Chapter 125

Chapter 125. Powerless Convictions Are Meaningless (4)

“I wish I could be reborn as a noble.”

It’s a wish that commoners, regardless of age, often express. If they could be reborn, they’d want to be born as the child of a noble.

A life where they wouldn’t go hungry, where they could eat whatever they desired.

A life where they could enjoy leisure, free to roam regardless of time or season.

A life warm in winter and cool in summer.

A life where they could live safely, without worrying about thieves or monsters. They envy the lives of nobles.

Even being born as the child of a lower noble would grant such luxuries, but what if one were born as the child of one of the only four monarchs in the country?

Of course, nobles have a duty to uphold—’Noblesse Oblige’—but for Lord Eslow, this rule doesn’t apply.

Eslow grants his children extreme freedom. As the children of a monarch, they bear no obligations or responsibilities. The public speculates that Eslow’s approach is a way to flaunt his authority by disregarding Noblesse Oblige.

In any case, Eslow’s children were born into successful lives. They enjoyed pleasures without responsibility.

However, one person was different—Eslow’s third daughter, Henya.

From the moment she could speak and think, she began to question her existence.

A life where nothing was lacking. She could know anything she was curious about, and everyone in the palace treated her like a god.

At first, Henya thought this was natural, but she soon realized something. Because she had everything, she had nothing.

The gold and honor in her hands were already given. She felt her life was meaningless. She felt this emptiness at the mere age of seven.

From then on, she began learning swordsmanship. Not because she felt threatened or wanted to become stronger, but because she was fed up. She was tired of her perfect life where everything went as she wished.

Eslow’s knight order included not only Masters but also Grandmasters. Even the country’s top swordsmen offered to teach Henya, but she refused them all.

“Don’t give me anything more. Don’t take away my joy.”

Through grueling training and swordsmanship, she filled her empty life, but one day, she hit a limit. Not a limit in growth, but a sense of boredom.

From then on, she put down her sword and attended social gatherings, meeting various people.

But she couldn’t overcome her boredom. Everyone feared and praised her, shouting false love.

But it wasn’t for her. The fear and praise were flattery for her father, Eslow, and the love they shouted was a confession to the power she held.

Henya hated that everything about her was in the shadow of her father, Eslow.

She wanted to be recognized not as Eslow’s daughter, but as Henya. So she picked up her sword again.

With her self-created dual-sword style, she fought monsters on the frontlines to prove her existence.

Ultimately, she alone cut through hundreds of orcs and killed a B-grade named monster, the ‘Knight Slayer,’ earning her a title.

‘The Witch of the Sword.’

A title given to her, clad in black armor, expressionless, shredding enemies with her dual swords.

She thought this would be enough.

But it wasn’t.

Rumors spread like wildfire—that she was only strong because of the swordsmanship bestowed by Eslow, that she had knights protecting her, and so on. Baseless rumors solidified as if they were facts.

Of course, no one said it to her face. That’s what angered Henya the most.

Henya stormed out of the palace. A hundred maids and thirty knights insisted on accompanying her, but she threatened to kill herself if they followed, finally shaking them off.

Standing by a stream in the outskirts, Henya lamented her fate—even drinking strong liquor couldn’t intoxicate her.

Tears welled up as she realized that despite being praised and revered by thousands, no one truly comforted or empathized with her.

Then, a boy approached her.

A shabby-looking boy. He had a cute face, but his small frame reeked of fish.

Henya’s sorrowful expression hardened instantly.

‘Is this the beggar I’ve only heard about?’

Everyone tries to use me. This boy probably came to beg, which made her feel terrible.

Her hand instinctively reached for the sword at her waist. Having grown up watching Eslow treat commoners’ lives like insects, she too saw commoners as insects.

“It’s dangerous to be alone at night, miss.”

“…….”

Henya frowned at the boy’s words. She hadn’t worn armor, but she had brought her sword. Was he looking down on her?

“There’s a bad group called the Lux Gang that roams around.”

It wasn’t a beggar’s plea. Henya moved her hand away from the sword and replied dismissively.

“Kid, I’m a knight. It doesn’t matter how many of those guys come.”

“Ah, you’re a knight? I’m sorry for not recognizing you.”

The boy bowed his head in apology, and Henya ignored him. It was a silent gesture for him to leave.

But the boy spoke again.

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to go back? Someone like you, a knight, shouldn’t have to spill the blood of scum like Lux.”

“Go your own way.”

“I’ll stay with you. If Lux comes, I’ll scare him off.”

“Ugh.”

Annoyed by the persistent boy, Henya took off her right earring and threw it on the ground.

“Take that and leave, will you?”

It was an earring made of black pearl, rarer than diamonds. Even a fool could tell it was expensive.

“……!”

The boy quickly picked up the black pearl earring but didn’t leave. He carefully washed it in the stream and handed it back to Henya.

“I didn’t ask for money, and I’m sorry if I offended you. Please take it. I’ll leave.”

“You want me to wear something that fell on the ground? Forget it. I don’t need it. If you won’t take it, throw it away or eat it, do whatever you want.”

