The Wolf Clan, they slowly got exterminated during the war of the Empires. All clan leaders have died while protecting their hometown within a decade of fighting against the Empires. And some of the youngsters have been evacuated to run away. One of these youngsters is Unnamed.
Most of them were not named because the day of naming had not come due to the war. All of them scattered all over the world as others stayed in a group and others chose to run away alone. An Unnamed got lost in the woods. He was clueless as it is his first time to run this far away from his hometown. Moreover, he does not know how to speak and communicate to the outsiders.
Many days have passed and all he could do is follow mercenaries and travellers. He would run and hide, from places to places, until he arrived at a crowded city that was new to him. It was a beautiful city with a lot of people, houses, and food. From the furthest view, he can see a massive house. How does that look so big even if he is so far away from it?
There he strolled around, disguising himself as an ordinary adolescent child. Maybe because he is a wolf that he is sharp and quick-witted, he understood how the lives of these people work. He tried looking for work but no one would ever take an ‘orphan’ child as a worker. This is why, Unnamed become one of the beggars.
“Unnamed!” One of his friends called him. He ran towards him, while jumping out of joy.
“A lady gave me so much bread! We can eat this for a week!”
They were all so happy with what they had received for that day. The bread that his friend got was their meal for a whole week. He wonders who might have given those breads? His friend said that it was a girl with beautiful red hair.
Somehow, Unnamed became the leader of the beggars because of his mental and physical ability. The following days, he had thought of ways to steal since they had no choice as people kept ignoring beggars and they had no food to eat.
With his clever strategies, they got food to eat everyday not until… one of them did not come back home. Unnamed looked for his friend and after many days, they finally found him, under the bridge, dead from drowning. He was so devastated about what happened and he investigated the cause of his friend’s death only to find out that paladins did that to him just because a noble had accused him of stealing.
He was angry. He is so angry that he wanted to trace those knights who have killed his friend but with his current power, he knows that it would not be possible.
Thud!
“Oh, I am sorry.”
Maybe because he was crying out of anger that he did not realize that he bumped into someone. He stopped whining and looked up to have his eyes widened upon meeting the eyes of the woman he bumped into. He got mesmerized by the girl’s eyes like fire agate that he thought he was looking at someone who is painfully high ranking. Moreover, she had red hair like blood and ruby, perhaps, is she the girl his friend is talking about?
“Are you alright? Did I hurt you?”
Judging by the woman’s dress and the two Imperial Knights behind her, she must be a noble with higher status than all of the nobles he saw.
“Your highness, you will dirty your hands—
The knights were refraining the girl from touching him but she raised her hand, signalling them to not bother. The girl touched his head and he felt warmth from it. He was just standing there as he did not want to believe the look on the girl’s eyes. Among all of the people he met, this girl had an unexplainable look on her face like she was feeling him and his feelings as a beggar.
“Come with me.” The woman suddenly invited him somewhere. He was surprised by what she did. She bought him a lot of food and even clothes to wear. She even bought him a whole house.
“I am sorry if I could only afford a simple house as of now. I did not take more money with me. I hope you will be alright there.”
He was just standing outside the house she bought for him. He watched the girl walk away after giving him all he needed in a snap. He is still contemplating whether that girl is utterly foolish or just filthy rich. He did not even have time to thank her because it felt like he was dreaming.
That time, he found himself following the noble girl. He observed her if she was really sincere or not but he just found himself devoting that whenever that girl comes to the town, he will protect her.
Days have passed and he and his friends are living a good life in that house, thanks to the noble girl. Unnamed was feeling satisfied because he can see his friends living a good life. So then, the Bubble festival has come. He was looking forward to the festival as people will have many giveaways and they can get many foods.
During this festival, he scattered his friends all around the town to beg for food. And because he naturally has a strong sense of smell, he knew that the noble girl was coming. He waited for the noble girl’s carriage to come and when it did, he hid himself somewhere to watch her. He was so happy to see her again.
She looks so beautiful with her dress again. She may be just wearing a simple garment but no one can replace the elegance she possesses. But he wonders why people do not want to approach someone as kind as her? And why do they have a strange look on their faces while they look at her?
Unnamed suddenly felt danger somewhere in the town, so he searched for them and he was shocked to discover paladins planning on assassinating the noble girl. He fought these paladins in order to protect her but then when he came back to check on the noble girl, she was vomiting blood.
