If Milin hadn’t called out her name, Lian would never have guessed that the woman before him was the one he’d seen at yesterday’s wedding—his very first companion, rival, mentor… and former fiancée, Vera.
This woman actually had the time to be Milin’s private tutor in Meliya’s house? Didn’t she inherit the position of Highest Commander of the Empire’s Army after the war?
That Sephy… How could she not tell me something this important!
Recalling Sephy’s gloating expression before he left, Lian could only grit his teeth in his heart at the thought of that face.
“You’ll be sixteen soon—why are you still making such reckless trouble like you used to?”
Vera shot a cold glance at the shattered ground beneath Milin’s feet and immediately understood what had happened and what Milin was after.
“Your mother’s put you under house arrest because she wants you to make a good impression on the Nobles who’ve been visiting the Duke’s Household these days. If they see you behaving this outrageously, what do you think they’ll think?”
“Hmph! Who cares about winning over those people! I’d love for them to see me like this! If Mother wants to marry me off to them, there’s no way that’s happening!”
In the past, Milin had hardly dared talk back to this strict, unsmiling teacher.
But now, in her anger, and with the teacher’s words confirming her mother’s intention to arrange her marriage, she lashed out in full force, deciding to lay all her cards on the table.
“You really twist your mother’s intentions like that? Looks like I’ve been too lenient with you lately. Since you have so much energy, let’s see how your studies have been going.”
Vera’s brow furrowed deeply, and before she finished scolding, her fist shot out straight at Milin.
It glimmered with icy blue light—clearly enhanced by Magic Power. Lian’s face changed the moment he saw this—
That punch was at least thirty percent of her full strength! To strike a child with such force—had she lost her mind?
His body reacted faster than his thoughts. In a flash, Lian dashed forward, meeting Vera’s punch with one wreathed in crimson flame Magic Power.
For an instant, their fists collided, the clashing elemental Magic Power erupting into a shockwave.
“Wah…!”
“Careful, Lady.”
Milin was sent staggering back by the blast, but with Feiyin’s help, she didn’t fall into the flower garden’s shrubs.
Regaining her senses, she stared in shock and confusion—just like her teacher—at the new maid.
“…Who are you?”
“Doesn’t matter who I am right now. How could you just attack like that without a word? Apologize right now.”
Facing Vera’s glare, as icy as a glacier, Lian met her gaze squarely without flinching.
“Hey… hey… Do you have a death wish?! Vera-sensei is really angry!”
Milin ran to Lian’s side, hurriedly trying to pull her away—this Lian, so different from the lost girl she’d seemed a moment ago.
“I know you’re pretty good, but when Vera-sensei’s angry, it’s not just a game anymore! You’re the one who should apologize, hurry!”
She hadn’t expected the girl who’d been trembling and at a loss earlier would suddenly step in to take a blow from Vera-sensei—and not budge an inch.
If Milin had tried to take that herself, she’d have ended up rolling across the ground for sure.
That first meeting, Milin had indeed sensed this person’s impressive Magic Power.
But no matter how talented, she couldn’t possibly be scarier than an angry Vera-sensei. So Milin tried persuading Lian instead.
“Just a game? Was that just a game to you? That woman is a Sword Saint. She hit you, a child, with that much force. She absolutely must apologize.”
“You could tell how much strength I used?”
“Who couldn’t see it? Now apologize.”
“This is bad, this is bad, this is really bad! What should I do, Feiyin? Hurry, help me talk her down—”
Milin shook Feiyin anxiously, while Vera and Lian simply stood there, locked in silence. For a moment, the very air seemed to grow colder.
“…Feiyin. Is this person new here?”
Vera broke the silence first. It had been years since she’d taken up the post as tutor in the Duke’s Household.
Though there were hundreds of servants in the inner palace of Honglian Palace, she remembered most of them by face.
But this maid, glaring at her so fearlessly—Vera was certain she’d never seen her before.
“Yes, Lady Vera. This is Lian Miss, who just arrived today. She was introduced by Lady Sephy.”
“Sephy introduced her? She’s so busy—why would she take the time to recommend a servant to the household?”
“There’s a Letter of Introduction. Please have a look.” With that, Feiyin took the letter from Milin and handed it to Vera.
“Hey, we’re not finished here. Hurry up and apologize.”
Lian frowned, waiting for her to finish reading the letter.
He thought, After all these years, this woman hasn’t changed at all—still so arrogant!
They weren’t even done talking and she was already turning her attention elsewhere!
“I won’t apologize. First, I’m that child’s teacher; disciplining her is my duty. Second, if she couldn’t take that hit, she’d have no right to call me teacher anymore.”
Vera put the letter away and looked at him coldly.
“Don’t be ridiculous… Everyone knows you never know how to hold back—whether teaching or sparring! I’ve had enough of your—”
Lian’s anger spilled out, laced with personal resentment at memories of Vera’s harsh training. But her growing confusion doused his fury like a bucket of cold water.
“You’ve had enough? You…”
Vera had never seen this girl before. But her bearing, her presence, even her familiar features… all exactly matched one person.
Someone she could never forgive, but could never forget.
“You said your name is Lian. Who told you about me?”
Vera spoke as calmly as ever, her tone giving nothing away. But this time, her voice trembled noticeably.
The tension seemed to melt away. By Lian’s understanding, Vera should have drawn her sword and attacked just now.
But at this moment, her Sword Saint gaze cut as sharp as a blade, as if to pierce his very soul.
“Who else could it be… It, it was Lady Sephy.”
That look made him uneasy. Only then did he realize he’d reflexively started bickering with Vera, forgetting what he looked like now, and that it was already sixteen years later.
With her suspicions aroused, he had no choice but to use Sephy as a shield.
“Sephy has always praised my teaching methods. As for someone who complains after just a few moves and can’t handle a bit of training—I only know one such person in this world.”
Could he be found out just like that? As Vera slowly approached, Lian swallowed.
After all, the most notorious thing about this woman was that she always meant what she said—if she said she’d cut your head off, she’d do it. If things got real here…
“Lian Kraushur. What did he tell you about me? Who’s your mother? Where are the two of them now—are they alive or dead?”
Suddenly, Vera smiled—a chilling, terrifying smile—and reached out to ruffle the hair of Lian, who now stood a whole head shorter than her.