Episode 10
“…Was it Blainey, you said?”
“Yes? Yes, that’s right.”
Ayla answered gloomily. She had now set down the comb and picked up a ribbon to decorate my hair.
“The third daughter, right?”
“Yes. I have an older sister and brother.”
“Then I suppose you’ve heard about me from your sister.”
Ayla, who had regained a bit of energy while speaking about her elder siblings, immediately went silent like a puppy with its tail between its legs, watching me nervously.
Could she even carry out the duties of a proper maid like this? No matter how I looked at it, she didn’t seem fit for the role.
Fidgeting with the ribbon in her hands, Ayla said,
“I’m sorry. It’s just that the Academy seemed so fascinating… I said it without thinking. Please don’t be angry, my lady.”
A laugh slipped out instantly.
“There’s nothing to envy. It’s merely a blade pressed to our throats.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
Ayla asked with wide eyes.
“You said you were fifteen, didn’t you?”
“Yes, my lady.”
She was older than me, yet it seemed her family hadn’t taught her much. Her honesty and childlike demeanor made it clear why.
She was probably the beloved youngest daughter. That much was obvious.
I could almost see the unseen Blainey couple, and the brother and sister Ayla had spoken of so lovingly, all doting on her.
A shadowy sense of mischief rose in me.
“Do you want to know what I mean?”
I slowly tilted my head. My collar slipped, revealing a terribly slender neck.
As I rubbed the space between the prominent veins of my nape and collarbone, I said,
“As you know, all noble firstborns in the Empire must attend the Academy in the capital. They’re required to complete the full curriculum from age thirteen until they reach adulthood at nineteen.”
“I’m aware of that, my lady.”
“Then, why must they attend the Academy? Why not just educate them at home like the other children?”
“Well… hmm, probably to build connections? It’s hard to establish networks when you only socialize within neighboring territories. Especially for firstborns, since they’re future heirs, those connections will help them as adults.”
Ayla answered after some thought.
“Connections, yes. But not all nobles need to build networks, do they? Those without ambition for central politics or a large estate could just manage their own lands. No need to waste a thousand gold a year on tuition.”
The average annual income of a baron—the most common rank among hereditary nobles—was about 1,500 gold.
After taxes, estate management, and family upkeep, the tuition at Valentina Academy was a heavy burden for most nobles.
And yet, they all sent their heirs. Why?
I turned to face Ayla.
She was clutching the ribbon nervously, watching me with a sense of unease.
“All new Academy students make a special Oath on the day of the entrance ceremony. It’s a magical oath overseen by the royal Valentin family.”
As if performing a play, I deliberately lowered my voice and drew out the last words.
Gulp. Ayla swallowed hard and instinctively leaned closer.
“If a student who made the oath fails to return to the Academy in March or September…”
I drew my tilted neck across with a slash. My lips moved dramatically, though no sound came out.
Pop!
“Kyaah!”
“—Their neck explodes.”
Before I even finished, Ayla screamed first. Tears welled in her eyes as she stumbled back.
I chuckled and added,
“The Rosaid nobles, ruled by primogeniture, can’t ignore the Emperor’s commands when their heir is held hostage. If they have money to waste, they’d better earn more to pay for their child’s tuition.”
Ayla, now on the verge of tears, bolted from the room.
Bang! The door, which she hadn’t closed properly, slammed into the wall and swung back awkwardly.
I laughed for a while before picking up the ribbon she dropped.
I tied it around the back of my head and looked in the mirror. It matched my eye color.
The phantom pain throbbed faintly where I had made the oath on the day of entrance.
If I tilted my head just right, I could almost see the faint magical marking circling my neck.
Tracing it with a finger, I recalled the days at the Academy, now a distant past.
[…Ria, Kalia.]
[Please, listen to us, Kalia.]
[Come this way… come this way…]
[Call my name…]
When I return to the Academy, I’ll face them again.
My eyes trembled with unease. I clenched my fingers.
