Karon arrived at the academy’s central hall.

‘Strange. Why aren’t there any guards?’

The guards who should have been watching the door were missing. Karon didn’t think much of it and walked past the main entrance of the hall.

Just as he was about to open the door to the meeting room where Ferdin’s knights would be, he heard Amon’s voice.

“How could Karon not know?”

His hand stopped before opening the door. What don’t I know?

He furrowed his brow and focused on the conversation taking place inside.

“Think about it. He might not notice her back, but when she was injured on her right arm, it would have been obvious. And Karon didn’t know? They’re family. There’s no way he wouldn’t have noticed.”

Lilia responded to Amon’s words, “Erin only said she wasn’t the one who killed my brother. And… after meeting the Marchioness, my brother went missing.”

“…”

“The Marchioness must be the one who abused Erin.”

“Damn it. What kind of life has she been living? Is this even possible? No one knows who she really is.”

“…”

“It’s horrifying to think I judged her as a villainess without knowing anything.”

Karon felt his breath catch. He couldn’t understand what they were saying.

His hands began to tremble. At the same time, his heart started racing. It beat so fast that his chest ached. Karon unconsciously let out a pained groan.

“Ah… aah…”

* * *

Sensing someone outside, Amon jumped up and opened the meeting room door.

“Karon Liserth?”

He called out in surprise to Karon, who was slumped in front of the door.

Karon was looking at them with a distorted expression.

‘How much did he hear?’

Amon was flustered.

The academy’s central hall was guarded by rotating shifts of guards, so only authorized people could enter.

That was why they felt comfortable speaking freely. Amon hadn’t expected anyone to come to a place where no meetings were scheduled. Lilia was equally surprised.

Karon, coming to his senses at their voices, asked with a trembling voice, “What… what are you talking about?”

“…”

“What do you mean by what you just said? Mother would never do such things!”

Karon couldn’t believe it. No, it couldn’t be true. It couldn’t be. Even gossip had its limits.

In his mind, he saw his mother’s face, always worried about his sister.

“Karon… I want to reconcile with Erin. I wish my child wouldn’t hate me.”

“How can I make my lovely Erin like me?”

Mother loved his sister. She was always trying to open Erin’s tightly closed heart.

How could such a mother torment his sister?

Amon’s face contorted at Karon’s words.

It was clearly Amon’s mistake for not being more careful, allowing Karon to hear their entire conversation.

Erin had tried to keep the horrors of her childhood a secret. Amon respected her wishes and hadn’t told anyone the truth. But he couldn’t tolerate Karon Liserth hearing everything and still saying such things.

“Karon Liserth.”

Amon grabbed him by the collar through gritted teeth.

Then he pulled up Karon, who was sitting on the floor repeating denials.

“You’re seriously trash.”

“What…?”

“If you cared about Erin even a little, you should be running to your sister right now instead of questioning me.”

Karon felt his breath being choked off. Amon knew how irresponsible his actions were. He had directly revealed a secret kept from Karon, and she might never forgive him for it.

But it was even harder to watch this fool in front of him deny and turn away from the truth.

“Amon, calm down! Karon Liserth didn’t know anything.”

“You need to find out what pain your sister suffered because of the Marchioness!”

Amon roughly pushed Karon.

Not resisting Amon’s force, Karon collapsed to the floor.

“Karon, as long as you’re happy, that’s enough.”

He recalled words Erin had spoken to him in childhood, a memory he could barely remember. He still couldn’t be certain. Lilia and Amon weren’t the type to lie, but he couldn’t immediately believe their outrageous claims either.

There was only one reason Karon was wavering now. The truth was, he had been harboring doubts about the rumors surrounding Erin.

Especially after the werewolf subjugation, his mind had been filled with questions about whether everything she was said to have done was real.

Karon got up roughly from where he had fallen. There was no time for this. If what they said was true, he might have committed an unforgivable wrong against Erin.

Karon had ignored her aversion to meeting the Marchioness and had lied to her. Erin would think he was waiting for her at the Night Garden.

Karon immediately ran out of the central hall.

“Karon Liserth!”

He heard Lilia calling him from behind, but he couldn’t stop.

He had to confirm it right now.

* * *

Karon’s complexion turned pale, as though all the blood had drained from his body.

He ran like a madman.

Some people whispered as they saw him running, but he focused only on finding Erin. After confirming she wasn’t in her room, Karon frantically searched the surroundings.

“Damn it, Sister! Sister!”

He had to find her before she met Corelia. Just then, he stopped momentarily when he spotted a familiar figure. The woman walking in front of the dormitory was definitely Erin.

“Sister!”

Karon shouted and grabbed her wrist. Erin turned her head to look at him.

“Karon.”

“What I said… about meeting at the Night Garden…”

“…”

“It was a lie.”

“I know.”

Karon froze at Erin’s words.

She knew?

After briefly looking around, Erin took his hand and started walking. She led him to her dormitory room.

After closing the door, Erin examined the room carefully with a thoughtful expression. She was recalling what had happened with Roham a few days ago.

Confirming the room was clean, she seated Karon in a chair.

He suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu. Something similar had happened before they left for the monster subjugation.

Just like then, a warm cup of milk was offered to him. Karon gripped the cup tightly. His hands were trembling slightly.

He had to speak. Having made this decision, Karon opened his mouth.

“I came because I wanted to ask you something.”

“…”

After saying this, Karon slowly took hold of Erin’s right wrist. He could feel her thin wrist. Seeing Karon’s reaction, Erin realized he had discovered the secret she had been hiding.

“Could it be… Mother did this to you…?”

Their eyes met. She could read the anxiety in his gaze.

He probably wanted her to tell him that what he had discovered wasn’t true.

That Corelia wasn’t that kind of person, that Erin had become twisted because she couldn’t accept a new mother after her own had died.

But Erin remained silent.

If she lied now, Karon’s mind would probably be at ease. That was the choice she had made in her first life. Keep quiet so her younger brother wouldn’t get hurt. It would be enough if only she suffered.

She had thought if she stayed quiet, if only she was in pain, everyone else could be happy.

But Erin had decided not to prevent Karon from knowing the truth anymore. After what happened with Roham, she had realized something.

At that moment, Karon spoke with determination.

“Sister, forgive my rudeness.”

With those words, he lifted Erin’s sleeve.

Seeing the faint scars, Karon’s face crumpled in anguish. A pain that felt like his heart was being torn apart enveloped him.

Amon and Lilia were right.

Karon’s hands trembled violently. But even seeing the clear evidence before his eyes, he found it difficult to accept reality.

Did Mother really do this to his sister? Had she tormented Erin since childhood?

“Who… who did this?”

“…”

“Who on earth…?”

“Would you believe me if I said it was Corelia?”

“What?”

“Would you believe me if I told you that the person you call Mother has been sending me to hell all this time?”

“What are you saying?”

Erin’s voice cracked. At her words, Karon covered his face with both hands.

Erin’s statement was tantamount to denying his entire past. The peaceful ducal household. The busy but caring father.

A mother who, though not related by blood, was kinder and more caring toward family than anyone…

That’s what he had believed all along.

But… was it all a lie?