Chapter 1
A dark hallway.
It was the kind of night when no one dared step outside, as thunder roared like it would swallow the world whole.
“Haa… haa…”
Tericia barely held onto her breath, as if it might break at any moment.
The way she struggled to breathe, the sword that had pierced through her chest, and the blood spreading behind her—all made it clear that her time was running out.
Was it yesterday? Or the day before?
Ah, that’s right—it was yesterday.
That was when the news of Rashid’s death reached them.
The death of the only heir had been delivered to the Duke’s household.
He had died a heroic death on the fiercest battlefield.
Everyone mourned the tragic loss.
“You look the part now. A proper young lady of the Duke’s house.”
Tericia stopped lighting the candle at the sound of the mocking voice and slowly turned around.
“Uncle.”
“Uncle, is it…”
Count Clu glanced around the long hallway he had just entered. His gaze eventually settled on the black flags hanging in mourning for the heir.
The mourning banners and candle flames swayed quietly in the dim corridor.
“The funeral will be held in a week,” Tericia said, her voice calm.
Dressed in black mourning clothes and standing with a pale face, she gave off an air that was somehow daunting.
She looked fragile, yet something powerful surrounded her—something he had never seen before.
Count Clu didn’t like what he saw.
It was as if she were claiming this place, this moment, as her own.
But this place belonged to him now.
With his brother’s bloodline gone, he was the only one left to carry on the family name.
And yet that girl, who had not a single drop of Hespelt blood, dared to stand there like she truly belonged—as if she were the Lady of Hespelt.
When her golden-brown hair—so unlike anything from House Hespelt—caught his eye, Count Clu scowled without even realizing it.
“Why are you the one arranging the funeral?”
“If not me, then who else is left to mourn Rashid?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. What gives you the right?”
Even with his contemptuous tone, Tericia remained unfazed.
Her steady gaze, not even flinching, only fueled Clu’s anger.
“I am the one who carries Hespelt blood. I will become the Duke and arrange my nephew’s funeral.”
“I am Rashid’s sister and daughter of Hespelt.
You’re just a distant uncle.
I am the rightful Lady of Hespelt.”
“You dare speak like that just because you happened to be taken in?”
Clu shouted without meaning to, but then suddenly paused—as if remembering something.
Step.
He took a slow step toward Tericia.
“That’s right. My brother acknowledged you.
Even though you weren’t his by blood—not even a drop—he loved you more than his own noble nephew.”
“……”
“But, Tericia,” he said, now standing directly in front of her.
A sense of dread hit her chest like a thunderclap.
“You can’t change your bloodline.”
Stab!
“……!”
A sharp blade burst out from Tericia’s back.
And at that exact moment—crash!—lightning struck.
The mourning flags and candles in the hallway whipped violently in the wind.
“My precious niece,” Clu whispered.
“If you were truly of Hespelt blood, then following my brother and Rashid in death would be the right thing to do.”
“You…!”
“This House of Hespelt is mine!
Do you think I spent all these years enduring under my brother just to hand it over to the likes of you?!”
“C–Clu… Count!”
Tericia reached out to grab him, but her body lost balance and staggered.
“Don’t worry. You won’t suffer long.
The blade was coated with poison.
You’ll be with Rashid soon.”
Poison.
It must’ve been potent.
The venom spread fast, locking her body up in seconds. She tried to stay upright, but her legs gave out.
Tericia collapsed backward without strength.
Crash!
Lightning struck again, rumbling loud enough to shake the earth.
Heavy rain began to pour.
She had known that greedy man had his eyes on House Hespelt.
But with Rashid alive—with the rightful heir in place—she thought they were safe.
Because House Hespelt… belonged to Rashid.
But now—
“Sister, didn’t you want me dead?”
No, Rashid…
I only ever wanted to survive…
To live quietly in this massive, dark place called Hespelt.
Count Clu, who had been huffing angrily for a while, finally calmed down. He dusted off his clothes and slowly walked toward Tericia.
Seeing the pool of blood growing beneath her, a twisted smile crept up the corners of his lips.
“Well, I suppose I’ll have to hold the funeral for both my dear niece and nephew at once. Just as you wished, I’ll honor you as the Lady of the Duke’s house.”
There was unmistakable joy in his voice.
“Goodbye, Tericia. I’ll be the one to protect House Hespelt now.”
He carefully stepped back to avoid the expanding pool of blood and quickly turned to leave the corridor.
At that moment, one of the candles flickered and quietly went out.
“Haa… haa…”
Tericia clung to the last strands of breath. She couldn’t let it end like this.
This house—House Hespelt—had always been Rashid’s.
Her mother had tried everything to take it for herself, but that was the one thing she could never have. It had always belonged to Rashid.
Rashid…
I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.
