Chapter 3 – Love at First Sight

The frozen realm of Theorin, perched at the northernmost edge of the continent, had embarked on an extensive campaign to expand its territories, driven by the need to secure fertile lands. This relentless pursuit of expansion led them into direct conflict with the empire, culminating in the kingdom’s eventual defeat. Against the backdrop of a merciless winter, the war’s aftermath was marked by the commencement of a tribute procession.

“I can’t believe Theorin has been reduced to a vassal kingdom… What was the purpose of all my efforts? I followed orders as if my life depended on it, and yet…”

“My lady…” Marie lamented, her eyes brimming with tears.

As Irene’s maid and lifelong companion, Marie was the only person Irene could confide in, and now, Irene’s usual stoicism crumbled before her.

Irene M. Voltern, renowned as the kingdom’s sole female knight and an undefeated commander, had excelled in every battle she led. Her prowess was so remarkable that even the revolutionary military forces struggled to match the knights under her command.

They’ve never considered her gender in their treatment of her before, but now they want to use it as an excuse to make her a hostage? I mean… I knew that, apart from a select few noble families, the rest were corrupt, but this is beyond absurd! Marie clenched her teeth.

Irene’s despair was palpable. Could anyone truly understand the extent of her dedication and sacrifices? While Irene endured hardships and faced grueling challenges, the central nobility went about their lives, concerned only with their own comfort.

Now, they sought to sacrifice her lady. Hostages were well aware that they would be treated as objects rather than humans, stripped of their former status. Taking a hostage was just another way for the victor to trample the defeated kingdom’s pride, often leading to their death or being used as leverage to extract further concessions.

Irene had to relinquish the pride she held onto tightly, the same pride that had allowed her to hold her head high.

Irene muttered bitterly, “I’ve only been leading the knights for a year… In the end, it had to come to this.”

“Sorry?”

“My father always wanted to avoid this outcome, so he began my education alongside the boys when I was young. I didn’t want to be seen as weak, so I poured my heart and soul into training. I can’t count how many battles I’ve fought since I turned fifteen, and yet…”

Irene’s journey had started at the age of five, when Count Voltern treated her like any other knight. Looking at herself now, dressed in unfamiliar feminine attire, Irene swallowed hard. She couldn’t remember the last time she had worn such clothing. She realized that, like many others, she had secretly hoped her efforts would be rewarded someday.

“Your quick decisions saved the prince and prevented the kingdom from falling into the clutches of the greedy Duke Gr—”

“But Theorin is now a vassal state, and I’ve been reduced to a hostage,” Irene interrupted, her efforts seeming futile.

With an unfocused gaze, she stared at her upturned palm, feeling empty. Though she had wielded a sword countless times, her hands rarely developed calluses. Instead, her palms bore scars and bruises from the sword’s hilt. Now, as the scabs formed over those scars, it reminded her of her lost purpose.

Irene murmured, “If even this disappears, will I ever be able to become a normal person?”

Marie had never seen Irene so dejected, and tears began to flow from her eyes. She felt powerless, watching Irene crumble before her.

“It seems we’ve reached the border. This is truly the end,” Irene suddenly declared. She gazed outside the carriage as they crossed the border and felt her strength wane. “Just as Clad said… I’ve been abandoned.”

As the last glimmer of hope within her extinguished, Irene’s once resolute and steadfast heart shattered. The moment they crossed the border, Irene M. Voltern became irrevocably broken.

* * *

The imperial army marched ahead of Theorin’s tribute procession, led by the Crown Prince of Perkan. However, their progress was continually impeded by the relentless blizzard, forcing Kael to seek refuge in a nearby castle until the weather cleared.

Later that evening, as the snowfall subsided and darkness enveloped the land, Kael strolled aimlessly through the castle. His steps led him to a place that made him pause in his tracks.

Irene M. Voltern?

The image of Irene, radiating a unique brilliance amidst her many knights, was unforgettable. Even though he’d never seen her without her helmet, he recognized her instantly. Finding her seated alone, exposed to the biting cold wind and swirling snowflakes, Kael felt a heavy weight in his chest. Long after their swords had clashed in combat, his hands still tingled with the thrill of that encounter, but now a profoundly different sensation coursed through him.

“To discover you in a place like this,” he murmured softly.

Irene, perched precariously on the rampart, gazed out over the snow-covered landscape from the castle’s highest point. When she heard a voice, she turned her head and inquired, “Who are… Oh.”

She had ventured out for some fresh air, never expecting to encounter him, with his striking blonde hair and green eyes, in such a locale.

Oh dear… Kael thought, feeling his breath catch.

There was something dangerously alluring in the casual way Irene looked at him. Her every movement etched itself deeply into his mind, as if a bright flash of light had pierced the dark sky.

“It’s been a while. It’s good to see you here,” Kael said.

As Irene gracefully descended from the rampart to the ground, she wondered if Kael’s greeting held sincerity. Despite his inner turmoil, the crown prince exuded an air of composure, leaning casually against the wall. The tone of his voice was dry and nonchalant.

