Chapter 5

Just like the Saintesses before her, Asha would likely be granted a single prophetic vision, one that could never be shared with anyone else.

In other words, once the solar god Sol’s dormant period ended and the divine oracle descended, the value of her dowry and the profit her family could gain from it would become worthless.

“I… I raised her with such care…”

Overwhelmed by shock, Fridis gasped for breath. Her son Marvin immediately stepped forward.

“Mother, please don’t worry. I’ll go find her myself.”

Her eyes snapped sharply toward him.

“You still haven’t gone to look for her? Your only sister is missing and you’re standing here doing nothing?”

Sensing the fire about to explode, Marvin bolted for the door.

At that moment, Count Herman entered with a cup of honey water.

“My dear, here, drink this while it’s warm. It’ll calm your nerves.”

Fridis reluctantly leaned into her husband’s arms, blowing gently on the honey water as she muttered in frustration.

“I’m so upset. Where could that girl have gone, leaving behind such an important marriage meeting? And she’s still not back even at this hour…”

“M-mother!”

Fridis turned sharply toward her son, who had rushed back inside in a panic.

Her fierce gaze made him stammer.

“T-the Crown Prince has arrived!”

Huh? The Crown Prince? At this hour?

Blinking in disbelief, Fridis asked quietly,

“…Why?”

The startled Count Herman, his wife, and their son hurried out to the entrance to greet him.

It was very late, but no one in their right mind would dare obstruct the Crown Prince’s visit.

What could they do? Power ruled all.

But why would the Crown Prince visit such a humble count’s family in the middle of the night?

The Hermans had no personal ties with the imperial family.

Their territory was deep in the countryside, their tax contributions modest, and their influence minimal.

The only reason they were in the capital was to secure a good marriage match and a generous dowry for their daughter.

Once Asha’s engagement was settled, they planned to sell their mansion and return to their estate.

After all, their eldest son was soon to be married as well.

They were a plain family, the sort who wouldn’t even have a seat at the end of the imperial council table. If the Crown Prince himself came to visit, they had no choice but to run barefoot to meet him even in the middle of the night.

Moments later, the front gates swung open. A line of knights on horseback entered through the small garden.

They surrounded the mansion as if to secure it completely, and the sound of hooves and the glint of armor made Count Herman grip his wife’s hand tightly.

Once the knights had taken their positions, a carriage trimmed with gold rolled into the courtyard.

It was the Crown Prince of the Empire, Alesto, known both as the Star of the Empire and its cold-blooded tyrant.

* * *

The Count, his wife, and Marvin immediately lowered themselves in greeting.

“We greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

All three spoke almost in unison.

Alesto approached Count Herman and personally helped him to his feet.

It was a simple gesture, yet every movement he made carried grace and quiet authority, exuding a presence that pressed upon everyone around him.

“Good to see you, Count. And you as well, Countess. No wonder Lady Asha turned out so lovely, her looks clearly come from both sides of the family.”

Count Herman’s eyes went wide while the Countess quickly lowered her gaze.

Alesto paid no attention to their reactions.

Pointing toward the mansion, he spoke as though it were his own home.

“Let’s go inside. This might take some time.”

Led by the butler, Alesto entered the drawing room and sat naturally at the head of the table, gesturing toward the remaining seats.

“Sit.”

The Count and his wife took their places while Marvin stepped back, realizing he wasn’t fit to join this conversation.

The air was thick with tension.

After all, the man before them had already written a new chapter in the Empire’s history.

He had claimed the title of Crown Prince at an early age and had singlehandedly ended a border war that had lasted fifteen years.

Yet behind his achievements lurked another title whispered in noble circles, the bastard who defied the Emperor’s will.

There was no solid proof of it, but every noble had heard the rumor at least once.

And it was the kind of rumor that fit a man known for being utterly merciless and precise.

‘Please let this not be something terrible.’

With that same unease, the Count and his wife sat nervously across from him.

But Alesto said nothing.

After a long silence, the Count finally broke.

“Your Highness, to what do we owe this visit…”

Before he could finish, Jerold Burns entered the room in uniform and placed a set of documents on the table.

Without a hint of expression, Alesto pushed the papers toward them and spoke plainly.

“I’ll pay Lady Asha’s dowry myself. Sign here.”

Count Herman stared blankly at the sheets in Alesto’s hand. They were marriage contracts, two copies of them.

He slid one closer and picked up a pen, ready to sign. Then, hesitating, he glanced toward his wife as if seeking her approval.

Fridis, who had quickly assessed the situation, spoke slowly.

“Your Highness, it seems Asha’s value has increased.”

The Count’s mouth fell open.

Had he heard that right?

No, he had heard it clearly.

His wife was actually trying to negotiate the dowry price with the Crown Prince himself.

He had always known she was bold, but this was madness.

He reached for her hand, trying to stop her.

“Speak then. What is it you want?”

Alesto’s tone was generous, almost amused.

Fridis straightened and replied without hesitation.

“Please grant my husband a position within the palace.”

A faint smile curved Alesto’s lips.

“Ambitious, aren’t you.”

But there was no warmth in his voice.

Fridis rose from her seat and bowed deeply.

“Asha has been frail since childhood, and as her mother, I worry for her. As Your Highness knows, families of our standing are rarely permitted entry to the palace. I only ask to be close enough to see her often, as any mother would. I humbly beg for your understanding.”

She nudged her husband to kneel beside her, and Count Herman quickly followed her lead.

“We beg Your Highness’s mercy.”

Alesto stroked his chin as if thinking, then spoke casually.

“I didn’t realize Lady Asha was in poor health. Very well. If her mother visits often, it will help her adjust to palace life. That might even be good for her.”

The Count and Countess’s faces brightened with relief.

But Alesto wasn’t finished.

“In fact, I have a better idea. I’ll prepare a room for you on the third floor of my palace. You can move there and see your daughter every day.”

Fridis’s face immediately paled.

There were seven notorious places of fear in the Empire, and one of them was the Crown Prince’s third floor.

It was known as the place from which no one ever returned alive.

Countless lower officials and palace servants had gone missing there.

Being told to move there was no different from being told she would disappear.

Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.

“I’m deeply grateful, Your Highness, but my son Marvin is our heir and he’s soon to be married. Visiting Asha every day would be difficult. Please don’t trouble yourself to arrange a residence for us…”

The Crown Prince interrupted her coldly.

“Then your son can disappear.”

“…What?”

“You just said you can’t devote yourself fully to Asha because of your son. It would be easier if you didn’t have one. I’ll take care of that for you.”

Alesto didn’t even glance at her stunned expression. He simply looked toward one of the knights standing by the door.

The knight, in full uniform, drew his sword the moment he received the signal and stepped toward Marvin.

“U-ugh, wait…!”

The blade gleamed sharply as it was raised high into the air.