“Um… 20 years old.”

“20 years old?”

“Yes.”

Erica’s expression turned serious. She clearly remembered everything up to the age of 23. Even the humiliation from Murray and the sensation of dying remained vivid.

‘So was that not just an ordinary dream but something like a premonitory vision? Does this mean I might die in three years?’

By the sword of some nameless soldier.

Three years was both long and short. The thought that she might face such a future if she did nothing made Erica’s heart pound.

‘I don’t want to die! I want to live for a long, long time.’

Some nobles said it was better to die young than to grow old and die ugly. Erica used to agree with that sentiment. Back then, she never thought death would come so early. Her mother had passed away, but her grandmother was still alive, so she assumed she would live long too.

‘Just three years…’

Despair clouded Erica’s face.

Unlike in her youth, her grandmother now lived peacefully tending to flowers. Though old and ill, her grandmother often said this was the happiest time of her life.

‘What’s wrong with growing old and dying ugly? If I can avoid dying at 23, I can do anything.’

“My lady, are you alright?”

Despite how Erica had treated her, Ella showed concern. Looking at Ella’s worried expression, Erica realized something.

[…That’s exactly why it doesn’t work. That’s why servants betray their masters.]

It wasn’t too late.

She didn’t have only three years left; she had three years remaining. During that time, she needed to correct each mistake one by one.

If she treated these people well now, if things could still be reversed, wouldn’t tragedy be averted? She couldn’t face death without even trying.

And seeing Murray’s attitude just now, Ella seemed more trustworthy than her.

“Ella, starting tomorrow, you’ll be my personal maid.”

Ella thought she had misheard and asked Erica again.

“Pardon? Me? …What about Murray?”

Becoming a personal maid came with many privileges. First, one was exempt from all menial tasks and served only one person. 

Though there were fewer holidays, one could receive bonuses and additional pay for overtime, and could get tasty snacks while accompanying the mistress.

“Murray will return to being a regular maid.”

“…Don’t you dislike me?”

Ella was always honest, and this time was no exception. However, Erica actually appreciated Ella’s transparent attitude. At least she didn’t seem likely to backstab her like Murray.

“I like you.”

“!”

“So Ella, please become my personal maid. I’ll tell the head maid tomorrow. Oh, and keep it a secret that I asked about my age. It’s embarrassing…”

“Yes! I’ll work hard!”

Seeing Ella’s enthusiasm, Erica smiled genuinely.

Her father, Count Mills, was practically a devotee of Duke Cox, who dreamed of rebellion. So that dream must have been a premonition. Perhaps she had that dream to prepare for or prevent the tragedy?

‘Yes. Perhaps heaven felt sorry that I would die at just 23 and gave me this chance.’

So if she did well from now on, could she survive?

The maids were brushing Erica’s hair. Suddenly, a clump of hair got caught in the brush and was pulled out.

“Ouch!”

Erica’s cry was followed by silence. Everyone nervously watched her reaction. Would she fire someone? Or use the whip?

While they trembled, Erica rubbed her sore scalp and casually said:

“…Long hair is such a hassle. Should I cut it short?”

“Pardon?”

Erica looked at her voluminous blonde hair in the mirror. Her slightly wavy hair, difficult to manage, reached her waist. Even when braided and pinned up, the weight sometimes made her neck stiff.

Many noble women wouldn’t even reject wearing wigs to have long hair, so suggesting to cut it was shocking. But from a maid’s perspective, it would be quite convenient if their mistress had short hair.

One maid whispered:

“It would be difficult to grow it back…”

“Don’t worry about that. Ella, could you call Margaret?”

Erica spoke to Ella, who was standing by.

“Yes.”

Ella quickly called for Margaret, the nanny, and Erica asked her to cut her hair. Margaret, now over 50, turned pale.

“Absolutely not, my lady!”

“…Why not?”

“You never know when you’ll marry Viscount Otis! You’ve been growing your hair because the young viscount likes long hair! And what about all the parties? And tea times…!”

“I’m not getting married.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m not marrying Otis, so cut it quickly.”

Erica wanted to shout at Margaret for being so frustrating, but everything she said was true. She knew Margaret was advising her out of concern, but having long hair increased the likelihood of getting irritated with the maids. She wanted to prevent that in advance.

Anyway, Duke Cox was going to betray her father. Though there had been talk of marriage, he probably never intended to take a daughter-in-law from a mere count’s family. Her father, unaware of this, was staking everything on the marriage to Otis.

‘That’s why he’s cooperating with Duke Cox.’

Not knowing that Duke Cox planned to pin all the crimes on him. It seemed she needed to talk to her father soon.

