episode_0013

In the days that followed, the Seriratus estate was engulfed in sorrow and tension.

The funeral of Duke Pitus was conducted with grandeur and solemnity befitting the family’s status. Countless nobles and officials of the empire came to pay their respects, and even the emperor attended in person to offer condolences.

But beneath the grief, everyone in the household was struggling to keep their footing.

McClain worked tirelessly day and night to maintain the family’s stability amid the unprecedented crisis of the patriarch’s assassination, while simultaneously overseeing a secret investigation to uncover the mastermind behind the poisoning.

The Marquis Lorencia’s family was the prime suspect, but they vehemently denied any involvement and even demanded a thorough investigation by the imperial family.

The imperial investigation, too, yielded no significant results. The poison used in the crime was extremely rare and difficult to trace, and the servant who had handed the cup had vanished without a trace after that day. Everything pointed to a meticulously planned crime.

And the most crucial figure, Firnea—

She did not appear even once during the entire funeral.

It was as if she refused to believe in her father’s death.

She locked herself in her room, refusing meals and rejecting all visitors.

The doctor insisted she needed absolute rest, but it was clear that if things continued this way, both Firnea’s body and mind would break.

Every day, I brought meals to Firnea’s door and spoke softly.

“My lady, it’s time to eat. You must have at least a little.”

“My lady, the weather is lovely. Won’t you step out into the garden for a while?”

“My lady, I’ve deciphered a new section of the dwarven book. There are many interesting passages.”

But the door remained firmly shut, with no response.

According to the maids, the young lady simply lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Sometimes, at night, the sound of her sobbing could be heard.

After a week passed, I could no longer stand by and watch.

Even if the Scar of Obedience deemed my defiance of my master’s will a punishable offense that would lead to my death, so be it.

—If this continued, Firnea would be lost.

I took a deep breath and knocked on Firnea’s door.

Still, there was no answer.

“My lady, I’m coming in.”

Carefully, I opened the door and stepped inside.

The room was dark, the curtains drawn, and the air heavy with stagnation.

On the bed, the young lady lay curled on her side. Having barely eaten or slept for days, her face was pale, and dark circles shadowed her sunken eyes.

Her once-bright blue eyes, which had always sparkled with intelligence, were now unfocused and hollow.

“Get out…”

She muttered weakly.

Seeing her like that—I clenched my teeth.

“I’m sorry, my lady. But if this continues, you will—”

“I said get out!”

Firnea suddenly screamed.

Unstable blue mana surged violently around her.

The objects in the room trembled slightly. She was on the verge of a dangerous outburst.

But I didn’t even blink. Instead, I stepped closer to the bed and knelt.

The mana tore at my skin. Blood trickled from my shoulder, but I didn’t flinch.

“Ugh—”

It was Firnea who was startled. She hadn’t expected me to stand my ground, and she hastily withdrew her mana.

“I—I didn’t do anything wrong. You could’ve dodged…”

“My lady.”

I met Firnea’s eyes and spoke firmly.

“Grief is natural. Anger is natural, too. But you cannot let those emotions consume you to the point of abandoning everything.”

“What do you know… If you don’t understand, just leave…”

Tears spilled from Firnea’s eyes.

“I cannot claim to understand all of your sorrow, my lady. But I am here. I will stay by your side until you rise again—no, even beyond that.”

I took Firnea’s cold hand in mine.

“The last order my master left me was to protect you, my lady. I intend to fulfill that command. No matter what it takes.”

She tried to pull her hand away, but there was no strength in her grip. Instead, she sobbed, clutching my hand as tears streamed down her face.

“Why… Why did Father have to die… Why was I left alone…”

“You are not alone, my lady.”

I tightened my grip on her hand.

“I am here. And so is Head Butler McClain, and everyone else in this household. We will all stand by your side as your strength.”

I paused, then lowered my voice.

“And… shouldn’t we seek vengeance?”

It wasn’t the most advisable course of action—

But there is a limit to the sorrow a person can bear.

Anger, however, is different. She needed to redirect the flood of her emotions, even if just a little.

At my words, Firnea’s sobs momentarily stilled. A faint light returned to her hollow eyes.

“Shouldn’t you be the one to judge those who did this to my master?”

I held her gaze and spoke with conviction.

“I will dedicate everything I have to help you achieve that, my lady. Magic, swordsmanship, knowledge—even assassination techniques. If you wish it, I will teach you anything.”

