It was raining.
The rain had been falling steadily, soaking the barren road for a full day. Adrienne had only just crossed three of the five rocky mountain peaks.
No—she had crossed three out of five, so perhaps “only” wasn’t the right word. But when she looked at the knights, utterly worn from the long march, she couldn’t bring herself to think, There are only two more left.
The escort unit had spent the entire day soaked to the bone. And they hadn’t let down their guard for a moment, wary of monsters appearing at any time. They had been pushing forward for two days straight without proper rest, all because they were warned to avoid camping in the rocky ranges.
“Is the Grand Duke really not going to meet us?”
Yuria tapped Adrienne’s arm and spoke, using sign language as well.
[I don’t know.]
Adrinne, silent for a moment, replied with signs.
“He’s really too much. I’m scared to death that monsters might come charging out of nowhere. Aren’t you scared, Princess?”
[I’m scared too.]
Adrienne gave a brief reply and turned to look out the window of the carriage.
The rocky range was made of pale stone, and it was said that the eastern side of the mountains connected directly to the Forest of Shadows—home to swarms of monsters. Because the forest was so close, monsters frequently emerged near Rantschka Fortress, attacking travelers who passed through.
Of course, Adrienne was terrified. She hadn’t said it aloud to Yuria, but in her heart, she kept praying over and over that her husband, Lukas, would come to meet her.
According to the escort commander, Ron, monsters weren’t the only threat. Occasionally, barbarian raiders from the northeastern reaches would appear in the mountains.
If their luck was truly awful, they might encounter both the monsters and the barbarians at the same time.
Ron said that if he could ask for one thing, it would be for the Grand Duke to send the Black Knights of Rantschka Fortress.
He added, as if in passing, that it was simply a matter of basic “decency” toward one’s wife.
But what could they expect?
The Grand Duke of Rantschka—her husband—seemed to have no intention of showing even that most basic decency. A bitter smile crept across Adrinne’s face.
If only the rain would stop…
Watching the unrelenting rain pour down, a sigh escaped from Adrienne’s lips.
Lukas Ken Rahel, Grand Duke of Rantschka—also known as the “Black Mist” of the battlefield.
Adrienne had married him two years ago, at the Tereze Castle. That day had marked exactly seven days since her homeland, Tehevia, was conquered by the Rodian Empire.
The justification had sounded noble enough.
For the shared future of Rodia and Tehevia.
It was utter nonsense. But Emperor Xerxes of Rodia used the mute princess, whom the conquered people pitied, to pacify and stabilize his new territory.
And so, Adrienne was married off in a political union to Lukas Ken Rahel—the emperor’s third son, who had played a key role in Tehevia’s conquest.
Tap, tap.
“Still, I bet the Grand Duke looks amazing. After two years, maybe he’s even stronger. Aren’t you at least a little curious?”
Yuria, who had been voicing her fears, now chattered excitedly as if nothing had happened.
Adrienne only gave a faint smile before turning back to the rain-soaked window.
Lukas, the emperor’s third son, bore the closest resemblance to Emperor Xerxes Ken Rahel. But because he was a child born out of wedlock, he was exiled to the northernmost edge of the empire—to the harsh lands of Rantschka—as soon as the empire was unified.
Officially, he had been tasked with guarding the border from barbarian invasions. But few truly believed that. Most assumed the real reason was to prevent Lukas—known as the “Black Mist” of the battlefield—from clashing with his elder half-brother and crown prince, Agmund.
Lukas had earned immense merit alongside Emperor Xerxes in countless campaigns. So much so that many held him in higher regard than Agmund, who had taken the throne without shedding a drop of blood.
If only he weren’t a bastard.
If only he were a legitimate heir.
Dangerous thoughts like those frequently slipped from people’s lips.
Some said it was the emperor’s way of protecting Lukas from Agmund. But no one knew the truth.
The only one who truly knew was Emperor Xerxes Ken Rahel himself.
“Monsters!”
“A monster horde is coming!”
Thud, thud-thud.
“They said monsters are coming, Princess!”
What? Monsters?
“What do we do? We’re going to die!”
Yuria trembled violently, her eyes wide with terror.
“Grrrr…”
“Ahhh! Protect the carriage! Don’t look back—just ride!”
Commander Ron shouted as he rushed to meet the charging monsters head-on.
Clatter, clatter, clunk.
At his command, the coachman cracked the reins, and the carriage bolted forward in a wild, bouncing gallop.
“Aaagh!”
“Grrrrrr!”
Clatter, clatter.
“Damn it! It’s too fast! No—aaagh!”
“Grrrrr!”
