Tears fell from Erin’s eyes. She thought her tears had dried up from crying every day since hearing of Ferdin’s death, but apparently she was mistaken. Like a collapsed dam, tears flowed without pause.

“Was I really so terrible?”

Erin’s fingertips trembled violently. All her life, she had endured everyone’s contempt for things she never did. She wanted to be loved but didn’t know how to earn that love—how to make someone who hated her without reason love her, how much more effort she needed to make. 

She had once wished to at least know the reason, thinking then she might be able to give up.

“Did you hate me that much?”

“Erin, you truly are pitiful,” Corelia said, bursting into laughter.

“Don’t worry. You won’t be alone. Your family will soon follow you.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Raymon, who had been standing beside Corelia, approached.

“You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of killing you first, then revealing the truth to your father.”

She lowered her head and whispered into Erin’s ear. “I truly despised your father, Erin.”

“…”

“It was so pathetic how he would just mutter his thanks with empty words. Actually, I wanted to kill the Marquis before you, but I held back because I wanted to see his stupid face when he heard his daughter had died. I really wanted to see that.”

“…”

“You will die here, Erin. Then I’ll go to your father and tell him: ‘Actually, everything that happened wasn’t Erin’s doing. It was all my scheme. But now it’s too late. Your daughter no longer exists in this world.'”

“Ah… aah…”

Erin’s brow furrowed as Corelia pressed down harder with her foot. Yet she couldn’t make a sound, only staring at Corelia’s face. The foolish, naive Erin finally realized that Corelia would never have given her love no matter how hard she tried. Earning Corelia’s love had never been possible, regardless of her efforts.

“Raymon, take care of her. I’ll go handle Karon.”

Erin watched as Raymon drew his sword. Everything she had believed in was nothing but an illusion. His sword pointed toward her. Her throat burned with pain, but she couldn’t close her eyes immediately.

She could feel herself slowly dying.

Whether from sadness or pain, her tears wouldn’t stop.

For a long time, collapsed on the cold floor, Erin cursed—not Corelia or Raymon, but her stupid, powerless self.

Erin opened her eyes.

Whenever things got difficult, she recalled that moment. Ironically, remembering it gave her strength.

“I wonder if Father is alright.”

When Erin had planned to reveal her power, she had considered the worst possible scenarios. She knew her father would be returning to the Marquis’s mansion around this time. The worst outcome of revealing her strength and provoking Corelia would be putting the Marquis in danger.

“But they won’t dare touch Father carelessly.”

The Emperor couldn’t yet move against Marquis Liserth. They would only strike the Liserth family when all preparations were complete. They had at least a few more years.

Besides, the Marquis shared a close friendship with Duke Asili. It was well known that whenever the Marquis visited the Duke’s territory, Asili personally went to meet him. For that reason alone, Corelia wouldn’t dare harm her father.

Just as Erin was trying to calm herself with these thoughts, there came a knock at her dormitory door.

“May I come in?”

“Karon?”

Erin opened the door.

In the few days since she’d seen him, Karon’s face had grown gaunt.

“I heard you’re leaving for the western promotion exam.”

“…”

“I also heard you refused Duke Asili’s offer to speak with His Majesty on your behalf.”

“…”

“I don’t know what truth you’re hiding, what enemies we have, or what burden you’re carrying alone…”

Karon stepped closer to her. Erin thought he had come to stop her.

But his words completely defied her expectations.

“I won’t stop you.”

“Karon?”

He looked directly into her eyes.

“You don’t have to tell me what you know. But someday…”

“…”

“Someday, when I’m strong enough to be trusted, please tell me.”

“…”

“Whatever you say, I’ll believe you.”

Erin couldn’t respond for a long while.

That the proud, taciturn Karon would say such things—it was unimaginable in the past. Looking at him, who had come to her despite her deliberately hurtful words, Erin fastened her sword to her waist.

At that moment, Karon noticed a change in Erin’s presence.

“Someday, I promise I’ll tell you.”

“…”

“Thank you for believing in me, Karon. I’ll definitely return.”

Her words were like a vow.

A brilliant light shone in Erin’s eyes.

Whatever awaited her in the west, she would return alive. She made this promise to herself for her brother who believed in her—that she would come back and tell him everything.

* * *

Charlotte was an exceptional black mage.

She examined the crystal ball in her hand. Black mages scattered throughout the empire were rapidly collecting and transmitting information.

“News is spreading that Erin Liserth is departing for her promotion exam in the western region.”

“The Marquis must have received the news as well.”

Corelia sat before a mirror, examining her appearance. Her hair, makeup—everything was perfect. She was in ideal condition to end this tiresome charade.

With this thought, she pictured the Marquis’s office.

Today was one of those rare days when the Marquis returned to his mansion.

Corelia had been waiting for this day since her conversation with the Emperor.

She smiled at the timely news about Erin.

“What could Erin be hiding?”

“…”

“Not that it matters anymore.”

With those words, Corelia rose from her seat. As she walked, the servants bowed their heads.

The Marquis didn’t know that most of the mansion’s servants were already her people.

More accurately, they were the Emperor’s people.

“My lord! Miss Erin has…”

“What? What do you mean? Erin is leaving for a promotion exam in the western region!”

Arriving outside the Marquis’s office, Corelia snorted at the voices she heard.

The Marquis still thought his daughter was nothing more than a weak noble lady.

He loved his daughter but was a man who didn’t know how to express it or show interest. After his beloved wife died, he had lived half-obsessed with work.

And he still had no idea what tragedy that had created.

Corelia flung the door open without knocking. Inside were the Marquis, a messenger, and Sir Reken, the knight the Marquis cherished.

“My lady? I’m in the middle of urgent business…”

The Marquis was donning a cloak over his uniform, seemingly ready to head to the imperial palace immediately.

Of course, Corelia had no intention of letting him bother the Emperor.

“So… Erin has caused trouble again.”

“This time it wasn’t Erin’s intention! His Majesty has assigned an unfair mission to the child. This makes no sense. I must go to the palace at once.”

Watching him, Corelia dabbed at her dry eyes with a handkerchief.

She continued speaking, ignoring the Marquis completely.

“She’s truly beyond help, isn’t she? But there’s someone even more foolish than Erin. That’s you, Lloyd Liserth.”

The Marquis looked at Corelia with confusion. Did I just hear what I think I heard?

“Actually, Erin is a very good child. She understands her indifferent father… and even loves her brother who blames her without knowing anything.”

She dropped the handkerchief she was holding onto the floor. Then, without hesitation, she stepped on it.

Simultaneously, Charlotte moved her hands behind Corelia’s back, murmuring something.

Instantly, Corelia’s smooth, unblemished hands transformed into a knight’s hands, rough with calluses.

The Marquis’s eyes widened at the sight.

“M-my lady, what is happening?”

“You’ll be departing for the western region without incident.”

At Corelia’s words, the Marquis’s face reddened.