Chapter 01
The once peaceful Chronos Continent was engulfed in bloodshed when the Roman Emperor proclaimed the unification of the continent in the year 987 of the Valder Solar Calendar.
Many nations, both big and small, banded together to create an allied force to oppose the might of the Roman Empire.
Among them was the Kingdom of Petra.
The first to lead Petra’s army was the first prince, Alex von Martinez.
He declared that he would protect the Kingdom of Petra at all costs, but unfortunately, he lost every battle he fought.
The situation wasn’t any better for the other countries.
With news of constant defeats, anxiety spread everywhere.
In the midst of this, the second prince of Petra, Howard von Martinez, stepped up.
But no one had high hopes.
Even the people of Petra and the king himself were doubtful.
Surprisingly, Prince Howard pushed back the Roman Empire’s army, which had already reached the borders of Petra.
Not only that, but everywhere he fought, he led his troops to victory, raising the morale of the Alliance forces that had hit rock bottom.
Riding that momentum, he kept pressuring the Roman Empire’s army until finally, he forced the emperor of the Roman Empire to sit down at the negotiating table.
Since no one expected this, people were even more shocked and amazed.
They cheered for Prince Howard, and soon newspapers and gossip magazines were filled with stories about him.
And standing beside Prince Howard was his closest aide and one of the key people behind the victory—a person known only as ‘K.. ’
K was always mentioned alongside Prince Howard as the person who helped lead them to victory.
But no one knew anything about him—only that he was a man.
His real name, age, background, and birthplace were all unknown.
The nickname ‘K’ was something people gave him.
Countless journalists and spies tried to uncover his identity, but all failed.
Who exactly was K?
People’s curiosity about the mysterious K reached the skies.
And then, one day, Prince Howard, the hero who ended four years of a terrible war, and the mysterious K returned to the capital of Petra, Valuche.
The streets of the royal capital, lit by bright streetlights, were filled with even more dazzling and luxurious carriages.
Their destination was the Dawn Palace, where the victory party celebrating the end of the war was being held.
Because the war had lasted four long years, it had been a very long time since a royal banquet was held.
The nobles entering the banquet hall were visibly excited.
“Will we finally get to see K’s face?”
More than the banquet itself, what excited them most was the chance to finally see the mysterious ‘K’ in person.
As soon as they entered the hall, the nobles eagerly looked around for him, but unfortunately, he had not appeared yet.
Prince Howard, the hero of the banquet, was also nowhere to be seen.
“I heard rumours that K is a huge, brutal man, as savage as the barbarians. Do you think that’s true?”
“Oh my, I heard he’s sly and sneaky, like a weasel…”
“What do you think, Miss Elissa?”
Elissa Leslie, who had been quietly sipping champagne without joining the conversation, turned her head when someone called her name.
As she moved, her platinum blonde hair, a perfect mix of moonlight and honey, gently swayed along.
Her clear blue eyes, as transparent as glass beads, looked at the red-haired girl with freckles across her nose.
What was that girl’s name again? Elissa remembered she was the youngest daughter of the Montesch family, but her name wouldn’t come to mind.
“By the way, isn’t your fiancé’s family, the Grenvilles, involved in military supplies? Then you must know a lot about what’s happening on the battlefield!”
It was clear they weren’t close, but the youngest Montesch daughter spoke to her as if they were good friends, calling her by name without hesitation.
Elissa found her attitude annoying, especially because she kept asking about the mysterious ‘K,’ someone Elissa had no interest in.
“Have you heard anything about K? Like his real name or what he looks like?”
“No. I haven’t heard anything,” Elissa replied coldly, her voice sharp enough to instantly ruin the excited mood.
The Montesch girl flinched and closed her mouth.
The other young ladies quietly watched Elissa’s expression.
“……”
Feeling slightly bothered by the awkward atmosphere, Elissa frowned, let out a small sigh, and handed her empty glass to a servant.
“I must’ve had too much champagne after so long… I feel a little dizzy.”
Turning back to the girls, a social smile appeared on Elissa’s lips.
“Would it be alright if I sat on the sofa for a bit to rest?”
“Oh, of course! Please, go and get some rest.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
The sound of her high heels echoed steadily.
