Chronicles of Romelia

Rome―no, Lady Romelia von Graham. I can't continue this relationship. I'm dissolving my engagement to you. We'll go our separate ways once we return to the kingdom.

Prince Henri had chosen this moment—right after we had finally vanquished our long-sought enemy, Demon King Zergis—to abruptly bring up the topic of terminating our engagement, amidst the echoing cheers of victory.

Of all times—or rather, precisely because it was now—Prince Henri, who issued the declaration, was flanked by Saint Elizabeth of the Church of Salvation, Ekaterina the Sage of the Forest of No Return, and Ryoki, the female swordswoman from the East, all of whom shot me chilly looks.

Having been unilaterally told that our engagement was off, I felt slightly exasperated.

Even though we had slain the Demon King, we were still deep in enemy territory. This wasn't the time for leisurely conversations.

Your Highness, we've just defeated our nemesis, the Demon King. Couldn't this discussion wait until we've returned to the kingdom?

Ten years ago, Zergis—proclaiming himself the Demon King—had emerged unpredictably from the Axis Continent where we resided, leading legions of demons. Professing to be descendants of dragons, they declared war on the human nations, launching an invasion and claiming that they were the continent's rightful sovereigns.

When first faced with the demon race and its legions, the nations of the continent were slow in their countermeasures. Seven years into the invasion, numerous countries had been destroyed, their people captured and taken away as slaves.

The Demon King's forces were relentless in their advance, ultimately igniting the conflagration of war in our Kingdom of Lionel.

Fearing the kingdom would fall at this rate, Prince Henri—who had just turned fifteen and completed his coming-of-age ceremony—set out alone to defeat the Demon King. As his fiancée, I disregarded my parents' attempts to stop me and joined him on the journey.

We crossed countless mountains and sailed across vast seas. After three long years of travel, we eventually reached the Demon Continent of Gordia, ruled by the demons themselves. And now, we had conquered the Demon King at last.

With their leader, Demon King Zergis, defeated, the Demon King's legions would surely collapse. Our mission was complete.

Now that we've achieved our goal, can't we simply discuss this after returning home victorious?

I thought matters like breaking off our engagement could wait until we got back home.

That's true, but I won't have you included in our triumphal return. When we return to the kingdom, we'll be welcomed as heroes. That's not what we've been fighting for, yet we've overcome so much hardship. But you, Rome, haven't done anything of the sort, have you?

Prince Henri, wearing silver armor decorated with green gems, pointed an accusing finger at me.

Exactly—you couldn't even fight. You merely followed the prince around.

Saint Elizabeth, dressed in pure white silk vestments embroidered with golden thread, cast a disdainful glance at me.

Despite being a burden, you were always barking orders from the back. I was getting sick of it.

Ekaterina, wearing a wide-brimmed triangular hat and deep blue robes, pointed her snake-like twisted wooden staff at me.

Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused His Highness?

Ryoki, carrying the wide blade typical of the East and dressed in deep green martial arts attire, glared at me with a crease between her beautiful eyebrows.

Their accusations were partially true. Neither could I fight with a sword like Prince Henri or Ryoki, nor could I cast magic like Ekaterina. I also didn't possess healing powers like Elizabeth.

My appearance reflected this as well. While the prince and the three women were attired in beautiful, magnificent equipment, I was dressed in a filthy shirt and a brown vest and skirt. They were easy to move around in, but my clothes looked no different from those worn by a common townswoman. I carried a short sword at my waist, but I had never wielded it in battle. My only other gear was the massive knapsack on my back.

As my equipment made clear, combat wasn't my role. I primarily handled rear support—carrying supplies for the journey, negotiating with people for provisions, and gathering information about routes and enemies.

I didn't mean to overestimate myself. Many others with similar discernment could have filled my role. From Prince Henri's standpoint, he intended to assert that they were the heroes who fought and my work was that of a minor contributor.

That said, I wouldn't undervalue my contributions either. The journey with the prince and the others hadn't been smooth sailing. When we first set out, the prince and I were both inexperienced—we didn't even know how to start a fire. Realizing we'd die like dogs before ever reaching the Demon King, I desperately acquired the necessary skills and knowledge for travel, enabling the prince's party to progress this far.

Without the prince and the others, the Demon King would not have been vanquished, but without me, the prince never would have made it to the Demon King in the first place. Still, if they refused to acknowledge my efforts, there was no point in arguing further.

However, Your Highness, can our engagement truly be broken off so unilaterally?

I challenged Prince Henri.

Royal marriages were founded on political and military alliances.

House Graham occupied a prominent position within the Kingdom of Lionel, and Father was one of its chief vassals. My engagement to Prince Henri symbolized unity between the royal family and the count's family, both domestically and abroad, making it something we couldn't arbitrarily dissolve.

