Chapter 1
A woman sat alone in a dark room.
The room was large, and the single lamp burning beside her was far too small to drive away the darkness that covered the world outside.
She waited silently in the shadows for her prey.
Roderick Allen Weisshafen.
That was the name of the man who would become the sacrifice.
…I can do this. No, I have to. For Father.
The woman, with beautiful silver hair and blue eyes, pulled a dagger from inside her dress with a stiff expression.
It was a weapon that looked completely out of place with her elegant and luxurious gown, but she stared at it with unreadable eyes.
The magnificent dagger had a platinum sheath decorated with a violet diamond. It was a treasured possession her father valued as much as his own life. He never allowed anyone else to touch it.
Yet he had lent it to her.
So she could kill his enemy—
Duke Roderick Weisshafen.
I have to succeed. I can’t disappoint Father.
After strengthening her resolve, she hid the dagger once more.
For the sake of her only family—her father, who was her entire world—she swore she would kill Roderick Weisshafen.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that she had lived only for this day.
She had trained in assassination since childhood solely to kill Roderick. Two years ago, she had entered this mansion by pretending to be his long-lost only daughter.
Fortunately, she looked remarkably similar to the missing young lady, Ayla Hyling Weisshafen.
Her father had lived his entire life without his right hand. He had told her Roderick had cut it off with his sword.
That wasn’t all.
He said Roderick had stolen everything that rightfully belonged to him.
Because of that, her father had spent his life as a criminal and a fugitive.
She had lived the same way.
As a child, she wandered from place to place with her father. Then, two years ago, she entered this mansion disguised as Roderick’s lost daughter.
She should have been happy to finally kill the man she hated so much.
Yet for some reason, she didn’t feel relieved.
Why?
Even she couldn’t explain the strange feeling inside her.
Had she somehow become attached to Roderick… and to his wife, Ophelia?
Or was she simply afraid because this would be the first time she actually killed someone?
She had mastered countless ways to take lives, but carrying them out was an entirely different matter.
Stop thinking such useless things.
She shook her head, scolding herself.
This had to be done.
For Father’s revenge.
And to reclaim her own name.
She had lived her entire life without knowing either her own name or her father’s.
Her father always called her “my daughter.”
Everyone else who served him simply called her “Young Lady.”
Everyone had a name.
Even the dog her father raised had one.
Yet she, whom everyone respected as “Young Lady,” was never allowed to have one.
She constantly begged her father to tell her her name.
Each time, he always gave the same answer.
“It would be too dangerous if you knew your real name. The day my revenge is complete… that is the day I’ll tell you your name.”
Since they had spent their entire lives on the run, she had believed him when he said knowing her name was dangerous.
Once everything was over…
Once his enemy was dead…
She would finally learn both her own name and her father’s.
At least, that was what she believed.
While she wrestled with the strange emotions growing inside her, someone knocked on the door.
He’s here.
Her heart dropped.
Was she still not ready?
No.
She had been preparing for this day for years.
But now that the moment had finally arrived, she couldn’t stop herself from feeling nervous.
“Young Lady, His Grace the Duke has arrived.”
“Tell him to come in.”
She forced her trembling hands to calm down as she answered.
A moment later, the door opened.
Roderick Weisshafen entered.
With black hair, blue eyes, and a powerful physique that made it hard to believe he was already forty years old, he was the Empire’s greatest swordsman.
The head of House Weisshafen.
The guardian of the Empire.
His eyes were always sharp and alert toward everyone around him.
But with his daughter, he was nothing but a kind and loving father.
“I’m back, Ayla. Why are you sitting here without even lighting the room properly?”
As he entered with a warm smile, something painfully stabbed at her heart.
What a fool.
He had no idea this room was a trap meant to take his life.
The moment his daughter asked to speak with him privately, he rushed over without hesitation.
She should have laughed at his foolishness.
But somehow…
She couldn’t.
“I don’t know why I’m nervous. It’s not like this is my first time in your room.”
Roderick scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he stepped into the dark room.
The door closed.
Now only the two of them remained.
Suddenly, Roderick’s expression sharpened.
“…Is someone else in this room?”
“W-What? N-No. I was alone.”
She couldn’t hide her panic.
Had everything already fallen apart before she could even draw her blade?
Because…
There really was someone else inside the room.
Someone she had hidden.
Roderick had surpassed ordinary humans and become a Swordmaster.
His extraordinary senses had detected another presence.
“Stay behind me.”
Fortunately, he never suspected her.
After all, he believed she truly was Ayla Weisshafen.
He moved in front of her protectively and approached the wardrobe where the hidden person was concealed.
This was her only chance.
He had turned his back on an assassin.
If she hesitated now, she would never get another opportunity.
She quietly drew her father’s dagger.
Silently, she approached Roderick from behind.
She had to kill him with a single strike.
Holding even her breath so he wouldn’t hear the slightest sound, she swung the poisoned blade at her father’s greatest enemy.
But in that brief instant—
Roderick spun around.
Instinctively, he grabbed the blade with his bare hand.
