"I greet the Sun of the Empire, I greet the Em-"
"The Sun?..."
The man's deep voice was interrupted by the taunting yet sweet tone of the young girl.
"Since when did I become the Sun?"
"Did I... Vixen?"
The young girl turned her gaze to the man called Vixen. His deep blue eyes and neatly combed black hair framed his handsome face. He looked to be in his twenties, with an average build.
Vixen glanced at her, only to realize she was staring intensely at him-as if warning him to choose his next words carefully. Her displeasure was clear.
"Pardon me, my lady," Vixen corrected himself with a bow, "allow me to greet you properly."
In a deep voice, he continued, "I, Vixen, the Sixth Mist Shadow, greet the Mist Master... Lady ■■■■■, the Eminence of Corruption."
■■■■■ was seated leisurely on a gold-plated ancient chair, her left elbow resting on the armrest, her palm holding up one side of her face. She crossed her legs elegantly before glancing at Vixen.
"I am pleased with your greeting," she said in a calm, emotionless voice.
"I received a report," she continued, eyes fixed on him.
"About... Ice Devil Mountain."
Her lofty tone seized Vixen's expression, but his face did not shift in the slightest.
"Ice Devil Mountain"
As her words faded, the scene dissolved… and elsewhere, under a cold moonlit sky, a young girl stirred from a dream
"What a strange dream."
The words still echoing in her head like needles piercing her mind.
"It's really weird..."
This feeling-something strange, something unsettling. A weird dream in an even weirder situation.She sighed.
Now it was all too strange- Look at me... I really wonder if this is me at all.She clicked her tongue and closed her eyes again, falling into a deep dilemma after realizing her personality had begun to change.
The girl wore a white linen shirt and black trousers her size. She looked about six years old, with bright red eyes and silky black hair that contrasted perfectly against her milk-white skin. Yet despite her angelic appearance, her state was a mess-as if she had just returned from a battle of life and death.
Her body was drenched in crimson liquid that kept her warm in the chilling cold. But it was not priceless-and it would not last long.
Beneath the starry night sky, the prison where she lay suddenly stirred. She opened her eyes.
Click.
The sound of the prison door echoed, followed by another voice.
"Get up."
"You're summoned by His Majesty."
The sharp voice belonged to a palace maid, a woman in her thirties with average looks, brown hair, and dull eyes.
The little girl slowly stood and approached the door, coming face-to-face with the maid.
"Why is that?" she asked softly, her lips curling upward into a gentle smile.
The sudden gentleness in her tone only seemed to irritate the maid further, who was already annoyed for other reasons.
"You insolent brat! How dare you talk back to me!" the maid snapped.
"Do as you're told! You should be grateful His Majesty summoned you-it's the only reason you're escaping punishment." She nagged on, her voice sharp and grating.
"Go and wash up before meeting His Majesty," the maid added, waving her hand dismissively, as though the girl were no more than a bug in her sight.
You're only venting your frustrations because of the insults you receive from the other servants... because of your disgusting nature.
The little girl's red eyes narrowed.
Haa... She sighed quietly, thinking of how the maid acted so high and mighty here, while enduring humiliation from others for her own misdeeds.
Grateful? What nonsense... Now that I think about it, I really am strange. She chuckled to herself.
To think I feel no excitement at all... even after waiting so long for this day. Why? Why can't I feel even a shred of happiness, knowing that Father has summoned me?
*Father...?*
*Is that bastard truly your father?*
The little girl's eyes widened as the sudden voice rang inside her head.
.....
The sharp click of her heels echoed against the marble tiles, breaking through the long-lasting silence of the grand hall. Each step carried an eerie authority, a sound far too steady for a child her age.
The little girl moved forward with quiet composure. She wore a simple, colorless dress that brushed against her knees, paired with black heels that contrasted starkly against her pale skin. Her raven-black hair was tied neatly into a ponytail, and under the golden sunlight streaming through tall windows, it gleamed with an almost ethereal sheen. Each strand swayed gently with her movements, lending elegance to her otherwise restrained figure.
"I greet the young princess... Azura Celeste."
The stern voice shattered the stillness. Azura's steps halted, her eyes turning sharply toward the source.
It was the head butler of the Imperial family. A man in his fifties, he stood firm, exuding a presence that could rival knights in their prime. His brown hair was combed backward with care, streaked with strands of white along the sideburns-marks of a lifetime's loyalty and service. His straight posture and broad shoulders, framed by a tailored black tailcoat, radiated discipline.
His very presence radiated unwavering strength, as though nothing in the empire could shake him.
Hmm... you are the only one to greet me like this. As expected of a Calipso. Azura thought silently, as though the name was one she had always known.
The Calipso family-renowned throughout the empire. They were not nobles, yet their influence and reputation stood among the highest of households. From their lineage came the most elite butlers, trained from birth in service, discipline, and loyalty.
In every generation, the head of the Calipso family inherited the title of Imperial Head Butler, serving directly under the Celeste Imperial household. It was a legacy built on loyalty and perfection, where failure was neither expected nor forgiven.
From childhood, the children of the Calipso line were nourished and trained with the strictest care. They were molded into butlers of the highest caliber, their skills polished until flawless. The name "Calipso" carried such weight that hiring even one of their trained members cost a fortune, and yet their loyalty was priceless.
At present, the title of both the Calipso family and the Imperial Head Butler was held by none other than Alexander Calipso-the man standing before Azura.
"I accept your greeting," she replied softly, her voice devoid of warmth, yet threaded with authority. Without breaking stride, she moved past him, her heels clicking once more.
Alexander's eyes followed her, his deep brown gaze steady, yet a flicker of thought passed through him. Was she always like that? he wondered silently. So young, yet her presence feels... different.
Azura herself felt the strange shift within.
I am sure that Calipso must have noticed something, she thought, narrowing her eyes. A man as quick-witted as him would not overlook it. But... has he ever been called "that Calipso" by me before?
Her steps faltered. For a brief moment, her composure cracked, and her lips parted slightly.
A realization struck, sharp and unsettling. Her eyes widened as though she had just uncovered something deeply wrong.
Haa... I never replied to his greeting before. Nor was I ever this observant. What is happening to me?
A sigh slipped past her lips, though soft and restrained. She pressed her thump into a fist, unsettled by the unfamiliarity of her own actions.
Come to think of it-that voice...
Her thoughts grew heavier.
That voice I heard in my mind. I am certain it has something to do with this change in me. It feels so distant, and yet... at the same time, it is a part of me. Distinct, commanding, and foreign... but undeniably mine.
Her eyes darkened with resolve. I need to know what that voice is.
Azura stopped before the massive golden door at the end of the hallway. Its polished surface reflected her faint silhouette. For a moment, she stood still, her fingers brushing lightly against the cool metal, as though anchoring herself.
Behind her, Alexander finally spoke, his voice low but firm.
"Princess... your eyes resemble someone who carries a burden far beyond her years."
Azura froze for a heartbeat, her lips tightening-but she did not turn around.
Taking a steady breath, she moved her eyes toward the door and gathered her scattered thoughts. The sound of her heartbeat filled the silence around her, sharp and insistent.
Whatever lies beyond this... I will face it.
her eyes reflected the emotions in her -calm, steady, and unshaken. The young princess, so small in stature, carried an air that could not be mistaken.
And as the golden door loomed before her, Azura prepared herself to face what awaited within.