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Episode 4 — Hardenberg
The next morning, my eyes opened unusually early.
Even the ceiling looked beautiful today. I smiled with satisfaction.
“Let’s show them the rebel’s first day.”
I, Shuneria Colhart, was about to switch roles — from the illegitimate daughter of the duke’s house to the rebel of the duke’s house.
Click—
The door opened without a single knock. A maid with familiar brown hair walked in.
It was Mary, the one who had lied to me last time, saying that Saren and the duke had ordered me to come down to the dining hall.
Perfect first target. I smiled meaningfully to myself.
“Get up.”
Mary spat the words out bluntly.
For a normal maid, using such casual speech to someone of noble blood would have been unthinkable. But I was just an illegitimate child — openly ignored and mistreated by the duke himself.
Naturally, the servants followed suit and treated me the same way.
I hadn’t realized how pathetic it was when, the first time I heard her speak informally, I stupidly replied with “…Yes?” in polite speech.
Maybe that moment was what hammered in the nail — they grew bolder ever since.
Mary didn’t help me get ready; she just muttered complaints to herself.
“Seriously, why do I have to serve someone like you as my lady? You can’t even dress yourself, and you dare to act like one… Ugh, look at all this dust.”
Still lying in bed, I just stared at her.
She was half-heartedly tidying the bookshelf when she noticed my gaze and turned around.
“What are you doing? Not getting up?”
“I already did. What do you think my eyes are, decorations?”
“What?”
“I’m talking, aren’t I? Do I look dead to you? I was up even before you came in.”
Insults delivered with a smile usually sting more. When I calmly pointed it out, Mary blinked dumbly, then let out a scoff.
“Did getting hit by the duke yesterday make you lose your mind? You’ve suddenly gotten cheeky.”
“That’s what Saren said too. Guess you two have the same level of conversation.”
“Did you just insult Lady Saren?!”
“Real sisters usually grow up whacking each other with pillows. This is mild in comparison.”
Of course, we weren’t actually real sisters. I swallowed the words and sat up.
Unlike my nonchalant self, Mary was visibly fuming.
“You’ve really lost it. Did you forget who you are?”
“I’m the duke’s illegitimate daughter. Half his blood, remember?”
“You think that makes you the same as Lady Saren? She’s the daughter of a noblewoman, and you’re just a filthy little—”
“Are your ears clogged? The duke’s the bastard here, not me.”
As if I wanted this.
Past-me who threw Shuneria into this situation, reflect on your choices again.
Mary looked at me as if she truly thought I’d gone insane, shocked that I’d even insult the duke.
“Now do you get it? The duke is my father. I’m his daughter.”
“You—you’re not really his daught—”
“Whether I’m illegitimate or adopted, I’m not someone you can talk down to like this.”
Even an illegitimate daughter is still a lady. Once the Colhart name is attached, that’s a fact.
Even if society didn’t acknowledge my existence, I wasn’t someone a maid could belittle.
That was exactly why they looked down on me, though…
I glanced at Mary. She finally seemed to realize the situation; her fists clenched tightly.
I stood up and waved my hand lazily.
“If you understand, would you kindly get lost? And don’t forge orders like last time.”
“Forge?! How dare you—”
“Would you prefer I call it impersonation instead?”
I tilted my head slightly. Mary’s face went pale.
Falsifying orders was punishable by beating, but impersonating nobility was a serious crime, especially for a mere maid.
God, this filthy class system.
I didn’t like it, but hey — if I didn’t play by the rules of Rome, I’d be the one beaten to death.
I gave her a dazzling smile and added sweetly,
“If you don’t like it, then shut up and leave. Do it again, and I’ll report it to the duke for real next time.”
“…F-Fine…”
“Watch your language.”
“…Yes, my lady…”
Polite speech had never sounded so precious.
It was a little pathetic to feel joy over something so small, but happiness was happiness.
At last, for the first time, Mary left the room using honorifics. Her timid attitude on the way out was surprisingly satisfying.
Huh, maybe I’m actually good at this.
First new discovery in 25 years.
Giggling at my newfound “talent,” I opened the wardrobe. A few plain — no, downright shabby — dresses were hanging there.
Damn, even modern sundresses look fancier than this…
It wasn’t about fashion, it was about money.
What kind of ducal house has dresses without a single jewel or even a fake gem?
Grumbling at the absurd reality, I changed clothes. Still, it felt better than Saren’s gem-covered dresses that looked like they could crush someone to death.
Of course, that’s the kind of crushing I’d welcome.
Smirking, I swung open the door and stepped out energetically.
❖ ❖ ❖
“What are you staring at? Never seen someone walk before?”
I glared back at the servants staring at me as I strode confidently through the hallway and made my way to the library.
Even for the Colhart family, their history was impressive — they were one of the founding noble houses of the Ruspertu Empire.
