“Even if I have a handsome face, there’s no need to stare so intently.”

The man shrugged his shoulders and joked, but Esika turned her head away sharply.

She could tell a swordsman’s level just by looking at the hand holding a teacup.

The man before her was not one who had trained in swordsmanship.

But…… she could instinctively tell he was a strong opponent comparable to herself.

“It’s done.”

At that moment, the voice of the weapon shop owner was heard.

The weapon shop owner, sweating profusely, put down the dagger after finishing the engraving.

Indeed, it was well-crafted according to Esika’s order.

Esika took out money from her pocket with a satisfied expression and placed it in front of the weapon shop owner.

“Thank you very much for using our Knox Weapon Shop, customer.”

Esika turned around holding the small bag containing the dagger.

And her eyes met with the man who was still staring intently at her.

With sun-like golden hair and eyes that seemed a mix of emerald and sapphire, he approached Esika with a crescent-moon smile.

And he extended his hand.

“If you have time, how about having a cup of tea with me?”

“No need.”

Esika flatly refused, but he followed her out of the weapon shop.

“I’m not a bad person. I just arrived from abroad and I’m curious about this country. Besides, you parked your carriage near mine over there.”

“If you saw where I parked my carriage……”

Esika infused her hand with energy and tried to quickly strike the man’s chest.

But the man dodged swiftly backwards with remarkable agility.

Seeing the energy flowing in Esika’s hand, the man let out a small sigh.

“I suppose I should consider you a threat to me?”

Despite Esika’s cold words, the man responded smoothly.

“Oh my. I’m not your enemy, beautiful lady. I just wanted to form a connection.”

“Listen well.”

Esika reached out and grabbed the man’s collar, pulling him close to her gaze.

Meeting the man’s eyes with a chilling killing intent in her own, she spoke in a firm voice.

“Whether you’re my enemy or not is for me to decide.”

The man still had a smiling face, but he felt a chill run down his spine from Esika’s intense coldness.

“And some connections are better not made.”

Even though she was a woman emanating a terrifying killing intent towards him, the man thought he had made the right choice in speaking to her.

What eyes she had. How interesting.

Seeing his lips curve up slightly at the corners, Esika twitched her eyebrow.

Thwack-

Esika roughly released the man’s collar.

And she strode forward without looking back.

The man watched Esika’s receding figure.

And he whispered to himself.

“May some connections continue, lady.”

Meanwhile, Esika walked towards her carriage with raised eyebrows.

He was a man of a completely different caliber from the gang that had picked a fight with her at the weapon shop before, or the guys who had slickly volunteered to guide her when she visited the underworld.

She could feel it even more intensely when she grabbed his collar and looked closely into his eyes.

That energy was similar to the energy of the Blood Sect she had felt in the martial arts world.

Here, such energy was called magic.

And those who used such power were called wizards.

In Tureshian where Tameron was the state religion, magic was prohibited as sorcery that went against God’s will, but it was said there were wizards in foreign countries.

In any case, hoping not to get entangled with a troublesome person, Esika boarded the carriage.

As she put down the bag containing the dagger on the floor, she heard a sound like gold coins clinking.

**

In the Empress’s reception room,

The Empress’s hand holding the teacup trembled at Astia’s words.

“……The Inverse Scripture?”

Since the decision to confine Brayton, no nobles had visited the Empress.

Not because they had abandoned the Empress, but because they sensed the atmosphere in the imperial palace was not right.

The Emperor, who had given the Empress and the Second Prince influence no less than the Crown Prince who was certain to become the next Emperor, became angry and cut that in half.

However, only Astia paid her respects to the Empress every day without fail.

Since Astia had also been summoned by the Emperor and reprimanded for the incident of switching bodies before, the Empress had no choice but to trust Astia.

“My teacher said so. That there is a scripture more powerful and truthful than the Tameron scripture.”

“How dare you say such a thing!”

The Empress raised her eyebrows and spoke as if bursting out in anger, but Astia had a smile on her lips.

“The Inverse Scripture is a forbidden item in the empire!”

“Everyone denies it, but I don’t think so.”

And she spoke in a clear voice while looking at the Empress.

Her dark golden eyes, close to brown, were filled with firm determination.

