She looked in the mirror; she herself belonged to the empire’s royal bloodline. Her status was blindingly beautiful.

“You’re presence is requested outside, Princess Raha.”

At the urging of the maids, Raha left the Imperial Palace. After passing through the long corridors, the luxurious main palace, through the courtyard and stairs, Raha arrived at the central gate of the Imperial Palace.

“You’re here, Princess?”

Numerous nobles waited in line. The great noble who stood in the front row bowed, pretending to be friendly with the princess. 

The wintry cold breeze blew by. Each time Raha breathed out, white fog scattered. Her being slowly froze to death, but Raha didn’t move. She kept a steady gaze. 

A long thread ran along the main gates, covering the place in its entirety. If it weren’t for the golden thread patterns embroidered on the border, one would’ve thought a member of the royal family was having a wedding. 

But there is a difference, Raha thought.

It smelt of blood and death. 

No matter how one attempted to hide it, the scent of blood bathing the main gate permeated the air.

When Raha smiled, the nobleman nearby laughed.

“Princess Raha must be very happy to see His Majesty.”

At the same time, the knights lined up on either side of the pedestal raised their ceremonial swords. The sword crossed over the sky gleamed sharply in the sunlight.

Countless knights walked through them. The gaze of the man in the front row was fixed on Raha.

“Congratulations on your victory, Your Majesty.”

Despite her cheeks freezing, Raha’s smile was as radiant as the sun.

“Raha, call me by my name.”

“Karzen…” Raha added in a lovely voice. “I missed you, Karzen.”

“Yes, Raha.”

Karzen del Harsa was Raha’s twin brother and the empire’s current emperor. 

Like Raha, the color of Karzen’s hair was blue. It was one of the reigning characteristics distinguishing members of the royal bloodline. 

However, unlike Raha’s eyes that were the same deep blue as her hair, Karzen’s were a dark gray.

Karzen loved his sister’s eyes. She looked like a fairy. Even now, she looked beautiful despite the harsh winter weighing down on her.

“I’m glad you’re not hurt, Karzen. I went to the temple every day and prayed.”

Karzen’s gaze went down and he reached out and cupped her neck. His hands stopped just above her chest. For a moment, Raha stopped breathing. 

“You wore the necklace I gave you.”

His thumb rubbed the large diamond, smiling, before withdrawing his hand.

“Sister, I brought you a new loot.”

At the same time, the booty meant for Raha arrived. One look and Raha could tell it was a man. His mouth was gagged and his appearance a mess, a stark comparison to his white hair. 

“This one here is a failed test subject the 13th Kingdom secretly created.”

Test subject…

It was a reasonable statement. The kingdoms who loathed Karzen’s reign secretly built a laboratory to create weapons that would destroy the del Harsa Imperial Family.

The weapons and failed test subjects were the loot that Karzen brought in.

“Remember, Raha? Last year, the Holy Kingdom gifted you some of their test subjects.” Karzen lowered his voice. “Not one of them has managed to live, though.”

Raha’s breathing stopped. Karzen casually grabbed her hand. His hand was soft and slender, but rough and felt like a sharp knife. His finger sharply cut deep into her flesh, completely immobilizing her. 

“Those old kings fell to their knees in exchange for sparing their lives. They gifted us these loots. Of course, the del Harsa Imperial Family reciprocated in kind.”

“It’s only proper,” Raha muttered softly.

“Yes, Raha. And as always, I’ve come to gift you a bedroom slave.”

Bedroom slave…

There was no one here that did not know the meaning of that word—it was a word that only Princess Raha was privy to. She had status. Her brother gifted her symbols of power, of submission, and sometimes of strange passion. 

“I hope you’ll like it, Raha.”

Karzen, who looked at Raha with a strange gaze, smiled. The knights were accustomed to transporting the slaves to Raha’s palace.