Little Pink Starfish

“Absolutely not, Your Majesty! My son died because of the monster!”

“Didn’t you send him out in a condition where he was bound to die, Count?”

Flap. As the moment of silence began, Ishar threw the document that his aide Phailen had brought, straight at the Count.

Instead of falling to the floor, the paper rode a breeze—though there was none inside the chamber—and fluttered to land directly in front of the Count.

He hastily picked it up and began to read. His expression froze. He couldn’t even open his mouth, only glancing nervously at Ishar, as if about to spill everything at any moment. As the nobles noticed Count Hensiad’s change, they began to steal glances at the document.

Then, in a calm, low voice, Ishar continued.

“And Count Caprea, Count Serta, Marquis Novenny, and Duke Volos.”

Gulp. Someone swallowed audibly.

“You’re no different. If you have even a shred of decency left, stop here.”

Flap! The sheet Count Hensiad had weakly laid down split and fluttered like feathers, landing before each of the named nobles.

They had been the loudest throughout the meeting. Now, the nobles who hadn’t been named stared at them with disgust, fully grasping what was happening.

These were the ones who, every time compensation amounts were in danger of being lowered, shouted about foreign examples, historical precedents, and even mythology to inflate the “value” of the fallen.

Now that it was revealed they were just trying to pay off their personal debts, those who had been swayed by their emotional appeals and had supported them blushed with shame.

“Count Elzev, proceed.”

“Yes, understood!”

With that, the meeting resumed swiftly and smoothly.

Not long after, the compensation plan was finalized. The topic of funerals followed, but it did not take as long to settle.

As the atmosphere remained solemn and the meeting neared its end, Duke Superzen raised the speaking feather for the first time.

“Duke Superzen, please speak.”

“What happens in the case of a missing person whose body hasn’t been found?”

“That… hasn’t been decided yet.”

The only missing member of the subjugation force—Veloan—had been brought up. And as if by prior agreement, everyone turned to look at Ishar.

Ishar, even when his disciple was mentioned, showed not the slightest reaction—just stared straight at Duke Superzen.

“By imperial law, confirmation of life or death is required before a ruling is made. But in Lord Veloan’s case, he fell into the Abyss. Shouldn’t that be considered death?”

“A funeral without a body—isn’t that an insult to the deceased?”

“But it’s not possible to descend the Abyss cliff to retrieve the body.”

Duke Superzen’s bold words left the rest of the nobles pale. Even if he was one of the pillars of the Empire, it was out of line to speak so bluntly to Ishar, who had lost Veloan.

“The Duke is right.”

Ishar looked Duke Superzen straight in the eye and spoke in his usual expressionless tone.

“However, I will continue to consider Veloan as missing. Is that not better than insulting the dead with a funeral without a body?”

Wrinkles deepened at the corners of Duke Superzen’s eyes.

“Does Your Majesty believe Lord Veloan is still alive?”

Only Duke Superzen could have asked such a question.

“As much as you do, Duke.”

It was a curious answer. Some tried to guess the meaning behind Ishar’s words, but no one could truly discern their implication.

Duke Superzen looked deeply into Ishar’s eyes.

Had the Emperor noticed something? Perhaps that the Duke had been secretly searching for Veloan not just around the Abyss but across the entire continent?

Or had he sensed the Duke’s involvement in Karsha’s death, which sank him into a deep abyss of his own?

He hoped to read even a hint from Ishar’s eyes, but they were cold and lifeless—like looking into empty glass marbles. It felt as if he were staring into a hollow reflection.

The Duke composed himself, then smiled amiably and replied with feigned ease.

“Then I shall pray that Lord Eoris grants Lord Veloan a miracle and returns him safely to us.”

For someone who had just been talking about corpses and funerals moments ago, the Duke’s shamelessness was astounding. Ishar smiled—a picturesque, almost sacred smile that couldn’t be mistaken for mockery.

“Since you’ve said it, Duke, it feels like your prayer might truly reach Eoris and bring Veloan back.”

