Time passes by like the wind—swift and intangible. It had been almost two months since Edrick's last visit. He hadn't come by during these weeks, or rather, he hadn't found the time to. After all, he was preparing himself for the approaching Mid-Winter Council, a responsibility that demanded his full attention.
These past weeks had been peaceful for Evelyn. The five servants carried out their duties with such dedication that they had practically become her hands, feet, eyes, and ears. Evelyn, being too lazy to monitor everything herself, simply sent them in her place.
In the afternoon-
After finishing her lunch, Evelyn reclined comfortably on a large velvet couch by the window, letting her head fall against the cushions as she rested. The afternoon sunlight streamed in, warming her skin and creating a peaceful ambiance.
Suddenly, as if something crossed her mind, Evelyn opened her eyes and called out, "Callie."
Cassy, who had been organizing some flowers in a vase near the corner, paused for a moment before walking over.
Cassy: "You called me, Your Highness?"
Now, everyone had grown accustomed to Evelyn's mispronunciations of their names.
Cassy had caught glimpses of Evelyn's laziness and her indifferent, almost unbother demeanor. As a result, she had grown noticeably more relaxed and casual in her behavior toward her.
Evelyn nodded lazily.
Evelyn: "Yes. Call the five and also Gorald."
Cassy nodded. She had come to understand Evelyn's temperament over the past few weeks—laziness wrapped in an oddly strategic calm. Despite being a child, Evelyn had a chilling maturity. Unfortunately, she was a bit too lazy.
Cassy: "... Yes, Your Highness."
Cassy went to call them all over, and as she observed their dedication and the responsibility they showed toward their tasks—listening to Evelyn despite her being just a child—Cassy became assured that they were all trustworthy individuals.
She had grown to respect those five—Melinda, Lily, Lora, Ella and Clair. Their loyalty to Evelyn was unwavering, and their dedication to their work was something she hadn't expected. It was hard to believe they had once been ordinary servants.
Moments later, the five stood before Evelyn with Cassy and Gerald slightly apart from the others. Lily, being the most talkative, naturally spoke first.
Lily: "Your Highness, why did you call us so suddenly? Is there something you need us to do?"
Evelyn straightened slightly, her gaze flickering toward the window.
"Yes," she replied calmly.
Evelyn: "I have something to tell you all."
They instantly grew more attentive, their postures becoming more formal. Evelyn chuckles slightly at their visible tension.
She turned her gaze outward, watching the world beyond the glass, her voice growing quiet.
Evelyn: "As you all know, I'm just an abandoned princess. I have no power, no authority. If someone were to come here and slaughter us all one-day, no one would even care, let alone come to our rescue."
Her words struck a somber chord. The five exchanged glances, the weight of her statement settling in.
Evelyn turned back to face them, something gleaming in her eyes.
Evelyn: "So, I have decided something."
"What is it, Your Highness?" Cassy asked, her tone cautious.
Evelyn took a deep breath, her lips curving into a faint smile.
Evelyn: "I've decided to create my own Guardians."
The room fell silent.
Shock registered on every face.
Of course they would be shocked.
[Guardians- The Guardians are elite protectors who operate from the shadows. They're unseen, unheard, and unknown to most — existing solely to shield their master from threats before they ever reach their master. Trained in stealth, strategy, and silent combat, they strike without warning and vanish without trace. Their loyalty is absolute and solely to their master.
In Cristiane, only those from aristocratic bloodlines have the right to become Guardians. Guardians aren't just protectors—they're bound by a special contract that allows them to sense their master's location and teleport instantly to their side in times of danger.
Despite how powerful and loyal Guardians are, very few nobles choose to make such contracts. The reason is simple—placing one's life in someone else's hands, no matter how skilled or trustworthy, feels far too risky for most.
Still, legends persist. It is said that Seraphion Aster—renowned as the greatest swordsman in Cristiane's recorded history—was the Guardian of Elencia de S. La Cristiane, the founding matriarch of the cristiane empire.
Even the current Empress has only two Guardians, yet no one knows who they are. Their identities remain a mystery, hidden from the world. ]
Cassy was the first to react, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Your Highness… you…"
Before she could finish, Evelyn rose calmly from the couch, her expression unreadable. She stepped forward, standing tall before the group that had served her so diligently these past weeks.
Evelyn: "So, I want to ask all of you—are you willing to become my Guardians?"
They were stunned. They were all commoners. To even dream of such a position was blasphemy in the eyes of nobility.
Gerald, the knight among them, stepped forward and fell to his knees, bowing deeply.
