“Selene and Erilot will compete, and the winner will be sent to the Western Reserve Wonhwa battle.”

“Father...!”

“Father...!”

“...!”

Duke Astra’s declaration caused an uproar.

I left the meeting room.

Just as I was about to leave the main estate, Liantin and Dionera ran up to me.

“What happened? You’re going to participate in the Reserve Wonhwa battle!”

Liantin shook my shoulder anxiously.

“How did you find out so quickly?”

“During the meeting break, Milan barged into the training room and spilled everything.”

Milan was my cousin who had been ranked seventh generation since two years ago.

He possessed the Gaho that turns stones into boulders, but despite that, he was famously loose-lipped.

‘That guy...’

I sighed and said,

“That’s right.”

“Why all of a sudden?!”

“Well—”

Before I could explain, a sharp voice came from behind.

“You—!”

Aunt Bastina stormed toward me, huffing.

Behind her were others: Uncle Silvan, Uncle Hernan, and other vassals.

They had rushed over, fearing Bastina would do something reckless.

Of course, most of them weren’t worried about me, but about Selene losing her chance because of Bastina’s recklessness.

‘They want Selene to become Wonhwa.’

I smiled lightly.

“Hello, Aunt.”

“You sly thing. Not satisfied with what you have, you dare covet my daughter’s place?”

“...”

“Do you know how many people have suffered because of your nonsense? Do you even care?”

Aunt Bastina was a master at gaslighting.

‘It doesn’t affect me even a bit.’

Gaslighting—trying to manipulate others by making them feel guilty—I had «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» faced countless times as Yoo Hyemin.

“You became a sister but couldn’t yield to your younger sister! Look at how much trouble you caused your mother because of you!”

From my grandmother.

“How can you be so selfish? Is it so hard to help with your sister’s training fees? Fine, I’m the sinner. I’m the one who’s causing damage to the family with my business! I’m the bad girl who just wants my daughter’s part-time wages! Huh?!”

From my stepfather.

“Please be quiet. Why do you have to keep fighting with your family? Every time Hyemin acts like this, mom can’t even breathe.”

From my mother.

Because I lived through all that as Yoo Hyemin, I knew exactly how to respond.

“The discord... was caused by you, wasn’t it?”

“What?”

“Hmm, others said so. They said you cause all kinds of trouble and are worried about going up to Hwangdo...”

“What, what?!”

“I’m always worried you might cause harm to the family even after going to Hwangdo... If it weren’t for you, why would I want to become Wonhwa?”

At my words, Aunt Bastina’s face turned bright red.

‘Gaslighting, but reversed.’

Meaning:

You cause all the trouble, so your daughter lost her chance.

“How dare you speak to an elder like that—”

“Besides, why would I covet Selene’s position?”

“You—!”

“I didn’t beg Grandfather to make me Wonhwa.”

“Th-This...!”

“I don’t understand why earning my chance through a fair contest is considered coveting someone else’s position.”

‘Hit her with facts.’

Aunt Bastina trembled but couldn’t say a word.

I tilted my head and looked at her.

“Oh! Are you scared?”

“What...?”

“If you’re scared I might beat Selene, shall I give up? For your peace of mind!”

‘Crushing her pride.’

Aunt Bastina glared at me with a face ready to explode, then let out a tearing scream.

“You damned brat—!”

She raised her hand sharply.

I chuckled inwardly.

Gaslighting reversed.

Fact-checking.

Crushing pride.

With this three-step tactic, even the best gaslighter would foam at the mouth.

‘Go ahead, hit me.’

The moment she struck me, she’d be the one chased out of the manor.

But someone grabbed Aunt Bastina’s wrist.

“Can’t you stop this?”

It was Aunt Basile, Dionera’s mother.

“Let go, sister!”

Bastina snarled but couldn’t break free, groaning “Ugh...!”

“Raising a hand against a child? You’ve lost your mind, Bastina.”

“If my sister heard what that brat said—”

“I did. And she spoke nothing but truth.”

