Of course, Erin still had many challenges ahead to overcome.

But with Ferdin by her side, Erin feared no danger.

Things couldn’t get worse than the past.

Ferdin wouldn’t die.

Her father would be rescued by the First Knight Order, and analyzing the medicine she brought from the west would surely reveal something more.

Erin felt everything was falling into place smoothly.

“Lilia is continuing to analyze the medicine with the Magic Tower’s help. Maybe by the time you return from the imperial palace, we’ll have discovered something.”

Ferdin whispered like reciting an incantation.

“Everything will work out, Dame Erin.”

At his words, Erin nodded. Watching Erin smile with relief at him, Ferdin pressed his lips tightly together.

* * *

Ferdin prepared to leave the academy.

Erin had already departed for the imperial palace before him. She probably had no idea he would be going to Marquis Liserth’s castle.

Ferdin recalled the advice Princess Asili had given.

“Don’t tell Dame Erin that you’re leaving.”

“…”

“She needs to go to the imperial palace and be recognized as a Sword Master.”

Ferdin couldn’t understand. But if he asked why, the Princess would have to make more prophecies.

Knowing well the price she paid, Ferdin couldn’t ask anything.

At his silence, the Princess added her final words.

“That’s for the best.”

Ferdin had no intention of telling Erin he was leaving either.

Watching him, Isis agonized until the last moment over whether it was right to let Ferdin go to the marquis’s castle.

He couldn’t be certain which choice was correct.

“Your Highness… you haven’t even fully recovered yet…”

“I can still move. Most of the major wounds have healed thanks to the Princess’s divine power.”

Ferdin spoke with an expressionless face.

“Isis, think about what the Princess said. Prophecies aren’t certain.”

“…”

“I won’t die.”

The Princess had prophesied he would die. But she also said prophecies could always change.

Ferdin believed there was a reason the goddess had shown the Princess only one option.

That’s why he chose to leave, to do what he could for Erin.

Ferdin gazed at Atenz Academy with unreadable eyes before moving forward.

* * *

Ferdin and the First Knight Order arrived at Marquis Liserth’s castle through spatial teleportation magic.

Spatial teleportation magic capable of moving large forces could only be used with permission from a Sword Master recognized by the Emperor.

Worried about the Marquis, the Duke had specially authorized the use of spatial teleportation magic for this rescue operation.

When they arrived at the marquis’s castle, the Marchioness was waiting at the castle gate to greet them.

“How unusual—the First Knight Order without the Duke. And even using spatial teleportation magic… I’m grateful you’re looking after House Liserth despite being so busy.”

“…”

“I’ve also prepared accommodations for the priest from the west, so please come in.”

The Marchioness said this while guiding the knight order inside the castle.

From the Marchioness’s perspective, there was no reason to refuse.

Since Duke Asili had sent a subjugation force out of concern for the marquis’s territory in the Marquis’s absence, entertaining that knight order was the Marchioness’s duty.

“As you know the situation, things are a bit chaotic.”

The servants seemed busy moving things around, seemingly not long after the Third Knight Order investigating the castle had withdrawn.

Ferdin looked at the woman before him.

Marchioness Liserth, Corelia, was like a snake.

He could see the servants shrinking whenever her gaze fell upon them.

Just watching that was enough to understand what position the Marchioness held in the marquis’s household.

Even when she occasionally taught him and Ditrion at the imperial palace, she had exuded an eerie sense of intimidation.

“Still, please take your time and stay.”

Her leisurely demeanor made the knight order members wonder if the Marquis was truly imprisoned.

That evening, Corelia sent word that she wished to dine with the knight order.

At the dinner table, Corelia drooped her eyebrows and spoke regretfully.

“Thank you for coming. It’s been really difficult guarding the territory alone. I still can’t believe the Marquis committed a crime and fled.”

“…”

“And have you heard that rumor?”

Corelia covered her mouth with a handkerchief.

She shed a single tear with a distorted expression around her eyes.

“They say it’s true that our Erin used black magic.”

Ferdin thought her crying face seemed somehow artificial.

Isis also looked uncomfortable watching Corelia.

