I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 01 (Isabella Von Hagen Loire)

XX20 Imperial Year.

Loire Empire

The Royal Palace

The 2nd Princess's Bedroom.

"Father! No! I will not do that! I will never marry a heinous werewolf! You can not do that to me, father! You can not force me!"

A girl with pink hair sobbed while lying in bed.

"Ruby, My Dear. Calm down! It's for the sake of the peace between our Loire Empire and that Fellmirr! We can not let them get more powerful than they are now."

A middle-aged man with pale-yellow hair consoled the girl with a warm voice.

"But still! How can you marry me off to a heinous monster!"

The room of the 2nd Princess Rubena Estella Von Loire was in chaos. As she was set up to a political marriage with the Crown Prince of the Fellmirr Empire, Leonus Albus Carados Fellmirr.

Fellmirr… A huge empire where all kinds of Beasts, Monsters, Beastmen, Wizards and muggles reside. It was founded by a powerful Alpha known as Elizar Fellmirr to strengthen their kin and for the safety of the Beastmen from the Dark Wizards.

After generations, it has turned into the most powerful empire of all continents. Many empires tried to take them down, but never was there one who won against them.

On the other hand, the Loire Empire is mainly known as the Land of Wizards. As for centuries, Wizards with different kinds of Magical abilities like fire, water, ice, thunder and many more reside there. And some Wizards use spells to cast magic.

Another reason is the late Emperor Johannes Von Allen Loire. He was the greatest Wizard who was fluent in Light Magic, Spatial Magic and Spell-Casting. And all of them are rare traits of Magical Ability. Because of him, the Loire Empire reached the peak of its fame and prosperity.

The werewolves and other Beastmen never got along well with Wizards other than those of Fellmirr. As in the past, the Dark Wizards used them as guinea pigs for different magical experiments, as ingredients to make high-grade potions and as sacrifices for their Dark Magic.

They were tortured and used as slaves. But after getting tired of being used and tormented by greedy humans, the werewolves stood up and together with other beastmen, they hunted down the Dark Wizards. Then they built the Fellmirr Empire.

As time passed by, dark Wizards were eradicated. Those who were alive hid somewhere.

The current Emperor of the Fellmirr Empire is Theobald Cedric Carados Fellmirr, also the current Alpha of the werewolves. For some reason when all the empires and kingdoms of the Waldor continent brought out the Peace Accord by Political Marriage, he seemed to agree quite easily.

Everyone was surprised when Emperor Theobald agreed as the Beastmen didn't like to communicate with Wizards other than those of their empire. And Fellmirr is not one that can be called a Friendly Empire.

Although there was a condition that the princess would have to be from the Loire Empire.

It was quite evident as it is the largest compared to the other empires of the continent, even though the Loire Empire is not as large as the Fellmirr Empire.

And it will be a great opportunity for the Loire Empire to rise to power and put a leash on them. It is hard to find information about the Fellmirr Empire as the only way to get into their empire was a portal, which was controlled by their magic tower.

Anyways, the second princess was chosen as the designated bride, as the first princess Isabella Von Hagen Loire was already engaged. But the second princess is totally against this.

"Calm down, Ruby."

"No! I can't! How can I calm down!"

"Ruby-"

"I will never marry a monster! Never!"

Rubena was crying and screaming in her room. Seeing her beloved youngest daughter like that, Emperor Mathias Von Goldrudder Loire pondered for a while. After a few thoughts, he changed his mind.

"Sigh~. Albert."

Mathias sighed and called his aide.

"Yes, Your Highness."

A young man with long brown hair replied.

"Ask Isabella to come to my study."

"As you wish."

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Isabella Von Hagen Loire, the first Princess of the Loire empire, is the first Empress's daughter. Her mother, Empress Roxanne died because of an illness when she was very young.

She has beautiful pale white skin, shimmering golden hair that reaches till the ankle and reddish-purple eyes. Her mesmerizing Golden hair seemed like a flare of Sunshine. It's as if you touch it, it will break right away. Her reddish-purple eyes are like Amethyst. She also has a kind personality.

But the people, mostly the Emperor hated her. She was treated lowly in the palace. Even the servants and the maids working in the palace looked down at her.

The Emperor hated the first Empress as he was forced to marry her by his father, the previous emperor Johannes.

Emperor Mathias hates Isabella as she resembles his father, the previous emperor, Johannes Von Allen Loire. On the other hand, unlike her brilliant blonde hair, he had pale-yellow hair. As a result, he felt inferior.