I was about to make this point when Saint Elizabeth spoke up in a decidedly unsaintly tone.

Ha! That's just something your parents arranged on their own. Besides, the prince isn't the same person he was before. He's a hero who defeated the Demon King! Don't you realize that a dull count's daughter isn't worthy of him anymore?

I disregarded the saint's words, keeping my eyes fixed on Prince Henri alone.

Will you be discussing this matter with His Majesty the King yourself, Your Highness?

Yes, of course. I'll speak directly with my father, the king, and address the kingdom’s people myself.

I nodded at Prince Henri's words.

Frankly speaking, the emotional distance between the prince and me had been growing since the journey began.

Less than six months after departing, our journey had stalled due to inadequate preparation and lack of experience. I pulled myself together, knowing this wouldn't do, but back then I still lacked composure and ended up saying harsh things to the prince, which strained our relationship.

It was then that we encountered Saint Elizabeth. Stunningly beautiful, she possessed the Act of Healing, a power capable of curing injuries. Prince Henri was smitten with her at first sight, and one look at Elizabeth's gaze made it clear that she harbored feelings for the prince as well.

It was natural for people to feel drawn to someone capable of healing their wounds. The relationship between the prince and Elizabeth rapidly grew closer, further widening the gap between Prince Henri and me. Furthermore, after we encountered Ekaterina and were later joined by Ryoki, my estrangement from the prince deepened decisively.

Ekaterina possessed magical power worthy of being called the Sage of the Forest of No Return, and Ryoki had mastered sword techniques passed down from the East. All three women had combat abilities that I lacked. The prince grew fond of them, and they loved him in return.

My relationship with the prince had grown cold, and I no longer felt the passion that had driven me to flee home, but I still had my reasons for following the prince's party.

However, Your Highness, though we've defeated the Demon King, many threats still linger in the kingdom. The Demon King's Army that invaded our lands, the animals and monsters driven violent by the Demon King's magic, and the many people who were captured and enslaved by demons. To save them, we must continue fighting demons even after we return to the kingdom. Wouldn't it be acceptable for me to continue accompanying you in those battles?

I had continued this journey for one reason alone: to save the people whose villages had been burned, who had been killed, and who had been enslaved.

What? You? When you're utterly useless?

We don't need someone to carry our bags anymore. Can't you understand that already?

What could you possibly do?

The three women spoke rapidly, but I kept my eyes on the prince and waited for his response.

It's fine. Don't worry—the four of us will manage. We defeated the Demon King, after all. Lesser demons and monsters are nothing compared to what we've faced.

The prince boasted about his victory over the Demon King, but I wondered if things would truly go that smoothly.

I hadn't joined this journey solely out of romantic feelings for the prince. It was clear someone like me, lacking combat abilities, would only be a burden. So, I believed it was my duty as his fiancée to persevere and wait, even while tormented by fear of death or dismemberment.

However, on the night I learned Prince Henri intended to depart, while praying for him at the church, I received a miracle accompanied by a solemn voice, prompting me to join the journey.

The miracle was called Grace. Its effect brought luck and enhanced abilities to my nearby companions, while bringing misfortune and hindering those who opposed us.

Though it had no effect on me, during the journey the prince's party constantly benefited from Grace. Initially, the prince was astonished by how good he felt physically, but within a few days he grew accustomed to feeling well, took it for granted, and stopped paying attention to it.

However, Grace’s effects were not to be underestimated.

In battle, momentum was often the deciding factor. While Prince Henri and company became accustomed to always being in peak condition, their adversaries were unexpectedly weakened, their senses dulled, resulting in repeated minor failures that prevented them from reaching their full potential. Conversely, the prince's party, consistently in excellent condition, gained momentum, thereby turning battles in their favor.

Overwhelmed by this momentum, even veteran generals, officers of the Demon King's Army, and Demon King Zergis himself proved powerless.

Yet I had never disclosed my Grace ability to anyone.

Considering how rare Grace's power was, I shouldn't tell anyone about it. If I were someone else who knew of such an ability, I’d capture the Grace user, locking them away to monopolize that good fortune.

Therefore, the prince's party was oblivious to my Grace power.

I understand. If that is your decision, Your Highness, we'll dissolve our engagement once we've returned to the kingdom.

I didn't know if they could manage without Grace, but if the prince insisted that strongly, then so be it.

Saint Elizabeth smiled triumphantly at my backing down. As someone aiming to replace the prince's fiancée, she likely desperately wanted this promise.

Well then, Your Highness. With our discussion concluded, we should prepare to escape from here.

I clapped my hands to shift the conversation.

