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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Mount Hua Sect's Lady (3)
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But despite Charlotte's bold declaration, neither Lancelot nor anyone else was intimidated by her.
Charlotte was a child called a good-for-nothing even back at the main house.
The only kid in the swordsmanship-renowned Setia family who hadn't manifested any aura talent.
After that, she was always getting into trouble, bullying those of lower status than her while groveling before Lancelot or other highborns.
No one would pay any mind to Charlotte, soaked to the skin, shouting like some apostle of justice.
"You think I can't do it if you tell me to?"
"Has Charlotte lost her mind?"
As the children murmured among themselves, Lancelot's eyes glinted sharply, and he gripped another stone.
Lancelot was a side branch of the sword-renowned Setia family, but he was a child who had manifested his talent.
He was far superior to Charlotte, the direct descendant without any talent.
It was only natural for Lancelot to look down on her, and even if he mocked her like a dog, she had no recourse.
Whether kicked or pelted with stones. All Charlotte could do was throw suicidal tantrums whenever the mood struck her.
Moreover, the Third Prince had been entrusted to the Setia family under the pretext of education.
Rectifying the Third Prince's behavior was a direct order from the Second Prince himself. Normally, Charlotte wouldn't dare interfere.
Unlike the First and Second Princes, sons of the Grand Duchess-turned-Empress, the Third Prince was the child of Aienne, a maid who hadn't even been formally made an imperial consort.
Aienne wasn't a woman of good reputation. Yet the Emperor doted on her immensely. But even as he showered her with affection, granting her the status of imperial consort, the moment her child was elevated to prince, she abandoned her chaste life and began secretly taking lovers.
Once that came to light, Aienne was confined to the most remote corner of the palace under constant watch, and the Third Prince ended up like this.
They couldn't undo his status as a prince, so they left him be. That was the end of it. He was treated worse than a figurehead, reduced to a plaything for the Second Prince.
Even the Emperor had lost interest in the bullying of the Third Prince.
So on what grounds would a wretch like Charlotte interfere?
Nosy little bitch.
Lancelot snapped irritably.
"You never even went near Prince Joseph before, and now you're pretending to be close?"
That much was true.
The Setia family was a staunch supporter of the Second Prince.
No matter how much of a discarded child Charlotte was in the family, she had a keen eye for social cues.
Weak against the strong and strong against the weak—that was Charlotte, who had always ignored Prince Joseph.
Was it the heat making her delirious today? Had falling in the water addled her brain? Or had things been too easy lately, making her forget to fear Lancelot and start barking?
Lancelot smirked and raised the arm clutching the stone high.
If she didn't know her place, he'd just remind her again.
Even seeing that, Charlotte couldn't dodge aside. If she did, the prince behind her would take the hit.
'He's really throwing it, the maniac.'
In that moment, Charlotte quickly checked the energy circulating through her body.
As expected, her dantian held not a scrap of inner power, but every human body naturally carries a tiny amount of energy even without operating breathing techniques—just from respiration.
That was known as Innate True Qi.
But it wasn't something to be used lightly.
Yet somehow, in this untrained body, beyond the Innate True Qi, there was a faint flow of energy she could manipulate.
'What is this?'
Was it because the world was completely different?
But she couldn't fathom why energy lingered in meridians that weren't properly cleared.
'...I don't know what it is, but if I can use it, that's good enough.'
She raised her hand high and read the trajectory once more.
Tak.
Once could be luck, but twice was skill.
Lancelot's face twisted subtly as Charlotte caught the second stone he'd thrown.
Gathering the energy flowing between her upper and middle dantians and channeling it to her hand, the stone in Charlotte's fist crumbled like a meatball.
Poof.
Lancelot's jaw dropped as stone dust trickled to the ground.
Charlotte lowered her tiny hand to her hip and spoke clearly to Lancelot.
"I'm going easy on you because you're young. Show your face doing something stupid again, and I'll make you regret it for real."
"...What did you just say?"
"I said I'll make you regret it."
"Ha... Look at you. Getting cocky."
Lancelot jerked his chin at Charlotte, his face filled with rage, and four attendants charged at her.
Charlotte flailed her limbs as they grabbed her.
"Hey, is this any way to treat people? I'm a duke's daughter too, you know? Is this okay?"
But everyone knew she was the family's discarded child.
Besides, this was to show what happened if you sided with the Third Prince.
In an instant, Charlotte was tied tightly to the tree alongside the Third Prince.
"Heh heh, serves you right."
As the children laughed mockingly, Lancelot brushed back his curly hair—more silver than platinum—and strode over imperiously.
Then he flicked her forehead hard with a knuckle rap and swaggered.
