chapter 1
The night was bitterly cold.
Deep within the mountains, a damp cave stretched endlessly into darkness. Shadows clung to the stone walls as soldiers dug through the frozen earth, the sharp sound of metal striking rock echoing through the cavern.
A young girl stood nearby, gripping a flickering torch. The flame trembled in her hand, casting unsteady light across her pale face.
"So… we're really close to finding Monesa's grave?" the Princess asked quietly.
"Yes, Your Highness," Esabell replied, unable to hide the excitement in her voice. "Once we find her, humanity may finally have hope again."
One of the soldiers let out a dry laugh as he wiped sweat from his forehead.
"We haven't found anything yet," Marco muttered. "Maybe save the celebrating until we actually do."
Esabell shot him an irritated look.
"It's written in the sacred texts. Whoever awakens Monesa's soul will be granted an audience with the God of Justice."
"And let me guess," Marco said with a grin, "the god magically fixes the world?"
Esabell lifted an old, worn book against her chest.
"He can heal the cursed lands… and save humanity."
Marco opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly a shout echoed from deeper inside the cave.
"Sir! We found something!"
The soldiers immediately rushed forward.
Marco smirked as he climbed down into the pit.
"Well, let's hope this isn't another pile of bones."
The Princess carefully followed after him, Esabell close behind.
The moment Esabell saw the body, she froze.
"…It's her."
Her voice barely came out as a whisper.
She pointed toward the woman's forehead, where a strange symbol was carved into pale skin.
"The curse mark… This is really Monesa."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Even in death, the woman looked strangely untouched by time.
Esabell's eyes trembled with desperate hope.
"If we awaken her soul… maybe the curse can finally be reversed."
The Princess slowly stepped closer.
Her breath caught as she reached toward Monesa's cold hand—
Then screams tore through the cave.
Dark figures dropped from the shadows above.
Steel flashed.
Blood splattered across the stone floor.
Soldiers fell one after another, some dying instantly, others screaming in agony.
The Princess spun around and drew her blade.
An assassin stood before her, calm amidst the chaos.
His eyes swept over the fallen soldiers before settling on her.
"So you're the Blood of Peace," he said softly. "Interesting."
The Princess tightened her grip on her weapon.
"You're after Monesa."
"And if I am?"
"You're not taking her."
The assassin chuckled quietly.
"You're brave. Most people would run by now."
"Fight me."
For the first time, he looked amused.
"…Alright."
The assassin moved first.
His blade flashed through the darkness, fast enough to slice the air before the Princess could fully react.
Steel collided with a violent clang.
The impact sent a sharp tremor through her arm.
He was strong.
Far stronger than she expected.
The Princess slid backward across the stone floor before forcing herself steady again.
The assassin tilted his head slightly.
"You're quicker than the rumors said."
"And you talk too much."
She rushed him first this time.
Her sword cut toward his neck, but he leaned away at the last second. She spun immediately, slashing toward his side.
He blocked.
Their blades scraped together violently, sparks flashing between them.
The Princess pushed harder, forcing him backward step by step.
The assassin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then suddenly—
He vanished.
Her eyes widened.
Behind me—
She turned just in time to block another strike aimed at her back.
The force nearly knocked the sword from her hands.
The assassin attacked again immediately.
And again.
And again.
His movements were relentless, each strike faster than the last.
The Princess barely kept up, blocking blow after blow as sparks burst around them.
The cave echoed with steel.
She ducked beneath a slash aimed at her throat and drove her elbow into his stomach.
The assassin stumbled back slightly.
The Princess didn't hesitate.
She kicked his knee hard enough to force him lower, then swung her sword toward his chest.
At the last moment, he twisted aside.
The blade sliced through his cloak instead.
"Hm," he murmured. "Not bad."
The Princess glared at him, breathing harder now.
"You sound disappointed."
He smiled faintly.
"I expected royalty to fight worse."
The Princess lunged again, fury burning in her eyes.
This time she attacked without pause.
Her blade came from above.
Then the side.
Then low toward his legs.
The assassin blocked every strike, but for the first time, she forced him backward across the cave.
The soldiers nearby stared in shock.
Even Marco looked stunned.
"She's actually pushing him back…"
The assassin suddenly caught her sword with his own and twisted violently.
The Princess lost her grip.
Her blade flew across the cave floor.
Esabell gasped.
"Princess!"
The assassin moved instantly toward her throat—
But the Princess grabbed his wrist before the blade could reach her neck.
For a brief second, they struggled face to face.
His eyes widened slightly.
She slammed her forehead into his nose.
Crunch.
The assassin staggered backward.
Blood dripped from his nose as he laughed quietly.
"That hurt."
The Princess grabbed a fallen soldier's spear and charged him again.
The assassin dodged the first strike narrowly.
The spear shattered against stone.
She used the broken weapon anyway, swinging the sharp wooden end toward his face.
