Operation Solarion Assault
A carriage bearing the flag of Solarion raced down the road.
“It’s been a month since we last saw the capital.”
Emir, her short hair tied back, murmured as she gazed out the carriage window.
“Indeed, miss. The air already feels different.”
The maid Misa, sitting across from her, smiled in response.
“Does it? It feels the same to me.”
If anything, her mood sank the closer they got to the capital.
“Haa.”
Morris Dmitry.
That man kept coming to mind.
Emir clenched the hand she’d rested on the window. Her delicate brow furrowed.
“Are you alright, miss?”
Misa asked, her face etched with worry.
“I’m fine.”
Just a slight headache. Just a faint ache in her chest.
She was fine. She could endure it still.
These were the pains that had scarred over time from countless wounds inflicted by thoughts of him.
That’s what she told herself.
“Don’t worry too much, miss. The empire’s full of men, and plenty of nobles have asked for your hand.”
“You don’t have to force comfort like that.”
Emir cut off Misa’s words with a strained bright smile.
Could she ever love again? Could she endure that pain once more?
“I’m always on your side, miss.”
Misa said, straightening Emir’s collar.
“Thank you for saying that, Misa.”
That was when it happened.
Boom!
“Kyaaak!”
A deafening explosion rocked the carriage violently. Misa screamed, clutching her head.
One wheel must have shattered. The carriage tilted sharply to the side.
“What’s going on?”
Emir demanded.
But no answer came.
“Kuaaaak!”
Only screams that tore at the ears.
The stench of blood assaulted her nostrils.
“Tch!”
Emir snatched the sword she’d placed beside her for the carriage ride.
Shing.
An ambush? If so, who the hell would dare?
This wasn’t just any carriage—it belonged to one of the empire’s great lords, Solarion.
Who would have the guts to attack her carriage?
With that confidence, she’d kept the procession minimal: one carriage and a handful of escorting knights.
To assault Solarion’s name like this...
Not simple bandits.
Footsteps approached outside. Steady and disciplined—like trained soldiers.
Who? Rebels? Or... the noble faction’s troops?
Emir gritted her teeth.
She’d trained under Knight Captain Bartram, learned the sword and combat, but this was her first real fight.
Killing a person. Something she’d never experienced in her life.
But once you picked up the sword, it was inevitable.
Can I do this?
Emir swallowed hard.
“M-Miss...”
Misa trembled, looking up at her.
“Shh. Stay hidden and quiet. No matter what, don’t come out. They’re after me.”
“Y-Yes...”
The footsteps halted.
Creak!
As the door swung open, Emir thrust her sword.
Squelch!
Flesh tore, bone cracked—a gruesome sound.
“Guhk!”
A pained groan followed. The masked assailant toppled backward.
“Wh-What the?”
His comrades shouted in shock.
“To dare assault Solarion’s carriage! You’ve got some nerve!”
Emir cried out, her gleaming golden hair splattered with crimson blood.
“It’s Emir Solarion!”
“Grab that bitch!”
All eyes from the masked thugs turned to her. They brandished swords stained with the blood of her escorting knights.
“Don’t put up a pointless fight. Let’s make this clean. Easier for everyone, right?”
“Don’t make me laugh!”
The masked foes were all weaker than Emir individually.
But there were too many.
Can I handle them alone?
She feigned calm, but the tactile memory of that first kill still lingered vividly in her hand.
No time for sentiment, though.
“Capture her quick!”
The masked men charged.
The lead one swung at her arm. Emir parried swiftly and ducked low.
Whoosh!
A stab from behind sliced only empty air, aimed at her shoulder.
Emir’s blade claimed the throat of the first attacker.
“Grglk!”
Blood bubbled from the masked man’s slit neck.
The second, caught off-guard by her dodge, staggered.
Emir didn’t miss the opening.
Slash!
Her sword severed the wrist gripping his weapon.
“Kuaaaak!”
“Wh-What the hell is that?”
The leader muttered in disbelief.
Intelligence hadn’t mentioned her being this strong.
They’d accepted the mission lightly.
Wh-What is this?
Solarion’s lady had grown this much? A dragon’s spawn was a dragon after all.
“Damn it. Form a encirclement! She’s no pushover.”
