Chapter Text
Kim Soleum, an ordinary office worker, living a mundane and normal life, woke up inside a room that definitely doesn't belong to him
...What the hell?
"Good morning, saintess." As he glanced at the edge of the gigantic bed, he saw lines upon lines of people dressed in clothing that definitely doesn't belong in his world either
....This must be a dream, right?
He shuts his eyes again, attempting to sleep and hoping that the next time he opens his eyes, he's back in his small but comfortable room.
But minutes ticked by, and when he opened his eyes, the same luxurious ceiling still greeted him, and the line of people at the edge of his bed hasn't moved a single inched from their position
"...good morning."
"You were requested for an audience with the emperor today, your holiness. It is best that we move immediately."
"...."
He stiffly stood up, and the second his feet touched the carpet, the servants were at his side, guiding him towards the massive bathroom
As they washed and bathed him thoroughly, Kim Soleum had completely blanked out from reality.
What is all this? Why is he here? Who is he? Did he just experience those familiar novel tropes right now where you get hit by a truck and transmigrated to a romance fantasy novel as the villainess? And because you're desperate to live, you cancelled your engagement with the male lead first before he does to avoid a major death flag? But then it resulted to the male lead thinking you're "interesting" and now he's the one chasing after you? And the female lead which also happens to be your sister is doing everything to frame you and make you revert back to your original villainess role and have you killed by the end but the male lead would end up saving you? And the female lead would end up detained and die in your place?
.....
He must've gone insane right? Definitely?
.....
HE DOESN'T EVEN READ ROMANCE NOVELS!!!
So what in the world—?! Did the truck accidentally hit him??? But he swore that after coming home from work, safely mind you, he immediately fell asleep after an exhausting day. And woke up here!!!
This can't be a prank right?? Cause he's just an ordinary office worker and there's no need for such an elaborate and expensive set just to gauge out his reaction for views??? Like it's not even worth it????
Or did he seriously... After being overworked to the bone... he.. actually died in his sleep???
GOD NOOOOOOO!!!!!
"Your holiness, are you alright? Should we reschedule with his majesty if you're feeling unwell?" His attendant's worried voice reach his inner turmoil and he snapped back to reality
It seems like he was finished with his bath and he's now sitting in front of a huge mirror, dressed in silk clothing that pools around his figure beautifully. It feels very comfortable to his skin... but it's kind of..
He feels kind of... Exposed?? Or is it just him?? The fabric draped all over his body highlights his lean and tall figure, and the corset accentuates his slim waist. His collarbones are barely covered with the see through outfit.
The jewels were kept minimum and his long black hair was tied neatly, with a few strands framing his face. And wow... He looks really refreshed and beautiful right now
Gone was the exhausted, weak looking office worker with eye bags that resembles a panda. In his reflection is a beautiful young man who can even rival a woman in terms of elegance and overall appearance
...Damn, what kind of magic is this?
Realising that he's been lost in his own thoughts the entire time, the "saintess" cleared his throat awkwardly
"No need. I'm fine."
Was that enough as a response??? He deliberately kept his tone flat, devoid of any emotion to gauge out any reaction from the attendant to find out about his reputation in this world
I mean, in most novels like this, the supposed to be villainess suddenly wake up and started acting kind and doing all sorts of things that the previous villainess wouldn't do, resulting to her previous maid whom she mistreated for years to act shocked and suddenly dedicate her whole life to her. Just because she was shown a sliver of kindness!!!
Don't ask how he knows too much. He would overhear his female co-workers talking about the novels they read and it's interesting hearing them gush about the characters, complain about the exact same plot but still read it and yeah.
And fortunately, from his attendant's reaction, he doesn't seem surprised. Which means his reputation must be great. He sighed in relief
When he stepped out of his room, he was once again, in awe at the structure of this whole place. Damn, this is the first time he has seen this much gold and paintings hung in every walls!!
Keeping his face neutral as if he wasn't gushing excitedly internally, he greeted the servants politely with a smile and a nod as they led him to the entrance
From what he deduced during his walk, this manor is specifically for him, built by the church and the royal family to ensure that the saintess live comfortably
He also asked questions that were enough to not raise any suspicion while also resulting enough information for him to piece everything together
Since the manor was absurdly huge and he kept his pace slow and relaxed (yes, he's wearing heels), he gained enough from his attendant who dutifully answered all of his questions
His name is Kim Soleum, same as his real world. He is the saintess of the Solaris empire, the chosen protector to keep the divine barrier that wards of evil spirits and monsters alike. He is 20 years old, and his birthday is the same as his real world.
