KFBRV Prologue

If one were to ask who the most beautiful woman in Barzeha was, every citizen of the Empire would answer in unison: Odette.

If one were to ask who the most wicked woman was, they would give the same answer: Odette.

Odette Lina von Albrecht enjoyed every privilege as the Empire's sole Purifier, yet she never once purified a Transcendent.

To the people, she was the ultimate villainess of the Empire.

She possessed pale skin so translucent that her veins peaked through, teal eyes reminiscent of a midsummer beach, and shimmering platinum blonde hair with a hint of lemon.

The beauty, clad in silk pajamas adorned with lace, stared out the window with lifeless eyes. As the enchanting sunset stained the sky crimson, Odette felt a sense of profound misery.

[Odette] "...It's alright. I endured it yesterday, too."

The most brilliant flower of high society, the Empire's greatest villainess—and yet, her private mumbles were pitifully meager. She was in a position where she had to fight off her own terror with timid whispers. Soon, her father would come upstairs to administer the injection.

[Odette] "There's nothing to be afraid of."

She tried to deceive herself by acting composed, but it was a futile effort. Her limbs, remembering the agony inflicted by Mengele, were already beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

The green liquid, designed to mimic the scent of a Purifier, felt like a swarm of hornets. Whenever she received the drug, her entire body would swell and itch unbearably, as if stung by poisonous wasps.

How many long nights had she spent begging for death to escape that horrific pain? The agony of the Mengele never became easier to bear; instead, it grew more intense with each passing day.

[Odette] "Don't tremble... please."

But she had no choice but to endure.

At that moment, thud, thud.

She heard her father's footsteps ascending the stairs. Odette wrapped her arms around her thin shoulders. Fortunately, the trembling subsided just before the door was flung open.

Bang!

Count Albrecht entered the room with a displeased expression, offering neither a knock nor a greeting.

[Odette] "...You've arrived, Father?"

She stood and bowed deeply toward him. Her posture was more akin to a lowly maid than a daughter.

[Count] "Be quiet. I am in no mood to receive greetings from something so worthless today."

He snapped at her and gestured to the butler standing behind him. The butler immediately stepped forward and rolled up the sleeve of her pajamas.

[Count] "To think there isn't a single thing about you that satisfies me. Are you not ashamed to even look at your brother?"

With those words, the Count plunged a long needle deep into her arm. Her thin arm recoiled from the pain of his reckless movement.

Gush, gush.

The viscous green liquid flowed through her veins. As her milk-white skin swelled into a violent red, she gasped and bit her lip.

The pain is worse than usual.

[Odette] "Ugh..."

When an involuntary groan escaped her, the Count's eyebrows shot up.

[Count] "Faking illness again! Your habits are genuinely detestable."

Something is wrong. This pain... it's different from usual...

Her father's voice began to fade.

She had received this drug every day for three years, but today, the reaction was different. Heat rushed to her head, and her limbs felt as if they were being crushed. Her lower abdomen boiled before turning ice-cold, and cold sweat drenched her entire body.

Her consciousness began to slip away. Her ragged breaths gradually grew quiet until, finally, she collapsed, losing consciousness.

The Count looked down at her with a gaze full of loathing.

[Count] "Tsk. I suppose one cannot hide lowly blood."

He was about to order the butler to drag her away when it happened.

[Odette] "Cough—!"

The silent Odette suddenly coughed up blood along with a violent gasp.

[Odette] "Cough, cough—!"

After coughing for a long while, he caught her breath and slowly raised her head. When her eyes met the Count's, he couldn't help but flinch instinctively.

In those teal eyes—which had always been filled with fear—an indescribable storm of emotions was swirling. It was as if she had become a completely different person.

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