“Then I’ll keep it for you. If you change your mind, I’ll return it.”

“That won’t happen.”

Henya turned her head sharply. The boy bowed politely, then left.

“…Weird kid.”

Henya had seen not only nobles but countless commoners, but this was the first time she’d met someone like that boy.

Even if he didn’t know who she was, to worry about her so casually and strike up a conversation.

After that, Henya visited the stream in the outskirts every night. Not particularly to see the boy, but because she felt good dipping her feet in the cool stream, she told herself.

She could meet the boy every day. And each time, he would comfortably talk to her.

“I’ve never caught a fish as big as my forearm before. I thought the fishing rod would break!”

“Aren’t you scared of me, a noble?”

“Why would I be scared of a knight? You protect this country and us. I’m grateful and respect you.”

“By the way, what’s your name?”

“Wid.”

“I’m Henya.”

“Ah, what a beautiful name.”

“…Hmph, don’t flatter me.”

“No, really. It’s the most beautiful name I’ve ever heard, and it suits you, a knight. I’d swear on my soul.”

“You really don’t know who I am, do you?”

“Huh? Ah… I’m sorry. I don’t know much about noble families. If I offended you, I apologize.”

“No. It’s fine. I actually prefer it.”

Henya found it fun to talk with this commoner boy. Surely, that was all she felt.

Then one night, Henya waited for Wid as usual, splashing in the water. But no matter how long she waited, Wid didn’t show up.

“What’s this? If you can’t come, at least say so. How dare a commoner make a noble wait?”

Having seen which direction Wid usually came from, Henya followed the stream upstream.

Soon, the water deepened, and the stream widened into a river.

Eventually, she found a good spot. A small dock and a hut came into view. From Henya’s perspective, it wasn’t a place fit for humans—it was so small you could barely raise a dog there.

But instinctively, she knew this was where Wid lived.

Henya opened the hut’s door without knocking.

Inside was a mess. Furniture and household items were all shattered, and the smell of blood was thick.

Wid, whom she was looking for, was lying face down on the ground, clutching something precious like a chicken.

“……!”

Henya flipped Wid over.

The unconscious boy was tightly holding something.

Forcing his hand open, she saw it was the black pearl earring. The one she had told him to throw away.

“Ugh, knight?”

Wid, his face bruised, coughed and opened his mouth. The first thing he did was apologize.

“I’m sorry for not coming today without saying anything.”

“What happened to you?”

Henya didn’t realize it herself, but her voice was filled with anger.

“It’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“Don’t add to my words. Answer when I ask.”

“…There’s a debt. Not my debt, but my parents’. I have to pay it. The Lux Gang came to collect. I paid this month’s due, but Lux saw the earring. I said it wasn’t mine and couldn’t give it, but Lux tried to take it by force, so I had no choice… Hehe, that’s how it ended up.”

“Idiot. If you have a debt, sell it to pay it off, or just give it to that Lux guy and avoid getting beaten.”

“You told me to throw it away, but I said I’d keep it. A promise is a promise.”

“You mentioned the Lux Gang. Where can I find them?”

As Henya drew her sword, Wid, still unwell, stopped her.

“Please don’t, knight. I didn’t come to you for help with this.”

“I’m just frustrated seeing you get beaten.”

“Haha, I hear that a lot. But it’s okay. No matter what anyone says, I’ll do what I think is right. If you don’t like me like this, I won’t come to you anymore.”

“Are you threatening me now?”

“Huh? Ah, no. How could I dare threaten a knight! It’s just that you said you’re frustrated with me… But I can’t leave this place my parents left me.”

“What if Lux comes back? Are you going to get beaten to death?”

“Then I’ll have no choice. I’ll fight back.”

“With that weak body?”

“Isn’t it about doing what you can, even if you’re weak? Haha.”

“You’re such a fool.”

“That’s another thing I hear often.”

Sticking to one’s convictions is hard. Especially when you have nothing. It’s the conviction of those who don’t sway with the wind.

On the other hand, the convictions of nobles seem firm, but they’re not based on self-belief—just belief in their own power.

Wid truly believed in himself. He had a spirit of steel, carrying out his thoughts.

Henya felt curious about Wid. She realized it was excitement the next day.

Wid really fought the Lux Gang. Surprisingly, he wasn’t badly hurt. Lux, scared by Wid’s determination to fight to the death, ran away.

Wid was different from the nobles who only spoke eloquently. He kept his word and never lied.

Henya liked that about Lux. His cute face was a bonus.

“Eighteen years old? You?”

“I hear that a lot too. I look younger than my age. I didn’t eat well when I was young.”

Wid’s head only reached Henya’s chest. Henya was tall, but Wid was also short for his age.

Henya thought Wid was about twelve. But the age difference between them was only three years.

‘That’s a relief. Huh? Why did I think that was a relief?’

A strange feeling sprouted in Henya’s heart. At first, she was confused about what it was and ignored it for a long time, but after six months, she realized.

It was definitely love.

Absurd, but definitely true.

No matter when she visited, Wid welcomed her warmly, never asking for anything. Always smiling, Henya felt excitement around Wid.

