This world was the setting of the novel The Princess is Loved. And Damian Kraus—was the villain fated to be eliminated right at the beginning.
There was no rule that said a fallen villain couldn't return, but from how I remembered the story, Damian had no such chance. He served his purpose early on and was swiftly forgotten.
In the grand scheme of things, Damian was never a true player—just a supporting piece that existed to make the heroine, Elena, reveal her true self. He was the spark that lit the fire, nothing more.
Damian was the heir of House Kraus, one of the three great martial households of the Empire. But he wasn't the only one from a prestigious family competing for Elena's affection. Among the male candidates stood another member of those same three houses—Reinhard Cromwell.
Reinhard, the "Sword of the Heaven." The man who would one day ascend to the rank of Sword Master. His talent and sheer strength drew the readers in like moths to a flame. Many were curious about how Count Kraus, the current Sword Master, would react when faced with someone of Reinhard's caliber.
In the novel, Arthur Kraus, head of House Kraus, knelt before Elena and Joachim to beg forgiveness for his son's sins. That scene shocked the readers. Some believed Damian would return later, vowing revenge in the shadows. Others speculated he would reemerge as a far greater villain.
But none of that ever happened.
Damian Kraus simply vanished from the story. The only stain in the otherwise proud Kraus lineage—was him.
Eventually, the plot moved forward. Count Kraus reappeared, but this time with a new heir: a boy named Alphonse Kraus. He replaced Damian completely, stepping into the role of successor as though Damian had never existed.
The power and influence of House Kraus didn't stem from their fertile lands or their strategic position in the South. It wasn't even because of their reputation as exceptional swordsmen.
The true reason the Kraus family remained a dominant force was far more grim—they were the guardians of the Runeproud Mountains, a land infested with malevolent spirits.
Once a year, the mountains would stir with malice.
From deep within that range, where light rarely touched and whispers of the dead lingered, a mass of evil spirits would begin their march toward the lands where people lived.
And every year, it fell upon Count Kraus to lead the soldiers standing at the vanguard—shielding the innocent from that tide of darkness.
But the spirits weren't the only threat lurking in this world.
There were also the dark infidels—twisted beings who reveled in destruction. Their appearance marked the downfall of the southern front. Fortresses crumbled, cities were swallowed by fire, and despair spread like disease.
In the end, only one bastion remained—Sarham. Guarded by Arthur Kraus himself, it stood as the final stronghold of the south.
To aid in its defense, many noble houses across the empire sent reinforcements. Among them was the prestigious House of Edelweiss—and with them came Elena, who by then had grown into a formidable magician.
When the main character appeared, the tide of war turned. The fate of the dark infidels was sealed. Elena, alongside the Male Lead candidates who followed her, purged them in a blaze of magic and steel.
It was around this time that Alphonse emerged as the new heir of House Kraus.
He met with Elena, offering an apology on behalf of Damian for his past transgressions. Afterward, he devoted himself to aiding her in the campaign against the remaining evil spirits.
But Damian himself… never returned.
Only his name lingered—spoken in passing, half-forgotten. According to Alphonse, his whereabouts were unknown.
The readers, of course, had their theories. Some claimed Damian had caused the monster wave. Others believed he'd simply fled—too frightened to face the chaos he'd left behind.
Whatever the truth was, Damian had vanished from both the battlefield and the story, leaving behind nothing but his sins and a name no one wanted to remember.
Maybe it was because he had such a brother that Alphonse's presence was so well-received.
He apologized for his older brother's mistakes as if they were his own, and the way he conducted himself during the subjugation was enough for people to start calling him a hero.
There was even talk—some noisy uproar—about whether he might be the new Male Lead candidate.
In the end, this whole episode just made one thing clear: Damian Kraus was the only piece of trash in the Kraus household. It almost felt as if God had created Damian solely to torment Elena.
Maybe that's why my body reacts the way it does whenever I'm near her. I can't control it. I feel like I'm going insane.
Still, I'm Damian now… and honestly, I'm grateful to have such a kind younger brother.
I remember hearing once that the older a younger sibling grows, the more they change—sometimes becoming someone you barely recognize.
But maybe it's because I already know what the future holds. Knowing that Alphonse grows up to be a good person, even with someone like Damian as his brother… it's strangely comforting.