At present, we were in the heart of the Demon Continent, which was overrun with demons. Although we had successfully eliminated the Demon King, our victory would be for naught without a safe escape. Now wasn’t the time for a melodramatic breakup scene.

Your Highness, please sever the Demon King's head. We must return with it as proof of our victory.

Huh? Oh, right. Got it.

Prince Henri nodded, though Elizabeth expressed disgust at the mention of returning with the head. Nevertheless, returning with the Demon King's head was standard procedure.

The prince chopped off the Demon King's head, which was covered in scales and lined with massive fangs.

Even when reduced to only his head, the Demon King exhibited a majestic appearance befitting a descendant of the dragon. It remained a mystery why he chose the title "Demon King" rather than "Dragon King," given his claimed dragon lineage.

I continued searching the Demon King's chamber, carefully placing documents and various daily necessities from his desk into my knapsack.

What are you doing, looting like that? This isn't the time for such things.

Elizabeth complained, but this was exactly the time for it.

This is necessary. Ekaterina, let's also bring back the Demon King's staff.

Befitting the name of the Demon King, Zergis frequently wielded magic and carried a strange staff crafted from enormous bones. Anyone familiar with the Demon King would instantly recognize his staff. I continued placing anything compact enough into my pack—stone-like objects, odd tools, notebooks, and similar items.

Is it really necessary to bring all those things back?

To prove convincingly that we defeated the Demon King, of course.

I searched through the Demon King's corpse. I took the crown that had fallen off during battle, rings from his gnarled fingers, and necklaces as well.

Isn't the head alone sufficient proof that we defeated him?

Prince Henri held up the Demon King's head as he spoke, but I shook my head.

No, it won't be enough. The people of our kingdom have never seen Demon King Zergis. How can we prove this is truly his head?

There's no need for proof. I would never lie about something like this.

Prince Henri had no experience with suspecting others or being suspected himself.

The kingdom's citizens will believe Your Highness's word.

I said this to preserve Prince Henri's dignity, but in reality, things wouldn't proceed so smoothly. His Majesty the King would surely believe us, but some senior retainers would remain skeptical.

However, we need to make the Demon King's death known far and wide, both at home and abroad.

Our fight was to achieve total victory in the war. Defeating the Demon King alone wasn't enough. Unless news of the Demon King's fall reached both our people and foreign powers—and even the remnants of his army—our victory would remain incomplete.

We need more convincing proof than just the decapitated head.

Displaying the head would certainly have an impact, but not all demons personally knew the Demon King. High-ranking generals might recognize his face, but most soldiers had only glimpsed him from afar. They couldn't confirm if the severed head was genuine.

Documents and letters bearing the Demon King's signature would serve as solid evidence, and his personal items would add further credibility.

While searching the corpse, I noticed a small bag hanging from his neck. Inside was a small seal.

This was a stroke of luck. It likely wasn't the official seal used on formal documents, but the fact that he wore it constantly suggested it was an informal seal for urgent orders and letters, frequently used and thus familiar to many.

I took the seal as well, finishing my search. Standing up, I called out to everyone.

All right, let's leave quickly. I'll carry the head.

I took the bag containing the Demon King's head from the prince. Blood was seeping through the bottom of the bag.

At last. We can't afford to waste more time.

Ryoki complained, but I wanted to tell her that they were the ones who had sparked that senseless melodrama.

You're right. Let's hurry.

With that, the prince and Ryoki took the lead, followed by Elizabeth and Ekaterina, with me in the rear. My knapsack was heavier now, but since Elizabeth and Ekaterina weren't particularly fast, keeping up wasn't too difficult.

We continued moving through the peculiar structure with our luggage. It was indeed bizarre.

Our current location wasn't the Demon King's castle, but a temple Zergis had erected.

Apparently, the Demon King occasionally secluded himself in this temple. During those periods, no one—not even his guards—was permitted to approach, leaving him entirely alone.

It had been the golden opportunity to assassinate the Demon King.

Naturally, the Demon King understood the risk of assassination. The temple interior was a maze filled with deadly traps. Anyone unfamiliar would quickly become lost and perish. But not us.

Your Highness, take the right path at that three-way junction. Watch out for traps—stay close to the left wall.

I gave instructions to the prince from behind.

The temple's interior was a complex and bizarre labyrinth, but I knew every inch of it. I had memorized the routes to all the entrances and exits, as well as the locations of every trap and how to avoid them.

Romelia, are you sure?

When the prince questioned me, I pulled out a map from my pocket to double-check. My memory was correct.

The map contained detailed information on the temple's layout.

There's no mistake—this map was drawn by the slaves.

This information had been provided by people who were captured by demons and brought to this continent.

The Demon King's Army destroyed human nations, captured survivors, and transported them as slaves to this continent, the demons' homeland.

