Selvin, who had lost consciousness, dreamed. It was a dream she often had of a terrible experience from five years ago. A dream that turned into a nightmare that tormented Selvin relentlessly.
A village was burning.
“Slaughter them all!”
Screams echoed everywhere.
“These people are collaborators of Brandia!”
The raging flames. A middle-aged woman, pleading for mercy, lost her husband before her eyes. A young child was mercilessly trampled and stabbed to death.
Selvin trembled in fear, hiding inside a wardrobe.
“Blood relatives of Brandia are here! Find them at all costs!”
What they were searching for was Selvin. Huddled inside the wardrobe, Selvin covered her mouth to stifle her sobs.
That day, she had run away without her parents’ knowledge. Life at the ducal palace was always suffocating, and she longed to escape the daily routine of training.
‘It’s because of me.’
The middle-aged couple who had treated her kindly were dead. They had hidden Selvin and said to her, “Stay hidden here.”
That was the couple’s last wish. That day, Selvin was too horrified. People dying was horrifying enough, but the fact that it happened because of her was even more horrifying. But then, like a miracle, someone appeared.
That person was Medea Bellato, the first lady of Winter Castle. With indifferent eyes, Medea casually swung her greatsword. She was like the wind. There wasn’t a single warrior from the Western Continent who could stop her steps.
As if mesmerized by something, Selvin crawled out of the wardrobe and stole a glance at Medea.
‘Oh…!’
Fluttering black hair. Eyes shining like rubies. The assassins who had just been predators were now reduced to prey before Medea. Before Medea, they were nothing more than a swarm of ants.
‘She’s overwhelming!’
Was there any woman more fitting of that word?
The woman opened her mouth.
“Get up.”
Although it was a dry voice, it sounded warm to Selvin.
“You’re a noble’s child.”
Medea couldn’t recognize Selvin’s face, but she could tell she was a noble. She also sensed that the girl had undergone rigorous training since childhood. With that realization, Medea was able to determine that the young child was most likely Lady Selvin Brandia.
‘They say that Brandia’s bloodline grows at an unusual rate.’
This little girl, only 4 years old, looked like an 8-year-old.
“Keep your eyes wide open. The moment you turn away from truth and responsibility, your life as a noble will end.”
Those words struck Selvin like magic. She felt a surge of courage. She kept her eyes wide open, taking in the horrifying scene before her. Though trembling with fear, she didn’t close her eyes. When the ‘White Sakpung’ subsided and the disaster that had befallen the village was quelled, Medea gently stroked Selvin’s head.
Editor’s Note: ‘White Sakpung’ is one of Medea’s nicknames. It’s a cold wind that blows from the north once every 10 thousand years, killing hundreds of thousands.
“You did well. That’s how you obtain courage.”
Medea knelt down, locking eyes with young Selvin.
“Someday, when you can stand confidently on your own two feet and protect the weak, come tell me your name.”
It was a warm, thorn-covered remark. It implied that so far, Selvin hadn’t had courage and hadn’t fulfilled her duties as a noble. It meant she wasn’t worthy of revealing her name. Thus, Medea didn’t disclose her own name or ask for Selvin’s.
Tears streamed down Selvin’s eyes.
“Someday, I’ll definitely tell you my name.”
She wouldn’t hide helplessly like today.
“I’ll become like you, sister.”
“Yes.”
After patting Selvin’s head once more, Medea stood up.
“Oh.”
Medea added one more thing.
“They were looking for someone named Lady Selvin. If you ever meet Lady Selvin, let her know. Tell her that today’s tragedy wasn’t because of Lady Selvin. It wasn’t her fault.”
With that, Medea disappeared effortlessly. As if nothing had happened. Sometime later, a 1st-class knight named Henser was dispatched as an investigator from the Empire. Selvin revealed everything she had seen, and after evaluation, Medea became a 1st-class knight.
<Slaughter of 122 top assassins from the Western Continent.>
<Bellato’s 1st Lady awarded the rank of 1st-class knight!>
<Medea receives the Empire’s 32nd star.>
The newspapers covered Medea extensively and young Selvin’s heart was filled with her.
‘But…?’
Originally, it should have been Medea’s face. In her dreams, Medea always appeared. But today was different. Purple hair. Violet eyes tinged with a red aura.
“Oh!”
Selvin sat up abruptly. The person she had seen in the dream wasn’t Medea; it was Viola.
Pultua asked, “Are you feeling better now?”
“I need to meet Sister Viola.”
“Why?”
“I think I’ve fallen in love.”
Pultua’s head throbbed with pain. Although he didn’t attach much meaning to what the kid said, he still asked somewhat seriously.
“Why?”
“She’s the ideal type in front of my eyes.”
To Selvin, Medea was like a mirage. An existence like an oasis that didn’t really exist. Visible but unreachable. But Viola was different. You could touch her if you wanted. You could approach her.
“I clearly felt it. The gap between Sister Viola and me.”
“…”
“Losing isn’t shameful. What’s shameful is not admitting defeat, not admitting the gap. Uncle taught us that way.”
“I did teach you that.”
‘But there’s no need to fall in love with the opponent!’
Pultua was about to say that but held back. It was a sensitive time, so he concealed his thoughts.
“Sister Viola and Sister Medea are dazzlingly beautiful.”
