Chapter 45: How long has it been since you last experienced a battle, Father?

Chapter 45: How long has it been since you last experienced a battle, Father?

Midnight, inside the Pedroel estate, the continuous explosions and thunderous sounds from outside went unnoticed by Ivina, who was leaning against the wall. The severed cowhide ropes, cut by sharp wooden spikes, lay scattered around her, and her fair fingers trembled as she turned the yellowed diary's pages.

[In the year 708 of the Holy Calendar, in November, another child was born in Pedroel. They look so tiny and delicate. Their name is... Ivina? Am I a big brother now?]

[It's another day of training. As the eldest son of Pedroel, I must work even harder. Are you watching me practice swordplay, Ivina? I need to show better performance...]

[Sparring, how I miss it. The way I held a sword back then. Now, it's my turn to be the teacher...]

[Ten moves, I'll give you a bit of face... but you won't cry if you lose, will you? You're so adorable, Ivina...]

[Thirty-seven moves, and it's only been four months. Wait, maybe I didn't put in my full effort. I'll be more serious next time...]

[I lost. I actually lost. How is this possible? It's so embarrassing in front of you. As your brother, I must work harder to win next time...]

[Ivina, why can you effortlessly learn techniques that I can't grasp? Am I not trying hard enough?]

[In the year 722 of the Holy Calendar, in July, the first knight's assessment... If I pass, I can become a priest, right? The Pedroel family can finally have a chance...]

[Failure... Failure... Failure!]

[The second knight's assessment, the third round. Is this my limit?]

[From morning till night, it's nothing but training. It's pointless. I fear I'll never pass the knight's assessment...]

[Father, why do you look at me with those hopeful eyes? Why won't you give up on me?]

[It's that look again. Do you hate me, Ivina? I understand your feelings. An inept person stole your opportunity... If it were you, you would surely succeed, my sister...]

[Maybe without me, everything will turn out better... Ivina, I will give you everything you desire. It's the only way...]

The brown-haired girl flipped through the diary, page after page, and through the cold words, she gained insight into her brother, who she had envied and who bore their father's high expectations but couldn't excel at anything.

She used to resent this unfairness, feeling that all her efforts and her prided sword skills were merely tools to capture the attention of the Duke of Noreland's son in her father's eyes.

And all of this was for her sake.

"Where's your brother? You haven't answered me. Where is Lotte? We need to leave immediately!" Baron Pedroel firmly gripped the girl's wrist and shouted.

"He's dead!" Ivina whispered. She was well aware that if the information about her brother becoming a wizard were to be revealed, the entire Pedroel family would be doomed.

Baron Pedroel paused for a moment, a terrifying expression on his face.

"Don't play tricks with me, Ivina!"

"Let me tell you, even if your brother is truly dead, the title of Baron will never fall into your hands! Don't ever dream of getting what you can't have!" Baron Pedroel said, furious. Under no circumstances would he allow an outsider to take over the Pedroel family, no matter how capable they were!

"In that case, I'm leaving..." Ivina broke free from the large hand restraining her, placed the diary in her bosom, and without hesitation, walked toward the door.

"Stop! Explain yourself to me!" Baron Pedroel hadn't expected that Ivina, who had never dared to defy him, would act so defiantly. He was overwhelmed by anger and drew his longsword from his waist, swinging it aggressively at Ivina.

Clang!

The unsheathed sword slipped from his hand, spinning and landing on the ground, emitting a dull thud.

Baron Pedroel froze in place. A three-finger-long, extremely sharp wooden spike was now horizontally positioned at his neck.

"How long has it been since you last experienced a battle, Father?" Ivina gazed at Baron Pedroel with a complex expression and asked.

Baron Pedroel's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he sat down on the ground. It was only now that he realized Ivina's swordsmanship was far more advanced than he had known, and she had completely surpassed him.

Ivina discarded the wooden spike in her hand and walked out of the room without looking back.

"Where are you going, Ivina? What about Lotte? Tell me where he is!" Baron Pedroel finally regained his composure, shouting loudly.

"My brother is already dead. You can consider it as if I killed him... Father," Ivina said softly. "And I'm leaving Harbor Town to explore the world."

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