Chapter 1

The Fallen Noble

As she was busy taking classes, news came that an urgent message from the Stellen Kingdom had arrived.

Ayla, who was heading towards the classroom, quickly turned her feet, worried about the urgent message.

“Ayla!! Where are you going??”

As expected, Helen, a classmate from her department, called her as she was turning towards the dormitory.

“I’m worried because a letter came from the Stellen Kingdom! I’ll be there soon Helen, so go on first.”

“A letter?? Then go quickly. You know the next class is Miss Elena’s subject, right? If you are a little late, you might get a F grade!”

Ayla said ‘Okay’ to the shouting Helen and hurried to the dormitory.

It has already been 10 years since she left her home country and lived alone in a faraway land.

In the year she turned 10 years old, she was pushed by her parents to go to Fencers, saying she needed to get ready to work for the royal family.

Now, there are only a handful of people in her home country who know the name ‘Ayla Serdian’ correctly, but she could not make sense of who sent the message.

Ayla, who entered the room with an unknown anxiety, muttered to herself in a small voice.

“Did Louis send it… Who sent it?”

On top of the desk, the message was tightly sealed with red wax with the seal used in the royal palace.

‘The Royal Palace…?’

The eyes of Ayla Serdian, who unfolded the message, soon turned around as if she had made up her mind, and she started to pack her bags in a hurry.

At the top of the sprawled-out message, the words ‘Return Order’ were written.

***

It has been a long time; many things have changed in the bright Stellen Kingdom.

The streets and people were so splendid it really was called a Kingdom now, not a small country like before.

And the enormous royal palace in front of her, that made all her childhood memories seem like a lie.

“Ayla Serdian, right?”

Ayla, who had been looking around, slowly turned her head as she heard the unfamiliar man’s voice.

Ayla cautiously nodded instead of answering, overwhelmed by the appearance of the man, who seemed to be a knight.

No matter how much time had passed, it was strange that she, the Count’s daughter, did not even have the title of Young Lady.

Without questioning the rudeness of the knight, men on both sides surrounded Ayla’s body.

“This… What is the meaning of this?”

“Let us go quietly. I am being very gentle to you.”

***

When they arrived after passing through several doors, there were Supreme Court Justices who wore jewels all over their bodies.

The Supreme Court Justices’ displeased gaze at her, as if they were seeing a bug, made her feel like a criminal.

“Honorable Supreme Court, I… Can I hear for what reason you made me come here?”

Ayla’s voice, shaking slightly, showed signs of nervousness.

At the same time, Ayla’s blue eyes were filled with their dignified appearances.

No matter how strong their heart is, most people keep their mouths tightly shut under the pressure of the court.

Those who blindly begged for forgiveness without asking why accounted for more than half of the people.

Thanks to this, the inquiries of the Supreme Court Justices were increasing day by day, and their prestige also soared high in the sky.

However, the young girl in front of them was different.

The Supreme Court Justices silently exchanged glances at the figure of Ayla Serdian who, different from her naive appearance, said what she wanted to say.

“…”

After a long wait, one of the Supreme Court Justices opened his mouth.

“Jaden Serdian touched the national treasury.”

It was ridiculous.

Her father, who always followed the scholar’s beliefs, could not have done that.

Even more, the national treasury… She couldn’t believe it.

‘Where did your parents go?’

One of the Supreme Court Justices continued, as if answering the question that crossed Ayla’s mind.

“Your Father Jaden and Mother Catherine have already crossed the border. Someone has to take responsibility for a grave problem, and the criminals ran away shamelessly.”

“No way… That cannot be. There must be something wrong. That’s absurd.”

As if they couldn’t hear Ayla’s words, the Supreme Court Justices continued to speak in a harsh tone, with their gaze drawn.