He was apparently an orphan when he was chosen at the age of 6 by the goddess who helped built this empire with the first ever emperor. And after receiving an oracle and the news of a blinding light suddenly erupting in the empire, the church along with the royal family scoured the whole empire to find the child with the stigmata of the goddess
They found him a few hours later on the streets, covered in filth but his eyes and the stigmata on his forehead shining in bright gold. It was fortunate that he was not found by malicious people
The church took custody of him and raised him like a true family. Apparently, he was the youngest saintess to ever receive the goddess blessing. Because the previous saintess died young after she was sent to the border to try and strengthen the barrier
She was killed by the enemy empire, as everyone suspected. Fortunately, the barrier at that time was not broken but considerably weakened and every knights, from the royal family to the nobles and the church, were deployed to fight off the hordes of monsters
A year passed after the saintess's death, just as everyone was starting to lose hope that the goddess had abandoned them, Kim Soleum was chosen and the light that descended was so bright that everyone in the empire saw it with their own eyes
Apparently, even a man can be chosen as a saintess. The goddess doesn't discriminate against genders, his attendant proudly said. She only chooses those she sees a potential in! A kind soul with a determined heart... or so they say
His divine powers far exceeded the saintess before him. Because at the mere age of 6, he managed to stop a year long war. And he was not even at the border at that time!!
He just merely stared at the direction of where the barrier is the weakest, and focus all his attention and the power that was blessed to him there. He successfully sealed the breached and even eradicated the monsters who managed to enter the borders!!
But after doing so, he was in a coma for three days and he had numerous nosebleeds. But thankfully, he woke up later on and his fever gradually cooled. He was meticulously taken care of and was fed well until he was no longer malnourished
Kim Soleum was glad to hear that he was very love by the nation and even the emperor sees him as his own son, as what his attendant had said, so he felt more at ease when he finally steps foot in the carriage they prepared for him
The moment they departed and he was left alone, he crumbled as he felt sweat cling at his back
Oh he's terribly fucked!!! He just had to transmigrate in this novel?!?! Out of everything!!!
Sure, he's not the villainess. He's not hated by the empire. He's also an orphan so there's no father who would make his life a living hell just because his mother died giving birth to him. He doesn't have an evil sibling who's jealous of him. And no fiance too. Because this is a reverse harem novel.
Yes, that's right.
An R-18 reverse harem novel!!! And would you look at that, it's toxic too!!!
He slumped against the soft cushion, wishing he can just jump out and free himself from his fate. But he doesn't even know what will happen to the him in the real world if he dies here!! He can't take any risks!!
Why this novel of all things?!?!
Kim Soleum may not have been a fan, but he's surrounded by people who either absolutely adores or hates this novel. Personally, he thinks it's trashy. The novel is full of overused tropes and the main character is annoying as hell. Kind of like a Mary sue. But that's just him because he hadn't fully read it and he wasn't ever planning to.
But fans ate it up since it's full of handsome guys. The love interests who actually had depth and character development, unlike the main character herself
It sparked many arguments in social media as half of the fandom complained that the love interests deserves a better heroine. And since the author themselves can write such a good male character, why is the main character so shallow and annoying?! As much as they wanted to immerse themselves in the novel, they couldn't handle the main character's stupid choices!! They even speculated that the mc must be the self insert of the author!!
While some die hard fans would take this as hate against their beloved novel and would defend the author and mc like their life depended on it, causing an amusing, never ending argument that Kim Soleum enjoyed reading, despite not being a fan himself
And just from reading the comments under posts about the novel, he got the gist of the novel's plot.
There's a custom in this empire. Once the saintess reaches the age of 20, they would be tasked with picking a suitable mate. The empire is strictly monogamous, but allowed polygamy for the saintess only.
And prominent men from every noble family are allowed to court the saintess. Oh not a normal courting where the men would compete to show how great of a partner they would be through their strength, the power and influence they hold or even their riches.
They would prove their abilities in bed.
...You heard that right
Kim Soleum, the saintess of the empire, who had his birthday three days ago and is now officially 20 years old, has to get pregnant!!!
And not just by one guy, MULTIPLE GUYS HAS TO FUCK HIM AND BREED HIM!!!
Someone save meeee!! The poor man who was dragged into this trashy novel cried out, but no one heed his words. Damn, a system would've been nice as a companion!! But he wasn't even allowed that!!!
