The time goes back a little, to Calutris, one of the towns on the eastern border of the Kingdom of Zain.
In the town, which is ruled by the Count of Calcifer, one of the Eight Eastern Families, many soldiers are gathering, ready to meet the forces of Raidorl.
The Counts of Calcifer have a number of mines in their territory, which produce fine gold and silver. The Count of Calcifer has a strong army, thanks to his ample resources, and his military strength surpasses that of his noble rivals, the Counts of Arbeil.
In the war against the Empire, the Counts of Calcifer were quick to turn against the enemy, but if they had stood as the shield of the kingdom, the Imperial forces would not have been able to easily approach the capital.
In the house of the Countess, one of the most powerful people on the eastern border, a meeting was being held.
âSo hereâs to our victoryâŠ..â
âCheers!â
An elderly man takes the stage and raises his glass of wine to the crowd.
About twenty men and women are gathered in the large drawing room of the villa, tipping their glasses and savouring the sumptuous food on the table.
They are all dressed in fine suits and dresses, and the elegant manner in which they bring the food to their lips suggests that they are of the upper class.
They are all related to the three noble families of the Eastern Eight: the Counts of Calcifer, the Barons of Kyrgyzstan, and the Viscounts of Kubertos.
They gathered at Count Calciferâs house in the middle of a victory party to confront the Raidorlâs army that was trying to purge them.
âWell, itâs hard to hold a party of this size even during the warâŠItâs the Count Calcifer after all, the great aristocrats have different financial power!â
âThatâs true, Only a few noblemen in the palace have such financial power!!â
It was the Barons of Kyrgyzstan and the Viscountesses of Kubertos â the heads of the two families â who spoke with such blatant flattery.
âHa-ha-ha. Itâs no big deal. Iâm just embarrassed that I didnât have enough time to entertain you!â
The man who had proposed the toast smiled proudly and humbly.
The man with the romance grey hair pulled all the way back and dressed in a purple suit is called Brutus Calcifer.
He was the head of the Calcifer family and the organizer of this party.
âIf we had more time to prepare, we could have thrown a party worthy of the Countess. If thereâs no war after all.â
âYouâre absolutely right!â
Count Calciferâs words were followed by one of the guests of honour.
The aristocratic and rotund man snickered and spat out a few words of contempt.
âEmpires, royal palaces, nations fighting each other, itâs a foolish thing to do!ăWar is a bloody thing, unworthy of a man of our chosen blood.â
âExactly!ăWar is the work of barbarians. How unlucky we are to be involved in such a thing!â
They are all war critics, but they all believe that they are the chosen ones, born of noble blood.
They are not just normal people. They are people of noble blood who cannot be harmed.
It is because of this belief that they chose to surrender when the Empire tried to invade them.
He is proud to be a nobleman, but he does not want to do his duty as a nobleman.
They were never aware of this contradiction, because they never thought about it themselves.
âWe are the chosen ones to rule this land, to be above the others!ăWhat is wrong with surrendering in order to survive? That Royal Family ZainâŠâŠ!â
Count Calciferâs face contorts in anger.
The news had already reached the Countâs family that the Viscount Ulfert had been destroyed by the Royal Army.
It is also reported by a secret agent that the kingdomâs army is close at hand.
The Count bites his teeth in vexation at the prospect of the purge looming before him.
âDonât think Iâm going to be beaten in the same way as Ulfert, âŠâŠ! A country prince, once banished, will be vanquished!â
âIt is said that he has only five thousand enemies. âŠâŠ No, the power of the Count of Calcifer will easily defeat him!â
âYes, yes! Even more so with the help of the Barons of Kyrgyzstan and our own Viscount Kubertos! We have the advantage of the earth and the time of heaven!ăWe will destroy the mere armies of the kingdom!â
âOooh!â
The guests raise their cups in the air as the three noblemen speak.
The guests slurp up the wine and eat the food.
The party is in full swing. The victory party of the treacherous nobles becomes even more heated, and the self-proclaimed noblemen, red-faced with wine, shout loudly about their victory.
And thenâŠ
âSorry Iâm late, Father.â
A young man walked into the party, which was already at the height of its excitement.
He wore a white suit and a dinner jacket with a red rose on his chest, as if he were at a wedding.
âWhatâs taking you so long, Brad?â
âIâm sorry, Iâm a little busy with workâŠâŠ.â
The young man called Brad bends his back politely and bows his head.
Brad Calcifer.
He was the only son of Brutus Calcifer, and the next head of the Countâs family.
The Count sniffed and offered his son a glass of wine as he bowed his head, shaking his golden tresses.
âBah, fineâŠyou also take a drink, this is a victory party for our army!ăAs the heir to the Countâs throne, you must show yourself worthy of it!
âYes, I will.â
Brad takes the glass from his fatherâs hand.
He does not sip it, but looks at the entrance of the party hall with his eyes narrowed like a thread.
âIâd love to have a drink with your guests, father, who are some of the most talented people in the eastern border regionâŠâŠ but before that, Iâd like to introduce you to a woman.â
âA ladyâŠâŠ Brad, what are youâŠâŠ doing?
âCome on in, come on in!â
Ignoring his fatherâs quizzically raised eyebrows, Brad turned his left hand towards the door.
All eyes in the hall were focused on the entrance.
âWhat the âŠâŠ!â
âThatâs not âŠâŠ!â
The door slowly opens and a woman in a dress walks into the party room.
A white dress of the same colour as the one Brad is wearing. She has a white right leg that extends from the hem above her knee and a metal prosthetic left leg.
Her red hair, which hangs down her back, is as bright as blood, and a bandage is wrapped around her face, covering her left eye.
The appearance of a woman with a strange appearance caused everyone in the hall to gasp.
âThatâs ridiculous,âŠâŠWhy are you alive,âŠâŠ?â