They were forced into harsh labor, hauling and stacking stones to construct this temple.

Nonetheless, despite their arduous labor, they remained undaunted, vowing to one day overthrow the Demon King. Thus, they gathered intelligence on him, completing this map by carefully transcribing the temple’s interior.

Thanks to them, we knew Zergis' schedule and could move safely through the temple. Without the cooperation of the slaves, assassinating the Demon King would have been nothing but a pipe dream.

Still, there really aren’t any soldiers from the Demon King’s Army around here.

As we rushed through the labyrinthine temple, Ryoki, running second, muttered aloud.

Due to the Demon King forbidding anyone from approaching the temple, the assassination had become feasible, and his death remained unnoticed by the demons. Additionally, Zergis had secluded himself only the previous day. Supposedly, once the Demon King isolated himself in the temple, days would pass before he emerged again. If luck was on our side, several days could pass before his death was discovered—perhaps even as long as ten days.

At this rate, we might even escape from the Demon Continent before anyone realized the Demon King was dead.

This fortunate scenario was due entirely to Zergis’s peculiar behavior. I had assumed he was performing some sinister ritual deep within the temple, perhaps offering prayers to malevolent gods. Yet this place didn't resemble a religious site at all. If anything, it felt more like . . .

Lost in thought as I ran, I realized we had nearly reached the temple's entrance.

The temple built by the Demon King was constructed like a mountain of stacked stones. Its appearance resembled the stone mausoleums said to exist in the southern deserts more than any traditional temple.

It formed a massive square pyramid, with a single entrance situated at its apex.

We hadn't encountered any soldiers from the Demon King's Army so far, but Royal Guards were stationed outside the temple to protect the Demon King. To keep our assassination from being discovered, we had to escape undetected.

Naturally, I had memorized not only the temple's interior layout but also the external terrain and positions of the guards. It would be dangerous, but if we proceeded cautiously, there shouldn't be any problems.

I went over the layout in my mind to confirm our escape route.

Around the corner ahead, the temple entrance would immediately come into view. Two Royal Guards were stationed on either side. Beyond the entrance, a long staircase stretched straight down to the base, where about a dozen more Royal Guards occupied a single guard post.

Although fewer than twenty soldiers guarded the temple grounds themselves, a thousand Royal Guards patrolled the outer perimeter continuously, and ten thousand more defended the surrounding city.

The security was impenetrable—not even an ant could slip through unnoticed. However, we had Ekaterina’s invisibility magic, which could bypass even the strictest security. This spell had allowed us to infiltrate this far, so naturally, our escape would be equally seamless.

Our escape should have been smooth. However, upon reaching the corner leading outside, the prince and Ryoki suddenly halted, signaling us to stop due to danger ahead.

When I looked ahead, sunlight streamed through the doorless temple entrance. But two shadows blocked that light, stretching toward us.

Listening closely, I heard the metallic scraping of armor and footsteps approaching.

Enemy soldiers!

My heart raced at the realization that enemies were so close.

I recalled two Royal Guards had been stationed at the temple entrance. But they supposedly wouldn't enter inside. Why were they here now? Had they already discovered the assassination?

I broke out in a cold sweat over how disastrously our plan had gone, but the demons moved with no sense of urgency. Holding my breath, I strained to listen, catching sounds like a floor being swept.

The shadows at the entrance held rod-like objects and made slow sweeping motions across the floor. Another soldier knelt nearby, seemingly collecting trash.

I nearly let out a sigh of relief and desperately held it back.

Apparently, the Demon King's Royal Guards did a bit of cleaning as well. During the time the Demon King was secluded in the temple, they likely could not enter and clean the temple. That said, it would be an issue should there be any garbage when the Demon King emerged. The sight of the elite Royal Guards—the Demon King's protectors—doing janitorial work was comical. However, if the Demon King's death had escaped notice, it was a source of joy.

The sweeping sounds soon stopped, and footsteps gradually receded. Apparently, they had only cleaned around the entrance.

I began breathing a sigh of relief that we'd passed safely, but suddenly noticed Prince Henri and Ryoki had drawn their swords and were nodding to each other.

Wait a minute.

I attempted to stop them, but it was already too late—the two of them rushed forward and attacked the soldiers who had been cleaning.

Their opponents were elite Royal Guards protecting the Demon King. They shouldn't have been weak, but they were caught completely off guard; they never imagined that enemies would be lurking here. On top of that, the prince and Ryoki's swordsmanship was undeniably top-notch. They slashed down with a technique that struck a sense of aesthetic beauty, slaying the two soldiers in the blink of an eye without stirring a sound.

What! Why did you kill them?

I couldn't help reproaching them.

What? They're defeated, so what's the issue?

