Respective Resolves
A room filled with thick, white steam.
Soft lighting and the soothing scent of aroma oils filled the air.
Red petals floating on the surface of the bathwater added to the tranquil ambiance.
Princess Lee Cheri lay submerged in the tub, her eyes peacefully closed.
Water cascaded softly as Cheri lifted her arm from the tub, droplets rolling down her pale skin. The maids standing nearby immediately began to gently massage her arm.
“...Why do my ears itch so much?”
“Is something uncomfortable, Your Highness?”
“No. I suppose I'm just feeling a bit sensitive today.”
Closing her eyes once more, a relaxed smile played on her lips.
“Are you worried about attending the Academy?”
“Of course not,” Cheri replied, her eyes still closed.
“Indeed. Wherever you go, Your Highness has absolutely nothing to worry about.”
“Heh.”
“Besides, it's not just a regular admission. You entered as the runner-up.”
Instantly, Cheri's face froze. Another maid shot a warning glare, and the one who had spoken finally realized her blunder.
“Ah... I-I am terribly sorry. I spoke out of turn...”
“It's fine.”
“I-I only meant that you shouldn't dwell too much on the entrance exam results... Hup, I apologize.”
The entrance exam results. At those words, Cheri's expressionless face contorted for a brief moment.
“Let me ask you something.”
“...Yes?”
Her previously gentle voice had turned ice-cold.
“Is there any student with greater skill than me?”
“N-No, of course not.”
“What about looks or personality?”
“How could there be? Lady Cheri is, without a doubt, the most outstanding in every way!”
Upon hearing the answer, Cheri rose from the tub. The overflowing water splashed onto the maids' faces, forcing the startled women to halt their massage.
“Exactly,” Cheri spoke in a flat, dry tone.
She was completely naked. Though partially obscured by the thick steam, her smooth, toned physique was striking enough to elicit admiration.
“Forgive us, Your Highness! We deserve death!”
Cheri offered a bright smile to the maid who had hastily dropped to her knees and bowed her head.
“It's fine. It's only a minor thing.”
“I-I am sorry.”
“Prepare my clothes. I'm going to the annex.”
Cheri, who had intended to sleep after her bath, decided to change her plans. If she didn't, she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep a wink.
A short while later, dressed in training robes, Cheri appeared in the front yard of her annex.
It was late, and she was alone in her private garden. She quietly unslung the battle axe from her back. It was a special weapon bestowed upon her by the Goddess Mercury.
At first, she had resented Mercury for gifting her such a crude axe, but now she couldn't be more satisfied. It was the only weapon capable of fully channeling her monstrous strength.
The moonlight reflected off the massive blade, illuminating her face.
“...How dare they judge me?”
Who was she?
The Second Princess of the Caser Empire.
A hero empowered by the Goddess Mercury.
A fierce spark ignited in the eyes of Cheri von Astria.
There was only one reason for her fury: the results of the entrance exam she had taken not long ago. Someone—she didn't know who—had outperformed her. Her father, the Emperor, must have been disappointed.
Her pale hands gripped the axe handle tightly. Through rigorous practice, her arms had developed lean, firm muscle—the fruit of her efforts to swing the massive battle axe with stability.
“I'll show them.”
With a fierce glare, she swung the axe at a wooden pillar standing before her. She didn't need technique. She simply kept the blade level, rotated her torso, and poured every ounce of her strength into the strike.
The perfectly horizontal blade collided with the wood. A sharp crack echoed through the air, and the thick wooden trunk split clean in half.
Inside the annex, the maids let out collective sighs. That was the 108th tree she had chopped down today.
“Sigh...”
Count Blackwood had recently fallen into deep distress. His only daughter had started using bizarre language a few days ago.
“Why are you throwing such a tantrum? I told you, I cannot lend you the express carriage!”
“You're my dad, and you can't even do that for me? I'm exhausted! I fucking hate you!”
“What? F-f... fuck what?”
Here she went again. His daughter, Ok-ja, was throwing a fit while using incomprehensible words. Her shrill screeching made his eardrums ache.
The Blackwood family's express carriage was reserved strictly for hosting distinguished guests. Since they were expecting an important visitor tomorrow, he couldn't possibly let his daughter use it.
Yet this stubborn girl of his kept insisting, solely because she wanted to lie down during the journey.
She had always possessed a prickly personality, but ever since she woke up from her coma, it had worsened. To make matters worse, she kept mixing in bizarre foreign words, which was driving him absolutely mad.
“Either way, the answer is no. If you're going to keep arguing, get out!”
“Dad, seriously... I'm so disappointed in you!”
Seeing his petite, cute daughter pout almost softened his heart, but he did his best to maintain a stern expression.
Who on earth did she inherit that nasty temper from, despite having such a lovely face? He simply couldn't understand.
Sigh, no wonder she doesn't have any men around her.
In truth, though Count Blackwood was unaware, his daughter Ok-ja had never dated anyone, even back on Earth. She had been single for all twenty-six years of her life. Consequently, she didn't even know how to properly converse with a man.
“Lady Ok-ja, please don't be upset. We will escort you with the utmost care,” said Anceloni, a knight of the Blackwood family.
He was a handsome man with blonde hair and sharp features. For some reason, Ok-ja listened to him much better than she did to her own father.
“Ah, Anceloni. Still...”
“Please do not worry. We will ensure your journey is both comfortable and safe.”
“O-Okay...”
Ok-ja's face flushed red. Yep, the Count thought, she definitely prefers the knights over her own father.
“Sigh...”
Tomorrow was the day his daughter would enter the Academy. He was deeply worried about whether this immature girl would be able to adjust.