The corners of the Empress’s eyes, who had been looking at Astia with furrowed brows, trembled for a moment.

Soon she closed her mouth tightly and drank her tea.

The ensuing silence seemed prepared for Astia’s next words.

Astia opened her mouth again.

“I know that the Inverse Scripture, which began to spread in the empire a few years ago, was written by a great prophet of Tameron. If the Tameron scripture is the old scripture, then the Inverse Scripture can be called the new scripture. If both were written under Tameron’s blessing, but one is recognized and the other is not……”

“……”

“What could be more nonsensical than this.”

Astia let out a small sigh at the end.

“The Tameron scripture that my teacher is teaching me now is good, but I want to study the Inverse Scripture which reflects future prophecies and current trends. Your Majesty the Empress.”

The Empress put down her teacup and stared at Astia.

And she opened her mouth with difficulty.

“You must know that if it becomes known that you are learning the Inverse Scripture, you will be punished?”

“Of course.”

Astia nodded, her eyes shining.

A princess immersed in Tameron and seeking the Inverse Scripture – now that the prince was confined, there could be nothing better than this.

If she could brainwash the princess with it, she would become her faithful servant.

But it was also a dangerous time.

The Empress’s footing had already been greatly shaken after that incident.

“……”

The Empress picked up her teacup again and drank the cold tea.

It was a difficult problem.

“Your Majesty the Empress. Please.”

The princess’s voice was heard. She had done her best for the Empress until now.

She would do so even more because of the dying baby.

And since the princess had already betrayed Esika, she had no choice.

After pondering deeply for several minutes, the Empress made a decision.

‘That bitch Esika’s life will be taken at the hunting festival in a few days.’

Her eyes were gleaming darkly.

‘There is no need to be overly afraid.’

“Very well.”

**

Esika’s body was slightly lifted from the ground as she sat cross-legged in meditation.

So she appeared to be floating above the floor.

Resban, who had entered the room, paused for a moment at the sight of her, then sat down in a chair.

And he watched her.

Esika’s eyelashes were long, and shadows fell beneath them.

Sweat was forming on her white forehead and aura was swirling around her, causing a gentle breeze even though the window was closed.

The meditation continued for a long time.

She looked like a white flower swaying in the wind.

After a long time had passed, Esika opened her eyes and looked at Resban.

“……”

In the shaded space, she saw Resban’s face watching her, his strong legs slightly apart at shoulder width, leaning back in the chair.

His face was even more handsome than the Crown Prince’s face she had imagined while reading books as a spirit.

Although she knew he was there, she didn’t bother to conceal her energy.

Because she liked him looking at her.

As she stared at him, Resban slightly twisted the corners of his mouth and stood up from the chair.

And he approached Esika, who was drenched in sweat.

She looked up at him as he extended his dry hand.

“It’s completely different from before you took the elixir.”

Esika flinched at Resban’s words.

And after a few seconds, she nodded.

In the martial arts world it was naturally occurring spirit stone oil, but the elixir here, made from rare ingredients in this world, seemed to be just as effective.

“Now I’m going to light the second fire.”

Esika’s lips moved, pronouncing clearly.

She had perfectly achieved the first goal she had initially decided on.

Regaining her previous strength. And, she had almost achieved the third goal as well.

She had become one of the top five wealthiest people.

Now…… only perfect revenge against her enemies remained.

That was the most difficult and time-consuming goal.

“How brightly will this fire burn.”

He stroked Esika’s cheek with his dry finger as he spoke softly.

The hunting day was coming soon.

“Well, I can’t guarantee, but……”

Esika pushed her energy to the surface of her skin, burning away the precarious white dress she was wearing.

It was a dress that couldn’t be worn again anyway, soaked with sweat and waste.

Resban’s eyes darkened.

“This time, the sword will pierce the heart, not the arms and legs.”

Resban pushed down on Esika’s shoulders, forcing her to lie down.

Meeting her eyes gleaming with malice, Resban buried his nose in her neck.

Did Esika know that even that fighting spirit that made his blood boil was captivating and beautiful?

At such times, he couldn’t take his eyes off her even more. Like being mesmerized by flames.

“Before that.”

“Your Highness, ah.”

“Boost my morale.”

Resban’s dizzying and somewhat rough voice lingered in her ear.