If I—if my mother and I had never come here,
You wouldn’t have died such a meaningless death.
If I hadn’t entered this house, you never would’ve been driven out.
All of this happened because of me. Because of my mother and me.
Crash!
Lightning tore through the sky again, shaking the world.
If only I could go back. If only I had one more chance…
I wouldn’t let Mother, or Count Clu, or anyone take this house from you.
If I could just go back—
I wouldn’t let anyone take away what rightfully belongs to you.
Not Count Clu, not anyone. Not even my own mother.
I’d give up everything to protect what’s yours.
Rashid…
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
And the moment those tears mixed with her blood— A brilliant light exploded.
＊＊＊
“Sister, didn’t you want me dead?”
His voice was full of sorrow and blame.
Of all the emotions she could have felt from him, the first was resentment.
Tericia let out a faint laugh.
If her mother had been there, she would have said it was unbecoming of a lady.
No, she wanted to laugh.
If only blood hadn’t gushed up from her lungs, choking her instead.
“You never liked me, did you?”
That’s not true. I never hated you.
“If I hadn’t existed, everything would’ve been yours.”
No, Rashid… Not once did I ever wish for that.
“And I never wanted you to be my sister either.”
A sharp ache spread through her chest.
Why… why couldn’t her heart ever reach him?
“I hope my death brings you peace.”
＊＊＊
She woke with a gasp, as if drowning.
Haa… haa…
Air surged into her lungs all at once as though she hadn’t breathed at all until now.
So much air entered at once, it felt like it would crush her chest.
Tericia grabbed at her heart, her body shaking from the pain.
The spot where the sword had stabbed her burned like it was on fire.
Pain? I feel pain?
Does that mean… I’m still alive?
Feeling pain could only mean one thing, She had not died.
When she straightened her hunched body, the pain came rushing back.
But Tericia didn’t care. She quickly reached for her chest.
There was nothing there.
No sword that had pierced through her, no blood, no wound—nothing at all.
“Young Lady?”
“Ah…”
At the sound of someone calling her, Tericia lifted her head blankly.
Only then did the light flood into her vision, as if she had just realized her eyes were open.
“Young Lady, are you feeling unwell? Shall I call the physician?”
“Mandy?”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
A small girl came into focus as Tericia’s eyes adjusted to the light.
A freckled girl with brown hair was looking at her with a puzzled expression.
Tericia couldn’t believe her eyes.
The girl standing before her was undoubtedly her personal maid, Mandy.
The same Mandy who had died three years ago,
when she accompanied her family during the accident that took her parents’ lives.
“You’re… alive?”
“What do you mean, miss? Did you have a bad dream?”
“…A dream?”
Mandy looked younger than Tericia remembered.
And it wasn’t just Mandy—her own voice sounded younger too.
“No… it can’t be…”
Tericia jumped out of bed and rushed to the mirror.
Violet-red eyes.
Golden-brown hair.
Her complexion was pale, but the reflection staring back at her was clearly younger than the last face she remembered.
“Rashid.”
“Yes?!”
“Where is Rashid?”
She asked, trying to keep her voice from trembling.
“He’s probably still asleep?”
“You mean… he hasn’t woken up yet?”
“No, miss. The young master isn’t much of a morning person, remember?”
“…That’s right. He was.”
Yes… he was always like that.
A sleepy child who would often pout, just to get a few more minutes of rest.
Tericia’s eyes began to tremble with emotion.
“I have to see Rashid.”
“Pardon?”
“I have to see him!”
“Y-Young Lady!”
As if possessed, Tericia rushed out of the room.
She could hear Mandy’s startled voice behind her, but she didn’t care.
She didn’t care how she looked or what others might think.
There was only one thing that mattered now.
I have to see for myself. I need to see if you’re really alive.
If you truly came back.
If this isn’t just a dream. If this is real.
Panic bubbled in her chest. Her steps felt heavy, like she was wading through water.
But as she headed toward Rashid’s room, her pace gradually quickened until she was suddenly running.
Voices called her from behind, but she didn’t stop.
A few people she passed looked at her strangely as she ran barefoot through the halls, but it didn’t matter.
As long as Rashid was alive— “Rashid!”
She flung the door open, and there he was.
A boy who had just woken up blinked at her with wide eyes.
Perhaps startled to see his aloof stepsister barging in so early, Rashid’s face stiffened slightly in confusion.
He still looked so young and fragile.
Barely thirteen or fourteen now…
Even smaller than he had been in her memory—her little brother.
“Sister?”
He called to her with uncertainty.
But she couldn’t answer.
She felt like her voice would break if she spoke—like it would come out wrong.
Tericia held back the tears that were threatening to fall.
She had come back.
She had really come back.
She had been given another chance— A chance to save him.
