Chapter 1

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 1

Chapter Title: The Princess Who Wants to Die and the Cursed Grand Duke (1)

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Empire Year 1577, November.

The Comte Count, visiting the Torkan Grand Duchy, strutted toward the audience chamber with his chin held high in his usual arrogance. The insolence that stemmed from being an envoy of the Gania Kingdom persisted even as he entered the chamber and stood before the master of Torkan.

"Floyd Carlott Latan Grand Duke, receive the royal decree sent by His Majesty the dignified and noble King Joseph V of Gania!"

Adrian, standing by Floyd's side, clicked his tongue at the man's rude demeanor, while Kain's hand drifted toward the sword at his waist. But Floyd Carlott Latan Grand Duke himself raised a hand to halt his subordinates' movements and laughed cheerfully.

"They say if you live with a cat, even a little mouse starts thinking it's a cat too—looks like you're the perfect example, Comte Count!"

Despite his hearty tone, the words pinned down both Joseph V and the Comte Count.

Joseph V was the cat, and the Comte Count was the mouse pup.

Realizing the implication, the Comte Count flushed red and glared with bulging eyes, but Floyd was still laughing heartily as he looked down at him.

"What insolence...!"

The Comte Count, about to bellow, couldn't finish his words as a sudden wave of heat enveloped him. The abrupt heat took on a tangible form, like a rope, strangling his throat.

Sizzle—

He couldn't hear the sound of his flesh burning. He was too frantic, clawing at his neck to loosen the intangible rope of heat, screaming his lungs out.

"Aaaagh! Aaagh! Sp, spare... spare me...!"

Ignoring the ear-piercing screams, Floyd turned to his subordinates and asked,

"See that? It went pretty well this time, didn't it?"

Kain, who had been seething at the Comte Count's impertinence, relaxed his twitching hand near the sword hilt and replied in a satisfied tone.

"Indeed, your precision has improved compared to before."

"Who knows. Might just be luck."

Adrian poured cold water on it, but Floyd didn't wipe the delighted expression from his face.

Now the Comte Count had collapsed to the floor, writhing. His neck was a bloody mess from his own nails, bubbling and scorching from the heat.

"My lord. He's an envoy from Gania Kingdom. We can't send him back as a corpse."

If not for Arsen's relatively rational remark, no one would have paid the Comte Count any mind.

Floyd extended his hand with an "Oh dear!"

The heat Floyd had unleashed returned precisely, without leaving a trace behind, but the Comte Count was still rolling on the floor. He was too gripped by terror to notice it was gone.

"Comte Count."

Only when Floyd's heavy voice filled the audience chamber did the Comte Count stop clawing at his neck and blink in confusion.

The scorching heat that had felt like it would consume his body was gone, but the burns and the pain from his self-inflicted scratches remained. It wasn't enough agony to rob him of his senses, though.

The Comte Count scrambled to his feet and stood at attention. His posture was worlds apart from when he'd first entered the chamber.

Slightly downcast eyes, hunched shoulders, trembling fingers.

Floyd chuckled at the sight and raised a finger, prompting the Comte Count to stumble back with a "Eek!" before crashing to the floor. As Floyd and his men burst into laughter, the Comte Count's face burned crimson.

"Why so terrified? I merely beckoned for you to bring that royal decree."

Face flushed, the Comte Count fumbled to his feet and shuffled forward, offering Joseph V's letter politely with both hands.

At Floyd's glance, Arsen stepped forward and took the letter.

"Read it. Skip the pointless flattery and small talk."

At Floyd's command, Arsen read the key points in a low voice. As he continued, the smile faded from Floyd's face, and the Comte Count's complexion turned pale upon seeing it.

"So, in summary."

Floyd stood, snatched the letter from Arsen, and skimmed it.

"Now that the Kanta Kingdom belongs to Gania, you're asking me to subjugate the magical beasts nearby?"

A few months prior, news had reached them that Gania Kingdom's crown prince, Lucas Pellur, had personally led troops to conquer Kanta Kingdom, slaughtering King Victien IV and his entire family.

The Franche Royal Family, which had long ruled Kanta, had crumbled pathetically under Lucas's schemes.

But that had nothing to do with Floyd.

"Comte Count. What do you think of this royal decree?"

The Comte Count looked up at Floyd, who stood before him with a grin.

The towering giant, two heads taller than most men, was intimidating enough up close, but realizing those eyes weren't smiling sent cold sweat down his back.

Why did I act so brazen in front of this man? Even after hearing all the rumors about him.

Realizing his mistake, the Comte Count's knees shook.

Gulp.

Swallowing dryly, he finally forced his mouth open.

"It, it's more of a request than a decree..."

