Chapter 1: Our Queen is Sick

“By the Emperor’s Mandate, the title of Count of Pandas is hereby revoked, and all associated lands and privileges reclaimed.”

A red-haired man clad in purple-gold armor, his expression cold and severe, announced the Empress’s judgment to the trembling crowd in the hall, who shrank like quails.

“Except for the Pandas Family, all unrelated persons, you have ten seconds to get out the door behind me.”

Simon began counting down.

When he reached five, he raised his hand.

“Five…”

“Four…”

He counted down, lowering a finger with each number.

When the last servant dashed out, the remaining three fingers dropped at once.

He drew his sword with a cold voice.

“Close the door.”

Two trusted aides behind him stepped forward and shut the doors together.

In the now empty hall, only Simon and the Countess of Pandas and her daughter remained.

The Countess, seeing Simon approach with his sword, summoned her courage to stand, spreading her arms protectively in front of her daughter on the ground, but her trembling body betrayed her fear.

“I won’t let you hurt my daughter!”

Simon stopped before the Countess and sheathed the sword he had just drawn.

“Sorry for frightening you, but I ask that you remain calm and listen to what I have to say.”

His words stunned the two, who had moments ago been consumed by terror.

Simon pointed toward the Study.

“There is a Secret Door leading underground in the Count of Pandas’s Study. To open it, you must switch the fifth green book on the second row of the bookshelf to the right of the study door with the fifth red book on the fifth row.”

“You… you won’t kill us?”

The Countess looked at Simon in disbelief, unable to comprehend how the one known as the Royal Executioner could act in such a way.

“The time I can buy you isn’t much. Killing is fast.”

Simon reminded her.

The Countess realized this was no place to linger and turned to pull her daughter away.

“Thank you.”

“Wait, Countess. You may leave, but she must stay.”

Simon pointed to the daughter behind the Countess.

“The Empress specifically ordered her to remain alive.”

“I can forge the illusion of your death, but I cannot disguise a living person from the Empress, especially one she has personally named.”

“But…”

Seeing the Countess still hesitate, Simon said plainly, “The Count of Pandas is still alive. If you find him, it won’t be hard to recover your daughter.”

Those words were like a shot of courage.

The Countess kissed her daughter’s forehead, parted with lingering sorrow, and entrusted her daughter’s hand to Simon.

Simon watched the Countess depart for the Study, then retrieved a Scroll from his breast and tossed it onto the hall floor.

“Kah~shh!”

A woman’s corpse, still spurting blood, appeared in the hall as if out of thin air.

Simon took the girl’s hand and led her outside.

“Belinda, do you trust me?”

Belinda stiffened at the question, her free hand unconsciously clasping at her chest.

“I… don’t trust you.”

“A very honest answer. You can say such things to me, but never to the Empress. In fact, it’s best not to say anything at all.”

“No matter what you want to say, or what the Empress asks, say nothing. Pretend you’re mute. Understood?”

Belinda nodded heavily.

Simon pushed open the hall doors.

“Withdraw.”

—

“Is this the Count of Pandas’s daughter? She looks as if she’s already lost her soul from fright.”

Imperial Empress Alexia walked up to Belinda, gently pinching her chin between two fingers to inspect the dazed eyes, a trace of disgust in her tone.

“Really, Simon, how can you be so rough with a girl? No wonder no one dares to fancy you.”

She released Belinda, casually wiping her fingers on Simon’s cloak.

“Perhaps she witnessed her mother’s brutal death and suffered a mental collapse.”

Simon knelt on one knee, raising his head to explain to Alexia.

“So she’s become useless trash?”

Alexia looked down indifferently at Belinda, who sat limply on the floor.

That almost tangible killing intent felt like a blade pressed to Belinda’s neck.

Simon shook his head.

“Not entirely. The Count of Pandas lives and dotes on his daughter. We can use her as bait to draw him out of hiding. That would save the Empire significant resources.”

After hearing Simon’s proposal, the coldness in Alexia’s eyes softened slightly.

She nodded in agreement.

“Hmm~ Simon, your thoughts coincide with mine.”

“First, put her in the Dungeon…”

She paused, as if remembering something.

“Be sure to kill all the other prisoners except her—oh, wait, that won’t do either.”

“She’s in no condition for the Dungeon. Besides prisoners, there are only guards. We can’t slaughter the guards as well, that would make me too heartless. But can those men even control their desires?”

“And the Count of Pandas… he will stop at nothing to rescue his daughter. I don’t know if he has people inside, or if replacing everyone will even help.”

Alexia hesitated, unsure if she should execute only the prisoners, or include the guards as well, for fear that Belinda’s broken mind would be pushed beyond the edge.

“If Her Majesty permits, Belinda can be entrusted to me. A broken mind can also be reshaped.”

Simon seized the chance to propose to Alexia.

“And I shall present the Empress with a grand performance—righteousness over blood ties. The Count of Pandas would never expect his own daughter to be his executioner.”

A glint of anticipation flashed in Alexia’s eyes.

She licked her lips.

She leaned close, lifting Simon’s chin with a finger.

“Simon, this proposal… is simply marvelous!”

“To serve the Empress is my honor.”

Simon met Alexia’s gaze calmly.

Alexia laughed aloud.

“As expected, you’re the one who understands me best!”

She turned and strode away.

“Belinda is yours now. Just don’t be as rough as when you caught her.”

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

Simon answered respectfully.

As she reached the door, Alexia turned to wink at Simon.

“And come to my chambers at nine tonight. A good child deserves a reward.”

After Alexia had left, Simon rose, took Belinda—still motionless as a puppet—by the hand, and led her from the Capital.

“Is this your first time seeing the Empress?”

Simon asked.

“She’s terrifying…”

Belinda trembled, recalling the recent scene.

“She feels like a lunatic—gentle one moment, shouting the next. You never know if she’ll greet you or behead you. Life means nothing to her. She doesn’t even see people as human!”

“You’re not wrong. Our Empress is indeed ill. Very much so.”

Simon did not deny Belinda’s words.

Belinda froze, turning to Simon.

“Aren’t you her Executioner? Aren’t you supposed to be fiercely loyal? How can you say such things?”

She could accept such words from anyone else, but hearing them from Simon was incomprehensible.

“Because it’s the truth. Whether we like it or not, that is the Empire’s reality—our Empress is sick.”

Simon’s tone was resolute.