Viola was much stronger than herself. She remained relaxed and yet she fought with all her might.
‘Sister Viola could probably overpower me because of Sister Medea.’
Viola would have believed Medea. No matter what the situation, Medea would take responsibility for everything. So Viola trusted her sister and did her best. Medea responded to that trust. The sight of the two sisters was the ideal world Selvin dreamed of.
‘And that ring.’
The true nature of that ring was unknown. But Selvin felt it. It was an artifact imbued with an unimaginable power, one she couldn’t possibly handle.
“Sister Viola must have known I couldn’t handle that ring, right?”
“Well, probably?”
Such a ring wasn’t something just anyone could handle. Pultua also sensed the unfathomable power contained in the ring.
“But by handing me the ring, doesn’t it mean she acknowledges me to some extent?”
‘Why did the conversation return to this?’
Pultua found it hard to understand the young girl’s sensibility, but he nodded anyway.
“Sister showed me her best.”
“…”
“In her own way, she was considerate of me. She showed the vast gap in strength between us and yet extended her hand to me.”
Selvin dreamed her own dream.
“Now it’s my turn to extend my hand.”
She interpreted everything as she pleased.
***
“Can I fall for you, Sister?”
Viola felt a headache at the bold question from the 9-year-old. In the original work, Selvin tells Medea, “I’ve fallen for you!” Selvin goes on to grow into a character who follows Medea everywhere, declaring herself a fan.
Seeing Selvin’s sparkling eyes, Viola sighed.
‘I overpowered her too easily.’
Selvin, who was obsessed with strong sisters, seemed to have had her heart captivated.
‘Well, it’s better than her turning into an enemy.’
But an extreme fan was a bit burdensome.
‘Anyway, I’m much weaker than Sister Medea.’
Someday, Selvin would surely follow the stronger Medea. Thinking that made Viola feel relieved.
“Senna must be crazy.”
Viola’s feeling of relief disappeared.
Pultua, who was standing behind her, cleared his throat, “Lady Selvin, it’s better to be careful with your words…”
Selvin’s face turned red.
‘Ah!’
She should show a quiet and gentle side in front of her sister. After thinking so, she restrained her words.
“Since I lost to Sister Viola, Senna will formally apologize to my sister, right?”
“Of course.”
She lost the duel. Thus, Lady Senna had to visit Lady Bellato in person to apologize formally. That was the law of nobility.
“Not only did she insult my sister, she dared to challenge her to a duel. Lady Senna must have a very bad temper.”
Viola was confused. What should she say in response? Yesterday’s Selvin and today’s Selvin were too different. It was as if she had become a different person.
“Oh, and Lady Isabella gave me something.”
“What is it?”
“This. It’s a potion made by a water magician.”
Selvin seemed to want to tell Viola everything she knew. Pultua gritted his teeth.
‘It should be fine… I guess.’
Anyway, it didn’t seem that Lady Isabella intended to keep it a secret. If Selvin had used the potion, it would have been exposed anyway. Besides, she never asked them to keep it a secret.
Later, Selvin threw a tantrum and eventually received permission to stay at Bellato until Lady Senna arrived to apologize.
A few days passed.
* * *
The procession of Duke Mariantu was splendid. Luxurious carriages, each led by two white horses, were surrounded by layers of dozens of escort knights.
“We will soon arrive at Winter Castle.”
Senna hated coming here more than dying. To leave the fertile and peaceful lands of Duke Mariantu and come to such a barren and remote northern land was painful. This was an unpleasant place where they fought monsters every day.
She opened the carriage window and thought, ‘The wind itself feels barbaric here.’
And it seemed to smell like barbarians. This was a place where humans without any manners gathered, so even the wind could only be low-quality.
“We will pass through the southern gate of Winter Castle.”
As it had been arranged in advance, the procedures were not difficult. She saw children running around outside the carriage, looking dirty and unkempt.
‘Dirty and messy.’
That was her overall impression. Even the children looked dirtier through Lady Senna’s eyes.
Some children were playing with wooden swords.
‘Fooling around with those amateurish swords, fighting at a time when they should be reading books and studying.’
Anyway, it was a place she couldn’t get used to. Her eyes made contact with one of the children.
“Wow! She’s so pretty!”
Senna felt upset by those words and closed the window. If this weren’t Winter Castle, she would have called them over and scolded them severely. How dare commoners like them look straight at the face of a noble’s daughter and utter such nonsense?!
‘It means Winter Castle’s standards are this low.’
She became quite uncomfortable.
“We have arrived at the Duke’s estate.”
Senna wanted to apologize quickly and get away from this dirty land. A familiar butler stepped forward to guide Senna. He was a handsome man, with rare manners and politeness at Bellato.
“You’re Butler Zenon, right?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Guide me to Lady Viola.”
Zenon smiled politely and bowed but as soon as Zenon’s head was bowed, he was no longer smiling.
“Please follow me. I will guide you to Lady Viola’s room.”
A while later, Zenon knocked on the door.
“Lady Viola, Lady Senna has arrived. May she come in?”
“Come in.”
When the door opened and Senna stepped in, she witnessed a strange scene.
“What’s going on here?”
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
If you like my work please support us in Patreon. Next post will be released on Mach, 21.
Want to read more?
Thanks for updating the story. I love reading it. I wish there’s more chapters to read.