It wasn’t just because of the Scar of Obedience. This was my genuine resolve.

Four years—short by some measures, but in that time, the Seriratus family had given me stability and a place I could call home.

And I had more than enough reason to avenge Pitus’s death.

For a long while, Firnea was silent. She simply stared deep into my eyes.

In her gaze, I saw sorrow, anger, confusion—and the faintest spark of hope.

Finally, in a trembling voice, she spoke.

“…You’ll really… help me?”

“Yes, my lady. With my life.”

At my answer, tears welled in her eyes again.

But this time, they were not tears of despair.

“It hurts… It hurts so much, Birdeim.”

Firnea clutched my hand, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Right now… I don’t want to think about the future. Because I have to accept… that I’ll never see Father again…”

“Then don’t think. Focus only on the present.”

“…Okay.”

The look in Firnea’s eyes was entirely different now.

Though sorrow still lingered, beneath it lay a cold, steely resolve—anger and determination taking root.

“I will.”

Today, she had faced her father’s death.

[Variable Occurrence.]

“Huh? What’s this?”

A few days later, Lady Firnea rose from her bed.

Though grief still cast a shadow over her face, the hollow emptiness that had consumed her before was gone.

In its place was a will far beyond her years.

The first thing she did was summon Head Butler McClain and me.

Dressed properly for the first time in days and seated in the study’s chair, Firnea bore no resemblance to the mischievous girl she had once been. She looked like a young queen.

“McClain, you’ve worked hard all this time.”

Her voice was calm, but it carried the weight of a true head of the household.

“Not at all, my lady. It was only my duty.”

McClain bowed, his expression a mix of relief and emotion.

“Was Father’s funeral conducted properly?”

“Yes, my lady. All the empire’s nobles attended to see our master off. Even His Majesty the Emperor—”

“Enough. Those formalities don’t matter.”

Firnea hesitated, then lowered her head.

“—I’m sorry. That I, his own daughter, didn’t attend his funeral. Politically, morally… it was inexcusable.”

“M-My lady! How could you say such a thing?!”

McClain dropped to his knees in shock.

“Please, raise your head. If anyone is at fault, it is this old fool who failed to accomplish anything. I deserve death a thousand times over—I cannot accept your apology!”

“Even if it’s just empty words, thank you. But…”

Firnea’s voice trembled as she asked.

“Have you… found any leads on the culprit?”

At that, McClain’s expression darkened again.

“Not yet, my lady. Neither the imperial investigation nor our own has uncovered decisive evidence. The culprit was meticulous, and the poison used is untraceable. The servant who handed the cup… vanished as if they never existed.”

“What about the Lorencia family?”

“They are the prime suspects, but there’s no proof. They’ve skillfully distanced themselves, even claiming to be victims. In truth, they’ve gained nothing from this—if anything, they’ve suffered significant losses.”

Firnea closed her eyes and bit her lip. For a moment, her anger made her mana flicker dangerously, but she forced it down.

“I see. Then from now on, I’ll take matters into my own hands.”

McClain and I both stiffened at her declaration.

“My lady, that’s far too dangerous! You’re still so young—”

“I can’t afford to act like a child forever, McClain. With Father gone, I am now the head of House Seriratus. I will find the culprit myself and have my vengeance.”

There was no hesitation in her eyes. McClain wavered but soon realized he couldn’t dissuade her.

“…If that is your will, my lady, we will support you to the best of our abilities. The family’s full resources and intelligence network are at your disposal.”

“Thank you, McClain.”

Firnea turned from him and looked at me.

“Birdeim.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“You promised me. That you’d teach me anything I wanted.”

“Yes, I did.”

“Then let’s start today.”

She rose from her seat and approached me.

Though she barely reached my chest in height, the aura she exuded was overwhelming.

“Make me strong. Not just in magic—swordsmanship, combat, assassination. So I’ll never be helpless like before.”

“Understood.”

“Teach me how to survive in the world of nobles. How to see through their lies and schemes, how to use them—and how to crush them.”

“Gladly.”

“And one last thing…”

She paused, her gaze piercing into mine.

“…Don’t leave my side. Not until my vengeance is complete.”

It was an order, but not one that demanded obedience.

Her tone was closer to a plea, and the Scar of Obedience on my shoulder burned hot in response.

I had no reason to refuse. I knelt on one knee and lightly pressed my lips to the back of her hand.

“I will serve you with everything I have, my lady.”