Editor : Amethyst00



Chen Xia, who entered the room, immediately placed a small crystal orb on the desk.

Lumene was surrounded by a magical barrier that made magical communication impossible unless authorized.

However, what Chen Xia held was one of the treasures passed down through the royal family of Xian for generations.

It was an item created by a former emperor, one of her ancestors, which was immune to interference magic altogether.

Chen Xia lightly pricked the tip of her index finger with a needle and dabbed the tiny drop of blood that formed onto the crystal orb.

Soon, the orb began to react.

Wooooom—!

Moments later, a middle-aged man with a strong build appeared beyond the crystal orb.

["Oh, Xia! It's the first time you've contacted your father like this!"]

"Father, what is this newspaper article about?"

Holding up the newspaper to the orb, Chen Xia questioned him. Xyau looked saddened by her approach.

["Xia, how sad. You contact your father for the first time in ages and jump straight into business without even saying hello."]

"How long has it been since the vacation ended?"

["Aren't you being too sharp? Is your puberty arriving late?"]

"Didn't you say my puberty started when I enrolled in Lumene?"

Chen Xia squinted her eyes.

In response, Xyau turned to the nearby courtiers to vent.

["Hey, my daughter—my daughter who once adored her father—has become a rebellious delinquent! What should I do!"]

["Your Majesty."]

["Oh? Do you have a good idea?"]

["Please maintain your dignity."]

["…"]

Xyau's face scrunched up at the retort.

["Agh! How insolent! Are you behaving this way just because I'm about to abdicate the throne?"]

["Yes."]

["…"]

["It's time to align with the right people."]

Xyau rubbed his temples at the curt response. Some courtiers nearby stifled laughter.

When Xyau glared sharply at them, they fell silent as if nothing had happened.

Chen Xia let out a deep sigh as she watched the scene.

"I wonder how other countries would react if they saw this…"

The Xian Empire.

A nation known as the Land of Shadows, infamous for erasing countless countries from the map throughout history.

Its objective: the eradication of traitors.

Though often viewed as autocratic, their brand of justice—executed in the shadows—had never been proven wrong.

This was why, despite countless diplomatic conflicts, Xian remained a powerful empire.

It was also famously a land where no heroes were born.

As their goal was to produce heroes from the shadows, the discovery of the Book of Shadows had sparked internal transformation.

However, to the outside world, Xian remained a symbol of fear, and the royal family continued to shroud themselves in secrecy.

The masses still feared the shadows.

"I want to show this to everyone."

["We can't go around showing such pathetic sights."]

Xyau crossed his arms.

The King of Shadows.

The most terrifying of shadows—yet Chen Xia shook her head at him.

Though ruthless and fearsome in the dark, her father was a doting fool in front of her.

Of course, he wasn't a father who granted her every wish.

"So, what is this really about?"

When Chen Xia furrowed her brows and looked at the article again, Xyau lounged on the throne.

["It's exactly as it says. I plan to pass the throne to you. You will become the Empress of Xian during the winter break."]

"Why so sudden?"

["It's not sudden."]

Xyau chuckled faintly.

["You became a hero."]

He was right.

Chen Xia had risen as a hero while remaining in the shadows.

Through the Book of Shadows, it became clear that even shadows could be inscribed in the Hero Record.

Still, earning a place in the original Hero Record was something extraordinary.

["Xia, you've achieved what no emperor of Xian has ever accomplished."]

["…"]

["A shadow can be a hero too. No—"]

Pride glimmered in Xyau's eyes.

["You've proven that shadows and heroes are not so different."]

Xyau closed his eyes.

His chest trembled.

'Because of the King of Beginnings, the shadows were saved.'

Foolish days spent hiding in the dark.

The achievements of heroes and shadows were not so different.

Words spoken by the first shadow, who had been more heroic than anyone.

Just as Leo had done, Chen Xia had now become the first hero in the history of the shadows.

["This is the light."]

A declaration to the world.

That shadows were no longer something to be feared.

Leo had sparked change within the shadows themselves.

Chen Xia had changed how the world viewed shadows.

The bloodline of the most powerful shadow.

A descendant of Xian, who had lived in the world's darkness for millennia, had now entered the Hero Record.

["We, the ministers of this palace and I, are people of a past era."]

None of the courtiers denied Xyau's words.

They had long supported the world from the shadows with conviction and duty.

They understood.

That the times were changing.

["A new wave will soon crash upon us."]

Shadow candidates would no longer hide themselves.

Last year, and this year too—

Shadow candidates entered Lumene.

["New wine must be poured into new wineskins. The Emperor of Xian must also change."]

"Father…"

Chen Xia bit her lip.

The King of Shadows who had borne the darkness of the world all his life.

Chen Xia felt sorrow knowing this.

Even when he blocked her dreams, she had never resented him.

Now, he was preparing to fade into history.

Though he stood proud as always, he looked uncharacteristically lonely.

["Don't make that face, daughter."]

Xyau smiled warmly.

["That's right, Princess. Just because the Emperor abdicates and becomes the Retired Emperor, doesn't mean he's abandoning state affairs."]

"Really? Thank goodness!"

Smiling brightly, Chen Xia warmed Xyau's heart.

["Did you really think I'd vanish helplessly into history?"]

