Chapter 2: Born at the Wrong Time

-Ting! Ting! Tiing!

“…….”

I pluck the lute.

The Heart of the Empire, submerged in darkness as the sun fell, was incredibly silent.

A dense population.

The residential areas, clustered in a way that proved this density.

Within such a place, even a small shout would quickly carry far.

Therefore, if I were to recklessly pluck the strings of an instrument like this…

It was obvious that I would soon face interference, whether from a report filed somewhere or the curiosity of an unspecified multitude.

Still, since there are shelters and parks even within the city center.

Positioning myself deep inside a park and using trees as a barrier to hide my body.

That was not a difficult task.

“This level of sound is fine, right?”

When I ask the void, an appropriate answer returns.

It would be a voice or a signal that normally cannot be heard.

But I vaguely understand.

“Whew.”

A deep breath.

Maintaining composure is important.

If I cannot steady my heart, my chest tightens and my breath is suddenly choked off.

My body quickly becomes drenched in fatigue, and my mind immediately grows clouded.

Simply losing focus or having a complicated state of mind is not a particular problem.

The most serious thing is my consciousness plummeting into a pit of despair.

Once negative thoughts arise and begin to take hold, they spread without end.

“Whew!”

I pluck the strings.

I have no intention of playing anything specific.

Not yet.

I simply pluck a single string repeatedly, with a constant strength, plucking, plucking, and plucking again…

Only at the moment when the very thought that I am immersed in something fades, and I begin to forget even myself.

Only then do I play a piece familiar to my hands.

The sound does not spread.

Because I have taken measures to ensure the music does not carry.

It is not magic.

I have no talent in that regard.

“…….”

As I continue to play with an empty mind.

The pitch-black sky gradually begins to brighten.

The clusters of stars that had been densely embroidered fade away.

And as even the brilliant full moon slowly vanishes.

“…Sleep is out of the question.”

Even knowing I will regret it, sleep does not come.

No, I cannot sleep.

Because then, tomorrow will come.

The fear of tomorrow approaching.

A day starting anew.

All of it binds my body like a curse, like a noose.

Furthermore, tomorrow is the day a celebration party is held at the Imperial Capital.

As the child of a Hero and a Saintess, it was not a place I could easily avoid even if I wanted to.

Unless I had a plausible reason.

‘A justification, huh.’

A life bound by politics since childhood.

In that sense, I consider my life politically finished.

An existence like an insect, dead and preserved, sandwiched between golden pages.

Or a burnt page where neither letters nor pictures can be seen, scorched by fire.

That is my past and my present.

“…….”

My fingers were tingling.

However, more miserable than this pain is the reality of tomorrow… no, the reality of today.

“Why do I live like this?”

It’s so absurd that a hollow laugh escapes me.

Unable to let it out fully, I keep the sound low…

Am I not just like… a rat hiding in a hole?

“That’s enough. Thank you.”

The void, where not a single insect’s cry had been heard, released.

Soon, various calm noises began to prick my eardrums.

While suppressing my presence, I leave the park.

Crossing from roof to roof.

Quietly, I return to the Family Home.

“Young Master.”

“…….”

The moment I stepped over the wall.

A man holding a torch approached as if he had been waiting.

“I hope you keep your nighttime outings to a reasonable limit. You know, don’t you? It is not good for your reputation.”

“…I shall be careful.”

Responding insincerely, I climbed the wall and entered my room through the window.

In this familiar yet suffocating space, my chest already tightened and my heart felt stinging.

‘A prison.’

A prison for what?

Thus, I wait for the dawn with wide-open eyes.

Once again, a hellish day begins.

====

“Head of the Nine Heroes! Last Hero! Captain of the Golden Dragon Knights of the Empire’s First Knight Order! Golden Sword Saint, Lueld Brandiar! Following him, the Pillar of the Nine Heroes! Leading Saintess! Radiant Ritual! Holy Mother of Salvation! Ermina Brandiar is entering!”