“We don’t know the truth yet. I plan to go to the imperial palace soon to uncover it.”

“How fortunate. Actually, I knew nothing about it. Using black magic is a tremendous crime, isn’t it? To be entangled in such an enormous matter…”

“Marchioness, you seem too worried, so let me tell you. Sir Erin is a Sword Master. She didn’t use black magic.”

As Ferdin finished speaking, the other knights eating also agreed.

The First Knight Order members had directly witnessed Erin’s swordsmanship skills, so they knew well how absurd the Marchioness’s story was.

“That’s right. Sir Erin’s level can’t be reached through black magic.”

“I don’t know what kind of people would dare say such things.”

“They must be people who don’t know much about swordsmanship. After seeing Sir Erin’s sword, none of them will be able to make such nonsense claims.”

“If you brought them before me, I could properly explain how amazing Sir Erin’s swordsmanship was.”

“To have swordsmanship at such a young age that rivals Duke Asili…”

At the knights’ excited chatter, the corners of Corelia’s mouth trembled.

Their words continued endlessly. If Isis hadn’t interrupted them midway, they would have talked about the sword they witnessed all day.

Ferdin spoke with a calm face.

“Sir Erin will be recognized as a Sword Master, Marchioness.”

“Will she?”

“Yes. You may have already heard, but Count Leon is dead. So now the Empire’s third Sword Master will be Sir Erin.”

“…”

“Sir Erin is truly an outstanding knight. She’ll probably spread the name of House Liserth far and wide.”

Saying this, Ferdin met Corelia’s eyes.

“The Marquis also seems to have been falsely accused, so he’ll return soon. Don’t worry too much about that either.”

Though I don’t know if you’re truly worried. Ferdin didn’t add those words.

Ferdin’s eyes looking at Corelia were colder than a northern winter.

Feeling his gaze, Corelia smiled and said.

“Your Highness, does the food perhaps not suit your taste? You haven’t been eating well since earlier…”

“Not at all. I failed to focus on the meal because I was taking in the unfamiliar space.”

That wasn’t true.

Ferdin had seen this place through his ability before.

The marquis’s castle where Erin had grown up.

The place where, after the Marquis remarried, she never felt happiness for even a single moment.

The one who had plunged the lively young Erin into h*ll was this woman before him.

Just listening to Corelia’s words for a bit revealed how she was driving Erin.

The reason he couldn’t eat properly was also related to Corelia.

Watching her, who had tormented Erin, made his appetite completely disappear.

Ferdin clenched his fist.

Thinking of Erin made it impossible to contain his anger toward the person before him.

“Did Erin perhaps bother Your Highness?”

“Bother me?”

“It was an engagement Your Highness didn’t want.”

At the Marchioness’s words, Ferdin’s face hardened. He spoke in a firm tone.

“It wasn’t forced. I was happy when I got engaged to Sir Erin too.”

“Does that mean Your Highness also…”

“Yes, I also wanted the engagement with Sir Erin.”

Corelia’s lips twisted.

She widened her eyes seemingly in surprise.

“My goodness. The rumors about Erin are so famous, I never thought that was the case. Don’t you care what kind of person that child is, Your Highness?”

“Marchioness, I don’t like malicious rumors. The person I experienced directly was completely different from the rumors.”

“…”

“You seem to like rumors, Madam.”

After that, no conversation continued between them until the meal ended.

* * *

It was late at night.

Ferdin rose from his bed. He had no intention of sleeping in the first place.

When he carefully opened the door, he saw Isis emerging from the adjacent room.

Then the First Knight Order members also began coming out of their rooms one by one.

Meeting each other’s gazes, they nodded slightly.

“We’ll divide into three units to search.”

At Ferdin’s words, the knight order began moving.

As soon as they arrived at the castle, they had explored it under the pretense of preparing for subjugation.

The investigation revealed the underground dungeon as the most likely place where the Marquis might be imprisoned. But the problem was that the underground dungeon was vast, matching the castle’s large scale.

Ferdin spoke to the First Knight Order.

“The Marchioness is watching for an opportunity. If we delay any longer, the Marquis will be in danger.”