The Two Faced Emperor

The four of them left the tavern, heading toward the village of Saint Isaac, after a long adventure filled with sorrow, tears, and revenge.

As they walked down the path, Lulia spoke in a sweet tone while looking at Faithless:

"Hey Sovereign, what does the village you live in look like? Is it beautiful?"

Faithless scratched his cheek and smiled, speaking in a calm tone:

"It's… it's very simple. But the people living in it give it a special flavor."

He said that while looking at Lady Marianne. She smiled beautifully at him… and he got lost in her beauty. Lily held Lady Marianne's hand and said in a sweet tone:

"I want you to teach me your combat dance, and how you use the sword with such speed and grace…"

Lady Marianne patted her head and looked at her with gentle eyes:

"Of course, I'll teach you everything I know."

Suddenly, as they walked, Lulia jumped on Faithless' back… the three of them were surprised by the sudden movement, but he still smiled as he calmly held her from behind.

"Hey, what are you doing, Lulia? How can you just jump on the Sovereign's back like that?" Lily spoke angrily, scolding her sister.

But Lulia didn't care as she said:

"The Sovereign didn't say no, so go away." She puffed her cheeks and looked to the other side.

Faithless placed his palm on Lily's head and spoke in a deep tone, looking at her with gentle expressions:

"If you want, I can carry you too. Also, call me Faithless or brother… I don't want to hear the word Sovereign."

"Okay, Sovere— I mean brother." Lily smiled widely with joy.

"Brother, you have such cute cheeks for someone so scary." Lulia held his cheeks and started playing with them.

Marianne giggled softly. Faithless looked at her and said:

"Is there something funny on my face?"

"Nothing… It's just, you seem more like a father than a brother." Marianne said sarcastically as she laughed.

"You have a strange sense of humor, Lady Marianne." Faithless looked at her with a sarcastic expression. Both of them laughed.

As they walked down the path peacefully, happiness covering them… Faithless stopped for a moment. Marianne was surprised by his sudden stop.

"What is it? Why did you stop walking?" Marianne asked with a curious tone.

"It seems someone is waiting for us at the gate." Faithless's expression shifted into seriousness as he looked toward a girl wearing a long cloak that covered her face, leaning on the gate.

She moved her head and looked at Faithless… then began walking toward him with steady steps. Faithless asked the two girls to stay behind him.

The girl stopped a short distance in front of them. She pulled the cloak from her face, revealing her features… she was beautiful, with long black hair, brown eyes, and a small scar beneath her eye.

"How are you, brave one, who managed to bring down the Black Order?" the girl spoke in a mysterious tone while locking eyes with him.

"I noticed your presence earlier in the tavern. I also saw you quietly leave while looking at me." Faithless spoke in a firm tone.

He continued in the same tone:

"What are you trying to achieve with these strange movements?"

Lady Marianne was ready to strike if the girl made any wrong move… but the girl smiled and spoke calmly while stroking her chin:

"I'm not trying to achieve anything… but your bravery and strength made me want to speak with you and tell you something important."

"Something important? Like what?" Faithless was surprised by the matter.

"Did you see the palace behind you? That filthy palace is filled with filth." The girl spoke in a sharp tone, looking around.

She continued while fixing her hair:

"The mayor of this town and the people living in the palace with him… they kidnap children and send them to other kingdoms or continents for a small price, or they just kill them."

Faithless and Lady Marianne were shocked by what they heard… Lady Marianne placed her finger on her chin and asked curiously:

"And how did you come by this information?"

"I've been watching the palace closely for the past five years… they bring in groups of children aged between ten and fifteen." The mysterious girl explained calmly.

She continued:

"They also use girls as maids or in hidden taverns inside the palace, and if they refuse, they burn them alive."

Faithless placed his palm on his face, trying to absorb the information slowly. He removed his hand and spoke to the girl in a deep tone:

"What I understand from what you're saying is that I need to enter the palace, free the children, and kill everyone living there. But the real question is—why me?"

The girl gave a faint smile and spoke with deep expressions:

"The one who killed the Black Order without a scratch on his body can surely eliminate the rats hiding in that palace… am I right?"

She continued in the same tone:

"And I can give you any amount of money you want to complete this mission."

Faithless walked toward her, lowered his head slightly, and spoke in a sharp tone:

"I'll take the mission… not for the town or for you. No. But for a certain principle. But if I find anything different from what you said, your death will be hellish."

"I take that as a yes, correct?" the mysterious girl smiled.

"That's correct." Faithless answered calmly.

"But… this mission requires one person. It's best you enter the palace alone. If you take your friend or those two girls, they might cause you trouble." She pointed toward them and spoke in a mysterious tone.

Faithless looked at her, then Lady Marianne held his chin and said:

"Go in there. I'll take care of the girls… You're the Mad Jester—no one can stand in your way."

"You have a strange way of breaking tense moods." Faithless spoke softly, then turned his gaze toward the girls and continued:

"Don't stray from Lady Marianne. Stay by her side until I return."

The two girls nodded… Faithless looked at the mysterious girl and walked after her… but before he could take a few steps, Lulia grabbed his coat and spoke in a frightened tone:

"Brother, please come back safely."

Faithless smiled as he looked into her sparkling eyes, speaking with a soft expression:

"It's just a simple mission… your brother will return safely."