At the leader’s command, the masked men took precise positions.
Emir bit her lip at the sight of their disciplined formation.
Trained regulars, as expected.
She’d taken three by surprise, but a full assault like this? No chance.
Can’t win head-on.
One option: fight while fleeing.
But Misa?
They ambushed to kidnap me anyway.
Their blades lacked killing intent. Capture, not kill.
She had to make it as difficult as possible.
They didn’t know Misa was inside yet...
Lure them away as far as I can.
Not a bad plan, even by her own judgment.
Decision made, Emir backed away slowly.
She spotted an escape route: a narrow forest path beside the road.
Her only way out.
Good.
Emir kicked off the ground.
“Target’s fleeing! Chase her down!”
She ran, ignoring the shouts behind her, pushing her legs to the limit.
But no matter how far...
“Grab her quick!”
The voices didn’t fade.
How long had she run? Her legs numbed, breath ragged.
She’d sprinted until collapse seemed imminent.
Yet the forest stretched endlessly.
The voices persisted.
“Where’d she go?”
“Find her fast!”
Hiding, Emir leaned against a tree.
“Hahk, hahk.”
Where even was she now?
That forest path—was it away from the capital? Toward it?
Should’ve checked the map.
She regretted her rashness.
The voices grew distant.
“No traces.”
“Damn, slippery rat... Pair up and fan out! Search!”
The masked men scattered.
Emir waited long after they vanished before moving.
“Nngh...”
Her legs cramped from crouching too long.
As she crept in a direction avoiding them...
“What’s that smell?”
Stew boiling.
A village nearby.
Emir followed the scent cautiously.
It grew stronger with each step, piercing her nose.
Parting the brush, she saw it: a small lake in the woods, and a cabin beside it.
The aroma wafted from there.
Any masked men around?
She scanned for presences. None from her attackers.
Good.
Lowering herself, she approached the cabin.
“What are you doing at my retreat, Lady Solarion?”
A familiar voice from right beside her.
Taunt-wired, Emir couldn’t place it.
“Eek!”
She screamed, swinging wildly.
But her blade stopped short.
A massive force gripped it tight.
“Swinging something that dangerous recklessly?”
“Wh-What the...?”
Only then did Emir look up.
“Mo-Morris... Dmitry?”
“Strange, hearing you call my name like that.”
It was Minister Morris Dmitry.
“D-Dmitry, why are you here?”
“Can’t I visit my own retreat?”
“Eh? Your retreat?”
Emir’s voice pitched high.
“A gift from His Majesty. Onsta Lake. Famous spot near the capital, I recall?”
Emir blinked.
I ran all the way here?
What twist of fate was this?
She’d fled blindly down the only escape path to survive.
And it led here.
“You look a mess. What happened?”
Morris’s words snapped her back.
“Unknown assailants attacked our carriage.”
“They targeted Lady Solarion?”
“Yes. Seemed like they wanted to kidnap me.”
“Kidnap... Who’d dare abduct an imperial noble?”
Morris’s face twisted in fury, like roaring flames.
“To target an imperial noble... Did you catch their features? Symbols? Sword style?”
“N-Not really.”
“Pity. Rest inside first—”
Morris cut off.
Masked thugs had surrounded the cabin.
“Looks like your pursuers.”
“Morris Dmitry?”
The masks paled at the unexpected figure.
“Hand over the lady behind you.”
“You know who I am, right? And what Lady Solarion and I once were?”
The emperor’s favored Magic Minister. The empire’s greatest mage.
The leader swallowed.
Fifteen men here. No mana seal.
Even with one, could they beat Morris?
But...
Bring Emir, even at the cost of your lives.
Orders from above.
Even if it was the emperor himself, they had to push through.
“I warned you to leave.”
“I warned you too. Get off my land.”
“No backing down, eh? Charge! Grab Lady Solarion and retreat by any means!”
Morris snapped his fingers.
The acrid stench of blood twisted my lips.
“Not a pretty sight.”
I muttered, eyeing the corpses strewn about.
“They reaped what they sowed.”
They hadn’t fled after my warning—loyalty to orders, no doubt.
I cleared the bodies with levitation magic and turned to Emir, slumped against the cabin.