“Sister!”

“If Selene loses her place, it won’t be Erilot’s fault but your own misconduct.”

Uncle Silvan and Uncle Hernan, snapping to attention, tried to restrain Aunt Bastina.

“Planning to cause a scene before the contest? Stop this and go home, Bastina.”

“Yes, sister. You’re right.”

“...”

Aunt Bastina bit her lip and glared at me.

But she soon lowered her hand and glared daggers.

“Selene is a child with divine Gaho. Someone like you is no match.”

“Thank you for your concern! If I find I can’t compete, I’ll just call a dragon, so no worries!”

“Ugh—!”

After mocking her to the last, Aunt Bastina looked like she was foaming at the mouth.

Still, the other uncles dragged her away.

“I won’t forgive you!”

I waved at the raging Aunt Bastina.

‘Keep acting tough.’

I felt a gaze behind me.

Liantin and Dionera were staring at me, mouths agape.

Liantin blinked and asked,

“Aren’t you scared? Aunt Bastina has trained her Gaho to level two, you know.”

“So?”

“What?”

“If you get scared, you lose from that moment. You lose so many other things, will you also lose because of stubbornness?”

Dionera took a deep breath.

“Wow...”

Then Aunt Basile laughed.

I quickly bowed to her.

“Thank you for your help, Aunt.”

“Oh, it was good entertainment for me.”

“Huh?”

“You now understand what it means when Dionera says she gains courage by seeing you.”

“...”

“Well, I’m off.”

Aunt Basile lightly patted my head and turned.

After a few steps, she suddenly stopped.

“Now that I think about it, this happened a few generations ago too.”

“This happened?”

“When two candidates competed for the Wonhwa spot.”

I gasped and widened my eyes.

‘This competition might follow precedent.’

No, if serious Aunt Basile says so, it surely will.

So she gave me a hint.

“Do you think you have supporters already?”

“I’m more reliable than Selene, who is helped by Uncle Silvan and Uncle Hernan.”

Aunt Basile chuckled and disappeared.

Liantin and Dionera said,

“You’ll prepare for the match, right? Want help?”

“Yeah! I’ll help too, Erilot.”

I shook my head.

“No. Your tests are in a few days. I’ll prepare.”

I greeted them and headed straight to the manor’s library.

I browsed through the shelves packed with huge books.

‘Astra’s historical records. The history records... are here.’

I found dozens of volumes of family history records.

After reading intensely for about two hours,

I finally found the information.

Just as Aunt Basile said, four generations ago, two noblewomen competed for a spot in the Western Wonhwa battle.

The method was:

Each hired mercenaries and fought a mock war.

The number of participants was 15, and those with Gaho could also participate—

‘Hiring mercenaries for a mock war?’

Not family members?

Thinking it over, I nodded in realization.

Before entering the Western mock war, they hired mercenaries so the family’s strength wouldn’t be diminished.

‘Then hiring a strong mercenary group will be crucial.’

I immediately connected to Conrad.

[Yes, milady.]

“Conrad, recommend a Tier 1 mercenary group.”

[That’s... difficult.]

“Why?”

[There are only three Tier 1 mercenary groups, two are currently fighting monsters and wars. Only one remains.]

There was only one choice, so he couldn’t really recommend.

There was a huge gap between mercenary tiers.

Quickly put:

Even ten Tier 2 groups united couldn’t beat one Tier 1 group.

‘The key will be who signs the Tier 1 mercenary group first, Selene or me.’

Thank goodness for Aunt Basile.

If the info had come any later, I’d have lost with eyes open.

‘Then we lose our manor...!’

I asked with shining eyes,

“So, where is the remaining Tier 1 mercenary group?”

[Eilin’s Ideal.]

“Eilin’s Ideal?”

A mercenary group I had heard of many times.

‘Because they’re Tier 1.’

But I kept getting a strange sense of déjà vu.

Had I heard of them in my first life?

