MMLP 04

Chapter 4

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In my past life, I was Eve Maria’s foster sister.
To repay the grace of being taken in, I lived my life for her sake.

But the reward for my devotion was a betrayal that cut to the bone.

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“Die, sister. Sacrifice your worthless life to seal away the Archmage so that His Majesty, the man I love, can draw upon that power.”

“So, after taking on all the disgrace in your place, now I have to die as a sacrifice? Just for the sake of a man? I trusted you—how could you do this to me?”

“Look at you screaming like that. You think just because I treated you kindly, some lowborn wretch who normally wouldn’t even be able to raise her head before me, that you’ve truly become a noble lady?”

“Was that your true feeling? If you despised me that much, why did you keep me by your side?”

“Isn’t it obvious? To steal your power. That’s what you were for from the very beginning.”

“Steal—what are you saying… don’t tell me!”

“Pfft! That face is too good to enjoy alone. Really, breaking a toy is the most fun part.”

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Even now, just remembering it makes my teeth grind.
Forget the “original story”—I’ll crush her to pieces and make sure that thieving rat, who lived by stealing other people’s strength, gets the ending she deserves.

I felt the damp sensation of blood seeping into my clenched fist, but I hid my emotions with practiced skill.

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“Judging by your words, you sound like someone from this place. Thanks for the advice, but I can’t leave.”

“Why not?”

“My legs won’t support me right now.”

As her gaze dropped downward, I murmured as though speaking to myself.

“Ah… if only the Empire had developed healing arts, I wouldn’t be in such trouble.”

“Gasp…!”

Eve Maria jumped as though she had just heard something catastrophic. “Shhh!” She was so flustered her finger, pressed to her lips, trembled.

“Get a hold of yourself. Healing arts are the vile sorcery of the Holy Nation’s heretics!”

Indeed, the Holy Nation—at odds with the Empire—was demonized for its healing arts. Children born with the gift of a healer were locked away in cloistered monasteries, effectively imprisoned.

But even taking that into account, Eve Maria’s overreaction was excessive. Like a thief startled by her own guilty conscience.

“If you accept that kind of power, you’ll become a monster like them.”

“They’re not monsters.”

“…What?”

“The only thing separating our lands is whether we serve a king or worship a god. That’s all.”

Her narrowed eyes bored into me.

“Getting lost here is one thing. But what you just said is suspicious. Brother, what exactly are you?”

“A mage.”

For a moment, a strange light flickered in Eve Maria’s rose-colored eyes. It was as though she were seeing me for the first time.

“I’m a mage. A woman, too—just wearing men’s clothes.”

I opened my left hand wide.

“See this white line across my palm? Only mages have this mark. The longer and clearer it is, the greater the potential.”

The power Eve Maria had once stolen—she couldn’t even use half of it properly. She never realized it, but the white line carved into my palm was unusually long and bright.

“If I had that power… His Highness would look at me too…”

Her lips whispered greedily, almost to herself.

“What was that?”

“Mmm, nothing.”

Masking her scheme, Eve Maria stretched out her hand.

“Here, take my hand. I’ll help you up.”

I could see right through her. She planned to let herself fall, cry, and make me look like the villain—just so she could manipulate the situation.

To steal my power, she needed an heirloom artifact, one with tricky activation conditions.

‘So, playing the victim, are we?’

Sure enough, the moment I grabbed her hand and stood, she pretended to stumble.

“Kyaa, I tripped—”

Too bad for her—I’m the master of staged accidents.

“Careful!”

I pulled her toward me, flipping the balance in my favor. Instead of me, it was she who was thrown off.

CRASH!

A porcelain vase toppled from the nightstand and shattered. I hit the floor, and sharp shards cut into me, spilling bright blood everywhere.

‘Ouch… damn, that stings.’

I gritted my teeth and endured the pain. But the sacrifice was worth it.

“N-no…!”

