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With the influx of refugees and the reorganization of settlements, Christoff—an imperial descendant from the largest empire on the continent—was unceremoniously assigned the role of facilitator, whether he liked it or not. The chaos swept him up quickly, and it wasn’t until three days later, when the initial rush finally subsided, that we were able to sit down and talk.

By noon, word reached me that the «Void Mist» had finally crept up to Argentum.

Our meeting took place in «Rose’s Labyrinth», a magnificent garden within the Scarlet Jade Castle. Carefully tended by High-Elves and plant-type monsters, it was a paradise untouched by decay—no fallen leaves, no wilting flowers, only a perpetual bloom of roses in every color imaginable. It had long been one of my favorite places to relax.

Another cherished spot of mine was «Sakura Ring», where towering cherry blossoms painted the landscape in breathtaking pink hues. However, that sanctuary was reserved for the fleeting beauty of spring.

I sat beneath the garden’s arbor, a structure supported by four broad pillars. Open on all sides except for the roof, it allowed the gentle breeze to freely caress my skin, adding to the tranquility of the setting.

Enclosed by towering rose hedges that formed a natural barrier, Christoff set down his fork and spoon after finishing his meal. He dabbed the corner of his mouth repeatedly, as if lost in thought.

“Thanks for the meal. Phew, that was absolutely delicious.”
“It was a simple meal, but I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Christoff’s eyes widened at my words. He then glanced between his empty plate and me, his expression quickly shifting to one of flustered disbelief.

“J-Just to clarify… did Your Majesty prepare this meal herself…?”

“Indeed, though not entirely by myself. I only prepared three types of pasta—Bolognese, Carbonara, and Peperoncino—along with Caesar salad, chicken braised in red wine, white fish with balsamic glaze, tortilla, and for dessert, panna cotta.”

Today’s menu was Italian-inspired, but despite my explanation, Christoff’s astonishment had yet to subside.

“…Is it really so shocking that I cooked?”
“A-Ah, no! Of course not! It’s just… I find it a little hard to picture Lady Hiyuki cooking in a kitchen all by herself.”
“Well, you could say it’s just a hobby of mine. Quite different from the typical noble princess, wouldn’t you agree?”

I let out a small chuckle, but before I could say anything else, Christoff quickly waved his hands, his face tinged with embarrassment.

“No, you’re incredibly graceful! Actually, my mother also enjoys making sweets. As a child, my favorite moment of the day was waiting for her to finish and getting to taste whatever she had made.”

A wistful expression crossed his face, betraying a sense of longing he couldn’t quite conceal.

“You must be worried about your family.”

I realized too late how foolish my question was. Christoff merely gave a wry smile, choosing not to answer. Instead, he turned away, his gaze drifting toward the entrance—though the thick wall of roses concealed it from view.

“This place is incredible. The temperature in the houses is perfectly regulated, water and light are freely available, and the food… there’s so much delicious food. Not to mention, the endless attractions make this place feel like a wonderland.”

A weary sigh escaped him, and for a moment, the expression on his face seemed far too mature for his age.

“But whenever people gather, their conversations always turn to their hometowns. You might try to forget, but some things never fade. No matter where we go, the memories of our birthplace will stay with us until the end.”

“…It might be improper for me to say this, but I think I’m a little jealous of you.”

Christoff tilted his head slightly, clearly puzzled by my words.

“I have no cherished memories of my hometown, nor do I carry any warm recollections of what a loving home feels like. …I suppose, deep down, I’m just an empty person.”

Christoff’s expression turned to one of quiet bewilderment.

“I think we’re talking about two different kinds of memories, Miss Hiyuki.”
“Hmm?”
“We cherish memories because they remind us of the good times, but memories themselves aren’t inherently special. If you don’t have a place to call home, then just create one yourself. Even a warm home… well, um…”

Then, with newfound determination, he met my gaze directly.