In other words, they were powerful and prestigious. So naturally, the library in this mansion rivaled a national archive.
The doors were so heavy that opening them alone was a challenge unless someone helped.
Clunk—
“Damn, this door weighs a ton…!”
I slipped inside quickly before the massive door slammed shut behind me with a loud bang.
“Alright. Let’s find it as fast as possible.”
I hadn’t been in this world long, so I didn’t know much. Until recently, I’d been wandering around in a daze, but after meeting Isaac and Letilia, my goal had become clear.
They said it was Hardenberg, right.
If they owned a castle, their power must rival any noble house. Which meant there had to be books about them here.
As I scanned the “H” section, the word I was looking for caught my eye.
“—There it is.”
Embossed on the spine in elegant gold letters: Hardenberg.
The book wasn’t too thick or thin. I pulled it out, sat down, and opened it.
“Isaac Hardenberg…”
A familiar name was at the top of the table of contents. Below it, four more names were listed. Letilia was there, and then…
Ethan, Hazen, Novel…?
The names weren’t unfamiliar. I instinctively covered my mouth.
Why are THESE names here?
If Isaac and Letilia were shocking, these three were even worse.
They were the remaining three main characters. And among all the chaotic personalities, these three were particularly troublesome — completely incompatible with the rational and cool-headed Isaac.
Even if things changed, there’s no way those three are with them too… right?
I quickly read the description of the Hardenberg family.
[Unlike most ancient noble families, the Hardenbergs have a unique history. The surname did not exist before; it was created by the five individuals themselves. They are the only Hardenbergs in the empire. There is no set family head, but the representative is Letilia Hardenberg. The five of them share a sworn sibling bond…]
What the hell.
Among all the differences from the original story, one word stuck in my brain like a spike.
Sworn siblings?!
The five of them were sworn siblings? Even mortal enemies would cry at that.
The original story flashed before my eyes — each of the five sharpening knives against the other four. And then, I remembered the smiling Isaac and Letilia from yesterday.
W-What kind of mess have I walked into…?
My forehead broke out in cold sweat.
I couldn’t focus on the individual ability descriptions that followed — they were basically the same as what I already knew.
I was just about to reread carefully when—
“Are my eyes playing tricks on me?”
A sharp, silky voice rang out, as distinct as her violet eyes.
Saren’s voice.
Startled, I turned around to see Saren, arms crossed, looking down at me. A line of maids stood behind her.
“Who allowed this thing into the library?”
“S-sorry, my lady! I’ll interrogate everyone nearby immediately!”
“Of course. This isn’t just any room, it’s the library…”
Her icy gaze shifted from me to the word “Hardenberg” on the book in my hands.
“You.”
Saren bit her lip.
“How dare someone like you read about them?”
Her voice dripped with hostility.
Ah, damn it. I cursed internally. Things were about to get annoying.
Behind Saren was Mary again.
Ugh. Not her again. I felt irritation bubbling up.
“Not only did you sneak in here, but you’re reading about Hardenberg too.”
“……”
“You really have lost your mind since yesterday, haven’t you?”
Saren’s elegant face twisted in anger.
It’s just a book, for god’s sake. I looked at her coldly.
She’s not even the original Saren anymore — inside is a modern person. How can she be this naturally vile?
The level of her cruelty was so natural it was almost impressive. Of all people to get possessed, why her? Truly astronomical bad luck.
I must’ve been giving her a very insolent look, because Saren’s eyebrow twitched.
“I’m talking to you. Are you ignoring me?”
“I thought you were just talking to yourself.”
“What?”
“I just didn’t see the need to respond.”
That’s something you could easily say in normal conversation.
“‘Need’? You think you can decide whether to answer me?”
I thought my reply was clever, but apparently not.
Saren snatched the book from my hands roughly and lifted it threateningly, as if about to hit me with it.
She growled, emphasizing each word.
“Listen carefully. This is not a book for someone like you.”
“It’s not Excalibur. What qualifications are you talking about?”
“Ha! Obviously, status. The abilities and qualities passed down by blood. And you’re not even gifted, unlike me.”
She snorted and slammed the book shut.
Status, my ass…
And she wasn’t even awakened yet.
In the original story, she eventually awakened as an “ice” ability user. So yes, she’d get powers, but not yet.
“Bloodline and status, huh…”
I looked her up and down.
“Doesn’t seem that impressive to me.”
“You…!”
Gritting her teeth, Saren’s violet eyes burned with fury as she raised her hand—
Smack—
…Only for me to grab her wrist midair.
Her eyes widened in shock. The maids, including Mary, screamed.
“Lady Saren!”
“Wow, your hand’s really light. Always raising it, huh.”
“Let go! How dare you touch—!”
“Touch who? We share half the same blood, remember?”
