Chapter 06
Starting the next day, I began swordsmanship lessons as part of the successor training.
“So now I have to wake up at 4 a.m.?”
At my question, Mary looked horrified.
“Four in the morning? Young ladies like you should be fast asleep at that hour. Starting lessons at that time—no matter if he’s a Duke, that’s something he could be reported for as child abuse.”
Reagan did, though.
Now that I think about it, I really did live a life no different from a slave.
When I arrived at the training grounds for the swordsmanship lesson, a knight with a stern expression was waiting for me.
“Good day. I’m Swell, the captain of the knights who will be teaching you from today.”
“Hello.”
“You are now a noble lady, so there’s no need to bow to someone of lower status like me. Didn’t Mary teach you that?”
Mary had told me he was inflexible by nature, and she wasn’t kidding. He really was stiff.
It was hard to believe he and Orwell were brothers.
“She did tell me.”
“Then why aren’t you applying it?”
His curt tone made it obvious he didn’t like me.
“I’m just not used to it yet, so it was a mistake.”
And then I hesitated for a moment, wondering whether I should say this or not.
Who in the world is off-limits to Ariel Clasta?
I recalled the Duke’s words and quickly added,
“But if we’re pointing fingers, I think your tone wasn’t exactly appropriate either.”
Swell might get mad over this, but surely the Duke wouldn’t dismiss him over something this small.
Contrary to my expectations, Swell looked at me with a hint of surprise, then lowered his head.
“You’re right. My words were inappropriate. I apologize.”
His attitude had softened compared to earlier.
“I heard you grew up in an orphanage, so I’ll start with the basics. Do you know what mana is?”
“Yeah, it’s the fuel that lets ordinary people do extraordinary things.”
“Exactly. With mana, humans can exceed their limits and draw out tremendous power.”
As Swell gripped his sword and infused it with mana, a faint glow emitted from the blade.
“With mana, even an ordinary branch can cut through stone, and you can move faster than a horse. The potential of mana is endless. But just like stamina, there’s a limit to how much one can use—so using it efficiently is key. Of course, the Evil Dragon was different.”
Mana needed time to recover after use.
But the Evil Dragon had opened the Gate of Darkness and could endlessly draw dark mana from there.
“Using dark mana lets you grow stronger quickly and easily, but it causes environmental damage—like polluting the land or strengthening local monsters. It’s a path of no return. Never touch it.”
“Mhm.”
“Still, even without using dark mana, there’s a way for ordinary people to become strong quickly. That is by passing a Spirit’s Trial.”
The number of spirits living on the continent was so vast, no one had managed to count them all.
Spirits usually stayed hidden but would appear to those they liked or who fulfilled certain conditions, and offer a trial.
Those who passed would receive the spirit’s blessing—like control over fire or water, prophetic abilities, increased mana, and more.
It’s best to receive as many blessings from spirits as possible…
But spirits were fickle, and their trials were notoriously difficult.
“Today’s lesson will end once you succeed in infusing mana into your sword. I’ll let you go even if class time isn’t up, so don’t worry.”
“That’s all I have to do?”
I’d been worried I’d have to run 200 laps around the training ground, so this was welcome news.
“Don’t take it lightly. It sounds easy, but most people take over a week on their first try.”
Well, that’s their story.
I’m not the brightest when it comes to academics, but when it comes to physical stuff—I’m good at everything.
Excited, I picked up the sword.
I’ll just wrap this up in five minutes and be on my way.
Mary said she’d prepared sweet cookies and milk as a snack.
And not just regular milk—strawberry milk!
If class ended early, I’d get to eat early too.
“Close your eyes and focus on the energy flowing through your body…”
There was no need to close my eyes.
I was already familiar with the mana that coursed through me.
Thump.
I felt my heartbeat pulse louder than ever before.
The sensations at my fingertips became incredibly sharp and…
“Urk!”
I collapsed on the spot, clutching my chest.
“Are you alright?”
Swell stepped closer to check on me, but I shouted.
“Don’t come near me!”
I could tell he was taken aback, but I didn’t have the energy to fake composure.
Why… why is this happening…?
Staggering, still holding my chest, I stood up.
“I—I need to go to the bathroom real quick.”
“My lady, your condition—”
“Don’t follow me!”
Clenching my teeth, I glared sharply.
“I—I’ll be right back. I’m going alone.”
I hurried out of the training grounds, rushing through the corridors.
I could feel the odd stares of servants in the hall, but I couldn’t stop.
