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[PRESENT]
That was how she met the revered Marquis of the Silveria Empire—an encounter she never expected to intertwine itself with her life so deeply.
Scarlette let out a slow breath as the memory faded, her attention returning to the present streets of Mirken City. Even now, she could recall the moment clearly: after leaving the center stage that day, she hadn't made it far before she was approached by one of the Emperor's most trusted aides. The man bore the unmistakable insignia of the royal household and spoke with polite formality.
His Majesty the Emperor, together with the Crown Prince, wished to invite her to dinner with the Empress.
At the time, Scarlette found the invitation troublesome—but she had nothing urgent awaiting her after the event. And so, without resistance, she left with the aide. That night marked her first real meal alongside the imperial family, a development she neither sought nor refused.
First the Emperor… and now this guy who won't stop pestering me, she thought, flicking a glance at the Marquis walking beside her.
I never wanted to be acquainted with people who stand at the center of power. But… knowing them might be beneficial in the long run.
"Hey, Scarlette! Don't ignore your best buddy!" Asterion's voice rang out cheerfully. "How about a rematch this time? I've been training just for that day—I swear I'll win this time!"
Scarlette stopped and stared at him blankly.
A long second passed.
She sighed, weary to the bone.
"Not now, Varyn," she said flatly. "Important mission."
The few words carried meaning far heavier than their length suggested. Adventurers nearby went silent for a moment, instantly recognizing the seriousness in her tone. Asterion raised an eyebrow at the word mission—he knew better than most that Scarlette never spoke of her work lightly.
"Again?" he said, incredulous. "Are you not tired? You should really take a break sometimes. At least once, Scarlette."
She looked at him sideways.
Despite how frequently he irritated her, Scarlette could not deny that the Marquis genuinely worried about her. He was persistent, reckless with his concern, and annoyingly vocal about it—but it was real.
She would never say it out loud.
But there were moments when she was glad, that she met him.
Scarlette Overland was not someone who sought companionship. She preferred solitude, silence, and distance. Yet somehow, Asterion had forced his way into her life, stubbornly refusing to stay at arm's length. Over time, she had come to regard him as one of the few people she genuinely cared for.
Her thoughts drifted, unbidden, back three years ago.
After that competition ended, nearly a week passed before he finally tracked her down. Since she had used a false identity, it took him several days to untangle the trail. When he finally confronted her with the truth—
< "…Y‑YOU'RE SCARLETTE OVERLAND?!" >
She stifled a chuckle at the memory. His face back then—equal parts disbelief and betrayal—had been priceless.
"Hey! Don't laugh like that!" Asterion protested now. "What mission did you take? Let me help."
Scarlette snapped back to the present, eyeing him carefully. This time, she didn't dismiss him outright. Something about the task she accepted unsettled her—and she knew it.
"You might want to hear this," she said.
He immediately became attentive.
"Fordel Village," Scarlette continued. "A month ago, a report mentioned a sudden flood. Villagers claimed they saw something beneath the water—moving. Another record states that the place was once used as a mass grave during the war decades ago."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Do you know anything about it?"
Scarlette despised unnecessary conversation. She preferred action over discussion. But when a mission felt wrong—truly wrong—she was willing to speak more than usual.
The moment she finished, Asterion's playful demeanor vanished.
"You took the Fordel Village request?" he asked, voice low.
Her brow furrowed.
"That reaction tells me you know something," she muttered. "Before you answer—why are you even in Mirken City? What about your duties in the Crown Capital?"
Only now did she fully observe him. He wasn't wearing his usual commander's uniform. Instead, he was dressed like a mercenary or traveler.
Is he on a special assignment?
Asterion glanced around them, noting the lack of foot traffic. After ensuring they were alone, he reached into his sleeve and withdrew a small, medallion‑shaped artifact.
Scarlette recognized it immediately.
Without comment, she waited.
Asterion pressed the center sigil.
An emerald magic circle flared briefly beneath their feet, expanding outward before fading. A sound‑barrier enchantment—high grade. Complete isolation.
"Now we can talk freely," he said.
Scarlette crossed her arms.
So, this isn't a simple coincidence.
"The reason I'm in Mirken City," Asterion said, "is the Fordel Village mission. I was sent here to investigate it."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You?" she asked. "That issue reached your desk?"
"Yes," he replied. "Which already makes it abnormal."
Scarlette frowned.
"What information do you have?"
Asterion hesitated.
"I wasn't supposed to disclose this to anyone," he admitted. "Not even you. But that changed the moment you accepted the mission."
He paused, searching her face.
"I need your help, Scarlet—Scarlette."
She didn't correct him.
"I received a report weeks ago," Asterion continued. "According to it, Fordel Village is not located near the Empire's border."
She stiffened.
"…What?"
"It's listed as far from any border," he said calmly. "Deep within territory mapped long ago."
Scarlette stared at him.
"That's impossible," she said sharply. "The guild file states that it's a mid‑border settlement. Two cities past Mirken."
They locked eyes, both wearing identical expressions of confusion.
"What are you talking about?" Asterion demanded.
Scarlette clicked her tongue beneath her veil.
"Does your information come from a reliable source?" she asked. "Who submitted it?"
"My men," he replied immediately. "Stationed near every region under my jurisdiction. His Majesty gave me authority over all Imperial Forces—except the Shadow Forces."
He exhaled.
"I receive countless reports daily. Most are meaningless. But Fordel Village appeared repeatedly… and yet it doesn't exist in any registry."
Scarlette froze.
She reached into her coat and pulled out a folded parchment.
"This came from the Adventurers' Guild in Crown Capital," she said. "A sketch report. It's unclear, but there is something beneath that village. That's why I accepted the mission."
Asterion took the parchment and examined it closely.
The longer he studied it, the deeper his frown became.
"This contradicts everything I've gathered," he murmured.
He rubbed his temple slowly.
"I've been here for days. There is no census data, no tax record, no land claim—nothing. Fordel Village does not exist on any imperial map or archive."
Scarlette's eyes widened.
"…Are you serious?"
"I wouldn't joke about this."
She struggled to find her words.
"So, you're saying," she said slowly, "that the guild approved a mission for a village that officially doesn't exist?"
"Yes," Asterion confirmed grimly. "Which means someone wanted this mission posted."
Scarlette felt something shift in her chest.
That wasn't coincidence.
"I don't think His Majesty was unaware of this," Asterion said quietly.
She looked at him sharply.
"You think the Emperor knows?"
He didn't deny it.
"My orders weren't to resolve the situation," he admitted. "They were to observe it."
Scarlette inhaled sharply.
"…So, I was bait."
Asterion winced. "I didn't know you'd take it. But now that you have…"
She clenched her fist.
"And your hidden motive?" she asked coldly.
His hand drifted unconsciously to his chest.
"Lunaris Astra reacted on that day," he said. "When you fought me. It's never reacted to anything before—until you."
Scarlette stiffened.
"You're saying an artifact reacted to me?"
"I don't know why," Asterion admitted. "My grandmother never explained it. The Emperor wouldn't either. All I know is—it doesn't react randomly."
Scarlette fell silent.
For the first time since accepting the mission, doubt surfaced—not fear, but awareness.
So, this wasn't just a job.
If the village wasn't real…
If the Emperor knew…
If an ancient artifact reacted to her…
She looked up at Asterion.
"If that is the case then, someone posted this request on the mission board with a purpose, and I don't believe this is a mistake that our receptionists had done in our guild."
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