Ryoki looked puzzled as she wiped the blood from her sword. Prince Henri also frowned at my reproach. But they were the ones who didn't understand.

The Royal Guards hadn't noticed us at all. We could have passed through without incident, and if necessary, Ekaterina's invisibility magic was available. Why had they felt the need to kill them?

The other soldiers would quickly realize the entrance guards were missing. A search would be conducted, and they'd soon discover the corpses of the Royal Guards. Once alerted to intruders, they'd immediately confirm the Demon King's safety. Upon discovering his death, they’d organize a thorough search to hunt us down.

Why couldn't they understand that?

Prince Henri tended to act impulsively, but Ryoki was even worse—she always solved problems by sword first. If enemies appeared, she'd strike immediately and consider the consequences only after defeating them.

On the battlefield, where split-second decisions were crucial, that mindset might be valuable. At this moment, however, it was a recipe for disaster.

But it was too late to say anything now. We had to depart from this place at once.

Ekaterina, quickly, use—

I was about to instruct Ekaterina to cast invisibility on us, but my words were cut short by bird-like cries erupting from outside the temple.

I rushed to the entrance and peered down while staying hidden from view.

At the base of the temple, reptilian-faced Royal Guards were pouring out of the guard post. About a dozen soldiers quickly formed up, climbing the stairs at tremendous speed. Clearly, they'd realized something was amiss.

Too fast. They were moving too fast. There must have been some mechanism that immediately alerted them when something happened to their comrades.

I regretted what had happened, but it was too late. The dozen Royal Guards charged up the long stairway en masse, brandishing their spears as they attacked.

Leave them to me!

Ekaterina stepped forward, raising her staff. A sphere of light formed at its tip, blazing with intense brightness.

Please, anything except explosive magic!

I attempted to stop her, but it was too late—my plea drowned in the thunderous explosion.

Ekaterina, the Sage of the Forest of No Return, wielded tremendous magical power and commanded formidable spells.

The blast was devastating, sending all dozen soldiers tumbling down the stairs instantly. Its thunderous roar surely echoed for miles.

Piece of cake!

Ekaterina twirled her wooden staff like she was dancing.

That's fine and all, but cast invisibility on us immediately!

I pleaded with her desperately.

Why should I?

What do you mean why? Just look down—don't you see?

At Ekaterina's questioning look, I pointed outside the temple. Looking down, I could see hundreds of Royal Guards heading our way. They had come running at the sound of the explosion.

Ekaterina had mastered numerous magical arts and possessed formidable magical power. However, due to her seclusion in the forest and lack of real-world experience, she often misjudged which spell to use.

Anyone with common sense would realize that making such a loud noise would attract not only the Royal Guards but every soldier in the vicinity. Why hadn't she thought this through?

Now that we've been discovered, there's no other choice. I'll cut down those enemies myself. Come, demons! Face me, the one who defeated the Demon King!

Prince Henri cast aside his cloak and stood at the temple entrance. He raised his sword high, brilliant armor adorned with green gems reflecting the sunlight.

He looked truly heroic, as if straight from a legend. Still, what sense was there in making himself so conspicuous when we'd infiltrated enemy territory to assassinate their leader?

If we hadn't revealed ourselves, we could have maintained the possibility that demons hostile to the Demon King had carried out the assassination. Now it was obvious that humans were the culprits.

Your Highness, conceal yourself!

I quickly threw the cloak back over Prince Henri, attempting to conceal him, though it was likely too late. Immediately, I turned to give Ekaterina instructions.

Ekaterina, cast invisibility now! Your Highness, we must retreat immediately!

I dragged the prince, who still wanted to fight, and we fled the scene.

The Demon King's forces pursued us relentlessly, but we barely managed to escape and took refuge in a hideout provided by our collaborators.

However, this hideout could hardly be called comfortable.

First, it was cramped and dark. With five people and luggage crammed inside, lying down comfortably was impossible. Ekaterina magically conjured small orbs of light for illumination, cautious not to create large ones, as leaking light could reveal our position. Worst of all, the hideout was a dug-out beneath a livestock shed, reeking of manure and urine.

They're late—so late! What could be keeping them?

Prince Henri voiced his dissatisfaction impatiently.

Our collaborators had promised to meet us at the hideout at sunset.

I reached into my pocket and retrieved my pocket watch to check the time.

It was an expensive artisan-crafted watch that my father once used. At my insistence, he'd given it to me on my birthday. Over the three years of our journey, it had become scuffed and tarnished, yet it remained accurate.

Your Highness, it's still before sunset. We have a little more time before they're supposed to arrive.

I attempted to soothe the prince, gently reminding him we needed to wait quietly.

Nonetheless, the waiting time felt long, exacerbated by the poor environment. With each exhale, discontentment washed over us.