“I truly believe you can have a warm home, Miss Hiyuki. You’re not as hollow as you think. You’re a wonderful person, and I’m sure you’ll have a happy and loving family one day! I mean, if y-you wouldn’t mind, I could—”

“Princess! Apologies for interrupting your leisure, but we have a situation.”

Before Christoff could finish his words, Ogre Kohaku, clad in a maid uniform, rushed toward us.

Due to a staffing shortage, we had recruited her as well. However, standing at nearly two meters tall with five horns adorning her head like a crown, muscles as dense as coiled rope visible even beneath her uniform, and two enormous battle axes strapped to her back, she looked more like a war deity than a maid—despite her undeniable beauty. I truly couldn’t thank her enough.

Christoff, who had been speaking so passionately moments ago, suddenly fell silent, either from shock or sheer hesitation. Kohaku, however, paid him no mind. Fixing her gaze on me, she delivered her report with practiced efficiency.

“Argentum, the capital of the Graviol Empire, has been consumed by the Void Mist. We were scheduled to shut down the teleporter by now, but it suddenly activated. We’re currently investigating the cause.”

“What!?” Christoff swallowed hard at the news. At that moment, Lucas, the ginger-haired young man, suddenly burst out from behind the shrubbery behind Christoff.

“What did you just say!?”
“—Huh? Wait a minute! What the hell were you doing back there!?”
“We can discuss that later! First, we need to know what’s happening with Argentum!”

At that moment, Elmar emerged as well—calmer than his companion but equally focused.

“Elmar! So you were both eavesdropping!?”
“Of course not! I tried to stop him. Actually, we were led here by a strange, narrow-eyed man, but… never mind that for now. We need to confirm what’s happening first.”

Suddenly, everyone’s eyes were on me, waiting for my decision.

“Alright, let’s go check the teleporter together.”

Lucas and Elmar exchanged a glance before silently nodding in agreement. Christoff shot them a disapproving glare, still irritated by their actions, but ultimately nodded as well.

◆◇◆◇

By the time we arrived, the disturbances in the teleporter were just beginning to settle.

Without warning, the teleporter erupted in a blinding flash, followed by a crackling surge of lightning that arced across the circular stone platform like a thunderbolt. The intense radiance forced everyone to shield their eyes.

A sharp scent of scorched air and ozone filled my nostrils, a lingering effect of the lightning. I furrowed my brows, scanning the scene—only for my eyes to widen in shock.

The figure who emerged was neither human, monster, nor demi-human. Instinctively, everyone present drew their weapons, slipping into battle-ready stances in an instant. At the center of the teleporter knelt a blonde-haired knight, seemingly in his mid-20s. His once-pristine silver armor was now charred and battered, smoke rising from various parts of his body.

Whether his condition was a result of the unnatural teleportation or something else was unclear, but tendrils of smoke curled from his armor, a testament to the strain he had endured. His once-pristine white mantle, now tattered and scorched, clung weakly to his body before finally disintegrating under the weight of its damage.

As the ruined fabric fell away, a glimpse of white peeked from between the knight’s arms—an arm. A small, delicate arm. Gasps rippled through the group as realization struck. It belonged to a young girl.

“Lubbock…?”

Without hesitation, I stepped forward, brushing past the hands that instinctively tried to stop me. Lubbock gave no response. My gaze fell upon the figures cradled in his arms.

“————!!”

A sharp breath caught in my throat. Two young girls lay limp in his arms. The first, a petite girl with platinum hair, was dressed in an elegant white gown. The second, a few years older, had short violet hair and wore a simple one-piece dress. Both were familiar faces.

“Oliana… Tamegoro…”

Their eyes remained shut, their limbs limp, showing no signs of movement—no signs of life. At last, Lubbock stirred, lifting his head with slow, labored movements, his gaze locking onto mine. In a hoarse, strained voice, he spoke.

“The Imperial Princess… Her heart stopped from the shock of forced teleportation. You can save her, Hiyuki. But Tamegoro… she…”

Lubbock’s voice trailed off, his strength failing him. Before he could say another word, he collapsed.

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