‘There’s something unsettling about hiring them... Gasp!’

A sudden memory hit me, and I widened my eyes, taking a deep breath.

“No way. Not Eilin’s Ideal!”

[Excuse me?]

“No. Not them. Recommend somewhere else, even Tier 2.”

[Ah... please wait.]

I heard papers rustling.

Then Conrad groaned with hesitation.

“No Tier 2 either?”

[You want to hire them for the battle, right?]

“Yes.”

[Then it’s impossible. The battle is in just five days, and no Tier 2 mercenary group can reach the manor in time.]

“Then...”

There was only one way.

I sighed deeply.

Bastina bit her nails fiercely.

‘Annoying brat.’

Erilot Astra.

Come to think of it, that brat kept interfering with her.

She stole the top spot Selene deserved.

She even took the prize money meant for first place.

Because she couldn’t repay a vassal on time, the family almost suffered disgrace.

She borrowed money at usury rates from the detested brother Balderic, making the territory’s situation worse.

Then—

Knock knock.

“Master, madam has brought a guest.”

“What?!”

Bastina shouted irritably.

Her party-crazy husband had brought another guest.

‘At this crucial time.’

Bastina clenched her teeth and flung open the door.

“Where is madam?!”

“In the parlor—”

Without listening fully to the maid, Bastina strode into the parlor.

She flung the door open without knocking.

“What kind of party are you throwing at a time like this... Balderic?”

The man sitting across from her was Balderic, father of Joffrey and Loreina.

He laughed heartily, raising his hand.

“Yes.”

“...What are you doing in my territory, brother? You paid the interest this month, though.”

“My sister is struggling, so this brother has to help.”

Bastina’s face twisted.

‘Taking half the tax from Bastina’s territory at usury rates, what a scoundrel.’

Bastina crossed her arms and sat on the sofa.

“What help?”

“I’ll support Selene, both financially and otherwise, so she can participate in the Reserve Wonhwa battle.”

“Huh?”

“But I want to go to Hwangdo myself.”

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

“Your purpose is obvious. It’s about the money, isn’t it?”

“...”

Balderic smirked and continued.

“I’ll provide all the money you want. Of course, Selene will also get great support. I want to enjoy the benefits of having a Wonhwa niece.”

Although Daymond had taken half the territory from him in the past, Balderic was still one of the richest second generations.

With his vile nature, he taxed the peasants mercilessly.

Moreover, he profited by lending money as a usurer to his brothers and nobles.

Balderic pulled a paper from his pocket.

Bastina narrowed her eyes and looked at it.

“What is this?”

“It’s a territory with a port in the east: the Lordship of Lorix.”

“A territory?”

“He lost the land because he couldn’t repay me. The Count of Lorix is useless, can’t even collect taxes properly during famines.”

“...”

“But you’re no different.”

“Well...”

“Sure, it’s been a few hard years due to disasters, but there’s no land better than this.”

“...”

“If you need cash urgently, you can sell it in parts.”

Bastina glanced at him.

“You’re offering this land in exchange for giving up the Second Count’s Manor?”

“Yes.”

“...”

“I’ll forgive your debt too.”

If so...

Bastina cleared her throat, and Balderic smirked.

“Daymond, I won’t watch you rise anymore.”

The Marquis of Paante had even taken him to the club.

They had to deal with him before his power grew further.

Bastina picked up the document.

“Fine. I’m not particularly interested in Hwangdo. But Selene must become Wonhwa.”

“I know.”

“How will you support Selene?”

“This battle is a mercenary war. My vassals gathered the information. It’s certain.”

“We need to hire a Tier 1 mercenary group.”

“There is only one mercenary group available for contract.”

“Where?”

Balderic smirked and looked at Bastina’s husband, Mistro.

“Eilin’s Ideal.”

“If you mean Eilin’s Ideal...!”

“Yes, that’s the secret group secretly operated by your husband’s father, Marquis Carlinro.”

The battle was already decided anyway.

Erilot would lose.