One of the knights guarding the carriage was instantly torn apart by a monster, his shredded body crashing to the ground. Yuria screamed, clutching Adrienne’s hand in horror.
“Princess… what do we do now?”
“…Kuh!”
“Kyaaah!”
Another knight was ripped apart. Nearly in hysterics, Yuria clamped her hands over her ears and screamed.
Clatter, clatter, clunk.
Still, the carriage continued its frenzied charge forward.
Thud!
“Ah—oh no…”
Screeech.
Then it happened. The carriage hit a massive rock and tilted dangerously before coming to a dead halt. The horses neighed wildly, rearing back, while the coachman leapt off and ran for his life, pursued by monsters.
“We’re going to die. We’re really going to die…”
Tap, tap.
[Get out of the carriage. Run.]
“It’s no use, Princess. We’re doomed either way. Ron is probably already dead!”
Tap, tap.
[Yuria. Listen to me. Get down on the other side. Run with everything you have.]
“O-Okay. I will.”
Adrienne’s stern expression snapped Yuria back to her senses. Wiping her tears, Yuria jumped down from the carriage alongside Adrienne.
Hand in hand, the two ran for their lives. Behind them, the carriage splintered, the horses were torn apart, the coachman’s screams were silenced.
Still, they ran. Forward. Always forward.
“Grrrrrr!”
“It’s a monster!”
Even while running, Yuria screamed at the top of her lungs.
Though Adrienne could hear nothing, the look on Yuria’s face told her everything. And still, she ran.
“…Grrrrrr…”
They were right behind them. Close enough to feel their breath. Adrienne realized it then— They’d taken the wrong path.
Ahead of them stood only a massive tree and a steep cliff. Adrienne turned to Yuria in panic.
“Princess…”
Yuria was sobbing, her face streaked with tears.
O God, have mercy.
Adrinne clutched the necklace around her neck and closed her eyes in desperate prayer.
Flash!
In that moment, a blinding light burst forth from her pendant.
“Grrr—Kugh!”
“…K-Keuk!”
The black monsters closing in were struck by the light—and began to crumble midair, one by one.
Adrienne watched as the beasts howled, tore apart, and vanished in midair, spilling dark crimson blood. Then, unable to bear it any longer, she fainted.
____________𔒝 ࿆ ꫂ ၴႅၴ __________
Adrienne Claudius.
She was the first princess of the restored Kingdom of Tehevia. Because daughters were rare in her lineage, King Dephil had been so overjoyed by her birth that he exempted the kingdom from taxes for an entire year.
Although Queen Hirsie was scorned by the nobles for lacking royal lineage, she was acknowledged as queen once she gave birth to the heir of the royal bloodline.
And so, the kingdom prospered. Thanks to active trade with eastern nations, the capital thrived, tax revenue increased, and the royal vaults grew richer. Adrienne grew up surrounded by love.
But when she turned ten, disaster struck.
It began with Queen Hirsie’s illness. Lauded as the most beautiful woman of the century, the queen’s skin suddenly began to wither and age. Even the best healers could not explain why.
People called it the “Aging Curse.” And as rumors spread, King Dephil began to shun his ailing queen.
Eventually, he locked her away in the northern annex of Tereze Castle. Layer upon layer of magic was cast over the annex, barring anyone from entering.
On the night Hirsie passed away, she had asked to see Adrienne through the court healer. But Dephil refused. The queen died without ever seeing her daughter again.
Exactly six months after the illness began.
After her death, Dephil ordered her body to be burned. Even stronger wards were placed on the annex where the “cursed” queen had lived.
It should have ended there. But Tehevia’s tragedy wasn’t over.
Not long after the queen’s death, Adrienne fell into a burning fever.
Knowing that the royal healers couldn’t save her, Dephil summoned priests and mages from the Temple of Ascro.
Thanks to their magic, Adrienne survived.
But she lost her hearing—and her voice.
Some called it a miracle. Others said the curse hadn’t ended yet.
In time, Dephil began to see the ailing Queen Hirsie in Adrienne’s eyes. Fear consumed his judgment, and guilt blinded him.
“Your Majesty, for the kingdom’s sake, the princess must be cast out.”
“Don’t forget—the curse is not over.”
“If you delay your decision, disaster will follow.”
Pressed by the nobles’ pleas, Dephil could no longer hesitate.
“Confine Adrienne to the queen’s annex. Only one maid of my choosing may enter or leave.”
“Your Majesty…”
“But that’s—”
“That is my command!”
Thus, the mute princess of Tehevia—once the beloved child of the kingdom—was imprisoned in the northern annex where her mother had once been confined.
She was only twelve years old.
