Chapter 1
Prologue
* * *
“Waaah!”
On the day Rierusha was born crying loudly, the Arakrene ducal house fell silent.
“Tsk, for a child born after taking its mother’s life, it’s far too insignificant.”
In the deep dawn, those were the first words spoken by Duke Arakrene, who had been waiting for the child to be born.
The duke glared with keenly shining red eyes as he looked at the newborn child.
In a situation where the mother’s life was in danger, he could feel no magical power from the child that had been born.
It was a child with no possibility of ever awakening an ability.
Perhaps because of that, Duke Arakrene made a cruel decision.
“Speak of everything you saw today to no one.”
He chose not to let the world know of the child’s existence.
Known to be strong and beautiful, those of House Arakrene were born with silver hair and red eyes, but all the child had inherited was the color of her eyes.
Rierusha Arakrene.
The child, given only a name, was abandoned from the moment she was born.
Rierusha grew up quietly in the outer quarters, not in the main castle.
People knew of Rierusha’s existence, yet treated her like she was invisible.
‘Grandfather, Father, my older brothers—everyone hates me and dislikes me.’
On the day Rierusha turned ten. Her father, the young duke, did not come to see Rierusha even once.
‘Because I’m so ugly, you don’t even want to look at me.’
Rierusha, who had not been congratulated by anyone on the day she was born, sat on her bed and sniffled.
The child’s sorrowful sobs filled the room.
‘Wouldn’t it have been better if Mother had lived, instead of me?’
Why had the family chosen to save her instead of her mother?
She had once happened to overhear them whispering. That they could have saved one of them—her mother or herself.
When she saw her blotchy pink hair, Rierusha squeezed her eyes shut.
“……Hic.”
Today was the day she had dyed her hair by herself with dye she had managed to get with difficulty, in order to draw her grandfather’s attention.
And when she walked up before her grandfather, Rierusha was harshly scolded.
“Who said you may wander the castle as you please?”
Duke Arakrene, who had discovered his granddaughter appearing before his eyes, first widened his red eyes as if startled, and then his face filled with anger.
“Do not take a single step out of your room. Do you understand?”
Denied by her grandfather in front of everyone, Rierusha felt like she wanted to hide away somewhere.
All the way back to her room, led along by a maid, Rierusha begged her grandfather for forgiveness.
The fear that she might be cast out forever seized Rierusha.
“I was wrong, Your Grace. I was wrong! I won’t do it again!”
However, even at Rierusha’s pitiful voice, the duke did not turn to look at his granddaughter.
For days on end, Rierusha had to live locked in her room.
That was when she realized.
That living as quietly as if dead was what was best for everyone.
The Arakrene ducal house’s burden.
That was Rierusha’s place.
“I’m already so annoyed I got assigned to this castle, but I don’t know how everything she does can be that terrible.”
“If she still hasn’t awakened an ability, then maybe…… isn’t the bloodline getting weaker and weaker?”
“……Shh, don’t say something so horrible. If it gets out, the duke’s position will be awkward.”
“Doesn’t she look like she has no idea what kind of problem she’s caused the family? Why would His Grace take in a child like that. Because of her, the young duke is……!”
“What are you chattering about back there!”
When the head maid appeared, the maids who had been whispering closed their mouths and scattered.
Rierusha, who had heard everything the maids said from behind the corridor, bit her lip hard.
‘Because of me, did something happen to Father?’
Rierusha lowered her head.
She felt the head maid stop in surprise as she rounded the corner of the corridor.
She was the only one who had never once said things Rierusha didn’t want to hear.
The head maid looked flustered for a moment, then composed her expression.
“……You are not asleep yet? Please go in, young lady. They don’t know what they’re saying and spoke carelessly, so don’t take it to heart.”
“……Mm.”
“I will take measures tomorrow.”
Rierusha nodded as if to say it was fine, but her heart was endlessly heavy.
And that day, in the deep dawn.
Rierusha, who had only just managed to fall asleep, opened her eyes at the noisy commotion outside.
“What is that sound?”
Outside the window, she could see the center of the main castle blazing.
“What is that……?”
Even seeing what was happening in the ducal castle with her own eyes, Rierusha couldn’t believe it.
When she got up and opened the window, the castle was burning from an external intrusion, and it was a scene of chaos, filled with screams.
“W-what on earth am I supposed to do…….”
As Rierusha stood there, bewildered and at a loss, it happened.
All of a sudden—Bang!—the door flew open.
“……Brother Ricador?”
The person who opened the door and came in was her second older brother, who had always found Rierusha displeasing.
When Rierusha stepped back at the sight of Ricador striding in frighteningly, a hand grabbed her.
Ricador’s hand was as cold as ice.
“What are you doing here, you idiot! If you saw what was going on, you should be running away right now!”
“I-I don’t know anything about what’s happening.”
“What……?”
Ricador reacted as if she were saying something ridiculous. Soon his brow twisted viciously.
“……Don’t tell me you’re the only one left here?”
That seemed to be the case. Rierusha bit her lip hard and nodded.
Even the head maid, the only one she had relied on, had slipped away alone at the critical moment.
Ricador irritably swept back his silver hair.
“Those bastards.”
“…….”
“There’s no time to explain, so follow me.”
“B-but Grandfather told me not to take even one step out of my room…….”
“That’s……!”
Ricador parted his lips as if to explain, then, seeing the terrified Rierusha, softened his expression.
Instead, he began dragging Rierusha and heading somewhere.
Walking along the dark corridor, Rierusha flinched and looked down at the arm gripping her hand.
She felt a damp sensation, and when she looked closely, there was a deep wound on his arm, as if he had just been injured.
At Rierusha’s reaction, as though she had noticed his injury, Ricador briefly hid his arm.
Then, glancing at Rierusha, who had no idea what was happening, he explained simply.
“The imperial army barged into the ducal castle. Grandfather’s holding them off.”
“Why is the imperial army here?”
“……I think there’s a traitor in the family.”
A traitor? Rierusha made a confused expression.
For Rierusha, only ten years old, it was very difficult to understand the complicated situation within the family.
And of course it was—no one had ever told her anything.
Ricador led Rierusha toward the forest connected to the outside of the castle.
Judging by his quickening pace, she could tell the situation was quite serious.
“Oberon will take you somewhere safe. When things are settled, I’ll come back for you, so wait until then.”
“……You’ll come back for me? Why?”
“What do you even think this family is?”
Of course…….
Rierusha bit her lip hard.
In a way, she was dazed in this situation.
Because Oberon was Duke Arakrene’s loyal aide.
He was someone who had devoted his life to the family for many long years, a name Rierusha also knew well.
She couldn’t believe her grandfather had sent such an important person to protect her.
When they went deeper into the forest, they saw Oberon, who had been waiting anxiously.
When he spotted the two of them, he came rushing over, pleased and urgent.
“Master Ricador!”
“Oberon. Take Rierusha and hide her in a safe place, right now.”
“Yes, I will do so.”
Oberon nodded solemnly and looked at Rierusha.
Then he smiled softly, as if relieved…….
Thud.
A sharp sword pierced Ricador in an instant.