Unexpected footsteps sounded from above, immediately sending a chill through the air.

Prince Henri and Ryoki half-rose, drawing their swords. Ekaterina also reached for her staff, but I quickly raised my hand to stop her. Magic would be dangerous in such a confined space.

The footsteps stopped directly above us, followed by stomping—twice, once, thrice. It was our collaborators' signal. After the signal, the board overhead was slowly removed. Through the opening, I could see a woman with lustrous black hair and a small girl.

Michelle. Sarah.

I sighed in relief, called out their names, and positioned the ladder to help them down.

Big sister! Catch me!

Little Sarah jumped down without using the ladder. I hurriedly reached out to catch her. What a tomboy—not that I was one to talk, though.

Sarah! Honestly. I'm so sorry, Lady Romelia.

Michelle scolded her daughter Sarah and apologized to me, but I didn't mind at all.

Not at all—we're the ones constantly in your debt, Michelle. We should be the ones apologizing.

They were people whose homeland had been destroyed by the Demon King's Army and who had been brought to the Demon Continent as slaves.

And they were also our collaborators.

When we first infiltrated the Demon Continent, we had no information whatsoever.

We didn't even know the continent's name, let alone possess maps. We also had no idea what the Demon King looked like, nor his exact location.

Going in to gather intelligence firsthand—it was a foolhardy plan even by my own standards. It was inevitable since that was the only way, but it was the enslaved people who made this impossibly foolhardy plan work.

They provided us with hideouts and shared their food with us. Most importantly, they gathered crucial information about the Demon King. The temple map and the Demon King's schedule—all of it came from them.

Without their cooperation, vanquishing the Demon King would have been unattainable.

Sorry we're late. It isn't much, but . . .

When I received the bag Michelle offered, I found bread and a water bottle inside.

We were starving and parched. Everyone eagerly grabbed the bread and drank the water greedily.

Sarah watched longingly as the prince and the others ate their bread, but she swallowed her words and kept quiet.

I'm not very hungry anyway, Sarah. Why don't we split this?

I was hungry too, but I split the bread in half and offered it to Sarah.

Sarah was delighted, and Michelle apologized again, even though this food originally belonged to them. I ate slowly alongside Sarah.

Michelle, the magic ships still haven't resumed sailing, have they?

I finished my bread.

In the city’s large harbor, the magic ships built by the Demon King for the sea liner service were still anchored.

Between Gordia, the Demon Continent inhabited by demons, and our Axis Continent, stretched an unimaginably vast ocean. In the past, seafarers had set out but returned without discovering anything.

Yet, by employing some mysterious magic, Demon King Zergis built magically powered ships, crossed the turbulent ocean, and invaded our Axis Continent.

We had used Ekaterina's invisibility magic to sneak aboard a magic ship and reach the Demon Continent.

Naturally, to return home, we'd need to sneak aboard the magic ship again. However, due to today's commotion, the city was on high alert, and the magic ships' departure had been postponed. Now, we couldn't even leave the city.

Yes, the ships' departure has been postponed. We don't know when service will resume.

Damn it, we don't have time to be trapped in a place like this.

The prince cursed at Michelle's words.

I wanted to point out it was his own fault but restrained myself. Highlighting others' mistakes would serve no purpose—I had done so many times before, and each time, it had worsened my relationship with the prince. I needed to let go of the past and concentrate on finding a solution now.

Let's remain calm and wait for the right opportunity.

I called out to everyone.

Without outside information, this was merely speculation—perhaps news of Demon King Zergis's death hadn't yet spread among the demons.

To avoid confusion, they would first try to hide the Demon King's death. The current security lockdown was probably just a cover for searching for the rebel elements who had initiated the explosion at the temple.

But what would happen next was uncertain. They might lift the security lockdown to hide the Demon King's death, or perhaps they'd announce it publicly and thoroughly hunt for his killers.

When will Thomas return?

I asked Michelle about her husband, Thomas.

Thomas had been forced to work at the port. He'd discovered us hiding among the magic ship’s cargo and provided us with shelter in this hideout. Originally from a knightly family, he supervised enslaved laborers. Once he returned, we'd gain more information about the city and the port.

My husband should return shortly. Please wait until then.

I desperately wanted information but had no choice but to be patient.

Looking down, I saw little Sarah had finished her bread and was touching her left arm with her right hand. Under her index finger were raised scars that looked like welts. They were probably whip marks.

Demons specifically targeted couples with children when enslaving people from conquered countries. While they probably intended to raise the children as slaves too, they mainly used them as leverage to control the parents. When slaves rebelled, the demons wouldn't whip the adults themselves—they'd whip their children instead. Since injuring or killing slaves meant losing valuable labor, they forced obedience by harming their children instead.

