NOVEL WEB Chapter 1
===============
If you ask the noble families flaunting absolute power about the greatest prestigious family in the empire, chances are the Hohenberc Family would pop up at least eight times out of ten.
A founding family.
A lord representing the East.
A symbol of loyalty trusted by the Imperial Family for generations.
And—.
The Hohenberc Family gained tremendous fame when they produced the hero Maximilian.
After accumulating numerous achievements, as Maximilian defeated the Demon King, the Hohenberc Family recorded fame that surpassed even the Valtarian Imperial Family. Their renown was so extensive that it reached the barbarian tribes of the North and the desert clans of the South, garnering both respect and envy from everyone.
“No way, a twenty-five-year-old noble running away? Did he hit puberty late?”
In the empty office.
A neatly arranged suit.
And a note left all alone on the table.
As I walked into the office, intending to discuss matters with a cold, icy face, I found out instantly that the eldest son of the Hohenberc Family had run away without a word. He had eloped with his partner and long-time lover, Saintess Beatrice.
No,
One might think there was some opposition from the family….
Opposition surely came later.
After all, the esteemed big brother was engaged to the Third Imperial Princess Elizaveta.
Once the news spread that the exemplary son had gone missing, the family was thrown into chaos. The incident was even more shocking because it was an escapade by a model student who valued duty and responsibility.
“Young Master Max has run away…?”
“I naturally thought it was Young Master Edan who had run away.”
The eldest son was an excellent model student.
The second son was a troublesome one.
But surprisingly, it was the eldest who stirred up the storm.
Wasn’t it said that even the quiet cat climbs the rooftop first?
After hearing the shocking news, the servants continually glanced at me while whispering. I felt very uncomfortable but kept my mouth shut since I was well aware of the situation.
“Edan! What’s going on here?”
“Young Master Hohenberc ran away because he’s crazy over a girl.”
He fell head over heels for the Saintess, who I would call the Harem Management Queen, and eloped in a whirlwind of love. I could only think that way at the moment.
The heroine of this romance fantasy.
Truly a being with bewitching charms.
To make someone as cold as ice lose their mind like this.
I sighed as I looked at my father, who had hurriedly rushed in. Had he forgotten even to wear his wig, as his hair looked as barren as a green onion?
“Father, this isn’t the time to worry about the whereabouts of a stoic man. If the royal palace finds out that my big brother has run away with the Saintess, it’s game over for us.”
“Indeed…!”
Perhaps this chaos was foreseen.
The hero and the saintess who were deeply in love.
But the hero was promised to the princess, and the saintess was bound by her faith.
We should have been wary that two people, caught in a cycle of conflict and turmoil, might ultimately take extreme actions. The feeling called love was like a paralyzing poison that gnaw at rationality.
“The royal palace will surely send messengers to verify the situation….”
When Maximilian, who declared he would hold a wedding once he returned from his journey, left the Hohenberc Family hanging with this shocking announcement, they would want nothing more than to erase us from the face of the earth.
After all, something outrageous had happened to the youngest daughter, raised like a precious jewel.
“I will manage somehow. For now, Father, take the knights and leave the territory under the pretext of searching for the missing fool. We need to show the Valtarian Imperial Family that the Hohenberc Family has nothing to do with this incident.”
“You’re right, but… how do we contend with the imperial palace?”
“Surely, the imperial palace wouldn’t dismiss a prestigious family that produced a hero just like that. Don’t worry.”
“I’m sorry.”
My father bowed his head with a solemn expression.
With a whoosh—.
His slender hair, which stretched upwards like his complicated inner feelings, drooped down.
The betrayal he felt must have been as deep as the expectations he had for the eldest son who became a hero. I couldn’t help but worry that perhaps this incident might accelerate his balding woes until none of his hair remained.
*
And now—.
I snapped out of my thoughts and lifted my head.
Ludmilla Dreg Valtaria.
I sat across the table facing the knight girl who inherited the blessing of the Red Dragon.
‘What the hell…. Sending the Red Dragon without any notification?’
It was only natural to be flabbergasted as the world’s strongest being appeared without warning, ready to declare war on a hostile nation. Locking eyes with her chilling red gaze made my spine tingle.
What could her motive be?
Did she intend to wipe out the Hohenberc Family entirely?
No….
