“Beatrice, what do you think?”
“What can I think? I’m looking with my eyes.”
Beatrice hugged the orange cat and shifted her body impatiently to the side.
A noble youth, whose face resembled hers, squeezed in next to her through the gap.
He stared at the towering Ice Wall on the other side of the Serna River, his blue eyes narrowing as he clicked his tongue in admiration.
“Are you disgusting or what?”
Beatrice elbowed him irritably.
That Ice Wall, along with the thunderous explosive magic just now, was undoubtedly the work of Ophelia.
There was no one else in the entire capital who possessed such immense magical power.
Why Ophelia appeared in the Lower City was beyond her knowledge, but whenever Ophelia showed up, Anna would inevitably be by her side.
Anna… would she be alright?
She quite liked that silver-haired doll. If she died or got disfigured, it would be a big problem.
Her academy life would lose a lot of its fun.
As for Ophelia… that wasn’t something Beatrice needed to worry about.
Someone else was anxious on her behalf.
Like her cheap older brother, Otto Karat.
He was tentatively considered Ophelia’s potential fiancé.
Whether he could catch the Duke of the North’s eye was another matter, but for now, he was indeed the most promising candidate among the potential suitors.
Being the Karat family’s eldest son, the Knight Commander’s potential, and possessing the excellent looks he inherited from their mother—all these were his proud assets.
Beatrice was itching for her brother to win Ophelia over as soon as possible.
She was already somewhat eager to see the awkward expression on Ophelia’s face when she became a sworn sister to Beatrice, her sworn rival.
That would definitely be entertaining.
What kind of expression would Ophelia make then? Hmph.
In that case, she might as well have Anna brought along as part of the dowry, and the four of them could live happily together.
That would be better than anything else.
Simply… too exciting.
“Hey, stupid big brother, aren’t you going to take someone over there? This is your chance to be a hero and save the beauty.”
Beatrice smirked maliciously. “Maybe Ophelia will fall in love with you right then and there?”
“Shut up, you foolish little sister.”
Otto lightly tapped his sister’s head with his fist. “If His Majesty finds out I deserted my post, are you going to take the blame for me?”
“That old blind man wouldn’t dare do anything to you.”
“Address ‘His Majesty’ properly.”
Otto once again realized what kind of wicked woman his sister really was.
Unlike her obedient and gentle appearance, Beatrice was a complete villainous noble heiress.
She was temperamental, and even Otto often couldn’t figure out what she was thinking.
She could prepare the finest beef to make meals for the free-roaming cats at school, and she could also laugh as she kicked away the tattered bowl of a street beggar.
Whatever she wanted… sooner or later, it would fall into her hands.
No matter what the original owner thought, or whether the original owner lived or died.
How did the Karat family, known for loyalty and righteousness, end up with such a freak like her?
Otto and Beatrice were twins born of the same mother. Since Otto was born a few seconds earlier, he had always regarded himself as the older brother.
In name, Beatrice was the younger sister, but in reality, they were the same age.
Otto had lost count of how many times he had covered for his sister.
He just wished she would learn from Miss Ophelia how to be a proper noble lady.
Otto had also heard some things about the Magic Academy.
For his own sister to cause a scene at the academy gate because of a trivial little maid, disregarding the Karat family’s dignity by arguing with Ophelia—it was clear she had no sense of responsibility as the Karat family’s second daughter.
Ophelia was to become her sworn sister and was the only daughter of the Duke of the North.
Yet Beatrice not only failed to maintain good relations but also caused a huge commotion over such a minor matter…
Otto felt it was necessary to remove the obstacles standing between the two of them.
Like that troublesome maid. What was her name…?
Anastasia? Hmph, with such a sinful name, she couldn’t be anything good.
Whether as Ophelia’s future husband or as Beatrice’s older brother, Otto believed he should clear the way for them.
He heard that maid’s sword skills were impressive?
It was probably just an excuse given by that useless guy Eck.
He wanted to see for himself just how capable that maid really was.
“Knight Commander, His Majesty has an edict.”
A subordinate knelt behind him to report. Otto turned around, a trace of impatience appearing on his face.
This subordinate had no sense of subtlety at all.
Didn’t he see he was already annoyed?
And that old… His Majesty, why send an edict at this moment?
“Read it.”
Might as well listen for now, but after hearing it, that subordinate shouldn’t remain a knight.
If he can’t deal with people, he should go tend to the horses.
“Yes. His Majesty orders the Knight Commander to return to the palace immediately. Princess and the Spear Hero are waiting for you.”
Princess and… the Spear Hero? What trouble were those two idiots causing now to bother him?
Otto snorted disdainfully.
“Go serve your His Majesty quickly, stupid big brother.”
Listening to Beatrice deliberately emphasize “His Majesty,” Otto’s irritation grew.
“Wait for me, my foolish little sister.”
Watching Otto disappear with the knights, Beatrice was thoroughly pleased.
She had been the one to inform that fool Spear Hero.
That sinful Sword Hero was nowhere to be found. As a noble of the kingdom, it was her duty to actively provide clues.
Silver hair, red eyes, skilled with the sword, and bearing the same name…
Don’t tell her it was a coincidence.
Her little Anna was the Sword Hero.
To take Anna completely from Ophelia’s hands, it wouldn’t be enough for her brother to just marry Ophelia.
To win Anna, she had to shatter her heart first, then reshape it herself.
If the farce from three years ago repeated, little Anna, would you still be able to continue playing your part?
Beatrice couldn’t wait to see Anna kneeling at her feet, obedient like the cats she fed.
Then she could kick aside the gold bars and have Anna as her pet.
After all, she was much cuter than a cat.
Thinking of this, Beatrice was exceptionally joyful.
A hero? Nothing more than her plaything.
She understood the true nature of heroes very well.
They were just a group of strangers trapped for life by missions that weren’t theirs. There were plenty of such poor souls.
Until the Demon King was defeated, countless waves of heroes would be summoned to this world.
Heroes were nothing special. The kingdom and its people simply needed such “gods” to maintain superficial hope.
Anyway, the summoning of a new batch of heroes was already scheduled. The old immortals from the Magic Tower were probably already at the palace by now.
By then, even the hero’s position would have a new replacement… little Anna, would you despair?
She really wanted to taste her despair firsthand.
That would definitely be delightful.