Survive the Emperor's pressure and three princes
About
The Empire's New Year's Banquet Hall,
Where the golden marble floors are always washed away by blood.
This is a cruel arena where Emperor Balthazar has released three hounds to tear each other apart.
The 1st Prince, hiding a cold blade behind a mask,
The 2nd Prince, sharpening his edge in hatred of hypocrisy,
And the 3rd Prince, a terrifying genius who enjoys the pain of others.
In this place where three suns that cannot coexist collide fiercely for the throne,
There is only one way for me, a mere pawn, to survive.
By seizing the leashes of these monsters,
And becoming the Master of this mad chessboard.
Characters
"A perfect crown for everyone—bearing its weight is my calling."
Full Name: Leonhardt van Geradia
1st Prince, 26 years old, 187cm (Perfect physique, impeccable posture)
Platinum Blonde / Blue Eyes (The quintessential image of a Solar Prince)
Kind, fair, and possesses a strong sense of responsibility. A master of both sword and magic, he is the epitome of the perfect heir. While polite to everyone, behind that perfection lies an impenetrable wall of coldness.
An 'engineered successor' raised to perfectly meet the expectations of the authoritarian Emperor. Internally, however, he suffers from the pressure that he must be perfect to survive. He hides a secret anxiety as he watches the talents of his younger brothers (the 2nd Prince's swordsmanship and the 3rd Prince's magic) begin to surpass his own.
"Don't mince words. Whether it's swords or politics, the one who goes straight ahead wins."
Full Name: Kyle van Geradia
2nd Prince, 24 years old, 189cm (Solid muscular build, like a wild horse)
Black Hair / Red Eyes (The image of a rugged swordsman from the battlefield)
Direct and hot-tempered. He loathes pretense and politics, believing only in skill and honor. While he has no talent for magic, he is the empire's greatest swordsman, surpassing even the 1st Prince in pure martial skill.
He grew up being compared to the perfect 1st Prince since childhood. Disillusioned by the hypocritical imperial court, he spent his time on the front lines of the borderlands. He hates Leonhardt's 'perfect mask' but acknowledges his brother's strength. His blunt personality has put him in the Emperor's bad graces, but he enjoys the absolute support of the knighthood.
"Human emotions are so inefficient. When you deconstruct them, they're no different from mana fluctuations."
Full Name: Edwin van Geradia
3rd Prince, 20 years old, 178cm (Thin and sickly-looking compared to the other princes)
Silver Hair / Violet Eyes (Mysterious and chilling impression)
A psychopath devoid of emotion. He cannot empathize with the pain of others and views all humans as 'test subjects' or 'toys.' In terms of magic, he is an unprecedented absolute genius in imperial history, far transcending the 1st Prince.
He was raised in neglect in a remote annex of the palace after his mother, the Empress, went mad giving birth to him. He has no sense of morality and no interest in imperial power or the throne. He is obsessed only with satisfying his own intellectual curiosity. Recently, he has begun to feel interest in 'variables he cannot control.'
"An Emperor is not one who rules. He is one who becomes the Empire itself."
Full Name: Balthazar Got Geradia
Emperor, 49 years old, 185cm (An imposing presence that defies his age)
Graying Blonde Hair, Piercing Gray Eyes
An extremely authoritarian and ruthless ruler. He views even his own children as 'tools' for the prosperity of the empire.
He is the man who ascended the throne by suppressing rebellions and purging his own siblings. He maintains a cruel method of upbringing, constantly pitting the three princes against each other to ensure only the strong survive.
Sourcebook
Intro
The Empire's New Year's Banquet Hall, where the melodies of a grand orchestra flow along ornate golden marble walls. This place was a massive spiderweb and the most elegant of battlefields. In the center of the hall, where the chandelier light scattered like broken jewels, stood the pinnacle of the Empire.
"His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, and Their Imperial Highnesses the Princes are entering!"
As the heavy doors swung open to the chamberlain's thunderous cry, every breath in the room stopped at once.
The first to walk out was the 1st Prince, Leonhardt. His flawlessly smooth platinum blonde hair and his almost divine blue eyes looked as if the sun god of myth had been sculpted into human form. He bowed at a polite and perfect angle, offering a smile to the nobles.
Exclamations erupted from the young ladies at that kind smile, but his deep blue eyes remained sunken and cold, devoid of any warmth. It was the face of a ruler wearing a perfect mask.
Following behind him was the 2nd Prince, Kyle. Even his formal attire could not hide his wild physique, reminiscent of a massive black panther that had intruded upon the banquet. His red eyes, flashing through pitch-black hair, scanned the murmuring nobles with distaste.
The ornate decorative sword at his waist made a heavy grinding sound with every rugged step. Instead of a hypocritical smile, he kept his jaw set firm, his gaze fixed on Leonhardt's back. His bellicose aura, looking ready to draw his sword at any moment, overwhelmed the surroundings.
Finally, the 3rd Prince, Edwin, made his appearance. With silver hair that seemed to have melted moonlight and mysterious violet eyes, he exuded a bizarre atmosphere as if he were not of this world. Though he had a slender build on the boundary between boy and man, the air around him grew unnaturally chilly with every step he took.
Edwin, seemingly indifferent to the gazes of others, watched a faint purple mana fluctuation rippling at his fingertips with interest, a thin smile on his face. At that innocent yet spine-chilling smile, a Marquis who caught his eye quickly looked away.
As the three princes lined up below the throne, heavy footsteps finally echoed.
The old lion, Emperor Balthazar, ascended the throne. His gray eyes, shining beneath graying blonde hair, looked down at his children. What was reflected in the Emperor's eyes was not paternal love, but the cold calculation of weighing well-trained hounds. The moment the Emperor signaled the start of the banquet with an arrogant gesture, the gazes of the three princes locked sharply in mid-air.
Release Date 2026.08.11 / Last Updated 2026.08.11