The probability of hitting rock bottom seemed slim.
But even knowing that, I couldn’t feel at ease.
Because life and death lay in the hands of a beautiful woman disguised as a Red Dragon.
“There’s no need to be so tense. I won’t hold you accountable since you’re not the party involved.”
“…Yes.”
The Red Dragon, with her flowing blonde hair, waved her hand.
The intense hatred burning like sulfur flames faded away.
She must have calmed down at the sight of my flabbergasted expression.
However, the situation remained precarious.
It was a moment where the fate of the family was at stake.
No matter how stout-hearted one may be, they had to be nervous.
What exactly would the Valtarian Imperial Family demand of us? They would surely hold us responsible for the abrupt annulment declared by Hero Maximilian.
“The Count is currently missing.”
“Indeed. He’s leading his men in a search of the vicinity.”
I wondered if there was any intention to reprimand the Count, the representative of the East, quite openly.
Ludmilla nodded in agreement with the response.
“Red tea, Your Highness.”
“Thank you.”
As the door to the reception room swung open, a maid entered.
And she placed what was surely high-grade tea brewed from top-quality leaves.
The Second Imperial Princess arrived at the castle.
Everyone, including the butler and maid, must have been on high alert.
The Hohenberc Family, which had been thrown into disarray with the eldest son returning victorious against the Demon King only to go missing, was again shaken by the princess’s visit. Such upheaval was rare for a family that valued silent peace.
“News of the engagement annulment between the hero and princess, who had been betrothed for a long time, will surely spread across the realm. If that happens, our Valtarian Imperial Family will not escape ignominious ridicule.”
“….”
Was this how a junior employee felt in front of their boss?
As Ludmilla’s words continued, cold sweat trickled down my face.
My eyes lost their focus.
My face was rigid like leather.
With every breath I took, I could feel a painful tightening in my stomach.
I was desperately trying to maintain a calm demeanor, but I felt like I could collapse at any moment.
“You.”
“Yes, what is it?”
Was the judgment finally about to be rendered?
I gulped nervously as I awaited the Red Dragon’s decree.
But to my surprise, Ludmilla went against my expectations and handed me an envelope she had beside her.
“During your absence from the Imperial City, urgent news from the intelligence department has arrived. The Hero Maximilian and the members of the Saintess Party, including Saintess Beatrice, have all vanished. Do you have any knowledge about this?”
“…Yes?”
The missing individuals were not just the main characters.
Even the supporting male characters who were infatuated with the heroine Beatrice had disappeared.
The Sword Saint of the Pug Kingdom.
The Mercenary King of the Laterra Alliance and the sage of the Gisterd Kingdom.
The sudden report that the heroes who had contributed to defeating the Demon King’s Army and reviving humanity had vanished like a mirage was enough to shake the foundation of the continent.
The great powers involved, perhaps fearing that information might leak, were in a frenzy trying to cover it up, but it wouldn’t be long before the truth became widespread.
“The Hero and the Saintess…. along with the Sword Saint, Mercenary King, and the sage.”
As I examined the documents handed to me by Ludmilla, I caught sight of one particular item.
I froze.
Seeing this, Ludmilla nodded and began to speak.
“Prince Maximilian was the last to disappear.”
“Yeah, that’s true….”
The big brother vanished ten days ago.
Ten days.
A lengthy yet short span of time.
I found it strange when I read the report that the Mercenary King of the Laterra Alliance went missing a month ago.
The time frames for the disappearances of the members of the Saintess Party were all different.
Could there be a reason behind this?
It seemed to provide a good lead in tracking their whereabouts.
“Did the Hero leave you any words?”
“None.”
From the moment Maximilian bore the fate of a hero, he had never formed close bonds with anyone. Although there was an exception when he met the Saintess, his stoic nature never changed.
What was he thinking,
What emotions was he feeling?
Like a person with a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, he always maintained his distance.
Thus, like everyone else, I also didn’t know.
“I have a request for you.”
“Whatever you command, I will follow. Just give the orders.”
What face would the Hohenberc Family, who committed an unpardonable sin, have to refuse?
No matter how dangerous the duty, I would comply.
The future of every person depended on the woman in front of me.
“Come with me to find the Saintess Party.”
“……?”
The blonde princess extended her hand.
With wide eyes, I expressed my confusion.