Chapter 30

After finishing his morning duties, the Emperor entered his bedroom to catch a quick nap, only to rub his eyes in disbelief. The Empress was sitting beside the bed, working while Rizel slept on his bed.

“Empress, has the Second Prince’s damn taste influenced my bedroom too?”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“If not, then why is this damn brat sleeping in our bedroom? Is this really a fire…”

“There’s also the option of sealing your mouth with a red-hot skewer, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, the Empress really doesn’t get jokes.”

The Emperor deliberately leaned on a sofa far from the Empress.

“Lying on the Empress’s bed that I’ve never even tried to sleep on. This stubborn brat is making me jealous for the first time.”

“…Raul would’ve been furious if he heard that.”

“I can understand this brat misunderstanding Raul… but I can’t forgive her for speaking ill of you.”

But the Emperor didn’t draw his sword.

“It’d be better to inform this fool about my brother’s condition. Knowing he wasted time would be the real pain.”

A faint anger lingered on the Emperor’s face. That anger wasn’t directed at Rizel but at her fiancée and mother.

“That fool’s body won’t last another year… and those people, living so arrogantly without knowing anything, really irk me.”

He wanted to go and turn everything upside down right now, but he couldn’t. The chaos at the family head succession ceremony was nothing compared to the ‘righteous punishment’ they wanted to carry out.

Especially her fiancée, whom Raul had explicitly told not to touch.

“It’s utterly miserable, Empress. We’re the ones who sacrificed, yet we’re the ones suffering.”

“…I am too.”

The Empress, also one of Raul’s victims, had the right to voice her opinion.

“Even if the moment of choice comes again, I’d make the same choice. Raul would do the same.”

“……”

The two quietly reminisced. Though no words were spoken, their memories were the same. Only the perspectives differed, but the pain, sorrow, and anger all carried the same weight.

—

Years ago.

When the Demon King, who had lost his companion, went mad with the goal of annihilation, he took countless lives for that purpose. Eventually, a coalition of humans and various races stood against him, but before the Demon King, known as the “Evil Sword,” they were nothing but dust.

Among them, the vampire race, virtually slaves to the Demon King, also threatened the coalition. The foremost among them was the vampire lord.

“Damn it…!!!”

The future Empress, the renowned strategist Penelope, slammed the table in anger.

“That damn bastard figured out my plan again and escaped…! We’ve already sacrificed so much…!!!”

The vampire lord, Cephesu, with his superior tactics and immortality, was particularly troublesome. Even Raul, who could slay massive beasts over 5 kilometers in size, couldn’t kill him.

“…I heard driving a silver stake through his heart would kill him.”

“If silver pierces my heart, I’d die too!”

“We have the confidence to survive.”

“Shut up before I shove a silver candlestick somewhere other than your heart.”

Raul, who had offered his opinion, quickly shut his mouth at Penelope’s irritation.

“Our defensive lines keep falling back. At this rate, even our headquarters will be overrun…! That damn bastard!!!”

Penelope, usually calm, couldn’t maintain her composure against Cephesu. He was a constant flirt, always ruining her plans, and the murderer of her younger brother.

“If the headquarters falls, we’re all doomed…”

“If someone stays behind to buy time, the rest can survive.”

“Raul, who doesn’t know that…”

Penelope suddenly calmed down and began analyzing the situation.

The First Prince was currently fighting the King of the Dead, Camilla was tracking the Dragon Queen alone, and their other ally was holding off the dark elves. Only she and Raul remained at the headquarters. Raul wasn’t well-suited to fight Cephesu.

Moreover, the vampires would surely attack the headquarters to capture and torment her.

“……Raul, I’ll explain the plan now. First, we retreat from the headquarters. To ensure a safe retreat, someone must stay behind to hold off the pursuit.”

“Understood. I’ll take that role.”

“No. I’ll be the one staying.”

“Are you drunk? Their target is you, Penelope. I don’t even want to say what they’ll do to you.”

“That’s why I’m saying this, Raul. This isn’t just for a safe retreat… it’s a plan to annihilate the enemy.”

Raul looked at Penelope with a puzzled expression. Though he usually followed his friends’ advice, he couldn’t tolerate putting them in danger.

“Explain.”

“…Sigh. Listen carefully. First, you retreat and inform the others.”

