AEVSM Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Hello, Prince

 

<Lady Beaucater’s business philosophy: When selling, give first and make them use it. Purchases will naturally follow.>

 

<Today in the world of Lady Beaucater: Nothing is impossible with money! If you need quick cash, head to Avenue 21 of the Royal City…>

 

<Lady Beaucater has been anonymously courting her first love, the “Prince,” but who is this lucky “Prince”?>

 

The Red Rose of Secradion, Daphne Beaucater.

 

A Name That Always Appears in the Kingdom’s Newspapers.

 

‘It’s Me.’

 

<Lady Beaucater, Starts Support Project for Single Mothers and Widows… A True Bourgeois!>

 

<The Rose of the Kingdom, Lady Beaucater, spearheads slum redevelopment and job creation projects… She Is the Incarnation of Saint Dekael!>

 

Daphne had immense wealth.

 

Her mother owned nearly all the businesses that formed the foundation of Secradion’s civilization, and her father, the banker of the Russell Bank, controlled the flow of money across three continents.

 

On top of that, she was born with a “gold mine inheritance”—a thousand-acre gold cavern gifted to her at birth. That’s Daphne.

 

Thanks to that, money rotted like crazy, piling up to the point of boredom.

 

Her father often joked that he would buy her the entire kingdom if she wanted, and such remarks, even made in front of the King, would not get a Beaucater’s tongue cut off.

 

‘Winners enjoy everything lightly, while losers take everything too seriously.’

 

The unpaved roads bore traces of rebel blood, and yellow dust swirled in the dry winds. Even the hem of Daphne’s green dress caught the dust.

 

Under the gallows, people gathered like idol fans at a merchandise booth, hurling insults and curses at the rebels. Daphne scratched lightly under her ear with her ring finger.

 

Across the platform stood the royal family, each dressed in luxurious white suits. They feigned mourning for the “Prince’s” death, barely concealing their mockery.

 

“Proceed with the execution!”

 

At the advisor’s lowered hand, the executioner pushed a long lever three seconds later.

 

Crackle, thud.

 

A flock of crows near the platform flapped noisily and flew away.

 

Daphne paused for a moment and looked at the oak gallows. She quickly took a handkerchief out of her handbag and dabbed it under her dry eyes.

 

‘I offer my condolences.’

 

And coming up next is the act.

 

“Your Majesty the King!”

 

It was a little hot. It felt like the summer heat was clogging the tip of my nose.

 

“Oh, Daphne!”

 

The King waved kindly at her. She promptly climbed the stairs, lowered her hat to her chest, lightly held the hem of her dress, and curtsied.

 

“It is an honor to see Your Majesty.”

 

“It would have been better for you to remain in the salon today. This is hardly a sight for my niece to witness, is it?”

 

He clicked his tongue, glancing at the rebels covered in cloth. Daphne followed his gaze.

 

The executioner tapped the rebel’s back with the muzzle of a long rifle. The man winced briefly, then closed his eyes and placed his head between the thick rope.

 

‘I’m glad I arrived on time.’

 

Her fingertips tingle with tension. Daphne quickly looked back at her uncle.

 

“Your Majesty, I, Daphne Beaucater, have come in haste to make a plea to Your Majesty.”

 

“What that might be?”

 

The King of Secradion always bent to the will of a Beaucater. Power was money, after all.

 

And when it came to Daphne, he couldn’t refuse. Perhaps it was because her face increasingly resembled that of the late queen as she grew older.

 

“The national debt borrowed from the Russell Bank—my father assisted in paying those off, didn’t he? Oh, and there were also private loans Your Majesty borrowed for gambling. Did you not also borrow half of my gold mine?”

 

The King’s expression stiffened immediately. His guards and advisors stared wide-eyed at the red-haired girl.

 

“Your Majesty, even if she is the niece of the late Queen, isn’t this an abuse of authority, no, treason?”

 

Daphne merely smiled. Her smile bore an uncanny resemblance to the one in the Queen’s portrait hanging in the royal chamber.

 

“Your Majesty, listen to me. I convinced my father! I’m here to tell you he has agreed to forgive those loans!”

 

The king’s face, which had been chewing on Daphne’s words for a moment, suddenly brightened.

 

His black beard, which he had not shaved on purpose, looked rough. If she had a razor, she would have just shaved it off, Daphne thought regretfully.

 

“Without conditions?”

 

“Oh my, of course not.”

 

“Such insolence! How dare you do that in front of Your Majesty, the ruler of Secradion…!”

 

The King silenced them with a single gesture, looking at Daphne with a kindly expression, as though willing to grant her anything.

 

“Well, what is it, Daphne? Speak your wish.”

 

Only to her did his tone turn exceptionally soft. Daphne knew she had him wrapped around her finger.

 

“That.”

 

She pointed to the gallows.

 

“Give that to me.”

 

“Are you talking about the executioner?”

 

The King followed her gaze, realizing she wasn’t pointing at the bald man with the oddly styled mustache but at someone else entirely.

 

Daphne smiled faintly and slowly moved her fingertips upwards to point straight at the spot. He was looking straight at her without a single frown even under the blazing sun.

 

“Beaucater… no way.”

 

“Give me Celestian Theriosa.”

 

The people there probably didn’t hear Daphne’s voice.

 

“That traitor, give it to me.”

 

As she spoke with strength in her throat, the faces of the state advisor near the king turned pale. He turned his index fingers to his temples, saying that Daphne was truly crazy.

 

“Surely, his life isn’t so cheap.”

 

Feigning sorrow, Daphne bowed slightly and murmured softly, “Don’t forget how much you already owe me, dear uncle.”

