Chapter 01
Prologue
The pub was loud.
In a dark corner of the establishment sat a playwright, a stage actor, an opera singer, and a poet. The four artists were engaged in a discussion on profound topics.
Does eternal love exist? Are humans truly the most vile creatures in the world?
One of them—and the main subject of this gathering—Chloe, listened carefully to her friends. Then she muttered,
“Those embarrassing so-called artists…”
Glancing around at the other patrons, Chloe half-covered her face as if ashamed. And understandably so—this gathering was meant to comfort her and condemn her ex-boyfriend.
A few days ago, Chloe and her friends had stormed the scene and caught him cheating red-handed.
The conversation, which had started on lofty themes, was gradually becoming crude.
“Chloe, I told you from the start that bastard gave me a bad feeling.”
Andrea, one of Chloe’s worst friends, clutched his head as if the situation was unbearable.
Andrea was a star actor from a famous theater troupe. He was also the one who had smacked Chloe’s ex on the back of the head on her behalf.
True to his reputation as a method actor, not only his facial muscles but even his fingertips carried emotion. He knew exactly how to deliver a glancing blow that would make the recipient feel utterly miserable.
“I should’ve killed that bastard on the spot. I knew something was off about his eyes the moment I saw him.”
“No, Andrea. You definitely said before that he seemed refreshing and bold.”
“When did I ever say that?”
“I know you were drunk, but you can’t just make things up.”
Julia corrected him while trying to calm him down. Though she intended to whisper, as the group’s opera singer, her voice resonated differently. Even when whispering, her words carried clearly. She was someone occasionally summoned even by royalty.
People at nearby tables kept glancing over. The now heavily drunk method actor had started crying, sobbing sorrowfully. His emotional swings came one after another without pause.
“I trusted you all… and I knew it would end like this…”
“Andrea. Whether you approved or not has absolutely nothing to do with Chloe’s choices. That’s just your inflated ego talking.”
At last, even Benjamin—the quietest of the group—joined in. It was ironic that the most cynical among them was a poet who only wrote love poems.
Meanwhile, the great actor, fully immersed in his own internal monologue, continued his dramatic aside.
“That idiot with eyes on the soles of his feet. Chloe may be a bit cold, but she’s such a great person… This is all because she only looks at faces when choosing men.”
“I admit it.”
“Yeah, I admit that too.”
Chloe, who had been quietly listening, looked dumbfounded.
“What?”
If she had really only cared about looks, she wouldn’t feel this miserable. She shook her head repeatedly.
“That’s absolutely not true.”
It wasn’t that she only looked at faces.
She just hadn’t looked at personality either.
At that, the three who had been criticizing suddenly fell silent. Six eyes turned toward Chloe at once. Julia broke the silence to correct her again.
“Chloe.”
“Yeah?”
“You do care about looks.”
“….”
“Out of everyone here, you care the most.”
Chloe narrowed her eyes and stared at them. The two avoided her gaze, but Benjamin did not.
“Chloe, your expression right now looks like dried bar snacks.”
“…You did call me here to comfort me, right?”
“……”
“Well, I’d be really grateful if that were the case.”
“……”
“People who pretend to worry while teasing are worse than those who just openly mock.”
Chloe often thought she should leave this chaotic group someday. Maybe then she could live a normal life like everyone else, seeing sunlight and functioning in society.
But after glaring at them briefly, she let out a small laugh. Raising her vodka glass, she clinked it with theirs one by one. After all, it was still far better than being cooped up alone in her basement studio.
Chloe Liberta.
Recently, she had been suffering from a severe slump.
She was a playwright who mainly wrote lyrical musical dramas like fairy tales. She had never been hugely successful, but she had built a modest reputation—enough to make a living.
But last year, the plays she put on stage failed miserably, one after another. Since then, she hadn’t been able to write even a single proper line or note for quite some time. To make matters worse, her brief relationship had ended in a mess, leaving her struggling even in daily life.
And there was an even more serious problem her friends didn’t know about.
Recently, the manuscript she had painstakingly written had been stolen.
There was a very likely suspect. The only people who had access to her studio were her long-time patron and her boyfriend. Still, she chose to keep this to herself for now.
If I tell them, there’s no way they’ll stay quiet.
The great actor had more than one trick up his sleeve. He could pretend to hit but not hit—and also pretend not to hit while actually striking.
The opera singer could make your ears bleed just by shouting.
And the poet could shoot venomous barbs with his tongue.
If she told them, regardless of the truth, blood would surely be spilled first.
“Yeah… this is all my fault. What’s the point of saying more?”
Even if she hadn’t expected much, that guy had still been worse than expected. It reminded her that while you can meet anyone, you shouldn’t just date anyone.
After briefly reflecting on her life, Chloe sighed tiredly.
Just then—
A young boy, who clearly didn’t belong in a place like this, entered the pub, looking around as if searching for someone. Benjamin noticed him and gestured.
Except for Chloe, everyone in the group came from wealthy families. The boy worked at Benjamin’s estate.