Margaret was afraid of what the usually temperamental Erica might say later, but reluctantly picked up the scissors. Erica found the snipping sensation of her hair being cut fascinating. Already, the weight on her neck felt lighter.

Erica had a very small face, so short hair suited her well. Margaret and Ella admired her in the mirror.

“Wow… Lady Erica, you look amazing! Like a beautiful young boy…”

Margaret elbowed Ella in the side at her comment.

“You should say she looks pretty!”

“Oh.”

As Ella closed her mouth, Erica laughed.

“It’s fine if it suits me! Ah, my neck feels lighter now. It’ll be convenient not having to braid it too!”

“…If that’s really convenient.”

Margaret hunched her neck like a turtle. She was afraid of what Count Mills would say later. Count Mills was very excited about becoming in-laws with Duke Cox, and if he found out his daughter had cut her hair, he might foam at the mouth.

However, Erica came first for now. If she didn’t cut her hair, who knew what tantrum Erica might throw, so she had to fulfill her request for the time being.

Erica seemed very satisfied with her shortened hair, touching it while looking in the mirror.

“Then, could you look into knight schools for me?”

“…Pardon?”

Margaret thought she had misheard. This wasn’t something the ultra-feminine Erica would typically say.

“Knight school. I want to become a knight.”

“Pardon?”

Margaret was dumbfounded. She looked at Ella, who was also blinking with a blank expression. So she hadn’t misheard.

“My lady? You should stay proper and marry Viscount Otis…”

“Proper?”

When Erica’s voice sharpened, Margaret realized her mistake.

“…I mean, you should attend parties, have tea times, go shopping… Stay busy with those things!”

“I’m going to learn swordsmanship.”

“…Pardon?”

Erica recalled how she had died unjustly at the hands of an unknown soldier. If she had been just a little stronger, she wouldn’t have died so helplessly.

Margaret said with an incredulous face:

“My lady, to become a knight, you need to receive knight training from a young age. Then you must learn under an official knight and obtain a certificate. You’re already 20 years old, how can you become a knight?”

“…Is there no way?”

“You’ll soon be a duchess, how can you be a knight? It’s unthinkable!”

“Hmm… Alright, then I’ll look into it myself.”

“Pardon?”

“Becoming an apprentice knight would allow me to train too, right? I want to try.”

Margaret wondered what was happening. She should stop her, but since Erica was determined enough to cut her hair, she couldn’t bring herself to object.

Erica soon gathered her father’s personal knights. Most personal knights were commoners who had risen through skill and hard work. Unlike nobles, they didn’t flaunt themselves with expensive adornments.

While looking around, Erica spotted a familiar knight.

‘Why is he here?’

Despite his shabby appearance, Erica recognized him immediately. Hali Chamber, the right-hand man of Duke Kai Felix.

‘Could he be here to investigate my father?’

It seemed Duke Felix had already infiltrated his subordinates here to oust her father. When their eyes met, his face turned bright red and he stared at the ground. She wasn’t curious about why his face reddened. Most men seeing her for the first time reacted that way.

‘Ah, that’s right…!’

Before her regression, she hadn’t discovered Hali Chamber. So there had been no connection with Duke Felix, but now she had a direct link to him.

Erica changed her mind about learning swordsmanship from a personal knight. If she was going to learn swordsmanship, wouldn’t it be better from someone who received knighthood directly from the emperor?

‘Right. There’s a saying that to catch a tiger, one must enter the tiger’s den.’

This seemed fortunate. She could use Hali Chamber as a pretext to approach the renowned swordsman, Duke Felix.

After thinking, Erica grabbed Hali’s hand firmly. When the other knights began murmuring, Erica turned to them and said:

“Everyone except this person may leave.”

The man who appeared to be the leader of the knights spoke respectfully to Erica.

“Do you have business with Kit?”

“Yes. A little.”

Hali Chamber seemed to be using the alias “Kit” here. He must have infiltrated secretly on Duke Felix’s orders.

“Understood, my lady.”

After the personal knights dispersed, only Hali and Erica remained in the garden. Hali seemed uncomfortable that Erica continued holding his hand.

“Um, my lady. Could you please let go…”

He mumbled, unable to finish his sentence. Then, Erica released Hali’s hand and said:

“Hali Chamber.”

“…!”

When his real name was spoken, Hali quickly raised his head. His shy gaze changed to one of wariness. Erica grinned.

“Please arrange a meeting with Duke Kai Felix for me.”

“…Duke Felix?”

“Yes.”

This time, she needed to tell him before dying. That her father was merely being used by Duke Cox, not leading the rebellion.

And she wanted to learn swordsmanship from him. From the youngest Sword Master of this country’s generation.