Chapter 2
Though she was reluctant, Yulaina eventually let her father lead her by the hand as they began walking down the narrow path.
“Good days are coming soon, Yulaina. I promise. It won’t be long.”
“Yes…”
Swallowing hard against the lump of anger rising in her throat, Yulaina let her shoulders slump listlessly.
“Your father has started a new business. This time, it’ll succeed. We’ll be able to head to the city soon.”
“But earlier you said we couldn’t because of the war—it’s too dangerous.”
“We’ll go somewhere without war.”
Easy for him to say. It was absurd. Yulaina turned her head, gazing off into the distance.
“I’m serious, Yulaina. If things go well, we’ll live in real style.”
“…”
“Then we’ll ride in an expensive carriage, live in a luxurious house, and you’ll meet fine young noblemen who are on your level…”
Yes, yes. Yulaina nodded vaguely, directing her gaze as far away as possible.
The mountain range encircling the village blocked her view like a high wall. No matter which way she looked, all she saw was forest or mountains.
Yulaina longed to see the world beyond.
***
‘Kysop.’ It was such a small, remote village that even the locals might not recall its name right away.
Nestled deep in the rugged mountains, it only appeared after traversing a steep gorge—a tiny hamlet.
With dense coniferous forests at its back and layered mountain peaks ahead, the place was known as a ‘natural fortress.’
But geographic safety didn’t mean prosperity.
The ongoing war, now in its several years, had dealt economic blows to the surrounding large cities, and now a severe food shortage was sweeping through Kysop village as well.
“You’ve all worked hard this year too. You’re really putting your heart into the festival.”
Garlands hung limply from the top of the village’s small clock tower. Looking at the decorations and garlands that must have been used for at least twenty years, Yulaina smiled bitterly.
“It’s our only festival, after all.”
Benjamin furrowed his brows as he replied.
The village was so small that its population barely exceeded a hundred. Most of the few young men had been conscripted into the army, and the remaining people had gathered in the square, trying to muster some modest cheer.
“Doctor! Yulaina!”
“You’re looking sharp today!”
Men already tipsy from early evening raised their beer mugs in greeting. Benjamin offered a kind smile and tipped his fedora slightly.
“I’ll stop by later. First, a drink with my daughter.”
“Of course, of course! Yulaina, hurry and let the doctor go!”
“Yes, I will, uncle.”
The two received a basket filled with fruit wine and snacks, then settled in a corner.
Wrinkled potatoes, biscuit crumbs, a few nuts. As expected, nothing substantial. The next table over was the same, and the one after that too.
“It’s worse than last year.”
Butter cookies, meat pies, cakes—such treats had vanished long ago as the war dragged on. Now, people were wasting away, their clothes hanging loose on their frames.
“It’ll get better gradually. The supplements are selling briskly lately. I’ve arranged to collect the overdue payments soon…”
“What are you selling this time?”
Yulaina asked as she picked up a shriveled biscuit. It was just the bare minimum to keep the conversation going.
“It’s a tonic to give strength to the young men heading to the front. With such poor rations, how else can they fight…”
Ah, that. Yulaina nodded absently and glanced around.
Since two years ago, they couldn’t even afford a band, so today the shoemaker uncle was playing an old accordion. Air whistled through the spots where keys had fallen out like missing teeth, but people still clapped and smiled.
The basket emptied before they’d even passed it back and forth a few times. Staring at the empty basket with a deflated expression, Yulaina muttered.
“Ah… I’m hungry. Getting angry earlier drained me.”
“That’s why you shouldn’t ask unnecessary questions.”
Feeling inwardly guilty about her hunger, her father chugged his beer mug.
Yulaina let out a deep sigh and murmured.
“About that supplement you made, Father. Can I have some too? The blue bottle at home.”
Cough! Choking, her father hastily set down his beer mug.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine…”
Quickly wiping the beer from his mouth, Benjamin asked urgently.
“Did you take it?”
“Huh?”
“Did you take that medicine, I mean.”
“…No, not yet.”
“You haven’t taken it yet?”
“No, I was just asking if I could…”
As Yulaina trailed off with a puzzled look, Benjamin cleared his throat in apparent relief.
“You can’t. The ingredients aren’t good for a young woman.”
What… Yulaina rolled her eyes. Why were there so many things she couldn’t do!
Irritated but too tired to argue with her father, Yulaina nodded vaguely and picked up a peanut.
‘If it weren’t for this damn war!’
The village festivals from her childhood hadn’t been like this. They lit fires in the square late into the night, and everyone ate and drank abundantly.
‘There were turkeys and pies, hot stews and heaps of sweets!’
It wasn’t pretend happiness like now; everyone was truly excited and joyful. It felt like just yesterday they danced and sang around the bonfire.
If not for the war, Yulaina might be mingling with some young men right now. And perhaps find someone she liked…
“Hey, that bastard!”
Startled by the sudden curse, Yulaina shrank her shoulders.