He caught it midair.
Then drove his knee into her stomach.
Pain exploded through her body.
The Princess coughed violently but still refused to fall.
The assassin studied her silently for a moment.
"You should stop."
She wiped blood from her mouth.
"Afraid you'll lose?"
For the first time, the assassin smiled properly.
Then he disappeared again.
The Princess immediately turned—
Too slow.
A hidden blade cut across her cheek.
Blood ran down her face.
Before she could counterattack, he struck her side hard enough to send her crashing into the cave wall.
Stone cracked behind her.
Her vision blurred for a moment.
"Princess!" Marco shouted.
But she forced herself back onto her feet.
The assassin looked genuinely surprised now.
"You're still standing?"
The Princess picked up her sword again with shaking hands.
"As long as I breathe."
For a moment, silence filled the cave.
Then the assassin sighed softly.
"…How annoying."
He moved faster than before.
Almost too fast to follow.
The Princess blocked one strike—
Then another—
But the third slipped through her defense.
Pain tore through her shoulder.
The fourth hit her stomach.
The fifth sent her crashing onto the ground.
Her sword slid from her fingers.
Everything spun.
She tried to stand again—
But her body refused.
Marco rushed toward her.
"Princess, enough!"
Esabell's voice trembled.
"Please stop! Your blood is too important!"
The assassin walked toward Monesa's body calmly.
The Princess reached toward her fallen sword weakly.
"No…"
The assassin lifted Monesa into his arms.
Then he glanced back at the Princess one final time.
This time, there was something different in his eyes.
Respect.
"…You fought well," he said quietly.
Then he disappeared into the darkness.
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Two Days Later
The Princess sat silently inside a moving carriage, staring out the window as forests passed by in a blur.
Esabell sat across from her nervously.
"We'll find Monesa again," she said softly. "I'm sure of it."
No response.
Marco broke the silence instead.
"We'll arrive at the palace in a few hours. The King ordered a celebration tonight."
Esabell blinked.
"A ball? That actually sounds kind of fun…"
The Princess finally spoke.
"Then you can take my place."
Esabell nearly choked.
"W-What?!"
Marco burst into laughter.
"Oh? Careful, Esabell. People lose their heads over comments like that."
"I didn't mean it like that!"
"Relax," the Princess sighed. "She's joking."
Marco leaned back with a grin.
"She'd better be."
Silence returned as the carriage continued toward the capital.
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The ballroom doors opened.
Music softened almost instantly as nobles turned to stare.
The Princess stepped into the hall wearing a deep blue gown that shimmered beneath the golden chandeliers. Her orange hair was pinned neatly into a bun, though a few loose strands framed her tired face.
Whispers followed her wherever she walked.
She approached the throne and bowed her head.
"Good evening, Father. I apologize for arriving late."
The King smiled warmly.
Too warmly.
"Flora," he said gently. "It's good to see you again after all these months."
Her shoulders stiffened slightly.
"We have much to discuss."
"…Of course."
━━━━━━━━━━
Cold wind swept across the balcony.
The King sat calmly while Flora remained standing before him.
"Where is Monesa?" he asked.
Flora lowered her gaze.
"We lost her."
The King's smile disappeared instantly.
"…You what?"
"We'll recover her soon."
Suddenly, he stood.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
His voice echoed across the balcony.
"That body could have given us everything!"
He stepped closer, eyes burning with anger.
"Power. Influence. Control."
Flora remained silent.
The King's expression twisted with disgust.
"You really are just like your mother."
His words cut deeper than any blade.
"Useless."
Flora clenched her fists but said nothing.
"Find Monesa," he said coldly.
Then his voice lowered.
"Because next time… your mother pays the price."
Flora's eyes widened slightly.
The King turned away.
"Don't look at me like that," he said calmly. "Punishment is necessary."
Then he left her alone on the balcony.
Slowly, Flora sat down in the nearest chair.
With trembling fingers, she pulled a silver necklace from beneath her dress and opened it.
Inside was a tiny portrait of her mother.
Her expression softened instantly.
━━━━━━━━━━
Years Earlier
A younger Flora sat beside a bed, tightly holding her mother's weak hand.
The room smelled of medicine.
And death.
Footsteps approached.
Flora looked up quietly as her uncle entered the room.
"Hello, Princess."
His voice sounded gentle.
Too gentle.
"Unfortunately, your father has passed away," he continued. "And your mother is far too ill to rule."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"As her brother, it is now my duty to protect both of you… as King."
Young Flora said nothing.
The man smiled faintly.
"I hope we'll get along until the Queen awakens."
━━━━━━━━━━
Present
Fireworks exploded across the night sky.
Their colors reflected in Flora's green eyes as she closed the necklace tightly in her hand.
"I'll save you, Mother," she whispered.
"No matter what it takes."
Then suddenly—
A shadow dropped onto the balcony behind her.
... END OF CHAPTER 1.....