One day, Henya subtly asked Wid what he thought of her and was shocked by his answer.

“You’re really cool, knight!”

“……!”

What Henya wanted to hear was ‘beautiful’ or ‘pretty.’

But ‘cool’? That’s a compliment you give to men, isn’t it? Do I… not look like a woman?

From then on, Henya started paying attention to makeup and feminine clothing, something she had never cared about before.

But after decades of ignoring makeup and dressing up, it wasn’t easy. She was clumsy and awkward. She worked hard to learn makeup and dress femininely.

Of course, she couldn’t show this side to others. The world knew Henya as the Witch of the Sword—a ruthless swordswoman who knew nothing but swordsmanship.

She was too embarrassed to reveal it. So she made sure no one could enter her room and even created a secret space to practice her femininity in private.

But she was caught.

By a man she had never seen before.

Silver hair, golden eyes. A brazen face. Though she was overwhelmed with embarrassment, a thought crossed her mind.

Her father, Eslow, was in the palace right now. No one could enter the palace without his permission.

Meaning, this man had Eslow’s permission to be here.

He wasn’t an assassin. But that didn’t mean she could forgive him for intruding into her room and seeing her secret.

‘Destroy the evidence.’

No matter who he was, he had enough reason to die.

Creating an Aura Sword, she swung it at the man’s neck with the fastest speed and shortest path. He didn’t seem to react at all.

‘Ah!’

The man didn’t dodge. He held up a doll to protect his neck.

Common sense said a doll made of cloth and cotton couldn’t block an Aura Sword, but Henya screamed internally.

That doll wasn’t just any doll bought with money. It was a one-of-a-kind Wid doll she had stitched herself.

‘No!’

The doll she hugged every night to soothe her loneliness. It was more important than the intruder’s life.

Henya redirected her sword to the ceiling. The ceiling tore like paper, but the doll was unharmed.

“Attacking out of nowhere?”

The intruder spoke brazenly.

Henya was speechless.

“Put that doll down now.”

“You’ll cut me if I do.”

“I won’t cut you, so put it down.”

“I’m Keter. What’s your name?”

Keter introduced himself casually.

Of course, it was the first time Henya had heard the name.

“You don’t know my name?”

“That’s why I’m asking.”

“…Henya.”

“Henya, nice to meet you.”

“Not nice. How did you infiltrate the palace, and why did you sneak in here? Confess and surrender, and I’ll spare your life.”

“Hmm, explaining that isn’t sexy.”

“What?”

“I’m this kind of person.”

Keter slipped a business card into the doll’s hand and handed it to Henya.

Henya examined the card and muttered.

“A solver…?”

* * *

The tense atmosphere eased.

Henya, having sheathed her Aura Sword, listened to the surroundings.

Though she had slashed the ceiling, she controlled her strength, so it didn’t make much noise. She hadn’t stationed guards nearby for such situations, so no one was likely to hear.

“Can you solve my problem?”

Henya cautiously confirmed Keter’s words.

She had a deep-seated worry. But there was no one to consult. She had no friends, and her relationship with her siblings was worse than with strangers. Her father was awkward, and her mother had been engrossed in travel for a long time.

But with Keter, being a stranger made it easier to open up.

Keter made a heart shape with his hands and said.

“I’m especially an expert in relationships. Want some advice?”

“Uh, sure? Not exactly relationships, but I’m curious about connections.”

“Things not going well with Wid, huh?”

“What?! How do you know that?!”

“It says ‘Wid’ on the back of the doll’s head.”

“Ah…….”

Henya squirmed in embarrassment, but Keter ignored it and continued.

“Looks like your problem is not getting along with Wid, right?”

Though Keter’s identity was unclear, his confident and casual tone broke down Henya’s guard.

“It’s not that we don’t get along. But I don’t know if he sees me as a woman.”

“What nonsense. Where’s a man with breasts like yours?”

“I mean, he doesn’t see me as a woman.”

“Is he impotent? But that’s strange. This Wid guy. What family is he from to reject you, the daughter of a monarch?”

“…He’s not a noble.”

“A commoner? This is interesting. A noble, almost royalty, liking a commoner. What an impressive guy.”

“Wid isn’t an ordinary commoner. He’s a great guy who could be a model even as a noble.”

Hearing that, Keter was convinced.

‘This’ll be fun.’

Love stories between nobles and commoners are common. But this case was special.

Henya isn’t just any noble. She’s the daughter of a monarch. A monarch’s daughter in love with a commoner. Who wouldn’t be curious about the story?

“But it seems he doesn’t love you?”

“Yeah… But he doesn’t hate me. He’s always kind. Always smiling. Worries about me.”

“That’s different from love.”

“What’s the difference?”

“This.”

Swish swish.

Keter moved his index finger in and out of a hole made by his fingers. Henya’s face turned red instantly.

“Wid would never do such a shameless thing!”

“If he doesn’t, he doesn’t love you.”

“Ah……!”

Henya’s expression said, ‘I don’t want that!’

“Just in case, have you asked him?”

“How can I ask something like that? What woman asks if a man loves her?”

“Ah, right? Where does he live?”

“Huh? Near