"What was that again? Huh? You think I can't do it?"
"...You're awfully excited for winning with numbers."
Charlotte grumbled like a sigh.
"What did you say, Charlotte?"
"Did I say anything wrong?"
As Charlotte glared at him, Lancelot stared back in disbelief.
But Charlotte didn't falter or show fear. She boldly looked up at him with grass-green eyes.
Even a cornered rat bites a cat—they'd seen her lash out occasionally, but eyes devoid of even a hint of fear? This was new.
Eyes that said he couldn't touch her.
This had never happened before.
Excluding the older siblings who didn't join the group anymore as they grew into heirs of noble houses, Lancelot had long been the leader.
From Charlotte to everyone else, they'd all conformed to the hierarchy.
This neck-tingling situation was a first in Lancelot's thirteen years of life.
"I was going to let you go soon, but no."
"What?"
"Hey, let's go."
Before Charlotte could add anything, Lancelot and the group of children ebbed away from the garden like a receding tide.
No one left to help, and a long silence settled over the garden.
Chirp, chirp.
The meaningless birdsong echoing about was honestly nice.
Gazing at the dappled tree shade was nice.
Watching the cloudless sky was nice.
Everything except the fact that this second chance at life began with crawling out of water, soaked, and tied to a tree.
"Why'd you do something pointless?"
A low, clear boyish voice—yet to fully break—shattered the silence.
Charlotte turned her head and looked at the Third Prince, still pristine despite being tied to the tree.
"Why call it pointless?"
"If not pointless, then idiotic."
Charlotte peered into Prince Joseph's pitch-black eyes.
There wasn't even anger at this situation in them.
This bullying had become his daily routine now.
"Don't say that. You..."
"Why?"
"You..."
While bedridden, he'd always been my friend.
But she couldn't say that.
No way he'd understand if she said that even acting crazy, the male lead Joseph—who sometimes truly worked for his people—had been her longtime friend.
"I felt sorry for you, that's why."
"...What?"
"Don't you feel sorry for him? His feet don't even touch the ground."
Prince Joseph frowned at Charlotte's words.
"Says the one in the same boat."
"Get ready to thank your big sis."
"...Big sis?"
'Oops. Charlotte's younger here.'
"Anyone cool is your big sis."
Charlotte spoke arbitrarily, then sent the remaining bit of energy to her hands pressed tight by the ropes.
Energy was merely the flow circulating through the body via breath, but depending on the user's understanding and proficiency, it could unleash superhuman power or change properties.
Just like now.
With an amount so negligible it was practically nonexistent, Charlotte easily formed a sharp mass of energy at her fingertips.
And with it, she severed the ropes effortlessly.
The ropes were tied tightly, but once one spot was freed, the rest came undone easily.
"Hup!"
As the ropes fully loosened, Charlotte hopped lightly to the ground.
With her hands free, she approached Prince Joseph and struggled to untie his bonds.
Soon, the prince was also on the ground.
His body was a total mess.
Tied so long that rope marks were deeply etched into his skin, with blood pooled and reddening his hands and feet. Bruises on his thighs below the short pants hadn't been visible before.
"...What's all this?"
Slap.
As Charlotte instinctively reached out, Joseph swatted her hand away.
Then he slumped down against the tree trunk.
Charlotte was the startled one at his reaction.
"What's wrong? If those guys come back, you'll get bullied again. What are you doing staying here?"
Joseph shot her an incredulous look.
"You never interfered no matter what until now, but you're awfully chatty today."
"No, I just figured I'd get out of here if I were you."
"Get out?"
"...Huh?"
"You think dodging this will let me escape? You think that vicious psycho Ricardo would allow it?"
How old was Joseph now?
Twelve at most? Eleven?
He was so gaunt it was hard to tell.
Charlotte felt pity that such a young boy spoke with such worldly detachment.
She knew the feeling.
The situation where you couldn't lean on anyone, so you had to grow up alone.
Where no one could save you, so you had to learn to close off your heart to avoid getting hurt.
"Joseph."
"What."
"Joseph. It's okay. Everything's okay. I'll protect you."
"What are you even..."
"...Those guys are real assholes. Truly... sniff. Sob."
Charlotte burst into tears without realizing it.
She hadn't cried like this at fourteen, or fifteen.
Not even in the hardest times.
Her past self had lived so hounded she barely had time to pity herself.
Just like Joseph now.
Maybe that's why the tears came.
Because he wouldn't cry himself. Maybe she felt she had to do it for him.
Seeing Charlotte—who had stood firm before Lancelot's threats—suddenly in tears, Joseph abruptly stood and stared at her blankly in place.
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