That same night—
Far beyond the palace walls, the skies began to stir. Clouds twisted unnaturally, coiling into shapes that defied all earthly logic. The stars blinked. Once. Twice. Then dimmed, their light swallowed into something far older than night.
In the Temple of Spirits, far across the kingdom, High Priest Haden stood atop the wind-swept terrace. His ceremonial robes billowed as the air thickened, charged with the scent of rain and fate.
His eyes narrowed, fixed on the strange phenomenon unraveling across the sky.
Haden: "It has begun."
His whisper was barely audible, lost in the howling wind.
But the world heard it.
And in the depths of its silence—
it stirred.
———
Time passes by like the wind—swift and intangible. It had been almost two months since Edrick's last visit. He hadn't come by during these weeks, or rather, he hadn't found the time to. After all, he was preparing himself for the approaching Mid-Winter Council, a responsibility that demanded his full attention.
These past weeks had been peaceful for Evelyn. The five servants carried out their duties with such dedication that they had practically become her hands, feet, eyes, and ears. Evelyn, being too lazy to monitor everything herself, simply sent them in her place.
In the afternoon-
After finishing her lunch, Evelyn reclined comfortably on a large velvet couch by the window, letting her head fall against the cushions as she rested. The afternoon sunlight streamed in, warming her skin and creating a peaceful ambiance.
Suddenly, as if something crossed her mind, Evelyn opened her eyes and called out, "Callie."
Cassy, who had been organizing some flowers in a vase near the corner, paused for a moment before walking over.
Cassy: "You called me, Your Highness?"
Now, everyone had grown accustomed to Evelyn's mispronunciations of their names.
Cassy had caught glimpses of Evelyn's laziness and her indifferent, almost unbother demeanor. As a result, she had grown noticeably more relaxed and casual in her behavior toward her.
Evelyn nodded lazily.
Evelyn: "Yes. Call the five and also Gorald."
Cassy nodded. She had come to understand Evelyn's temperament over the past few weeks—laziness wrapped in an oddly strategic calm. Despite being a child, Evelyn had a chilling maturity. Unfortunately, she was a bit too lazy.
Cassy: "... Yes, Your Highness."
Cassy went to call them all over, and as she observed their dedication and the responsibility they showed toward their tasks—listening to Evelyn despite her being just a child—Cassy became assured that they were all trustworthy individuals.
She had grown to respect those five—Melinda, Lily, Lora, Ella and Clair. Their loyalty to Evelyn was unwavering, and their dedication to their work was something she hadn't expected. It was hard to believe they had once been ordinary servants.
Moments later, the five stood before Evelyn with Cassy and Gerald slightly apart from the others. Lily, being the most talkative, naturally spoke first.
Lily: "Your Highness, why did you call us so suddenly? Is there something you need us to do?"
Evelyn straightened slightly, her gaze flickering toward the window.
"Yes," she replied calmly.
Evelyn: "I have something to tell you all."
They instantly grew more attentive, their postures becoming more formal. Evelyn chuckles slightly at their visible tension.
She turned her gaze outward, watching the world beyond the glass, her voice growing quiet.
Evelyn: "As you all know, I'm just an abandoned princess. I have no power, no authority. If someone were to come here and slaughter us all one-day, no one would even care, let alone come to our rescue."
Her words struck a somber chord. The five exchanged glances, the weight of her statement settling in.
Evelyn turned back to face them, something gleaming in her eyes.
Evelyn: "So, I have decided something."
"What is it, Your Highness?" Cassy asked, her tone cautious.
Evelyn took a deep breath, her lips curving into a faint smile.
Evelyn: "I've decided to create my own Guardians."
The room fell silent.
Shock registered on every face.
Of course they would be shocked.
[Guardians- The Guardians are elite protectors who operate from the shadows. They're unseen, unheard, and unknown to most — existing solely to shield their master from threats before they ever reach their master. Trained in stealth, strategy, and silent combat, they strike without warning and vanish without trace. Their loyalty is absolute and solely to their master.
In Cristiane, only those from aristocratic bloodlines have the right to become Guardians. Guardians aren't just protectors—they're bound by a special contract that allows them to sense their master's location and teleport instantly to their side in times of danger.
Despite how powerful and loyal Guardians are, very few nobles choose to make such contracts. The reason is simple—placing one's life in someone else's hands, no matter how skilled or trustworthy, feels far too risky for most.
Still, legends persist. It is said that Seraphion Aster—renowned as the greatest swordsman in Cristiane's recorded history—was the Guardian of Elencia de S. La Cristiane, the founding matriarch of the cristiane empire.
Even the current Empress has only two Guardians, yet no one knows who they are. Their identities remain a mystery, hidden from the world. ]
Cassy was the first to react, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Your Highness… you…"
Before she could finish, Evelyn rose calmly from the couch, her expression unreadable. She stepped forward, standing tall before the group that had served her so diligently these past weeks.
Evelyn: "So, I want to ask all of you—are you willing to become my Guardians?"
They were stunned. They were all commoners. To even dream of such a position was blasphemy in the eyes of nobility.
Gerald, the knight among them, stepped forward and fell to his knees, bowing deeply.
Gerald: "Your Highness... I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. I don't think I'm capable of becoming a Guardian."
Evelyn's expression turned cold, her voice laced with sharpness.
Evelyn: "Are you saying that my judgment is wrong? Do you think that because I'm a child, I don't understand anything?"
Gerald's eyes widened in panic.
Gerald: "No, Your Highness! I dare not! It's just... I fear my skills are unworthy."