Benjamin generously handed him several silver coins, and all eyes turned to the paper he received.
As they read the common language written on the yellowed sheet, they all sighed at once.
At dawn on the 13th. Engagement between the Kingdom Army and Fitzmark forces at the border. War declared between the two nations.
The same news began spreading to other tables.
The lively, indulgent atmosphere quickly filled with murmurs.
Most people reacted with shock and unease, but some said it was inevitable.
After all, neighboring countries sharing borders were rarely on good terms. And between Edelrin and Fitzmark, the history of bad blood ran deeper than any other kingdoms on the continent.
Meanwhile, Chloe stared intently at the paper.
Her expression gradually turned serious.
Andrea leaned in and whispered,
“Chloe. What are you thinking? Your eyes look strange.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hey… just because one relationship failed doesn’t mean your whole life is over…”
“I get it, so just shut up for a second. I need to think.”
“I feel like this is not a good time for thinking…”
But Chloe said nothing more.
A faint light began to return to her pale blue eyes.
She had been stagnant for a long time—so much so that even her friends were worried. She had been dry and unstable, like a brittle branch ready to snap.
And now, a strange heat flickered in her gaze.
Sensing the change, Andrea began to cry again.
“…Our Chloe. My poor baby. She’s completely lost it.”
Chloe often called her friends “those identical fools, like triplets,” clicking her tongue at them. When she felt especially embarrassed, she would even pretend not to know them while walking outside.
But among those in their professional circle, there were many who knew Chloe well.
To them, she was no different.
They called them quadruplets.
In the end, she was just another member of this selfish, half-unhinged group.
The sun was scorching, and visibility was poor.
Dust swirled everywhere, and not a single blade of grass grew beneath their feet.
It wasn’t because this was some desert at the edge of the continent.
It was because countless explosions and gunfire had turned the frontline into a wasteland.
Taking advantage of a temporary lull, Chloe and the others moved outside, holding their breath yet working quickly.
They were searching corpses for belongings—identifying the dead so they could notify their units and families.
After examining a body, Chloe used a knife to cut out the name embroidered on the uniform.
Nearby, wounded soldiers were being supported, but there was no capacity to retrieve the dead.
Then—
Shielding her eyes from the harsh sunlight, Chloe looked ahead.
The sight wasn’t unfamiliar.
The dirt-covered dark khaki uniform belonged to a Fitzmark soldier.
But there was something unusual.
His chest was rising and falling—barely.
Chloe stepped closer.
“…Excuse me.”
“……”
“Did he pass out? He’s still breathing.”
She looked around for input, but everyone was too busy preparing for a rapid retreat.
So she cautiously waved a hand in front of his face.
“—Ugh!”
Before her hand even reached him, the man’s eyes snapped open.
He twisted her wrist behind her back and forced her to the ground in one swift motion, placing a finger against her lips.
As if he had been waiting for this moment.
His movements were flawless, his gaze sharp like blue flames.
Suppressing her breath, Chloe whispered,
“W-what kind of person attacks a civilian from an enemy country without warning…?”
“……”
“…seriously?”
“You don’t exactly look like a civilian.”
He glanced at the dagger she had been holding.
Despite being wounded, his voice was calm—too calm.
But there was a dark stain at his side where a bullet had grazed him.
Chloe stammered,
“This isn’t for that kind of use—”
He ignored her and began searching her body with precise, methodical movements.
She flinched, but his touch was impersonal.
Weapons and belongings spilled out from her clothes.
Even to herself, she looked suspicious.
“Who are you?”
“That’s not mine—”
“Answer.”
She hurried to explain herself.
But at that moment—
Boom. Crash.
Explosions erupted again after days of silence.
The sound was getting closer.
The unidentified man grabbed her shoulders.
Both of them stiffened.
“Get down!”
There was no time to think.
They rolled across the ground, clutching each other.
Each time his body pressed against hers, it felt like her lungs were being crushed, but Chloe gritted her teeth and kept moving—desperate to survive.
Then—
A blinding flash turned the world white.
They froze and exchanged a silent glance.
His chest tightened.
After a moment, he steadied his breath and whispered near her ear,
“Cover your ears. Unless you want your eardrums blown out.”
“……”
“Hurry. No time.”
“….”
That wasn’t a normal shell.
Though classified, Chloe had heard rumors.
Fitzmark was about to deploy large-scale fire magic.
She covered her ears and shut her eyes tight.
He immediately threw himself over her.
BOOM!
An explosion unlike anything before shook the world.
The deafening roar pierced through their hands, again and again.
It felt like an eternity before the sound faded and smoke filled the air.
From afar came the sickening, familiar smell of something burning.
Chloe bit her lip.
That smell… someone I know is gone.
Sand struck against the man’s back with a hollow sound.
They stayed like that—
Holding onto each other—
Waiting for it all to pass.
Until the sun set and the stars appeared.
A few days later, a message arrived at the Fitzmark royal palace.
Urgent report.
Secret Commander A.F.F. Missing in action during operation.
It was the 183rd day since Chloe had arrived at the relief camp.
