HWWRC Chapter 01

Chapter 1

In the Holy Empire, black magic was seen as the most vile of all things. Just existing as a black magician made one a walking disaster. Black magicians were always sentenced to death, and the vicious monsters they controlled had to be burned away with holy power.

That was why Charlotte was not blessed by anyone at birth.

Her father, Ronan Blanche, was once the strongest holy knight in the Argent Empire and had played a huge role in driving out black magicians. To those black magicians, Ronan was a terrifying threat and someone they desperately wanted to eliminate.

But Ronan’s holy power was far too strong to overcome. So instead, the black magicians targeted his wife, Layla, placing a deadly curse on her through black magic. At the time, Layla was pregnant with Charlotte.

Because of the curse, Charlotte was born earlier than expected. People believed she wouldn’t survive, thinking the curse would soon kill her too.

But Charlotte did not die, even after days had passed. She was weak and barely had the strength to cry, but she clung to life with a will to survive. As weeks and months passed, the way people looked at her began to change.

From being a pitiful baby, Charlotte became someone seen as cursed and dangerous.

Even the noble class and the servants began whispering rumors and gossip about her. Most of it wasn’t kind.

“How can a baby born from a cursed mother be so healthy?”
“Isn’t there black magic that brings the dead back as monsters? Maybe she’s alive because of black magic.”
“Maybe it’s better if the young lady just…”
“Are you suggesting we kill a child? Watch what you say!”
“That’s too cruel. The baby has done nothing wrong.”

As rumors about Charlotte spread throughout high society, the Blanche family began seriously debating whether to let her live or not. At that point, Ronan, who had stayed silent, finally spoke. His voice was sharp, like a blade.

“You dare speak like that about my daughter, who’s barely a year old?”

“I understand how you feel, but let’s face the reality. Charlotte is—”

“If anyone else speaks nonsense about Charlotte’s life, I’ll cut out their tongue. Try me.”

Ronan was furious. He removed those who insulted Charlotte from the Holy Knights Order. He had always been kind and respected, so when he raised his voice like that, no one dared mention Charlotte again.

“My dear daughter. It’s okay. Nothing will happen to you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Although Ronan grieved deeply after losing his wife, Charlotte’s smiling face helped him heal. He gave up his successful career as a holy knight to raise her himself. Many couldn’t understand his decision, but Ronan didn’t care. He stayed by Charlotte’s side and showered her with love.

Thanks to him, Charlotte grew up under his protection and care.

But even Ronan couldn’t protect her from everything. As she stepped into society and tried to make connections with others, Charlotte was repeatedly hurt. People avoided her, calling her cursed, and spread baseless rumors.

She was often insulted by strangers and even mocked to her face. Over time, Charlotte began to hate herself. She spent her days crying and whispering painful thoughts to herself.

“Maybe I really should have died. Maybe I should never have been born.”

Eventually, Charlotte stopped going to social events and locked herself away, thinking it would be better if she disappeared.

But just as she was about to fall apart, it was Ronan who helped her stand again.

“Charlotte, don’t worry about what others say. You are someone worthy of love.”

“But everyone hates me. They all say horrible things about me…”

“They say that because they don’t know you. Don’t listen to them. One day, they’ll see your worth. I promise. Remember that.”

Seeing her father hold her hands and speak with such conviction gave Charlotte the strength to try again.

From that day on, even when people said cruel things, Charlotte didn’t bow her head in shame. When something unfair happened, she spoke up and demanded to know what she had done wrong. She began attending parties and social events again, even reaching out first with a smile.

As she kept going, despite everything, she slowly gained a few true friends. Though many still hated her, Charlotte was happy. And along the way, she even found love.

But happiness didn’t last long. Tragedy struck swiftly.

“No, no…!”

“Please, calm down, my lady!”

“Father! No, Father! This can’t be happening!”

Charlotte ignored everyone trying to hold her back and clung to her father’s body, sobbing.

Ronan had retired, but he still helped train new holy knights and assisted at ceremonies. On the day he died, he was helping prepare for an upcoming knighthood ceremony. While he was guiding the knights, monsters suddenly attacked the temple.

Panic broke out. Many young knights were frozen in fear, unable to fight. Only Ronan could face the monsters. He fought dozens of them alone and held them off long enough for everyone to escape safely.

But he was badly injured in the fight and eventually died.

When Charlotte heard the news, she refused to believe it. She screamed, pushed people away, and wouldn’t let anyone near her father’s body. But no matter how hard she cried, reality sank in—he was gone.

Losing her father devastated her, but what came next was even worse. With Ronan gone, people who had stayed quiet out of fear began attacking her.

“Did you hear? It’s the Blanche girl’s fault that Ronan died.”

“Everything around her ends in misfortune or death. She’s cursed, for sure.”

Even though she had done nothing wrong, Charlotte was now blamed for her father’s death. The criticism was so intense that it felt like her tears had turned into blood.

“Why would God take my father? Why not me instead? I was the cursed one. I should have died.”

Maybe the others were right. Maybe she really was cursed. Her father had said otherwise, but what if even he was wrong? Tears flowed nonstop from her empty, dark blue eyes. She cried until it felt like nothing was left.

Then—

“Charlotte Blanche.”

A low, powerful voice rang out, shaking the ground. Charlotte slowly turned toward it, her empty gaze showing a faint glimmer of life.

“Grandfather…?”

With dry, cracked lips, she looked up at Marquis Blanche, her grandfather. He stared at her for a moment, then grabbed her shoulders roughly.

“Even if your father is gone, you’re just going to sit here crying while those lowlifes insult you? Don’t dare say you’re a Blanche.”

“I’m sorry, Grandfather…”

“You had your debut. You should be able to handle something like this. You’re pathetic.”

As Charlotte’s legs trembled and she nearly collapsed, her grandfather held her upright. His stern voice brought light back to her eyes.

The moment he called her “pathetic,” her hazy thoughts cleared. Charlotte straightened her messy clothes and stood properly, placing her hands together.

She hadn’t seen him often, just a few times in childhood. He had left most of the family affairs to her father and lived in a distant territory. Charlotte couldn’t say anything and swallowed nervously. Was he angry? Was he disappointed to see her like this?

But when she looked up, she saw his expression had softened.

Still, when she met the eyes of a noble who had mocked her during the funeral, her brow furrowed again.

Suddenly, her father’s past words echoed in her mind.

“My father used to call me ‘pathetic’ too. It scared me back then, but I now know he said it to wake me up. To keep me on the right path…”

‘Grandfather said the same to me once, and I cried. I thought he hated me.’

‘No, Charlotte. He doesn’t hate you. He loves you. When people insulted you, your grandfather was the first to defend you. If I’m not around, he’ll protect you.’

As Marquis Blanche stepped closer, the nobles’ faces turned pale with fear.

“So you don’t value your lives, is that it?”

“L-Lord Blanche…”

“You no-name trash dare insult my granddaughter?”