The Reason Why That Villainess Picked Up a Sword

Erin married Ferdin. She remembered it as a truly happy wedding.

The story of Marquis Lloyd Liserth shedding tears at the wedding ceremony became a topic of conversation among nobles for quite some time.

“Erin, I haven’t done anything for you, and yet you’re already getting married…”

“Father…”

Lloyd shed hot tears even while speaking. Erin firmly grasped Lloyd’s hand.

His hands, which had always felt enormous to her, now showed wrinkles that had formed over the years. Erin smiled sadly at those wrinkles.

In contrast, Marquis Liserth, who still harbored feelings of guilt toward Erin, pressed his lips tightly together.

His ignorance had pushed his daughter’s childhood into h*ll. No words could excuse what had happened.

“I’m fine, Father.”

“Erin…”

“I know how much you’ve suffered because of it.”

Whenever this happened, Erin offered words of comfort to Lloyd instead. Lloyd wiped away tears while looking at his daughter who had grown up well on her own.

Since learning that Erin had suffered, Lloyd had tried desperately to make amends somehow. And Erin had forgiven him far too easily. That made his heart ache unbearably.

Princess Asili, who could now walk again, also attended Erin’s wedding. She too blessed Erin’s future with tears glistening in her eyes.

“Lady Erin, you must be happy.”

“You too, Princess.”

Ferdin’s knight order also offered their blessings to Erin one by one. While receiving people’s greetings, Erin slowly turned her gaze.

Ferdin, who had become the Empire’s Emperor, stood there. She could see Ferdin smiling at her.

Taking Erin’s hand from Marquis Liserth, he wore the happiest expression in the world.

He gazed at Erin with moved eyes. A cool breeze blew and beautiful sunlight illuminated Erin.

The day was more radiant than ever, seemingly the goddess blessing their marriage.

How many trials they had overcome to reach this moment…

Ferdin swallowed the many words that came to mind while looking at Erin. Both he and Erin, as well as everyone gathered here, could understand without words.

Ferdin whispered in Erin’s ear, “You’re so beautiful today.”

“You look wonderful too, Ferdin.”

Ferdin and Erin began walking hand in hand, clasping both hands together. Everyone in the Empire blessed their marriage.

* * *

Erin’s life after becoming Empress was busy.

Unlike when she was an ordinary knight, there were many things to worry about and many tasks that absolutely had to be done.

Ferdin tried his best to reduce Erin’s workload out of consideration for her, but being busy remained unavoidable.

When her busy life became overwhelming, Erin often set out to subjugate monster hordes. This was her way of refreshing herself. Ironically, Erin’s actions only improved the Empire’s security further.

That day too, Erin had gone out for subjugation. She never left alone when departing for subjugation.

She usually took people who were still working as apprentice knights from the Imperial Knight Order.

“The Empress is truly amazing.”

“That perfect swordsmanship is beyond words.”

“I want to follow her on subjugation just one more time.”

Each time, Erin had to endure the side effect of enthusiastic praise from the apprentice knights.

The knights followed closely behind Erin. They all looked visibly tense.

However, the subjugation force with Erin’s participation eliminated the monster horde without much danger. Erin’s martial prowess was too overwhelming.

Erin, who had already been an outstanding knight, was becoming sharper and more fierce with her sword as time passed.

While wielding her sword, Erin recalled Duke Asili whom she had seen recently.

“Your martial prowess is overwhelming, Lady Erin.”

“Duke Asili?”

“I have nothing but gratitude for Lady Erin.”

“…”

“I heard from my daughter. She said many things happened to you. I didn’t hear the details, but… I know how difficult it must have been for you because of us.”

After Erin became Empress, Duke Asili began using honorifics with her. Usually he called her Empress, but when Erin acted as a knight, he addressed her as Lady Erin. This was because Erin wanted it that way.

He was always respectful toward Erin. His expression resembled someone looking at a benefactor who had saved his life.

“Lady Erin’s sword always makes me tense.”