“Ok-ja, make sure you don't fight with the other students. Get along with them, alright?”
“Oh, seriously, shit! I'm not a kid!”
“There you go again. Stop losing your temper.”
Count Blackwood pressed a hand to his forehead as his headache worsened. Only then did Ok-ja, sensing his distress, mutter a response.
“...Fine. I'll keep a low profile.”
“Good. You're talented in magic, so everyone will adore you. If anyone bullies you, make sure to talk to a professor.”
“Bully me...?”
“Hmm? What's wrong?”
As if recalling something, Ok-ja scowled deeply.
“Sorry. I can't do that.”
“What?”
“That pig is going to make fun of me again! I won't let it slide this time.”
She had mentioned it before. During her last visit to the Imperial Palace, someone had mocked her name. The culprit was apparently a fellow hero summoned alongside her.
“Ok-ja... calling a friend a pig is uncalled for, no matter what!”
“It's because of you! Who told you to give me such a terrible name in the first place?!”
“You really...”
To think she would get so angry over a beautiful name like Ok-ja. Anyone in the Caser Empire would praise it as lovely. Yet, for some reason, his daughter absolutely loathed it.
“Anyway! If I see him again, he's dead meat.”
Fine, do whatever you want.
Realizing he could no longer reason with her, Count Blackwood let out a heavy sigh.
He had only one wish for his daughter.
That she wouldn't cause any trouble at the Academy...
The Saint family, located in the southern region of the Caser Empire.
A temple dating back to ancient times was situated here.
Surrounded by high mountain ranges and dense forests, the Saint family existed to protect this temple. It was a place boasting a noble history of over three hundred years.
“O merciful Goddess Mercury. Look with pity upon all the pain and sorrow of this world, and aid us...”
As Choi Seoyeon clasped her hands together, the surrounding crowd fell silent. Soon, a soft blue light gathered around her interlaced fingers.
“Heal.”
Seoyeon opened her hands and placed them over a young boy's knee. The bleeding from his scraped skin stopped instantly, and fresh flesh began to knit together.
The boy quickly regained his smile. His parents thanked Seoyeon repeatedly before departing with their child.
“Lady Seoyeon... aren't you pushing yourself too hard? You are entering the Academy tomorrow.”
“Ah, High Priest. You're here? I'm fine. I should help as much as I can while I still have the time!”
As the daughter of a count, Seoyeon had no need to waste her time in a place like this. Simply focusing on her personal training and entering the Imperial Academy would have earned her more than enough respect from the estate's residents.
Knowing this, the High Priest felt both apologetic and grateful toward her.
“Why do you go to such lengths?”
“Hehe, I do it because I want to. I'm really fine!”
“...But your expression says otherwise.”
“Pardon?” Seoyeon asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
“I sense a heavy burden of duty in you. Almost like someone carrying a deep sense of guilt.”
Seoyeon remained silent at the High Priest's words. Her hidden, somber expression surfaced. Casting her gaze downward, she hesitated for a moment before speaking softly.
“I suppose I can't hide anything from you, High Priest.”
“If something is troubling you, please share it with me.”
“...Would that be alright?”
“Of course. That is my duty, after all.”
Seoyeon's eyes wavered. Then, as if making up her mind, she swallowed hard.
“High Priest, the truth is... I once did something terrible to someone.”
“Anyone can make mistakes.”
“No. It was a grave sin. It would only be natural for them to hate and despise me.”
“...I see,” the High Priest nodded understandingly.
“So... even though I know it's shameless of me... I really want to apologize.”
“An apology. That is often harder than it sounds.”
“Yes, that's why I'm struggling. I don't know how to apologize, or what I must do to earn their forgiveness.”
Seeing the desperate look in Seoyeon's eyes, the High Priest offered a gentle smile.
“You must have agonized over this. However, you are misunderstanding one thing.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“Is an apology meant solely to obtain forgiveness?”
“...?”
“Isn't that act ultimately for the sake of the one apologizing?”
“Ah.”
A soft gasp escaped Seoyeon's lips.
“An apology is for the other person. It is to ease their heart, even if only a little. You do not need to seek forgiveness.”
“...I see.”
“Does that make sense to you?”
“...Yes, High Priest.”
The High Priest patted Seoyeon's shoulder with a warm smile. When she looked up, her eyes were shining, unlike before. It was as if the fog in her mind had completely cleared.
“I understand. I'll do my best! Not for myself, but for him!”
Loo-la-loo~
“Did something good happen, Lord Yeong-sik?” Grace, walking beside him, asked as she heard him whistling.
“Ah, I'm just in a good mood. I'm excited to see who I should destroy... I mean, who I'll meet at the Academy.”
“Is that so?”
Was he always like this? A flicker of doubt crossed Grace's mind, but she brushed it aside.
“That is a good attitude. With that mindset, you will make friends in no time.”
“Ah, of course. We definitely need to get close. Kukuk...”
Whenever Grace spoke with him, she occasionally felt a chill run down her spine. But perhaps she was just misunderstanding him. To think he had such a pure desire to make friends.
Maybe he's more normal than I thought?
She realized she had unconsciously assumed he wouldn't have any friends. Feeling guilty for harboring such prejudice as an instructor, she resolved to reflect on herself once they returned to the Imperial Palace.
It was almost time. A new semester featuring all four heroes. It was an unprecedented event in the history of the Imperial Academy. If they joined forces, they might just save the Caser Empire from peril.
Grace felt a heavier sense of responsibility than ever before. Completely unaware, of course, of the dark schemes brewing in the mind of the man walking beside her.