“The chill of the central regions is really nothing at all.”

Watching his adjutant joke from atop his horse, the Border Duke gave a wry smile. Behind her, at the very front of the formation, followed hundreds of elite soldiers from the Uninhabited Zone. While not heavily comprised of knights, the unit's combat experience in the harsh wastelands made three of them a match for any single knight.

“Still, it’s fascinating to see snow fall.”

The Border Duke murmured as she gazed up at the sky. A relentless stream of fine snowflakes descended. Compared to the constant sameness of the Uninhabited Zone, where neither rain nor snow ever fell, the dynamic and shifting weather of this region seemed almost surreal.

How long had it been since she’d left the Uninhabited Zone?

It had been years since she last set foot in the royal capital. She had been consumed by the ceaseless defense against monsters, patrolling the outskirts of the wasteland, and responding to their every movement. But ever since the Behemoth had been slain, the number of monsters reaching the fortress walls had dramatically declined. A seedling of hope, a word ill-suited for that barren wasteland, had begun to sprout in the hearts of her soldiers.

‘…Until we lost our knights there.’

The Border Duke’s expression hardened. Back then, she had agonized over her decision to support the First Prince. While she truly despised Leon Benning’s atrocities and the havoc his forces had wrought in Myra, she now regretted her choice. If she had known she would lose her comrades so meaninglessly, perhaps it would have been better to remain neutral.

“Do you think Sir Maxim and the Raven Knights are faring well?”

The voice of her adjutant snapped the Border Duke out of her thoughts. At the mention of those opposing Leon Benning, her resolve wavered again. Maxim Apart and Theodora Benning were benefactors of the Uninhabited Zone. While it wasn’t certain whether Theodora had turned against her father, the news that Maxim had joined the First Prince’s cause to fight Leon compelled even the Border Duke to act.

“The Uninhabited Zone does not forget its debts.”

The Border Duke murmured, and her adjutant nodded in agreement. Normally stoic, the adjutant had shown a rare excitement when he heard they were heading to the royal capital.

“We can’t simply turn a blind eye to the man who felled the Behemoth and lifted the heaviest burden from our shoulders, even if our comrades who protected the Zone fell in some far-flung place.”

The Border Duke hated losing any more comrades, but her knights had pressured her to act even as she hesitated. She understood their determination. Resolving not to waver further, she decided to ride the wave of her comrades’ anger.

“Because they fell, we must advance for revenge, Border Duke.”

The adjutant’s voice was resolute.

“Helping the benefactor of the Uninhabited Zone and spilling the blood of our enemies upon the graves of our knights is the greatest tribute we can offer to our fallen comrades.”

The Border Duke composed her expression. Turning back, she saw the knights and soldiers listening to the adjutant’s words with fiery determination in their eyes. Their zeal seemed hot enough to melt even the midwinter snow. Satisfied, the adjutant nodded and looked forward again.

“…Even so, it’s a little concerning.”

The Border Duke and the adjutant turned toward a knight who had maneuvered his horse between them.

“You mean the lack of any messages from the capital?”

The knight nodded. Communication between the First Prince and the Border Duke had been carried out via messenger pigeons or ravens. Yet, despite their growing proximity to the capital, the ravens sent by the Border Duke had failed to return.

“The last message we sent was to inform him of our imminent arrival, so it’s not entirely strange that His Highness hasn’t replied. Still, it’s worth being cautious.”

The adjutant spoke in the Border Duke’s stead.

“There could be countless reasons—His Highness may be in a situation where he cannot respond, there may have been an issue with the raven, or worse, Leon Benning may have already succeeded in seizing the capital.”

The adjutant’s mutterings brought a heavy silence over the group. Whatever the case, it was far too late to pull back and return to the Uninhabited Zone now.

“It doesn’t matter. If His Highness is in danger, we’ll rescue him. If Leon Benning has indeed taken the capital, we’ll simply fight with all our might. Since when have we ever hesitated before engaging the enemy?”

