Episode 1
[Prologue]
It was a spring day, neither cold nor hot. The weather was so sunny it almost seemed to mock me.
Under the clear, bright sky, Empress Lentia of the Empire waited for someone, dressed in black like a mourner at a funeral.
In fact, the sight of her and the crowd surrounding her resembled a massive funeral procession. Given the circumstances, it wasn’t an entirely misplaced metaphor.
Finally, the sound of horse hooves echoed in the distance. As it grew louder, dozens of riders came into view.
They were men, fully armored and armed from head to toe.
Most of them had black or brown hair, though there were older men amongst them with streaks of gray.
The man leading the group stood out, noticeably younger than the others. His face, partially visible beneath his helmet, was smooth and youthful, almost boyish, and at first glance, gave the impression of being harmless.
Harmless?
Lentia couldn’t help but think it was the most unsuitable word in existence for this man.
When imagining an undefeated general leading an army of barbarian warriors across the grasslands, “harmless” would never come to mind. To think otherwise would be an insult to the countless soldiers of the empire crushed beneath his boots, as well as to the man himself.
Lentia shook off her idle thoughts and watched the advancing group with a composed demeanor.
Straight-backed, chin high, she stood as how the noble empress of the empire should be.
But as the army finally came to a halt before her at the gates of the palace, Lentia bowed her head deeply, with all her regal composure intact.
“Empress Lentia Christine Paolin Lekeon of the Lekeon Empire greets the great descendant of the Red Tiger, Kirta.”
Her tone was formal, her speech fluid, and her intonation smooth. Even while bowing, she carried herself with dignity.
The young warrior at the head of the army, Kirta, raised an eyebrow—whether in amusement or surprise, it was hard to tell.
“Thank you for the warm welcome, Your Majesty, Empress of the Lekeon Empire.”
His voice was rich and low, unexpectedly melodic, just like his unexpectedly smooth face.
His imperial dialect was surprisingly fluent, marred only by a faint trace of an accent.
Now was not the time for distractions. Lentia straightened, her gaze meeting the enemy commander’s.
“Please, follow me to the palace. I will guide you,” she said politely.
Thus began the first meeting of the two people from vastly different worlds.
—
[How to Greet a Friendly Invader]
The Lekeon Empire had not always been an empire.
It was during the reign of its 14th king that Lekeon began expanding its territory and declared itself an empire.
Though his brutal conquests drew the ire of foreign nations and indigenous peoples, the 14th king enriched the empire, leaving a legacy praised by future generations.
His son, the 15th monarch, became known as a saintly ruler. He consolidated his father’s gains, pursued conciliation with colonies, and fostered cultural growth in the empire’s heartland.
The 15th emperor lived to a ripe old age, but his son, the crown prince, died young. As a result, the emperor’s grandson succeeded him as the 16th ruler.
This grandson was a failure as a monarch.
Unlike his great-grandfather, who had brought wealth through war, or his grandfather, who had cultivated stability and prosperity, the 16th emperor was neither courageous nor wise.
Instead, he was a cowardly, shallow man—a self-indulgent tyrant more interested in squandering the wealth that his predecessors had built.
Born during the empire’s most prosperous era, he took its peace and stability for granted and ultimately began its decline.
Even so, there was still one hope for the empire.
Her name was Lentia Paolin.
—
“I will do my utmost within the palace, Father and Mother. I will not tarnish our family name or this empire’s honor.”
The Paolin Dukes were a long-standing, loyal noble family of Lekeon, producing many exemplary ministers over generations. Lentia, the eldest daughter of the current Grand Duke, had been groomed for greatness since her childhood.
Her intelligence, grace, and poise made her the ideal candidate for empress.
Even the 15th emperor had higher hopes for Lentia than for his own grandson, the future 16th emperor.
Carrying the imperial family’s expectations on her delicate shoulders, Lentia wed the young emperor in a grand state ceremony.
Unfortunately, her husband, the emperor, was the only one in the Lekeon Empire who failed to recognize her worth.
“You are merely an empress, not the emperor. I am the ruler of this empire, Lentia.”
“Know your place and focus on running the household. Stop overstepping your bounds.”
“You’re just a woman—what do you know of power?”
“You’re so cold and unyielding at night. How can I produce a successor with you?”
The emperor’s incompetence was matched only by his insecurities.
She was an empress who was admired for her elegance, trusted by the people, and was beloved by the previous emperor—it was too much for him to bear.
“You insufferable woman! Why did you have to be my wife?”
In private, his frustration often spilled into a verbal abuse.
But Lentia, ever poised, would meet his outbursts with calm rebukes.
“Your Majesty, please compose yourself. I am the empress of this
empire, your wife, and your partner. Insulting me only diminishes your dignity as a ruler.”
Her calm demeanor only enraged him further.
“You dare lecture me on dignity? I am the emperor!”
“Then act like one, Your Majesty. Your vulgarity shames the throne you sit upon.”
Though he often seemed on the verge of violence, he never laid a hand on her.
It wasn’t because of the conscience that stayed his hand— rather it was fear.
Fear of her family, the powerful House of Paolin, and fear of Lentia’s personal influence over the empire’s nobility and people.
Yet, his resentment festered.
“Why do you always have everything? Why does everyone love you?”
Lentia, ever composed, would only offer advice that he was too bitter to heed.
“Good opportunities and allies exist in every life. Embrace them before they slip away.”
But the emperor chose self-pity over reflection.
—
His pettiness reached a peak when he brazenly brought his mistress into the palace.
The insult enraged even Lentia’s loyal maid, Elise.
“How could His Majesty humiliate you like this? It’s outrageous!”
“Calm down, Elise,” Lentia said gently. “It won’t last.”
Though hurt, Lentia remained confident in her position.
Her influence and the empire’s laws would protect her status as empress.
But before justice could prevail, the empire faced a greater crisis.
A barbarian army from the northeastern border had invaded their empire.
—