"Hmm, I didn't hear it that way. Didn't it say to receive the royal decree? You're not implying there's something wrong with my hearing, are you?"

The Comte Count swallowed again.

"Grand Duke, this is merely..."

Thud—!

Before he could finish, Floyd kicked him squarely in the chest. The force sent the Comte Count flying without even a scream.

Sprawled on the floor, he watched in horror as the massive man strode toward him.

Floyd's foot stomped down on the Comte Count's chest.

"Cough, cough."

The Comte Count coughed shrilly, but Floyd kept his weight on him, glaring down.

"How shameless, your master is. Did he think such impudent nonsense would work?"

"Gr, Grand Duke..."

"Do I still look like that wretched beggar trembling and begging for my life in that hovel? Does your master think this Torkan is still in his grasp?"

Floyd grabbed the Comte Count by the collar and lifted him effortlessly. Matching eye levels, he glared before hurling him aside and growling,

"Go back and tell him, Count. Torkan is not part of Gania Kingdom, and I am no longer Pellur's dog."

Empire Year 1577, April.

Emerging from the Grand Temple after a month, Roxiana Evrin Franche tilted her head back to gaze at the crisp spring sky. Her platinum blonde hair swayed gently.

The weather had been chilly when she entered the Grand Temple, but now it was full spring. The sky was clear and pure, carrying the scent of flowers on the breeze.

It's really spring now.

Spring came every year, but her twentieth spring held great significance for Roxiana.

Long ago, she had been promised in marriage to Lucas Pellur, crown prince of Gania Kingdom, upon turning twenty.

It was customary for women of royal and noble houses across the continent to pray at the Empire's Grand Temple and receive the priests' blessings before marriage. For royal women, the mandatory prayer period was especially long.

Last year around this time, once the wedding date was set, Roxiana had been endlessly busy preparing for the marriage while also readying herself for the Grand Temple.

And finally, she had safely completed the most important pre-wedding ritual: a full month of prayer.

Once I return this time, it'll be farewell to Kanta Kingdom too.

By custom, Roxiana and Lucas's wedding would be held in the bride's kingdom, Kanta. After a week of ceremonies and parties, she would depart for Gania Kingdom.

Thus, Roxiana would go from princess of Kanta to crown princess of Gania.

Crown princess of Gania Kingdom.

She had known since childhood that it would happen someday, yet now that it was imminent, her heart felt strange.

"Princess!"

The familiar, joyful voice snapped her from her reverie.

A carriage bearing the crest of Kanta's Franche Royal Family had pulled up before her, and Rasha—one of Roxiana's maids—stood beaming in front of it.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. We hurried, but still ended up late."

Rasha had accompanied Roxiana to the Grand Temple and spent the month in a nearby city, awaiting the end of her prayers.

No one, no matter their status, could bring servants into the Grand Temple for pre-wedding prayers.

"No, I came out in a rush. It must have been hard staying in an unfamiliar place. Are you feeling alright?"

"Of course. I ate well and stayed healthy. I'm more worried about you, Princess. They say the food at the Grand Temple is terrible—look how thin you've gotten."

Roxiana smiled faintly.

The Grand Temple's meals were poor, but they'd become tolerable after a while. Meat came occasionally, and pickled fish too.

"Ah, please get in the carriage quick, Princess. Everyone's waiting."

Roxiana thought of her kind father and mother, her brothers and little brother as she climbed aboard.

In just over ten days of travel, she would see her family. It was the longest she'd ever been apart from them, and she missed them terribly.

Those first few nights at the Grand Temple, she had sobbed thinking of them.

I mustn't tell anyone. My brothers would tease me endlessly if they knew.

"It feels weird. Like this is the last time I'll see my family."

"Oh, Princess. Last time? Don't say such heartbreaking things. Gania and Kanta aren't that far, and with the trains, you can visit often. Lord Lucas is so kind and considerate—he'd surely let you see them whenever you miss them."

Roxiana recalled Lucas.

As Rasha said, he was a gentle man. Slightly taller than her, with gorgeous golden hair that suited his handsome face perfectly—many women admired him.

Her oldest friend, Elise Haylis Duchess, had often spoken enviously.

—"You're so lucky, Princess. To have such a wonderful man as your fiancé."

He was indeed strikingly handsome and charming.

But... I don't know.

Roxiana looked down at her hands.

Do I love Lucas?

Lucas had been her fiancé since before she even understood such things.

They couldn't meet often due to the distance between their countries, but they saw each other three or four times a year and went on dates. They strolled by rivers, attended operas, and shared kisses goodbye.

Her first kiss with Lucas had been at sixteen.

Only when his face slowly drew near did she realize his intent, and she squeezed her eyes shut.