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Chapter 52
“The Reason the Villainess Wields a Sword”
Erin did not follow her words. Worse still, she denied them outright.
For Corellia, a situation not going her way was deeply unfamiliar. Wasn’t Erin supposed to crumble before her?
But the way Erin looked straight at her—like one would at a loathsome insect—made Corellia’s skin crawl.
When did she grow like this?
Corellia still remembered the small child who once clung at her feet. That frailty, that helplessness—nothing she could do. Didn’t Corellia always feel reassured when looking at Erin, who was powerless before her?
She believed that since Erin had grown up in an environment similar to hers, Erin would inevitably become someone like her.
But all of Corellia’s assumptions were wrong. Erin had not grown up the way she imagined.
“You were going to hit me… just because I didn’t wear the dress you gave me.”
Saying this, Erin grasped Caron’s hand. In response, Caron stepped forward, shielding her from Corellia’s reach.
Right now, he felt as if his entire life had just been denied.
It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Erin’s words, but standing face-to-face with it, he regretted not having broken away from the past sooner.
Still holding Erin’s wrist, Caron glared at Corellia. His hand trembled, suppressing the murderous rage rising inside.
“From now on… I will never call you ‘Mother’ again.”
“What nonsense are you speaking, Caron? Are you going to believe Erin’s words at face value? That girl is lying again because she hates me—!”
Hearing her, Caron was overwhelmed with wretchedness. It was humiliation directed not only at her, but at his own pitiful self.
“You had better close your mouth. Because if I hear one more false word, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“……”
“Step aside.”
The betrayal, unbearable precisely because he had once trusted her, made his whole body shudder.
Corellia realized from the cold gleam in his eyes that she had lost one of her pieces. A piece had abandoned the chessboard.
Caron cast a chilling glance at Corellia and Charlotte, then walked away with Erin.
Caron clasped Erin’s wrist as they quickly crossed the ballroom.
The nobles inside whispered as they saw Caron’s frighteningly grim face.
“Oh my, did the two of them fight again?”
“I heard things had improved recently, but I guess Sir Erin can’t help it.”
Grinding his teeth at the absurd rumors, Caron held back. Acting on emotions here would change nothing.
As he hurried along, he felt countless eyes on him—Ferdinand, his provisional knights, Ditrion, the Saintess…
Was I the only one who didn’t realize? Did everyone else already know?
He didn’t know whether he had simply been living with his eyes shut all this time.
Holding Erin’s hand tightly, Caron headed for the central hall of the Academy, used by Ferdinand’s provisional knights.
It was the very place he had overheard Erin’s truth—but ironically, nowhere felt safer than here.
Until they arrived, Caron said nothing, choking on his own helplessness and shame.
He hadn’t even believed Erin right away when she first told him the truth.
Biting down hard on his lip, Caron thought—what if it had been him in Erin’s place? What if he had endured what she had?
“…I’m sorry.”
“……”
“I’m sorry I never realized.”
“……”
“I blamed you when I knew nothing… I’m truly sorry.”
His voice trembled.
Only now did he finally understand that Erin had borne all of this pain alone for so long.
It was a realization that came far too late.
Erin, watching him, felt her heart twist painfully, as though someone were wringing it.
“Do you… believe me?”
“Yes.”
“Caron, do you really believe my words?”
“I believe you. All the rumors were lies. It wasn’t your fault. I believe you.”
Erin’s eyes quivered faintly. She buried her face against Caron’s shoulder.
Memories of the past flickered through her mind—back then, no one had believed her, no one except Ferdinand.
How long had she waited to hear those words from someone—that they believed her? That they asked how hard it had been?
Caron placed his hand on her trembling shoulder. He wasn’t skilled at comforting people, but he wasn’t so much a fool as to not know what to do now.
He carefully wrapped his arms around his sister and patted her gently.
Erin leaned into him and closed her eyes for a moment. Her brother’s embrace was warm.
“…Let’s tell Father everything. About what you’ve been through.”
It was a sweet, tempting suggestion.
If it were the Erin of before, who had known nothing, she might have hesitated briefly and then agreed.
But Erin knew. She knew what would happen in the Marquessate of Rizers in the future.
Slowly, she pulled away from Caron.
“No, Caron. You must pretend you don’t know anything.”
“Sister?”
“If you do that, Corellia won’t let you go.”
“……”
“You’re still too weak, Caron.”
Her blunt words silenced him.
She expected him to get angry at such harshness, but he didn’t.
With bloodshot eyes, he looked at her for a moment, then turned and left the central hall without a word.
Erin knew her words had been cold. Perhaps Caron was grieving, lamenting that he couldn’t help his family.
But she didn’t want him caught up in her revenge.
Because grief is something you can only feel if you’re alive.
Drip. Drip.
Rain began to fall.
Back at the dormitory, Erin suddenly walked outside into the rain—it was an impulse.
It had rained like this too when they went to subjugate the monsters.
And that was when she had met Ferdinand.
I want to see him. I miss him.
She longed to see him, to feel the reality that he was still alive—to hear his breath, to touch his face.
Erin wandered aimlessly. The rain soaked through her dress.
She might soon have to leave this place for the tasks ahead. She had no time to be helpless.
So I shouldn’t be getting sick…
Her fragile body would easily falter under the rain. And walking like this wouldn’t make her meet Ferdinand anyway.
He was the star of the banquet, far too busy. What she was doing was meaningless.
Yet before long, Erin’s eyes widened.
In the distance, Ferdinand was searching, glancing about as though looking for someone.
Just like that time during the monster subjugation…
She unconsciously stepped back.
Every time she desperately longed for him, Ferdinand would appear before her.
Spotting her standing there, he quickly ran toward her.
“Lady Erin, are you all right? I saw you leave hurriedly with Sir Caron and was worried, so I looked for you.”
“……”
“He didn’t say anything hurtful to you again, did he?”
The hurtful words… were mine.
She swallowed the confession, unable to speak it.
Ferdinand lightly held her wrist, leaning his body to shield her from the pouring rain.
Erin silently watched him.
The warmth from his hand on her wrist burned against her skin.
Ferdinand… Did I do the right thing? If your kind self finds out what I did today, will you condemn me?
Her eyes reddened. Her fingertips trembled with emotion boiling over.
Hadn’t she vowed to distance herself from him? To willingly become a villainess, if that’s what it took to save him?
But suddenly, greed welled up again.
Thinking about what was to come, she knew their moments together would soon run out.
Then… could she allow herself one last small desire?
Erin spoke to him.
“…I’m relieved.”
“Lady Erin?”
Relieved? Did Caron say something awful again?
“I’m so relieved you’re alive.”
“Lady Erin? What do you mean—”
Before he could finish, Erin flung her arms around him.
Startled, Ferdinand stiffened—but he did not pull away.
Erin clung tightly to him.
He froze, unable to move, as her cold body pressed against his chest.
Looking down, her face was startlingly pale.
“Today was such a hard day.”
“……”
“I won’t be greedy. Just for a little while… can’t I stay like this?”
“…Yes. For as long as you want.”
Ferdinand held her for a long while, then led her into his office. He seated her on the sofa.
The tea leaves should still be here…
He brewed warm tea and set it before her. But Erin showed no sign of drinking it.
Worry clouded Ferdinand’s face.
