Chapter 07
Before long, a crimson sunset began to spread across the blue sky. One by one, the massive chandeliers hanging from the ceiling lit up, illuminating the gradually darkening Gloryum Hall.
The banquet hall prepared for Princess Elena of the Verthus Empire—its only imperial princess and the reigning queen of high society—was decorated in the most splendid and extravagant manner.
As if accelerating preparations for the imminent party, countless servants and attendants hurried back and forth inside and outside the hall.
“This table is short on champagne glasses!”
“Please double-check the number of tables and chairs!”
“Someone go to the detached palace and bring the remaining chairs!”
“I’ll go get them!”
After finishing her morning duties, Isabela, who had been working nonstop without a break, volunteered to fetch the chairs so she could catch her breath for a moment.
Once outside the main palace, she finally let out a deep sigh and slumped her shoulders. Even though she could complete cleaning tasks easily thanks to her unique ability, she was not used to manual errands.
Her whole body already ached from the brief period of overwork. Letting out a small groan, Isabela slowly walked into the detached palace grounds.
She entered the innermost part of the garden where a round lakeside spread out and leaned her back against a large tree before squatting down.
“Just three minutes of rest.”
If she kept hauling chairs like this, she would collapse before even completing the mission. Unable to resist the growing fatigue, she buried her face between her knees.
After sitting there motionless for a long while, she lifted her head. Stars had already begun to appear in the evening sky.
“Ugh… I’m tired…”
Her whole body ached, but she kept smiling. This was not a goal imposed by others—it was one she had chosen herself.
She hadn’t known that striving toward something she wanted could feel this enjoyable. It finally felt like she was truly living her life.
A soft curve formed on Isabela’s lips, like a crescent moon in the night sky. Taking advantage of the brief rest, she pulled out her smartphone and quickly checked the notifications she had missed during work.
<Title: Hey, did anyone see this latest “fan cam”?
It’s already crazy that he looks this good in a suit, but he showed up in a three-piece suit (and apparently faux leather too?)—that’s basically asking to kill us, right?
Yeah, I’m dead. This is my grave now. ●▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇
└ User1: I’ll lie down next to you. ●▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇
└ User2: 333333
└ User3: Eh? It’s not that extreme. I’ve probably watched it 127,840,323 times lol
└ User2: Doesn’t your eyes hurt? lol That’s straight-up dry eye syndrome
└ User3: Nah, his visuals are eye drops
└ User4: Are you insane lol
└ User3: This video should be broadcast on the news, honestly.>
“Hehe… I really want to see Haeyun’s stage fancam in person. That face alone is already entertaining enough, don’t you think?”
Thinking about watching more fancams and music video teasers once she got home, Isabela closed the window she had been viewing. Then a new notification popped up.
『Due to data depletion, an additional internet usage fee of 5,000,000 Krona has been deducted.』
Her eyes widened in shock at the amount—five times her morning payment.
With a deep, exasperated sigh far heavier than before, Isabela shook her useless smartphone in frustration.
“What kind of money-hungry system is this?!”
But what could she do? If it was for watching her precious Haeyun, she would have to accept it. Half-resigned, she put her phone back into her pocket.
She couldn’t rest too long—she would be inconveniencing others working at the party venue. It was time to return to work.
“If I keep this up… I’m not going to complete the mission and I’ll just go home after paying extra fees, aren’t I?”
Forcing down the unease rising in her chest, Isabela quickly left the garden and returned to the detached palace.
“Right. We were short four chairs for the party.”
I’ll carry two first, then come back for the rest.
Turning the corner of the corridor toward the storage room, she spotted a familiar figure in the distance.
The moment she recognized the face approaching from afar, her eyes filled with shock.
“Th-that person…?”
Why was Ikaneul here?!
If he was invited to the party, he should be in Gloryum Hall. Of all people, it had to be Ikaneul—the one she least wanted to run into. She must really be unlucky.
Panicking, Isabela completely forgot her original purpose in the detached palace and hurried her steps away.
A chilling aura so cold it raised goosebumps spread around her arms as she moved. Her hurried footsteps gradually slowed to a stop.