He feels alone and scared, for his life and for his ass that will get ravaged for sure in the near future
And the thing is, there is no way to avoid that future!!! He can't afford to raised death flags, he also didn't read the novel, and he doesn't even know the names of the main interests!!
Naturally, as a popular novel that also got a manhwa adaptation, there were countless fan arts about the novel before the manhwa was officially released
It was mostly R-18 which Kim Soleum shamelessly scrolled and liked some. There were many talented artists out there. But since there are so many love interests, he just appreciated the art without bothering to remember their names.
'Oh, this one's attractive. Heart ♡'
'Wow, he's so muscular. Heart ♡'
'Two dicks??? Damn. Heart ♡'
'It has scales?! cool! Heart ♡'
'Does this count as improper use of magic? Heart ♡'
That was his thought process when he was scrolling past the thousands of fan arts, both r-18 and not. He just loves attractive people.
And it's what everyone is mostly interested on in the first place. The posts that talks about the plot always gets buried by (specifically) a fanart of one of the love interests flexing his well built upper body while the other one was teasingly pulling down his pants, a cocky smirk on his handsome face. Additionally, there's also a huge bulge visible. And a link to show the uncensored and full art. Kim Soleum specifically saved that one. The uncensored one.
First, let's sort out the characters he's familiar with.
◼️◼️◼️ ◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️: White haired, red eyes, duke of the north. If his memory proves him right, it's the one with the most fanart since he's the favourite of almost everyone. Why? Because he has two dicks and again, he's the duke of the north
◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️: The character with black scales all over his body, yes, even around his dick. Popularity is same with the white haired guy. Apparently, he's a yandere.
◼️◼️◼️: The dude who can go on for a week straight. Oh, he has a pretty face but the stamina of monster!
◼️◼️◼️◼️ ◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️: This dude cries a lot during sex but he's good at it. Something about the way he begs and cries in those fanart while absolutely devouring the main character stirred something in Kim Soleum. Unique trait in appearance is the eye patch
◼️◼️◼️◼️: Kim Soleum doesn't know much about this character. But his favourite fanart of him is the one where he saved it on his gallery and if only he was shameless enough, he would've made it as his wallpaper. He has a huge scar on his neck, but that adds more to his charm
◼️◼️◼️ ◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️: His favourite fan art of him is when an artist created a comparison on how he looks when he's on duty as the commander (?) Vs when he's fucking the main character. He looks so good there. Much appreciation for the artists for feeding him delicious art!!
There were more (he thinks) that he can't remember the appearance of, but this guys whom he listed and sorted out are the fan's favourites.
As the saintess of this empire, Kim Soleum now bares the duty of having as many mate and as many children as possible to spread the blessings of the goddess
A child born from the saintess is a blessing after all. They will surely grow up to bring more prosper and glory to the empire!!
Come to think of it, the previous saintess died at the age of 18, so she didn't get to pick a mate or even childbirth
Fuck, how do males even give birth in this world?!?!
Kim Soleum sweats, anxious and worried for his body. He's trying to accept the fact that he'll have to bed many men and give birth right after gaining consciousness in this world, and it's eating away his soul the longer he thinks about it
The sex? Oh, he's absolutely excited! Giving birth? Nope.
Kim Soleum had never once given much thought about his sexuality, but he can firmly admit that he appreciates anyone he finds beautiful. A man or a woman, it doesn't matter to him
The thing is... He's a virgin. And he's not ashamed of that.
He's not unattractive either. He doesn't consider it a flex but both genders seems to flock around him, expressing their interest but unfortunately, none of them are his type
He likes the guys in the popular trashy novel purely because of their appearances and body. And their dicks. Nothing more. Nothing less.
He concluded that his type are fictional characters, and that's all
And now he's inside the story, and he doesn't know when he'll meet them!!
Just as his was about to explode from thinking about his next plan, the carriage halted, and he was informed that they have arrived
The moment Soleum stepped out of the royal carriage, he was once again breathless at the sight that greeted him
The royal palace is truly magnificent. Soleum can't even imagine how long this took to build. And such intricate carvings?!
He cleared his throat to masked his awe, trying his best to appear unaffected of the sight as he was assisted inside
"His majesty is at the rose gold garden, your holiness."
Everyone who came across him all bowed their heads. The knights stationed around the whole place, the servants, even nobles. Everyone greeted him respectfully and Soleum made sure to return the greeting even though it's tiring
Soon after, they arrived at the entrance. Since his majesty specifically only requested his presence, the attendants bowed and left him there after informing him of the path he should take
'This is it!' He inhaled sharply, bracing himself
The first time he heard that the emperor was the one who requested his presence, Soleum was confused and even... unsettled
Because the emperor is the ruler of the nation, and he shall never bow to anyone or even request for an audience. Kim Soleum was a mere commoner, an orphan, who just happened to receive the blessing of the goddess
That shouldn't be enough for the emperor to treat him.. this fondly..?
