Chapter 1 | Slaves Don’t Get to Choose
Imperial Year 578. May twenty-second—the Continental War.
–
Princess Olivia of the Empire tightly closed her eyes as she listened to the sound of the Emperor’s booming voice, declaring war against the Kingdom of Nordian.
Again, that is.
This marked the beginning of the Continental War.
A fierce battle, of which the embers burned across the entire land—a fire so consuming that it devoured the entire foundation of the Empire.
This was her fourth time experiencing it, but only the beginning could be changed. No matter how hard she tried to stop the war, it was never enough.
[—] “For the glory of the Empire!”
[—] “For the Empire!”
Olivia let out a long sigh. The roaring cries were shaking the earth and piercing the sky.
The end of this war would always be the same. Even after returning, knowing what would transpire in the future, it was like she was running in place. In the end, she would always…..
[Emperor] “Olivia? You look unwell.”
[Olivia] “Your Majesty…..”
[Emperor] “Don’t make that face. Though this may be a war, it will all be over soon.”
The Emperor was so confident that victory would be assured, but Olivia couldn’t say anything back. She tensed her closed mouth, not saying a single word. How could she say to her father, the Emperor, that the only result they would gain from this war was his severed head?
After all, nothing could be changed.
And so again, Olivia was once more caught up in the vortex of war.
A war that intensified with every passing day. Though it started with one person, the flames would burn brightly, consuming the entirety of the continent.
Not all of Olivia’s experiences prior to her return were exactly the same. But no matter how those events changed, the end was forever constant.
Just like now.
[???] “Any last words?”
Olivia looked up, staring down the blade that was pointed at her as she clenched her teeth.
[Olivia] “Is continental domination your goal?”
The man didn’t even raise an eyebrow at her words, which seemingly came from nowhere.
[???] “No. Do you really want those to be your last words?”
[Olivia] “If not, then what was the point of this entire war?”
He was a monster who started this war and ended it single-handedly, all on his own.
One day, out of absolute nowhere, as if by a magic miracle or a vicious curse, he burned the whole continent to the ground and pushed the entire world into complete annihilation.
Cryer.
He bent down, looking at Olivia. He came so close to her that she could feel his breath against her skin as he whispered directly into her ear.
[Cryer] “I’m a slave. I have to do as I’m told.”
[Olivia] “A slave? But that’s—“
And so, before she could even finish talking, Olivia died for a fourth time.
*
* * *
*
Imperial Year 577, May twenty-second—one year before the Continental War.
–
[Olivia] “Hah!”
Olivia woke up in a cold sweat, chills running all across her body. Immediately she grabbed at her neck, but her head was still very much attached.
[Olivia] “Again……”
Her voice, leaking out from between her lips was low and quiet, as if she were lamenting this repeated circumstance.
Regressing always turned out like this. Death was a terrible thing she could never get used to, no matter how many times it happened. If she had simply died and forgotten all about this, then at least she would never have to experience this dirty, awful feeling over and over again.
[Olivia] “Well, it’s already happened before. No use crying over it, I suppose.”
When she returned to the past for the first time, all she could do was spend the night in tears. If she spent too much time thinking about it, it would only turn out like that again.
Up until her second return, all she wanted to do was dig deep into herself—hiding away as she filled herself up with regret over the Continental War that would destroy the world and fear of her own death.
She knew if she viewed things with too much severity, it would only eat her up like it did before. Like it was gnawing away at her soul.
So she decided it would be best to keep her chin up, viewing everything she could in a lighthearted and lively manner. That way, it would be easier to pick herself up and shake off any future failures.
Olivia messed up her curly hair, grabbing a pen tightly in her grasp as she quickly jotted down everything that went different from before her return.
[Olivia] “Just like I thought. Even after changing the smallest of things, the main events all still turned out the same.”
No matter what she did, the Continental War broke out and the Empire was defeated, which of course naturally led to her own death.
