The next day arrived, and with it, two full days had officially passed since Maximillian's seventh birthday.
Maximillian stepped out of his room with his maid mary —brimming with confidence.
After sharing a pleasant breakfast with his family and acting as naturally as possible, he quietly separated from them. Alone, he made his way toward that fossil chamber. Every step he took was fully measured, his expression was calm, his movements ordinary—so as not to arouse even the slightest suspicion.
He passed through corridor after corridor, the palace stretching endlessly like a maze of stone and silence. Servants and guards occasionally crossed paths with him, bowing respectfully, but none questioned his presence.
After a long walk, he finally stood before that same massive door.
He placed both hands against it and pushed with all his strength.
It didn't move even an inch.
" Damn it , this way my plan will fail before it can even proceed "
Maximillian clicked his tongue slightly and glanced around his surroundings, thinking.
...
( UNKOWN POV )
I still don't remember which fucking idiot told me to get a job at the Imperial High Palace as a footguard.
I've been working tirelessly for five years, and I'm already thirty years old.
My friends have already married—hell, even their children are growing up and some of them have even reached the age of marriage —and I'm still stuck here.
I originally wanted to become a knight… but because of that vixen, I chose this job instead. I thought working in the palace would bring countless luxuries.
But all it brought me… is suffering.
Now, even after pulling a full night shift, I'm still here roaming these damned halls. Why?
Because the colleague who was supposed to take over fell sick.
And now here I am… doing this shit job.
Ugh… i hate my life
That's when I saw a tiny figure in front of me .
It was a boy in noble clothes, standing alone, trying to push open that forbidden haunted door.
I immediately straightened myself.
"Hey, what are you doing here, my lord?" I asked respectfully, hiding every trace of irritation on my face.
"I want to open this door and go inside. Can you help me?"
His tone was calm, but there was something… firm about it.
"Yes, indeed I can—but not without proper permission from my higher-up."
"Who is your higher-up?"
"Third wing, ground floor—Head Guard."
The boy looked at me for a moment before speaking again.
"I am the First Prince. So whose authority is higher?"
For a split second, my mind froze.
"Y-Your authority is higher, Your Highness," I said immediately, bowing deeply.
"Then open the door at once."
"B-But—… alright, Your Highness."
With that, I gathered my strength and forced the heavy door open. It groaned loudly, as if it hadn't been moved in years.
And then… I saw it.
Behind the door was a long, dark corridor stretching endlessly forward.
Honestly… it looked haunting.
"Done, Your Highness."
"Alright. What's your name?"
"My name is Gavin."
"Alright, Gavin. Now it is my command—if I don't come out within two hours, you shall inform the Emperor by any means necessary."
My heart skipped a beat.
"...As you command, Your Highness."
With that, the prince—no, that brat—walked into the dark corridor without hesitation, leaving me alone outside.
I stared at the open doorway.
A chill ran down my spine.
...
Thank God that guard named Gavin was here… otherwise my plan would have failed before it even started.
Maximillian took a deep breath.
Alright… just walk straight.
Don't be scared.
The corridor was eerily silent. His footsteps echoed faintly against the cold stone walls.
Suddenly—
He flinched.
For a brief moment, it felt like someone was watching him.
…No.
He clenched his fists.
Ignore it.
He continued forward.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally stepped into the same balcony.
His heartbeat quickened.
With forced courage, he descended the stairs, one step at a time, quietly repeating his favorite song from his past life in his mind—anything to keep his fear in check.
Finally, he stood before it.
That same enormous skull.
It was just as oppressive… just as colossal as before.
Its empty eye sockets seemed to swallow the very light around them.
Maximillian inhaled deeply, gathering every ounce of courage within him, and shouted:
"OHH GREAT GALVUS, I HAVE COME HERE TO MAKE A D—"
He paused for a fraction of a second.
"—BARGAIN!"
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
The eyes of the skull ignited.
A deep, ancient presence filled the chamber as the being observed its surroundings… before its gaze slowly landed on Maximillian.
"WHY HAVE YOU COME SO SOON… BOY?"
_________________________________________
Lorrenz and Eveline got along well.
Soon, it became a common sight—both of them wandering together, laughing, arguing, living freely. And naturally, everyone began to notice the change in Lorrenz in the castle of warren hills .
The king who faked smile to make other smile … now had a genuine smile of his own .
He laughed more.
He lived more.
---
"Lorrenz… so who is she?" a voice echoed with amusement.
"The one who can make even our hero act like this."
It was Galvus.
The other heroes standing nearby followed with faint smiles of their own.
Some were genuinely happy for him.
Others… were conflicted.
Because while Lorrenz had found something precious—
He had also begun to neglect his duties as king.
More often than not, he would disappear from the palace, returning not as a ruler… but as a commoner.
Yet no one stopped him.
Because for the first time…
He looked genuinely happy .
And none of them had the heart to take that away from him.
---
But destiny…
Is rarely so kind.
And it never forgets its path.
---
One day—
Under the open sky, in a wide grassy field—
"Lorry, stop it!" Eveline shouted, breathless.
"No, Eve, I won't!" Lorrenz laughed, running ahead.
They chased each other like children, their laughter echoing freely across the field.
Until finally—
Both collapsed beneath a large tree, exhausted.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Only the sound of their breathing filled the air.
After a while, Eveline looked up at the sky.
"Lorry… do you know…?"
Her voice softened.
"Me and Father… we used to play here."
She smiled faintly.
"And this is also the place… where I promised I would fulfill his dream."
Lorrenz turned toward her, listening silently.
"I'm thankful to you, Lorry."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Without you… I would've never reached this far."
She looked at her hands.
"Ever since you came into my life… everything started changing."
A small smile formed.
"I was appointed as the first female guard of the town… and the head guard personally trained me in swordsmanship."
Her eyes sparkled.
"I'm really happy… that you came into my life."
Lorrenz smiled gently.
"No, Eve… it was your hard work and determination that brought you here."
He shook his head lightly.
"I only gave a little push."
Eveline laughed softly.
Then, after a brief pause—
"Lorrenz…"
Her voice grew quieter.
"I just want to say… thank you. For everything."
Tears formed in her eyes, catching the light.
Lorrenz leaned closer, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey… don't cry, my knight."
His voice was soft.
But even his eyes… held a faint trace of moisture.
And then—
A sudden rustling sound.
Both of them turned.
Behind a nearby tree stood two figures.
One of them had clearly stumbled, while the other was trying to pull him back up.
"…You can continue," one of them said casually.
"Just pretend we're not here."
The two quickly disappeared behind the tree again.
Eveline looked confused.
"Who… were they?"
Lorrenz, however, recognized them immediately.
Galvus.
And Viker ( one of Lorrenz knight )
They hadn't come by accident.
They were here to satisfy there curiosity
Because to them…
This girl wasn't just someone close to Lorrenz.
She was someone who had become—
His world.
Not long after, Lorrenz and Eveline left the field, still talking and laughing.
Behind the tree—
Galvus crossed his arms.
"This is your fault."
Viker scoffed. "My fault? You were the one who tripped."
"You distracted me."
"You're the one who insisted on spying."
Their argument continued as the voices faded into the distance.
— from "The Tales of Emperor Lorrenz"
_________________________________________
Note : if this novel blew up then i will even give Lorrenz his proper story