And his monstrous behaviour towards Isabella makes him nothing less than a monster in the guise of a human.

Even her fiance Grand Duke Roberto Silverwind gave her the cold shoulder. And it is rumoured that he secretly likes Princess Rubena.

So the poor girl was looked down upon by other Aristocrats too.

There was another reason why she was mistreated. She couldn't use magic. All the members of the Royal Family use Light Magic. But Isabella couldn't even create a ray.

The empire has two princes and two princesses. Isabella is the second child of the Emperor.

Among her siblings, only the first Prince William Von Travis Loire, doesn't mistreat her. Although he still ignores her after a light greeting. On the other hand, the second prince Daniel Luth Loire causes trouble for her a lot.

And Rubena, the youngest child, treats Isabella with heartfelt sincerity. She wanted to be a good sister to Isabella. But that's only what others say. She is no less than her father, Emperor Mathias. They are both monsters wearing the mask of innocence.

In the Royal Palace, Isabella has a small room. When the Emperor summoned her, she was reading a book while leaning on the side of the window seat.

She was wearing a baby-pink coloured nightgown with beautiful white flower-patterned laces. Sunlight was coming out of the window reflecting on her golden hair. Both of her cheeks had a light pinkish glow and her lips were red as blood.

Whoosh~

A cold breeze fluttered her hair.

Her leaning figure on the window seat while holding a book with both hands was so beautiful that one will forget to breathe just by watching that.

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Tap*

I slowly closed the book I was reading. It's about Ancient Magic.

My grandfather, the previous Emperor, gave it to me secretly when I was young.

He was the only person who genuinely loved me besides my mother in this palace. Although I don't remember anything about my mother as she died when I was really young.

< Isabella was sitting on her grandfather, Emperor Johannes's lap in his private library. He used to call her 'Bell' affectionately.

"Do you know Bell Ancient Magic is the mother of all magic?"

"Moder(Mother) of all magic?"

"Yes. It includes time magic, dark magic, spatial magic and many more complicated magical powers."

"Wow~"

"But now it is a forbidden realm of magic. Although there isn't any Wizard alive in this empire who can cast such complicated magic. Hahaha~ "

"You can't use anshint(ancient) magic, Granpa(Grandpa)?"

"Well, I can. Not all of them though."

"Aww~ Why not?"

"Hahaha~ Well, I can't. But there are Wizards in the Fellmirr Empire who can still use Ancient Magic. But sigh~"

"What ish(is) it, Granpa?"

"Because some people used it for their selfish purpose, people are not allowed to enter the Fellmirr Empire. It was great magic whose purpose was to make mankind a better place. But because of those selfish people, it's now bygone here."

"People can not enter da(the) Fermirr(Fellmirr) Empire?"

"No, child."

"Why?"

"Because they were hurt by our people."

"Aww~ I hope they won't be sad anymore."

"Hahaha~ I hope so too. I wish there will be a day when both kinds can live in harmony. Oh! This old man completely forgot. Look at this"

Emperor Johannes brought out a book from his mantle.

"What ish(is) dis(this), Granpa?"

"This is a book about Ancient Magic."

"But I can't read."

"Hoho~ Read this when you grow up. Until then I'll keep this with me. But don't tell anyone about this. Let's keep it our little secret, okay?"

"Okay!" >

Whoosh~

The sudden cold breeze brought me back from reminiscing. It was the time when my grandfather first showed me this book. I miss my grandfather.

Isabella thought while stroking the book with a beautiful black-velvet cover decorated with gemstones.

"Haa~ It's getting colder... Winter is near."

Isabella exhaled a long breath and said while looking outside the window.

Knock* Knock*

Suddenly I heard someone knocking on my door. I hurriedly hid the book under a pillow.

"C-Come in."

Creak~

It was Albert. Although he is just 25, he became His Highness the Emperor's aide because of his talents. He will probably serve my brother, Crown Prince William when he ascends to the throne. He is a man of few words and a very mysterious person.

After giving a slight bow, Albert said,

"Good afternoon, Princess. His Highness, the emperor asked you to go to his study.".

Isabella flinched.

"H-His Highness? To his s-study?"

"Yes."

"I-I see. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Yes. Then please excuse me."

Albert then slightly bowed and left the room.

'I wonder why that person is looking for me.. I didn't do anything this month. So why?'