CH 1: Grand Duchy of Hessenguard

In the swaying carriage, Erna pursed her lips. It took them a full week to reach the capital of the Duchy of Hessenguard by the carriage. Although it was the road leading to the capital, the condition of the road was quite terrible. It might have been because of the rain that poured a while ago.

Every time the carriage’s wooden wheel tumbled over the uneven stony road, Erna’s face turned pale, biting the flesh of her lips. For several days, her body had been battered by ceaseless thumps; a faint sway would make her nauseous. She wondered whether it was her fortune or woe. She had already vomited her entire breakfast and now her stomach heaved again. She could not even drink a drop of water. As she retched, only a groan escaped out of her lips.

Just then, she heard the cries of the knights who were marching ahead.

“It’s the Grand Duke’s Castle!”

“I can see the Grand Duke’s Castle!”

Erna’s face lit up as their loud voices reported what was ahead of them. Finally, their destination was in sight. With a bright face, she reached out to draw the window’s curtains. As soon as she was about to do so, the maid seated across from her quickly struck her hand. A powerful smack reverberated throughout the carriage.

“Princess!” The maid bellowed in a sharp voice, causing Erna to cower. It was a habit; she was scared. “What are you doing? I had told you that it was dangerous outside!” Although the maid sounded respectful, it was clear from her voice that she looked down at her. She couldn’t even hide the satisfaction she felt after hitting the princess’s hand.

“I just felt so suffocated,” muttered Erna as she massaged her throbbing hand.

“Did you forget that there Have been several assassination attempts on people who’ve tried to reach this place! The princess was just lucky enough to avoid it. You better keep that in mind!”

“I understand…”

It was not that she had forgotten about this. It was not easy to forget how the two previous candidates from the royal families, who had been sent before her, were cruelly assassinated. However, it wasn’t enough justification for the maid’s smug attitude. Other princesses would have yelled at their maids and bashed them for their rude behavior, but Erna had never inflicted harm against anyone. She couldn’t.

Erna was well-aware of her position. She was the fourth child born to the second wife of the King of Haband’s. The king had married Erna’s mother, expecting that the children born between them would have the talent of wizardry in their blood, just like their mother. As a wizard from the Mage Tower, she even had a beautiful appearance, but unfortunately, she died early after giving birth to Erna. 

As Erna resembled her mother, the king expected that Erna too would have a talent for magic like her mother. But Erna, who had turned sixteen, had not shown any aptitude for magic until now.

It was natural that the King was greatly disappointed in her. Since Haband allowed men to have multiple wives, the King took a beautiful woman from a powerful family as the Queen. The Queen then gave birth to healthy children for the King.

Erna, without a mother and support from the royal factions, had a superficial existence within the royal family. It would have been nice if the tower could take care of her, but tower said that they no longer paid attention to the worldly affairs and ended their relationship. Therefore, Erna had to live with minimal treatment as a princess.

In fact, she had no complaints regarding her situation. At least in the royal palace, she would not have to worry about being hungry or having to sleep in the cold. She thought she could live quietly, then someday get married and leave the royal palace. She thought she could live with such naive thoughts.

But in this world, everything doesn’t go as one desire. In her early age, the harassment began, starting with the subtle bullying from her half brothers and sisters. At first, she fought back. But when she overpowered her bullies, the other queens would visit Erna at night and beat her endlessly in the guide of discipline.

“We’re all members of the royal family and should have a good relationship. But I can’t believe you would scratch others with your nails and kick them like a kid brought up in the streets. Even if you don’t have a mother, I can’t believe that you would be this unruly…”

Hateful words left a deep wound on Erna — deeper than the whip that struck her calf.

No one here cares about me.

Little Erna quickly realized this bitter reality. Still, she tried to fight again and again, but the abuse worsened over time. Eventually, Erna gave up resisting. It was just too much pain for a child to bear.

“What? Won’t you fight us today?”

“Yeah, it’s too boring.”

Even though her brothers and sisters trampled on her with their heavy feet, Erna remained still, thinking it would discourage their harassment. But it only made her an easy prey. Since then, Erna became someone, no, something people could treat however they pleased. 

Having lost the spirit to fight back, Erna just held onto herself. Just because children are young doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t feel emotions such as anger and humiliation. But since she couldn’t release her anger on others, she vented it out on herself.

There was a void in her heart that could not be filled. So, little Erna tried to fill it through the only way she knew. Therefore, from some point on, Erna’s hands always had something she could eat.

She wasn’t picky about food. From fruits to sweets, Erna kept eating everything all day long. The maids who attended her tried to stop her, but after knowing that Erna would become quiet when given something to eat, they brought her even more food. As she always had food in her mouth and didn’t go outside, her body quickly became plump. As her growth period approached, her body began to grow rapidly. Her features became distorted and her skin became coarse and greasy. Her siblings, who used to just tease her, now frowned upon seeing her and started treating her as a complete stranger.

“Even though she is a princess, would there be a nobleman who would want someone like her?”

“It might be better to send her to a convent when she gets older.”

Hearing the malicious whispers about her, Erna only hoped that she could someday leave the royal palace by whatever means possible.

In the meantime, news came in that the Grand Duke of Hessenguard was dead, and soon a war would begin. For a few years, the atmosphere of the royal family was very gloomy. Then finally, the news that a treaty had been signed reached them.

She thought the royal family would be peaceful for a while, but it only lasted for a short while.

“This is the Grand Duchy of Hessenguard. It is a position that cannot be compared to a worthless royalty like you that cannot even take over the throne.”

With the exception of the first prince, who was destined to take over the throne, all the members of the royal family indulged in a fierce battle for the position. Soon after, it was decided that the second prince would go to the Grand Duchy of Hessenguard, and Erna watched his farewell ceremony from a distance.

But a week later, the second prince was killed in a sudden attack even before he could even cross the border. The same thing happened to the princess, who was sent from the Aether Kingdom.

The two kingdoms thought that it was an ambush done by the surrounding kingdoms who were against the co-rule of Hessenguard. They again chose a member of the royal family to return to Hessenguard, saying that they would not back down from their decision.

This time, the first princess of the Haband Kingdom and the second prince of the Aether Kingdom were chosen. But they too lost their lives just before they could reach Hessenguard. After the second assassination, the pride of the two kingdoms was crushed. Despite heavy security, the members of the royal family were again murdered. 

“Do you think we’re going to give up Hessenguard because of that?”

However, unlike the first time, there was no royal family member that would go voluntarily this time. Two people have already been killed. No matter how much they prioritized their protection, the chances of them also being killed was very high.

The position that everyone desired quickly became a position that everyone wanted to avoid. They had no other choice but to send someone; if they didn’t, the other kingdoms would swallow the entire Duchy alone.

“Anyone is fine! We need someone to send there first!”

The ministers chose a candidate again. Someone who was from the royal family, but wouldn’t be a loss if their lives were taken. Someone who’s death no one will mourn. 

In the whole Kingdom of Haband, there was only one royal family member who met these conditions. Thus, a week later, Erna was dragged into a carriage heading to Hessenguard without any preparation.

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