Chapter 02
“Alright! Let’s start another energetic day!”
The morning sunlight streamed through the window.
After confirming it was a nice sunny day, I gathered the laundry and headed outside.
Since I was the only resident left in the village, I had to do all the washing myself, even if the pile of laundry was almost as big as I was.
Suddenly, I remembered what had happened a year ago, when all the villagers disappeared.
“Uncle Parnel! Uncle Amers!! Ma’am!!”
Even though it was the rainy season, it was far too quiet.
I ran all over the village calling for everyone, but no one answered.
Every house I opened was empty, including Uncle Zimmer’s.
“Uncle…! Where did you go? Uncle Zimmer!!!”
The rain grew heavier, and after failing to find a single villager, I had no choice but to return home.
Then I noticed things I hadn’t seen when I had rushed out earlier.
There was a sack of jerky in the yard, probably made from meat Uncle Zimmer had hunted.
Around the house were traps that looked like they had been set by Uncle Parnel to keep wild animals away.
There was also a knitted dress that had clearly been made by Aunt Piolet, and Uncle Amers’ library key was sitting on the table.
Had something really happened that forced them to leave in such a hurry?
Looking at the things my neighbors had left behind for me, I decided to wait until they returned.
One day.
Two days.
A month…
Before I knew it, an entire year had passed with me as the only person left in the village.
At first, I thought they’d be back soon.
But as time passed, I couldn’t help feeling lonely.
How could they leave a child all alone for this long?
If it weren’t for that new friend I made—even though they weren’t from the village… I might have cried from loneliness every single day.
Anyway, there was only one thing I could do.
After struggling to hang up the freshly washed laundry, I hugged a red sugar beet as thick as my arm and pulled it out of the ground with all my strength.
Store as much food as possible!
Pickled red sugar beets could last for up to three years, and since they were high in calories, even a small amount could sustain someone for a long time.
The best method was drying them into pills.
Those could be stored for ten whole years.
The great famine will begin in two years and last for four. As long as I survive that period, I’ll be fine.
The reason I was working so hard to store food was because of the “Four Years of the Great Famine” that would occur during Parmes’ reign of tyranny.
As expected, the poor suffered the most.
Countless people starved to death.
To be honest, the famine itself wasn’t Parmes’ fault.
But all the people’s resentment was directed toward the tyrant Parmes.
And, true to his title as a tyrant, Parmes executed rebellious nobles and citizens in the cities as examples.
It was absolute chaos.
Everyone had a miserable future waiting for them.
A child like me had no power to stop that tragedy.
Besides, surviving in the countryside would be much easier than in the cities.
So I planned to stay here until the famine ended.
Preparing by making red sugar beet pills.
It would be a little…
Or perhaps very…
Lonely.
So today, once again, I spent the entire day making red sugar beet pills and doing housework.
After working nonstop until my small hands were wrinkled, I dozed off.
A sound from outside woke me.
Knock.
“…Did I imagine that?”
Just as I was about to close my eyes again in the deathly silence…
Someone knocked on the door.
Knock knock-knock knock knock♪
Huh?
That knocking pattern…
It was a familiar, nostalgic sound.
Without thinking, I threw open the front door.
The last thing I saw was a large hand reaching through the doorway.
Then I lost consciousness.
“…Please wake up.”
It was quite some time before I regained consciousness.
“…Where… am I?”
My eyes were covered with a cloth, leaving me unable to see.
Someone grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.
The smooth, polished stone floor beneath my feet felt cold and hard.
I had only opened the door after hearing that signal…
Was I kidnapped?
“Who… who are you, sirs?”
I reached up to remove the blindfold, but stopped.
What if they’re kidnappers?
Seeing their faces might only make things worse.
“We wished to escort you respectfully, but circumstances did not allow it. This procedure is necessary before you may stand before that person. We ask for your forgiveness.”
The voice was stiff, neat, and polite.
The sort of voice a knight would have.
Knights?