The Border Duke deliberately infused strength into her voice. The adjutant and the questioning knight, struck by her words, flushed with embarrassment and fell silent. It was true—combat in the Uninhabited Zone had been so relentless that growing complacent now felt almost shameful. Gripping his reins tightly, the adjutant recalled the days when he had fought monstrous creatures daily.

“Exactly. Regardless of what happens, our duty is the same: to fight and kill the enemy.”

As the adjutant finished speaking, the troops from the Uninhabited Zone reached the edge of a dense forest near the capital. The Border Duke pulled her horse to a stop at the entrance to the woods.

“The Black Forest is as ominous as ever.”

The adjutant murmured. The Border Duke silently agreed. Towering coniferous trees cast thick shadows, even though it was midday. The sprawling sea of trees exuded a still, ominous darkness, as if lying in wait. The forest grew dimmer with each step, the trees’ shadows intertwining.

“We arrived faster than I expected. It’s a relief the road was clear.”

The Border Duke listened carefully. The subdued murmur of the forest was almost melodic, but it carried an eerie undertone. Knowing well that silence in the forest often heralded danger, she decided they could proceed. Looking back, she saw no signs of exhaustion among the soldiers and knights. Even their mounts seemed unafraid.

“Advance. Once we clear the forest, the capital will be within reach. Stay strong.”

She hadn’t needed to add words of encouragement. Spurred by the adjutant’s earlier remarks and their proximity to the capital, her troops were already burning with anticipation and determination.

“We may even find clues about how our knights fell during their final battle with the enemy.”

The Border Duke nodded at the adjutant’s whispered comment. This was the place where their knights had perished. They couldn’t simply pass by as if it were just another waypoint on their march.

“Forward.”

With her declaration, the Border Duke urged her horse into the shadowy entrance of the Black Forest. The forest seemed to swallow them whole, like a serpent devouring its prey.

“It feels different from how it appeared from the outside.”

The Border Duke remarked, glancing around her surroundings.

“A whole other world.”

The Border Duke’s observation was met with agreement from her adjutant, whose sharp eyes scanned their surroundings. The drastic change in environment had put everyone on edge. The fiery determination that had burned so hot it seemed capable of melting the winter’s chill had now sharpened into a heightened tension, a readiness to act.

“Fighting in open fields like we always have in the Uninhabited Zone… If we end up having to battle in this forest, it won’t be easy to adapt,” the adjutant commented.

The Border Duke shrugged. “You’re not saying you’re losing your nerve, are you, adjutant?”

At her challenge, the adjutant let out a hearty laugh. He scratched his rough, stubbly chin, transforming his grin into a fierce smile brimming with combat readiness.

“Of course not. I wasn’t talking about myself. I was just wondering if the ones trailing behind us will be able to fight properly if it comes down to it.”

“If you’re starting to worry about such things, it might be time to consider retirement, adjutant. And, of course, I’d happily take your position,” chimed in a younger soldier.

The adjutant frowned and smacked the back of the cheeky subordinate’s head. “There are plenty of people to take over my position, but if I do retire, it definitely won’t be you.”

Laughter broke out among the ranks. The oppressive tension, which had made it feel like they might need to draw their swords at any moment, eased slightly. While it was dangerous to let their guard down completely, excessive tension could stiffen both body and mind, making it harder to respond flexibly in battle. The veterans of the Uninhabited Zone knew this all too well, and so they purposefully exchanged banter to dispel some of their nervous energy.

‘…The atmosphere is certainly different.’

While avoiding combat was always the ideal outcome, in their current situation, it wasn’t entirely up to them. As the Border Duke gazed into the deepening forest, she silently hoped the worst-case scenario wouldn’t come to pass.

How many hours had they pressed forward like this? With most of the sunlight blocked out by the dense canopy, the only sign of time passing was the lengthening shadows. Occasionally, they stopped briefly to rest their weary horses, but the forest stretched on endlessly, showing no signs of thinning.

Crunch. The sound of a horse’s hoof snapping a twig drew the Border Duke’s attention. She suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu and scanned her surroundings. The occasional chirping of birds, which had been present earlier, was now conspicuously absent. In its place was the sound of snorting horses and the soft crunch of hooves pressing into the snow.

‘This isn’t a good sign.’