It is utterly brilliant.

Black and white.

Attire that was closer to a liturgical robe enveloping the entire body than a dress.

Based in white and decorated with gold thread, it looked modest at a glance, but in reality, it was a formal dress that combined an astronomical budget and sense, literally possessing practicality.

And in contrast, jet-black hair.

Her beauty, with her hair braided up, felt exceptional even to me, her child.

Even though her abdomen was particularly swollen due to pregnancy.

That appearance was almost noble.

A lavish ballroom.

Even amidst the wide party hall where there was not a single path for a shadow to dwell.

That beauty shone uniquely.

Furthermore, every gesture was noble, even sublime.

Truly a presence befitting one called a Saintess and Holy Mother.

On the other hand.

The man escorting her beside her.

An appearance with fine lines, considering he had been through all sorts of hardships.

Despite being well over thirty, he had a youthful face that looked like he was in his early twenties at a glance.

He was also wearing formal attire, but the two were extreme in every aspect.

A man with snow-white hair and a beauty with pitch-black hair. That contrast.

However, the colors of their clothing were the exact opposite.

Sticking to knight’s formal wear even here was likely not his own choice.

His old-fashioned mother probably lectured him for a long time in the name of discipline and etiquette, claiming that his usual light and friendly attitude lacked dignity.

Still, if he dressed well, kept his mouth shut, and restrained his expression appropriately, his appearance was considerable.

…Looking from this distance, it’s as if they are people from another world.

“What a picture-perfect couple.”

“Every time I see them, but it seems they grow younger by the day.”

“Indeed. I am envious beyond words.”

“Well, still, the children… .”

“Ahem! There are many ears listening…”

“My my! What a vulgar mistake!”

This is it.

Since they cannot badmouth those two, they show their claws toward this side.

If it were my father or mother, they would have heard enough of such talk.

Because the two possess that much power.

However, I do not care.

If I began to intervene in every detail, I would probably have to sweep away most of the nobility.

Responding to every low-grade slander?

That would be utterly absurd.

…Something that goes against the authority and dignity of a Grand Hero.

“Still, won’t blessed news be delivered soon?”

“A legitimate heir to the two might be born.”

“Surely the child born this time will be a noble child, befitting the fame and dignity of the two, right?”

Truly, these kinds of stories lodge themselves in my ears with strange efficiency.

“…….”

From a corner, so as not to catch the eyes of those two, I moved toward the terrace.

My plan is to fill some time, make a brief appearance, and then slip away.

Because if I just went back, I could be looked down upon as a fool who couldn’t even exchange proper greetings.

If I hadn’t come at all, it would be one thing, but since I’ve set foot here, I must maintain the basics.

“As expected, you were here.”

As expected?

As I glanced back, a girl with impressive red hair revealed herself.

A shining appearance adorned with a red dress and lavish accessories.

The time when she would radiate the most vibrant light as a woman and a girl.

But.

…To me, that vivid red splendor symbolized another curse.

“…….”

Pushing back a sigh that was about to escape, I paid a moderate amount of courtesy.

“It has been a long time, Princess Highness.”

“I recall we encountered each other at the Academy only yesterday. Saying it has been a long time is somewhat contradictory.”

“…….”

We did cross paths once near the grade result board.

I didn’t even acknowledge her then, so why go out of her way to point that out?

Her blue eyes pierce through me indifferently.

Nevertheless, they feel fierce, like a hawk capturing a weakness.

No, she has neither hostility nor malice.

She is simply emitting an overwhelming pressure by her very existence.

Swayed by that, feeling inferiority.

And eventually, I, who became unable to even feel jealousy at some point, simply chew over my own helplessness.

“Being 10th in the entire school, I believe you have exerted yourself.”

“…You flatter me.”

“But it will be a detriment to the fame of Hero Lueld and Saintess Ermina. After all, you were their only child.”

“…….”

I was.

Soon, I won’t be.

