Chapter 6
Chapter 6
The First Princess of Eresia
Just as I was about to admire the overwhelming scale that felt as real as reality itself—
……
……
The moment I stepped into the plaza, hundreds of eyes snapped toward me at once.
Whispers spread like poison.
“Look. That’s the infamous failure of House Valderk. You know him, right?”
“Wow, that trash actually showed up. That’s Evan, the disgrace of the empire, right?”
“How does he even have the face to stand there? I heard the Count dumped thirty thousand gold into the academy just to shove that piece of garbage in.”
“Thirty thousand gold? That house is completely ruined.”
“So the Valderk family fell because of him?”
“No, I heard he burned even more money gambling.”
Every word slammed into my ears like hammer blows.
My rationality snapped.
…What?
How much?
Thirty thousand gold?
Thirty thousand?!
The same household head who coughed blood over 2,300 gold and destroyed an entire reception hall spent THIRTY THOUSAND just to get this body into the academy?
Why?
Why would they spend that much on a useless bastard like Evan?
My jaw trembled.
“R-Ria… is that true? Thirty thousand gold? That’s not a number you throw around like a dog’s name…”
Beside me, Ria said nothing.
That silence was the worst possible answer.
I saw it clearly.
A flicker of disgust in her eyes.
“Hey… just a second ago you were calling me ‘master’ and now this?”
It wasn’t hard to understand.
She had just confirmed again that I was trash who dragged the family into ruin.
Maintaining her favor was harder than any dungeon raid.
But that wasn’t important right now.
What mattered was my head staying attached to my neck.
The worst part was that even after I had written the breakup letter yesterday, there had been no official announcement from Countess Illiana’s side.
Why?
It should’ve already spread everywhere.
But nothing.
No rumors. No confirmation.
And Illiana was a heroine. Someone like her should’ve caused a storm the moment something happened.
This meant I couldn’t stay here.
As I instinctively started stepping back, Ria grabbed my arm.
Her grip was absurdly strong.
You’re not human. You’re an orc wearing human skin.
“No, Young Master. Didn’t you say this was important for saving the world? You cannot run away now.”
Of course she said “Young Master” again.
Save the world my ass.
I need to save my head first.
And the biggest problem—
I didn’t even know what the hero looked like.
How was I supposed to avoid him?
In this damn world, the male protagonist’s face might as well have been deleted from memory.
Meanwhile, I was the idiot who remembered heroine breast sizes instead of faces.
Then it happened.
A shockwave of gossip exploded across the plaza.
“Did you hear? The engagement between House Crosswell and Evan was officially broken!”
“What?! Seriously?”
“Yes! The Count forced it through. Lady Illiana wanted to wait, but the decision was made.”
Relief hit me instantly.
Thank god.
The breakup was public.
This should’ve been the moment I could breathe again.
But—
The crowd suddenly parted like the sea.
And someone walked through.
Golden hair that seemed to burn like sunlight.
A perfect face carved like divine sculpture.
A white uniform radiating authority.
No doubt about it.
The protagonist.
Leon
The chosen candidate of the holy sword.
The empire’s hope.
The man destined to cut down everything in his path.
He stopped.
His gaze locked onto me.
Then—
He placed his hand on his sword.
And walked forward.
Step by step.
He was coming for me.
Even though the engagement was already broken.
Even though there was no reason.
“…Hey! The engagement is already canceled! I’m not even involved anymore!”
I shouted again, louder.
“House Valderk and House Crosswell have officially broken off the engagement!”
Still walking.
Why isn’t he stopping?
Is he deaf?
No.
He’s just not listening.
“Evan.”
His voice carried killing intent.
The plaza froze.
“Your filthy gaze toward Lady Illiana… I saw it. As a knight, I, Leon, challenge you to a sacred duel!”
The crowd erupted.
“He challenged him personally!”
“That trash is finally going to die!”
“Good riddance!”
Every insult hit like stones.
I clenched my teeth.
This wasn’t justice.
This bastard just wanted to eliminate me to impress Illiana.
Even the breakup didn’t matter.
Then—
A system notification echoed in my mind.
[Unique Skill: Fragment of Heroine Fate activated.]
[Branch condition detected: Illiana’s fate is at stake.]
[200 coins forcibly consumed.]
The world froze.
Everything turned black and white.
And I saw it.
A future.
My head rolling across the ground.
Illiana Crosswell collapsing in shock.
Then—
Leon standing over her.
“Your fiancé is dead. You belong to me now.”
A nightmare.
This wasn’t justice.
This was possession.
So this bastard’s real goal wasn’t honor.
It was her.
There was no way out.
Not anymore.
“…I refuse.”
“You think I’d fight a lunatic like you?”
I turned away.
But—
He smiled.
And showed a golden insignia.
“You cannot refuse. This is the authority of a Hero Candidate.”
What?
There’s a rule like that too?
This world is insane.
He drew his sword.
The crowd cheered.
I was trapped.
No escape.
Then—
I laughed.
“HAHAHA! A fool dares challenge House Valderk?”
“What…?”
I smiled calmly.
“Fine. One week from now. Official duel arena.”
“Trying to buy time?”
He saw through it instantly.
But I kept going.
Because words were my only weapon.
“If it’s a sacred duel, then it must follow imperial law. Not this muddy ground spectacle. Or do you want to become a joke in history? The story of Leon, who died in the street like a common thug?”
The crowd shifted.
Murmurs spread.
He hesitated.
Just a little.
But then—
“Shut up!”
He raised his sword again—
And then—
A voice cut through everything.
“That is correct.”
The air froze.
A path opened through the crowd.
A presence so overwhelming it silenced the entire plaza.
Golden dress.
Radiant blonde hair.
Eyes filled with absolute authority.
Eresia First Princess
The First Princess of the Empire.
She stood there.
And said calmly:
“A sacred duel must follow imperial law. The arena is appropriate. One week is also reasonable.”
The pressure vanished instantly.
The crowd flipped sides.
Relief flooded through me.
Saved.
Whoever she was—
She just gave me time.
I exhaled deeply.
…Wait.
Who is she?
And just like that—
I realized.
Another main heroine had just entered the story.
The gears of fate began to move again.