Prologue
The feeling of getting everything she wanted was… less exciting than Eloise expected.
For some reason, she felt like something important was missing.
The duke’s daughter stood on the terrace of the Imperial Palace, looking down at the vast empire beneath her feet. Despite having achieved her goals, she looked bored.
“Master.”
At the sound of a gentle male voice, Eloise turned her head.
Lucian was walking toward her, dressed in magnificent imperial robes. He looked every bit like a born emperor. Though no matter how luxurious his clothes were, they seemed plain compared to his beauty.
Golden hair.
A handsome face.
Deep blue eyes and a high nose.
A tall body, broad shoulders, and an overwhelming presence.
No sculpture or painting in the world could be more perfect than Lucian.
“I’ve been looking for you, Master.”
As the newly crowned emperor approached, a smile appeared on Eloise’s usually expressionless face.
Master.
How long had it been since she last heard him call her that?
Her thoughts drifted back to the day they first met.
At that time, Eloise was the daughter of one of the most powerful noble families in the empire.
Lucian was nothing more than a slave.
When Eloise first declared her ridiculous dream of making a slave into the emperor of the empire, Lucian had tried to run away from her countless times. In the end, however, he chose to stand by her side.
On their journey to this moment, he had been her diligent student, loyal subordinate, trusted friend, and sometimes…
No.
She stopped herself there.
Personal feelings were unnecessary.
After a long and difficult journey, Lucian had become emperor for her sake.
Seeing him standing there as a true emperor finally filled the emptiness in her heart.
“Congratulations, Lucian. You’ve finally become emperor.”
Eloise smiled brightly as she spoke.
And now we’ll say goodbye.
She kept those words to herself.
Instead, she gracefully extended her hand.
Lucian took it naturally and kissed the back of it. He pressed his lips firmly against her skin, as if marking her as his.
Then he looked straight into her eyes.
“Your congratulations are the ones I like hearing the most.”
“The ceremonial clothes suit you.”
“Master, there’s something I’d like as a congratulatory gift.”
“Just ask. I’ll give you anything.”
“Really?”
A playful smile appeared on Lucian’s lips.
For some reason, Eloise suddenly felt a chill.
“There is only one thing I want.”
“…”
“Eloise. It’s you.”
The sweet words from the emperor instantly froze her expression.
She roughly pulled her hand away.
“That’s not what we agreed on.”
“What can I do? I’ve changed my mind.”
Despite his apologetic tone, he didn’t look sorry at all.
It was obvious he had no intention of changing his decision.
Before she could react, Lucian captured her lips.
Eloise’s eyes widened in shock before slowly closing.
You jerk…!
Lucian knew her weakness better than anyone.
One of his strong arms wrapped around her waist.
Unlike his firm grip, his kiss was gentle and sweet.
Impossible to reject.
Eloise’s arms naturally wrapped around his neck.
She heard Lucian laugh softly between their parted lips.
At that moment, Eloise realized something had gone terribly wrong.
And strangely…
Her heart began to race.
After all, Eloise loved solving impossible puzzles, correcting mistakes, and untangling situations that had become completely complicated.
Chapter 1
The youngest, smartest, and most beautiful emperor in the history of the great Finestra Empire clearly remembered the day he first met Eloise.
BANG! BANG!
CRASHHH!
Heavy rain poured from the dark sky.
Even though the sun had not yet set, the world looked as dark as night.
On that gloomy day, the residence of the powerful La Croix Ducal Family was unusually busy.
Especially the separate mansion where the duke’s only daughter, Eloise Belle La Croix, lived.
The reason was simple.
The young lady had ordered everyone to make her look as beautiful as possible.
“Where is the young lady going today?”
“There’s a count’s ball tonight, isn’t there?”
“Oh, I heard the Second Prince will be there too!”
The maids chatted excitedly as they finished helping Eloise prepare.
“Miss, you’re so beautiful.”
“You’re always beautiful, but today you’re especially stunning.”
“Even the sun hiding behind the clouds would come out just to see you!”
The maids showered her with praise.
And they truly meant it.
They were proud to serve what they believed was the most beautiful, noble, and elegant young lady in the empire.
“Hmm.”
Eloise simply glanced at herself in the mirror.
Not bad.
Her face remained calm and expressionless.
“Good work, everyone.”
“You have to tell us how everyone reacts!”
“If Prince Camilo sees you today, won’t he go blind from your beauty?”
How cute.
Listening to their chatter, Eloise picked up a mask before leaving her room.
Downstairs, her knight escort, Frederick, was waiting.
“Miss is coming,” a maid whispered.
Frederick looked up.
Eloise was slowly descending the grand staircase.
Her white dress flowed beautifully behind her.
For a moment, Frederick was stunned.
She looked so breathtaking that he almost forgot where she was supposedly going.
As if time had stopped, he stared at her.
Eloise walked up to him and spoke casually.
“Let’s go.”
She put on an elegant mask that covered part of her face.
Frederick escorted her outside.
Soon, the ducal carriage began moving through the darkness.
However, unlike what the maids believed, they were not heading toward the count’s ball.
After traveling for quite some time, the carriage stopped in a dark and dirty alley.
An old rusty door stood in a worn stone wall.
Frederick opened it.