But……
I don’t want to die.
I mean, who would?
After her first regression, she had such knowledge about everything that happened before that, and so she believed her past memories were all that was necessary to stop the war. With that in mind, she decided to stop it for the sake of everyone who lost their lives to the flames of battle.
But she failed.
So after she returned again, she decided to try and win the war. If stopping it was impossible, then victory for the sake of the Empire was something she was determined to do.
But that also failed.
For the Empire, for the people—all that grandiose resolve faded with every regression.
By the time she returned for the fourth time, all Olivia tried to do was live.
But what happened always continued to happen. The war befell them one way or another, the Empire was always defeated, and no matter how she tried to escape it, Princess Olivia always died.
Unconsciously, she grabbed at her neck again.
[Olivia] “I want to live.”
As soon as the words escaped her mouth, her next goal became clear.
Yes. All I want to do is live.
And to do that, she would prevent the war. No, she was prepared to do anything.
[Olivia] “I must stop the war and protect the peace of this world.”
Long ago, long before the Bolsheks became the Imperial family, there was another continental war. Back then, after it ended, the Emperor of the time released a white dove into the skies as a symbol of the war’s end and of peace itself.
Olivia clenched her fists, shouting out her resolve—one clear word at a time.
[Olivia] “I will survive! Even if I must become a white dove of peace myself!”
*
* * *
*
Olivia took a deep breath as she surveyed the spacious meeting hall. Her back and neck were very stiff and it felt like her head was going to split, but after everything that happened, this kind of pain was nothing.
[—] “Your Highness. A message from the Duchy….”
[—] “Your Highness. We need more manpower in this region…..”
[—] “Your Highness—“
Everyone around her gathered, flippantly reporting their arrogant problems, and Olivia responded with clear orders, all without stopping.
This Continental Congress, organized quickly within a few days, was no problem for her.
On the day of her return, Olivia immediately went to visit the Emperor. After facing death several times now, she did not hesitate when there were things she needed to do. Especially if she’d already made up her mind.
If something had to be done, then she should do it. If there was something she needed to say, then she should say it! If she was just going to die again anyway, then she should at least struggle with everything she’s got, right?
All for the sake of trying to live.
And so she went to the Emperor without making an appointment first, barging in while he was busy dealing with some state affairs. Olivia faced him as he looked at her with a bewildered expression.
[Emperor] ‘What are you talking about?’
[Olivia] “Please hold a Continental Congress immediately. This is a discussion that must be held with the entirety of the continent—an issue transcending borders. All leaders and heads must attend. I know there’s still a few more months before it will be officially held, but I know Your Majesty can make it happen sooner.’
The Emperor was silent, so Olivia kept speaking without an ounce of hesitation.
[Olivia] ‘It’s about world peace.’
This forced congress meeting was all for the sake of finding one person.
Her nerves were standing so sharply, she could cut herself on them, but Olivia didn’t even dare to blink right now.
Don’t miss him.
I can’t miss him.
That man.
[Olivia] “Cryer.”
The name came out so quietly that one could hardly hear it.
But the moment she said his name, the memories of her death hit her so quickly that she immediately and unconsciously ran her hand roughly across her neck.
Olivia tightly closed her eyes, opening them once she finally managed to catch her breath.
Wallowing in self-pity was a waste of her time.
Staring down the door of the meeting hall, Olivia thought of the man for whom this congress was called. A man who appeared so vividly in her memories that she could see him even with her eyes closed.
The demon of the continent.
Ruler of the battlefield.
The incarnate of the horrors of war.
He was someone who was worthy of both praise and disrespect depending on who you asked—suddenly appearing one day as if he’d fallen from the sky.
And he was someone who was entirely unforgettable to Olivia.
Her heart was pounding, wildly beating within her chest. But it was not thrill nor adoration that made her heart beat like this for Cryer.
