At the center of the world map lies the Central Continent. This vast land is dominated by Nora, a massive kingdom that covers more than one-tenth of the entire continent. Nora sits at the very heart of it, where a great inland sea stretches all the way to the ocean.
More than half of the kingdom is desert, making its central region harsh and nearly uninhabitable.
The reigning monarch, King Nestor Nora, had only two daughters before his wife's death: Tanya, the elder, and Melty, the younger.
Melty, however, earned herself quite a reputation — people call her the Sadistic Princess.
A day after his first mission, just as Alex had returned, he learned that Princess Melty was looking for him.
With that in mind, he dressed properly and prepared to make his way to her quarters.
Walking with one hand in his pocket as usual, dressed in a simple black shirt and pants, he thought to himself:
(Come to think of it, this palace is actually huge. I didn't notice it before, being caught up in all the chaos. I live in the secondary building — the old castle — where the king receives commoners. The banquet took place in the main palace, a stunning structure with over eighty rooms… and that's where Princess Melty lives.)
When he arrived before the palace gates, a maid approached him and asked:
Maid: "Are you Alex Andreas?"
Alex looked at her for a moment before answering:
Alex: "Yeah, that's me."
(Who's she?)
The maid continued:
Maid: "I am a servant of Her Highness Melty. She sent me to escort you. Please, follow me inside."
Alex: "Alright, I've got no problem with that. Lead the way."
She entered the palace, and Alex followed.
They walked down long corridors and climbed several flights of stairs. Eventually, fatigue caught up to him, and Alex yawned.
The maid glanced back at him and said:
Maid: "You seem tired. Are you alright?"
Alex: "Don't worry about it. I was on a mission all night and haven't had the time to rest."
Maid: "Oh, poor thing… (Really unlucky, aren't you?)"
Soon, they stopped in front of a large ornate door.
Maid: "We've arrived. I wish you the best of luck."
Then she left.
Alex (thinking):
(Why does this whole situation scream 'trap'? It's the same feeling I get before something disastrous happens… Ah, screw it, I'm going in.)
Behind the door, Melty was seated on a luxurious sofa, reading a book.
A guard beside her questioned her — a tall, slender young man with gray hair, violet eyes, wearing black armor and wielding a long scythe.
It was Karden.
Karden: "Do you really think he'll come?"
The princess, dressed in white trousers, a blue jacket, and heeled shoes — her long hair a deep shade of violet — replied calmly:
Melty: "Of course he will."
On the other side of the door, Alex took his hand out of his pocket, clenched it briefly, and knocked.
Inside, Melty smiled faintly, closed her book, and whispered:
Melty: "Told you, Karden."
Then, in a normal tone, she said:
Melty: "You may enter!"
Alex (thinking):
(Alright… when you gotta go, you gotta go.)
He stepped inside the room and immediately bowed before Princess Melty.
Alex: "My respects, Your Highness. I've come as requested."
Melty smiled softly.
Melty: "You don't have to be so formal. We're almost the same age, Alex. You can stand."
Alex: "Thank you, Your Highness."
As he rose, she added:
Melty: "I told you — no need for all that formality. Just call me Melty. And since you look exhausted, I'll get straight to the point. The reason I called you… is to thank you for helping me that day at the library."
Alex (thinking):
(So that's all? Guess I was worried for nothing. I thought something bad was coming.)
He replied politely:
Alex: "There was no need to trouble yourself. I was simply doing my duty."
Melty's smile widened.
Melty: "That's precisely why…"
Alex (thinking):
(Yep, I knew it. This is the trap. Life just loves to mess with me. Alright, go on and drop the bombshell.)
Melty: "…with my father's approval, we've decided to assign you as my personal guard. You'll be working alongside Karden here."
At that instant, Alex's usually calm expression froze.
Alex (thinking):
(What!? You've got to be kidding me. There's no way I can accept that. Okay… stay calm first, then we'll see.)
He took a deep breath and said:
Alex: "I'm sorry, but I don't think that'll be possible. I'm already serving as Arthur's squire."
The princess smiled sweetly and replied:
Melty: "Don't worry, it's already been arranged. You'll work in shifts with Karden — he'll take the mornings, you'll take the afternoons."
Alex (thinking):
(Damn it… Alright, let's see if I can talk my way out of this.)
He tried to speak again, but Melty noticed. Her smile turned sly as she rose from the sofa and began walking toward him.
Melty: "You know, Alex… before deciding this, my father and I discussed it at length. I'm just a princess — I can't defend myself…"
Alex (thinking):
(Oh great, she's playing the innocent act now. Does she think I'm an idiot?)
Melty: "…I'm often in danger, and I tend to get hurt easily. That's why, with someone as talented as you…"
Alex (thinking):
(No. No. No emotional blackmail, please.)
Melty kept talking, pacing back and forth gracefully, but in Alex's mind, her voice faded into noise.
(If this keeps up, my plans will be ruined, and getting out of this will be a nightmare. I need to find a way to end this conversation—)
Then, one sentence from her shattered his composure:
Melty: "…Besides, Father said the same punishment will apply if you refuse."
In that instant, time stopped for Alex.
(That sly old fox! He actually dared to threaten me again? Once more, he's got a knife at my throat.)
While still processing those words, Melty looked at him innocently and asked:
Melty: "So, do you accept?"
Irritated but maintaining his composure, Alex replied:
Alex: "It would be my honor."
Melty smiled with a wicked gleam in her eyes, while Alex's mood darkened visibly.
All of this unfolded under Karden's silent gaze.
END OF CHAPTER
NEXT CHAPTER: The Shitty Job.