Without hesitation, Eloise stepped inside.
Most noble ladies would have been too frightened to take even a single step.
Eloise walked proudly forward.
The air was filled with mold, foul odors, and even the faint smell of blood.
The place was damp, dark, and unpleasant.
Even after visiting places like this for several days, she still couldn’t get used to it.
Iron-barred cells lined both sides of a narrow hallway.
Male slaves clung to the bars.
The cages rattled loudly.
“A woman!”
“She smells expensive!”
“Is she ugly? Why’s she wearing a mask? Hahaha!”
Every time the hem of Eloise’s expensive dress brushed past a cell, the slaves shouted for her attention.
Some begged.
Others said disgusting things.
But Eloise never once lowered her gaze.
With Frederick escorting her, she continued deeper inside.
Eventually, they reached a fork in the corridor.
Loud noises came from the left.
A slave auction was taking place there.
But that wasn’t what Eloise had come for.
“This way.”
She chose the right path.
At the end of the corridor stood a middle-aged man with a large belly.
The slave trader she had arranged to meet.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Lady—”
Frederick immediately glared at him.
The trader quickly realized his mistake.
Using her title here could be dangerous.
“My apologies. I was just overwhelmed by the honor of meeting you personally.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Eloise said. “Is what I asked for ready?”
“Of course. Please follow me.”
The trader led them deeper inside.
The corridor was dark enough that it was difficult to see.
Frederick offered his hand.
“No.”
Eloise rejected his help immediately and walked ahead on her own.
The three eventually entered a private reception room.
The sounds outside vanished.
The room had been prepared for special VIP customers.
A soft velvet sofa sat in the center.
Eloise sat down and crossed her legs.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
She gave a slight nod.
The trader bowed deeply and hurried away.
As soon as he left, he couldn’t help thinking to himself.
As expected of the daughter of the mighty La Croix family.
Even with half her face hidden by a mask, she was beautiful.
And she possessed an untouchable aura.
Despite being younger and smaller than him, she completely dominated the room.
“Miss.”
Frederick spoke carefully.
Eloise glanced at him.
“Perhaps we should leave while we still can. No matter how I look at it, this isn’t a place you should be.”
“Frederick.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Have you ever seen me make a mistake?”
“…”
“Has one of my decisions ever been wrong?”
Her green eyes shone through the mask.
Frederick flinched.
Whenever she looked at him like that, he felt insignificant.
Yet it was also one of the reasons he admired her so much.
“My apologies. I spoke out of turn.”
He lowered his head.
Eloise looked forward again.
The waiting felt endless.
For an entire week, she had searched slave markets across the area.
All because of a rumor.
A rumor about a beautiful blond man who had recently arrived as a slave.
If this is another dead end…
No.
She pushed the thought away.
Even if she failed, she would find another solution.
She always did.
At that moment, the slave trader returned.
“Thank you for waiting.”
Holding a leash, he pulled someone from the darkness.
A blond man crawled forward on all fours.
Messy hair.
Pale skin.
Lean muscles.
Broad shoulders.
He looked fairly tall as well.
The man kept his eyes fixed on the floor.
“What are you doing? Greet the customer properly!”
“Urgh!”
The trader yanked the collar around his neck.
Like a man handling an unwanted dog.
The slave struggled in pain.
Yet he stubbornly refused to raise his head.
Interesting.
He has spirit.
Eloise slowly stood.
Unlike her calm face, excitement filled her heart.
Perhaps she had finally found what she was looking for.
“Miss!” Frederick warned.
Ignoring him, Eloise approached the slave.
The man saw slender white ankles appear in front of him.
Then he heard a clear and beautiful voice.
“Show me your face.”
The trader almost laughed.
Did she really think this stubborn slave would obey such gentle words?
This man was different from the others.
Proud.
Defiant.
Dangerous.
The more he was beaten, the fiercer his eyes became.
He had already been marked as a troublemaker.
Yet unexpectedly—
The slave slowly lifted his head.
Eloise bent down until their eyes were level.
Their gazes met.
Through the messy blond hair, she saw clear blue eyes.
A sharp face.
A high nose.
A refined jawline that didn’t suit a slave at all.
His upper body was covered in cuts and scars.
Even so, his skin remained surprisingly fair.
“Stand up.”
The moment she spoke, the trader pulled the leash again.
This time the slave obeyed.
He rose to his feet.
As expected.
He was tall and broad.
If he bathes and wears proper clothes, he’ll look quite impressive.
A faint smile appeared on Eloise’s lips.
“How beautiful.”
The slave flinched.
Then a strange smile appeared on his face.
To him, she looked like a sheltered noble girl who knew nothing about the world.
“Would you like to come with me?”
The slave trader’s face brightened.
A duke’s daughter would surely pay an enormous price.
The slave, however, reacted differently.
His sharp eyes narrowed.
Suddenly, he reached toward Eloise.
“!”
“Miss!”
“You brat!”
Startled, Eloise stepped back.
But it was already too late.
The mask covering her face had been knocked away.
It fell to the floor.
Her hidden face was fully revealed.
Frederick quickly picked up the mask and stepped protectively in front of her.
Yet instead of being angry, Eloise smiled with satisfaction.
“I like it.”
Her smile widened.
“Even this boldness of yours.”