How could she have such a feeling for a man who mercilessly killed her, over and over again…….No, this feeling was fear.
But as big as the fear was that she had for him, so too was the confusion now. Even still, she could hear the last words he spoke to her just before he cut her neck.
[Cryer] “I’m a slave. I have to do as I’m told.”
A dark shadow cast over Olivia’s face, pale and bloodless.
A slave.
When she heard it, she couldn’t understand it at all, but even now when she repeated them in her mind, she still didn’t get it.
What was he trying to say? He’s someone’s slave? Cryer? That Cryer?
Her thoughts just kept spinning in place, but the source of her confusion was clear. The words ‘Cryer’ and ‘slave’ were not words that belonged in the same sentence. As a slave, one must do everything they’re told, following their master’s every gesture, right?
She thought about it for days, but she realized no clue about what he meant would be found until she met him today. Though she could send someone to run a background check on him, it was doubtful they’d find anything. There was no time for that, anyhow.
There was only one option.
If there was something she didn’t understand, then all that was left was to ask him about it herself.
I doubt he’ll answer me, but…..
If an Imperial Princess he’d never met before suddenly appeared before him, asking him if he was someone’s slave, he’d probably just think, who the hell is this?
Thinking about that, Olivia frowned, her vision turning hazy.
He’d likely just think she was crazy, but this was a congress they were meeting at. Fortunately, he probably wouldn’t show his vicious and cruel side here….right?
Olivia swallowed hard.
[Olivia] “Strong liquor……..No, bring me a glass of lukewarm water.”
She thought she might need a little bit of liquid courage to stand before Cryer like this, but trying to navigate a conversation with him without being fully sober would be tantamount to suicide.
After she emptied the glass that was brought to her, she thought over how she would handle meeting Cryer.
[—] “It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
But Olivia’s thoughts were interrupted by the people who were gathered around her like thick clouds—as if they were owed her time.
[—] “Your Highness, I….“
[—] “Your Highness, it’s been so long since we’ve met….”
[—] “You will be presiding over this congress…….?”
Olivia somehow managed to pull her attention back, pretending to listen to the best of her ability. The voices were clamoring like drooling dogs trying to get her glance.
She wanted to shoo all of them away, biting at them like an animal herself, but their cooperation was essential for world peace, so she couldn’t do that. Besides, the moment he appeared, this behavior would immediately cease anyway.
All she had to do was keep waiting.
And the time left to wait passed like it was only a single second.
Olivia’s eyes widened like they were about to tear open.
It’s him.
Appearing without a sign or a sound, there he was.
Before Olivia’s eyes was Cryer himself.
[Olivia] “Cry……er.”
Olivia consciously took a deep breath, knowing she wouldn’t be able to breath properly again if she didn’t. By the time she managed to blink again, out rang the bell signaling the start of the Continental Congress.
[—] “Let the Congress begin!”
This congress was being held months before the original date, and the agenda of which was delivered so quickly that the leaders and heads didn’t even get a proper chance to prepare anything.
But nonetheless, this was a place where people of power gathered. Even if time was running out, they moved swiftly and fiercely, for their own benefits if no one else’s.
[—] “The agenda for this meeting is……”
The moderator paused for a moment, looking around as he took a deep breath and nodded.
[—] “World peace!”
The Imperial Princess, Olivia was the one presiding over this meeting. After hearing the words of the moderator, she looked out over the crowd, speaking clearly and concisely.
[Olivia] “Thank you all for attending and making this congress possible. I trust this will be a constructive and meaningful meeting for the sake of world peace.”
Everyone turned their heads away, trying not to meet Olivia’s eyes for fear of revealing their doubts.
But Olivia wasn’t looking at them, nor was she looking into the air or at the tapestry affixed to the wall in the distance.
Her gaze was meant for one person alone.
A man with hair like a beaming moon and eyes like the deepest depths of the red earth.
A knight who served the king of a small country whose name was currently unknown to many.