Unless...
....Oh they took the name of this place quite literally huh.
The place is basically a maze from how far it stretched. And golden roses decorated the whole landscape, glimmering under the glow of the sunlight
He was tempted to take one and analyse it, but the thought of someone finding out and it turns out to be forbidden, thus, triggering another death flag.
He heard that the emperor dedicated this place solely to his empress, and the only one allowed inside are those the empress personally given permission to
But usually, the ones who can enter freely are the emperor, the empress, the crown prince and...
The crown princess.
....Maybe he was one of the few people the empress had given permission to right? Since he's the saintess and all... haha..
....
......Right?
"Soleum-ah! I am so sorry, my dear!!!"
......
Soleum stood with a tight-lipped smile before the emperor who practically jumped from his sit the moment he saw him, and is now desperately trying to kneel before him
The only thing holding him back from doing so is Kim Soleum himself.
"Your majesty, please calm down—"
"No!! I've made a terrible mistake!! It's all because of that son of mine that I—!!" The emperor, the leader of the empire, is this close to shedding tears
'I won't die just by making the emperor cry, right?'
Cold sweat clings to his back as he nervously held the emperor from dropping to his knees
"My dear!!" And another one!!!
The empress came from out of nowhere and launched herself to him, almost making him stumble forward
"Your majesty—!!"
"It is all our fault!! That ungrateful son of mine—"
'SERIOUSLY, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!'
After half an hour of doing his best to calm the couple down, Kim Soleum slumped down to his seat, exhausted but still maintaining an elegant facade
Now he understands why he was dressed lightly. The people from the manor probably knows how... intense the couple are and they didn't want him to sweat off all the liquid in his body
Fortunately, the breeze is nice, and the tea is great. Yeah. Let's focus on the tea for now. And not at the insane couple who's currently giving him puppy eyes
"I apologise for arriving late, your majesties. There were some—"
"Oh no no no! It's alright, darling!" The empress quickly assured, a nervous smile tugging at her lips
"....May I ask why you called upon my presence today?"
"Soleum-ah, it's just us at this place. No need to address us formally." The emperor smiled brightly
'That's not it!!! I just don't know how to properly address you people without getting killed for being insolent on accident!!!'
Kim Soleum cried internally but as an office worker for years who learned how to deal with terrible superiors, he maintained a calm soft smile on his own while hiding his trembling hand from view
"Please call us mother and father!"
"... Alright, mother."
The couple beamed again, it's way too bright!!
"I can't believe you're 20 now.. it feels like yesterday when we first met you. How time flies..." The emperor sighed in nostalgia, while his wife nods at his words
"As you've heard, it is time for you to pick a suitable mate, my dear. Do you have any in mind?" There it is!! The long awaited question he was preparing to answer back in the carriage!!
"I'm sorry, mother. Everything just happened so suddenly that.. I didn't have the time to choose."
"Oh right! The church specifically with held the information after all! It was our selfish wish to raise you as a normal child. And now, it ended up troubling you..."
That's right. The church and the royal family purposely didn't tell the young Kim Soleum about this arrangement. And that's why they didn't accept anyone to be his fiancée.
He had only known about this a day after his birthday. And from what he knows, the original soul of this body had always been a kind and bright young man. He feels indebted to both the church and the royal family, and so he accepted his task without complaint
So Kim Soleum smiled and responded in the way the original body would've had
"It's no trouble for me, mother. It's for the empire, after all."
"Haa.. I wished my own son was as understanding and kind as you." The empress sighed. At the mention of his stupid son, the emperor raged once again
"That brat!! I will make sure I won't—"
"Calm down, my love. At least not in front of Soleum-ah."
With his wife's words, the emperor stayed put and took a big gulp of tea in attempt to calm down
Soleum perked up at the mention of the crown prince.
"Umm.. mother, father.. what about the crown prince?"
The couples exchange a glance, before the emperor spoke up, his voice weary
"Soleum-ah, you're aware that there's a certain process when picking your mate, right?"
Soleum nodded, as if following. When in fact, it's his first time learning about this. There's a process about who gets to fuck him first? Strange but he has a vague idea about it.
"The father of your first born would be the one you'll officially marry. But worry not, you would still be able to meet your other mates."
