“Damn it. How pathetic. What have I been doing all this time?”

Karon couldn’t bear this realization. He had started learning swordsmanship from childhood to protect someone precious to him. Yet now, he could do absolutely nothing for Erin, his only sister. Just as she had said, he was weak.

So he spent his days training and meditating. That was all he could do right now.

At that moment, the Princess beside Karon began to frown. Her body even trembled slightly.

Princess Asili had been experiencing strange sensations recently.

‘What are you trying to tell me?’

This felt similar to when she first encountered Erin. It was like the divine was trying to communicate something to her.

Suddenly, the Princess’s vision darkened. She could no longer see Karon beside her.

The peculiar sensation made her skin crawl.

Princess Asili instinctively understood that this was the “prophecy” that Saints were said to receive.

The future she had glimpsed vaguely when she stepped out of the carriage and met Erin’s eyes.

Cold sweat trickled down the Princess’s forehead. Then her vision suddenly brightened, and she saw the image of a woman.

* * *

A tear rolled down Princess Asili’s eye as she prayed.

She immediately struck herself forcefully over her heart.

“Princess?”

Karon, who was beside Princess Asili, rushed to her in surprise.

“What’s happening? Are you alright? Why are you trembling like this?”

“Sir Karon, I feel so sorry for Lady Erin, so terribly sorry…”

“Pardon?”

Karon asked, clearly confused.

Princess Asili’s face contorted miserably as she looked at him.

She had just witnessed the past shown to her by the divine. Or should it be called the past?

A future that no one but Erin remembered…

The Princess trembled in pain. Not from where she had struck herself, but from her heart feeling like it was being torn apart.

Though it was only an indirect experience, she felt like someone had thrown her into hellfire.

How could anyone live such a life? Forced into silence, unable to speak… how could anyone…

The Princess didn’t even know what she was saying. Her heart simply ached too much to bear.

Karon’s already haggard face grew even paler. He unconsciously stepped back.

Though the Princess’s words were disjointed, he understood everything from that single statement.

“It hurts… it hurts so much…”

The Princess repeated these words.

The past she had just witnessed replayed in her mind.

Young Erin alone in the Marquis’s mansion, crying through each night because no one believed her; Erin entering the academy; Erin meeting Ferdin and experiencing happiness, however slight; and then his death, plunging her back into hell…

* * *

Amon let out a mocking laugh at Hellix’s behavior.

Among Ferdin’s knight candidates, Hellix was the most unreasonable one.

He pretended to be the noblest of knights, but when it came to Ferdin, he became obsessive.

Hellix lacked common sense and was somehow deficient in certain areas.

It was true that for a knight, their lord should be the most important person. But Hellix took it to extremes.

He acted without any apparent emotions of his own.

Amon saw Hellix looking down at Erin with a lofty expression. The contempt in his eyes was familiar.

But Amon knew.

That contempt, too, stemmed not from his own will but purely from his thoughts of Ferdin.

After all, Amon himself had once looked at Erin with such eyes.

But even so, such a disrespectful duel challenge was too much. Amon, who valued chivalry, felt uncomfortable.

“You’ve lost your mind, Hellix Igzart.”

“I don’t think I need to hear that from you.”

“No need to bother Lady Erin. I’ll be your opponent. I should teach you what true chivalry means.”

“You? You’ve grown even more arrogant since I last saw you, Amon Hedor.”

Amon and Hellix glared at each other, grinding their teeth. Derek would have lamented if he had seen this.

“We already have enough enemies without fellow knights fighting each other!”

Amon could almost hear Derek’s usual reprimand.

But regardless, he couldn’t stand by and watch Hellix behave so impudently toward Erin.

‘He must have rushed here as soon as he arrived at the academy and heard the news.’

It had been half a year since Hellix left for an expedition to the western region where strange incidents were occurring.

Having been in remote areas all this time, he obviously hadn’t heard about Ferdin and Erin’s engagement.

Given Hellix’s excessive obsession with Ferdin’s wellbeing, he must have rushed to the training grounds immediately after arriving at the academy and hearing about the Second Prince’s engagement.

“The one who knows nothing of chivalry stands before you. How laughable that you speak of chivalry here.”

“…”

“I would do anything for Prince Ferdin. Wouldn’t you, Amon Hedor? Erin Liserth is of no help to His Highness. Forcing an unwanted engagement using her power.”

He lowered his voice and spoke almost in a whisper. The knights nearby probably couldn’t hear Hellix’s words.

But Erin, standing close to them, could. The contempt in Hellix’s eyes.

She found that emotion strangely unfamiliar now. She realized how accustomed she had become to peace.

She had unconsciously grown used to being surrounded by people who didn’t despise her, who looked at her with warm eyes.

‘This was normal before.’

So it didn’t hurt her. And Erin had no intention of antagonizing Hellix. To do that, she would need to prove her usefulness, just as before.

For Hellix, protecting Ferdin was paramount. In this life, she would be the best ally to him, someone who shared his purpose. After all, Ferdin’s life was more important to Erin than her own.

Erin stepped forward, stopping Amon who looked ready to lunge at Hellix. She didn’t say anything, just looked up at Hellix.

A cold silence descended on the training ground. Erin Liserth, chosen by the sword, and Hellix Igzart, who might one day become one of the five holy knights of the temple.

The two faced each other, their eyes locked in confrontation.

“If they fought, who would win?”

“Obviously Hellix at this point.”

Philip seriously objected to their conversation about Erin and Hellix.

“You haven’t been beaten by Erin yet, so you don’t know how strong she is.”

Several swordsmanship students nodded at Philip’s words. They were all students who frequently sparred with Erin.

The tension grew so thick it seemed a battle might break out any moment. That tension was broken by Ferdin’s sudden appearance.

“That’s enough, Hellix.”

Hellix immediately knelt when he saw Ferdin.

“Prince Ferdin, you’ve returned.”

Ferdin looked at Hellix with a cold expression. There was no greeting for his knight whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Hellix felt puzzled by Ferdin’s reaction. Having grown up together since childhood, he could tell.

Right now, Ferdin was suppressing his anger.

‘His Highness is angry with me.’

Ferdin rarely got angry. He was a patient person. For him to be angry at Hellix—why?

“Lady Erin doesn’t deserve such an insult.”

“…”

“Apologize to Lady Erin.”

Hellix tilted his head to the side.

He wasn’t accustomed to this kind of situation. But if that was what Ferdin wanted, he had to do it even if he didn’t understand.

Hellix immediately bowed his head toward Erin.

“I apologize.”

Ferdin sighed as he watched him.

“I apologize, Lady Erin. Hellix has been disrespectful.”

Erin was taken aback by Ferdin’s respectful bow.

It was a sincere apology, completely different from Hellix’s stiff one.

* * *

In the academy’s central hall, Hellix was receiving fierce glares from everyone. He felt somewhat wronged. Hellix had a duty to fulfill the mission left by the previous Saint.

He had been living all this time because of the final words she left him before her death.

“Protect the person Ferdin and that child love.”

“Who is the person His Highness loves, Saint?”

“You’ll be able to recognize them, Hellix. You’ll realize it someday.”

“…”

“Only that child can save Ferdin.”