Chapter 06
The original Erin Risus had failed to finish her swordsmanship evaluation and ran out in tears.
But now, she had displayed a performance more perfect than anyone else.
Erin stepped down from the evaluation ground. As she walked forward, the others who had been blocking her path slowly moved aside.
“This makes no sense.”
“How is that even possible?”
She could hear their hushed whispers. Her body, still heightened by mana, hadn’t relaxed yet, allowing her to pick up even the faintest sounds.
Philip, too, stared at her with wide eyes.
No one seemed to understand how she had executed the Risus family’s swordsmanship.
Her palms throbbed, and her overworked body ached with muscle pain.
Her body screamed at her to rest immediately—but she couldn’t.
She had to show that she had changed in this evaluation.
Ferdin was watching her.
Erin’s throat tightened. Even just standing still, he shone so brightly. And yet, after meeting someone like me…
Whenever her thoughts went that far, they always ended the same way.
After meeting me… Ferdin died.
A memory she couldn’t forget, even after living three lives.
Ignoring the gazes pouring onto her, Erin walked toward Ferdin, who had been watching her all this time.
Finally, she stood before him. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke.
“Sir Ferdin.”
His radiant blond hair shimmered under the sunlight. Meeting his deep blue eyes at such close range made her breath catch.
Seeing him up close made it even more real—he was alive.
The memory of the day Ferdin died was still vivid.
She had cried in her room, praying for his safe return—only to hear news of his death.
They said not even a proper body remained. He had been devoured by monsters, meeting such a miserable end.
It was a death unbefitting the Empire’s Second Prince.
And it was all her fault.
Erin needed immense courage just to speak to him.
“Do you still not understand why the prince died? It’s all because he was engaged to you.”
The words spoken by the Marchioness after his death echoed in her mind.
Erin hadn’t wanted the engagement. She knew her place.
The beloved Second Prince and a hated villainess were never meant to be together.
People admired the cold and decisive First Prince, Ditrion—but they wanted the kind and compassionate Ferdin to become emperor.
“It’s because of you… him, and his knights too. The Lady of House Asilly and the Duke were their last hope… If he hadn’t been engaged to you, the Second Prince wouldn’t have died.”
The reason he never became emperor… was all because of her.
Even now, speaking to him like this felt as if she were killing him again.
“I… have something to tell you in private. Could you spare me a moment?”
At her words, Dereck, who stood beside Ferdin, narrowed his eyes.
She understood his wariness. He must have heard the rumors spread by the Marchioness.
The Marchioness had deliberately mixed lies with tears to ruin Erin’s reputation.
“I heard Erin Risus fell in love with Prince Ferdin at first sight and has been tormenting the Marchioness.”
“They say she threatened to die if this engagement didn’t go through. Truly vicious.”
Thinking of those rumors, Erin’s face flushed.
She was afraid of what he thought of her.
‘Even if he despises me, I deserve it.’
She thought it wouldn’t be strange if he rejected her request.
But instead of avoiding her, he stepped closer.
“I can spare as much time as you need. But before that…”
Instead of finishing his sentence, Ferdin took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wrapped her bloodied hand.
Erin stared blankly at the neatly tied cloth.
He had always been kind.
Even to the villainess who was now strangling his fate.
Watching him, Erin realized once again what she had to do.
Atentos Academy dormitory. In Ferdin’s study—the largest room—several people had gathered.
Dereck sighed as he looked at those before him.
The academy had been established to nurture talented individuals.
In a world overrun with monsters, education couldn’t be limited by social status.
Thus, the founding Emperor of Lexia had decreed that status would not matter within the academy.
However, there was an exception.
Princes of the Lexia Empire were allowed to form their own preliminary knight orders during their academy years.
To become emperor, one had to prove their ability to gather outstanding talent—an old principle passed down through generations.
Commoners recognized for their skill in these orders would even be granted noble status after graduation.
The people before Dereck were such “outstanding” students.
They were also loyal followers who would become members of Ferdin’s knight order after graduation.
Of course, being talented didn’t mean they had good personalities.
With such strong-willed individuals, Dereck—an ordinary man—found it difficult to control them.
Right now, he simply wanted to escape this uncomfortable situation.
A handsome man with black hair and blue eyes, Amon Hedor, looked at Dereck with suspicion.
“Erin Risus has changed?”
The one who answered him was Lilia, seated across.
She brushed her long, luscious blonde hair behind her ear and smiled beautifully.
“Shouldn’t we take Erin Risus instead of Karon on the monster subjugation? If she’s as skilled as the rumors say, we could even give her the chance to hunt a monster alone.”
The moment she said that, Karon’s expression froze.
Was she insane? Giving Erin a solo hunt?
That wasn’t an opportunity—it was a death sentence.
“That’s absolutely not possible. My sister only recently transferred to the swordsmanship department. It’s far too early for her to join a subjugation. And only top-ranking students are allowed to participate, as you know.”
Karon had also heard that Erin had perfectly executed the Risus family’s swordsmanship.
He could hardly believe it—especially after hearing Edward’s words.
“Why didn’t you tell me Erin had learned swordsmanship? At that level, she must have trained since childhood.”
That was impossible.
His sister, Erin Risus, had never learned swordsmanship.
Already troubled by the memory of her injured hand, the strange rumors only worsened his mood.
“My sister has never even held a sword. She cannot join the subjugation.”
“Hm… how strange. Someone who’s never learned swordsmanship perfectly performed the Risus style? Aren’t you being too protective, even if she is your sister?”
Lilia shot him a glance.
“Such enviable sibling love. I had an older brother like that once… but thanks to someone, I can never see him again.”
“That’s enough, Lilia.”
Karon clenched his teeth, unable to understand the situation.
He planned to confront Erin as soon as this meeting ended.
If these ridiculous rumors caused her to join the subjugation, she wouldn’t die by monsters—
Lilia, sitting right beside him, would make sure of it.
She could easily stage it as a monster attack and kill Erin.
Just being near Lilia made Karon feel sick.
Lilia shrugged, amused by his reaction.
Karon swallowed dryly.
The one thing he had realized after coming to the academy—
Erin had many enemies.
Even when they lived in the marquisate, he had vaguely known what she had done.
But he never cared how others saw her.
He even avoided hearing rumors and gossip about her, believing things would improve someday.
Because of that, he hadn’t known at all—
That eight years ago, Erin had killed Lilia’s innocent brother.
Karon only learned the truth after enrolling in the academy.