Duke Asili constantly expressed admiration while looking at Erin. Her overwhelming martial achievements at such a young age seemed to give him some kind of driving force.

Duke Asili frequently sparred with Erin, watching her with sparkling eyes.

‘This too must be different from my previous life.’

The appearance of Duke Asili from the past—powerless and seemingly having lost everything—no longer existed.

Princess Asili had also recovered her health and was living a happy life.

‘Many people were saved thanks to her.’

The Princess used her powerful holy power to lead efforts in helping the poor. At such times, Erin recalled the previous world without her.

Many who should have died lived because of different choices. The poor people Princess Asili saved would have lived miserably and died in the previous life too.

Erin slowly opened her eyes that she had closed. Her sword shot out from her hand.

The monster that had been about to attack an apprentice knight fell to her sword. She could see the apprentice knight’s wide-open eyes.

“Th-thank you, Lady Erin.”

“Don’t let your guard down.”

At Erin’s words, the apprentice knight bowed his head with a moved expression.

Erin looked down at her arm. Even though everything had changed, traces of the past still remained on her body. The misery she had felt when seeing past scars no longer existed.

Erin often imagined her life without Corelia. Just like Corelia had said, if she hadn’t existed, Erin might never have taken up the sword. Cutting down living things was always a disgusting task.

Even if those things were monsters that tormented people.

“Erin, it looks like we’ve finished dealing with the monster horde.”

Erin turned her head toward the person speaking to her. Amon was looking at her with puzzled eyes. After graduating from the academy, Amon had grown into a proper knight.

Watching Amon’s future was also one of Erin’s pleasures.

“How are things lately? I heard you sparred with Duke Asili recently.”

Erin now spoke casually to Amon. After ascending to the position of Empress, she couldn’t use honorifics with people like before.

At Erin’s question, Amon sighed and scratched his head.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to beat Duke Asili.”

Erin looked at Amon with pitying eyes. He was currently in love with the most difficult person to love on the continent. Rumors about Princess Asili and Amon starting to date had been circulating secretly for some time.

When Derek heard this news, he shuddered.

“Our Princess Asili is dating that barbarian!”

Erin too couldn’t hide her surprise at this unexpected combination. However, they faced the biggest mountain of all: Duke Asili.

The Duke firmly declared that he couldn’t give his daughter to a knight weaker than himself.

People sighed watching this. Some gossiped behind his back, saying Duke Asili was trying to block the Princess’s path. But Amon didn’t give up.

From the first anniversary of his relationship with the Princess, he began sparring with Duke Asili.

“What’s your win-loss record?”

“50 matches, 50 losses.”

Naturally, Amon was no match for Duke Asili.

However, the current Amon was different from the past Amon.

“That’s impressive, Sir Amon.”

Erin was genuinely amazed.

The duels between Duke Asili and Amon were duels in name only. Most results ended with Amon getting thoroughly beaten. But Amon didn’t give up and continued challenging Duke Asili to sparring matches.

He spoke like it was nothing special.

“I understand the Duke’s feelings.”

Erin nodded with a faint smile at those words.

Although the Princess’s condition had improved considerably, she still had some difficulty moving around.

“There’s also the distrust I’ve built up until now. I should have lived more diligently.”

“You’re more diligent than in the past.”

At Erin’s answer, Amon made an indecipherable expression. He too now knew that Erin’s current life was one where she had returned from the past. He had also heard that he had been lazy in that other life.

But for his current self, it was incomprehensible.

“By the way, Sir Amon, it seems like you’ll become a Sword Master soon?”

At Erin’s words, Amon nodded. Then he spoke to Erin.

“Actually, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“When we return, could you spar with me?”

Erin looked at Amon with a strange expression. Having reached a certain level, Erin had also become similar to Duke Asili.

Sparring with other people had become meaningless. Amon too seemed to understand this, wearing a cautious expression. It had been a long time since Erin had sparred with anyone other than her occasional matches with Duke Asili.

What she offered others wasn’t sparring, but rather teaching.