My Past Life is Riddled With Many Sins - Chapter 127
A brilliant golden aura slowly blossomed around the smooth blade, making her sleeves flutter as though in a light breeze. Her closed eyelashes quivered, and her wheat-colored hair drifted softly.
The dazzling mana circled her, gathering on the blade in a mesmerizing swirl, like a storm of fine golden dust. In awe of the glorious sight, everyone fell silent. The luxurious mana enveloped the blade fully and flickered like flames.
It was like a scene from legend. For a moment, they couldn’t help but see her as something beyond a commoner girl.
Regina opened her eyes. For an instant, it seemed to gleam golden, causing a few to stop. However, when they looked again, they were simply brown. The rare golden eyes of the Enfield imperial family couldn’t possibly appear on a commoner. They thought, feeling reassured it was just a trick of the mana.
For a fleeting moment, some recalled that Great Empress Yekarna’s mana had also shone golden, but they quickly dismissed any connection.
The Crown Prince gave a subtle nod to one of his knights. He was the strongest from all of his knights. The knight understood, fully channeling his mana into his own sword before stepping in front of Regina.
Their blades clashed. The outcome was immediate and clear. The knight’s sword shattered into pieces. The undeniable strength left everyone speechless.
“A true…Swordmaster.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed with an odd light. As if he had discovered an unforeseen treasure, a hidden function in a favored tool. He couldn’t help but imagine the possibilities.
Unknowingly, Regina tensed. She rarely felt fear since becoming a Swordmaster, but somehow, her descendant had managed to spark that difficult task…
“Very well. By the name of Fabian Gustav Villarperosa Lee Enfield, I attest that you are indeed a Swordmaster.”
“Your Highness, I would prefer to avoid public attention. If possible, I wish only to complete my studies quietly.”
Regina replied swiftly. She wanted no part in any attention, wanting to let her identity be unknown as long as possible. She still hoped to avoid old connections that hadn’t resurfaced yet.
The Crown Prince stroked his chin thoughtfully and, after a pause, agreed readily.
“Of course. One’s school days should be unburdened.”
Regina instantly read the Crown Prince’s dark intentions. He planned to keep her talents hidden, secure from potential rivals that might take it away.
“In light of her wishes, I ask that everyone here keep the fact of Miss Regina Heather’s Swordmaster rank a secret.”
As expected, the Crown Prince had quickly marked her as his own. Those around, sensing his clear intentions, made a mental note to keep silent. Not that anyone would defy a royal command, regardless of how sharp their instincts were.
Thus, the emergence of the youngest Swordmaster became a secret known only to a select few.
After sending the students away, the Crown Prince stayed behind with the professors to discuss the recent appearance of a rift at the academy. Regina, along with the ‘Muscle Morning’ club members, also left.
But her heightened senses caught an unexpected conversation on her way out.
“Your Highness, could you tell us when the Dean will return to the academy?”
“That’s up to my Father, so I can’t give a definite answer.”
Regina slowed her steps.
‘So, he was summoned by the Emperor?’
That explained the Dean’s disappearance for several days. He’d been called to the Emperor. It made sense. A Swordmaster has many potential uses.
After bidding farewell to the guards ensuring that no unauthorized personnel entered, Regina returned to her dorm. Since the Crown Prince hadn’t requested her presence, she had free time today.
After changing clothes and preparing her belongings, she headed for the underworld. Just as before, her eyes were covered while she was led by an escort. When her blindfold was finally removed, she found herself in the same lounge with the familiar crystal orb on the table.
— Hello, beloved client.
Last time, they simply called her ‘client,’ but now she was ‘beloved.’ It had been written in their letter, but hearing it aloud sent a chill down her spine.
“The information?”
— Ah, but first, do you have the payment prepared?
The master’s voice, brimming with laughter, filtered through the crystal.
— If you can’t pay, I suppose you’ll have to work it off with your body.
Even with the magic tool altered voice, a peculiar allure seemed to color it. Feeling a bit tense, Regina asked.
“…How much is it?”
— Ordinarily, it would be 100 minas, but for our beloved client, I’m pleased to offer a special price of 70 mnas.
Though she hadn’t drunk anything, she felt as if she’d choked on something.
“70 minas?”
To put things in perspective, the first prize in the swordsmanship tournament was 5 minas—enough to stay in a modest inn with meals included for 600 days. Seventy minas meant…
‘Enough to stay at an inn for 23 years.’
Her hand shook.
— A hundred agents stationed across the continent were involved in this. Their daily wage is ten obolos, and they worked on this for two months. Actually, they worked longer, but since we initially promised you two months, we didn’t include the extra days in your fee. The total was 100 minas, but I’ve discounted it to 70 minas.
The Master was kindly explaining why it was a steep price. But it made sense, even if it made her wince. She had brought along all the money she’d managed to save from the Crown Prince’s weekend demands, but even that wasn’t enough.
She pulled out her purse and placed it on the table with a defeated expression.
“Here’s 51 minas. As for the rest….”
“You’ll have to work it off with your body?”
The voice on the other side of the crystal orb sounded as if it had been waiting for this moment.
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