With fluid grace, Irene executed a flawless curtsy and stated, “I formally introduce myself. I am Irene M. Voltern of Theorin. I offer my greetings to Your Majesty, Prince Kael Ayden Leslie L. Lenslat, the Crown Prince of Perkan.”

Though her pride tempted her to feign ignorance of his identity, the code of chivalry was deeply ingrained.

Momentarily captivated by her elegance, Kael acknowledged slowly, “You have indeed recognized me.”

“Such courtesy is a fundamental aspect.”

“Fundamental? I suppose that means I have dealt with many who lack even the most basic skills.”

“I cannot speak for others. I only intended to convey that, at least in my case, this is not a noteworthy accomplishment.”

Even her sharp, clinical responses and cold gaze held a strangely attractive quality for Kael, and his heart fluttered. Perhaps it was because he had already glimpsed her caring nature toward her knights even in the midst of the merciless battlefield.

Clearing his throat, Kael remarked, “Thanks to your assistance, the negotiations proceeded smoothly.”

“I have not done anything to warrant such appreciation.”

“Done nothing? Are you being overly modest? My aide, who led the negotiations, was greatly pleased with your cooperation.”

“If that is your perspective, then I will not dispute it.”

“Well… Regardless, Lady Irene, it is a pleasure to formally meet you. I had hoped to encounter you beyond the battlefield.” Kael extended his arm in a gesture of a handshake, but Irene took a step back and offered a slight bow instead.

“The honor is mine. I also extend my gratitude for granting His Majesty’s request.”

“Granting?” Kael muttered in confusion as he retracted his extended hand, having been rebuffed. Trained from a young age to hide his emotions, there was no hint of agitation in his voice. Yet, inwardly, he felt a pang of embarrassment over the situation.

“Is something troubling you?”

“Don’t you… despise me?” Kael asked tentatively. His eyes trembled when Irene’s face momentarily displayed an empty expression upon hearing the question. It felt like his heart sank a bit, but in a different way than before.

While Irene still stood tall, it would be inaccurate to say she was entirely unaffected. Perhaps her cold demeanor and tone served as a facade to conceal her true feelings.

Am I falling apart? Irene wondered but refused to acknowledge it.

She clenched her fist, adding tension to her already clenched hand, and said, “I don’t understand your meaning.”

“You truly don’t understand?”

For some reason, Kael’s sparkling eyes seemed unusually piercing. Irene absentmindedly rubbed her index finger with her thumb—a nervous habit that surfaced when she was anxious. While she was skilled at maintaining a calm tone, albeit more curt than usual, she couldn’t entirely shake off her tension. In such moments, that tension manifested as this nervous tic.

“Some may say that you’ve been abandoned, Lady Irene, or that you’ve been offered as a hostage in place of the princess, but you are invaluable in your own right,” Kael continued.

“The title of ‘Lady’ doesn’t suit me.”

“Are you attempting to change the subject? Very well, we can move on. How should I address you if you prefer not to be called a lady? Can a knight not also be a lady?”

Kael realized he was intentionally being difficult and couldn’t comprehend why he wanted to prolong the conversation with her. When had he ever acted this way with a woman? He had always drawn clear boundaries and maintained a strictly business-like attitude. Nevertheless, at this moment, he wanted to see her icy facade crack.

“You may address me as you wish. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must take my leave.”

Kael’s provocations had successfully irritated Irene, but because she staunchly refused to let her emotions show on her face, he failed to notice. The only sign of Irene’s tension could be glimpsed in her tightly clenched fists, which showed no signs of relaxing anytime soon.

“Very well, Lady Irene,” Kael said, flashing a relaxed smile.

“Then, please excuse me.” Irene refused to react to Kael’s smile, lowered her head slightly, and began to take a step forward. She intended to pass by Kael and head downstairs, but her steps faltered when she heard his voice again.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t have let you go. No matter what happened, I would’ve kept you in my arms and never let anyone take you from me.”

The gravity of his words only deepened Irene’s sense of vulnerability. She raised her head to meet his gaze and replied in a strained voice, “Is that so? I’m not as valuable as you think.”

A gust of wind blew from behind, causing Irene’s usually tightly-wound hair to cascade freely, exposing her neckline. She felt her back prickle and sting.

Kael could clearly sense Irene’s tension, evident in the tightness of her jaw, and he added softly, “You underestimate yourself.”

After a moment of hesitation, Irene broke the silence that had settled between them and said, “I must take my leave now.”

Without waiting for a response, she promptly turned on her heel and resumed walking.

“Did I upset her? And…”

A nonsensical thought lingered in the back of his mind. Although it had been only a fleeting moment, Kael felt a sense of satisfaction in having cracked Irene’s icy exterior. When he had seen her expression waver, it felt as though his heart had been pierced by an arrow of ice.

As the sound of Irene’s footsteps grew increasingly distant, Kael released a shaky breath. He noticed that the strength seemed to have drained from his legs, reminiscent of how others had described the difficulty of standing in front of Irene and her formidable aura. However, in his case, the difficulty of standing before her was for an entirely different reason. Grateful that he hadn’t collapsed in front of her, he allowed himself to flop down to the ground.

“Is this what they mean by… falling in love at first sight…”