The Author And Her Protagonist

Edgar Baldwin was the only son of the Marquess and Marchioness of Northland. His life as the only young master was naturally very smooth. His parents spoiled him as well. He has everything that most children desire: cool toys, nice clothes, parental love, and a good education.

The king once asked the Baldwin family to temporarily relocate to the capital. Edgar didn’t understand what was going on between the adults at the time, so he rejoiced at the move.

Edgar grew year after year, from a child to a tough and intelligent adolescent. With his intelligence, he gradually realized that there was something wrong with the relationship between his family and the king’s side. The king despised the Baldwin family’s power and intended to suppress it.

However, it appears that the king was not content with simply restricting the Baldwin family’s movement.

Edgar remembered the day the royal knights’ army stormed into the Baldwin Mansion and read the indictment to Marquis Baldwin. Marquis Baldwin was said to be plotting a rebellion. The accusations are grave. The Marquis and his family were soon arrested.

Edgar was also imprisoned. However, he was placed in a regular prison while his parents were transferred to a dungeon. A location Edgar had never imagined.

The adolescent was imprisoned for several days before being released. Edgar walked back to the mansion with shaky steps. He stared blankly at the mansion structure. The building, which was once busy and warm, has now become cold. The maids had all left, and the mansion was deserted.

The Marquess and Marchioness were sentenced to death on the same day Edgar was released. Edgar didn’t care about his tired and stinky body; he ran to the palace to beg his parents.

But who will listen to the words of a teenager? Edgar, despite his strong and intelligent appearance, was nothing. The palace guards kicked him and chased him away while insulting and abusing him. All of this was ignored by Edgar, who continued to struggle to enter the palace and kneel before the king.

When Edgar finally meets the king, his spirits are dampened when the king’s personal servant informs him that the Marquess and Marchioness have been executed in prison. Edgar drooped, his entire body weakly falling to the floor. He who was filthy and dusty sobbed bitterly in front of the king.

The king himself was not a gentle soul. However, the Baldwin adolescent kept getting into mischief. Finally, the king’s heart softened a little. He issued orders that the title of Marquess be passed on to Edgar, and that the previous Marquess’s shady past would not affect Edgar as the new Marquess.

The so-called dirty history is an accusation of rebellion, which is still debatable.

The king ordered Edgar to return to his Mansion, but the adolescent had other demands. He wanted to request the bodies of his parents. This infuriated the king. Edgar was kicked out of the palace.

Edgar was a stubborn individual. Despite the fact that the king had clearly declined his request, he stood tall in front of the palace’s main door. He hoped the king would return his parents’ bodies to him.

Anyone would be disgusted if they saw someone in the palace grounds who was filthy. The princesses who passed by didn’t even look up. Even the maids pretended Edgar was a filthy beggar. Edgar was unconcerned about any of it. Whatever they said would vanish into thin air in Edgar’s ears.

Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a tiny figure holding a water bottle and a bright pink umbrella in her other hand.

Edgar was perplexed. No one wants to treat someone as filthy as himself in this manner, so why would someone give him water and an umbrella?

Edgar shifted his gaze to her. The person who had given him these items turned out to be a skinny little girl. For a brief moment, he was stunned. Why didn’t the king feel sorry for this skinny little girl? Then, all of a sudden, Edgar realized how naive he was. Living by pleading with others for mercy is a bad way to live. Since then, Edgar, 16, has been determined to rise to the top and establish his own power.

The Baldwins had no clout in the capital. The palace has drained the treasures as well. But it was not the same as Northland, which was essentially the Baldwin family’s domain. So Edgar soon returned to Northland.

–

After 9 years.

As a Marquess, Edgar was already on solid ground. At the very least, enough to keep himself and his family safe. He intended to travel to the capital in order to retrieve his parents’ bones.

He also wanted to find the little girl who had given him water at the time. Edgar even sent people to find out about the little girl on occasion. Then he discovered that the girl was turning 18 this year, the ideal age for marriage.

A letter from the palace arrived the day before his departure for the capital, asking him to go help out on the battlefields in the north. Edgar could tell from the letter that the king was becoming wary of him. Nonetheless, Edgar departed. He had someone look after his little girl, the Fifth Princess, before he left.

–

The war, which had lasted months, was won thanks to Edgar’s assistance. Of course, it was due to Edgar’s greatest contribution. The king then authorized him as a substitute general, his power under the great general, in his honor. Edgar said nothing and was perfectly content.

The troops then returned to the capital.

The three major leaders were lavishly rewarded, including Edgar. As a reward for his victory, he specifically requested a marriage and the return of his parents’ bones for Edgar.

The king concurred.

Edgar was in a good mood because he had almost completed his two objectives. He entered the palace gardens, hoping to see his daughter. Either God heard his prayer or, by chance, he met the little girl he had wished for for years.

The little girl had grown into a stunning young lady. Her face didn’t have the kind of beauty that would make people go insane. Rather, it is a pure and sweet breed. Edgar fell in love with her at first sight.

The girl appeared uneasy in his presence. Edgar panicked and took out the water bottle he always carried with him wherever he went just as he was about to turn away. Edgar held up the bottle to the girl as if it were a treasure, hoping the princess would recognize him.

“I apologize for not taking the time to introduce myself. Edgar Baldwin is my name.”

“Oh hi. Greetings, Marquess.”

Those were the first words his little girl had spoken in years.

Even the girl greeted him, which was both polite and pitiful. Edgar clearly knows how this Princess’s life in the palace works. Even though he hangs out with other princesses, his little girl is always the one who succumbs and humbles herself in front of the others.

Edgar was willing to bow before him even if it meant bending as low as the floor to feel the respect of others.