“I got lost… wait, where am I?”
Why is this detached palace so unnecessarily huge?!
She looked around desperately to determine her location.
Unlike the bustling main palace, the corridor of the detached palace was completely empty, lacking even a single source of light, giving off an eerie atmosphere.
“Agh!”
“Be quiet. You’re too loud.”
A scream and a man’s voice echoed from somewhere.
It seemed to come from a room just a few steps away.
A faint, metallic smell touched her nose. Unless she was mistaken, it was definitely the scent of blood.
Could someone be injured?
However, aside from Jesica, Ikaneul, and the crown prince she had not yet met, there should not be anyone else in the Aster Palace.
It couldn’t be a ghost… right?
Despite her unease, Isabela stood in front of the door where the sound had come from, hesitating. Worried about someone who might be in danger, she finally opened the tightly shut door.
“Excuse me…?”
Creeeak.
With the eerie sound of the door, a gust of wind rushed out from inside. At the same time, the faint scent of blood became so strong it nearly made her nauseous.
She reflexively covered her mouth and nose and looked inside.
The room was in complete disarray. Bodies lay scattered across the floor—lifeless, clearly just recently killed.
And among them stood a man holding a sword dripping with blood, calmly wiping the blade with a handkerchief, seemingly unaware of her presence.
If she made even a single wrong movement or word here, she felt like she might go to heaven before even getting to see her favorite idol.
Forcing down the nausea rising from the blood, Isabela tried to organize her thoughts.
So, what should you do when you witness a murder scene?
Run away. Or quietly slip out.
Both options seemed equally disastrous.
Trying to avoid reality, she slowly averted her gaze from the horrific scene and took a step backward.
“Lower your head.”
But as if he had already noticed her, the man spoke casually toward her. His tone was calm, completely unlike someone who had just killed a person moments ago.
“Pardon?”
Before she could process the situation, the man threw the sword in his hand toward her.
More precisely, he used her as a shield to strike an assassin attempting to approach him.
“Guh!”
Before the assassin’s hand could reach her throat, the blade pierced his neck in an instant.
With a heavy thud, the assassin’s body collapsed like a crumbling sandcastle.
Isabela swallowed her scream, covering her mouth tightly with her hand.
What… is this…
She forced her stiff mind to process the situation. Unlike her shaken state, the man calmly looked around and muttered:
“I clearly said no one was to be allowed into the detached palace. Lately, no one seems to be properly following my orders within the palace.”
A chilling gaze brushed over her.
She stiffly raised her head and met the man’s eyes.
He stood very close—just a few steps away.
“Are you injured anywhere?”
The question that followed was unexpectedly gentle.
“Ah… no, I’m fine.”
Still dazed, she nodded.
Her gaze naturally drifted toward him.
Unlike the guests at the party, he wore simple clothes—shirt and pants. Yet his tall frame and well-built physique made him stand out even without ornate clothing.
Silver hair, as pale as snow, fell softly. Between long, thick eyelashes like falling snow, his eyes glowed with the color of a sunset sky.
His refined features, drawn with sharp precision, looked like a masterpiece.
An overwhelming aura radiated from him—an authority only the imperial bloodline could possess.
Isabela trembled slightly.
After staring blankly at his face for a while, she finally realized who he was and let out a small gasp.
If asked who he was, one could say he was the heir destined to inherit the throne of the Verthus Empire, a man said to possess all the qualities of a ruler.
The Crown Prince who would bring peace to the empire and continent through strength tempered with moderation—Kairus Rosen Child.
A master of both magic and swordsmanship, known across nations for his talent, charisma, and friendly personality.
So admired was he that he was called the “little sun of the empire.”
His gentle smile looked warm at first glance.
If she hadn’t seen the ruined scene of corpses behind him, she might have agreed.
How could warm colors like orange feel so cold? Though he was smiling, his gaze felt like that of a predator looking at prey.
One wrong move, and she might die before even seeing her idol.
As Isabela trembled uncontrollably, Kairus suddenly smiled brightly.
With an alluring curve of his lips, his voice rang out—low and resonant.
“Tell me your name.”