“Ayla… what are you doing…?”
His face was filled with disbelief.
As if he simply couldn’t understand why his daughter was trying to stab him.
Afraid he would take the dagger away, she gripped the handle with all her strength.
Without a surprise attack, killing Roderick was impossible.
She was confident she could defeat almost any knight in single combat.
But no matter how skilled an assassin she was…
She couldn’t defeat Roderick Weisshafen.
Is it over…?
Have I failed…?
Just as despair began to fill her—
A drop of blood fell from Roderick’s hand.
I did it.
The blade had been coated with deadly poison.
No matter how far Roderick had surpassed ordinary humans, he couldn’t survive this poison.
“Why would you…?”
Completely unaware that the poison was already spreading through his veins and stealing his life with every passing second, Roderick looked at her in nothing but confusion.
“…Ayla…”
“Ayla…”
He repeated only his daughter’s name.
Soon the poison began to take effect.
He staggered and leaned against the wall.
“Don’t call me by that name. I’m not your daughter.”
A wave of nausea rose inside her.
She felt sick.
Disgusted.
She didn’t know where this revulsion came from.
Was it fear of watching someone die?
Or hatred for the man who had ruined her father’s life?
“…Ayla… my daughter.”
The poison faithfully did its work.
Roderick’s powerful body finally gave out, and he collapsed onto the floor.
Yet even now…
There wasn’t a trace of resentment in his eyes.
Instead, she saw longing.
Regret.
And endless love.
Why…?
“…I’m sorry, Ayla… I… I’m sorry.”
Even as his breathing grew weaker, he continued speaking.
Until the very end, he looked only at her with loving eyes.
What a fool.
“No… I’m…”
I’m not…
Your daughter.
She wanted to say it.
But the nausea was so overwhelming that she couldn’t force the words out.
Then—
“Roderick Allen Weisshafen.”
The wardrobe door opened.
The person hiding inside stepped out.
Bright red hair.
Golden amber eyes.
Elegant movements.
And where his right hand should have been…
A crude artificial hand.
It was her beloved father.
“At last… I’ve finally killed you.”
“I told you, didn’t I?”
“I would destroy you.”
“And now… I’ve kept my promise.”
His golden eyes gleamed in the darkness.
His face was overflowing with joy.
“You stole my Ophelia.”
“You gave my rightful place to my younger brother.”
“You even took my right hand.”
“I spent years wondering how I could make you suffer the most before you died.”
“You are… Byron…”
Recognizing him, Roderick’s eyes widened.
His fading voice spoke a few more words, but the only one she could clearly hear was—
Byron.
“That’s right.”
“It’s me.”
“Byron.”
“I’m glad you still remember.”
“You shouldn’t so easily forget the name of the man you betrayed.”
Byron.
So that was the name she had wondered about her entire life.
Her father’s name.
Roderick looked as though he still wanted to say something.
But his body could no longer obey him.
He gasped painfully for breath.
Not long afterward…
He died.
His eyes remained open.
“…Farewell, old friend. I won’t see you off.”
Unable to hide his happiness, Byron gently closed Roderick’s eyes.
His own glittering eyes were filled with triumph.
Watching the scene silently, she finally let out the breath she had been holding.
It was horrifying.
“Oh, my daughter.”
“You’ve done your job well.”
“That deserves some praise.”
Walking toward her, Byron took the dagger from her trembling hand.
“…I’ll be taking this back now.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
He casually wiped the blood from the blade on Roderick’s clothes before returning the precious dagger to its sheath.
Then, as he always had…
He kissed her hair affectionately.
“As promised, I suppose it’s time I finally tell you your name.”
“But before that…”
“Shall we have a toast?”
He produced a bottle of champagne from somewhere and poured it into elegant crystal glasses.
She stared at the glass he handed her.
She didn’t want to drink.
She felt as though she would vomit if she swallowed anything.
“Go on.”
“Drink.”
“You’ll feel better.”
“We’ll talk afterward.”
Smiling warmly, Byron gracefully sipped from his own glass.
Watching him, she unconsciously raised her own glass to her lips.
Outside, she began hearing loud voices.
It seemed Byron’s plan had begun.
Once she killed the Duke…
His forces would launch a full assault on the mansion.
Closing her eyes tightly, she took a sip of the champagne.
The hot liquid sliding down her throat felt unpleasant.
It was much stronger than it looked.
“…That’s right.”
“Good.”
Watching her continue drinking, Byron smiled brightly.
The moon had disappeared behind the clouds.
Inside the dark room, only his golden eyes seemed to shine.
“Please…”
“Tell me my real name.”
Her voice sounded distant.
Almost as though someone else were speaking through her mouth.
“Of course.”
“A promise is a promise.”
Still smiling, Byron elegantly crossed his legs on the sofa.
His relaxed posture stood in sharp contrast to the Duke’s corpse lying on the cold floor.
“Your name…”
“…is Ayla.”
The moment Byron spoke—
Blood suddenly poured from her mouth.
“Your name is Ayla Hyling Weisshafen.”
