In the depths of the snow-covered valleys within the Bayar country''s ins, Princess Christine Alger de Lumenia stood amidst the swirling winds warm winds provided by her mages to keep her warm, her expression a mixture of frustration and concern.


    She listened intently as her two soldiers recounted their encounter with the rogue Evadne, who had ventured off on her own to hunt down demonic beasts.


    As the princess absorbed their exnation, a furrow formed between her brows, betraying her inner turmoil.


    Evadne''s actions puzzled her; she knew Evadne to be intelligent and resourceful, so why would she risk exposing herself in such a reckless manner?


    The realization dawned upon her—Evadne was likely attempting to draw out their enemies, providing a distraction to allow for greater maneuverability.


    However, the princess couldn''t shake the sense of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach.


    While Evadne''s n may have some strategic merit, the risks far outweighed the potential benefits.


    This was enemy territory, a realm fraught with danger at every turn.


    A single misstep could lead to catastrophic consequences, and even someone as formidable as Evadne would be vulnerable amidst the shadows of unknown adversaries.


    The princess clenched her fists in frustration, her mind racing with the weight of their precarious situation. They were operating blind,cking crucial information about the enemy forces lurking in the shadows.


    Unlike their previous encounters at the academy, where they had an idea of what the enemy was like and that they moved frantically on a rampage this time she knew the demons were coordinated… and that could only mean one thing…


    ''A high-ranking demon is present here'' she doesn''t know how high up the hierarchy it is but a high-ranking demon would pose more problem for them than S-rank demonic beast.


    With a heavy sigh, the princess made a decision.


    They couldn''t afford to leave Evadne to fend for herself any longer.


    Despite the risks, they needed to regroup and formte a n of action before it was toote.


    "Gavin, gather three more knights with you and find Evadne," Princess Christinemanded, her voice firm yet tinged with urgency. "Luke, I want you to go to the second division and report to me their situation."


    The knights she addressed bowed their heads in deference before swiftly departing from the camp, their footsteps crunching softly in the snow as they hastened to carry out their orders.


    As themotion settled, a sense of calm descended upon the camp, broken only by the soft murmur of the winter wind.


    It was then that a soothing voice cut through the stillness, drawing the princess''s attention.


    Turning, she beheld the figure of a man making his way towards her, his presencemanding and his demeanor exuding an aura of strength.


    Tristan, known as the "sh of Death," approached with a measured stride, his dark blue hair ruffled by the breeze.


    His sharp features and handsome countenance belied the deadly efficiency with which he wielded his sword, earning him a reputation as one of the most formidable warriors in their ranks.


    "Princess," he greeted, his voice steady and reassuring. Despite the gravity of their situation, there was a sense of serenity in his demeanor that served to ease Christine''s troubled mind.


    Tristan''s arrival brought a sense of reassurance to the camp, his formidable presence a beacon of hope amidst the uncertainty that surrounded them.


    With his strength and skill at their disposal, they stood a fighting chance against whatever dangersy ahead in the treacherousndscape of the Bayar country.


    Although it was only a temporary arrangement, Princess Christine felt a wave of relief wash over her as Tristan assumed his position as her subordinate.


    She couldn''t help but marvel at the irony of the situation—Tristan despite being clearly higher ranked than him… she could feel her heart thumping in fear at the aura he exuded.


    ''To think this powerful junior of mine would willingly offer himself just to join this mission… does he want something?''


    The princess thought Tristan wouldn''t want anything to do with her and the imperial family considering that the guardian dragon of the empire can be considered an enemy for his master now…


    As Tristan knelt before her, presenting something in his hands, Christine''s curiosity piqued.


    Her eyes widened in shock as she beheld the object he held—a decapitated head. Despite the chill of the surrounding air, a shiver ran down her spine at the sight of the gruesome trophy.


    The princess''s horror was mirrored by those around her, as even the knights in her retinue flinched at the sight of the macabre artifact.


    Frozen to the bone and pierced with countless holes, the head bore a striking resemnce to the depictions they had seen of the tribal chief of the Bayar country.


    "I found it a few clicks north from here," Tristan exined, his voice calm despite the underlying intensity in his eyes. "It was impaled on a spike, surrounded by countless others..."


    His words hung heavy in the air, painting a grim picture of the atrocities that awaited them beyond the safety of their camp. Despite the veneer ofposure he maintained, the energy crackling in Tristan''s gaze betrayed the gravity of the situation they faced.


