Episode 1
“Finally, he’s dead.”
Imperial Year 723.
The Imperial Palace in the dead of winter.
Crowds pressed against the fortress walls, mourning the emperor’s death, but the boy who uttered those words watched the coffin being sealed with an emotionless face.
“Y-Your Highness! You mustn’t say such things. What if someone hears you?”
“They’d understand.”
“Your Highness!”
The boy with violet eyes and black hair stood as neatly composed as his blank expression.
“Do you believe a father who burdened his child with countless scandals deserves to be mourned?”
The young boy rubbed his tired eyes.
“You should rest too. You handled all of Father’s aftermath. Isn’t this freedom at last?”
“Wh-What? N-No, Your Highness. I’m so heartbroken I could die…! Please don’t say such things.”
The boy smirked at his aide’s pale face.
“Really? Judging by your complexion, you’ll die of overwork first.”
The aide couldn’t respond.
He had carried a stack of documents throughout the entire funeral.
“So, how far have Father’s lovers been dealt with?”
“Most were sent away with compensation. We secured firm oaths to ensure nothing damages His Late Majesty’s reputation.”
“I see.”
The boy folded his arms, looking displeased.
For someone barely in his teens, he wore the expression of one who had already seen through the world.
The emperor had died young from chronic illness, but during his short life he had sown countless romantic scandals.
The boy’s name was Kazen Huonis.
The only son of the late emperor—and the sole crown prince who would inherit the throne.
On the day his father’s funeral ended, he took in the sight of falling snow.
“…This should suffice as a final courtesy. We’re returning to the palace.”
Kazen removed his stifling leather gloves.
He felt only fatigue—eager to conclude this tedious ceremony.
“What’s next on the schedule?”
“You are to have audiences with the Five Great Houses, in order.”
“Once I ascend the throne, I’ll abolish audiences with the Five Houses.”
“Y-Your Highness!”
“That’s better than abolishing the Five Houses themselves, isn’t it?”
“You absolutely must not say such things!”
The Seven Heroes of the Empire.
Including the imperial Huonis family, their names had been recorded in history for ages.
Long ago, they had slain the great evil that swallowed the continent and laid the foundation of the Empire.
<The Seven Houses of Radiance>
The Imperial House, Huonis of Light
Perillei of the East
Soltablume of the West
Yerakan of the South
Rut of the North
Jabeldique of the Mage Tower
And Clurion
However, “Clurion” remained only in name—a phantom house, not a living bloodline.
The seventh hero, Yuritie Clurion, had disappeared during the Great War 700 years ago.
Kazen considered that fortunate.
Five great houses were troublesome enough—six would have made the balance of power even more inconvenient.
But in this generation, an anomaly had appeared.
“That woman. Is she truly a descendant of Yuritie Clurion?”
“The Mage Tower confirmed that the aura dissolved in her blood matches.”
Kazen let out a dry sigh.
<The Vanished Hero, Yuritie Clurion>
A figure adored across the continent and the foremost subject of academic research.
After 700 years, the hero’s descendant had appeared.
The Second Empress.
The woman who created the unprecedented system of a second empress and seized the position after driving out his mother.
The only reason she couldn’t be expelled entirely was the accursed weight of the name “descendant of Hero Yuritie.”
“Keep a close watch on that woman. For someone claiming Yuritie Clurion’s blood, there are too many suspicious points.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Thud, thud, thud.
A grand six-horse carriage thundered into the palace.
“It seems she knows we’re talking about her.”
Kazen narrowed his violet eyes.
The carriage stopped, and a woman stepped out.
Dressed far too flamboyantly for a state funeral.
“Oh dear! It seems this empress is terribly late.”
With a flutter, the Second Empress opened her fan and smiled.
“Let’s go, Roil.”
“If you leave like this, won’t your mother be saddened?”
Kazen’s face twisted in irritation as he ignored her.
“I have prepared a gift for Your Highness. Aren’t you curious?”
Suppressing his anger, Kazen continued walking.
“It’s a play attendant for Your Highness!”
In an instant, killing intent flashed as Kazen turned.
“Who would want such—!”
Thud.
The empress pushed a little girl forward.
“Isn’t she adorable?”
The child stepped out hesitantly.
Wrapped in a soft fur cloak, pink-cheeked.
Blonde hair. Golden eyes.
She looked about ten—cute and timid.
Her nervous gaze met his.
Kazen’s brow furrowed in displeasure.
“H-Hello, Crown Prince. My name is Tie—”
“Not necessary.”
Kazen’s response was cold.
After studying the girl briefly, he looked at the Second Empress with open contempt.
“Take her back.”
With only that, he turned and left.
“…Pfft!”
Watching him go, the Second Empress burst into laughter.
“Puhahaha! Did you see that? The foolish crown prince who can’t even restrain his temper!”
Her mood brightened at his anger.
She gripped Tie’s shoulders tightly.
“It won’t be easy.”
She whispered softly, curling her lips into a sly smile.
“From now on, your task is to monitor the crown prince. Observe his every move and report it all to me. Understood?”
“Y-Yes…! I’ll work hard! Tie wants to help the Fairy Empress!”
“What? Pfft! Child, I’m not a fairy. I’m the Empress—how many times must I tell you?”
“Ah! I’m sorry. You shine like a fairy, so I couldn’t help myself…”
The empress smiled in satisfaction and stroked the girl’s golden hair.
“As expected of the most clever child. There may be something to that.”
“Mmffmff. (Of course, you swindler.)”
Ventriloquism slipped from the girl’s mouth.
“What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you. Do you have trouble pronouncing words?”
The empress tilted her head, examining her teeth.
“I said I’m honored!”
“Hmph. I am generous with praise.”
“It’s an honor!”
“Follow me. I’ll personally take you to where you’ll be staying.”
As the empress turned, Tie discreetly raised her middle finger inside her fluffy cloak.
“By the way, what was your real name again?”
The empress suddenly turned back.
Tie swiftly lowered her finger and smiled sweetly.
“My full name?”
“Yes. If you’re to become my hands and feet, I should at least know your true name.”
At that moment, Tie’s lips curled upward brightly.
‘It’s a name you know well.’
The one you’ve so proudly sold.
“My name is Yuritie.”
The legendary missing hero—Yuritie Clurion.
‘I’ know very well where she is.
Because I am her.
‘You’ve been living quite comfortably, traitors.’
As I walked toward the Crown Prince’s palace, I glanced at the statues of the Seven Heroes in the palace courtyard.
‘I’ didn’t disappear.
I was betrayed by my comrades—and died, only to awaken again.
Seven hundred years in a strange new world.
‘This imperial house.’
‘This wealth.’
‘This honor.’
If all of it was built upon betraying me, then now—
‘It’s all mine.’
