Chapter 1: What happened to that older sister?

There was an ungainly eldest daughter of a Duke’s family.

She had a cold personality and no particular talents, but her face was quite pretty.

It wasn’t uncommon to find someone like that in the upper class, so that was pretty normal, but the problem was that her younger sister, who was quite a bit younger than her, was so
outstanding.

Not just outstanding, but a genius who was on a different level from ordinary people.

She could perfectly lecture others on things that people usually mastered at the age of ten by the time she was six,

and even before she officially awakened as a magician, she was already being evaluated as having ‘the greatest magical potential in history residing within this girl.’

Needless to say, magical talent was something determined from birth, and unfortunately, her sister, being from the same family, had almost no magical talent.

Unbelievable for a descendant of a prestigious ducal family.

Only trivial, very minor and weak magical power was all she could wield.

There was no malice.

However, constantly living with a younger sister who was six years younger and stimulated inferiority just by her existence, and with other family members encouraging it, an ordinary person would easily become twisted.

Even the swordsmanship she was uniquely confident in didn’t last long.

The reason was that her younger sister started learning swordsmanship as a hobby, following her older sister, during her free time from learning magic.

When her younger sister, who was at least two heads shorter than her, succeeded in defeating her in just half a year without any special training, she gave up on everything.

Swordsmanship was the talent that had supported her meager self-esteem until the end.

It was the ‘skill’ she held onto until the end, even while being ridiculed as ‘swordsmanship is something only lowly men learn’ and ‘not a quality suitable for the eldest daughter of a ducal family.’

The fact that she had only been at the level of a ‘decent prodigy’ in swordsmanship was not very important.

What was important was that she had nothing left now.

After that day, she couldn’t do anything anymore.

Showing her face in social circles, grooming herself, and finding a fiancé were the duties of a member of the ducal family.

However, from some point on, she barricaded herself in the library and never came outside, as if that place was the whole world.

She didn’t show her face at tea parties, social gatherings, balls, or any meetings.

Or, perhaps she couldn’t.

As if hating the sun, she hardly ever went outside that small private library.

She didn’t exchange a single word with her younger sister, who occasionally visited.

“You’re a monster.”

Those were the last words her younger sister heard from her older sister.

“So just f*ck off.”

She took her anger out on everything. Terrible screams, like the howling of beasts, echoed several times a day near her library.

She laid hands on the maids as well as all kinds of servants, and didn’t listen to anyone’s persuasion.

She even told her parents, who came to scold her, that if they didn’t want the family’s reputation to fall, they should just kill her right away.

That’s how it was, so even if she died one summer night after suffering from a terrible fever, even her parents didn’t pity her much.

They had an unparalleled genius who wouldn’t hurt even if they put her in their eyes, a legitimate successor who would bring honor to the ducal family, ‘Yukomis Franon Solenas’, so what did it matter if a dullard and a shut-in who was cooped up in her room died?

Rather, they should be thankful that the only blemish in the ducal family had been erased on its own.

…However, when the doctor pronounced her dead and the parents, who had maintained a sorrowful expression and come to finish the funeral, arrived the next morning, what they faced was their eldest daughter, who had risen in a coffin full of white flowers.

Without regard for everyone’s shock, she said just one word with a healthy complexion.

“Where am I?”

It was truly a picturesque sight, but as the saying goes, it would only be a beautiful sight when seen as a picture.

The doctor said it was memory impairment caused by the fever. But he didn’t seem to have much confidence in that either.

The fact that the Duke himself fainted on the spot wasn’t just because it was surprising.

It was probably because of the shock of having the burden that the family had lightened returned.

But for some reason, after that day, she became a completely different person.

What the servants learned after some exploration was that she seemed very calm.

Originally, all the servants had been terrified when they served her meals and changes of clothes.

If they upset ‘that crazy Thermis’ for some reason they could never know, it was common for a thick book to fly and꽂히다 in their face right away.

It was not uncommon to be slapped or even punched.

Everyone tried to avoid serving her, and naturally, it was passed on to the new maids to handle.

Needless to say, their bodies never had a day without bruises.

The only reason they couldn’t quit right away was that the ducal family was never stingy when it came to paying their employees, even if it was just for appearances.

And only those who lived financially desperate lives could serve her.

One day, an overly nervous newbie was pulling a cart to serve dinner to Thermis, who was reading a book, when she tripped over a book that had fallen haphazardly and fell with the cart. Hot soup, iron plates, and lumps of meat poured grandly onto Thermis’s face.

“Kyaaaa!”

“Kkeueaaack!”

After hastily wiping her face, which was screaming and collapsing, bringing a doctor, and finishing first aid, the poor new maid prostrated herself in front of her, trembling all over.

No one didn’t know how heavy a crime it was to leave a scar on the face of a noble woman who wasn’t even married.

For selecting a suitable son-in-law from a prestigious family, the face was the biggest weapon above all else.

And Thermis… apart from her personality, had an appearance that was more than decent.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I’m sorry… Please… please forgive me… I’m sorry.”

Thousands of ominous possibilities flashed through the maid’s head as she repeated the same words like crazy. How can I repay this sin?