    "I see, good work. At least now we can confirm a few more things before we head out tomorrow," Princess Christine acknowledged, her voice tinged with a mixture of relief and grim determination.


    With a nod of dismissal, she watched as Tristan withdrew, his presence a silent reassurance amidst the uncertainty that surrounded them.


    As the young man departed, Christine''s thoughts turned inward, her mind grappling with the gravity of their recent discovery.


    The presence of the decapitated head confirmed their worst fears—the ruler of the Bayar country was dead, along with the chief''s son.


    The barbaric disy of their remains served as a grim reminder of the brutality that had ravaged the once-thriving nation.


    Faced with this grim reality, Christine knew that action was necessary.


    Gripping her crystal orb tightly, she activated her magic, establishing a connection with the imperial pce.


    It was imperative that her father, the emperor, be informed of these developments without dy.


    As she ryed the news to her father, Christine weighed their options carefully.


    Should they proceed with their mission as nned, or return to the capital to confer with leaders from neighboring nations?


    The responsibility rested heavy on her shoulders, and she was keenly aware of the stakes at hand.


    Despite her royal status, Christine harbored no illusions of grandeur.


    She understood that the lives of countless individuals hung in her decisions right now, and she was determined not to let their sacrifices be in vain.


    ''The decapitated heads are clearly a warning…''


    ''The decapitated heads are clearly a warning…'' Princess Christine''s thoughts echoed somberly as she surveyed the grim scene before her.


    The stench of death hung heavy in the air, a haunting reminder of the atrocities that had befallen the Bayar country.


    Th4e same could be expected of the other northern countries as well if so ''Only the worst can be thought of thest fairy in the world…. Queen Mavis is probably dead''


    ''Coming here was a mistake…'' she mused, her heart heavy with regret.


    Despite their best efforts, the mission had quickly devolved into a nightmare of unimaginable proportions.


    The princess knew that to continue forward would be to court disaster, yet the thought of abandoning their quest filled her with a sense of defeat she could scarcely bear.


    As the chilling winds of the region sent shivers down her spine, Christine felt a foreboding warning settle over her.


    Whatevery ahead promised to be far more perilous than anything they had encountered thus far.


    Even the most seasoned warriors among them would struggle to navigate the treacherousndscape of the Bayar country.


    All the locals that can probably teach them how to navigate these snowy ins filled with snowstorms and blizzards are all dead.


    None of the scouts she had dispatched earlier had returned, their fate shrouded in mystery.


    With each passing moment, the princess''s anxiety grew, a knot of apprehension tightening in her chest.


    With a heavy sigh, Christine lifted her gaze skyward, her thoughts turning to the one hope that remained.


    In a letter sent through the duke, she had extended an urgent plea to Adrian Vulter Tellus, the legendary hero.


    ''Lilliana hasn''t epted my calls as well…. Is she preventing me from getting into contact with Adrian?''


    Remembering what Lilliana was like that was probably the case.


    ''Adrian Vulter Tellus… if what I offer you wasn''t enough, I''m prepared to give everything… including myself,'' she whispered, her voice barely audible above the howling wind.


    In her darkest hour, she clung to the hope that the hero would heed her call, that he would be the beacon of light they so desperately needed in their hour of darkness.


    Too many people are dying without their knowledge, the hero has to make a move now.


    ….


    Two days had passed since Aria and I returned from our unexpected ordeal in the Kaksan forest, and in that time, our bond had grown stronger than ever.


    The other girls quickly took notice, observing the newfound closeness between us with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.


    As expected, Aria wasted no time in proudly unting the engagement ring I had given her, sparking jealous nces and heated exchanges between her and Elena.


    "A golden ring truly symbolizes one''s love andmitment right?"


    "True, but isn''t a white ring more pure when ites to expressing one''s love?"


    "Oh my aren''t you the saintess of the church of light? I thought you would''ve known that wedding rings were golden in nature?"


    "That''s only for cultural reasons! the one''s getting married can change it anytime besides having a white wedding ring makes it feel more special!"


    ''Are they still even talking about engagement rings at this point...?''


    Haah....!


    While I was relieved that their disputes never escted to physical violence, the venomous words they exchanged left me unsettled, especially with how they can trigger insults from one another with just their eyes alone....


    "Louise what do you think?"


    "W-well... I-I think both looks good right Ana?"


    "...Yes"


    They even dragged innocent bystanders in their little battle of nerves.