...As expected!!!
That's why the process is important. And naturally, the first man he should be with is supposed to be the crown prince!
The saintess is supposed to stay for a month with their chosen partner, and after no conception, must go to the next prominent man they picked
Of course, the first in line is supposed to be the direct in line for the throne. But the thing is..
"He left yesterday to ensure peace with another empire."
....Haa
So that was why they were so agitated. But it's not even their fault?!
From what he can understand from the grumbling couple, the crown prince is a mischievous young man who doesn't want to have children with the saintess. And after learning that the saintess is now of age, he wasted no time and bolted out of the empire with the pretense of checking over another empire in case for signs of war
Wow... Kim Soleum wish he can do that too. Oh to have the power to escape this fate.. what a lucky dude
The imperial couple had tried their best to make him come home, but he was adamant with his choice.
He had never expected that the character he was thirsting for could act this childish. Is that guy seriously 2 years older than him?
He finally gained a name for that character. Choi, as everyone calls him. It's the character with the scar on his neck and his uncensored fanart saved in Kim Soleum's phone in the real world
That guy could've been his first!! But seems like he's not up for it. Could be be homophobic? Is homophobia even possible in this world??
Just as he's thinking about it, a certain young man in a far away land is leisurely watching a couple of female dancers while countless women piled at his side
'Ahh.. this is niceee~'
The man thought, smirking as he gripped the woman's hips who's currently grinding down his half hard dick.
Women are far more better and attractive than men. He can't believe his parents are crazy enough to push him to try and win the saintess's heart!
Growing up, he was constantly reminded to be at his best behaviour for when he finally meets his future partner! The saintess! They raved about him as if he was a god. Well, technically , he's very close to one. But that's not the point. And it upsets him how everyone expected him to love and worship the saintess when he hadn't even seen his face or got to know him personally!
The saintess's appearance was kept secret from him. And the few times he had seen him, a golden veil was covering his face. All he knows about the man is that he is small and pale as a ghost. His figure is great and all, but that's it.
He's not attracted to men!! He's not against gay people but he personally prefers women!!
So until his parents fully understands that, he's going to stay here for as long as possible~
'Please stay there for as long as you can! No, make it forever!!!'
Back to Kim Soleum, after pondering about it, he replied with a self deprecating smile
"Then that must mean I must wait for his return?" He purposely tried to look dejected and troubled, which immediately made the couple panic
'Yes!! With the excuse of waiting patiently for the runaway crown prince to return, I can resume my duties as the Saintess and push back the task of getting married and pregnancy!!!'
But his hope was short lived.
"Do not worry, Soleum-ah!! We have already informed the Duke about the situation!" Soleum froze, snapping his head towards the beaming emperor
"I have talked with him and he agreed! You will soon depart for the north!"
The empress ran off from her seat and grasped his hands softly, looking at him with shining eyes
"Unlike my son, Duke Jaheon is a capable young man. I watched that child grew up as well, and I assure you, he would do his utmost best to take care of you! And I am certain that you would love his appearance!" The empress winked at him
WHAAATTTTTT?!
The conversation with the two most powerful figures of the empire shredded 10 years off his life, and Kim Soleum trudged back to the prepared carriage like a ghost
He stared blankly at the moving scenery, feeling every bone in his body shake at the sheer absurdness of the situation
But there's also a hint of anticipation.
The duke of the north. Finally, he learns his name!!
Lee Jaheon. The mysterious guy with a face that can make anyone fall head over heels for. Yes, the dude with the two dicks.
And he is his first 'mate'. For a month, he will stay at his domain, and during that month, they will figure out if they are suitable for one another.
Kim Soleum is thoroughly screwed. He's a virgin for god sake!!! And his first ever experience will be a guy with two huge dicks??? Will he.. will he be alright after that?
He groaned, feeling restless. There's no way out of this! He can't afford to take a risk and choose to not have sex with the main interests!! Who knows what will happen to him?!
This world is unfamiliar, unlike those ghost stories he always reads. But this world is no different since it has monsters and evil spirits as well.
And now he's going to the North... infested with them. So the Duke, along with his men, are busy fighting off the influx of monsters and evil spirits alike almost everyday.
How can he possibly survive there?!?! With his weak, fragile heart, he might even collapsed at the first sight of a disfigured, bloodied monster!!! Just by the thought of it made him shiver in fear!!!
Sure, he was given the power to suppressed and eradicate them. But what if something happens and he would be incapacitated? What if he suddenly dies for unknown reasons? And it results to his body from the real world dying as well?