“You alright?”
“Yes.”
She swallowed her shock, replying curtly.
“Good.”
I studied her briefly.
Disheveled hair and clothes, a total wreck—but her expression was resolute.
“You made it here evading them?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“You’ve toughened up.”
Stronger. Much stronger.
“You won’t need my protection anymore. You can handle yourself.”
“Right. I don’t need you now. I can... Of course, you helped today, but from here on, I can protect myself without you.”
Emir deliberately avoided my gaze.
Thump.
Why did my heart ache at that?
“I’ll escort you to the capital. You seem alone.”
“Ah, someone’s still there.”
“Who?”
“A maid named Misa. Probably hiding at the site.”
“I see.”
I sighed.
“No helping it. Let’s check the scene first.”
“...Thank you.”
“Save the thanks. Just call it your luck.”
I took her back to the ambush site.
Easy enough—I cradled her and flew.
Solarion knights were already investigating.
“D-Duke, look there!”
One pointed at us and Emir. Duke Solarion, commanding amid grief and rage, locked eyes with me.
“O-Oh! Emir!”
Emir leaped from my arms into his.
“Father!”
“I thought I’d lost you.”
After their emotional reunion, Duke Solarion gripped my hand.
“Words can’t express my gratitude. Last time too, and now...”
“No need. Just luck.”
“So humble! Haha, you truly are...”
Honey dripped from his eyes as he looked at me.
“Truly, thank you.”
“Not at all.”
I bowed.
My gaze drifted to Emir, wailing over the dead maid Misa.
This sort of thing... never gets easier.
Morris’s body, still yearning for her, reacted every time: racing heart, trembling fingers, unable to meet her eyes.
But Choi Yoo-jun’s mind rejected closeness.
Political reasons aside, that’s why I’d refused her.
It felt like losing myself. Like Choi Yoo-jun was being devoured by Morris’s flesh.
Acknowledging feelings for Emir meant admitting defeat to this body.
So I pushed her away.
But this body... showed no will to obey.
Just restraining the urge to approach her dizzied me.
So I avoided looking. Closed my eyes, turned away, no eye contact.
Good. We made it this far. Hang in till the end.
“How did you two end up together?”
“Resting at my retreat when Lady Emir arrived. Learned she was pursued late.”
“I see.”
Reunion joy fading, suspicion crept in.
“I’ll swear a mana oath if you wish.”
“Haha, no need.”
“Lady Emir will fill in the details.”
“True enough... Could you assist the investigation?”
Duke Solarion asked.
“Anything I can do.”
“Need to ID their affiliation. Not your average nobles.”
“Same group hit my retreat. I’ll check.”
“Appreciated.”
“Check complete. Perfect contact with Duke Solarion.”
In the base, Emily snapped her fingers watching.
The crystal orb showing Morris went dark.
Ronald sighed beside her.
“This a success?”
“Solarion’ll soon realize we staged the kidnapping. Imperial faction catches wind of a new noble group.”
“Worth sacrificing our elite knights? Killed by Morris himself. Friendly fire?”
“Sacrifice for the greater good.”
“They didn’t know Morris was ours.”
“Had to be that way. For the perfect deception.”
“Deceive who?”
“You, me, Morris—and everyone else.”
“...”
Ronald fell silent, then asked:
“Morris really approved?”
“Yeah. He admitted no other way. Took some convincing.”
Lady Emir Solarion kidnapping ploy.
Pure theater: fake abduction, corner her, let her flee—to Morris.
He “rescues” her by chance.
Cornering her to the retreat was hell.
She’d screamed orders at the knights to herd her there.
Mission accomplished.
Losing the Solarion spy’s a shame...
Misa’s death stung. Infiltrating wasn’t easy.
Soon, kidnappers’ info leaks: new noble faction—Ronald and Emily.
Morris Dmitry thwarts their desperate plot.
His trust skyrockets.
Emperor’ll suspect at first, but briefly.
Emily clicked her tongue.
“You don’t know the terror in his eyes when we pitched kidnapping his daughter.”
“Don’t wanna.”
“Now the real game begins. Our new noble faction debuts.”
Emily’s face twisted, eyes burning with vengeance.