Sig the Rebel, simply put, was a tale of good triumphing over evil. The novel was set in the despotic kingdom of Amagis, and just as that adjective suggested, the country was rotten to the core.
Eight years ago, Crown Prince Eberhart had assassinated his father, the king; that was when the kingdom’s long nightmare had begun. Eberhart had taken the throne before the truth behind his father’s death could come to light. Driven by his twisted egotism and his sense of absolute superiority, he’d declared that he would be the kingdom’s only royal. All of his direct family—his mother, his grandparents, his siblings—had been put to death one after another. Next, he’d elevated the standings of a small set of lords and nobles he personally favored, bringing them together under his banner. Just when it had seemed like the pieces might be about to settle, he’d drastically raised taxes throughout the kingdom.
Obviously, his preposterous policy changes had sparked dissent among nobles and commoners alike. But before those who spoke out against him could begin to take action, they’d been rounded up by the royal army and publicly made examples of. The people, thoroughly accustomed to the old king’s moderate governance, had been left reeling by the sudden shift. While they’d struggled to make sense of it all, Eberhart had advanced his legislative agenda, and in the blink of an eye, he’d brought the kingdom under his authoritarian rule.
As if all that weren’t bad enough, there was yet another terrible evil looming over the kingdom: Duke Heinreid von Rodvelia. He was King Eberhart’s right-hand man, a villainous nobleman who ran rampant as he ground the country under his heel. Heinreid was a terrifying man who took sublime joy in the torment of others; he’d even been an accomplice in the old king’s assassination. People called him “the Demon of Amagis” and “the Venom of the Nation”—and he wore those dreadful titles without a hint of shame as he carried out every inhuman atrocity imaginable.
With those two monsters at the helm and the borders closed off, Amagis was transformed into a hellish dictatorship...
But there was still hope!
Sighart, the hero of the story—Eberhart’s younger brother who’d been forced to flee the kingdom eight years prior—would return and launch a rebellion to liberate the downtrodden populace and save his country. The novel I’d read told the story of that rebellion. Even when the odds were against him and all hope seemed lost, Sig fought on alongside the heroine and the comrades they’d gathered. It was a rip-roaring page-turner filled with action, friendship, and a bit of romance to boot.
When I was a kid, my family had been even poorer than we were now, and I’d only ever read the books in the school library. One day, someone had given me a copy of Sig the Rebel, and I’d read it over and over. The flashy illustrations and dramatic plot twists had enthralled me back then, and I still remembered the story even now.
That’s right—even now, after I’d already died.
“Your Grace?”
As I stood there in a daze, the man who’d rushed into the room—Craig—addressed me once again.
Shit, okay, I’ve gotta say something. What’s going on right now? I started screaming while I was half awake, so he got worried and came running over—something like that, right?
“I-It’s fine. I just had a bad dream. Don’t worry about it.”
“Your Grace...?”
I did my best to shrug it off with a smile and a noncommittal answer, but he wasn’t buying it at all.
C’mon, I didn’t say anything weird! Please, just let it slide! And then go away for a while!
But my hopes were all for naught. Craig didn’t leave. In fact, he knelt down right in front of me. Before I could stop him, he bowed his head and started monologuing.
“It is truly a relief to see you awake, Your Grace. When I received word that you had fallen down the stairs, my blood ran cold with dread. For such a grave mischance to befall you with one of my men at your side is an utter travesty. I cannot possibly apologize enough. The fault is entirely mine for my failure to properly manage my subordinates. Henceforth, I shall exercise still greater diligence in their training to ensure that such an accident is never repeated. I shall take pains to defend you from any and all misfortune, Your Grace, and so I humbly beseech you for your mercy—”
“W-Wait, hang on! Calm down a second!”
I cut him off before he could keep on going. Honestly, I was the one who really wanted to calm down right now. I still didn’t quite have a handle on what was happening.
Wait, did he say I fell down the stairs? Not off a cliff?
I was confused. Until I had a clearer picture, I didn’t want to make any decisions or say anything that might cause trouble. All I’d done was hit the brakes on his interminable apology, but...
“My deepest apologies for speaking out of turn, Your Grace. I shall accept whatever punishment you deem fitting.”
I stared down at him.
Dude, you’ve got “Is this it for me?” written all over your face. You’re acting like I’m gonna do something horrible! Wait, no. “His Grace” has done all sorts of horrible things, haven’t I?
Craig Bauer was Heinreid’s sword—the knight who served as captain of his guards. Eight years ago, he’d given in to evil...on the surface. Underneath, he was a former royal knight who still remained loyal to Sig, his original master. For now, he was bending the knee to a man he despised, enduring the humiliation and biding his time as he waited for a chance to stab the villains in their backs. Even right this minute, it must’ve been excruciating for him to keep his head bowed.