“Please forgive my impudence in failing to greet you. Edgar Baldwin greets the Fifth Princess.”

Claudia, the little girl, was visibly surprised. He was used to being humble and not receiving respect from others, as Edgar had predicted.

“Does the Princess have any spare time? I’d like to speak with you.”

Claudia gave a small smile. “Yes.”

Claudia then followed Edgar to the tranquil pavilion in the middle of the garden. They were having a pleasant conversation.

“Ah, Marquess, please forgive me; I must return immediately because I have something to do. Please accept my apologies.”

“Very well. Thank you for taking the time, Fifth Princess. I wish I could talk to you more often.”

They parted ways after finishing their conversation for the day. Edgar returned to the Baldwin Mansion with a cheerful heart.

For two to three days. When he had errands to run to the palace, he always went to find Claudia for a quick chat. They were now much closer than on the first day. Claudia also became more friendly with Edgar.

“I must return to Northland tomorrow, Princess Claudia, because I have an important task. As a result, I won’t be able to see you for a while.” Edgar remained silent for a moment as he studied Claudia’s expression. “But I promise I will write you a letter,” he added.

Claudia agreed with a nod. “Excellent. I will certainly repay you later.”

The next day, Edgar set out for Northland with his parents’ bones. He intended to bury them in the lands of Northland, their territory.

When Edgar returned from Northland, he asked the king for marriage and requested an immediate edict. The king agreed to the condition that Edgar accompany ambassadors from other kingdoms on their arrival. That didn’t bother Edgar.

Edgar also led several groups of guards to the Zizvania kingdom’s main gate. He received a letter from a bodyguard ordering him to look after Claudia, reporting that the princess was in danger, just as the royal ambassadors were about to arrive.

Edgar was completely taken aback. He jumped on his horse and rode back to the capital without thinking. He rode all day without stopping, eager to get to the palace.

The sky was darkening, and the drops of water falling became heavier and heavier. The bad feeling in his heart grew stronger. Edgar kept galloping on his horse, unconcerned about anything else. There was only Claudia in his mind now. He hoped with all his heart that Claudia would be fine until he arrived by her side.

Fate had always had other plans.

The girl was already lying in the courtyard when he arrived at Claudia’s small house. Seven to ten people wielding swords surrounded her.

Edgar jumped off his horse and charged at them with his sword. It didn’t matter if his slashes were effective or not; as soon as the group dispersed, Edgar picked up the girl from the ground. He was astounded to find Claudia’s body submerged in blood-red rainwater. The girl’s body was not harmed.

Edgar wrapped his arms around the girl’s body, which was starting to feel icy cold.

“Claudia! Claudia!” he says. Edgar called out to her, but she didn’t respond because she wasn’t breathing anymore.

Edgar’s emotions exploded. He fought the group of people who had previously surrounded Claudia with one arm. Edgar was a tough and experienced individual, so he had no trouble defeating the group.

Edgar turned around after killing them all, intending to return Claudia’s body to the Baldwin Mansion.

He noticed a woman standing behind the door of Claudia’s small house. Edgar turned to meet the woman’s gaze.

“Is this all you’re doing, third princess?”

Yvette didn’t respond, which enraged Edgar even more. He was certain that this woman was the root of all evil.

Yvette noticed Edgar, who was going insane. She shivered. Edgar turned to face her, a bloody sword in his hand. Yvette was becoming concerned.

“No! Please don’t get any closer!”

Edgar had no desire to hear what Yvette had to say. He took a step forward, brandishing his sword and aiming it at Yvette’s neck. The special knight protecting the royal family arrived before he slashed. There were so many of them that Edgar was overwhelmed.

Edgar survived that night thanks to Harold’s assistance. However, Edgar’s body was severely damaged. The wound from an arrow that pierced his knee was the worst.

The king charged Edgar the next day with attempting to harm a member of the royal family. Edgar was in a coma at the time. Harold, his personal butler, took care of everything.

Harold eventually succeeded in bringing Edgar back to Northland despite numerous challenges.

Edgar had been in a coma for nearly a month. When he awoke, the first thing he did was look for Claudia. Edgar wanted to get up and walk, but he was in excruciating pain even before his feet touched the floor. Without being told, Edgar reasoned that his legs might be paralyzed.

Edgar requested Harold, his personal servant, to inform him that the princess had died.

It was too much for Edgar. But, because Claudia’s body had already been buried, Edgar couldn’t do anything crazy.

Edgar Baldwin went from a famous handsome man to a depressed half-mummy in an instant.

Edgar was able to walk again the following year. But, according to the doctor, the Marquess’ leg was not completely healed, so he needed to be cautious.

With that, Edgar traveled to the capital with his secret bodyguard in order to exact revenge. He made his way straight to the palace.

The crown prince’s envoy came to see him while he was scouting. He claimed that the crown prince could assist Edgar in exacting his revenge.

The crown prince agreed to support Edgar on the condition that he kill all members of the royal family. Edgar didn’t care if the other party had ulterior motives or not; all that mattered to him was vengeance. As a result, he agreed.

The massacre started. The crown prince’s troops dealt with other matters, leaving Edgar to deal with the king and his family. Edgar began with the king and his wives, then moved on to the princesses, and finally Yvette.

Edgar took slow, deliberate steps. The echoes of his iron armor filled the empty palace hall. He took his time walking towards a woman who was frantically running down a dead-end hallway.

The demon Edgar soon discovers the third princess he despises huddled in an empty room pleading for his mercy.

Edgar brandished his bloody sword. Yvette screamed as her sword began to float down.

“I swear I’m going to curse you! The demons, you will not be able to unite with the person you love! Ha ha! Your demonic nature would frighten her! You are cursed!”

The shrill voice faded away, followed by a head roll.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.