This time, I won’t run away.
Whether I’m confronted by real ghosts, or the cursed fate inherited from my father, or—perhaps—a path that finally leads to my true self and liberation…
I vowed to accept it all head-on.
***
Since that day, Ayla never tried to strike up a personal conversation with me again.
Whenever she attended to me, her face would pale slightly, her lips sealed tightly as if to block out all words. She focused solely on her tasks.
When finished, she would ask, “Do you need anything else?” and if I said no, she would immediately bow and leave.
She only accompanied me when absolutely necessary—like assisting with errands during lessons I attended.
It wasn’t uncomfortable.
Lessons with the etiquette teacher hired by the Duke, as well as tutors in rhetoric, humanities, classical literature, art, and literature from the Academy, passed without incident.
Most teachers looked displeased about having to tutor “the daughter of Count Estel.” They were curt, picked fights, or half-heartedly tossed information my way.
Only one among them treated me like a normal student.
“That’s right, Lady Kalia. After the deity Runic sealed the demon in the magical artifact, peace returned to the continent.”
“You’ve studied well,” said Adrian, the theology teacher, smiling.
He was a young priest with powerful divine abilities and high renown across the Empire. I hadn’t expected someone like him to become my tutor.
It was another testament to the Duke’s influence.
In my past life, I had always viewed my regression as a punishment from God. Clerics had never treated me kindly. So I was wary of Adrian at first.
If he made any snide remarks, no matter how revered he was, I wouldn’t have let it slide.
“You’ve done well. Your growth each day is a joy to behold for any teacher.”
But Adrian never did such a thing.
He never once mentioned my father or my notorious reputation. His explanations were always gentle, and he never forgot to praise even the smallest efforts. Somehow, in front of him, I felt like just a normal student.
“Some people worry that the demon might someday be resurrected if the seal breaks, but rest assured. No one has ever found even one of the three magic artifacts.”
With hair like molten gold thread and glass-blue eyes, his voice was full of trust as he wrapped up the lecture.
“It’s time. I’ll take my leave.”
“Safe travels, Father. See you in the next lesson.”
“Unfortunately, you won’t.”
“…?”
Puzzled, I lifted my head—only to feel something weighty rest on it.
It was Adrian’s hand.
No one—not even him—had ever touched me like that. I froze in shock.
Ignoring my reaction, he smiled brightly and gently patted my head.
“Due to some circumstances, another teacher will take over your lessons starting next week.”
“…I see.”
I must have bitten my lip unconsciously. Adrian chuckled.
“Don’t be too sad. With Lord Runic’s blessing, who knows? We may meet again soon.”
He left, still smiling and waving.
Back in my room, I opened a letter addressed to me.
It was from Valentina Academy, sent about two weeks before the semester and entrance ceremony.
It included a dormitory application form and a letter requesting my chosen subjects for class scheduling.
After checking the dorm box, I hesitated—then added “Theology” to the bottom of the subject list.
Originally, I hadn’t planned to take it.
After returning to life, I had despaired over the god who had abandoned me. I thought I had given up hope.
It took paying the price with my own life to realize how pointless it had been to study theology for seven years in my past life and volunteer at the temple.
And yet, I decided to try once more…
“If the Academy has even one more priest like Adrian…”
Knowing it was foolish, I still folded the paper neatly and sealed it in the envelope.
Then I called a servant and had it sent to the Academy.
“Once they see the list, they’ll cause a stir.”
“The demon’s daughter is showing her true colors”—I could already imagine the shocked, disgusted faces, and a smirk tugged at my lips.
That night, I couldn’t sleep from the anticipation.
Day by day passed. I hoped things would remain peaceful until the start of the term.
But things didn’t go that way.
“Kyaah! My lady!”
Ayla, who had finally stopped avoiding me and had quietly begun following from a distance, screamed.
While walking in the garden, I wiped the cold water from my face with one hand.
“…Are you alright?”
It was Readmore’s doing.
