Prologue: The Three Beasts of Belpator

My husband died just one day after our wedding.

It was already absurd that I had to change from my wedding dress into mourning clothes immediately, but now I was seated on the imperial throne, facing the three beasts.

“Your Majesty, the Empress.”

“Speak, Duke Zernia.”

“I understand that you’ve faced a great ordeal since arriving in Belpator, but I trust you are aware of the very difficult situation you are currently in.”

Duke Lian Zernia, with his deep blonde hair and violet eyes, spoke consolingly.

They say he has a Serpent’s tongue, and his gentle smile and kind words nearly moved me.

As he said, I was in a very difficult situation.

There were countless reasons for my predicament, but the foremost was related to the three beasts my late husband raised.

The Three Beasts of the Belpator Empire.

Aiden Tilender, the loyal dog who guarded the Emperor.

Lian Zernia, the Serpent who managed the Empire’s internal affairs with his cunning.

And Vitrain Kidmillan, the eagle who protected the Empire’s borders with his vigilant eyes.

The three beasts were said to have helped the Luminal royal family establish Belpator in ancient times, and they were the Emperor’s limbs and the Empire’s guardians for generations.

As long as the Emperor, who held their leashes, lived, this was undoubtedly the case.

The head of the Luminal royal family was endowed with a special power to control the three beasts.

This power was proof that he had the right to inherit the throne of the Belpator Empire and was also evidence of the bonds that restrained the beasts.

Some said that one of them might be the assassin who killed the Emperor.

Others said that as long as the power of the oath compelled their loyalty, they could never harm the Emperor.

In any case, the situation was clear.

Until undeniable evidence of treason was found, I had to hold onto their hands. Running the Belpator Empire without the cooperation of the three ducal families was impossible.

Moreover, to safely pass the throne to the young Crown Princess Lothania, I had to be wary of them. With the master of the oath yet to awaken, the three of them were essentially untamed beasts.

I said nothing in response to Duke Zernia and scrutinized the three beasts. I had to be cautious since I didn’t know what schemes they might be planning.

Duke Zernia naturally stood up and took a step closer to the throne, continuing.

“Though you lost your husband after the wedding night, the marriage blessed by the gods is sacred. Your Majesty is the Empress of the Belpator Empire, and you are the only one who can act on behalf of the Emperor’s authority until the empty throne finds a master.”

“It seems you’ve forgotten about the rightful heir, the Crown Princess Lothania.”

“The Crown Princess Lothania is only twelve years old. Do you intend to burden such a young girl, who hasn’t even awakened the power of the oath, with such a heavy responsibility?”

Duke Zernia asked with a chuckle.

On either side of him, Dukes Tilender and Kidmillan, who were kneeling, also stood up. They glared at Duke Zernia as if to keep him in check, then shifted their gaze to me.

I tried not to tremble under the stares of the three dukes who could either support or devour the Empire, and replied as calmly as possible.

“So, I need your help. I believe you will continue to protect the royal family and the Empire with unwavering loyalty until Crown Princess Lothania grows up safely, awakens the power of the oath, and ascends to the throne.”

As soon as I finished speaking, I heard a quiet, derisive laugh from somewhere.

The culprit was not Duke Zernia, who was still smiling softly, nor Duke Kidmillan, who maintained an unreadable expression.

It was Duke Tilender, with his jet-black hair and blazing red eyes.

The man who held all military power in the capital city of Brincia.

The loyal dog that once guarded the Emperor now looked at me with the face of a wolf that had thrown off its leash.

“Until Crown Princess Lothania awakens, there is nothing to compel our loyalty, Your Majesty. Trust alone cannot buy anything.”

It felt like confronting a large, snarling dog in a dead-end alley.

When domesticated, a loyal guard dog protects me and my belongings, but a stray without a master is more threatening than any beast.

I stared directly into his red eyes, taking a slow, deep breath in and out. When taming a beast, one must never show fear.

I decided to think of Duke Tilender as a large, black dog.

Though baring its teeth at strangers, once tamed, it would wag its tail and show its belly.

And Duke Zernia, a cute Serpent with lovely yellow patterns. Duke Kidmillan, a stately and handsome eagle.

Thinking of them this way made them seem much less frightening than before.

With my fear dispelled, I looked at the three beasts calmly. They pretended to focus on me but were busy keeping an eye on each other.

Beasts caged together rarely get along, especially when there is only one prey.