Although there was no defined path, the Border Duke and her soldiers seemed to be moving as if guided toward some destination. She wasn’t the only one who sensed it. Her adjutant and several skilled knights furrowed their brows, visibly uneasy.

“This doesn’t feel right, my lady. We might need to prepare for battle,” the adjutant warned.

The Border Duke nodded, her gloved hand brushing the pommel of her sword, which she hadn’t drawn since their march began. She turned to address her troops. “For now, keep moving. Stay sharp, everyone.”

“Yes, ma’am!” came the unusually vigorous reply, but the Border Duke couldn’t muster a smile. She merely nodded firmly and turned back to the path ahead.

“…! My lady!” The adjutant’s sharp voice cut through the stillness. The Border Duke froze, her eyes widening at the sight before her.

“This is…”

It was a battlefield—a scene of ferocious combat. The Border Duke halted the march and stood up in her saddle to survey the area. Snow-covered trees had been felled unnaturally, and the open clearing that now stretched before them bore all the scars of an intense fight.

“This is the place.”

The Border Duke instinctively knew it. This was where the Uninhabited Zone’s knights had fallen. Their blood had been buried beneath the snow, but the obliterated landscape spoke volumes about the battle that had occurred. As she closely examined the signs of combat, only one conclusion became clear.

“…How could this have happened?”

It was evident that while the fight had been fierce, it hadn’t lasted long. The patterns of destruction and the clean cuts on the fallen trees indicated a one-sided slaughter as the battle dragged on. Beside her, the adjutant, his face shadowed by grim understanding, spoke up.

“It doesn’t seem like they fought multiple enemies. Judging by the damage and the uniformity of the sword marks on the trees, it looks like they faced just one opponent….”

The Border Duke’s expression twisted with anger. “How many knights did we send here?”

“Seven.”

A cold wind swept through the clearing. The Border Duke closed her eyes briefly, remembering each of the seven knights who had died here. She recalled their names, their faces—every detail etched deeply in her memory.

“…I’ll ensure your vengeance myself.”

She murmured the vow as the sound of numerous presences reached her from the other side of the forest. The knights behind her began to brim with determination, their readiness evident. A low, mournful howl accompanied the wind that now swirled through the trees.

“They’re crying out.”

The Border Duke looked up at the sky. The tree canopy had been blown open, revealing the ashen clouds above. Snow, which had been falling gently, was now coming down in a fierce blizzard.

“In my ears, the wind sounds like the cries of our fallen comrades.”

She turned to face her troops. “Tell me, what do you hear?”

A knight, his voice choked with fury, shouted, “I hear the lament of knights whose lives were stolen!”

One after another, voices rose like a floodgate breaking.

“I hear the cries of comrades asking us to finish what they could not!” “I hear pleas for vengeance against their murderers!” “I hear the voices of those who demand we uphold justice!” “I hear their call to show the world who the knights of the Uninhabited Zone truly are!”

The Border Duke nodded. The knights’ determination had risen like molten steel in a furnace, their resolve piercing the very heavens. Even the warhorses, emboldened by their riders’ spirit, stomped and snorted fiercely.

“Then we must grant their final wishes.”

The Border Duke turned back toward the forest. Through the trees, she could see shields bearing Leon Benning’s crest alongside the royal insignia. She exhaled a long, thin breath, visible in the frigid air, then drew in deeply before shouting with a voice that shook the dark woods.

“All units! Prepare for battle!”

There was no rallying cry. Veterans of countless battles needed no words to stir their morale. Instead, the metallic clatter of weapons being unsheathed rang out in perfect unison.

Clang!

The Border Duke drew her blade last. Her aura shimmered along the edge of her sword, mingling with the swirling snowstorm.

“Today, we avenge our fallen comrades!”

On the opposing side, Leon Benning’s knights silently unsheathed their swords. Their eyes, devoid of emotion or reason, met the blazing determination of the Border Duke’s knights.

“Charge.”

The command was spoken softly by one of Benning’s knights.

“Advance!” the Border Duke roared, her voice ringing with fiery resolve.

And so, the battle that would determine the fate of the kingdom began.