"Yes."

["Hah, I'm not that old."]

"You'll still handle the government even as the Retired Emperor, right?"

["Of course."]

Chen Xia let out a sigh of genuine relief.

Xyau beamed proudly.

'Daughters really are the best.'

How could her heart be so pure, thinking of her father?

"I'm relieved you're not irresponsibly stepping away."

'…Hm?'

Xyau's face twisted oddly at her sincere words.

["Daughter, are you relieved for my sake?"]

"Why would I worry about you when you're so healthy?"

["…"]

"To be honest, I was worried you'd make me run the government."

["…"]

"I'm aiming to become Lumene's vice student council president next year so I can support Leo-doryeong. If I have to run Xian's government, that'd be impossible."

Xian was a vast empire.

The internal affairs the emperor had to oversee were enormous.

Even with competent ministers, the emperor bore ultimate responsibility.

That's why Xyau had planned to keep governing while he was still healthy.

His idea was to have Chen Xia become empress and draw public attention, while he worked behind the scenes.

["Ungrateful girl! Thinking only about some man, not your poor father!"]

Xyau shouted. Chen Xia just squinted her eyes.

"You're the one who told me to take care of Leo-doryeong before break ended."

["Raising a daughter is pointless! All she does is flutter around, bewitched by a man!"]

Despite Xyau's furious ranting, Chen Xia ignored him completely.

Frustrated, Xyau collapsed theatrically onto the throne.

["Oh, this unfilial child! Someone bring that brat here at once! I'll whip her legs myself!"]

But none of the palace servants moved.

["You dare disobey the emperor's orders?!"]

["Your Majesty."]

At that moment, Xyau's aide bowed his head.

["You mustn't treat the princess harshly—she is now the successor to the throne."]

["You traitors…!"]

Xyau clutched the back of his neck.

He cursed himself from the day before for so hastily deciding to abdicate.

There was no taking it back now, especially after publicly announcing it via newspaper.

To reverse it would only invite ridicule.

In the past, he wouldn't have cared about public opinion. But even Xian needed change now.

As he lay clutching his neck on the throne, Chen Xia shook her head.

Eventually, Xyau straightened himself.

["Xia."]

"Yes."

["I'm sorry."]

["…"]

Seeing her father suddenly apologize with a serious face, Chen Xia's expression sobered.

"I understand what it means for me to become empress."

Chen Xia looked down at her hands.

"That Xian will step into the light, not the dark… I know what that means."

As the land of shadows, Xian had protected the world from the darkness.

But in doing so, they created many grudges.

This was why the royal family lived in secrecy.

The Emperor of Xian didn't just stay in the palace.

He traveled the entire world.

Thus, secrecy was essential.

Grudges are dangerous.

Even if born from the elimination of traitors.

There were many across the globe who harbored deep resentment toward the Emperor of Xian.

For Chen Xia to publicly take the throne meant inheriting all of those grudges.

"I was prepared for it."

["…"]

Xyau silently gazed at his daughter, who spoke with confidence.

Then he nodded.

["…You really have become a hero."]

Her image overlapped with countless other heroes Xyau had seen from the shadows.

Proudly, he smiled at his daughter, now a hero of a new age.

["Come to think of it, Xia."]

"Yes?"

["There's another reason I passed the throne to you."]

"What is it?"

["Packaging."]

"Packaging?"

["Yes. Being an empress is pretty good wrapping paper, don't you think? Even the King of Beginnings might treat you a little more seriously."]

"…"

["Stop fluttering around like a fool and do something productive! Productive!"]

"What productive thing?"

["Use your beauty or slip him something if you have to—just seal the deal! I want grandkids! Grandkids!"]

"You think that's something to say to your daughter?"

["Why not? You're an adult now—I can say I want to see my grandchildren!"]

Chen Xia pressed her temples.

"Neither beauty nor drugs would work on him."

["Tsk. No wonder your love life goes nowhere."]

"I'm hanging up."

["Want to hear my secret strategy to seduce Leo Plov?"]

Though she was sure it would be nonsense, Chen Xia decided to hear it anyway.

"What is it?"

["Emphasize how broad-minded you are."]

"That's vulgar."

["Hey, what kind of thoughts are you having? That's not what I meant!"]

"Then what?"

["Your mother, while she was alive, didn't allow me to take any concubines. Of course, I've remained devoted and celibate since."]

"I'm hanging up."

Before he finished, Chen Xia ended the call.

Grabbing her head, she muttered.

"A king and an empress…"

She repeated her title softly and let out a dry laugh.

"Isn't the empress supposed to be the higher one?"

She pouted.

"I wonder what rank that puts me in now."

"What rank of what?"

"Kyah?!"

As the wardrobe opened and Leo stepped into the room, Chen Xia screamed.

Seeing her mouth agape, Leo asked flatly:

"What's wrong? Why are you so surprised? Were you doing something shady?"

"You startled me! Get out! Why are you barging into a lady's room!"

"You told me to come by whenever."

"I don't care! Just leave!"

Chen Xia shoved Leo back into the wardrobe and slammed the door.

A moment later, when she opened it again, he was gone.

Staring at the empty space for a while, Chen Xia crouched down and muttered:

'…Maybe I shouldn't have kicked him out?'