Chapter 5

Bansis’s eyes widened in shock. It was the first time in his life he had heard the words, “You’re nothing special.”

Lucia smirked mockingly and gracefully stepped down from the bed, walking toward him.

The closer she got, the more violently Bansis’s pupils shook.

Lucia was small and frail.

A worm that had rolled around in the filthy streets, lucky enough to end up in Lordvel.

In Bansis’s eyes, she was nothing but worthless and pathetic.

A bug he could crush under his finger whenever he pleased.

A bastard who tainted the Lordvel name.

Nothing more, nothing less.

“Am I wrong? You’re not as smart as Estio, the eldest son. You’re not as lovable as Miracle. You’re impulsive, act tough, but deep down, you’re just a coward.”

“You—!”

Bansis’s purple eyes blazed with fury.

Lucia had struck his biggest weakness.

And the fact that she of all people had seen through him filled him with bone-deep rage.

As if to prove it, a purple aura flickered wildly around Bansis.

---

Lordvel’s Magic.

As I watched the purple energy rise around Bansis, I thought about it.

Magic, in general, refers to a special power flowing through the body.

By processing it into spells and channeling it through a magic stone, it becomes what people call sorcery.

But Lordvel’s magic bypasses that process entirely. It doesn’t need a magic stone yet is several times stronger than ordinary magic.

Unrefined magic usually disperses into energy upon release, but Lordvel’s magic has an organic nature—it doesn’t scatter but instead transforms into any shape the user desires.

In other words, if used properly, it can take on solid forms.

Though, only the first Lordvel ever managed to do that.

It was merely a theory now.

Because of that, past Lordvels combined swordsmanship with magic, creating a new technique:

Magic Blade Arts.

Using this, they trained magic swordsmen and established the Lordvel Magic Knights, the most powerful order on the continent.

“And in the future, Bansis will stand out as a magic knight.”

After the unexpected death of the Lordvel Magic Knights’ commander, the vacant position fell to Bansis, earning him the title of youngest commander in history.

It even threatened Estio’s position as heir.

“But that’s a story for a few years from now.”

Right now, the Bansis before me was just a novice who couldn’t even control his own power.

“That’s why this kind of provocation works.”

Maybe, in this world, I was the person who knew Bansis best.

I knew exactly what he hated to hear the most.

I took a deep breath, looked him straight in the eyes, and said,

“You act tough, but you’re a coward.”

“…Say that again.”

“Cow—”

SLAP!

My head whipped to the side. A stinging pain burned across my cheek.

Though just a child, Bansis’s strength—honed by sword training—was as strong as an adult’s.

“Feels like my neck almost snapped.”

For a moment, tears welled up from the pain.

“But I’m good at hiding emotions.”

I kept a blank face and turned back to Bansis.

Then, I let out a small scoff.

“That’s it? You’re learning swordsmanship, yet you’re this weak?”

“Y-You—!!”

Finally, Bansis snapped.

“I’ll kill you.”

His magic flared wildly, sending furniture flying like they had been caught in a whirlwind.

Srrng…

His sword was unsheathed with a chilling sound.

The tip of the blade pointed toward me—

“What is this commotion?!”

A sharp voice cut through the chaos.

I turned toward the door.

“Finally, he shows up.”

A neatly pressed brown butler’s uniform.

Green hair tied back.

Silver-framed glasses resting on a perfectly level nose bridge.

Deep green eyes, exuding a strict demeanor.

“L-Ligren….”

Bansis’s magic immediately shrank back.

Ligren Fedlen, the butler chief of House Lordvel.

But he wasn’t just a butler.

He was also the Duke’s aide and, more importantly, the instructor for Lordvel’s direct descendants.

Ligren’s cold green eyes flicked from me to the trembling Bansis.

Then, in a low, emotionless voice, he spoke.

“Young Master, I believe I made it clear that you are not to use magic or draw your sword outside of lessons.”

“I-It’s not what it looks like—!”

“And what is this mess?”

His gaze landed on the unconscious servant foaming at the mouth and the snake’s corpse sprawled nearby.

His expression turned ice-cold.

“Care to explain?”

“N-No, this is….”

Bansis stammered, unable to come up with an excuse.

Watching him struggle, I laughed internally.

Then, I stepped forward and bowed toward Ligren.

“May I explain, Butler Chief?”

“…..!”

He was genuinely surprised.

Of course, he was.

He had always treated me as if I didn’t exist.

Instead of answering, Ligren glanced back at Bansis—as if urging him to speak.

But the fool just flinched and stayed silent.

“Haah… Fine. Speak.”

Ligren let out a frustrated sigh and gave me permission.

I nodded politely and told him exactly what he wanted to hear.

“Bans— I mean, my dear younger brother’s servant locked me in this room with that snake.”

I purposely softened my tone.

“Realizing this, my brother rushed in to save me. The snake then bit the servant’s leg, and my brother had no choice but to kill it with his sword.”

“…Then what about the magic?”

“Well, he is human too….”

I turned to Bansis, whose face was blank with shock, and smiled.

Bansis’s shoulders flinched.

“I suppose he panicked. He must’ve been scared of the snake.”

“……You—”

Bansis tried to say something, but I looked away, ignoring him.

Ligren was watching me with a strange expression.

I put on a regretful face and concluded,

“He only acted to save me, so please don’t be too harsh on him, Butler Chief.”

“…..”

Ligren stared at me for a long moment, then sharply turned away.

“Regardless, this cannot be overlooked. I will report this to the Duke.”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

I quickly called out.

He turned back with an unimpressed look.

I smiled sweetly.

“Lucia.”

“…..”

“My name. You didn’t seem to know. You need it for the report, right?”

Soft, gentle. Like a naive little girl.

As if I only wanted to help.

Behind my mask, I sneered.

“What a rare sight.”

To see the great Ligren shaken.

But it only lasted a second.

“Thank you for telling me.”

His reply was short and emotionless before he walked away.

I watched the door close, then glanced at the still-unconscious servant.

I wondered… Would he lose his sense of taste? Like I did?

“Whatever. I don’t care.”

All I wanted was to return to my room, plan my next move, and rest.

Just as I was about to leave, Bansis grabbed my wrist.

“Ah.”

A groan slipped out as my face twisted in pain.

Bansis was strong—either unaware of his own strength or indifferent to it.

His grip was tight enough to snap my wrist.

I frowned deeply and looked at him.

Bansis’s gaze wavered for a moment before he clenched his jaw and demanded,

“Why did you do that?”