A thousand years ago... There were recollections from long before I became the Thief of Wood’s Essence. Our Sovereign Queen Lorde sparked a revolution and brilliantly repelled the invasion from the South. Furthermore, her skill in peacefully guiding the Northern nations, which had been on the brink of collapse, was recognized, and she became a queen acknowledged by other countries as truly worthy. From that point, to build up the nation’s strength, a struggle centered on politics rather than war had begun. However, there was one problem that arose.
It was my own appointment—Ide’s appointment as chancellor. Everyone unanimously declared that installing a young upstart, whose name nobody even knew, as chancellor was insane. The Sovereign Queen Lorde stated she had chosen me as chancellor based on merit, but few believed her. After all, I myself was far too weak. I was worlds away when compared to the Sovereign Queen Lorde.
Precisely because I understood this better than anyone, I resolved to accept the criticism around me and work tirelessly, even sacrificing sleep. To be a chancellor worthy of reliance, I strove to do everything within my limited abilities.
At one point, I even tried to train my body. Though my position meant I never saw the battlefield, the prevailing attitude back then was that without a minimum level of strength, people would look down on you. But laughably, even after spending about a year on that effort...
“It seems swords still aren’t your forte, Master Ide.”
That single sentence ended it all.
“I can still do it, General Vohlz!” In the lush courtyard of Viaysia Castle, I shouted back while kneeling on the ground. I had gone through this training specifically to get time with the seasoned general, but in the end, he shook his head.
“No, Master Ide; you’re far too clumsy. Holding a blade is actually dangerous for you. If you still wish to master martial arts, then bare-handed combat is your only option. But using your fists on the battlefield is simply... If possible, I suggest you learn another way to fight.”
I understood immediately that he was implicitly telling me to give up. He was telling me to stop pursuing things beyond my reach and to focus only on people and books.
“I’m sorry, General Vohlz. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule for me.”
“Even if martial arts are impossible, if there’s anything else I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask. I owe you two siblings a debt I can never repay.”
Reynand Vohlz’s words didn’t reach my ears. Blood dripped from my clenched fists as I walked back into the castle. I’d known it already. Fighting wasn’t for me. The only way I could contribute to the country was through knowledge. I needed to use my head, find my own strengths.
“But that alone won’t be enough...”
Given my origins in a remote village, the education I’d received was vastly inferior to that of others working in this castle. The nobles of the capital had manners and etiquette drilled into them from childhood and had studied specialized subjects under renowned scholars. Catching up to them wouldn’t be easy. And even if I did catch up, the incredible gap in family background could never be bridged. The connections they’d likely built since childhood? I couldn’t surpass those even if I spent my whole life trying. Being on the same level just wasn’t enough.
I needed so much more power. Power that silenced everything—birth, knowledge, connections, everything. Overwhelming power like my sister’s!
“I’m her brother, so why do I lack the talent she has?” I bowed my head, wishing I had at least one-tenth of her talent. “No, there’s no point in demanding what I don’t have. For now, it seems I can only do what I’m capable of.”
I shook my head and lifted my face.
And so Ide, the founding chancellor, never faltered. I kept looking forward and working hard. Though inexperienced, I worked cautiously, pushing forward with all my might to avoid mistakes as I carried out the duties of my position. I never gave in to despair, always taking the best course of action available. I knew that if I showed even the slightest weakness, those plotting my downfall would swarm me, trying to drag me from the seat of chancellor.
If I ceased to be chancellor, I could no longer stand beside the Sovereign Queen Lorde. That would mean reverting to an existence as a nameless sorcerer.
Trembling in fear of that dreadful future, year after year, Chancellor Ide was consumed by state affairs. From the season of pink blossoms to the season of yellow blossoms. From the season of red blossoms to the season of white blossoms. The unstable seasons unique to the North repeated over and over again.
Perhaps aided by the favor of the Sovereign Queen Lorde, I somehow managed to cling to my position. My body gradually grew larger, surpassing the Sovereign Queen Lorde’s in height. My eyes had sunk deep into their sockets, my features becoming utterly hideous. It was surely because I had maintained my power as chancellor through nothing but underhanded schemes. I had become a figure far removed from the noble chancellor I had once envisioned.
Even so, I continued striving to be a chancellor worthy of standing beside my Sovereign Queen Lorde. However, what awaited at the end of that mediocre effort was a harsh reality. Around the time the Sovereign Queen Lorde had pacified the Northern Continent and many nations began to stabilize, she began particularly focusing her efforts on education.
“We cannot rely on the same generals forever,” she said. “Education is essential to cultivate worthy successors.”
I found this entirely reasonable. At the same time, I knew she was speaking of me. If this policy continued to succeed and time passed, a more suitable chancellor would surely emerge. Unlike the Sovereign Queen Lorde, who had become a near-immortal being by becoming an Essence Thief, I would age. Eventually, I would have to hand over the position. I would relinquish the seat of chancellor to someone else and watch it happen as I grew old.
That future was too terrifying, too tragic. Perhaps because I had worked recklessly until then, I hadn’t even noticed such an obvious truth. It was only when the topic of educational policy arose that I finally realized it.
How long could I remain chancellor? How long could I stand beside the Sovereign Queen Lorde? This turmoil began to affect my work. Fearing I would become a burden to the nation if things continued, I consulted the person I trusted most.
“There is no need for such worry, Ide.” Having carved out one-on-one time, we were alone in the Sovereign Queen Lorde’s private chambers when she told me clearly that it was an unfounded worry. At that moment, I felt liberated from years of anxiety. If the Sovereign Queen herself said so, it must be true—I was utterly devoted to that belief.
But the words that followed from her mouth were not what I had hoped for.
“I shall guarantee your livelihood. You may do as you please. You need not worry about us in the slightest.”
I felt that what I wanted to convey hadn’t been understood, that something had become distorted and twisted. I had intended to voice my anxiety about whether I could truly serve as chancellor in the future. And the Sovereign Queen Lorde had said there was no need to worry, so I’d assumed she had some brilliant plan for me to continue as chancellor indefinitely. But now, it felt as though...
“Well, then. How about spending the rest of your time running an orphanage or something?”
“Huh?” My breath caught.
With a very pleasant smile, as if it were a brilliant idea, she proposed a different job for me. It felt like I was being told I was unnecessary to our country, and I suddenly couldn’t breathe. My lungs, my throat, my face all froze, unable to move.
“Hmm, yes, it’s a fine idea, I must say. If you cannot keep up with the duties of this kingdom, how about becoming the director of an orphanage? You would surely make an excellent one. Prepare and await me there, creating a wonderful place of belonging like the orphanage we ourselves lived in. There, we shall spend our final days...”
Perhaps from the lack of breath, my chest grew tight. At the same time, my consciousness blurred, and the world I saw receded. Naturally, the words of the Sovereign Queen Lorde also faded away. I couldn’t understand what she was saying. No, I didn’t want to understand.