I am anxiously waiting for that moment.

“Even if not the top student, I wish you would achieve at least second place. It should be fully possible for you. Why do you not reveal your talent?”

This… insane bitch?

Dozens of curses exploded inside me, but was this a one-time thing?

Chewing over a screeching sound of metal friction that I didn’t know where it came from, I responded calmly.

“Are you saying it doesn’t matter as long as I am below you?”

“…….”

The human before me is a genius who monopolized all the blessings of the world alone.

She is truly an unrivaled existence.

Showing outstanding prominence in every field, she was making the whole world hear that she was the descendant of the Hero Emperor.

Also, the girl before me.

…Because she was the descendant of two Heroes, just like Kariel himself.

“It doesn’t matter if you beat me. As long as your skill is guaranteed.”

A boast truly devoid of humility.

“…Isn’t that something you should say to those chasing after your heels, rather than me?”

And.

Besides her and me.

There were quite a few descendants of Heroes.

I am the inferior human among them.

If the only object of comparison had been the existence before me.

…I wouldn’t have been treated like such a worm.

I cannot win against that.

At one time, I briefly thought I wanted to be like that.

But our births are different.

Our status, our innate qualities.

The expectations that flock to us.

Even the trivial interests.

“…Haa.”

I almost mistook it for coming from my own mouth.

The sound of a small sigh.

A relaxed attitude that the usual her would never show.

Only then did I look more closely at her face.

“Kariel, you look quite fatigued.”

“…….”

“I heard impure news through the grapevine that you wander here and there at night.”

Why was this captured by that person’s ears?

Does that mean most people know about it?

“Cleanse your body. Just because you are a man, you must not play with your body recklessly.”

“…….”

What kind of bullshit is this now?

Ah, is she interpreting it in that way?

So.

She’s saying I’m immersed in nighttime play, like common degenerates?

“What on earth does that have to do with Your Highness?”

“Kariel. You will become a pillar of our Empire in the future. You seem to be wandering for a moment now, but time will resolve that as well.”

…….

Whose permission?

How is something like time going to resolve anything?

“The childishness of youth is ultimately only for a moment. Like a petal swept away by the flowing river water, it is merely poignant.”

“…….”

“Isn’t cultivating memories beautifully a noble gift a young person can send to their future self?”

“…If anyone heard this, they would think Your Highness and I have an age difference of about 10 years.”

This thing is the same age as me, this thing is the child of a Hero and a Hero, just like me.

Is it because she has the blood of the Emperor that she’s so different?

Or is it just because I inherited inferior seeds and blood?

“Kariel. You truly….”

Just then, the inside of the ballroom began to grow noisy.

“…Ha. Let’s end the conversation here.”

Conversation.

Calling this a conversation, it’s enough to make me go crazy.

“Follow me. I empathize a hundred times with your desire to leave this place. But shouldn’t you at least give your greetings to His Majesty?”

“…How could I refuse.”

Since she’s offering to help me exit quickly, why would I decline?

I calmly followed behind her.

And.

I was pushed into the gazes of people I did not want to encounter.

‘Could I be this unlucky?’

I wanted to tear apart this complacent brain that thought I could exit quickly.

There, they were.

Just like the Princess.

Descendants of Heroes, like me.

Descendants of great Heroes and legends who made their outstanding talents ring throughout the world.

“There you were, Kariel. Come here quickly. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen your face!”

Also.

Beauty that suppressed even the lavish golden attire.

A man with red hair and blue eyes, smooth as a sculpture, and a woman with blue hair and black eyes standing beside him.

“I truly told you to visit often.”

The Hero Emperor and the Magic Empress.

The man who became Emperor from a Hero.

The woman who became Empress as an Archmage.

And besides them, including my parents, other Nine Heroes belonging to the Empire.

‘I’ve been caught.’

My stomach churns.

Inside my head, screeech, screeech!

The unpleasant sound of metal friction scratched my mind particularly loudly.