No no no!! He must think rationally!! He can't lose himself in panic!!!
Dying is worst than taking two dicks at once. As long as he follows the novel's path, he can ensure his safety and comfort while actively seeking for a way to get out of this world! That's right!!
That Lee Jaheon guy.. he knows too little about him. He needs to be prepared when he face him!
Tonight was a moonless night. Kim Soleum carefully dressed himself in a commoners clothing to which he had stolen from a male servant's quarters. He left a few silver coins as compensation
He skillfully tucked his long hair in to appear more masculine, and after a few finishing touches, he was ready to go out disguise as a servant who's carrying out his master's wishes
There were not many knights around the manor since most of them were called to provide assistance all over the empire. Some should be at the north as well with his first mate.
And so, after carefully scanning his surroundings and waiting until the knights patrolling the area disappeared around the corner, he carefully lowered himself and jumped swiftly from his room
Without wasting anymore time, he sprinted into the darkness
With the small amount of time he had, he tried memorizing the whole area to the best of his abilities. It was easy to procure the map of this place since everyone trusts him a lot and no one suspected he would use the map to escape for a bit in the middle of the night
And 30 minutes later, he was out. Since he's no longer inside the Church's safety, he must thread more carefully in case of unforeseen events
He trudged along the dark streets, keeping an eye out to any suspicious individuals.
In most rofan stories, the easiest way to gather information is..
His footsteps stopped as he stared at the wooden sign and the sound of muffled laughter and shouts coming from the inside.
A tavern.
Pulling his hood down, he entered the place and was greeted by loud, boisterous men hollering and shouting wildly. The scent of booze and food hovered everywhere, and everyone was too busy with their own world to pay any mind to a newcomer like him
Fortunately, it wasn't just him who's wearing a black hood. Thank goodness he went along with the classic. It seems like it's the norm here, as taverns are also popular for gathering intel or exchanging information discretely.
He would've stand out like a sore thumb if he had chosen the red colored one.
He takes a sit at the far corner of the place, hidden from plain view and merely ordered a light drink
He sat there for a while, enduring the loud noises that made his head throbbed.
But it was worth it. He gathered bits of information regarding the empire
The commander of the knights and Prince Yo-Won's right hand man, had departed for the south immediately right after Prince Yo-Won left the empire. He was to provide assistance for the monster subjugation and would be expected to return a month later.
It was unusual for the Crown Prince's knight to not remain by his master's side, but Kim Soleum refused to dwell into it any further. Mainly, because his frustration about the whole situation was directed at the crown prince. It was easier to blame someone when they are not present after all.
The great wizard of the tower had entered the state where he would not show himself or entertain anyone for 3 whole months. Kim Soleum wonders if the wizard is another love interests or an old man. But he vaguely remembers a love interest who can do magic and did some.. very scandalous things with it.
And it seems like the other clans that migrated to the empire are now fighting for the position of leader. It's going to be really bloody, and since everyone had their hands full of the monsters flocking especially in the south and north, they could not waste resources towards a petty fight. It's up to them to solve it themselves as long as they continue on fighting the monsters for the empire
It was the agreement after all. In exchange for them being acknowledged as the people of this empire, they must provide assistance in subduing the monsters that flocked this land.
He even heard some stories about himself, and he was red down to his neck as the rowdy men sang praises for him.
They said that it was thanks to his barrier around the empire that he painstakingly kept everyday keeps most of the monsters at bay, or else the empire would've been trampled without it.
....He completely feels like a Mary Sue and it's not a great feeling.
Another hour passed, and just as Kim Soleum was dozing off, he finally heard the information he's been wanting to hear. About the Duke.
Right after their discussion about Prince Yo-Won and his achievement in the great war with the monsters that earned him the scar on his neck, their talk naturally turned to Duke Lee Jaheon, who took on the position as the head of the dukedom at the mere age of 18, right after his coming of age ceremony
Right after that, he departed towards the North and had not shown himself even once in the capital, fully dedicated on suppressing the monsters
With his great contribution, the Duke's influence naturally rose and was now on par with the crown prince. It might even be possible for the man to steal the position of crown prince, they said.
Kim Soleum knows that it's impossible. Duke Lee Jaheon is the son of the empress's sister. There might be a possibility, but the duke had never once shown any intent of claiming the throne. And the nobles placed their loyalty and support for the crown prince
His character simply doesn't fit the crown prince role, and apparently, he and the crown prince maintains a good relationship.
The royal family trusts the duke a lot. So there's no need to worry.
