“Did you just call me sister?”

“What?”

Erin smiled softly.

That smile made Karon completely forget what he had been talking about. All he could do was sit there, staring blankly at Erin’s smile.

Suddenly, the Duchess’s words flashed through his mind.

“Don’t believe what Erin says. That child is deeply troubled.”

But how could he not believe someone looking at him with such confident eyes?

“This would have happened eventually, even if I did nothing. After all, what’s wrong must be set right.”

Erin said this while gazing directly into Karon’s eyes.

* * *

“What’s wrong must be set right.”

That was what the Duchess always said to Erin. She enjoyed punishing Erin while saying those words. Though Erin hated the Duchess, she agreed with this statement.

What’s wrong must be set right.

‘The monster subjugation team leaves in a month.’

Not perfect, but enough time to generate a mana core.

Erin looked at the space Karon had vacated. She saw the empty mug. In that place, her younger brother would lose an arm, and Princess Asili would die.

Of course, these things wouldn’t happen in this lifetime.

* * *

Over the month, Erin quickly adapted to the Swordsmanship Department. It was certainly strange, but the atmosphere within the department was better than expected.

Erin learned how much even small actions could change the future.

First, Philip apologized to her.

He was truly sorry for trying to publicly humiliate her based only on rumors. For some reason, he spoke to Erin with flushed cheeks.

“You were more knightly than anyone. I was the one who wasn’t acting like a knight. I want to apologize… I understand if you won’t forgive me. I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I let petty prejudice narrow my vision. I only now realize how meaningless rumors are. Anyone who loves the sword and works hard deserves to be a knight…”

Erin couldn’t help feeling strange when Philip said those words.

In the past, Philip had been one of her harshest critics. Her life in the Swordsmanship Department became harder because of him.

But this time was different. He apologized and acknowledged her as a fellow knight-in-training.

Erin’s smooth integration into the Swordsmanship Department was partly due to Philip’s friendly behavior.

Looking at him, she realized how many different sides coexist within a person.

Someone who had once made her life miserable was now helping her.

She thought that if she hadn’t met Philip in the Swordsmanship Department in her past life, they might have become quite good friends.

Could the Duchess also be precious to someone?

Erin decided not to think that far.

Anyway, Philip’s friendliness toward her was a good sign.

In the past, Philip had been one of the knights who stood at the forefront on the First Prince’s side because of her. In a way, she had one less enemy.

But some things remained unchanged.

The fact that Erin would join the monster subjugation hadn’t changed.

She recalled what she had said when she called Ferdin out.

“I’ll end up going on the monster subjugation anyway.”

She also remembered how Ferdin frowned at her words.

By now, he must have received orders from the Imperial Family to include Erin Liserth in the monster subjugation.

“You don’t need to object to that order. I want to join the monster subjugation, Lord Ferdin. You don’t need to do anything for me.”

This was something she had wanted to say in her past life too.

Erin remembered exactly what happened to everyone who tried to help her.

They all met terrible ends in various ways.

Even now, Erin sometimes wondered how Ferdin’s future might have been different if he had stayed away from her, if he had treated her like a terrible villainess and despised her.

The same applied to Lilia’s brother, Calips.

Erin squeezed her eyes shut thinking about him.

Some people you can’t forget even after several lifetimes. Calips was one of them.

If she had awakened earlier in the past, she would never have let Calips go like that.

He was the first to notice the Duchess’s ugly nature.

“My lady, you must tell the Duke.”

But Erin was young then, and afraid. Both her father and Karon liked their new stepmother.

“What if Father thinks I’m a useless child just like my stepmother says? If nothing changes…”

“That’s not true. The Duke loves you.”

Calips was someone who had planted a small seed of courage in Erin.

But… he died. Was that the price of courage? Should she never have harbored even that small feeling?

And with him, Erin’s small courage died too.

She opened her eyes.

The sun was already rising.

* * *

As soon as early morning came, Erin prepared to leave.

As she had expected, her participation in the monster subjugation proceeded without any issues.

It was because of the orders from the Imperial Family.

“Since the House of Liserth was so eager to transfer their daughter to the Swordsmanship Department, she must have some skill. Have Erin Liserth join the subjugation team.”

In the past, Ferdin had defied the Imperial order and angered the Emperor.

He not only provoked the Emperor but also earned the disapproval of knights who agreed with the Emperor.

She remembered people who proclaimed that coming to the Swordsmanship Department without such resolve was wrong.

Back then, she had been so afraid of seeing actual monsters that she only caused problems. And that wasn’t the end of it.

‘The monsters were stronger than expected. Even worse, powerful monsters appeared in groups.’

It was a situation that even high-ranking knights struggled to handle, and many promising knights who defended the Empire died.

Ferdin’s preliminary knight corps also suffered heavy casualties. During the retreat, Ferdin faced a difficult choice.

In that chaotic situation, he had to choose between saving Erin’s life or Princess Asili’s.

He chose Erin.

Count Asili’s fury upon learning this was terrifying. It was the first time anyone had seen him lose his composure, when he had always maintained his cool in any situation.

After the Princess’s death, the Count worked to destroy everything Ferdin had.

‘They asked me to show my skills, so I should.’

Erin picked up her sword with a crooked smile.

Now it was her turn to protect.

* * *

This combination is too strange.

That was the only thought in Derek’s mind right now.

He slowly turned to look at Ferdin and Erin. Then he thought about Princess Asili, who would be riding in the carriage beside them.

Having the three protagonists of Atenz Academy’s biggest scandal in one place felt unnatural.

Derek continued his thoughts while observing them.

‘Whatever the reason, having both children of Duke Liserth participate in the monster subjugation must be good news for the Duke.’

Others seemed to share his thoughts, as other knights kept glancing at Erin.

A considerable number of actual knights, not just students, were participating in the subjugation team.

Monster subjugation was one of the most important events in the Swordsmanship Department.

It was natural for knights to accompany the students to broaden their experience and skills while preventing injuries.

Most of those knights were looking at Erin with hostility.

Derek thought this was understandable.

Unlike the Swordsmanship Department students, they hadn’t seen Erin’s swordsmanship.

‘Well, she doesn’t seem to care about that anyway.’

Derek saw Karon approaching Erin.

“Aren’t you in pain? You must be tired from riding for so long… Wait, when did you even learn to ride a horse? Huh? What have you been doing behind my back?”

“…”

“Are you keeping the bandage on your hand properly? Why hasn’t it healed after a whole month?”

Throughout the journey, Karon wore a face full of complaints, yet he stuck by Erin’s side with no intention of leaving.

Derek had never realized Karon was such a talkative person.

‘Were they always this close?’

Karon acted like Erin might disappear somewhere if he took his eyes off her for even a moment.

Though his constant nagging should have been annoying, she was accepting all of it. She even seemed to smile faintly.

Through it all, there was one person watching the two of them with an intense gaze.