Episode 4
Bela froze as Acares stopped her from moving.
“…Why are you holding me?”
“If we let them leave now, you’ll be in trouble.”
“Me?”
Acares glanced toward the soldiers. Tucked into their belts was a document marked with the Atlante Empire’s royal seal.
“If that document goes back with your name blank, the Crown Prince will probably send knights here again — and he’s not exactly known for being kind.”
“Ah…”
Bela’s mouth dropped open. She hadn’t thought of that.
She was also quietly impressed — maybe the being she summoned was smarter than she thought.
And the Crown Prince… she had heard plenty of rumors about him: the youngest genius who mastered both swordsmanship and magic, the one who helped his war-crazed father crush many kingdoms, and a man known for his cruelty.
Recently, he’d gone even more unstable due to the fight for the throne.
‘…Yeah, I really shouldn’t get noticed by a lunatic like that.’
Bela nodded firmly, and Acares coughed to get her attention. Straightening, he stood in front of her.
“Bela, I’ll take care of this. Just stay behind me.”
“You? How?”
Acares dramatically brushed his hair back and gave a confident look — like saying just watch.
He poked the knights’ foreheads one by one.
“Wake up, gentlemen.”
The knights’ eyes flickered with life as if waking from hypnosis.
“Huh? What just happened?”
“I feel like I just nodded off for a second…”
Bela’s eyes widened. His powers really worked.
“Please, continue your inspection,” Acares said casually.
“Inspection?” one knight repeated blankly.
“Wasn’t it a population inspection ordered by His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Oh, right… yes.” The knight cleared his throat and straightened up.
“Ahem! Bela Isis of the Kingdom of Pione! The record says you live alone?”
‘Ah, here it comes,’ Bela thought nervously.
She fidgeted with her fingers, glancing at Acares.
“Uh, well, about that…”
Without missing a beat, Acares answered smoothly, as if it was rehearsed:
“I’m a refugee from the Kingdom of Roye. This kind lady took me in.”
‘He even knows about Roye losing the war?’ Bela bit her cheek in surprise.
‘Wait, come to think of it, my mom also used to summon creatures using Orasion magic…But they didn’t have minds of their own — just basic house helpers. So… is he really my summoned being?’
Her doubts were interrupted when a knight questioned him again.
“You’re a refugee from Roye?”
“Yes. I have no official status here.”
“That’s strange. I’ve heard of Roye refugees moving to Pione, but not this far south.”
“I’m quick on my feet,” Acares replied easily.
“Do you have proof of your origin?”
“No. The Atlante knights burned everything.”
“Any surviving family?”
“No. The Atlante knights killed them all.”
“…And your clothes? Did the knights take those too?”
“Yes.”
Acares answered without shame, barely covered by a few scraps Bela had thrown over him earlier.
“Anyway, sirs, let’s head to the checkpoint. I should register my identity — since I’ll be this lovely lady’s husband soon.”
Bela’s eyes bulged.
‘Mom, did he just say… husband? HUSBAND?!’
“E-excuse me—”
“Yes, my fiancée. I’ll be right back, don’t worry.”
“Who said I’m your—”
Acares placed a finger on her lips and smiled.
Then he turned back to the knights.
“Well? Take me in already.”
***
Later, on the way to the checkpoint.
Winter daylight faded quickly, and the forest grew dark.
The knights whispered among themselves.
“What a shame. I heard that woman lived alone.”
“Yeah. Who knows where she found that guy? Maybe we should just get rid of him. He’s not even verified.”
They glanced back. Acares followed them calmly, humming a tune — far too relaxed for someone under arrest.
“Hey, Cassel,” one of them whispered. “Do you see that on his shoulder?”
“What?”
“That thing. Can’t you see it?”
Cassel turned. Something black and huge sat on Acares’s shoulder.
It was a black eagle.
“W-what’s that on your shoulder!” Cassel shouted.
“My shoulder?” Acares looked confused.
He turned to glance at the massive bird and shrugged.
“No idea. Never seen it before.”
“What?”
The knights felt something was wrong and drew their swords.
“Who are you really?”
“I told you. A refugee from Roye.”
“Then what about that bird?”
“I said I don’t know.”
Acares’s calm smile grew darker. As they entered deeper into the twilight forest, a faint killing aura surrounded him.
Suddenly, the black eagle spread its wings and shot into the air—then dove down with a boom, releasing a cloud of black mist.
From the mist stepped a tall man with long black hair, icy blue eyes, and a crystal-feathered wand at his waist.
Cassel’s face went pale.
“E-Eiden…?!”
Eiden Ascencio, one of the Atlante Empire’s elite magicians.
Eiden looked around coldly and spoke.
“…Form ranks.”
“Hhk…!”
At that single word, the knights instantly knelt.
Crunch, crunch — his boots pressed against the fallen leaves as he slowly approached them.
“Have you forgotten the blessing of the White Butterfly?”
“The… White Butterfly?”
The knights looked confused.
The White Butterfly — symbol of the Imperial Family — shouldn’t exist in this freezing forest.
Why was the Imperial Court’s mage even here?
Before they could think further, a great white blizzard swept across the area — but then they realized… it wasn’t snow.
It was a swarm of white butterflies.
“Bow your heads,” Eiden ordered.
The knights turned their gaze toward where Acares had been standing—and froze.
There was another man now.
He had silver hair and deep ruby-red eyes, radiating an otherworldly presence.
Cassel’s pupils trembled.
“T-that man… he was the one earlier—AAAH!”
Eiden stepped on Cassel’s neck and said coldly:
“Bow down. You stand before His Highness, the Crown Prince of Atlante.”