'...That's enough for today.'
Just as he's preparing to stand up and leave quietly, one of the men suddenly ushered the others to listen closely, his eyes gleaming with mirth
"I heard that Duke Jaheon is about to get married soon!"
....?
Kim Soleum sat his ass back down.
....Are they talking about him?
"Who?!?!"
"Really?!?!"
"Yes!!! I have a friend who worked as a supplier that directly provides materials that are scarce in the north from both the royal family and the church! And he said that he witnessed the duke taking a walk with a pretty lady by his side!"
"What?!! Maybe it could be his relative—"
"You idiot! The duke's family has distinct features! And the woman looks nothing like them!"
"Woaaahh?!?!"
The saintess, who was about to make his way towards the North tomorrow to meet his partner, sat there baffled
His chosen mate.. has a woman...???
He blinked and sat there for a minute, mulling over the new piece of information he acquired about his soon to be partner
Quietly, he stood up from his seat and made his way out
He trudged along the dark streets with his mind empty. Was there such thing in the novel? The duke has a woman and he's expected to mate with him and have his child despite that? Won't he be hated and get killed later on by the duke himself?
He stopped in his tracks, his hands shaking. Maybe the duke is not a good choice. He needs to go to the royal palace tomorrow and—
"Give me all of your belongings." A knife was pressed on his throat
In a blink of an eye, a dozen, burly men had surrounded him, all wielding a weapon of their choice.
They snickered at him, their eyes leering at his body. Oh, they must've thought he was a woman.
But strangely, he doesn't feel threatened. Instead, his eyes remained calm.
In that moment, all the thoughts running in his head quieted down, a sense of serenity washes over his whole body. His mind seems to acknowledge that this people before him are of no threat to him
They are mere humans, after all.
His eyes glowed just by a fraction, the stigmata on his forehead lighting up with a beautiful yellow hue. With just one flick of a finger, he can—
"Hey, who are the fuck are you to be messing around my turf?" A rough voice echoed, halting their actions
A figure stepped into view. A tall man with blonde hair and he was dressed like a mercenary. But the way he walks and carry himself exudes that of a nobleman. He is no commoner. It's a young lord dressed like one.
Kim Soleum squinted his eyes. He had never seen this individual before. A side character, perhaps? Or just a random NPC?
But judging by that handsome face, he must be a love interest. Or he could be wrong.
Or... Wait what??
What just happened??
The men turned their focus to the newcomer, sizing him up before they sneered at him
"Pretty boy, you sure you ain't—"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
A loud bang was heard along with the sudden gushed of smoke, and before Kim Soleum could process it, a figure brushes passed him and went straight to one of the men behind him
The unknown nobleman directly faced all of them with his fist alone. He did not once unsheathed his sword that hangs loosely in his waist.
With a speed that is impossible to perceived by the naked eye and strength like no other, the burly men immediately fell one after another.
A few minutes had only passed by, and the area had quieted down. The nobleman disguised as a mercenary dropped another kick directly at the man who called him "pretty boy" before sighing in exhaustion
"Damn, all that taunting only to be the one on the ground. Pathetic." The man spat out in sheer disgust, dusting his clothes as he stalked steadily towards the frozen Kim Soleum
The man lowered his gaze, directly staring at Kim Soleum's covered face. Then his eyes traveled to his trembling shoulders, and he let out and exasperated sigh
"Haaa. You should know not to stay out at night. You were lucky that you stepped foot in my territory and I was closed by, or else you would've been taken as a slave by this mother fuckers—" He landed a swift kick at the man who tried to crawl forward
Such vulgar way of speaking! Is.. is he really a nobleman or perhaps Kim Soleum was mistaken?
Noticing his silence, the unknown man sighed yet again. He was about to say another word or tell this person to scram when Kim Soleum suddenly moved and took out a piece of paper and a pen as he scribbled frantically
'Thank you so much for your help!'
He repeatedly bowed, while the unknown man froze in realization
"Oh.. are you in a position where you couldn't talk?"
'Yes! I apologise for the trouble!'
"..." Now he feels guilty.
The unknown man suddenly looked very uncomfortable, his eyes darting from Soleum and at the bodies sprawled around them. He was being rude to a mute person!!
"...I'm sorry as well. I did not know..." The unknown man mumbled apologetically, and Kin Soleum was stunned
A nobleman... willingly apologised to a commoner? Wait.. is this guy really a noble?? Was he mistaken?? But no.. the way he acted.. and that precise fighting stance..
