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The Baron’s Daughter’s Confession

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---Teresalo’s childhood home had been that of a relatively well-to-do commoner merchant family.

Which is to say, they were successful enough to never want for life’s necessities, but they didn't possess the vast assets of a noble conducting grand business on a global scale.

The catalyst for the House of Baron Traff being raised to the nobility was a chance encounter in which her father saved the life of a certain Duke.

The Duke apparently possessed a strong affinity for healing and belonged to a lineage with the rare aptitude for curse-breaking. Because of his deep ties to the Church and various philanthropists, he frequently provided support to orphanages and poorhouses.

Returning from a dinner party held in gratitude for that support, the Duke and his guards were ambushed and slashed by daggers coated with paralytic toxins. They were on the verge of being kidnapped when Teresalo’s father happened to pass by and saved them. Her father was a man of large build who practiced martial arts; he was the type of person often mistaken for a soldier or a knight rather than a merchant.

He brewed an antidote for the paralytic poison using the tools of his trade and let them rest at his home for a while. The man, who introduced himself as Narvera Lyloud, promised that he would surely repay the favor. As a result, the family was granted a significant monetary reward and the rank of Baron.

Her father laughed and called it a stroke of good luck, but as he maintained a friendly business relationship with Narvera, the Duke eventually noticed the appearance of Teresalo when Narvera came to offer his greetings.

Teresalo had always known she had unusual peach-colored hair and silver eyes, but she never imagined she possessed the qualities of a Saint. Almost no commoners could use magic, and naturally, she knew nothing of the intricacies surrounding it.

Upon becoming a baronial family, greater emphasis was placed on etiquette and education, and Teresalo was sent to the Royal Academy.

As a condition for agreeing to this, Teresalo made a request: she wanted to be engaged to the gentle Sophoyl, whom she had adored since childhood when they played together in the lower town.

He was also from a poor baronial family, but she loved him. She pleaded with her father, arguing that since they were now a baronial house themselves it should be possible. Her father simply told her, 「Make Sophoyl say 'yes' of his own accord,」 and she worked her heart out to make it happen.

She was incredibly happy, but then Sophoyl became a knight, gained recognition, and was sent far away.

Determined to become a fine lady by the time he returned, she entered the Royal Academy. She studied healing magic under the Second Prince, worked hard at her lessons, and offered devout prayers. During that time, a certain young nobleman began to harass her.

That man was Seifahrt Awlgim, the son of an Earl.

She refused him, stating she already had a fiancé, but he was incredibly forceful.

Using Teresalo’s status as a Saint candidate as leverage, he pressured the Church and put weight on the families of both Teresalo and her fiancé, eventually forcing the engagement to be annulled.

Around that time, it seemed something had happened within the Lyloud household; Lord Narvera had retired and his second son had taken over the headship. Consequently, Teresalo couldn't seek help from them. In the interim, Sophoyl’s family gave their consent to the annulment.

They bowed their heads and told her how sorry they were, but she was consumed by sadness and fear.

(Why me?)

Even if he told her he loved her, it brought her no joy because the feeling wasn't mutual.

Seifahrt was utterly arrogant. He was handsome and certainly an elite student with top grades, but to Teresalo, he was so immature that he didn't even bear comparison to Sophoyl.

She avoided him constantly, but she had the misfortune of being cornered in a deserted area. Just as he was about to force a kiss on her—

「ーーーNo!」

In an instinctive panic, she activated the "Sacred Art of Enchantment"—a power she had found herself able to use while learning mana control from Prince Tygrim. Because of this, Seifahrt became unable to lay a hand on her, but the scene was witnessed by another nobleman.

Tsurgis Deltrate.

Tsurgis told her he would keep quiet about it. In exchange, he demanded she cast the same magic on a group of noblemen he specified.

He gave off a floral scent she had never smelled before.

If Tsurgis exposed the fact that she could use the "Sacred Art of Enchantment" to the Church, she would be found out. Terrified that she would be kicked out of school and never be able to see Sophoyl—who had returned to the royal capital—again, Teresalo nodded to his demands.

While Seifahrt could still move freely, his loyalty to Teresalo prevented him from doing anything that would disadvantage her. So, when she told him not to speak of her Sacred Art, he truly remained silent.

Up until then, he had never listened to a word she said. Teresalo became terrified of her own power, and equally terrified of Tsurgis, who ordered her to use it on others.

But she had no choice but to obey.

When he told her to 「Cast the spell on the Crown Prince at the evening party,」 she felt as if her world had turned pitch black. If such a thing were ever discovered...

But if she didn't do it, she would be dragged off to the Temple. While torn by this inner conflict, she approached Prince Leonir with faltering steps. Just as she began to speak—

*Slap!* With a sharp sound, her outstretched hand was struck down.

Standing there was a beautiful, petite girl with platinum blonde hair and vermilion eyes that shone with a strong will—Lady Wellmy Lyloud, the granddaughter of the Duke her father had once saved.

She had been saved once again, this time by a member of the ducal house her father had aided in the past. Lady Wellmy was nothing like the rumors suggested; the vibration of her power was warm, as if enveloping her.

And so, when asked...

Before she knew it, Teresalo had told her everything.

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