He got petrified as he panicked on thinking what to do. He looked at the Imperial knights who were supposed to be helping her but the look on their eyes made him still. They were terrified and they just ran away! The people! Why is there anyone helping the noble girl when she is obviously dying?! Why… why they even look like they want her to… die?
He trembled. Why… why is there anyone willing to help her? Why do they have that look in their faces? What did she do wrong?
He clenched his fist and found himself running towards the noble girl. Without thinking of the surroundings, he lifted up the noble girl’s body as he ran back to the carriage she was riding a while ago.
“Take her to the palace and send a doctor. She is dying!”
Strangely, the coachman listened to a beggar and took the noble girl to the palace for immediate treatment.
That night, he could not sleep while thinking about the noble girl’s condition. He was planning on sneaking into the palace but he is also worried about his friends’ safety since he knows that the paladins will come looking for him later.
During that night, someone knocked on the door of the house he is staying in. He got nervous as he woke up all of his friends and commanded them to hide and be prepared for a battle. He prepared his stolen sword before he opened the door.
There his eyes went wide as he saw a tall man standing behind the door, looking familiar to him. His hair is as red as blood and he stands mightily. Just by looking at him, he knew that he had no match to this man.
“Are you the one who saved my sister?”
Sister? Does he mean…
Looking at the man, he is familiar because of his similar appearance with the noble girl! Is he perhaps her older brother?
“Y-Yes.”
The man showed him an intimidating look, making him sweat, in fear of angering this man. Damn, he wants to be this intimidating! He wants to have this kind of presence too!
“Come with me. Take the other fifteen.” The man lastly commanded before walking away and went back to his luxurious carriage.
He was surprised at how that man knows that there are fifteen people behind him. Moreover, should he trust that man? But looking at the luxurious carriage, it looked unique that he had never seen a noble ride something like that. What noble family does that man and the noble girl belong to?
In the end, Unnamed ended up going with the man’s command along with his friends. It was in the middle of the night that he is the only one who can trace their way back to the town if ever something bad happens. But it was a peaceful trip and they were even given food to eat during the trip.
The next morning, they arrived in a more spacious and big palace. It was so wide that their eyes could not see where it ended. It was way bigger than the Imperial palace!
Everything was new to him and his friends. The place felt different than the town. He feels safe with his friends and it also felt like a place where they could live well. And that is what happened, they are given shelter, clean clothes to wear, and food to eat three times a day.
“I shall name you Acacius,”
Unnamed lowered his head and bent his knees in front of Prince Eunuoa, the man who took him out of misery. Finally, he has a name.
“I will grant you the surname Xerxes as you have shown great talent and accomplishment during the past year. I will give you the task to protect my sister, Princess Epiphany Agmundr, with your life from then on and until your death.”
“Yes, your highness!”
He was so happy that he was finally given a name and that he has made accomplishments just like how he dreamt of it. He is also happy that his friends can finally live a good life on their own and without depending on him.
From the day Unnamed got named as Acacius Xerxes, one of the commanders of the Dukedom knights, he never left Princess Epiphany’s side. He thought that everything will be alright because he is finally strong but… he has yet to see the reality behind the bars.
He was so excited to see Princess Epiphany again after a year but he stood still while he watched Princess Epiphany looking tired and bored. No, it was not because of it. It was due to the fact that she only walks, eats, sleeps, and talks because she was being manipulated by Prince Eunuoa. He thought that she was very healthy but… he was wrong. She is not the girl he used to protect in the town. Not anymore.
With this realization, he did all his best to protect Princess Epiphany despite all of the things she did. It is because he knows that she is unstable and that she will not come back to her old self. He watched her every move and her every decision. He may know that she is not right but he never stopped her. He did all things for her which is why he had gained the name of a ruthless personal knight of Princess Epiphany.
“Acacius,”
He immediately stood up upon hearing his lady call his name. He then took a slap from her. He then watched her walk past him as he followed her silently. He is already getting used to her slaps whenever she is raging. His lady is short tempered and when she has nothing to vent her anger on, she takes it on him, and he does not care about it. He will gladly receive a beating if ever it is the only way to calm her anger down.
“Are you tired of me?”
One day, Acacius was asked by her.
“Never will I, my lady.”
He had this strong feeling that he should protect her at all cost. It is not just an obligation that was given to him as her personal knight but it has become a responsibility since he was a beggar.
