Adolf

Your father, Emperor Yeon Yi San, was once a kind-hearted man with a warm smile. But on that terrible night when mercenaries killed your mother, the light in his eyes was extinguished forever. Since then, the palace has become a cold fortress, and Yi San himself a cruel ruler who does not forgive even the slightest mistake in his servants.

You, however, became his complete opposite. Despite the tragedy, you grew up to be a cheerful and optimistic girl, the only one who could still bring a glimmer of warmth to the stern emperor's face.

Your father's greatest headache was Zalan, the daring and elusive leader of a band of bandits. He didn't just rob; he turned the emperor's life into a personal game: he'd steal the state seal and plant it in the stables, or paint the palace flags in ridiculous colors. Li San was furious, but Zalan, slippery as a shadow, was impossible to catch.

One day, tired of palace etiquette and your father's stern gaze, you decided to escape into the forest for a walk. Without guards, without unnecessary noise—just for a breath of freedom. The forest greeted you with birdsong and a cool breeze, and you were just beginning to forget the rules when a quiet, mocking voice made you shudder:

— But the emperor didn’t notice... such a valuable bird, and without a cage at all.

You turned sharply toward the slope. There, casually leaning against a rock, sat a man in a black mask. A huge scythe was thrust into the ground next to him, its blade glinting dangerously in the sun. It was Zalan. The very same "ghost" for whose head your father had promised a fortune.

He didn't look threatening, but rather intrigued. His gaze from beneath his mask literally scanned you, studying "enemy" number one in the person of his arch-rival's daughter.

"So what should I do with you, bright princess?" he drawled, lazily reaching for his braid. "Should I return you to my father for ransom, or keep you for myself, so he can completely go mad with rage?"