His thoughts were cut short when he felt something heavy fell on him. He felt it before he saw what it was. Warm.
The noble had taken off his long coat and draped it over his shivering form without hesitation.
It.. smelled nice.
"For your safety, don't go out at night again. It's dangerous this days." Surprisingly, the man's voice has mellowed down
....The sudden change is scarier. But Soleum refused to say his thoughts out loud and only bowed meekly
"I'll lead you out of here. So follow closely."
And before Soleum could act, his wrist were caught and he was dragged along by the unknown blonde noble
As Soleum gazed at his back, he could no longer deny that this man might not be a dispensable character
This man is a future love interest. But he looks young.
He made a mental note to check out which noble family possess blonde hair and that specific fighting style. Is he a knight perhaps? Or still preparing for his official knighthood? He looks quite young, after all.
While deep in his own thoughts, he was unaware that the said tall man is having a meltdown before him.
He can't believe he was rude to a mute person! Shit, he fucked up real bad!!
As he glanced at the smaller figure beside him, shrouded in mystery, he came into realization that he must be another unfortunate servant ordered by their master to do unreasonable requests in the middle of the night
If he was a little bit later... no.. if he hadn't decided to sneak out today and meet his friends.. this poor thing would've been abducted and forced to slave away until the end of his life.
The heinous monsters can't step in the empires barrier, but humans worse than animals roams free.
No matter how prosperous and rich this empire is after profiting from the mana stones the monsters dropped right after being killed, there are still filthy and abandoned places that the people in power abuses to gain more wealth.
'...Do I really have no choice?'
Must I have to kill my own father just to—
A soft tug on his sleeve made him pause briefly, his spiraling thoughts halting. He turned towards the hand gripping his sleeve, and the note gripped by a dainty hand
'I'm alright here. Thank you again for your help! I don't know how to repay you.. but I can provide whatever help needed!'
"...That's not necessary. All I ask of you is one thing. Do not return to this place. It is not safe for you. And if your master or whoever that bastard is orders you to do something like this again, resign and... just come to my place.."
Kim Soleum blinked in surprise. Why is he outright telling him that he is not just a commoner..?
Silence stretched between them, before Kim Soleum picked up his pen and began writing on the paper once again
'I appreciate your offer, mister.'
"...Just call me Lee. It's my family name. What about yours?"
Only nobles have the right to have a family name. Since he was adopted by the church the moment he manifested the saintess's powers, and with the empire's approval, he was given the surname Kim, like the other saintess before him.
But since the man, 'Lee', thought he's a commoner, Kim Soleum can't tell him his name. It wouldn't be long for the man to piece things together and realize that he is in fact, the sole saintess of this empire.
Taking a deep breath, he scribbled shortly on the paper before he took the other man's hand, and placed the note on his open palm. With one final wave, he disappeared into the dark, leaving
Lee standing there, bewildered
Shaking away the surprise of having his hand touched casually by a person, he hastily opened the folded note and let out a dry laugh
'Im Roe Deer. See you later, Lee!'
The sun had risen beyond the horizon, and the manor was loud and awake as everyone carefully moved around the place.
Swift and deft hands softly ease the crease on his dress, some skillfully tied his hair and adorned his black obsidian locks with silver and ruby colored accessories. The colors that represents the Lee Dukedom. Light touches of makeup was pressed on his face to accentuate his beauty and to impress his partner.
He had kept the jewelleries minimum, since it'll be a long and hectic journey up to the north. And he didn't want to dress that luxurious when the men in the north are fighting with their lives on the line for the sake of the empire.
And after he was thoroughly dressed, he was guided towards the entrance, where servants and the remainder of the holy knights and some imperial soldiers gather with tons of carriage containing supplies for support.
The queen stood there, a smile on her face as she ushered him forward.
"Take care, my darling."
"I will, your majesty."
He had two objectives. One, to support the north with their exploration beyond the barrier and to maintain the strength of the barrier. It was reported that it had somewhat weakened, and some weak monsters managed to slip through the gaps. Fortunately, they were apprehended and killed immediately. It was the same with the other parts of the empire, but the north is in more dire need of his help, especially since the weather in the north is unforgiving and brutal.
The wizards had confirmed that the barrier had not weakened, but the monsters had grown stronger. And now, it's his duty to strengthen the barrier to the best of his abilities.
And the other, to build a relationship with the duke. By the end of this month, he must engage with the Duke intimately and hopefully bear his child.
With those thoughts in mind, the Saintess, Kim Soleum, who had never once stepped out of the capital, departed for the north