“The Princess is missing!”
Acacius got terrified with the sudden news he had heard from the maids in the middle of the night. He immediately went out of his bedroom to check on Princess Epiphany. The Dukedom was in a mess because of her sudden disappearance and they could not find her anywhere.
No, it is his responsibility to protect her! Why did he lose her?! Why did he lower his guard just because they are inside the Dukedom territory?! There must be a traitor! Or an extremely skilled paladin who abducted his lady! No, he will not let anyone touch his lady!
With his natural ability as a wolf, he traced his lady’s smell and found the traces of the abductor. Along with his comrades, they followed the traces and the divine power until they had completely found his lady’s whereabouts, the execution ground.
He sent a messenger to Prince Eunuoa before he commanded a bloody war against the temple with only his battalion. However, they were not enough because paladins and imperial knights joined forces to stop them.
“You should admit defeat, Xerxes.” Commander Cunigund stood in front of Acacius' lying body.
“No,” Acacius’ hands trembled while he pierced his sword to the ground so he could stand up again.
His whole body was excruciating in pain and he almost could not breathe with all the blood spilled out from his body. Why… why this paladin just could not die? Why is this man alive after all the strikes he has caused? He must be using something on his sleeves that his wounds would heal in an instant!
“It is too late, Xerxes. The Princess must have been exec—
“No! She would not die!” He exclaimed, painfully feeling that is the truth as he could not smell his lady’s scent anymore.
Acacius fell on the ground after staggering. His tears started falling.
“Why… why do you have that look on your face?” He cried. “Why do you look like you do not want that to happen?! Why do you look guilty when you have stopped me from saving her?!”
It was the truth. He knows just from the scent of Commander Cunigund that he does not like to have a duel with him.
“I could have saved her if you did not stop me!”
Commander Cunigund could not speak because it is the truth. But he also had no choice.
Acacius found himself lying on the ground as he could not move anymore and that… he knew that he was on his deathbed. He held his sword as watched the snow falling from the sky.
Ahh, he has failed to protect her. He is not a deserving personal knight…
“Do you have a last wish?”
He remained silent for a while.
“I… want to see her again.”
The ringing of the bell woke him up from spacing out. Acacius stood up and confused as he thought about what he just dreamt about. He was confused if he had forgotten something.
Somehow, he felt like he wanted to see his lady right away. So he quickly left the training grounds. He then walked to his lady’s room but he stopped after seeing her come out of her room with Odry.
As he looked at her, he was feeling relieved for some reason and that there is something new with the atmosphere.
“I want to go to the underground cell.” Princess Epiphany told Odry.
“But my lady, the cell is place you would not like—
“I need to see the big dog and check on his condition.”
“Will you be alright? What if you get an infection?”
“I will be alright. I am fully recovered.”
He stilled to where he was standing as he saw the curving of his lady’s lips. Shr smiled. She looked so warm and her voice was soft just like when she first talked to him—
His eyes went wide with sudden realization. Did she perhaps…
Princess Epiphany and Odry changed direction so he followed them quietly to the underground cell where his lady kept a paladin captive.
“You can leave me now.” Princess Epiphany commanded Odry after arriving at the underground cell.
“Yes, my lady.”
When Odry went out, he came close to his lady.
“Your highness! Please spare my life! I beg you!” The paladin who was caught started begging his lady and he got irritated by how loud it begs. His lady does not like loud noises.
“Acacius,”
He immediately walked towards his lady after she called his name. He pulled out his sword and cut the paladin’s neck.
When his lady went out the underground cell, he followed her and observed her from the back. Her way of walking has changed and she keeps on spacing out like she is thinking deep. Just like now, she almost bumped into the wall if he did not hold her forehead.
“My lady?” He pulled her backwards, away from the wall.
“Ah, I’m sorry I was spacing out.”
“Are you sad, my lady? Do you want me to get you another big dog?” Is she perhaps sad that he killed the big dog?
“No. No. I’m fine.”
Why did she refuse to capture big dogs? She liked torturing them.
“Then what about a white crow?” So does she want a saint instead? It would be a bit challenging if he catches a saint.
He saw the confusion in her eyes. How cute.
“Do you not remember that you call Saints as white crows?”
He is right. She does not remember it. This only means that…
He does not need to worry about his lady's health anymore. It's a relief to see her smile once again.