Back in her dormitory room at the academy, Erin sat lost in thought. Karon’s words about how she should have enjoyed all this much earlier lingered in her mind. Isis had already given her a general idea of what had happened to Corelia.

“The goddess instructed me to keep the details secret. But I wanted you to know that death wasn’t the end for them,” he had told her. “After all, you suffered the most at their hands.”

According to him, Corelia, who had tormented her, would endure eternal suffering in h*ll. The same fate awaited all others who had sided with the Emperor.

They would pay for their deception of the goddess with pain so excruciating they would beg for their very existence to be erased.

Yet no amount of their suffering could bring back the time that had passed. Still, hearing Isis’s words somehow brought Erin a sense of peace.

‘Perhaps it was bothering me more than I realized.’

She leaned her head against the wall, contemplating what lay ahead, something she often thought about at the academy. She would imagine what she might do if everything came to an end.

But her imaginings never materialized into anything concrete. Having never experienced a life without anxiety, Erin couldn’t quite picture what true peace would look like.

What should she do? How should she live? What choices would lead to happiness for both herself and those around her?

She had no answers.

Erin alternated her gaze between her calloused hands and the sword she always carried. She still couldn’t understand what Isis had meant.

The Princess looked so frail she seemed in danger of dying at any moment, yet he claimed she would open her eyes when Erin was at her happiest. But how?

Compared to her childhood, her current life was incomparably happier.

‘It was around this time, wasn’t it? When I heard that Ferdin… had died.’

The memory sent a chill through her heart, but things were different now. The Emperor who had threatened Ferdin no longer existed, and Corelia, who had driven her toward death, had been eliminated by her own hand.

Yet Erin couldn’t comprehend how she could possibly become any happier than she already was. After facing the Emperor, she had grown even stronger, now glimpsing levels beyond even Duke Asili. She felt confident she could protect Ferdin and her loved ones from any threat.

Her thoughts always circled back to Ferdin. Suddenly, she found herself desperately wanting to see him.

‘But… he looked so busy.’

Despite his efforts to make time for her, Ferdin had been incredibly occupied cleaning up the mess left by the previous Emperor. With his coronation approaching, his schedule was even more packed.

Though Alexis was helping him in every way possible, it was still an overwhelming period. Erin understood this. Ferdin would soon become the Emperor of this empire. She would have to endure her longing for him, at least for now.

* * *

Early in the morning, Erin arrived at the training ground, specifically the one used by the academy’s advanced class students. The students there whispered among themselves when they spotted her.

“It’s Lady Erin.”

“Wow, seeing her in person…”

“She’s the first to remain at the academy after becoming a Sword Master.”

“I wonder what she’s like. I’d love to talk with her, maybe even request a sparring match.”

They were speaking quietly, but Erin could hear every word. The students didn’t realize how exceptional a Sword Master’s hearing was.

She hadn’t expected to attend the academy normally, but she was receiving even more attention than anticipated. Erin turned her gaze elsewhere.

Amon and Philip were sternly warning other advanced class students with stern expressions. 

“Listen carefully, don’t casually ask Erin for sparring matches. She’s already busy with her training.”

“That’s right. If you want to request a match with Erin, you’ll have to defeat me first.”

Erin couldn’t help but smile at them. Philip and Amon had taken the advancement exam for the upper class shortly after Corelia’s kidnapping incident.

They had done so immediately after Amon had recovered, an impressive display of determination to be in the same class as Erin, especially considering his wounds from Corelia hadn’t fully healed.

The amusing part was that the advanced students were taking their words seriously. They looked at Erin with eager eyes but didn’t dare approach her because of Amon. Erin overheard them whispering among themselves.

“Alright, from today my goal is to defeat Lord Amon.”

“Is that even possible? I heard rumors that if Lady Erin hadn’t been around, Lord Amon would have become the youngest Sword Master.”

“I heard Duke Asili has been keeping an eye on him lately.”

“I heard that too. If the Duke hadn’t been in seclusion at his mansion, he might have taken him as a disciple.”

“He’s overshadowed by Lady Erin, but he’s quite monstrous in his own right…”

Erin looked at Amon with fresh eyes. His rate of growth was truly remarkable. Just as she had thought in the past, given time, he would likely reach the level of Sword Master, in a timeline where they originally hadn’t.