Sure, his tone was refined, but kidnappers couldn’t possibly be decent people.
“Respectfully,” my foot!
“Cough, cough… I have… tuberculosis… cough, cough… I’m going to die…”
I hurriedly pretended to be seriously ill to buy time.
The men ignored me completely and continued leading me forward.
Just from the feel of the hard stone beneath my feet, I knew this wasn’t Galnem Village anymore.
This was a city.
“Don’t you feel sorry for me?! Please let me go!”
No matter what I said, they remained silent as if they’d agreed beforehand.
My imagination ran wild with tragic scenarios.
Being sold into a salt mine.
Being forced to catch shrimp.
Every horrible possibility I could think of.
What kind of romance fantasy heroine gets sold into slavery at eleven without even getting to attend a single tea party?!
Waaah!
Finally, after walking across the hard floor for what felt like forever, we stopped.
Although I was blindfolded, I could tell it was daytime.
The room was brightly lit.
The echoes of footsteps suggested an enormous hall.
“Young Lady…”
The man behind me spoke.
I flinched.
They kidnapped me, and now they’re calling me “Young Lady”?
“…You are about to meet a great person. Prepare yourself.”
A great villain.
A great kidnapper.
A great slave trader.
No matter which one I imagined, it was terrifying.
A moment later, I instinctively shrank my shoulders.
A tremendous pressure suddenly descended upon me.
It was something I hadn’t felt during the entire journey.
W-What… is this…?
I heard the people beside me gradually stepping back.
Orderly, rhythmic footsteps echoed.
Then someone slowly approached me.
A man’s heavy footsteps.
“…”
I was so frightened that I couldn’t bring myself to remove the blindfold.
Then…
Warm fingers brushed against the back of my hand.
I felt a firm touch behind my head.
The cloth slowly came loose.
I shrank back.
The black cloth covering my vision slipped away.
“…”
Perhaps because my eyes had been covered for so long, everything remained blurry.
Even so, I could tell this was a luxurious, magnificent room.
Like the office of a great noble…
Or royalty.
The tall man standing before me slowly lowered his hand.
His clothes made the sound of metal, as though he wore lightweight armor.
I strained my eyes to see his face.
Gradually, the outline hidden by the bright light came into focus.
Beautiful silver hair.
Burning crimson eyes.
“…!”
My mouth slowly fell open.
But no words came out.
I was simply too shocked.
A cold smile rested on the man’s red lips.
Only after several long moments did I finally shout.
“Uncle Zimmer?!!!”
His hair color was different.
His eye color was different.
But…
The man standing before me was definitely Uncle Zimmer.
His sharp nose, straight as a sword’s edge.
His cool eyes.
His perfectly sculpted jawline.
That unbelievably handsome face I admired every time I saw him.
But…
Why was Uncle Zimmer…
wearing a crown?
I stared blankly at the crown on his head.
“…”
As if he had read my thoughts, he spoke.
“You seem surprised, Arinel.”
Then he reached out and gently patted my head.
The same warm, comforting touch that had always made me feel safe.
This feeling…
It was definitely Uncle Zimmer.
But at the same time…
The Uncle Zimmer standing before me didn’t seem like Uncle Zimmer at all.
His hair.
His eyes.
Even the aura surrounding him.
Everything was different.
What was going on?
My heart pounded violently.
He slowly opened his mouth.
“Still… I hope you’re happy to see me. The reason I moved the plan forward was because I couldn’t bear watching you suffer any longer.”
I couldn’t understand a single word he was saying.
“It’s late, but let me introduce myself properly.”
“My real name is…”
A tyrant rebelled and became the ruler of Albreon.
He was a cruel yet beautiful monarch.
The four ministers who helped him usher in the age of tyranny were feared throughout the Empire.
“…Parmes Aslet.”
“The Emperor.”
Parmes—
Parmes Aslet—
Parmes Aslet—
The Emperor—
His name echoed over and over in the darkness of my mind.
“…!!!!”
That tyrant?!