Eve Maria’s hands trembled in shock. Not out of concern for me—no, she feared what would happen to her if I died.

“You can’t die. I don’t want to be sent to a convent!”

The words slipped out—her true feelings. She clapped her hands together and began to pray.

Blue light of healing gathered between her palms.

So, she really was a healer—bearing the destiny she had tried so hard to conceal. She was now using that despised holy power… to rob me of my life.

‘Desperate, aren’t you? But maybe check your surroundings first?’

This was a mansion where even a bell would bring servants running. Breaking a vase here was like clanging a gong during an exam.

Sure enough, the heavy doors swung open.

The men from the conference room rushed in, seeing me collapsed and Eve Maria in the middle of a prayer.

“Ive!”

The one who cried out—like a scream—was a short, frail man with black hair. Eve Maria’s father, and the eldest son of House Grimroar, Kaulen Grimroar.

“Why are you using that power! Stop at once!”

He snatched his youngest daughter into his arms.

Meanwhile, Gilbert crouched beside me.

“Thanks for staying put.”

“Not at all… ugh.”

“Don’t move, your wound will open.”

As Gilbert reached to lift me, a sword’s edge suddenly gleamed at his hand. At the other end of the blade was Kaulen’s furious face.

“What are you doing, brother?”

“Step aside. I’ll cut down the insect who dared harm my daughter.”

Harm? Please. My blood had just splattered on her dress—what an overreaction.

“Father, no! I’m fine, so don’t kill him. He’s not just an ordinary boy, he’s—”

But before her plea could take hold, Gilbert’s derisive laugh cut through.

“Not only leaking secrets, but brandishing a blade now? I suppose a man who’s never stood on the front lines finds courage only when facing children.”

“What? You dare—”

“Not even close to saying all I could. But if you’d like, I can tell the staff officers how your meddling in the supply plans kept them up all night fixing your mess. They’d be delighted.”

Smoothly, Gilbert twisted the subject, redirecting Kaulen’s rage onto himself.

“Impudent brat! I had the authority to read those plans!”

“Anyone with half a brain would know you shouldn’t. What if imperial military secrets found their way into a courtesan’s ears? That’d be disastrous.”

“I told you to shut your mouth!”

The brothers’ quarrel reached its peak—until a voice cut through, heavy with authority.

“Enough.”

The sheer weight of that single word silenced the room.

The towering man who had been watching quietly now stepped forward, commanding attention with nothing but his presence.

Dark hair, black beard, and a fierce expression carved by countless battles.
Muscles hardened like iron.
A height towering over two meters—like a mountain come alive.

My skin prickled. This must be how it feels to encounter a bear in the wild. No matter how many times I saw him, I could never get used to that presence.

It was none other than Wilhelm Arctos Grimroar, patriarch of House Grimroar—an old war hero said to equal a million soldiers by himself.

“Kaulen. Didn’t you say your daughter had talent as a mage? I held back, thinking she wasn’t ready to show her skills yet. But this doesn’t match what I’ve heard.”

“Father, this—this is—”

“No excuses. I’ll see for myself.”

With a gesture, Wilhelm conjured a vision: the flower of the priest and the star of the mage rose into the air.

The brighter the star, the greater the talent. The more vibrant the flower, the stronger the divine gift.

My star shone so brilliantly it was blinding. In contrast, Eve Maria’s flower looked withered, pale beneath that light.

“Ho… the brightest star I’ve ever seen.”

Wilhelm stroked his beard in admiration.

To forcibly draw out innate power like that—such a thing was unheard of. But if anyone could, it was him.

Just as I was silently marveling at his overwhelming strength, Kaulen pointed an accusing finger at me.

“Wait, what is this? You said she had talent for swordsmanship, and you’d make her a retainer. But now you say she’s a mage? This is completely different!”

Gilbert scratched his neck awkwardly.

“Tch. Guess you didn’t buy it, huh?”

As if such a flimsy lie could have ever fooled anyone…