This might seem clever at first glance, but it was actually a terrible strategy.

No parent could endure watching their children being whipped. For now, they obeyed to protect their children, but even in slavery, their spirits remained unbroken. In fact, many people were secretly cooperating with us.

Are you okay, Sarah?

I crouched down to examine her wounds. I winced at the painful-looking scars, then looked over at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was recognized as a saint of the Church of Salvation and possessed healing powers that could cure wounds and injuries. As someone called a saint, her abilities were exceptional—she could reattach severed limbs and even restore lost organs. Truly an astonishing power worthy of the title saint.

But even after seeing Sarah's injuries, Elizabeth made no move to heal them.

I felt a flash of anger but gave up, knowing it was futile to say anything.

She would immediately heal the prince's minor injuries, yet completely ignored other people's wounds.

Even during life-or-death battles when everyone was fighting desperately, she would obviously prioritize healing the prince while completely ignoring our other companions. Of course, she would heal you if you asked directly, but Ryoki and Ekaterina weren't pleased with Elizabeth's refusal to act unless asked. I didn't like that aspect of her either.

Sarah, if you're hurt, let me put some medicine on that for you.

After giving Elizabeth a contemptuous look, I took out my own medicine and applied it to the wounds on Sarah's arm, then found and treated other small injuries as well.

Sarah squirmed, perhaps tickled by my touch as I treated her wounds.

The sight was so endearing that after finishing with the medicine, I started tickling Sarah playfully. When I touched her sides and back, Sarah giggled and broke into a bright smile.

Since we were hiding, I couldn't let her make too much noise, so I stopped quickly. But seeing her smile brought peace to my heart.

Still, I was truly angry with Elizabeth. This sort of thing should be a saint's duty.

Long ago, the Child of Healing was said to be the first to receive God's gift of healing, traveling to save people from illness and injury with miraculous abilities.

After the Child of Healing died, the disciples who had learned the healing arts established the Church of Salvation in the Child's honor, spreading those teachings and techniques.

Elizabeth was a saint who had inherited those teachings.

Of course, I wouldn't expect her to heal and cure everyone's wounds like the Child of Healing did. But if she was recognized as a saint by those around her and hoped to replace the prince's fiancée, she needed to think more carefully about her actions.

Kings and those in power depended on public favor to some extent. Practical gains mattered, but sometimes reputation required sacrifice. Above all else, what kind of saint refused to heal someone right in front of her?

While silently fuming at Elizabeth, I smiled at Sarah and played with her for a while. Had there been flowers around, I could have made her a flower crown or something like that, but we didn't have anything nice like that here. All I could do was weave some straw that had fallen from the livestock barn above into a crown or a simple doll.

Even so, Sarah was delighted with the doll and smiled brightly. It was truly heartwarming to see.

Thomas returned a little after sunset.

Though the harsh labor had weathered him, Thomas still carried himself with dignity. As soon as he got back, he turned to the prince with a question.

Prince Henri, did you actually defeat the Demon King?

Thomas had probably figured out what happened from the security lockdown that had been imposed.

Yes, I killed the Demon King.

The prince pulled the severed head of the Demon King from his bag and showed it to him.

Ohhhhh!

Upon seeing the head of their hated enemy, Thomas broke down in tears.

They had succeeded in defeating the Demon King—their long-cherished goal. This must have been the moment when all their suffering finally paid off.

We need to get back to our kingdom and spread the news of the Demon King's death. Can't you operate the magic ships? You work at the port, don't you?

The prince's request was impossible, though. Slaves performed only simple manual labor, so Thomas wouldn't know how to operate magic ships.

Understood. I'll find a way to make it happen.

Still, Thomas promised to help, suggesting he had a plan.

Your Highness, is there anything else you need?

Having accomplished the long-awaited defeat of the Demon King, Thomas was now willing to do anything for the prince.

Thomas, I'm sorry to ask, but could you bring us some salt? I need to preserve this head in brine.

I hated having to impose, but the head would rot otherwise. To carry it back safely, salt preservation was necessary.

Understood. I'll also bring a barrel. Anything else?

When Thomas asked this, Elizabeth, Ekaterina, and Ryoki all began speaking up at once.

Hey, couldn't you get us some more food? I'd love some fruit if possible.

I want to bathe. It's been ages since I had a proper bath.

I'd like some perfume. I've run out of what I was using.

The women made unreasonable demands one after another. Thomas agreed, but I felt ashamed.

Thomas and his family were seen as slaves whenever they stepped outside.

Slaves couldn't go shopping freely—they'd have no choice but to steal. If they were caught stealing, they wouldn't get off lightly. We shouldn't be making such unreasonable requests of them.

