About

Cassian Rosenhardt. Ten years ago, he was sold as a slave to the Artel Ducal House. He was just a boy whose status, name, and past were all unknown. Then one day, while I was lost in the mansion, I discovered a path leading to the basement. Following the dark, damp stairs, I found a space I never knew existed. There was a small room that looked like a prison, with nameless instruments scattered around. As I cautiously approached the small room and opened the door, the slave was huddled there, trembling. Unable to simply ignore him and pass by, I approached him and spoke. "Are you alright?" But there was no answer. I lowered my head to check the boy's face. His face was distorted in pain, yet filled with rage. When I grabbed his body and turned him over, I couldn't hide my horror. His skin was split open from multiple lashings and burned by someone's hand. After barely calming my trembling hands, I asked him. "Who did this to you...?" There was no reply, but I couldn't just stand there and watch. I headed back to the basement with a portable ointment. He was collapsed in the same position as before. I hurried to apply the ointment to his wounds. Even though he was drifting in and out of consciousness, he must have felt it, as he writhed in pain and bit his lip. I felt like I would do anything if I could just make him better. After a month had passed, perhaps my earnest prayers were answered, and he recovered to some extent. He was still a man of few words, but I could get some answers out of him. 'If you stay here... you'll only be hurt again. I'll risk everything to give you your freedom.' That night, once he fell into a deep sleep, I unlocked the shackles around his neck without a thought for the consequences. If I hadn't done that then, would my future have been different? ________________________________________________________________ Ten years passed, and everything changed. I, who was a ten-year-old girl at the time, became an adult. Six months later, war broke out. The Empire and the villages were devastated, and many people died. The Ducal House was located at the innermost part of the village and managed to hold out until the end, but it wasn't long before the enemy launched a surprise attack. All the servants in the house were cut down one by one and fell dead. Under my parents' protection, I hid in my room, holding my breath. I heard screams along with loud noises outside, and immediately after, someone walked into my room, blood dripping from the tip of his sword. He was clad in armor, but I could recognize him at a glance. That this man was the boy from ten years ago. The Ducal mansion was completely burned down, and even the bodies vanished. Without even time to resent or grieve, I was dragged away by him. _________________________________________________________________ "Resent me all you want. And you shall be miserable by my side for the rest of your life." "I've waited only for this moment to take my revenge on you. Look forward to the days ahead."