Despite saying she felt dizzy, Elissa didn’t stumble at all.
“…Lady Leslie has changed a lot,” said Celine Montesch, the youngest daughter of the Montesch family, sounding quite disappointed as she quietly watched Elissa’s figure fade into the distance.
“She used to be so cheerful and lively… I wonder what happened to her.”
“Isn’t it because she was seriously ill? She was on bed rest for almost two years. You know what they say—when people nearly die, they change.”
At those words, short gasps of realisation came from the girls around.
“Oh, that’s right. Lady Leslie fell ill not long after her coming-of-age ceremony. She looks so healthy now, I completely forgot.”
“I also heard she met her current fiancé during her recovery. Is that true?”
“Well, they got engaged about three years ago, so it’s probably true.”
They gossiped, saying things like meeting a man during recovery shows how skilled she is, or maybe the whole sickness was just an excuse.
But they all fell silent at once when they spotted Elissa Leslie’s fiancé, Derrick Grenville.
“There you are, Elissa.”
Elissa, who had been resting on the sofa, finally noticed her fiancé approaching and lifted her head.
Derrick Grenville wasn’t breathtakingly handsome, but he had a gentle, pleasant face.
His brown glasses, matching his hair colour, made him look intelligent.
And he was intelligent.
She had heard countless times that he graduated second in his class from the Royal Academy.
“I couldn’t see you anywhere for a moment. I was worried something had happened.”
“I’m not a child. I can be alone, so don’t worry and enjoy the banquet, Sir Grenville.”
“Not ‘Sir Grenville,’ call me Derrick. We’re getting married soon—no need to be so formal.”
Marriage.
That word tightened around Elissa’s chest like a suffocating corset.
It wasn’t that she hated the idea of marriage itself.
She had always dreamed of marrying a man she loved, having children, and building a happy family.
Yes, the most important condition for marriage, in Elissa’s eyes, was marrying a man she truly loved.
… I love you, Elly.
Suddenly, a gentle voice whispering into her heated ear came back to her memory.
Elissa bit her lower lip hard.
It was an old memory from over four years ago, yet it came back so vividly, as if it had happened just yesterday, tormenting her.
“Are you feeling unwell…”
Just as Derrick, worried by her increasingly pale face, was about to say something, a servant standing at the banquet hall entrance shouted.
“The arrival of His Highness, Prince Howard von Martinez!”
Elissa turned toward the entrance.
Because of the crowd gathered like a swarm of clouds, she couldn’t see Prince Howard, let alone the man called K.
“That man following behind the prince… that must be K!”
Even so, by observing people’s reactions, it was clear they had entered the banquet hall.
“Since they didn’t introduce him when he entered, K must be an ordinary man.”
“Of course. If he were a noble, wouldn’t his family be bragging about it everywhere by now? They’d be announcing to the world that he’s one of theirs.”
“Even if he’s ordinary, he’s the hero who ended the war. Don’t you think he’ll be granted a title?”
The nobles, finally getting to see the mysterious figure hidden behind all the rumours, were buzzing with excitement.
Most of them spoke positively, but envy and jealousy weren’t hard to find among them.
A short while later, Elissa caught a glimpse over the crowd—Prince Howard, with his neatly combed golden hair and spotless white tailcoat, and a man dressed in a contrasting black uniform beside him.
Is that man… the famous K?
Elissa narrowed her eyes, staring at the man in black.
His face was still hidden, turned away, surrounded by people, but somehow… his back looked strangely familiar.
Where have I seen him before?
Elissa squinted, her eyes fixed sharply on the man’s back.
As if sensing her gaze, the man turned his head.
His jet-black hair swayed gently with the movement.
Even from a distance, his sharp, well-defined features were visible.
And… familiar.
I know him…
As Elissa tried to get a closer look, she suddenly froze.
Their eyes met—cool, indifferent grey eyes that sent a chill down her spine.
Her heart sank, and her breathing quickened.
Unpleasant memories rushed into her mind, and her face hardened like stone.
Clutching her dress so tightly that the fabric crumpled, Elissa whispered his name.
“…Ethan.”
Her childhood friend.
Her first love.
The bastard who had taken everything from her and disappeared without a trace… about four years ago.
