Chapter 278

In the end, Princess Ardein left the audience chamber without achieving anything. She felt suffocated, as if something was blocking her chest. But in the end, she couldn’t say a word and just clenched her fists tightly.

That overwhelming sense of helplessness—she never wanted to feel it again. She was familiar with this emotion. When she was groaning from illness, the world was not kind to her. Losing everything she had and falling to the bottom didn’t take long at all.

Back then, she cursed people and even the heavens. She especially resented the sky and the so-called gods. As every treatment failed and her condition worsened, her resentment grew. But even as she poured out her hatred, she knew deep down that it was all pointless.

No matter how much I rage alone, the heavens won’t even care. Even if humans are destroyed by the fate they’ve been given, they won’t even bother to mock us.

That absolute indifference is harder to bear than contempt. She felt that same helplessness again, the kind that made her cry alone in bed back then.

‘So that’s how it was.’

The only difference from back then was that this time, she didn’t have to hide her tears while trembling in helplessness. Everyone was in the same situation, and there was no one to blame. No one made a political mistake or caused this through their errors. It was just…

Just that they were living in this era.

They were born with this original sin, and that’s why things turned out this way. She finally felt like she could understand the strangely gloomy and silent atmosphere of the Imperial Palace.

‘That’s why there were so few people here.’

Since no one had a solution, even the most loyal individuals couldn’t help but waver. The many palace attendants had all disappeared. They either fled the palace or returned home to spend their final moments with their families.

Even the guards, who would normally stop unauthorized outings, made an exception this time. They too knew that the Capital had turned into a massive graveyard.

Those who wanted to go home were allowed to do so, and those who wanted to flee the Capital were let go. After all, they knew that fleeing would only exhaust them further, and the outcome would be the same.

“They’ve run away again.”

When she stumbled back, the people who had come with her, including Kisea, had already vanished without a trace. It seemed they had caught wind of the ominous air in the Capital and disappeared like ghosts in the wind. It sent a slight chill down her spine.

“I guess wolves will always be wolves.”

The Princess sighed. It’s not something you can stop—people leaving to find a way to survive. There’s no plan, no solution. Without being able to offer an alternative, standing in the way of those trying to save their own lives would only lead to conflict.

So their departure wasn’t entirely unexpected. What was bitter was that they left without even saying goodbye. She thought they had built some camaraderie, but maybe it was all her delusion and arrogance. To them, was she just an outsider, someone from a different race?

“How did they disappear so ghost-like…”

This wasn’t something to resent or get angry about. More than anything, in this situation, even getting angry felt exhausting. It was just… disappointing.

How could people be so heartless? Ah, they weren’t people—they were beasts. Maybe it was always meant to be this way. Perhaps she had just hoped for too much…

“Your Highness, everyone’s gone to enjoy the party. What are you doing here alone?”

But then, one of those “beasts” suddenly popped their head out. She almost fell backward in shock. She managed to keep her expression in check, but her pale face betrayed her surprise.

Was it because he was a sheep and not a wolf? Chancellor Rambus—now former Chancellor, since the Beast Kingdom no longer existed—was looking at her with his usual blank expression. His face gave no hint of what he was thinking.

Wait, did he say party? So they didn’t run away? Ah, no, a party? Did I hear that right? Her already complicated mind became even more tangled.

“A party…? In times like these?”

“I thought the same, but others didn’t seem to agree. I didn’t stop them, but I didn’t join either.”

She was so dumbfounded that she couldn’t even respond. The Empire—no, the world—is on the brink of collapse, and they’re throwing a party? What kind of nonsense is this? Did some ghost attach itself to them, threatening death if they didn’t party?

“It’s a bit different from what you’re thinking.”

The old man, seeing her unable to control her expression, smiled faintly and spoke.

“In fact, I think it would be good for Your Highness to go there. If I were a bit younger, I would’ve gone myself.”

He simply smiled and told her where the party was being held.

There was no dress code or invitation required. Anyone could join as long as they showed up. Even the beastmen, who were usually ignored by humans, were invited, and anyone passing by could join if they were interested.

The Princess was honestly baffled, but she decided to go check out the party venue. Of course, she wasn’t going to enjoy the party. She first grabbed her throbbing head.

The thought of dragging Kisea, Leon, and the other troublemakers back by their collars made her head hurt even more. Even if she brought them back, there was no use for them, but she couldn’t just leave elite fighters like them to enjoy themselves.

She immediately left the palace.

*****

When a crisis hits, chaos and destruction always follow. There’s no such thing as a peaceful war, so when war breaks out, you inevitably see things you’d rather not. Looting. Arson. Disorder. Chaos. And the ever-present screams. Stuff like that.

Now that she had grasped the situation, Princess Ardein thought the Capital must be in a similar state. Even the most capable people on the continent had no solutions and had given up, so what could others do? She thought everyone would be trembling in fear, cursing the heavens and resenting the gods. Like her past self, she thought everything would be a complete mess.

‘The streets are cleaner than I thought.’

She expected rioters roaming, robbery and looting rampant, and the world descending into apocalypse, but this time, she was wrong. When despair reaches its peak, people often become indifferent.

There were no looters after gold or jewels. People seemed to have accepted the death approaching them. Most shops were closed, but a few remained open, serving customers. A famous tavern in a corner of the Capital was open. The owner didn’t charge for beer, and customers started paying with other things instead of money.

The streets weren’t filled with screams or shouts. Not even cold silence. Music. Various melodies, played by who knows who, filled the Capital. Minstrels played their lyres without asking for money. Street musicians strummed their guitars without seeking alms.

The people gathered around them listened with various expressions. Those with sensitive hearts shed tears, while others closed their eyes and hummed along to the melodies. Ardein, whose artistic soul had died long ago, didn’t show such reactions, but she still stopped to listen.

For some reason, she wanted to. For some reason, it felt necessary. She didn’t know why herself. She was someone who always skipped the dances that upper-class girls usually enjoyed.

From her girlhood to now, she had never liked music. Aside from military songs, she didn’t know many songs. She didn’t even know what song was being played now.

No field values skill as much as music. Even a street musician, if skilled enough, could instantly receive invitations from nobles. Even if not that good, if they had talent, they could work in theaters or opera houses.

The most talented among them went to the Imperial Palace. The skill of this person was clearly incomparable to the Imperial musicians. Even Ardein, who didn’t know much about music, could feel the gap.

Yet, she, who used to find even the best musicians with the finest instruments boring, was now unable to leave this mere street musician. It wasn’t because the song was good, but there was something inexplicably touching about it.

Back when she commanded armies in war, she clearly felt that when policies were made above, countermeasures were formed below. When unrealistic orders came from above, those below always had ways to deal with them.

She didn’t know why that memory suddenly came to mind as she slowly walked away. Behind her, people were applauding the musician who had finished his performance.

“You look tired. Have this and rest.”

“Here, wet your throat. I’m buying you a drink because I liked your song.”

Now, even a penny was worthless. The musician didn’t put his hat upside down on the ground, and people didn’t throw coins at him. Instead, they brought bread and beer to fill his stomach and quench his thirst. Yes, everyone had their own way of coping.

The end of the world is near, but not today.

Nothing has ended yet.