If You Conquer Me - Chapter 1

The banquet hall, beautiful like a painting.

Brilliant lights overflowed from the chandelier made of the finest crystal.

On the massive table were all kinds of delicacies and expensive wines. People gathered around the table, greedily devouring the food, while their eyes enjoyed secret amusements.

The entertainment was none other than the brutal battle to the death between gladiator slaves. The crowd’s eyes gleamed with vulgar excitement as they stared at the prison.

“Kill him! Kill him!”

“Do you know how much money I bet on you?”

In stark contrast to the luxurious surroundings, at the center of the hall stood a large prison—a hell of humanity.

The prison was soaked in blood. Corpses were strewn haphazardly across the floor, and blades gleamed coldly in the sea of blood. Amidst this, a woman stood alone.

“Ugh…”

The woman, covered in blood, staggered and leaned against the dense iron bars. Every step she took made the blood on the floor stick to her boots with a squelching sound.

“Haah, haah, huff…”

The woman, panting heavily, squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again, staring outside the bars. Despite her exhausted state, her bright blue eyes, fixed beyond the bars, were unwavering.

At the end of her gaze, a man sat at an angle.

He was lounging with his legs crossed, his chin resting on his hand. His golden hair shone like sunlight, and his eyes were as red as the finest ruby. He was a man so beautiful that it seemed like God had poured all the effort into crafting him.

Yet, the woman remained unshaken, even in the face of such beauty.

…I have to kill him.

Instead, a deep, fiery heat filled her chest.

Hugo Estor Del Morgana.

The man who subjugated her homeland, the Holy Kingdom of Ascanior, beneath the feet of the Yerhalt Empire. The sharpest sword of the Empire. And,

Descendant of the Great Demon.

At that moment, the man turned toward her.

Ah.

Their eyes met. She quickly averted her gaze, but Hugo, who had been watching her, smirked and curled the corner of his lips.

“It seems the victor has been decided.”

At his languid voice, the nobles seated beside him quickly nodded in agreement.

“It seems so, Your Grace.”

“Did you enjoy the entertainment we prepared for you?”

They were all eager to please him. For a moment, the woman looked at the nobles beside the man with eyes full of contempt.

Dirty traitors.

Those who had once lived comfortably under the name of Ascanior had eagerly defected the moment Morgana’s army advanced.

And so now, in this lavish banquet hall, to entertain that horrendous man who trampled over Ascanior, a gladiator arena was set up.

At least it’s fortunate that only serious criminals were brought in as gladiator slaves.

She had heard that the man himself had requested this. He wanted to enjoy the spectacle of gladiatorial combat, but only with those who were serious criminals—those guilty of murder and violence or worse.

Because of this, the woman, disguised as a gladiator slave, could fight alongside the other gladiators without feeling guilt.

But… it won’t be long now.

The woman took a deep breath, trying to calm her mind. She had fought in bloody battles, and now she had finally reached this moment. She was so close to that man.

Clank!

The iron bars creaked open, and a knight roughly pulled her out.

“Come!”

She staggered as the knight dragged her forward.

“Come closer.”

Hugo gestured casually. It was not a long distance, but for some reason, it felt impossibly far. In this hell of humanity, where gladiators tore each other apart like animals, he alone stood out—elegant, clean, and pristine.

…I can do this. No.

The woman clenched her teeth tightly.

I must do this.

She had come here to see her sword slit his throat and his severed head hit the floor miserably.