I looked to Prince Henri to stop them, but he didn't intervene.

Normally, it was the prince's duty to guide and discipline his companions. But he was intoxicated with heroism, his head in the clouds. His only concern was defeating enemies spectacularly, blind to everything else.

Even in the final battle with the Demon King, I had suggested a surprise attack, but the prince insisted on a direct duel, and as a result, he took attacks that nearly killed him.

Elizabeth's healing saved him just in time, but had we fought cunningly—even dishonorably—we could have won without risking his life.

I understood the need to maintain royal dignity, but this battle wasn’t about him alone—the fate of the kingdom, perhaps all humanity, was at stake. Now wasn’t the time for justice or chivalry; those could come later.

Moreover, the prince saw Thomas and his family as inferior, mere slaves from a destroyed nation. This arrogance spread to Elizabeth and the others, encouraging their selfishness.

Yet Thomas didn't refuse the three women's unreasonable requests. After going out for about two hours with Michelle and Sarah, he returned with not just the barrel and salt, but actually managed to procure perfume, fruit, and water for bathing.

I couldn’t imagine the hardships he endured to obtain these items. Yet the three women complained the fruit was too sour, the fragrance displeasing, and the bathwater insufficient.

Your Highness, regarding the magic ship—I believe something can be arranged.

At Thomas' words, the prince's face lit up.

Really?

Yes, the magic ship should be ready tomorrow. Please rest well tonight. Also, I've brought wine to celebrate your victory. Please, enjoy it together.

Thomas offered us a bottle of wine and cups.

Ah, how thoughtful of you. Truly considerate.

The prince took the wine bottle and poured the red liquid into a cup.

To victory.

After raising the cup briefly, Prince Henri downed it in one gulp.

Your Highness, may I have some too?

Elizabeth approached the prince, with Ekaterina and Ryoki following.

I was about to warn them not to drink too much, but spoiling the victory celebration felt tactless. Besides, that amount wouldn’t get them drunk.

Romelia, will you drink as well?

Perhaps feeling the effects of wine after so long, the prince cheerfully held up the bottle.

No, I'm fine.

I didn't particularly like alcohol. Elizabeth and the others passed the same cup around, their cheeks slightly flushed as they snuggled up to the prince.

When Elizabeth and the others first joined our party, I felt anxious watching them near the prince. Now, I felt nothing. He had initiated our separation, and I could confidently say ending our engagement was right. Our feelings had long since faded.

Do you not like alcohol, Lady Romelia?

Thomas looked troubled when I declined the wine.

Please don’t worry about me.

No, let me bring you something else to drink.

Thomas, ever considerate, offered to fetch something else. I felt guilty that my preferences caused him extra trouble.

Wait, Thomas. Please let me have a sip after all, Your Highness.

Not wanting to trouble Thomas further, I took the cup from the prince and raised it toward him.

Thomas, thank you for your thoughtfulness.

As I downed the red liquid, the alcohol burned my throat, nearly making me choke. Though I disliked alcohol, I managed not to grimace and smiled, pretending it was delicious.

Thomas' face relaxed with relief as he exchanged glances with Michelle. Michelle looked melancholic for some reason—I wondered what was wrong.

I wanted to ask, but the wine hit me harder than expected after so long without drinking. My head was cloudy—I must have been truly exhausted.

We'd been under constant tension until the Demon King's assassination. Despite not having escaped enemy territory yet, achieving our long-cherished goal released the tension, and all the accumulated fatigue finally manifested.

Your Highness, may I rest first?

We always took turns standing watch. Usually, we drew lots to decide the order, but tonight I asked to sleep first.

Ah, that's fine. I'll take the first watch.

While enjoying the remaining wine, the prince readily agreed.

Lady Romelia, thank you so much.

As I grew drowsy and began to nod off, Thomas expressed his gratitude once more.

Really, thank you so much.

Likewise, Michelle bowed her head. Thomas and Michelle were holding each other's hands. They seemed so happy together. I envied them. I wished the prince and I could have been like that.

Big sister, let's play again tomorrow, okay?

Little Sarah approached. Too sleepy to speak, I simply extended my pinky to seal a promise.

I linked it with Sarah's tiny pinky to make our promise. Such an adorable child. Would I ever have a child like her someday?

Just as my eyes were closing, I heard something fall. Turning toward the sound, I saw that the prince, Elizabeth, and the others had collapsed.

Wondering what had happened to the night watch, I attempted to wake the prince, but my body wouldn't budge.

Prince Henri, may fortune be with you. Please, defeat the Demon King's Army and avenge our suffering.

Thomas, who had been standing in front of me, looked at the prince. Michelle gripped Sarah's hand as tears streamed down her face.

Why are you crying?

Sleep overcame me before I could finish the question.