I began to see a way to tame them.

“Very well. You seek a deal. However, I am not like His Majesty. I am not a vessel for all three beasts. I will stake everything I have on making a deal with only one of you.”

At my declaration, the three dukes glanced at each other. When their eyes met, they turned away in irritation. I smiled inwardly.

This shift in strategy handed me the upper hand in this power struggle.

By stating my intention to ally with only one of the three ducal houses that had been balancing and checking each other, I forced them to compete for my favor.

While they were busy keeping each other in check, Lothania would grow up.

It is said that the awakening could begin as early as thirteen or fourteen, so I only needed to buy time until Lothania could place the leashes back on their necks.

I smoothed my face with satisfaction and looked down at the insolent three beasts.

Amid their mutual wariness, Duke Zernia, with the Serpent’s tongue, spoke first. He smiled brightly, his face almost dazzling.

“Your Majesty, the Empress, you are much more astute than we anticipated. Frankly, I find your proposal very appealing. If possible, I would like House Zernia to stand by your side.”

“I highly welcome your intention.”

“However,”

Duke Zernia’s smile deepened.

The Duke’s smile was so bright it seemed to light up his face as he began his bombshell proposal.

“To overpower these two, the shards of power you grant will not suffice. At least… Yes, if I held the power of the Emperor, it might be possible. So, Your Majesty, will you marry me?”

“…What?”

“There is no precedent, so the legalities must be considered, but the Empress’s husband is the Emperor. At this moment, without a legitimate heir, there is no law that says the throne cannot be succeeded through the Empress’s marriage.”

What? Is this Serpent out of his mind?

I asked him to protect Lothania until she safely becomes the Empress, and he wants to become the Emperor himself? By marrying me?

“Duke Zernia! The Emperor’s funeral has just ended. Can’t you see I am still in mourning clothes?”

I shouted coldly with a stiff face, but Duke Zernia continued to smile and propose.

“Did you not ask me to protect Your Majesty and Princess Lothania? I will protect both of you until the Princess awakens. How about this, in exchange for playing the role of Emperor for a short time, I will take care of those dangerous beasts.”

“The throne belongs to Lothania, Duke.”

“Once Princess Lothania awakens, I will inevitably become her servant. Whether I abdicate or am deposed, it will all be up to her.”

Duke Zernia’s violet eyes sparkled as if he had just come up with the best plan.

I was so stunned by this mad proposal that I couldn’t speak, and then Duke Kidmillan, who had been watching with a blank expression, smirked.

“For once, your forked tongue speaks something reasonable.”

“Duke Kidmillan, stop playing around and back off.”

“Not a chance. Your Majesty, please marry me. I will become your steadfast shield.”

Duke Kidmillan had also lost his mind. His clear blue eyes were sincere, but the words coming out of his mouth were insane.

Then, I heard another quiet, derisive laugh.

Duke Tilender laughed as if he couldn’t believe what was happening, scratched his head, and then sighed deeply with his hands on his hips.

He raised his head, his black hair swaying, and looked at me directly with his red eyes.

“Your Majesty, I will be your loyal dog. Take my hand.”

These mad beasts!

There is a limit to how much insolence one can tolerate.

I was so appalled by the behavior of these beasts, who were shamelessly propositioning me, the widow of their lord, just a week after his death, that I didn’t even know how to rebuke them.

At that moment, the doors to the audience chamber burst open, and a sharp voice rang out.

“I forbid it!”

Lothania, wearing a black dress, her bright platinum hair flowing like melted sunlight, came running towards me.

She was the child who had wept sorrowfully after losing her father.

With a tender heart, I reached out to hug her, but Lothania stood in front of me, shielding me from the three beasts, and shouted.

“Stop your filthy schemes against Her Majesty the Empress!”

The normally sweet, gentle girl, who had become my precious daughter in just a week, spoke harshly and fiercely for the first time.

Duke Tilender, smirking, addressed Lothania.

“This is between Her Majesty and us. It is not your place to interfere, Princess.”

“Shut up! You shameless bastard. Do you think you’re worthy of Her Majesty? You’re no better than disgraceful beasts!”

My daughter, who had lost her mother when she was young and her father just a week ago, was a delicate girl who had held my trembling hand.

She was a timid girl who clung to me with shaking shoulders, but now…?

My name is Sione Rinkel Luminal.

I have become the Empress of Belpator, a kingdom full of beasts.