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Chapter 01
Prologue
“Waaah!”
On the day Liersha was born, crying loudly into the dawn, the Duke’s household of Aracrene fell silent.
“Tch. To think she devoured her mother’s life to be born—what a pitiful little thing.”
Those were the Duke of Aracrene’s first words as he awaited the birth deep into the night.
His red eyes glinted coldly as he looked upon the newborn child.
Even in a situation where the mother’s life had been lost, he could sense no trace of magic from the baby.
She was a child with no potential whatsoever to awaken any power.
Perhaps that was why the Duke made a cruel decision.
“Not a word of what you’ve seen tonight.”
He chose not to let the world know that the child existed.
Every member of the Aracrene line—known for their strength and beauty—was born with silver hair and red eyes.
The girl, however, possessed only the color of their eyes.
Liersha Aracrene.
That was the only thing she received—a name. Then she was left alone.
She grew up quietly in the outskirts of the estate, not the main manor.
People knew she existed, but treated her like she was invisible.
Grandfather hates me. Father and my brothers hate me too.
On her tenth birthday, her father—the young duke—did not come to see her, not even once.
It’s because I’m too useless to even look at, isn’t it?
No one had celebrated her birth, and no one celebrated her birthday either.
Liersha sat on her bed, sniffling softly, tears soaking her cheeks.
Maybe it would’ve been better if Mother had lived instead of me.
Why had the family chosen to save her over her mother?
She had once overheard servants whispering that only one of them could be saved.
Seeing her own mottled pink hair in the mirror, Liersha squeezed her eyes shut.
“…Hic.”
Today she had dyed her hair herself, with great effort, hoping to draw her grandfather’s attention.
But when she stood before him, she had only earned his wrath.
“Who gave you permission to wander around the manor as you please?”
The Duke of Aracrene had widened his red eyes in surprise at first—then his face twisted in fury.
“Do not take one step out of your room again. Understood?”
Humiliated before everyone, Liersha wanted nothing more than to disappear.
As a maid escorted her back to her room, she begged for forgiveness again and again.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace! I’m sorry! I’ll never do it again!”
But the Duke did not look back, not even once.
Liersha was locked in her room for days.
That was when she realized—
that living quietly, as if dead, was best for everyone.
The shame of House Aracrene.
That was her place.
“I can’t believe I got assigned to this manor—everything that girl does irritates me.”
“If she still hasn’t awakened her power, could it be… that the bloodline is weakening?”
“Shh! Don’t say such dreadful things! If that got out, the Duke’s standing would be in jeopardy!”
“She doesn’t even realize the trouble she’s brought upon the family! Why would His Grace keep a child like that? Because of her, the young duke—!”
“What are you gossiping about over there!”
The maids who had been whispering froze when the head maid appeared, then scattered at once.
Liersha, who had heard everything from behind the corridor, bit her lip hard.
Because of me… Father got into trouble?
She bowed her head.
The head maid turned the corner and stopped in surprise at the sight of her.
She was the only person who had never said anything cruel to Liersha.
After a moment of flustered hesitation, the woman composed her face.
“You’re still awake, my lady? You should go back to bed. Pay no mind to what those girls say—they speak out of ignorance.”
“…Mm.”
“I’ll handle it tomorrow.”
Liersha nodded weakly, pretending to be fine, though her heart felt unbearably heavy.
And that night, deep into the early hours—
A loud commotion outside woke her from her shallow sleep.
“What’s that noise?”
When she looked out the window, she saw the central keep engulfed in flames.
“What… what is that?”
Even as she saw it with her own eyes, she couldn’t believe it.
Opening the window, she heard the screams—
The manor was under attack.
“Wh-what do I do…?”
As she stood frozen in panic—
The door suddenly burst open.
“…Brother Ricardor?”
It was her second brother, who had always looked down on her with disdain.
He strode toward her, face grim. Liersha flinched and backed away, but he grabbed her hand roughly—his skin was ice cold.
“What are you doing here, idiot! You can see what’s happening—run!”
“I… I don’t even know what’s going on…”
“What…?”
Ricardor’s eyes darkened, disbelief twisting his features.
“Don’t tell me—you’re the only one left here?”
She nodded faintly.
Even the head maid, the only person she trusted, had abandoned her at the critical moment.
Ricardor raked his silver hair in frustration.
“Damn it.”
“…”
“There’s no time to explain. Come with me.”
“B-but Grandfather said I mustn’t leave my room…”
“He—!”
He opened his mouth to argue, then stopped when he saw how terrified she was.
He sighed and softened his tone.
“Just come.”
He pulled her along the dark corridor.
As she followed, she felt something wet under her fingers and looked down—his arm was bleeding, freshly wounded.
Noticing her gaze, Ricardor quickly covered it.
Then, glancing briefly at her, he gave a short explanation.
“The imperial army stormed the manor. Grandfather’s trying to hold them off.”
“The imperial army? Why?”
“There’s… a traitor in the family.”
A traitor?
Liersha’s eyes widened.
At just ten years old, she could not possibly understand the tangled politics surrounding her family.
No one had ever told her anything.
Ricardor led her toward the forest that bordered the estate grounds.
His hurried pace told her how dire the situation truly was.
“Oberon will take you somewhere safe. I’ll come find you when this is over. Wait for me.”
“You’ll… come find me? Why?”
“What do you think family is for?”
Of course…
Liersha bit her lip, uncertain.
It all felt surreal.
Oberon—the Duke’s loyal aide—was a man she knew by reputation.
A man who had served the family for decades, risking his life in their service.
That such a person had been sent to protect her felt impossible to believe.
As they reached deeper into the forest, she saw Oberon waiting anxiously.
When he spotted them, he hurried over in relief.
“Lord Ricardor!”
“Oberon. Take Liersha and hide her somewhere safe.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Oberon nodded solemnly, then turned to Liersha with a gentle smile of reassurance.
And then—
Shhk.
A blade pierced through Ricardor’s chest.
Straight through—without hesitation.