It came from the opposite table, where wounded veterans back from the war were gathered. One of them, face flushed red with drink, thrust out his hand in rage.
His thumb and index finger were gone, leaving a mangled stump.
“…Didn’t even blink as he sliced it off! Like picking up a souvenir!”
Shuddering as if reliving the nightmare, the man wailed.
“He’s not human. A demon spawn!”
“That’s enjoyment for him. The battlefield’s his playground.”
Poking at nut crumbs with his finger, Benjamin lowered his voice.
“They’re talking about the Grand Duke of Norden.”
It was the story the village uncles always spun when drunk. Every time!
Undefeated wherever he went, they said.
The leader of the Norden forces sweeping through southern Luar lately. Erich von Norhert, the Grand Duke.
“Let’s be real, couldn’t he just order a subordinate to cut fingers? But no, he does it himself, dozens, hundreds of times, getting blood on his hands… He’s no ordinary madman.”
He had a peculiar sadistic hobby, they said: toying with captured prisoners at length, mocking them, then severing two fingers each.
“All those Norden folk are creepy and chilling. From grandfather to father to grandson!”
The history of the horrific continental war started by Norden went back three generations.
The one who first ignited the war was Erich’s grandfather, ‘Emperor Ludwig the Elder.’
He wanted to make the entire continent Norden’s. Countless nations became colonies, while others barely survived by supplying resources for further invasions.
But Emperor Ludwig, obsessed with conquest, suddenly died one day—leaving only one nation unmarked on the continental map: the Kingdom of Luar.
The succeeding Emperor Libelman, fortunately, had no interest in conquest wars. The continent, battered by endless bloodshed, seemed to quiet down for a moment.
However…
A few years ago, the Norden Empire abruptly changed course and declared war on the Kingdom of Luar, igniting another long, grueling conflict.
Leading the vanguard then was none other than Grand Duke Erich von Norhert—and astonishingly, he was only fourteen at the time.
“A brat so young and so utterly depraved—must have a demon in him!”
“Son of a bitch, demon spawn!”
As the curses grew coarser, Yulaina lost her appetite and set down her glass. Benjamin smiled faintly and stood up.
“I’ll make the rounds. As the village head, I should offer some well-wishes at the event. See you later.”
Without waiting for Yulaina’s reply, Benjamin rose abruptly and vanished quickly.
Glaring sulkily at her father’s retreating back, Yulaina stealthily got up from her seat.
‘…Maybe read a book on the hill.’
Yulaina was always alone. Her few friends had all enlisted around the time their chins sprouted stubble.
She hadn’t dressed up to impress anyone in particular, but still, on a day when she’d made herself look this pretty, having no friends around felt too lonely.
Just as she thought that and started to walk away.
“Ah!”
A sturdy arm suddenly reached from behind, yanking her by the scruff of the neck.
“Why are you wobbling like that!”
“Urk, Auntie…!”
Yulaina coughed. Turning, she saw Auntie Rosé with her rosy cheeks, curly chestnut hair, and sturdy build, laughing heartily and good-naturedly.
“Did you eat something?”
“Huh? Not yet…”
There was no time to respond. Auntie Rosé tucked Yulaina under her arm like a package and charged like a bull toward the table of village aunties, plunking her down.
“Yulaina’s here!”
As if they’d been waiting, the aunties swarmed over.
“Yulaina, you pretty thing!”
“You’re dressed so nicely today. Just the age for primping!”
From who knows where, the aunties produced hidden jerky, dried fruits, even fragrant lemon pie, shoving them forward.
“You should eat too…”
As Yulaina flushed awkwardly, the aunties laughed cheerfully, forcing pie into her mouth.
“It’s fine. Eat up. Just watching you makes us full.”
Finally biting into a big mouthful of pie, the soft, tangy-sweet flavor she hadn’t tasted in ages spread through her mouth.
But even as she chewed with bulging cheeks, her heart wasn’t at ease.
“My boy’s letters have stopped coming lately… I can’t focus on anything.”
“Oh, sister. He’ll write soon.”
“He’s never gone this long without one. They say he’s way down south due to shortages—I’m worried.”
Yulaina knew. The aunties were pouring out the love they couldn’t send to their sons on the front lines onto her. The taste faded, but Yulaina silently chewed and swallowed.
“Our hearts ache like this. But really, what kind of father sends his fourteen-year-old out to war, even if he’s royalty? He’s twenty-two now, so half his life spent killing people.”
People from the next table, who’d been eavesdropping, chimed in abruptly.
“There’s a reason for it. Think about it. Why would Norden, several times our Luar Kingdom’s size, drag out the war like this?”
“Dunno. Why?”
“They deliberately pushed that kid forward. Gave him minimal troops. Maybe emperor training, or maybe he fell out of favor—who knows.”
“Oh my.”
“So how could he be normal? He’s twisted with rage. Even back home, they’re probably starting to worry about him.”
