You open your eyes in a secluded forest.

 

“…Have I successfully teleported to another dimension?”

 

You couldn’t be sure. This place is simply a forest, and you could not discern any significant differences from the world you lived in. Perhaps it was just a long-distance teleport due to a magic mishap.

 

Regardless of whether the magic succeeded or failed.

 

The fact that you are standing in the midst of a forest remains unchanged.

 

It seems you have realized something. Was there something special around you?

 

“This tree species grows only near the capital of the empire. They were procured by the command of the alchemists in commemoration of the 5th Emperor’s birthday.”

 

Yes, according to your knowledge──

 

This forest is not far from the imperial capital.

 

It’s a lucky misfortune. Had you landed in a remote jungle, immediate survival would have been a concern.

 

But even a small forest can be vast enough to get lost in. You look around and see no milestones or paths trodden by humans, only the occasional chirping of birds.

 

Then, you hear a noise you’ve never heard before.

 

Bwoooooooom──!

 

“….”

 

You crouch low and scrutinize the source of the noise.

 

The sky. This vibrating sound is echoing from the sky.

 

An oddly shaped, oval ‘something’ is crossing the sky, making a noise as it goes.

 

That ‘something’ was more reminiscent of a building than a living organism. With ticking gears and forcefully hissing steam, it carried many passengers and flew towards the setting sun.

 

“…Are people riding it?”

 

A flying structure.

 

Ancient civilizations are said to have had such artifacts, but this design seemed too modern to be considered ancient, even including the currently fashionable balustrade designs in the empire.

 

You will later learn that this is the essence of magic engineering called an airship.

 

“It’s better to follow that… flying golem than to wander aimlessly in the forest. It will likely increase the chances of meeting people.”

 

You set off through the forest, following the airship. The speed of the airship wasn’t so fast, and its loud noise allowed you to follow more easily.

 

Had it been about an hour on the move? The towering city walls came into view.

 

These were the walls of Crownhall, the capital of the empire. Yet, the image before you vastly differed from memory.

 

Cracks marred surfaces here and there; one section of the wall had even crumbled. The signs of attempted repair were evident. Damage to Crownhall’s walls, once deemed impregnable, was surprising enough.

 

But the real shock was something else entirely. The flags.

 

The flag flying atop the central turret was not the imperial crest. It bore a symbol I had never seen before.

 

As you know, the emblem of the imperial family has remained unchanged since the founding of the empire.

 

“………”

 

You can’t shake the feeling that something is amiss.

 

At the city gate, a long line had formed of those wishing to enter, while the guards were busily conducting inspections. The style of the guards’ armor also felt foreign to you. Something was decidedly different about the empire you remembered.

 

Yet, there was no returning to a life as a wild dweller in the forests.

 

Being one to face threats head-on rather than withdraw, you proceeded in kind this time as well.

 

Blending in carefully, you joined the queue unnoticed. Then, you felt multiple gazes pour upon you.

 

Most particularly, your hair drew stares.

 

Once your proud golden locks, signifying royal blood, caught their attention, contempt, ridicule, and anger were openly shown in their eyes. It seemed as though insults were hanging on their lips.

 

It was perhaps your formidable aura that restrained them from being outright disrespectful.

 

Feeling the contemptuous stares was boiling your blood—a novel experience.

 

Born to nobility, you had lived a life replete with respect; to be scorned was unthinkable.

 

You surveyed your surroundings to ascertain the cause.

 

People with your shade of blonde hair were being used as slaves—an utterly bizarre sight. Whether light or dark blond, the hue was proof of mingling with imperial blood—for the blond-haired were mostly of the empire’s nobility.

 

Why then were those of such noble blood being made slaves?

 

The mystery unraveled during your exchange with a guard.

 

“Halt. State your identity. Where is your master?”

 

“I am not a slave.”

 

The guard snorted loud enough for all to hear.

 

“Not a slave, huh? What then, a mere plaything? To see a whelp strutting around so haughtily with that filthy blond hair of his.”

 

“Conduct yourself with decorum. My patience has its limits…”

 

“The nerve of this slave brat… Are you mistaking your masters’ authority for your own? No matter how high and mighty they might be, you are merely a fortunate slave, understand?”

 

From Noble mtl dot com

 

Chuckle. Chuckle.

 

As the gauntleted hand pressed against your forehead, you could no longer hold back.

 

“Show respect, guardsman! I am the empire’s second prince, Irid Crown!”

 

Silence.

 

A chilling silence pervades.

 

You… you mistook the quietness for capitulating to your own status, but that was not the case.

 

It was the calm before the storm, signaling an unimaginable insult.

 

Crash!

 

A star sparks out. You’ve been slapped and knocked down.

 

Your mind froze at such terrible humiliation, and as you began to summon your magical power to sever the guard’s neck…

 

You heard something unbelievable.

 

“Even if I overlook it, how can an idiot justify it? Have you lost your mind?”

 

“What…?”

 

“There are some who live in delusions. Listen well, you slave. The reason your glorious Empire fell, turned your imperial people into crawling slaves—it’s this Disgraced Emperor Irid!”

 

An Imperial, a slave, collapsed, and a Disgraced Emperor.

