<Chapter 3>
The clear tinkling of something chiming startled Selenia awake.
“Hah—!”
A strange ceiling—not the imperial palace—came into view.
Startled, she quickly checked her body.
Her clothes had been changed from her uniform to something resembling that of a common village woman.
Alarmed, she bolted upright from the bed.
A glance around told her this was a simple countryside home.
The window was open, and the breeze drifted in. Outside, the sky was painted with the hues of sunset.
The scene looked like a watercolor painting. Without realizing it, Selenia stared out, dazed.
A wind chime hung under the eaves.
The star-shaped metal piece inside the bell swayed in the wind, creating the soft chime she’d likely awoken to.
Selenia opened the door and stepped outside.
A wide orchard spread before her.
Between the apple trees, blossoms were in full bloom, their delicate white petals proudly announcing spring.
The sweet scent of apple blossoms brushed gently against her nose on the breeze.
Everything here was so peaceful.
Her wandering gaze fell upon a bookcase filled with books.
Hm…?
Among them, a set of ancient documents caught her attention—so faded they looked brittle.
Unconsciously, she opened one of the books.
A book about other races…?
It was filled with information about various races—even things she herself didn’t know.
As she read, her eyes narrowed.
Maybe… is there something about vampires too?
Just as she was about to turn the page—
“You’re awake?”
A voice unfamiliar to her came from behind.
Startled, her shoulders jerked. She slammed the book shut and spun around, ready to throw a punch if needed.
“Oh, I’m the owner of this house.”
Behind her stood a man with a gentle expression.
He raised both hands in a peaceful gesture to show he meant no harm.
Selenia quickly scanned his appearance.
His light brown hair told her—thankfully—not a vampire.
She relaxed her fist with a sigh of relief.
But she remained on guard. After all, he was still a stranger.
Then, strangely, her heart began to race.
As if it were love at first sight.
She shook her head.
She didn’t believe in fate, destiny, or other superstitions like soulmarks.
A guy that ordinary? No way.
She brushed it off as lingering shock from the vampire attack.
“I found you collapsed downstream of the river and brought you here.”
The man smiled kindly as he continued.
“Don’t worry. I treated your injuries.”
Injuries?
At his words, Selenia reached for her back.
That’s when she realized—she felt no pain from the scar that had tormented her.
That scar had been cursed, tainted by dark energy from a vampire’s attack, immune to divine healing.
And yet now, miraculously, there was no pain.
So much so, she had nearly forgotten the attack on her back.
“My scar… how?!”
Selenia’s eyes trembled in disbelief.
She scanned the man standing before her again, suspiciously.
He didn’t look like a priest—at all.
“There’s no need to be so wary.”
His soft tone was soothing, enough to melt her sharp defenses.
His clear green eyes sparkled like the forest in midsummer.
“I’m Edwin, the village doctor here.”
Thus began their fateful meeting.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I washed your uniform—it’s here.”
Back at the house, Edwin handed her the neatly folded uniform.
The crisp lines hinted at his meticulous personality.
But the moment she saw it, Selenia’s face went pale.
Just thinking that a man she didn’t know had changed her clothes made her dizzy.
As if reading her mind, Edwin frantically waved his hands and blushed.
“O-oh! Please don’t misunderstand! My sister, who lives with me, changed your clothes! I only checked the wound on your back—honest!”
His panicked explanation was both awkward and oddly endearing.
And a relief.
Selenia let out a faint smile.
“Well… thank you for saving me.”
She gave him a slight nod of gratitude.
“Was there… anyone else with me?”
“Ah… no, you were alone. Was someone else hurt?”
“…No. Never mind.”
It was already a miracle she survived such an attack.
She hoped Mikhail had survived, but it was little more than a prayer.
Thinking of him made her eyes shut tight with sorrow.
Then she looked at Edwin with curiosity.
How had a village doctor managed to suppress the poison from her cursed scar?
She stared at him for a while, then finally spoke.
“How… did you treat it?”
“Pardon?”
Edwin blinked, confused.
“My back. That scar. Until now, even the palace priests could only delay the curse with divine power. But you… you don’t seem like a priest.”
“Oh… I didn’t completely heal it. Like you said, I just used divine power to suppress the curse.”
“You’re a priest?”
“No, like I said, I’m just a doctor. But I was born with a tiny bit of divine power.”
Selenia raised a brow.
His skill far surpassed even Angeline, the high priestess of the imperial palace.
When Angeline treated her, the pain was always present—even if bearable.
But now, there was none.
How could someone with this level of skill be hiding in a remote village?
Her gaze followed Edwin as he bustled in the kitchen, looking for something to serve her.