Gerald: "Your Highness... I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. I don't think I'm capable of becoming a Guardian."
Evelyn's expression turned cold, her voice laced with sharpness.
Evelyn: "Are you saying that my judgment is wrong? Do you think that because I'm a child, I don't understand anything?"
Gerald's eyes widened in panic.
Gerald: "No, Your Highness! I dare not! It's just... I fear my skills are unworthy."
Before the tension could thicken further, Cassy stepped forward, her tone calm yet hesitant.
Cassy: "Your Highness, we are only commoners. How can we even dream of such a thing?"
Melinda, standing beside her, nodded quietly.
Melinda: "Sir Gerald is at least a knight… but we… we are only mere servants."
Evelyn sighed. She looked at each of them, her eyes serious.
Evelyn: "There is no rule that says a Guardian must be noble. Only the talented ones get the chance—because talent is what matters, not bloodline."
She smiled reassuringly.
Evelyn: "You may not realize it yet, but you all have talent. Some of us are not born with it—we create it. And I see potential in all of you."
Evelyn turned her gaze to Gerald, her expression unreadable.
Evelyn: "You chase strength like every other knight. But there is more to being a knight than brute force."
She walked over to the table, her steps unhurried. Picking up a single grape from a bowl, she turned slightly—then, without warning, flicked it toward the closed door.
Evelyn: "Catch."
Instinct took over.
Before anyone could comprehend what had happened, Gerald surged forward. In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of the door, the grape resting neatly in his palm.
Even Cassy blinked, visibly startled by the speed.
A brief silence filled the room.
Evelyn smiled.
Evelyn: "You see? If we talk about reflexes and agility, i'm sure there are very few who can match you."
She returned to the couch with a graceful stride, settled herself comfortably, then picked up another grape and popped it into her mouth. As she chewed, her gaze shifted toward Gerald, calm and unwavering, as if waiting for him to truly understand her words.
Evelyn: "So? What do you think now?"
Gerald stood frozen, his eyes wide with disbelief. Slowly, he unfolded his hand and stared at the grape resting in his palm—as if it were something far greater, something precious.
Am I truly worthy of this trust…? the thought echoed in his mind.
The question echoed in his mind, but only for a moment. Determination replaced doubt.
His fingers curled tightly around the grape.
No... since Her Highness has chosen to trust me, then i will never let her down.
He bowed again, this time with resolve and determination.
Gerald: "If the Princess believes in me, then I will do my utmost. I will never let Your Highness down."
Evelyn turned her gaze to the others.
Evelyn: "What about you?"
They hesitated. Then one by one, they knelt.
They spoke in unison, voices firm and unwavering:
"We will never betray the Princess's trust. We will serve you with all our hearts."
Evelyn nodded. "Good."
Evelyn: [I'm relieved they didn't ask any further questions. How could I possibly tell them that I know all this because the system told me?]
She handed out books and practice instructions to each of them.
Evelyn: "I'll be checking on your progress."
Cassy: "But these—"
Evelyn: "No buts. Just do as I say."
They, in unison: "Yes, Your Highness."
From that day forward, their schedules were packed. They trained from sunrise to sunset, devoting themselves entirely to Evelyn's vision.
______
Elsewhere, in a town far removed from the quiet palace where Evelyn plotted her future, life moved with a frantic rhythm.
A man in a cyan robe moved slowly through the bustling crowd. The noise of traders, children, and peddlers filled the air. Yet his presence was like a calm ripple amidst the chaos.
As he passed a bakery, a small child bumped into him, stumbled, and then ran off without looking back.
The man didn't chase after him. He simply stared at the direction the child had gone, an unreadable look in his eyes.
______
The child, heart pounding, ducked into an alley and opened the pouch he had stolen.
It was heavy. His eyes sparkled. Maybe it's full of gold...
As he opened it, his breath caught.
A loud roar echoed in the narrow alley.
A lion emerged from the pouch—a majestic beast with glowing eyes and golden mane. The boy shrieked and threw the pouch as far away as he could. He collapsed to the ground and fainted in fear.
The lion paid him no attention. Instead, it turned into a ray of golden light and vanished into the sky.
Moments later, the pouch floated back through the crowd, unseen by all, and landed softly at the waist of the man in cyan.
He glanced at it, unmoved. As if it had never been taken.
A gust of wind passed by.
A name whispered in the breeze.
"...Lisette."
And the man walked on, vanishing into the crowd like mist.
Little did the world know, the wind had started to shift.
And at its center stood a lazy little princess who was anything but ordinary.