 

The king, who smiled cheerfully, waved his hand and called out to his aide. Daphne took a step back and looked around the execution grounds where dust was flying through the crowd of people.

 

‘How much taxes does our family pay? This damn national debt is clearly a bottomless pit.’

 

Daphne knew that it was because the king had embezzled and was living a life of luxury. At that moment, the man who had been listening to the king’s words raised his voice, trembling like a sheep.

 

“Postpone Celestian Theriosa’s execution!”

 

“Thank you for granting my request, Your Majesty.

 

Daphne bowed gracefully, ignoring the outraged murmurs of the royal family.

 

“Your Majesty, what are you talking about?!”

 

“Your Majesty, the unholy blood must be cut out!”

 

The royal family members’ bloodshot eyes rang, but the King silenced them with a wave, declaring,

 

“Let Daphne handle it.”

 

The king spoke with a hint of sternness in his voice and rose from his seat. His advisors and royal family members shook their heads in disbelief at the absurdity of the whole situation. He quickly folded his arms and disappeared.

 

Not that she hadn’t anticipated the chaos, Daphne had prepared a goodbye kit for those who had come to see the Prince concert.

 

Putting her hands next to her mouth to form a funnel, Daphne began her announcement with a breeze.

 

“Everyone, please exit this way! Grab a gold coin on your way out!”

 

The bustling hall suddenly emptied at the mention of money, and became quiet and peaceful. The royal family also left their seats and disappeared. Daphne walked up to the gallows with a leisurely stride. The executioner gave her a grim look, handed her the key to the shackles, and left.

 

Daphne looked up into the face of the traitor, who had straightened up from the waist with a twisted subject. She smiled confidently and gave a slight wave of her right hand.

 

“Hello, prince.”

 

The green eyes looking down at her shone blue without even noticing.

 

“wonder what you believe in to bite people.”

 

His voice cracked.

 

“If you hit me, I’ll break….”

 

When he said his gaze was down, he was referring to Daphne’s neck.

 

Celestian cleared his throat and extended his arm. Daphne, unfazed, took two large steps back. Then she tapped the long lever with her shoe.

 

He was dangling from a coarse copper cord that fit perfectly around his neck.

 

“Ah.”

 

His peridot eyes rolled once around the whites before settling back into place, the corners of his mouth twitching upward without a smile.

 

“You don’t have a gun, do you?”

 

“What?”

 

“I’d like to die once and for all, painlessly.”

 

Celestian lowered the tip of his eyebrow and muttered sweetly.

 

“What kind of bullshit are you talking about, when I saved you?

 

“Besides, it’s ugly to die hanging from a rope, my lady.”

 

He bent his knees, hanging completely off the rope, and then rose with a squeak. Daphne was dazed for a moment.

 

‘This guy was crazy.’

 

She was momentarily distracted by the beauty of his face, which glowed even in the midst of the tangle.

 

“If you want to die, bite your tongue and die, and since you’re not gagged, I won’t stop you. Just remember, Prince, that when you die, your body is mine.”

 

Daphne pronounced it correctly, but thankfully Celestian didn’t seem to be in the mood to argue. He just looked down at her in disbelief

 

As if…

 

‘As if I were a circus snake.’

 

That made Daphne a little nervous. She should have gotten the upper hand, but he seemed so relaxed, even in this dog-like state. Daphne closed one eye, pulled out her diamond pocket watch, and pretended to check the time.

 

“I can’t believe it’s already this time. Sorry, I’m supposed to be picking out Psyche’s wedding dress in a little while.”

 

She emphasized the name ‘Psyche.’ The expression on his fair face vanished. Daphne was so happy she almost wanted to do the pole dance.

 

“My friends are going to take you home instead, Cele, and you need to stay put and not run away.

 

“Cele.”

 

He recalled the nickname only Daphne had ever called him in this kingdom.

 

“Is that what you call me?”

 

Daphne suppressed her gratitude welling up inside her.

 

“Be a good boy and wait.”

 

“Then what are you going to do to me?”

 

“I saved your life!

 

One show was enough. Daphne pretended not to notice and fanned herself. Daphne’s bodyguards, who had arrived late, pinned Celestian down and cut the cord with their swords.

 

“Well, I’ll bring you an indirect kiss from Psyche. If you’re good enough to wait, Cele.”

 

“That’s the first time you’ve ever called me that again…….”

 

“What do you want me to call you then, loser?”

 

Daphne smirked, and Celestian raised an eyebrow in surprise. Then he chuckled softly and took a step toward Daphne.

 

The height difference was very pleasing, as if you didn’t look up, you could say hello to his huge chest. But the subtle sense of intimidation that came from the difference made the noble Beaucater’s mood sour.

 

Daphne took a step back first. The red wound on his neck looked serious.

 

“Get treatment and be quiet.”

 

She pretended to be relaxed and blew a kiss on her hand before turning around. The man’s laughter pierced the back of her head.

 

Daphne walked quickly without looking back and got into the waiting car. Then she grabbed the end of her silk gloves and pulled them out. She leaned comfortably against the backrest and muttered as if sighing.

 

“Cr-crazy.”

 

This isn’t a double insult for being like a slut.

 

“He’s so handsome, he must be crazy. He’s crazy. You’re crazy. Fuck, he’s crazy.”

 

It was pure, one-hundred-percent admiration for a face that still haunts me.

 

A handsome man who had been brought back from the brink of death, but couldn’t tell the difference between heaven and earth, and even splitting things touched his heartstrings.

 

He had finally fallen into Daphne’s palm.

 

In front of everyone!