She felt happy, truly happy. She couldn’t imagine greater happiness than this. But that thought made her anxious.

‘What if the Princess never wakes up because I can’t find true happiness?’

The image of the Princess’s emaciated face flashed in her mind. If that happened, Erin would never be able to forgive herself.

“Erin, what are you thinking about so intensely?”

Erin turned to find Amon looking at her with curious eyes. He seemed to notice something and nodded.

“Don’t worry about those guys. I won’t let them waste your time. From now on, anyone who can’t defeat me won’t even be allowed to request a match with you.”

Amon continued with a proud smile, “Those who know my personality won’t dare bother you.”

Amon’s skills had improved so dramatically that he could hardly find a match within the academy anymore. It seemed Erin wouldn’t need to spar with other knights at the academy after all.

“And… it’s late, but thank you. Philip told me you saved me from Corelia.”

Erin looked at him with a somewhat surprised expression. Whenever people thanked her, she felt a strange emotion, a tickling sensation that spread through her chest. It wasn’t unpleasant.

“It was just what needed to be done.”

“Nothing in this world is obvious, Erin. You didn’t need to put yourself in danger to save me.”

Saying this, he extended his hand to her.

“I heard from Isis. You’ve done many other things too. Without you, many people would have died.”

Erin silently took his hand, and Amon smiled at her warmly.

* * *

Erin moved to an empty training ground. It had been impossible to concentrate on her training in the advanced class area. Instead, she came to the training ground that Duke Asili used when he visited the academy, the place where she and the Duke had crossed swords.

The Duke had generously offered her this space when he learned she was returning to the academy.

“If you’re going to the academy, you won’t have time to hone your sword skills. I don’t visit the academy often, so feel free to use my training ground.”

She swung her sword, enjoying the solid weight in her hand. After meeting Amon at the training ground that morning, Erin had realized what kind of life she wanted to live.

She wanted to see the ultimate heights of swordsmanship. The world was full of people with amazing talents. If she remained stagnant while Amon continued to work hard, he might one day surpass her.

The thought sparked her competitive spirit. Though her revenge was complete, the sword still had a way of stirring something deep within her.

After swinging her sword for a while, she felt her heart becoming refreshed. Then, in the midst of her trance-like state, Erin stopped her sword. Ferdin, the reason she had first picked up a sword, had come to mind.

Thinking of him instantly lifted her spirits.

‘I should visit him on the academy’s day off.’

She wanted to see him right away but restrained herself. She didn’t want to bother him when he was so busy.

Having finished her thoughts, Erin immersed herself in swordplay again, enjoying the sound of the wind with each swing.

“Lady Erin.”

Was she hearing things? Erin opened her eyes at the familiar voice. The distinct presence behind her confirmed it wasn’t an auditory hallucination.

She turned around with a surprised expression. There stood Ferdin, his cheeks flushed as he gazed at her.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you… but I couldn’t help myself…”

“When did you arrive? Aren’t you busy? Is it alright for you to be away from the imperial palace?”

Ferdin shook his head at her questions.

“I’ve finished most of the urgent matters. The coronation preparations are almost complete too.”

With those words, Ferdin moved closer to her.

* * *

Ferdin’s claim about not being busy was untrue. Alexis was undoubtedly searching desperately for him right now. Besides the coronation preparations, he had mountains of other tasks.

There were also accumulated matters the previous Emperor had left unaddressed. But if he didn’t visit Erin like this, she would rarely come to him on her own. He now understood her personality better than anyone.

‘Knowing I’m busy, she’ll be even less likely to come to the palace.’

By the time he would normally see her again, the flowers by the lake might have all withered away. Unable to contain his desire to see her, Ferdin had asked Lilia to use spatial teleportation magic to bring him to the academy.

And now, having lied about not being busy, he made his proposal:

“Before spring ends, there’s somewhere I must go with you, Lady Erin.”

“Somewhere we must go?”

“Yes, and I fear it might be too late if we wait until the coronation.”

As he spoke, Ferdin carefully took Erin’s hand. At that moment, she felt a premonition that something wonderful was about to happen.