Eventually, he pulled a bar of chocolate from the cupboard and began chopping it into small pieces.
Steam rose from a kettle on the stove.
He poured the steaming milk into a mug with the crushed chocolate.
The house quickly filled with the rich scent of melted cocoa.
“Here you go.”
Selenia stared at the hot chocolate placed in front of her.
She didn’t dislike sweet things, but this wasn’t something served at the imperial palace.
Still, refusing a host’s kindness would be rude.
She grasped the mug. The warmth seeped through her fingers and into her body.
Just as she brought it to her lips, Edwin draped a thick blanket over her shoulders.
“You fell into the river. It’s dangerous if your body temperature drops.”
Despite his goofy face, his voice was oddly reassuring.
Selenia blushed slightly and hugged the blanket tighter.
Edwin smiled and pulled up a chair to sit in front of her.
“May I ask you something?”
“…Go ahead.”
“You seem like a noble. What happened to you?”
At his question, her lips clamped shut.
Should I tell him? That I’m the imperial crown princess?
He must have already guessed, seeing the sun-shaped crest of the royal family embroidered on her uniform.
After much thought, she spoke slowly.
“I’m part of the imperial knights of Apollonia Empire…”
She stopped herself.
Revealing her identity might be dangerous.
“I’m a royal knight.”
“I thought so! A lady knight—that’s so cool!”
Edwin beamed like a child, eyes twinkling with admiration.
“I’ve never had any talent for swordsmanship or archery.”
He launched into his own story without prompting.
Not too fast, not too slow—his calm storytelling drew her in.
Maybe it was the crackling fire, or the faint apple blossom scent in the air.
Or maybe… he really was just that interesting.
Her earlier battle with vampires felt like a dream.
The sharp edge in her demeanor began to soften.
“…And that’s the end.”
After a long ramble, Edwin finished his story.
Selenia blinked. It was already dusk outside.
His storytelling was so engaging that she hadn’t realized how much time had passed.
Without meaning to, she had listened with sparkling eyes, forgetting to ask anything important.
Feeling a little embarrassed, she cleared her throat and changed the subject.
It was time to return to the imperial palace.
“Hm-hmm. So, how far are we from the capital?”
“Uh… if you go to the city center, you can use a mana tunnel to get there quickly.”
“But?”
“I don’t have any spare gold coins to lend you for the fee…”
Apparently, even though he was a doctor, Edwin was rather poor.
But mana tunnel fees weren’t that expensive.
Selenia tilted her head and thought of a better solution—she could just send a letter to the palace asking to be picked up.
“Then I’ll just send a letter—”
“You really don’t know how countryside life works, do you?”
“…What?”
“Mana tunnels and mail delivery both require magic. And that means… it costs gold.”
“Gold coins? What are you talking about?”
Something felt off.
In the Apollonia Empire, letters were sent via magic-infused bubble balloons.
Even if magic was involved, it was as simple for mages as eating soup in bed.
But now, it supposedly cost gold?
Mana tunnels were the same. Once created, they didn’t need more magic to function.
Even if every mage disappeared, the tunnels could be used indefinitely.
Besides, the imperial government paid for the tunnels and set the user fee at just a few copper coins per district.
“I heard the imperial palace spends a fortune managing mana tunnels and mail carriers.”
“…That’s nonsense.”
Selenia’s golden eyes widened in shock.
The mana tunnels and mail system were managed by local territories—not by the imperial palace.
This needs to be investigated.
Her sharp gaze glinted with insight.
If the common people were suffering like this without the palace knowing, someone corrupt was skimming off the top.
She had to fix this.
To do that, she needed information.
Luckily, Edwin had managed to suppress her curse. She could stay here and gather intel.
“Could I… stay here for a few days?”
“Wh-what?”
Edwin blurted it out, surprised.
“You said you have a sister, didn’t you?”
“Oh, she’s gone to the city to sell goods. She won’t be back for a few days…”
He blushed, embarrassed to house a female knight alone.
“No need to worry. I won’t try anything.”
“W-what?! I-I wasn’t suggesting—!”
“Relax, it’s a joke. I’ll repay you later. It won’t take long.”
She joked casually, as if they were old friends.
“All right. If you’re okay with it…”
Edwin scratched his head awkwardly and smiled.
“Ah—may I ask your name?”
Selenia hesitated, then answered in a small voice.
“…Sera.”
“Sera… Sera-nim. Got it. It’s not much, but please make yourself at home.”
“Pfft. Thanks.”
Anyone who saw them might think he’d begged her to stay.
A chuckle escaped her lips.
He was truly a simple, kind man. She had a feeling they’d get along well.
Smiling warmly, she looked at him—feeling a strange fondness she hadn’t known before.
