Chapter 3
How dare they tell me to beg for forgiveness and mercy?
Anger boiled inside me at such arrogance.
Because I had just reached the Qi Condensation Stage, my energy was unstable.
It must be a side effect of forcing my body to grow too quickly. If only I had an elixir to support it.
“Miss? Miss!”
The maid clapped loudly in front of me.
I wanted to correct her attitude—
But now was not the time.
“I heard you. Leave.”
I answered calmly and confidently.
The maid rolled her eyes and left.
She seemed confused by how different I was from before.
“Hoo…”
Before leaving the room, I checked the mirror.
Thanks to the partial rebirth, my appearance had changed.
My pale skin now had a bit of life, and my eyes were clearer.
“Good… I’ll take it slowly.”
* * *
By the time I reached the dining hall, the meal was already ending.
“You’re here, Rize? You’re late.”
Late?
I came exactly when I was called.
What a cheap trick.
One disappointing thing—
The man who was likely Rize’s father wasn’t there.
If I could see him, I could better understand their relationship.
“Since you overslept, the food has already been cleared.”
Overslept? Nonsense.
You dare treat me like livestock?
“I can manage without eating.”
“…What?”
“I said, I’m fine.”
Before, Rize would have apologized.
Now—
I remained calm.
That must have surprised them.
“I… see. That’s good then.”
Tch. Trying to keep a straight face.
But your face is full of inner demons.
“…Sister Rize, I heard today will be very hot.”
Layla added, clearly bothered by my attitude.
“So?”
“Oh my, Sister! Did you forget the punishment for hot days?”
What is that supposed to mean?
Why do they always speak in circles?
“Come outside. We’ve prepared the perfect outfit.”
Lady Lorraine smiled meaningfully.
I followed the maids.
They led me to the center of the garden.
“Stand still.”
They handed me thick winter clothes.
…In this heat?
Disgusting.
If it were the original Rize, she would collapse from this punishment.
But for me—
This was an opportunity.
If I could absorb moonlight—
Then sunlight was no different.
Both were forms of natural energy.
But one thing bothered me—
If they keep doing this, Rize might die before anything else.
If they wanted her dead, why not poison or assassinate her?
Why torture her like this?
Their methods were cruel.
Meanwhile, Layla stood at a distance, laughing.
“Hoo…”
I pretended to sigh in exhaustion.
As I wore the thick clothes, heat and weight pressed down on me.
The sun was already strong.
But—
I was no longer the same.
After last night’s cultivation—
I had reached Qi Condensation Level 1.
This level of heat—
I could endure it.
“This way.”
Three maids led me to the center.
Nearby, a table was filled with sweet foods.
Lady Lorraine sat comfortably, drinking cold beverages.
She looked like she planned to enjoy this for a long time.
“Rize, I heard you spoke rudely to your sister. Is that how I raised you?”
Rude words?
Ah…
“Do whatever you want.”
“But if you touch me—”
“You will regret it.”
So Layla told her.
“…I’m sorry.”
I lowered my head slightly.
Right now—
My focus was more important.
Lady Lorraine snorted.
“If you behaved from the beginning, your punishment would be lighter. But now, you must accept it.”
She gestured to the maids.
They tightened my clothes even more—
And pulled the belt so tight it was hard to breathe.
This was torture.
Lady Lorraine fanned herself, watching like it was entertainment.
Layla mocked me from the side.
Calm down.
Their fate will be cut off one day.
I suppressed my anger and breathed slowly.
My master once said—
Invisible threads of fate exist.
And with power—
They can be cut.
“How interesting…”
To cut the threads of heaven itself.
But—
Focus.
Now is the time to cultivate.
To break free from them—
I must become stronger.
“Hoo…”
Sunlight carried a different energy than moonlight.
If refined properly, it could strengthen my body.
I slowly closed my eyes.
To others, it looked like I was enduring punishment.
But in truth—
I was cultivating.
“Sister Rize didn’t even eat dinner. Will she be okay?”
Layla mocked.
“Her figure isn’t suitable for a noble lady anyway. She’s starving for her own good.”
Lady Lorraine sneered.
They had no idea—
What was happening inside me.
Heat spread through my body.
I pretended to tremble.
At the same time—
I modified the technique.
Adding a method to absorb solar energy.
The sky was clear.
Perfect conditions.
* * *
Time passed.
I was still standing.
Lady Lorraine and Layla chatted while watching me.
“I’ll attend the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, right?”
“Of course. Your sister will be busy being punished.”
“Hehe, look at her.”
“With that black hair soaked in sweat, she looks like a dirty rat.”
Even when maids replaced their cold drinks—
No one cared about me.
“I heard the Crown Prince is preparing to conquer the Eastern Continent?”
“It seems the Emperor wants to create a reason.”
“If he succeeds, he can marry whoever he loves, regardless of status! I’m so jealous!”
Their meaningless chatter continued.
But—
My breathing became clearer.
The energy gathering in my dantian strengthened my body.
Muscles. Bones.
Everything slowly improved.
Even this punishment—
Was helping me.
“How ironic…”
Rize’s body, once barely surviving—
Was being reborn through my will.
The regret of failing ascension…
Felt slightly lighter.
At this rate—
“I might reach Level 2 today—”
Before I could finish—
Lady Lorraine suddenly stood up.
“Rize, you’re enduring longer than usual.”
“….”
“Are you glaring at me? Are you planning to rebel?!”
I was just looking.
What nonsense.
I hesitated.
If I had more time—
I would truly rebel.
But now—
I would be subdued by the family knights.
So—
I lowered my gaze.
Silence.
Lady Lorraine laughed.
“Yes! That attitude suits you perfectly!”
…This suits me?
At that moment—
A thought filled my mind.
Why should I endure this abuse?
Why?
Anger pierced my chest.
“Haah…”
My chest tightened.
I could endure until I grew stronger—
But now…
The heat of the sun.
The suffocating air.
It fueled my anger.
My cultivation energy and emotions—
Mixed violently.
“……”
[Big sister? What’s wrong?!]
Lili appeared, calling out to me.
But her voice felt distant—
Like it was underwater.
[Big sister!]
I couldn’t respond.
My blood and energy—
Were boiling uncontrollably.