Penelope explained her plan step by step, but Raul’s expression grew darker.

“…You’re insane. Absolutely insane. This reckless plan could fall apart with the slightest mistake.”

“So, you’d rather let everyone die to protect your fragile ego? You promised the soldiers they’d return home. Was that just empty talk?”

“I didn’t mean to sacrifice you.”

“It’s just my life. With it, countless soldiers and their families can live in peace.”

Raul, thinking of his own family, bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. He, too, loved his family and couldn’t help but weaken at the mention of them.

“…Fine. I’ll inform the others. I’ll make sure they follow the plan.”

“Thank you, Raul.”

“And I’ll regret this day for the rest of my life. I’ll blame myself for not doing more, imagining countless what-ifs.”

“……Yes. I’m sorry for that part.”

“While I imagine the what-ifs, you’ll suffer in reality. What an ironic twist.”

Raul left to prepare for the retreat, his expression unusually somber.

—

The next night.

In the pitch-black darkness, the vampire army, led by Cephesu, pursued the retreating coalition. A retreating army was the most vulnerable, making it the perfect time to strike.

But someone stood in their way.

“Hoh… This is unexpected. Or rather, an unforeseen gain.”

The one who appeared was none other than Penelope, the Empire’s renowned strategist, the only one who could somewhat anticipate her plans.

“…”

“Your silence is disheartening. I wanted to hear your voice.”

The Empress drew her sword and fought fiercely, cutting down countless vampires. But as the weakest of the five heroes, she was eventually captured.

“Hohohoho… Just when I was getting bored of blindly following that madman’s orders, something wonderful has fallen into my hands.”

“……”

Yet, Penelope only wore an expression of frustration, not uttering a single curse.

“…It seems you find even speaking to me beneath you. Fine. The joy of victory after hardship has its own value. Take her away.”

Thus, she was dragged to his castle, bound in chains, stripped naked, and humiliated. Yet, she never opened her mouth, only glaring with hatred.

“A week has passed. Even I would’ve fainted from such pain, yet she endures.”

“……”

“Ah, I heard nobles value their purity more than life itself. Something only allowed for their beloved.”

“……..”

“You must know what I’m about to do. Let’s hear that precious voice now.”

She was taken to Cephesu’s bedroom, where her most cherished possession was taken by the very monster who killed her brother.

It was the most painful and humiliating moment, worse than any torture. Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t open her mouth.

“Ah, this stubborn one…”

Even Cephesu, looking down at her, acknowledged her tenacity.

“Fine, once this is over, I’ll grant you a respectful death. To keep your mouth shut until the seventh day at noon…”

Hearing this, Penelope smiled a chilling smile that sent shivers down everyone’s spine.

“…!”

Suddenly uneasy, Cephesu tried to push her away, but the Empress held him tightly.

And for the first time in a week, she opened her mouth.

What came out wasn’t a curse, insult, or threat, but a shining piece of silver.

A small stake, crafted from a silver candlestick, pierced his heart.

“…Idiot.”

“Was this your plan? I misjudged you. To gamble like this… If I had forced your mouth open, this wouldn’t have worked. A strategist gambling…”

“If it works, it works, you idiot.”

“There were too many risks. If you had screamed in pain, it would’ve all fallen apart.”

“I’m good at enduring, unlike you.”

“Were you sure I’d hold you like this?”

“Yes. I pondered how you’d act. My talent for leading armies may still be inferior to yours… but I’m confident in analyzing actions.”

It was an incredibly reckless plan. The slightest misstep would’ve meant failure.

She had staked her life on it.

If it failed, the army could still retreat. If it succeeded, she could eliminate the demon tormenting her friends.

For that alone, she sacrificed her most cherished possession.

“Madwoman… You’re truly insane.”

“Shut up and die already.”

“Fine, I’ll die and go to hell… but your life will be hell too. Enjoy your victory on the way to hell.”

With those words, he turned to ash and vanished.

Soon, Raul and the others stormed the castle, slaughtering the vampires.

And the first to enter that room were the three of them.

“…Penelope.”

Camilla’s face also showed deep sorrow.

The First Prince, Asel, who would become her future husband, closed his eyes for a moment and spoke.

“You’ve won. That’s all. Anyone who speaks otherwise will be executed under military law.”

“…Your Highness. What happened to the other vampires outside?”

