Mille Village was a remote settlement barely clinging to the outermost edge of the Seraphium Empire.
Though isolated, it possessed the bare essentials of a village.
Weathered buildings crouched beneath aging roofs. Unpaved roads twisted through the settlement, and the earth remained frozen solid before sunrise, only to crack into brittle shards once touched by daylight.
At its center lay a small plaza.
Today, however, the plaza felt different from its usual bleak self.
Twenty children stood upon the frozen ground, gathered in hopes of being chosen by the Elite Corps.
Their tattered clothes, riddled with holes, and their hollow, weary eyes spoke volumes about the lives they had endured.
“Your Grace, the child you examined a moment ago was the last one.”
At his aide Riat's words, one of Elvadin’s eyebrows rose ever so slightly.
It was neither disappointment nor anger.
Merely the acknowledgment that something he had repeated for eight long years had once again come to an end.
“We’re leaving.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
As Elvadin rose from his chair, the village chief hurriedly cried out.
“Y-Your Grace! Please! Please take another look! There’s no way not a single one could—!”
The man abruptly sucked in a sharp breath.
His voice died in his throat.
The gaze Elvadin cast down from the platform froze him where he stood.
It was a look that made one thing unmistakably clear:
He had no intention of listening to another word.
The village chief staggered backward.
Only then did Elvadin turn away.
Following behind, Riat glanced back at the chief and the gathered villagers.
Adults and children alike stood frozen, heads lowered.
The cause was the overwhelming presence radiating from Elvadin.
No matter how many good deeds the Grand Duke’s House performed.
No matter how favorable the rumors surrounding them throughout the Empire.
The aura of a man known on the battlefield as the Butcher was not something ordinary people could withstand.
Even trained knights struggle to endure His Grace’s presence, Riat thought.
Just in case, he looked over the gathered children one final time.
Twenty children.
Twenty hopeful candidates.
And yet, once again, there was no one.
Not a single child possessed an awakened ability.
After boarding the carriage behind Elvadin, Riat settled into the seat opposite him.
“It’s become noticeably harder to find children with latent abilities lately.”
“...”
“It’s not as though someone is taking them before we can.”
“...”
The carriage began moving.
Without replying, Elvadin turned his gaze toward the passing scenery outside.
Meanwhile, Riat pulled a thick stack of documents onto his lap and began sorting through them.
“I believe this expedition should conclude here. We have several imperial obligations that have been delayed.”
“...”
“As you know, Her Majesty the Empress’s birthday celebration is approaching.”
Riat cautiously observed Elvadin’s expression before continuing.
“You absolutely must attend this year. If you skip it like you did last year, who knows what kind of rumors will start circulating again?”
“As if I care about such rumors.”
At that, Riat crushed a handful of documents in frustration.
“I care! I’m the one who cares! Do you have any idea how much manpower and time it takes to suppress those rumors about House Descartes?!”
“Hmph.”
Elvadin merely scoffed and continued staring out the window.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Riat pressed on.
“In any case, you cannot miss this celebration. Understood?”
“...”
“And regarding the southern region—”
He proceeded to list schedules, appointments, and obligations one after another like an endless stream of nagging.
Eventually, after reaching the final page, he set the documents aside.
“Are you tired, Your Grace?”
“Not particularly.”
“You should rest anyway. It’ll take another half day before we reach the Seventh Southern Gate.”
“I’m fine.”
Elvadin answered without taking his eyes from the scenery outside.
Watching him, Riat’s expression softened slightly.
He appears calm on the surface... but inside, it can’t be easy.
People often said the Elite Corps had strengthened House Descartes.
That Elvadin’s grand plan had succeeded beyond expectation.
From the outside, they aren’t wrong.
The Elite Corps had discovered talented individuals hidden throughout the Empire.
Those individuals had pledged their loyalty to House Descartes.
As a result, the family’s military power had become the strongest in its history.
Yes. By all appearances, the system was a success...
But—
Elvadin himself had never once succeeded.
Because he still hadn’t found them.
The true purpose of the Elite Corps had never been military strength.
Its ultimate goal was to find the lost bloodline of House Descartes.
Eight years ago, the Grand Duke’s child had vanished.
"If it was Radia... she would have hidden the child somewhere safe. Even if it cost her life."
Elvadin believed it with unwavering certainty.
His wife would have found a way to save their child.
And finding that child—
That alone would ensure her death had not been in vain.
That belief was what had carried him through eight years.
Yet on days like today, when another search ended in failure, a shadow inevitably settled over his face.
That was why Riat refrained from his usual joking.
Silence, for once, was the only comfort he could offer.
Picking up the documents again, Riat quietly resumed his work.
The carriage continued onward toward the Seventh Southern Gate, the gateway connecting the south to the north.
The Grand Duke’s convoy halted briefly upon reaching the gate.
The knights needed time to reorganize and prepare before passing through.
The sun had begun sinking behind the mountains, staining the sky with deep crimson hues.
“Please remain inside the carriage, Your Grace. I’ll inform you once preparations are complete.”
“I’ve rested enough.”
Despite Riat’s suggestion, Elvadin stepped out of the carriage.
After hours of travel, he seemed eager for fresh air.
Drawing a slow breath, he surveyed the Elite Corps knights as they checked equipment and reorganized supplies.
Moments later, Riat joined him.
“It should take about an hour. The wind is cold, Your Grace. Perhaps you should return to the carriage and wait—”
“Wait.”
Elvadin raised a hand, cutting him off.
His gaze had fixed upon a particular wagon.
A covered cargo wagon.
“Your Grace? What is it?”
Without answering, Elvadin began walking toward it.
Confused, Riat followed.
The wagon looked entirely ordinary.
After studying it for a moment, Elvadin reached forward and pulled aside the canvas covering the entrance.
The interior was revealed.
Dark.
Silent.
Boxes, bundles of clothing, and piles of folded blankets were stacked haphazardly inside, filling nearly half the wagon.
“Your Grace, what exactly are you looking—? Gah!”
Peering inside after him, Riat immediately recoiled with a gag.
The stench pouring from the wagon was overwhelming.
It served as storage for dirty laundry collected from the knights.
The smell was unavoidable.
Elvadin stared into the darkness for a long moment before speaking.
“Come out.”
“...”
“Excuse me? Is someone in there?”
Holding his nose, Riat leaned closer and scanned the interior again.
Still, all he saw were heaps of filthy clothing.
Then—
Elvadin rested a hand upon the hilt of his sword.
“If you don’t come out, I’ll cut you down.”
Riat instinctively tensed and drew his own blade.
“Who’s there—!”
Before he could finish shouting, the mountain of laundry shifted.
“Ah!”
Riat jumped.
Then, from within the pile of clothing—
A small head suddenly popped out.
“...Huh?”
A pair of eyes met his from the darkness.
Riat blinked in disbelief.
“A... child?”
“...”
A young girl.
Brown hair.
Brown eyes.
The sort of appearance one could find anywhere in the Empire.
Nothing remarkable.
And yet—
Something about her felt strange.
She stood surrounded by armed men with drawn swords, yet there was no fear in her eyes.
If anything...
She looked relieved.
A brief silence passed.
The girl struggled free from the laundry pile and climbed out.
By then, several Elite Corps knights had gathered around the wagon.
She glanced nervously at the growing crowd before carefully opening her mouth.
“Hehe...”
An awkward little smile appeared on her face.
“U-um... hello, Grand Duke?”