Will I have to work like a s*ave for the rest of my life, with a huge debt that I can’t repay even if I live a hundred times? Or will my hands be cut off for committing an impious crime? Or my humble legs that can’t even walk straight?

No, it didn’t have to go that far. Even if my head is cut off on the spot…

“I’m sorry… It’s all my fault… Please have mercy on me, who is useless…”

The maid desperately prayed that the fire wouldn’t spread to her only family, her younger sister. She couldn’t bear the fact that she had foolishly and idiotically burned the future of her young sister to ashes.

But it was strange.

She was just lying prostrate, waiting for the ruthless violence to suddenly cover her, but no matter how much time passed, that didn’t happen.

“It’s okay.”

The first sentence that was heard was completely different from what she expected.

What she first faced when she barely raised only her head while lying prostrate was an intellectual and calm gaze seen through the bandages wrapped around her face.

It wasn’t the usual crazy, or crazily burning hostile gaze.

There was no angry roar, no fierce assault, nothing.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know the floor would be like that.”

It was an awkward accent that somehow sounded clumsy.

She couldn’t understand what was going on in this situation at all.

“Your hands seem to be burned too, so ask the doctor to take a look.”

As if she was speaking in a completely different world’s language, the maid froze on the spot.

And that was the same for the housekeeper, the captain of the guard, and even the doctor who were present.

All of them turned their gazes from the maid to Thermis with their mouths wide open.

“…Yes, yes?”

“Scars get bigger if you leave burns alone, you know?”

Thermis said in a nonsensical joke, pointing to her own face.

What does this mean? Who is she talking to?

“Doctor, I would appreciate it if you could take a look at her hands too.”

The doctor was confused. Is this person testing me right now?

If I gladly treat this servant’s hands, will I be punished by being tied up for committing a heinous crime? It was an absurd thought, but she was capable of doing that.

“…Are you serious?”

“Hurry.”

The doctor started treating the maid’s hands, and a suffocating silence continued while Thermis watched.

Because the maid who caused the accident was still trembling with an unbelievable intensity, the doctor had to inject her with more than the recommended dose of tranquilizers first.

And everyone else who was watching worried that as soon as this treatment was over, Thermis would make a cynical smile and make a pronouncement like ‘Now that the treatment is over, cut off her arms.’

But the first words she uttered after confirming that the treatment was over were not like that.

“You can go and rest when you’re done.”

“Yes?”

“You’re a patient too.”

The maid’s eyes shook wildly with confusion, and she froze on the spot.

While she was dazed without even giving her thanks,

her superior intervened in the conversation, braving her anger.

“Miss. It’s too presumptuous for me to say this, as I didn’t properly supervise my subordinate… but are you really okay with this?”

“Why is that?”

“I don’t think this is something that can be overlooked. According to the doctor, the scars left on your face will last a lifetime.”

“Is that so.”

She seemed to have no feelings for that terrible prospect, as if she were listening to someone else’s story.

“Not ‘is that so’…”

Having said that far because she was at a loss for words, she realized that she had said something rude and bowed her head.

“…I’m sorry. However, if there is no appropriate level of punishment, it may set a bad precedent…”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

The captain of the guard, who was in charge of internal affairs in the family, answered her question from the side.

“You are the eldest daughter of the Solenas ducal family. It is a very big crime for a commoner to leave a scar on your face.”

“Then what kind of punishment do they usually receive in this case?”

“…That is…”

The captain of the guard was at a loss for words.

‘Oh dear. Is she trying to test me?’

Should I insist on severe punishment to please her?

Or is it okay to say a light punishment for this maid, whom I feel sorry for humanly?

“…Th, that is…”

“It’s okay. Please speak honestly.”

“…If a commoner inflicts permanent injury on the body of a noble, they are first whipped twenty times in the same place as the injured body part.”

The captain of the guard continued heavily.

“When executing the sentence, they are bound to a cross-shaped frame and made to expose their bare skin, and a short whip made of leather is used. A whip with twenty strands is common, but the executor adjusts it flexibly depending on how much iron is included.”

The maid’s face turned blue when she heard those words.

The housekeeper hurriedly grabbed her to maintain her posture, as her waist lost strength and she was about to collapse.

“Hey! Stand up straight.”

“I’m… I’m sorry…”

The maid, who was terrified even by the housekeeper’s scolding, couldn’t control her body properly.

“That’s almost like dying.”

Thermis chuckled and pointed to her own face.

“What’s the difference between whipping the face with such a brutal whip twenty times and the death penalty?”

“That’s true… but hurting the face is that serious of a crime.”

“If there was no intention, wouldn’t it be reduced?”

“It will be reduced.”

“And if the person doesn’t want punishment?”

“…But it’s a matter directly related to the dignity of the ducal family. Not only you, but also the Duke will be involved in the punishment.”

“Then let’s just say I spilled it.”

“…Yes?”

“Fortunately, the Duke… no, Mother is not here, so let’s just say this is my mistake.”

Leaving the captain of the guard, who couldn’t continue speaking, Thermis pointed to everyone in the room one by one.

“All of you here just have to keep your mouths shut. If someone asks what happened, testify that I accidentally spilled hot food on my face because I was to vent one’s anger during the meal as usual.”

