CH 2.2

Lucio Elrad, the eldest son of Duke Elrad, a man with unrealistically beautiful appearance.

‘Why is this person here!?’

Clearly, Jade said that Lucio had left for the Duchy today, leaving the Duke’s residence empty.

If I had known he was there, I would have been much more prepared to infiltrate.

‘As Terencium’s famous for handling only accurate information, it’s impossible to receive such false information…’

At that moment, my mind went blank at the thoughts passing by…

‘Jade deliberately gave false information.’

The shock and disappointment left my body drained of strength.

I knew Jade hated me, but I didn’t know he would drive me to the brink like this.

It’s been 8 years since we’ve been colleagues…

‘That bastard has no loyalty!’

One after another, the executives, and then the master’s face, ran through my mind.

Even the times I struggled to be recognized.

It was when I felt the thin cord of a sense of belonging torn apart.

Lucio raised his sword and swung it quickly.

The wind blew lightly, and the mask that was barely hanging over my nose was cut in half, revealing my face.

“…you.”

Then, Lucio’s blue eyes widened and immediately began to shake slightly as if struck by the wind.

I felt the intense agitation in his eyes, and I was greatly perplexed.

‘Have you ever recognized me?’

There’s no way for him to remember me having common brown hair and normal brown eyes.

Besides, I’ve seen Lucio from afar, but he hasn’t seen me so closely for a decade.

For Lucio, I would be just a beggar who he showed sympathy for a moment.

So you couldn’t have recognized me.

“Why are you…”

His voice was trembling.

I couldn’t hide my agitation at Lucio’s embarrassment, seeing it for the first time.

In the eyes looking straight at me, I could feel the certainty that he knew me.

When I realized it, I felt like I was going to burst into tears.

Lucio was the only one who taught me what kindness was in my humblest and insignificant days.

And I couldn’t bear to show this to such a person.

I hurriedly cast a summoning spell, and soon a handful of powder was held in my hand.

‘If I spray the special powder developed by Terencium on my opponent, it will cover their vision and all senses for a while, so I’ll be able to escape from this situation…’

Slash!

At that moment, my body, which could not even sprinkle the powder, hardened as it was.

As I slowly lowered my head, I saw a sword stabbing from behind.

Thinking only of the person in front of me, I didn’t even think of the Knights of Rexion chasing after me.

To those who are accustomed to reading mana and sensing it, it may have seemed that I tried to attack Lucio.

A lot of my misjudgment, carelessness, and regrets ran through my head…

“Great.”

I covered my mouth. Blood dripped down between my fingers.

“Lia..!!”

Even at the moment my eyes turned blurry, Lucio’s voice calling me felt unfamiliar.

Because I never imagined that my name would come out of his lips and be called by him in my entire life.

Then, along with a faint sound, a powerful wave of mana that I had never felt before shook my whole body.

And after a while…

As I closed my eyes as I watched the whole world flicker in black, I remembered one fact.

That I never told Lucio my name…

How long has it been?

I could feel my heart pounding roughly.

‘Fortunately, I didn’t die.’

Even though I might be subjected to severe torture in the future, I was satisfied that I was still alive, for now.

Because ‘surviving’ was my top priority, I have neither family nor anything to lose.

But apart from that, my colleagues who I’ve treated like family

Their betrayal was still unbelievable.

I want to think of it as Jade’s arrogant behavior, but I really don’t know.

ㅡ”Do you think other people will acknowledge you just because you’re like this?”

ㅡ”I can never be a good person for you. So don’t be mistaken no matter what anyone else says.

ㅡ”Remember, Lia. Never trust me.

Why, at this moment, do I remember what the Master used to say?

He was the one who saved me, who was a street beggar, and was dying in the pouring rain.

And he was the one who pushed me to the limit every time with his harsh words and unbearable training.

However, I have never taken directly what the Master had told me.

I thought it was all meant to make me stronger.

‘But now I don’t know anymore.’

As I felt tears flowing from my closed eyes and was at a loss as to what to do next in the future.

‘But how the hell did I survive?’

I saw with my own eyes that my heart was pierced.

It’s not that strange to die instantly, but no matter how lucky I am, was it possible to survive?

Above all, it was strange that there’s no trace of the pain I felt when I was stabbed by the sword.

As I hurriedly got up to understand the situation, I frowned unknowingly at the creaking sound I heard.

Because it was the sound I hated the most in the world.

I hated the cheap bed I used at the orphanage when I was young, so the first thing I bought with my salary was a soft bed…

“Gasp!”

The smell of rot, torn curtains, rolling dust, and old walls with cracks.

I covered my mouth in surprise at the same sight that I had never forgotten for a moment, and glanced down at my hands in amazement.

“Wait, what’s going on?”

Seeing the small, dry hands dripping with sauce was so absurd that I was speechless.

After a while, my mouth, which had hardened in shock for a while, opened.

“Did I go back…?”