Chapter 68: At the End of the Gray Threads

“As for the swordsmanship…”

“Let’s make it the Entark Eleventh Form, the most challenging and impractical move in basic swordsmanship. How about that?”

Anna smiled, clearly pleased with her daughter’s suggestion, and readily agreed.

“Treya has loved swordsmanship since she was a child and has received much praise for it. It’s undoubtedly her strength. Eugenie, this is an excellent idea.”

To Anna, the earlier exchange seemed like nothing more than childish bickering—a tantrum that could be resolved with a little “showing off.” In her eyes, the young master of the Hysterm family, who rarely appeared in public, had likely never witnessed true Entark swordsmanship.

Surely, once Treya demonstrated her skills, he wouldn’t dare question her ability to protect herself.

But…

Will and Eugenie had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Both clenched their fists subtly, ready for the confrontation they had been anticipating.

“Mr. Carver, what do you think? While it might steal the spotlight from the banquet, wouldn’t this help reassure your youngest son?”

Carver, arms crossed, seemed to have been lost in thought throughout the entire ordeal, offering no opinion on the unfolding situation.

When addressed, he appeared to “wake up” from his contemplation, once again donning his trademark polite smile.

“Not a problem at all. I’ve heard much about Princess Treya’s swordsmanship. It’s a shame she’s never performed publicly before. This could be a great opportunity.”

With the approval of both parents, Eugenie led Treya, Will, and a small group of curious guests to the courtyard outside the banquet hall.

Of course, no one questioned why the training dummies had arrived so quickly, already transported by carriage and neatly arranged outside.

Treya sat on a nearby bench, slipping off her crystal heels. Through her white stockings, the faint pink of her toes and heels was visible as she gently massaged her feet before putting on flat training boots.

“Will… sir, you’ve been staring since earlier. Are… are my feet that interesting?”

Treya asked, tilting her head as she adjusted her boots. Will, who had been pretending to casually pass by, had clearly been watching her change shoes.

“They’re beautiful,” Will replied without hesitation. “But I didn’t realize you couldn’t perform smooth swordsmanship in heels.”

“Uh… w-what kind of question is that? As expected, sir, you don’t understand swordsmanship at all.”

Treya tilted her head further, her expression filled with confusion.

“Just a lingering curiosity, that’s all.”

Will thought to himself, I may not understand swordsmanship, but I certainly understand the charm of a sword-wielding beauty.

“Treya~ everything’s ready over here. Come on over,” Eugenie called out from the courtyard, her voice warm under the glow of the lights.

Treya, determined not to engage further with this “vile” man, ignored Will entirely and stood up.

“Coming, Sister.”

After standing, Treya tied a knot in her long skirt to avoid stepping on it during her demonstration, patting it down as she prepared to leave.

“Treya.”

But… the man she disliked, Will, suddenly called out to her from behind.

“Hmm?”

“Nothing, just… don’t forget what I told you. Remember it.”

“Understood.”

Treya hadn’t forgotten.

—”Remember, if someone sets up dummies in this specific arrangement and asks you to demonstrate your swordsmanship…”

—”Make sure you refuse. Don’t foolishly play along.”

She didn’t fully trust Will, but she trusted her own eyes and experiences more. During her training earlier, she had indeed failed to destroy all the repositioned dummies.

She had carefully memorized the positions of those dummies, intending to one day overcome the challenge through diligent practice.

But that day…

At the very least—

Would come after she proved her strength to this insufferable Will.

Treya reached up, tying her loose hair into a high ponytail before stepping toward the ten dummies Eugenie had arranged.

“Alright, don’t get too cozy with your fiancé. Everyone’s waiting,” Eugenie teased.

“Understood, Sister.”

Treya looked at her sister, standing warmly under the courtyard lights.

Her red hair was as striking as ever.

The shadows cast by the nighttime lights reminded Treya of the countless evenings she had spent training with her sister.

Her sister was so strong, yet so caring.

She was, without a doubt, the radiant red light in Treya’s life.

On this day, when she was entangled with that loathsome “dark” fiancé, her sister had stepped forward like a flame to save her.

—Thank you, Sister. You’ve rescued me from doubt.

Treya took her first step toward Eugenie.

—Thank you, Sister. You’ve brought light to the darkness.

Treya took her second step.

—Thank you, Sister. You’ve freed me from the gray threads that sought to tear me apart.

Treya took her third step—each step mirroring her lifelong journey of striving to reach her noble, perfect, and gentle sister.

—Thank you…

Treya stopped.

But her thoughts froze as well.

Because…

Before her was something she couldn’t forget.

The dummy arrangement before her wasn’t the one Eugenie had described.

It wasn’t the arrangement Eugenie had claimed would best train the Entark Eleventh Form.

It wasn’t the arrangement Treya had memorized from her daily training with her sister.

She stared at the dummy formation Eugenie had set up…

Two of the dummies.

They were the same two dummies Will had adjusted earlier that afternoon during their training session.

Now, they were positioned exactly as Will had moved them—down to the millimeter.

This was…

The arrangement she couldn’t overcome.

The arrangement her sister would never have mistakenly set up.

The arrangement Will had warned her to remember.

It shouldn’t be here. It shouldn’t appear in a demonstration meant to showcase Treya’s abilities. And it definitely shouldn’t…

Shouldn’t come from the hands of the sister she trusted, admired, and loved.

“What’s wrong? Go ahead and start.”

Treya looked up. Against the light of the courtyard lamps, Eugenie extended her hand toward her, her shadow stretching long, her smile hidden in the backlight.

Around them, a crowd had gathered, eagerly awaiting Treya’s first public display of her swordsmanship.

Treya wasn’t stupid.

She knew Eugenie wasn’t stupid either.

In a setting like this, Eugenie wouldn’t make a mistake.

A deliberate “mistake”…

Could only mean one thing…

“You’re my most talented little sister. I’ve taught you every step of the way. This should be no problem for you, right?”

It was only now that Treya realized…

The sharp, gray threads that had surrounded her, cutting into her, had both their beginning and end in Eugenie’s hands.

Her outstretched hand seemed to hold those threads, gently tugging them to slice through Treya’s flesh.

In that moment, the color drained from Eugenie’s figure.

The vibrant red Treya had always admired…

Was replaced by the black of night.