“She’s handling them. Rest assured.”

“That’s… a relief.”

Watching this, Raul silently approached her and draped his cloak over her.

To cover her collapsed form.

“…My father made this cloak for me, tailoring his own coat to keep me warm.”

He looked at his cloaked friend without showing any emotion.

“I wouldn’t have been able to see or hear what you did inside.”

Then, adjusting his cane, he walked out, saying:

“It’s a precious item, so I’ll come back to return it personally. I’ll help my other half finish cleaning up.”

“……”

“Well done, my friend.”

No one knew what she did under that cloak.

—

But fate, as always, took a tragic turn.

Even though the First Prince issued a gag order, rumors spread, twisted by the Second Prince into claims that Penelope had offered herself to the enemy to survive.

Though entirely false, no one believed otherwise. The Second Prince’s rumors were more sensational and intriguing.

Thus, Penelope, a war hero, returned only to be plagued by scandals.

Rumors that she had whispered love to the man who killed her brother caused her to be disowned by her family without even seeing her parents.

Having sacrificed everything, she gained nothing.

Wandering alone in the rain, three figures appeared and draped a coat over her.

“Your Highness…? Camilla…? Raul…?”

“Your family is truly trash.”

“The Empire is trash. This country is a cesspool from the start.”

“…Penelope.”

Due to the scandal, she couldn’t find a spouse, her honor was tarnished by the Second Prince, and she was disowned by her family.

Having lost everything, she hadn’t lost her friends.

Her friends were too clingy to leave her.

“I’m nothing now. No honor, no family, not even the strength to walk on my own…”

“We didn’t become friends for that, Penelope.”

Raul answered calmly, but his words were enough to bring a tear.

The First Prince, Asel, also felt sorry for her situation.

“You’ve lost your chance at marriage? Of course.”

“…?”

“Only the best match suits someone like you.”

“Huh…?”

“I’ll take you in. These two recommended it, and I’ve accepted.”

It was all incomprehensible.

With the Second Prince vying for the throne, marriage was one of the best weapons he could choose.

Yet, he was using it on her, who had been disowned by her family. It defied all logic.

“You saved us with your reckless, unconventional plan. I’ll save you by defying convention.”

“But if you lose the throne competition…!”

“I won’t lose. With you by my side, even if the entire Empire becomes my enemy, I’ll win. How could the Empire possibly defeat us?”

“But why are you doing this? Even for friends, this is…”

“We’re fools. Idiots who can’t take care of ourselves. Yet, we can’t stand to see others suffer.”

The First Prince hugged the others and said:

“So, let’s live for each other. If we only think of each other, maybe we’ll become slightly better fools.”

Those driven to the battlefield could never have lived normal lives.

“Ignore the circumstances and just tend to each other’s wounds. Even if my friend destroyed half the country, if they’re hurt, I’ll destroy the other half for them.”

Moved by the idea of living only for each other, the friends’ hearts swayed.

Thus, they began living, not for their own wounds, but for each other’s.

—

And so, the flow of memory accelerated to the present.

“…Raul did make one exception back then.”

The two looked at the sleeping ‘exception’ and chuckled.

“Maybe it was jealousy.”

“After years on the battlefield together, he still chose his sister. I might’ve been a bit jealous too.”

Though the mood lightened with such jokes, the Empress seized the moment to say:

“Your Majesty, perhaps it’s time to take a concubine?”

“What nonsense is this? Are you suggesting I repeat the same mistake as the previous Emperor?”

“I’m a woman who, haunted by past memories, still cannot share a bed with a man.”

Thus, the Emperor slept on the sofa every night.

The option of sleeping in another room was considered, but rejected to avoid new scandals for the Empress.

The option of the Empress sleeping on the sofa was also considered, but rejected out of concern for her discomfort.

“I will wait.”

“Huh…?”

“For the day my foolish friend cuts down the tree in his heart, for the day my reckless friend confesses his buried feelings, for the day my frustrating friend overcomes her past.”

He smiled brightly and concluded:

“I can wait. Even if I never see an heir, what’s the loss of this insignificant Empire? Compared to you all, it’s a trivial matter.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Patience is a virtue of kings. Just as endurance is your specialty, waiting is mine.”

In truth, Rizel, who had been awake since earlier, had to endure the cringe with great effort.

---