    "I guess a slutty little saintess, who always acts like she''s the most innocent wouldn''t understand the beauty and meaning behind golden rings"


    "Wh-wha...? who are you calling slutty, you horny incestuous woman!"


    "You of course~"


    "I''m not a slut!!! besides you''re the one who openly unt you''re body and skin for all to see, if anything you''re the slut here you bitch!"


    "Oh my it''s called style and fashion slutty saintess~, don''t me me if you''re only allowed to wear that rag of robes my dear~"


    "Don''t call me a slutty saintess!!!... besides only Ian has seen my other side...." she trailed off in the end.


    It was unnerving to witness how easily they could slip into hurling absurd curses at each other as if it were the most natural thing in the world.


    If I can''t provide them the love and attention they both need they might kill me for real....


    "Adrian…!"


    "Ian…!"


    "Who do you love more?"


    "Who do you think is better?" they both asked simultaneously, their eyes boring into mine with an intensity that made my stomach churn.


    "Haha.... you both know I love you two equally right...?"


    Although I tried to say it as calmly as I could, my voice came out rather nervously.


    The memory of the death res they had given me thest time I had attempted to answer that question still haunted me.


    It was a lose-lose situation—I loved them both equally, and their positions as first and second wife were merely social constructs of this world.


    Yet, despite knowing this, they always seemed to find ways to quarrel.


    Navigating the delicate dynamics between Elena and Aria was proving to be an exhausting endeavor.


    While Elena held the position of my future first wife, the recent engagement with Aria meant that she too held the same rights to my affections.


    This often led to shes whenever the two crossed paths, each vying for my attention with fervor.


    Despite their frequent squabbles, I knew deep down that neither Elena nor Aria took their rivalry too seriously.


    Both were content with the prospect of bing my future wives, yet their relentless pursuit of my attention threatened to strain our rtionships beyond repair.


    It was a constant battle to diffuse their arguments and maintain harmony within our unconventional family dynamic.


    If their conflicts continued unchecked, they could escte into something far more serious.


    Thankfully, Ana and Louise, my other potential future wives, remained rtively unaffected by the situation.


    While they may have harbored their own feelings about the engagement, they maintained a sense ofposure, understanding that it was simply part of the intricate tapestry of our lives together.


    As for the engagement rings I had prepared for them, I held off on presenting them for the time being.


    Having learned from the tumultuous reaction of Elena to Aria''s ring, I wanted the moment to be perfect for Ana and Louise.


    In my sister''s realm, the rings awaited, ready to be bestowed upon them in a manner befitting the significance of the asion.


    ....


    Right now, as usual, I was training with my master.


    It had been over a week since we began our rigorous sessions, yet I still couldn''t seem tond a single hit.


    Frustration gnawed at me as I wondered if I was making any progress at all.


    "Sir hero your right is always open" he said as he smacked my right chest with a spinning kick…


    ''Seriously this old bastard never holds back…''


    In the midst of my training, thoughts of the recent events weighed heavily on my mind.


    I had ryed all the information I had gathered from Aunt and the others to the pope, hoping it would spur them into action.


    However, it seemed that they were hesitant to make any decisive moves based on my intel. Were they doubting the validity of my information, despite my assurances that it was a revtion from the goddess herself?


    I had even taken precautions, using Loki''s mask to conceal any potential falsehoods during our meeting. And yet, they had seemed to believe me wholeheartedly.


    So why the dy?


    Was it just caution, or was there something more at y?


    Making the hero sit here while the world was already at stake was kind of idiotic on their part, I get that they want to monopolize me but if they keep dying this much not just the northern countries will be at stake.


    niel was already a monster that they needed to be warry of at north, and the same can be said for the demon king''s daughter there as well, as she was a coborator of ours, she wasn''t someone we could control.


    ''She won''t attack all of a sudden right?''


    Queen Mavis''s situation is a bit troublesome to think about as well, considering who the person she''s probably with right now, I just hope niel didn''t devour her.


    As I pondered these questions, I couldn''t help but feel a growing impatience.


    The urgency of the situation weighed heavily on me, especially considering the swift departure of the duke back to the imperial pce.


    It struck me as odd; why would he need to return in person whenmunication crystals were readily avable?


    ''Something probably happened at the empire as well….''


    For now, all I could do was wait patiently, honing my skills and hoping for a breakthrough. In my swordsmanship…


    ''it would be bad if looked like I was an idiot swinging a golden sword against demons in the days toe.''