With his sweet, gentle voice, Ishar spoke as if murmuring to himself. Then he glanced at the pitiable Count Elzev, who stood frozen between the two men.

Taking the Emperor’s cue, the Count quickly resumed the meeting.

---

Master…

The memory of the last real conversation he’d had with Veloan played in his mind once again, as it did every day.

“When I return, please give it back.”

The necklace felt unbearably heavy around his neck—so much that he couldn’t breathe.

Veloan.

If only I hadn’t given you this necklace. If only I hadn’t sent you on the subjugation mission. Couldn’t you have just stayed by my side?

Even if you never surpassed me, I would have made you Emperor.

I would have been your strength. I would have been your sword and your magic. You didn’t have to become my equal.

You could have lived under my protection. I am a sinner who threw you into hell. So it would have been right.

If only I had done that from the beginning.

If I had known that my foolish longing for freedom and hope would lead to your death, I would never have dared to desire you.

“Even if we’re apart, I believe that through this necklace, Master will always remember me, anytime, anywhere.”

Veloan… Did you know?

Your words became a curse to me.

The necklace that marked my guilt—you made it a token of our reunion.

So how could I possibly remove it from my body?

It’s been three years since I lost you, but I think of you dozens, hundreds of times a day. Every time I look at this necklace.

You should know—it does exactly what you hoped. It carves your presence into me, again and again.

It makes me remember you as clearly as if I saw you yesterday. It drives me mad with longing.

Would you please come take this necklace back?

Even just briefly… just for a moment… let me see you again, hold you again. Please…

“Then, Master, I will take my leave. I’ll say goodbye briefly before I go, so don’t worry.”

Don’t go. Don’t leave me.

Veloan.

Please… don’t go.

“…Ah.”

Ishar opened his eyes.

He became aware of the pen in his hand and the black ink smear burned into the document it had touched. He realized what he had done.

“I fell asleep while working.”

He turned his head to check the time—it was 20 minutes past the last time he’d looked. 2:40 a.m.

That vague hour when nothing begins and nothing ends. A time when everything falls into silence.

Ishar closed his eyes again, hoping to press down the heavy emotions left behind by the dream. But as soon as he did, he heard the sound of rain.

It had rained hard the day he lost Veloan, too.

The scene in that darkness, the thick smell of blood from his self-inflicted wound—all of it came rushing back, tightening around his throat. He gasped and opened his eyes again, as if fleeing the darkness.

He grabbed his chest with trembling hands. Through his clothes, he felt Veloan’s necklace. As long as it existed, he knew peace would never come to his heart.

“Ugh…”

Unable to suppress his emotions, pain blossomed in his chest and head.

He opened a drawer with shaking fingers and took out painkillers. Even though he knew that no medicine would dull the pain he had created himself, he chewed and swallowed the pill.

This compulsive act had continued for three years since the day he lost Veloan.

And it would likely continue until the day he died.

---

In the tenth year of Emperor Eod I’s reign, the Lucheist Empire entered its second golden age.

The lands once ravaged by Bezerne I were no longer barren wastes of death but abundant golden fields.

Those who had once suffered and died from war-induced poverty now breathed again and found their way back to daily life, supported by the Empire’s proactive welfare policies.

Even those who had barely survived under Bezerne II’s extravagance, or who had suffered through droughts, floods, and plagues, were now free from starvation.

Now, almost none of those within the Empire—be they in remote regions or in colonized territories—had to fear hunger. The Emperor treated all under the Empire as his people and extended his full support.

When the Emperor initiated national-scale infrastructure projects to create jobs and foster regional development, trade and local economies flourished.

As markets and regional economies stabilized, Ishar revised Imperial law—reforming the slavery system and strengthening criminal laws.

As a result, the lives of Imperial citizens improved beyond comparison.

Faced with such transformation, even the nobles who had once doubted Ishar now recognized him, and most gave him their heartfelt loyalty.