IRMHW Chapter 1

A room bathed in sunlight on a peaceful spring afternoon.

A knight dressed in a pristine white uniform, with shoulder-length hair tied back into a ponytail, sat with their back straight against the couch chair.

Even just by looking at them, they had a graceful and dignified presence. Surprisingly, however, their eyes were half-closed as they dozed off.

“Libertisha.”

Clang–

At the sound of glass and a silver spoon clashing, she quickly raised her head.

“Do you know how many times I called out to you?”

“I apologize.”

“You don’t seem very apologetic though.”

As the emperor grumbled, Libertisha rolled her eyes and lowered her gaze. The act of dozing off or lazily rolling her eyes while making insincere apologies during their face-to-face meeting.

Both of these acts displayed a highly disrespectful attitude towards the emperor of the Evgenia Empire, but no one, not even the emperor himself, bothered to point it out.

‘If I leave her alone, she’ll just doze off again as she pleases.’

It wasn’t as if she was some newborn baby rabbit.

Looking at her unfocused blank eyes, the emperor shook his head.

He wouldn’t have believed it had he not witnessed this seemingly dull and absent-minded person in action, fighting as one of the strongest knights in the Evgenia Empire.

On the battlefield, she was called the Bloodthirsty Killer or the Mad Slaughterer.

To her enemies, she was considered a deity more fearsome than death.

Regardless of what she was, it was certain that she was skilled.

However… When she wasn’t in combat, she was always like this, so it was hard to imagine her being any other way.

“Your Majesty.”

Rubbing the corner of her mouth with the back of her pale hand, Libertisha spoke.

“So, what were you saying? …I did not hear you because I was so sleepy.”

The emperor let out a deep sigh.

She didn’t usually appear this exhausted, but she seemed tired. Perhaps because she returned from a mission just a few days ago.

Hearing that, Libertisha went through the documents once more. Then she raised her hand and slapped herself on the cheek.

“What are you doing?”

“It just feels like I’m in a dream right now is all.”

“This isn’t a dream, so stop hitting yourself.”

“Well, it seems like this document was delivered incorrectly.”

“Is that so?”

The emperor took the document back and checked it again. However, he soon shrugged his shoulders and spoke.

“No, it was delivered correctly… But why are you clenching your fist?”

“Well, it seems like Your Majesty might be under hypnosis since you’re speaking such nonsense. As a loyal subject, allow me to wake you up myself.”

“Thank you for your kind words, but I haven’t gone mad. If you hit me, you’ll end up in prison.”

Tch.

Libertisha clicked her tongue and sat back down.

“So, you’re saying that this isn’t a dream and that you, the emperor, are perfectly sane to directly deliver these documents?”

“Yes. I don’t understand why you keep saying silly things. Wouldn’t he make an excellent husband?”

The emperor spread the documents out on the table.

“He’s the duke of the powerful Valtale family.”

The Valtale Duchy.

A family famously known as a clan that had hunted dragons since ancient times.

Was it because of that noble reputation or because of the ability contained in their bloodline?

Since its establishment, the Duke of Valtale has maintained a high level of authority and wealth.

If only his family name was considered, he would undoubtedly make an excellent marriage partner.

But there was just one thing that stuck out.

“He’s eight years old.”

“That is a bit of a small problem.”

The emperor shrugged his shoulders.

The former Duke of Valtale had recently died on the battlefield, leaving his eight-year-old son to take over at a young age.

Libertisha sighed and spoke.

“No matter the case, how could an eight-year-old child and I…”

“And what about it? The emperor married a twenty-eight-year-old young lady.”

The country had almost collapsed because of it.

The emperor chuckled as if he had just told a funny story.

The late emperor was a man with a strong lust for both material and carnal things, so he had numerous wives and fathered many children.

It was perfectly natural that the many brothers would fight for succession to the throne.

At that time, the current emperor was not considered a particularly strong contender for the throne among them.

He was just one of the princes in the background who lacked both power and support.

All of the other brothers died or surrendered, but the current emperor survived until the end and took command over the situation.

At that time, it was the former Duke of Valtale and Libertisha who believed in him and helped him until the end.

The emperor clasped his hands together in satisfaction.

“Duke Valtale had died on the battlefield and his heir is only eight years old. The young duke needs a protector and you need wealth and power. Would it not be a perfect match?”

“Yes. And I’ll be a laughingstock for marrying a seven-year-old.”

“He’s not seven, but eight years old. Besides, I’ve already seen him and I can bet you that he’ll be a handsome man in ten years.”

*note: he wasn’t lying, I mean… just look at the second cover ♥️

“Oh, I see.”

Handsome or not, it would be in ten years. But was that really important right now?

After that, the emperor continued to try and persuade her.

“Do you have any idea how many noble families are currently eager to marry their daughter off to the Duke of Valtale? There are even noble ladies older than you among them. Some have even expressed their willingness to remarry despite having children who are around the duke’s age.”

“Haa, then you’d be better off connecting him to one of those families.”

“That won’t do. I already know what they’re after.”

“And what do you think I’m after?”

“Hm… The handsome man he’ll be in ten years?”

“Your Majesty.”

Libertisha pressed her hand against her forehead.

Her words were not getting through.

“You may say all this… But has the person involved agreed to this?”

While she was the one discussing a possible marriage to an eight-year-old child, the eight-year-old child would definitely not want a wife who was thirteen years older than him.

“Well, isn’t that what an arranged marriage is like?”

“Reaching an agreement with the person himself is not a priority it seems.”

“But the previous duke held you in high regard, didn’t he? Surely he would’ve somewhat positively accepted the idea. Of course, that is if he were still alive.”

Hearing those words, Libertisha paused for a moment.

Duke Valtale.

In that instant, there was a face that passed through her mind.

A man with hair redder than the sun, who could overturn the predetermined battlefield.

The man who reached out his hand to pull her up as she was sinking into despair and nearing death.

“You are a noble being.”

“...”

“Don’t die in this kind of place. Please.”

Duke Valtale had saved her multiple times.

More precisely, he wouldn’t let her die.

Again and again, he brought her out of the abyss of death.

How did such a tenacious man die to black magic?

“Libertisha.”

Oh.

She came back to her senses after hearing her name be called.

The emperor smiled bitterly as if he understood.

“It was a pity what happened to the duke.”

“...”

“He was an outstanding man who even stood by my side.”

“Your Majesty… Are you saddened by his death or because you lost a faithful ally?”

“Don’t be so sharp. You know that your situation is different from mine.”

The emperor touched his chin and spoke in a calm tone.

“If you don’t want to be with the child, then do you want to be my consort instead?”

“I refuse. I’d rather fight bloody battles until I die.”

Libertisha shuddered.

When watching from the sidelines, the inside of the imperial family was a battlefield without guns and swords and a party for hypocrites.

In particular, the current emperor barely obtained the throne on his own base during the past rebellion, so his foundation was still not strong.

There were concerns that the national power would weaken and all the individuals who had been part of the rebellion were still not fully dealt with.

To be the consort of such an emperor.

She’d rather have her neck at the guillotine.

Even though the emperor knew everything, he spoke in a melancholic tone.

“I knew you’d say that, but it still hurts a little.”

“It hasn’t been long since I left the battlefield. Are you trying to push me into a more severe hell?”

“That isn’t quite right, Libertisha.”

The emperor placed his clasped hands on his knees and let out a bitter laugh.

“We’ve been in hell since ten years ago.”