Given that a monster had appeared, this must be a dungeon.
Henrik’s deductions didn’t stop there.
Above all, he thought about the Ogre in front of him.
He had heard that an Ogre, a monster with two heads on one body, was not a greatly problematic monster due to its low intelligence.
Of course, that was when there were armed soldiers, but now it was different.
“Left, torment human. How?”
“That’s easy. Right. The administrator gave it to us. Power. Torture?”
“Oh, is that so? Left.”
“Indeed. Right.”
Henrik found it maddening that the two faces were chattering so much while belonging to a single body.
He didn’t understand what was happening in the current situation or why he had to be here, so he remained silent.
“Right.”
“What is it? Left.”
This time, the left head ‘Wehn’ spoke to the right head ‘Oran’ first.
“Remember? Right. When we fell into the water.”
“Left. That was terrible. I remember.”
“Indeed, water is the answer. Right.”
And behind the Ogre, another figure appeared.
“Water…?”
A large mass of water with a blue glow was approaching with footsteps.
It was clearly a Water Spirit.
But why was such a being here as well?
Henrik could only blink his eyes.
“Right. The administrator said. To me, Left. That I can use water.”
“Oh, Left. You are so smart!”
As Oran and Wehn said, they plunged Henrik’s head into the Water Spirit.