 

A spark flew inside your mind.

 

The reason why those with mixed royal blonde bloodline were turned into slaves.

 

The crumbling Empire’s fortification wall and the dismantled royal flag.

 

And the epitome of technology you’ve never seen—unfair practices.

 

This place was the future.

 

Yourself, who ascended to be the Emperor, brought down the Empire.

 

You… you were dazed, dumbfounded. Even as the guards swarmed in and beat you with their clubs, the echo inside your head wasn’t pain, but countless ‘whys.’

 

‘Why,’ did the Empire that was formerly mighty fall.

 

‘Why,’ was the downfall of the Empire blamed on me?

 

‘Why,’ is the name that makes one want to bite their tongue – the Disgraced Emperor – attached in front of my own name?

 

Why, why, why…

 

Battered and worn, you entered Crownhall, the former capital of the Empire.

 

Staggering, you look at the future Crownhall filled with timepieces and steam.

 

The city folks were walking around the streets with smiles, but the mixed blonde slaves were pitiful dwarfs.

 

Civilization progressed, the roads were clean, the brightness was enhanced by streetlights.

 

Yet, the occurrences hidden in the shadows were dark.

 

The sole consolation for shocked you was a glow of a wristwatch-shaped purple tattoo on your wrist. As the wizard had predicted… when the time comes, you should be able to return to your original world.

 

For the past three days, it had been the most dreadful time for the second prince, Irid, who was born of noble blood.

 

In the future Crown Hall, his status was at the very bottom. Everyone saw him not as a noble but as a slave, always subjected to humiliation and abuse.

 

Therefore, when he went out, he had to wrap his golden hair with a rough cloth. Without even a penny to purchase a simple handkerchief, he used rotten rags he found on the roadside.

 

He couldn’t find work either. Even when he showcased his proficiency in reading and writing, the merchants offered him next to nothing.

 

But these meaningless three days were not without merit. Irid had surreptitiously gathered various pieces of information.

 

The ‘Kingdom Union’, formed by the alliance of three kingdoms, had devastated and occupied the empire.

 

The captured imperial and noble families were all enslaved, and their children also became slaves.

 

The ‘present’ time was 100 years after Irid’s era.

 

Kingdom Union’s popularity was waning due to tyrannical rule. Among the lower classes, many missed the empire, and the remaining factions of the empire were resisting actively.

 

And then…

 

“… “

 

Irid rolled up his sleeve up to the elbow. A purple clock-shaped tattoo was faintly glowing.

 

The clock had an arc from 0 to 3, and it was slowly decreasing.

 

Irid recalled the wizard’s words. Just three days ago, but it felt like a distant past.

 

“In the real-world time, I’ll call your highness back in three hours. I’ll leave a mark on your wrist so that you can know the return time. And, I must remind you, this is fiction… “

 

Three hours later in real-world time.

 

In the future and the present, the flow of time was different. The tattooed clock’s needle had just reached 2.

 

This converted to six days. If he could endure six more days in this dreadful future, he could return.

 

“Dammit, sh*t.”

 

Irid, leaning against the alley wall, crumpled down and wrapped his hands around his face.

 

Hunger pangs, physical pain – none of them compared to the pain in his heart.

 

The fact that he, himself, had destroyed the empire bothered him significantly. The fact that the people who had followed and served the empire were now living as slaves.

 

If he wanted to vie for the emperor’s seat, he would need to gather valuable information from the Crown Hall of the future. Starting from the country’s future trends to changes in climate. If by any chance, he could obtain blueprints of any secret design, that would be ever better.

 

If he could bring back the technological advances of 100 years in the future, even if his sisters and brothers opposed, he would definitely secure the emperor’s seat. But what was the point?

 

If he became emperor, the empire would be devastated.

 

He’d rather live like a dead rodent. If he returned, he would live quietly, not longing for the position of the emperor.

 

And then…

 

Splash!

 

“Gah!”

 

A bucket of water poured down on top of Irid’s head. When he looked up, a girl leaning out from a third-floor window, her bright blue eyes round with surprise, was in view.

 

“Sorry! I didn’t realize someone was here…”

 

“…”

 

“Just a moment!”

 

Eirid quickly pushed down the sackcloth to cover her face and stood up. By now, she wasn’t even bothered by the drenching anymore. Her intention was to escape this tedious situation and head straight out of the alleyway.

 

But then.

 

“Gasp!”

 

Whoosh-!

 

A girl was sliding down the wall, grasping a pipe with one hand!

 

The girl’s skirt and black hair fluttered due to the air resistance.

 

“…?!”

 

In an instant, the girl landed in the alleyway and steadied herself. She shook her skirt to straighten it and took a moment to size up Eirid. Her movements were sprightly and full of bounce.

 

“Wow, you’re completely soaked. Let’s dry your clothes for a bit. I’ll serve you a bowl of stew too!”

 

“No, I’m fine…”

 

“It’s cold out, and you’ll catch a cold if you stay wet. Come on!”

 

The girl took Eirid’s hand and pulled her along.

 

Eirid certainly could have resisted. But the reason she couldn’t ultimately release the girl’s firm grip was likely due to the ‘kindness’ she felt for the first time in three days, which numbed her senses.