TRWTVPS 03

Chapter 03

When they were young, Karon used to follow her around everywhere.

But after the Marchioness remarried the Marquis, their relationship spiraled out of control.

Erin became the disobedient, troublesome daughter who refused to listen to the Marchioness, while Karon became her precious son.

Well… none of that mattered anymore.

“Lord Karon! That’s not—!”

Sara protested to Karon. It was an insolent act for a maid.

Karon’s face hardened. But it wasn’t because of Sara.

Only then did he notice that the bandages wrapped around Erin’s hand had turned red. The wound had reopened under his overwhelming grip.

Karon’s face turned pale, and he instinctively let go of her hand.

He stared at Erin with a complicated expression. She looked at him and let out a quiet sigh.

He spoke, sounding flustered.

“You… why didn’t you say you were hurt…?”

“If you have nothing to say, can I go?”

“What?”

“I just got here. I’m tired.”

Karon couldn’t say anything in response.

It was strange. This wasn’t like her at all—she would normally shout and deny everything.

Without another word, Erin walked past him, leaving him frozen in place.

* * *

Mysterious green eyes. A nose that was neither too high nor too low. Lips tinted red like flower petals.

Her hair was an ordinary brown, yet even that suited her perfectly.

Erin gazed at her reflection, overwhelmed with emotion. She looked fragile—painfully so.

Her slender limbs looked as though they couldn’t even support her weight.

In truth, Erin had never been able to run or even walk freely under the Marchioness’s control.

When she was young, she thought that was normal. Like a doll displayed in the Marquis household—that was the fate she believed she was born into.

As she grew older, she struggled to escape that life, but every attempt only made things worse.

Back then, she didn’t know how to clear the misunderstandings surrounding her.

She shouted, she cried—but no one believed her.

Instead, they dismissed it as villainous behavior and shunned her even more.

But now… she would no longer scream alone on a cliff with no one to hear.

Erin adjusted her clothes as she looked into the mirror.

Unlike other departments, the outfit of the Swordsmanship Department was designed for movement.

“My lady… couldn’t you just not go today?”

Sara trembled behind her, clearly afraid.

Today was Erin’s first day in the Swordsmanship Department—and also the day of the evaluation.

In her previous life, this was the day she was humiliated.

At the start of every semester, the department held a swordsmanship evaluation.

Though called an evaluation, it was essentially a showcase of each noble family’s swordsmanship.

Students simply had to demonstrate either their family’s techniques or what they had learned.

For a normal student, it was never difficult.

But Erin wasn’t normal.

In the past, she couldn’t even properly hold a sword and ended up disgraced.

Worse, she was so terrified by the malicious remarks directed at her that she ran back to the dormitory and trembled for a long time.

Erin remembered Sara trying to stop her like this back then as well.

Unlike the ignorant Erin of the past, Sara likely knew what would happen today.

“I’m fine, Sara. So don’t worry, and go back to the Marquis’ residence. Okay?”

Sara only looked more anxious.

Kind Sara.

Erin gazed at her quietly.

Sara didn’t know the true nature of the Marchioness.

When Erin finally couldn’t endure it anymore and confessed everything, begging for help—

Sara had tried to protect her and was killed by a knight sent by the Marchioness.

“My lady… please run away… you poor thing…”

Even after two lifetimes, Erin could not forget that moment.

That’s why, in this life, she wouldn’t tell Sara the truth.

She would bear everything alone.

Erin began to walk forward—without hesitation.

* * *

The Swordsmanship Department of Atensia Academy was the empire’s last line of defense.

It trained knights who would guard the frontlines against the ever-increasing monsters.

Naturally, the students here took immense pride in belonging to this department.

Not a single day passed without training.

Only those with exceptional talent across the continent could enter.

And because of that pride, they were extremely hostile toward anyone who encroached upon their domain.

Several students in the training ground turned their gaze toward one direction.

“Erin Rizers.”

That one name acted as a trigger, and soon everyone was looking the same way.

At the entrance stood someone who clearly didn’t belong there.

There wasn’t a single swordsmanship student who didn’t know Erin Rizers.

Not because she was the daughter of the famous Rizers family of swordsmen—

But because she was a madwoman who transferred into the department despite having no skill or pride as a knight.

Most students had opposed her transfer.

But her father was the Marquis Rizers—

Head of one of the five great families guarding the frontlines against monsters.

Even the academy head couldn’t easily refuse his repeated requests.

Thus, for the first time since its founding, Atensia Academy accepted someone who couldn’t wield a sword into the Swordsmanship Department.

“She really came?”

“That’s impressive… in a lot of ways.”

“With arms like that, can she even lift a sword?”

The students’ gazes were sharp with hostility.

Of course they were.

Erin, who had once been a knight in her previous life, understood them.

As a member of this department, she was not a lady to be protected—but a fellow knight.

And since her skill would undoubtedly rank at the very bottom, she had no right to complain about being looked down on.

Erin turned her gaze away from them.

She was already used to the scornful looks.

Instead, her attention was drawn elsewhere.

Her eyes shifted toward a corner of the training ground.

There sat a man with golden hair like melted sunlight and blue eyes like a lake.

Emotion surged within her, and she pressed her lips tightly together.

He’s alive.

He was breathing, moving, speaking—right before her eyes.

Her heart began to race.

It felt as if color was returning to a once colorless world.

She struggled to hold back her tears.

That man was the empire’s second prince—

And Erin’s fiancé.

Ferdin Lexia.

Ferdin was talking with his close aide, Derek Atern, seated beside him.

She still didn’t know why she had returned to the past.

But that didn’t matter anymore.

What mattered was that she could change the future.

Their eyes met.

Unlike everyone else, he looked at her without hostility.

* * *

Ferdin stood out wherever he went.

It wasn’t just because he was a prince.

With his handsome appearance, exceptional swordsmanship, and natural charisma, he drew people in effortlessly.

The first prince, Ditrion, was also known for his excellence—

But Ferdin was no less remarkable.

Even so, Ditrion was considered more likely to inherit the throne.

Because while the emperor favored Ditrion—

He did not favor Ferdin.

Favor would be one thing… but the way the emperor treats him almost feels like hatred.

That was why Ferdin needed the support of Duke Ashilly more than ever.

Derek, thinking about it, grew increasingly irritated.

And now, of all times, the engagement with the Ashilly duchy had fallen apart!

Everything had gone wrong because of Erin Rizers.

Meanwhile, Ferdin seemed completely indifferent.

“The Marquis’s demand is ridiculous. You marrying Erin Rizers makes no sense!”

“…”

“Did you hear what the Marchioness said? She cried and claimed Erin threatened to die if she couldn’t marry you. Even I got chills hearing that! And you’re fine with it?”

Derek grimaced in disgust.

“I don’t believe anything I haven’t seen myself.”

At that frustrating response, Derek clutched his chest.

Ferdin was usually rational—but sometimes he acted strangely irrational.

He claimed he could tell if someone was suspicious just by looking—

But Derek couldn’t understand that at all.

If anything, the worst people were the best at hiding it.

“That doesn’t matter! Erin Rizers is just an obstacle in your path!”

“It’s not like we have a better solution.”

“Of course we do! Just make her lose interest in you!”

Ferdin frowned at him.

Derek continued seriously:

“You might end up dead if you’re not careful.”