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Chapter 17
Who else but someone chosen by the sword—Erin Rissers always wanted to keep holding a blade.
Each time, she would recall the words she had heard just before coming to the Marquis’ household.
The arrogant blond man. The Emperor, who looked down on everything from the very top, had whispered to her:
“Corelia, I will not stand by and watch a situation where I cannot move things according to my will.”
“……”
“Make sure that Sword Masters no longer run rampant.”
The Emperor wanted to seize the nobility in his grasp and control them.
The more Sword Masters there were, the more peaceful the world became—but that was not what the Emperor wanted.
To eliminate the Sword Master chosen by the sword who would be born into the Rissers Marquis family, Erin was sent here.
But the reason she pushed Erin to the edge of the cliff… was also because she couldn’t stand to see a talent greater than her own blossoming before her very eyes.
“I’m sorry, I’ll do better… Please don’t hate me, Mother…”
“I am not your mother! Tch.”
Corelia recalled Erin, who would apologize without even knowing what she had done wrong.
Stupid girl. Her “crime” was simply being born with talent.
No matter what Erin Rissers did, Corelia would never change.
Yet Erin seemed not to know this.
She tried to do good deeds, as though Corelia might come to love her if she behaved well, always trying desperately to earn favor.
The little girl never realized that all of it was meaningless. To Corelia, those actions were nothing but a laughable comedy.
She resolved to trample down the budding sprout called Erin Rissers completely. And so the abuse dragged on for over ten years.
During that time, Erin steadily broke apart.
Corelia was sure Erin’s mind was truly shattered when she killed the servant named Calypse.
“God will never forgive you!”
She remembered that insolent servant who had shouted such words at her.
How dare he. To think he could threaten her with something so trivial.
In truth, Corelia hadn’t thought much of it at the time.
She had merely taken care of a servant who had the audacity to declare he would go to the Marquis and expose everything.
But his death had an unexpectedly useful effect.
She saw Erin’s eyes—once shining brightly even under torment—sink into darkness.
It was then Corelia was convinced.
Tormenting Erin herself was not nearly as effective as tormenting those around her. That was what dragged her deeper into despair.
So she decided to drag Erin into her schemes.
By then, Corelia had no choice but to admit it.
She knew better than anyone why she was doing all this.
“Because I couldn’t stand that cursed talent.”
The thought of that girl walking the path of a Master she herself could never reach filled her with unbearable irritation.
But now it no longer mattered.
Erin Rissers was broken—and she would continue to break.
The Emperor’s thorn, Ferdinand, was the Saintess’ lover, and that meant he had the powerful Duke Asili as a shield.
The Emperor wanted to drive a wedge between Ferdinand and Duke Asili.
That was why Erin’s engagement to Ferdinand Lexia had been arranged.
That was why Erin had been sent to the Swordsmanship Academy—to drive a rift between Ferdinand and the Saintess.
There was some risk in sending a genius like Erin to the academy, but Corelia had been confident.
She remembered Erin’s eyes the last time she saw her.
Those dead eyes.
Eyes that had lost all hope. From them, Corelia had been certain—Erin would reject the sword.
So why were these rumors spreading? That Erin Rissers had actually taken up a sword?
The very thought sickened her.
“That irritating bitch.”
At Corelia’s mutter, Raymond, standing before her, shivered.
“This will all be over soon anyway. I’m tired of entertaining those fools.”
“……”
“The Emperor has begun moving in earnest. Once Duke Asili is completely separated from Ferdinand, everything will be perfect… and that will happen today.”
As she spoke, Corelia’s gaze turned toward the door of the Marquis’ residence. She saw a messenger enter.
It was surely the news she had been waiting for.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have sent her to the academy.”
For the first time in her life, she felt regret. But she quickly forced herself to dismiss it.
Erin’s talent may have been brilliant, but time had already passed.
No matter how much she resisted, she would never reach the realm of a high knight.
It was common sense: without systematic training from a young age, even the brightest talent could not reach the level of a high knight.
As the body hardened and mana became unresponsive, it grew impossible.
And when Corelia tormented Erin, what she had kept most in mind was destroying her muscles and bones so she could never use mana properly.
Thanks to that, Erin had been sickly all through her childhood.
She had been so weak she could hardly move on her own, unable even to travel without a carriage.
‘Well, with her talent, perhaps she might barely reach the level of a high knight.’
With that terrifying talent, it was possible—perhaps.
But only that far.
Having reached this conclusion, Corelia felt somewhat relieved.
Yes, Erin Rissers would never become a Sword Master.
Knowing Erin’s meek personality, Corelia was even more certain.
That stupid girl would live her life branded a villainess, and die that way. That was the punishment Corelia had decreed for her.
“Madam, the messenger has arrived with news.”
At Raymond’s words, Corelia put on a gentle smile.
So natural a change in expression that one could never imagine the ferocity on her face moments earlier.
“Show him in.”
The door opened, and the Marquis’ messenger entered.
His face was strangely startled.
“Lady Corelia.”
“What is it?”
“The subjugation squad from Atens Academy was attacked by a horde of monsters!”
It was what she had expected to hear. Yet Corelia donned a tragic expression.
Her acting was so convincing that even Raymond, standing nearby, marveled.
“No…! Are our Caron and Erin safe?”
The messenger nodded reassuringly.
Corelia’s face hardened slightly. The Rissers brats seemed to have long lives.
“And the injured?”
This time, she had to summon every ounce of her acting skill.
Her tone, tinged with anxious expectation, might have raised suspicion in a more perceptive ear.
But the messenger noticed nothing. His face brightened as he answered.
“Fortunately, no one was injured. A passing Sword Master defeated the monsters…!”
“…A passing Sword Master?”
What nonsense was this? Corelia stared at the messenger.
But he had no better explanation.
A horde of monsters had appeared, Erin Rissers and Lady Asili had nearly been put in danger—but then, a passing Sword Master had appeared and saved them.
That was all he knew.
“What a relief…” Corelia said, sending the messenger away.
But her face had stiffened like stone.
She turned her gaze toward Raymond, who was bowing with a calm expression.
“What do you think?” she asked, grinding her teeth.
A passing Sword Master? Was this a joke?
If meeting a Sword Master were that easy, then dogs and cows alike would be Sword Masters.
Lady Asili was supposed to die in this monster subjugation.
Her death would have enraged Duke Asili, driving him away from Ferdinand Lexia. That was the purpose of this entire plan.
If Erin Rissers or Caron Rissers had been hurt in the process, it would have been a perfect result.
But nothing had happened. With this failure, many things were now falling apart.
“A passing Sword Master? Who on the continent doesn’t know their locations at all times? As if one would just happen to be in some random forest. Do you know how busy they are?”
“It is indeed strange.”
“This won’t do. Raymond, go to Atens Academy and find out what really happened.”
She paused in thought, then added, as if suddenly remembering something.
“Ah… and also check whether the rumor about Erin wielding a sword is true. If it is… well, an accident that takes off a wrist or two wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”
“……”
“That would be rather amusing.”
Corelia said this with a beautiful smile.
