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Chapter 13
“You can come out now, May.”
That’s why I hadn’t brought any maids on purpose.
“Ah, ah, yes!”
I stared blankly at the girl who answered with a dazed face. May hesitated, then sat down right beside me with her arms crossed.
Wait—beside me?
Not across from me?
Before I even had time to wonder, I felt warmth by my side.
It was May’s hand brushing against me.
“Th-thank you so much, sister.”
“Huh?”
“This is the first time in my life I’ve ever gone outside the duke’s estate.”
I fell silent, looking into her sparkling eyes. May, meanwhile, poured out words like an excited child at an amusement park.
“I thought I’d live my whole life trapped inside. But thanks to you, sister, I get to wear such nice clothes and even ride in a carriage…”
“…”
“Even if all of this turns out to be just a dream, I’ll still be able to live a little happier with this memory. Even if, when I wake up, it’s back to my usual attic with peeling paint.”
Ah, damn.
Was I always this weak against tragic stories?
What’s clear is—she reminds me of when I was still Chae Jiwoo.
Back when my whole family had died, and I bounced from one damp, mold-smelling semi-basement rental to another, working day to day just to eat…
“This isn’t a dream.”
May says this feels like a dream, but not for me. If it were, I wouldn’t be able to endure it.
Yes, Canis Escliffe is under threat of death, and her reputation at the Academy is at rock bottom. But—
[Canis Escliffe (S-rank Mage)]
[Mana: SSS-rank]
—I have certainty now.
The certainty that my life will get better!
“If you weren’t born with it, then you have to claw your way up somehow.”
Even if it’s just luck handed down by chance.
“You just have to use it well.”
“Ah…”
May’s eyes trembled at my words. She seemed to interpret my expression in her own way, then murmured softly:
“I see… So even though you were born without mana, sister, you still…”
What?
“Wait—that’s not what I meant—”
“Then my luck must be having a sister like you. I may not be such a great mage, but… I’ll work hard for you, sister!”
Her eyes shone with admiration as she looked at me. I don’t know what kind of story she’s running inside her head, but I can tell you one thing—your script is a million light-years away from mine, kid.
I was about to open my mouth to correct her misunderstanding when—
Clatter! The carriage, which had been running smoothly, suddenly jolted to a stop.
Before I could lean out to ask, the coachman’s voice rang out.
“M-my lady, there’s a problem!”
“What is it?”
“A m-man covered in blood… he’s asking for a ride…”
“Your Highness, I think the carriage wheel came off. It won’t move at all. What should we do?”
“What, again?”
Inside the shaking carriage, Aiden, who had been quietly reading, let out a low hum at the coachman’s troubled words.
“The Empress must really have it in for me.”
He even looked faintly amused. But the coachman, who had long served him, quickly recognized that this meant Aiden was angry.
And there was reason enough for that anger.
Seven times. This year alone, seven carriage wheels had come off during his travels. And now, this made the eighth.
The coachman, Grek, bowed his head repeatedly.
“M-my deepest apologies, Your Highness.”
“Forget it. You couldn’t have known. Her tricks are always subtle.”
Anyway, things like this didn’t even count as real harassment.
Compared to tea turning black the moment he dipped a spoon in, or “accidental ambushes” by bandits in an isolated mountain road, this was mild.
Speaking of which, isn’t this also an isolated mountain road?
His gaze swept indifferently out the window.
Yes, there was a road, but it was desolate. And it was midnight.
Since he wasn’t the emperor’s favorite, he had no escorts. If something happened here, the only witness would be this coachman.
Logically, he should have been nervous. But Aiden’s demeanor was relaxed.
With a faint smile, he asked the coachman:
“Grek, how far is the nearest village from here?”
“On foot… half a day’s walk, at least.”
“Hm. That far.”
If he were an ordinary student, not only would he miss the Academy’s opening ceremony, but who knows what might happen along the way.
But his concern was something else.
If I run, I’ll easily make it in time. But… I don’t want the Empress to know my true abilities.
Her spies could be anywhere along the road. If he displayed skills far beyond a typical swordsmanship student, word would reach her.
What should I do…
As the son of a concubine, his position was always precarious. Even his own half-brother, the 2nd prince, had been killed by the Empress when they were children.
Since then, Aiden had kept his true power hidden. The more she underestimated him, the fewer troubles he faced.
As he weighed lateness against exposure, he habitually brushed back his hair.
But all those calculations became meaningless in the next instant.
“Y-your Highness!”
At Grek’s panicked call, Aiden’s hand went to his sword hilt.
An ambush.
“Listen up inside the carriage! Hand over everything you’ve got, and we’ll spare your life!”
About a dozen men, looking like bandits.
But of course—they weren’t ordinary bandits.
Definitely hired. And probably trained, too.
Their movements weren’t the rough, desperate ones of real bandits.
They were quiet. Assassin-like.
“Grek. Until I give the order, stay still.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Shaking with fear, Grek clung to the horse’s reins. Confirming that, Aiden stepped out of the carriage, hand still on his sword.
“Well, well. Judging by those fancy clothes, you’re some rich brat. You’ve lived in comfort all this time, so now you can spare us a little charity!”
The lines were cliché. But that only proved they were professionals.
Even if the attempt failed, no one would suspect a mastermind behind it.
No evidence, just suspicion. Exactly the Empress’s style.
Troublesome…
Aiden clicked his tongue inwardly. There were more assassins than he’d expected.
To come at me this recklessly… Until now, I at least pretended to rely on guards.
If he revealed his true skill, wiping them out would be easy.
But that meant the Empress would gain an idea of his strength.
He gave no reply, only lowered his stance quietly. Running away wasn’t an option.
Not only would it be shameful, but these weren’t opponents you could just flee from.
Kill them all. Erase them.
That was the only answer.
“Hah… What a nuisance.”
Amid the blood-soaked scene, Aiden stood alone. He flicked his sword half a turn to shake off the blood, then slid it back into its sheath.
He felt no pity.
Their trade was murder. Even if they’d been real bandits, it was the same.
He had seen too many such situations to waste compassion on those who tried to kill him first.
Disposing of the corpses will be troublesome. And making it to the Academy on time is now unlikely…
Better, then, to erase the traces.
Just as he turned to instruct Grek, his servant cried out:
“Y-your Highness! Another carriage is coming this way!”
“What?”
He turned. Indeed, the sound of hooves approached in the distance.
“What do we do? If they see this—”
To the world, Aiden was still not yet a Sword Master—just a promising talent.
If anyone witnessed this scene, it would cause problems.
“No… this might be better. We can always silence them, can’t we?”
He never thought he could hide his power forever. He just wanted to delay the reveal as long as possible.
A little intimidation and a hefty bribe would be enough. Lifting his head, he called to the approaching coachman.
“Hey, you there. Stop for a moment.”
“Wh-what is it?”
Covered in blood, Aiden looked monstrous even in the dark. At the coachman’s tense question, he said quietly:
“Forgive me. Circumstances aren’t good right now. May I ask your master for help?”
“T-that…”
The coachman, his brown hat pulled low, hesitated briefly—then halted the carriage.
He couldn’t have done otherwise. Despite the bloody scene, the clothes Aiden wore were unmistakably noble.
“…Very well. Please wait a moment.”
The coachman poked his head into the small window connecting to the carriage. There was some muffled conversation, his body shifting.
Finally, he pulled his head back out. Just as Grek was about to ask what the decision was—
Click.
With a clear sound, the carriage door opened. Aiden glanced inside—and froze.
“Come in.”
A blue-haired woman gestured casually.
It was a familiar face. Too familiar.
“Lady Escliffe?”
