‘She doesn’t disappoint my expectations.’

Corelia smiled beautifully as she looked at Erin.

“Erin, it’s been a long time.”

“Indeed. It’s been… truly a long time.”

“…”

“I missed you.”

Corelia frowned at Erin’s words. She doubted her own ears. Erin claiming she missed her? Corelia didn’t believe Erin’s statement about missing her. But simultaneously, she found the clearly changed girl intriguing. She wanted to know what thoughts were running through that small head to prompt such unexpected behavior.

“Have you matured a lot? Have you finally decided to acknowledge me as your mother?”

Corelia said this while moving closer to Erin.

At her gesture, Charlotte closed the balcony doors. Charlotte turned her back to Corelia and Erin, then began guarding the balcony doors, watching for anyone approaching.

Once Corelia confirmed they were completely shielded from others’ eyes, her gaze transformed.

“Erin… where did you put the dress I gave you? I told you it’s bad to disregard your mother’s thoughtfulness.”

“…”

“I said it would suit you… why are you wearing such a bizarre dress?”

Corelia looked Erin up and down with apparent disappointment. Erin smiled back at her.

“Well, could there be a dress inferior to the one you selected?”

“What?”

Erin spoke while slowly tilting her head to the side. Seeing this, Corelia doubted her ears. What did Erin just say to her?

“Have you lost your mind, Erin?”

At Corelia’s question, she fell into brief contemplation. Lost her mind? Erin didn’t particularly want to refute Corelia’s words. She was indeed half-mad. How else could she stand face to face with Corelia? So her statement wasn’t exactly wrong.

“You went to the academy and clearly lacked proper discipline.”

“No. I had plenty.”

“How could that be? If you had enough discipline, would you behave this way toward me?”

Corelia moved even closer to Erin.

Erin suddenly recalled her childhood. How did she react whenever Corelia approached her like this? Though many years had passed, making it ancient history, the memories surfaced vividly as though they happened yesterday.

“Mother… I’m sorry.”

“I was wrong. Please forgive me just this once. I’m a bad child.”

Looking at Corelia approaching with uncontrollable anger on her face, Erin whispered quietly in her heart, ‘No, Erin. You did nothing wrong. She’s the bad one.’

She asked Corelia: “Why did you treat me that way… when I was a child?”

“What do you mean, why? What are you suddenly talking about?”

“I never did anything wrong to you…”

Corelia scoffed at Erin’s words. “Of course you did wrong.”

“…”

“Your very existence is a sin.”

Through that answer, Erin once again realized what kind of person Corelia was. According to Roham, Corelia came to the Liserth household by the Emperor’s orders. ‘To prevent creating a Sword Master, was it?’

For such a trivial reason… did she need to drag her down to this hell? If preventing a Sword Master was the only goal, there was no need to push her to mental and physical limits. If Corelia had raised Erin as an ordinary lady, she would have lived that way. She might have found other interests and lived happily.

Perhaps she might have even called Corelia “mother” and followed her. The young Erin desperately craved parental affection. There were times when she thought she would give up everything Corelia disliked just to receive a smile or a warm touch from her. Yes, there were such times.

But Corelia hated her without any particular reason.

Erin placed her hand over her chest. Her heart was beating rapidly. However, this wasn’t from sadness. She was happier than anyone to meet Corelia.

“A child who doesn’t listen needs punishment, don’t you think?”

Corelia said this while raising her hand.

At that moment, a sharp, sword-like aura enveloped Corelia and Charlotte. It was an extremely eerie sensation. Corelia hesitated at the killing intent, like someone holding a blade to her neck. The same was true for Charlotte.

Charlotte, who had been standing with her back turned, looked at Corelia. Confusion filled her eyes. However, neither knew who was emitting this killing intent.

Charlotte, who was supposed to be monitoring to prevent anyone from approaching the balcony, failed in her role due to her confusion. And that was exactly what Erin had intended.

“Mother? …Sister?”

Corelia’s hand, which had been heading toward Erin’s cheek, stopped. The hand that halted by a hair’s breadth was trembling. Corelia’s face contorted terribly. Erin calmly looked toward the open balcony doors.

Karon stood there. He was staring at Corelia and Erin with a shocked expression.

“What… what’s going on here?”

“Karon… this is…”

“No, stop. Get away from my sister right now.”

“Karon!”

Ignoring Corelia’s words, Karon hurried to Erin. His complexion was pale. But unlike his white face, his eyes were bloodshot with boiling anger.

Karon embraced Erin protectively. Within his arms, Erin met Corelia’s eyes. Corelia’s severely distorted face seemed laughable. ‘It was this easy all along.’

Erin gave a mocking smile toward Corelia and Charlotte. It was a smile invisible to Karon, who was holding her. And when he lowered his head, Erin’s face turned sad as though she had never smiled. Erin was mirroring Corelia’s actions and returning them to her. Corelia’s face filled with shock as she watched.

‘If someone hates me without reason, I just need to give them a reason.’

This was Erin’s favorite saying from her modern life.

* * *

While preparing for the banquet, Karon felt his head might explode from complicated thoughts. He didn’t know how to face both his sister and mother together at the banquet. He also couldn’t understand why Erin had insisted he come find her at the banquet.

“Karon, you’re a good boy.”

“You’re my pride.”

Karon couldn’t forget the words Corelia always whispered in his ear. To Corelia, Karon was always a good son, and he never knew how to defy her. But at this moment, the good son Karon Liserth no longer existed. Karon’s face was contorted like a demon as he looked at Corelia.

“What were you trying to do to my sister?”

At Karon’s words, Corelia was extremely flustered. She had never imagined him looking at her with such angry eyes. Through his gaze, Karon’s anger came across vividly. However, Corelia was a skilled actress. Despite the sudden situation, she knew how to respond calmly.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t deny it. Weren’t you about to strike my sister’s cheek?”

“Karon, you misunderstood. I was just trying to fix Erin’s disheveled hair. Ask Erin.”

Both Corelia and Karon turned to Erin. Erin thought about what her past self would have said in this situation. She probably would have confirmed Corelia’s words.

“That’s right, Karon. My hair was messy, and Mother was fixing it for me.”

“It’s my fault again.”

If she had told Karon the whole truth, she thought Corelia would harm him too. She couldn’t argue if someone called her foolish. Her past self was truly foolish.

“Karon.”

Erin called his name softly. She actually disliked clinging to others. She was no longer weak enough to depend on someone else. But if it would wake her brother up, what choice did she have?

It would be troublesome if Karon remained under Corelia’s influence for what was to come. So Erin decided to become the villain who would open his eyes to reality, even through this unfunny show.

“That’s all a lie.”

Erin said this while gripping Karon’s clothes. Her eyes cooled. Corelia’s lips twisted as she faced those bottomless eyes staring at her.