“I hope everyone will match their mouths, considering that they are saving a person’s life.”

“Th, however, that is…”

The maid manager intervened again.

“Are you really okay with this? Even so…”

“However, it’s not that I don’t understand your position as managers. I think there must be rewards and punishments to maintain order, right? Doctor. How much is my treatment fee?”

“I’m employed by the ducal family, so I don’t charge a separate treatment fee every time.”

The doctor answered, bowing.

“I get paid by the week.”

“Then what about the medicine?”

The doctor fixed his glasses and paused for a moment.

The ducal family always had the best medicines available almost without limit, so it had been a long time since he had thought about treatment fees.

The reason why he closed his successful private clinic and started working for the ducal family was precisely because of that.

To be able to bring and use the expensive medicines that he had only heard of without limit. As a scholar and engineer, there was no better condition than this.

“I used the best ointment and bandages, so it’s at least twenty gold coins…”

The doctor called out slightly less than the amount he had roughly guessed.

“Then charge the maid three times that amount. That will be sixty gold coins. What’s her salary?”

“She’s a low-ranking maid, so she gets six gold coins per week.”

“That’s strange. Why is the one who serves me a low-ranking maid?”

This time, the housekeeper, who had been stabbed in a sore spot, flinched.

“I understand. There must have been no one who wanted to approach me.”

“N, not at all. Miss.”

“Six gold coins a week is three times the pay for other general maids, isn’t it? Isn’t it because there was no one who would take on this job if it wasn’t that much?”

“It’s okay. I understand that too.”

As she said, she didn’t seem angry at all. It was still a gentle voice.

“I suggest that you deduct about 30% from her salary. If you deduct two gold coins a week, she’ll pay it all off in thirty weeks. Can you do it this way?”

“Of course. Miss. But…”

“Stop saying but. And if she’s going to pay this off in 30 weeks, she’ll have to continue to be in charge of me, right? Because other jobs have lower salaries.”

“Ah…!”

“As you all know, there are many ears in this mansion. Disperse quickly before the story leaks out. If someone asks what happened, say that the stupid eldest daughter hurt herself.”

After saying that far, Thermis left one more request for the doctor and the housekeeper.

“The person seems to be very surprised, so please take her to the lodging the incident.” I will rest on my own, After this
“

“Ye…es…”

“I understand. Miss.”

The four people who were chased out of his library like that soon realized that she had been using honorifics to them all along.

She used honorifics? That ‘crazy Thermis’?

What all the employees of the ducal family realized after that day was that their little master had changed into a very kind, motivated, and positive person.

She asked the private tutors hired by the ducal family to teach her again.

They were the people who had been playing and eating because her younger sister, Yukomis, had absorbed all the knowledge from them so quickly.

She held the practice wooden sword in her hands, from which calluses had disappeared, and followed all the training routines presented by the fencing instructor.

History, etiquette, military affairs, politics, art, whatever it was, she never missed a class again, and spent the rest of her time reading books.

The maids witnessed her actually ‘reading’ something.

It was as if she had realized for the first time that books could be used for their original purpose, not just as a weapon to hit people with.

That wasn’t to say that she had been reborn as a person superior to her younger sister.

She could still only forcibly use the most insignificant magics.

She also didn’t have the brilliant genius that her younger sister had.

But she had another weapon.

That was the ability to gain people’s favor.

Originally, moderate arrogance was not a flaw for a noble, but rather close to a virtue.

This was because it helped to firmly remind them of the difference in status with the commoners.

It made the low know their place, and made the high clearly aware that they were the ones who ruled.

Arrogance was a tool for that.

However, she did not speak carelessly to anyone who spoke to her, no matter how lowly their origin was.

Anyone who had met her once could never say bad things about her.

When there were pleasant conversations among the nobles, she always listened politely to the other person’s words.

As the eldest daughter of a ducal family, she could have easily developed a moderately overbearing attitude, but she had none of that.

“You’re wearing earrings of unfamiliar design. What are they made of?”

“Yes… I’m ashamed to say… I have a little interest in metal crafts. You might think it’s a vulgar hobby…”

“Not at all. You have really good skills. It seems like you even designed the drawings yourself, it’s a beautiful aesthetic sense.”

“Ah…”

The young ladies who returned to their main houses after meeting her were all flushed red in the face, regardless of which family they were from.

She had only heard that she was crazy, but the her who she actually met was a person who was so kind, polite, and smiled at any topic.

So it was no coincidence that everyone who had met her nominated Thermis as the leader of the expedition when the prelude to the end of the world came a few years later.

A good swordsman who could protect the magicians, had leadership, had a great personality, and had no disqualifications in terms of origin as a child of the ducal family.

That was the reason why she, despite not being a magician, came to lead the magicians of the prestigious imperial family.

And after overcoming all the harsh and desperate battles, she perished together with the last enemy in the final battle.

That was the end of the story.

Thermis Solenas. A hero who will remain in history forever.

The story of a magical dropout overcoming all kinds of trials and tribulations and winning.

A fairytale-like story full of romance.

This story should have ended there.

It should have been.