Imperial Capital – Imperial Guard Training Camp.
Ah! Oh! Ugh! Hiss! Mm! Ngh! Gah! Thud...!
As the air filled with pained grunts and groans, Selene flexed her fists with satisfaction. "Haa... refreshing. So many punching bags to relieve stress."
Although she had held back and refrained from using her full strength, she was still satisfied. After all, there were thousands of "sandbags" to play with!
"Hm? What's that? Any complaints?"
"N-no, ma'am!" came the weak, scattered replies.
"Did you not eat?! Say it again!"
"NO, MA'AM!!!" the soldiers shouted in unison.
"Good. Full of spirit. Today's close-combat training is over. Dismissed." With that, Selene turned and walked off, her silver hair swaying behind her.
"..."
The moment her figure vanished from sight, the soldiers finally collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, gasping for breath.
"Why did the Centurion leave so early today?"
"No idea. Maybe she had something important to do?"
"Don't overthink it. Just stay alert tonight—we don't want another surprise drill where half of us fail inspection again."
"Yeah, I'm terrified she'll pull one of her 'return visits.'"
"At least the butler should be coming soon with food, right? I'm starving."
"You're just greedy, man!"
...
After a full month of relentless training under Selene's command, her recruits were completely broken in. Every day was filled with punishing drills and unfamiliar, unconventional exercises—without a moment's rest.
The soldiers now regarded her with a mix of awe and fear. Selene's prestige had been deeply imprinted upon their hearts. She was strong, incorruptible, and disciplined—an ideal officer in every sense.
Despite the grueling regimen, they couldn't deny the results. Their progress was astounding; each day they could feel themselves growing faster, stronger, sharper.
Amid the chatter of soldiers boasting and joking about their hometowns, one particularly sturdy recruit sat quietly in the corner, wearing his full armor as he carefully penned a letter.
To my dearest Father and Mother,
Today, I suddenly felt the urge to write you, so you'll know that I'm doing well.
I've arrived safely in the Imperial Capital and have successfully joined the army—yes, the Imperial Guard itself!
I'm so happy. This is the most elite corps in the entire Empire! And best of all, the pay is the highest among all military units. Believe me, Mother, I can finally start contributing to our family. From now on, you don't have to worry about money—I'll take care of you both.
Our commanding officer in charge of training the new recruits is a tall, noble lady. Mother, you can't even imagine how beautiful she is—truly, indescribably beautiful. She's like something not of this world, a goddess descended from the heavens.
Even the prettiest girl in our village—Nia—couldn't hold a candle to her. She wouldn't even qualify to be her maid!
But our commander isn't just beautiful—she's strong. Unbelievably strong. I've never seen anyone like her. She's the perfect blend of grace and power, a warrior goddess in the flesh.
It's hard to describe how inspiring it is to watch her.
Oh, and her name—her name is Selene von Habsburg.
In this past month, Commander Selene has been strict and... well, a little sadistic, to be honest. But she's also incredibly fair and caring. Our pay, our food, our weapons—all are of the highest quality. She even provides us with extra rations out of her own pocket, including meat from Danger Beasts and some kind of special "energy drink."
At least, that's what her very serious butler told us.
...
Ah, the dinner horn's sounding. I guess I've written more than I realized.
I hope this letter reaches you safely. Believe me, Father, Mother—I won't bring shame to our family. I'll earn my honors on the battlefield and make you proud.
May His Majesty the Emperor bless us all.
Your loving son,
Urin
Imperial Calendar Year 1014
As for the "Commander Selene" the young soldier so admired—she indeed had other matters to attend to that evening. She had been invited to a banquet among the Imperial aristocracy.
The event was being held at a luxurious hotel located in the southern district of the Imperial Capital. The owner, it was said, was a retired noble veteran.
Walking down the cobblestone path, Selene gazed up at the grand structure looming in the distance. "To own such an enormous estate in the heart of the Capital... that takes real influence," she murmured, half amused, half impressed.
After the attendants confirmed her identity, Selene entered the grand hall without issue.
The moment she stepped inside, the narrow, dimly lit corridor opened into a bright and opulent banquet hall, already filled with nobles from every corner of the Empire. Many familiar faces—ladies of high birth and military officers alike—raised their glasses to greet her.
Selene returned their gestures with a polite nod. Declining the servants' assistance, she took a cup of red tea from a nearby table and quietly made her way upstairs. There, she stepped onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard and the glowing horizon beyond.
"These banquets... I'll never get used to them," she murmured softly. "If it weren't for the fact that this is Minister Chouri's retirement banquet, I wouldn't have bothered coming at all." Her crimson eyes glinted with calm amusement. "Still... with Chouri stepping down, that means Honest will soon take the stage. The Emperor probably doesn't have long left to live."
"The curtain rises, then... how entertaining."
She took a slow sip of her tea and leaned lightly against the marble railing, her expression serene and detached as she gazed down at the ballroom below. "A perfect blend of feudalism and slavery, hmm?" she muttered under her breath.
From her vantage point, Selene could see nearly everything within the hall. Her enhanced vision allowed her to peer past the open windows and thin curtains of even the highest private suites.
Across the glittering floor, dozens of young women in translucent veils moved gracefully between the tables. Their figures were slender, their features delicate, their shoulders bare. The silk fabrics they wore clung tightly around their curves, emphasizing every line of their bodies. Each carried a practiced, gentle smile—but in the depths of their eyes, Selene saw only emptiness.
The nobles, meanwhile, indulged without shame. Drinking, laughing, pawing at the girls as though they were nothing more than decorations. None seemed to find the sight unusual.
The Empire, for all its imperial grandeur, still thrived on slavery. Despite its façade of civilization and order, the buying and selling of human beings remained rampant. In nearly every major city, auctions were held openly. Selene had little doubt that most of these women came from common families—some kidnapped from foreign territories, others sold by desperate parents, or abandoned as infants, only to be passed from slaver to slaver, trained brutally, and finally sold to the highest bidder.
Selene's eyes narrowed slightly. But her expression remained calm. "Typical," she murmured. She felt no anger, only resignation. To her, this was not cruelty—merely the natural course of an imperfect world.
After all, if the Empire enslaved foreign peoples, it was only natural that foreigners enslaved Imperial citizens in return. Neither side was innocent. Both were victims of the same age.
Such is the tragedy of civilization, she thought, exhaling softly.
At that moment, the deep voice of an attendant echoed through the hall.
"The guest of honor has arrived!"
Selene straightened slightly, her gaze sharpening. "Ah... the main act appears."
"Minister Chouri has arrived!!"