The sensation I’d felt when using mana—there was no denying it.
Why?
Why that?
It didn’t make any sense.
It was supposed to be over—thirty years ago!
In the bathroom, I locked the door and with trembling hands pulled open my clothes.
And there it was—the undeniable truth.
“…No way.”
The Evil Dragon’s mark.
“No, no, it can’t be…”
I clawed at the sigil engraved above my heart with my nails, but it didn’t disappear—it mocked me.
Why was the brand from my past life still there, even after awakening in someone else’s body?
Wasn’t it all supposed to be over?
“My child would need something special. This is my gift to you, Shurin.”
The Evil Dragon had forced me onto a cold lab table.
And then with a searing-hot brand…
“Urgh.”
I clutched the toilet and vomited everything I’d eaten that morning.
“Magnificent. Anyone who sees this will know you’re my child. You have no escape.”
The Evil Dragon’s chilling voice rang in my ears, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Do you think anyone but me would accept you after learning you’re the Evil Dragon’s daughter?”
I remembered Reagan saying that all the time.
And the one who said it also ended up killing me.
Only thirty years had passed since the Evil Dragon’s death.
The continent still trembled in fear of him.
If they found out his daughter was alive, they’d surely form a subjugation force to kill me again.
And leading that force might just be the Duke of Clasta.
Everyone knew how deeply he hated the Evil Dragon after losing his family.
“…I can’t let them find out.”
Taking a deep breath, my mind began to clear.
It’s just like before I died. Nothing’s changed.
The mark only appeared when I used mana. As long as I avoided that, I’d be fine.
It was carved into my chest—no one would see it.
“As long as I don’t get caught. I can do this.”
Now, I had one more reason to stay in the Duke’s household.
No one would be crazy enough to ask a noble lady to expose her chest.
As I buttoned up my shirt with trembling hands, tears suddenly burst forth.
What did I do to deserve this?
Did they think I wanted to be born the Evil Dragon’s daughter?
There wasn’t a single moment in my life where I felt lucky to be born that way.
All I wanted was a normal life—was that really such a crime?
I asked myself that same question hundreds, thousands of times… but never found an answer.
Apparently noticing I wasn’t in a good state, Swell ended the lesson early.
“Let’s stop for today. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
Though I wasn’t physically hurt, I was emotionally drained. I nodded.
Still, after crying my eyes out in the bathroom, my head felt a bit clearer.
Right. It’s not like my life ever went smoothly. Life is something you live alone anyway.
I let out a deep sigh.
Still, I’m kind of living in luxury now—good food, no forced labor at dawn.
But if I wanted the good times at Clasta Castle to continue, there was something I needed to do.
A reliable ally.
The Duke was indifferent to me, and I’d already burned bridges with the Elders.
Naturally, the knights and servants leaned toward the Elder faction.
But seriously, how childish can they be?
I glanced at a group of knights who were snickering and had deliberately stuck out their legs in my path.
Their intent was clear—they wanted me to trip.
Grown men acting like playground bullies…
Pretending to leap over them, I deliberately stepped on one knight’s foot—hard.
“Ow!”
As expected, he screamed and yanked his foot back.
“Oh no, sorry. I didn’t see your foot there.”
I offered a deadpan apology.
“You little…!”
The knight shouted and raised his arm.
I could take pain well, but that didn’t mean I liked getting hit.
Tilting my head, I asked,
“Huh? What’s with that hand? Don’t tell me… were you going to hit me?”
You gonna hit me? Really?
I’m a noble lady—you’re a knight—are you really gonna hit me?
“…No. I just moved reflexively from the pain.”
Grinding his teeth, the knight lowered his hand.
Even if the Duke acted indifferent, the hierarchy here was still strict. A lowly knight wouldn’t dare hit a noble girl like me.
Don’t raise your hand if you’re not ready to follow through.
I brushed past him.
Of course, the Duke wouldn’t even blink if I did get hit by a knight.
But before the rest of the castle realizes that, I need allies. That’s the only way I’ll survive comfortably.
I started scanning the castle with sharp eyes.
Let’s start with the knights.
Fighting every low-ranking knight one-on-one would be endless.
If I’m going to target someone, it should be the top—like the captain.
And there was only one knight captain I knew.
Swell, the one teaching me swordsmanship.
If I could get him on my side, the rest wouldn’t dare mess with me so easily.
But… how the heck do I make someone like Swell my ally?
