Chapter 5 (Edited)

After the banquet, I noticed that Claudius had become much harsher toward me. It wasn't that I couldn't fight back, but if I did, our father would punish me.

I sighed, slowly standing up from the ground and wiping the dirt from my hands. Looking at Claudius, who had just pushed me down, I could understand why he was acting this way. I licked the blood at the corner of my mouth.

"If I ever see you around Meredith again, I'll make you suffer worse than this," Claudius sneered, giving me a kick. It wasn't strong enough to make me fall; I only stumbled back from the impact.

I smiled at him. "Are you telling me to avoid and not interact with Lady Meredith, brother?" I dusted off my clothes where Claudius had kicked me. Really, he should be thankful that I have a long fuse.

"Who are you calling brother?" Claudius sneered. "I don't recall having a pathetic brother like you." He grabbed my shirt, his gaze boring into mine. "Just do what I say. Don't ever talk to her!" He released me with a rough shove.

I laughed, mocking him openly as I met his glare. "She isn't something you can monopolize, Claudius. So why should I listen to you?" His attitude toward others was infuriating, and I couldn't hold myself back. No regrets.

Claudius clenched his fists so hard I could see his knuckles turning white. I sighed. "Look at you, Claudius. You remind me of something… What was it again? Oh, right! That illustration of an angry goblin!" I laughed, goading him further.

He rushed at me, fist swinging toward my face. I sidestepped effortlessly and tripped him, causing him to face-plant in the dirt. When he looked up, I could see dirt smeared across his handsome features.

I fought back a laugh, instead putting on an exaggerated look of surprise. "Are you okay, brother? Does it hurt anywhere? You must have slipped."

Claudius's face flushed with rage. "I know you did that on purpose, you loser!" I wondered who looked more like a loser between us now. I barely held back a chuckle.

Feigning shock, I covered my mouth and pretended to be devastated. "How could you accuse me of such a thing, dear twin brother? Me—a loser—making my glorious brother fall to the ground?"

I knew Claudius's pride was bruised. He clenched his fists, rising slowly and glaring at me with open hostility.

Just then, a butler approached, taking in our disheveled appearance. Claudius only showed his true nature to me; no one else knew. Even our mother believed him to be simply distant.

I smiled at the butler, and Claudius did the same. I had to admit, Claudius's acting skills were impressive—if he'd been in my past life, he could have been an actor, with his looks and talent.

"Brother and I were playing tag, and we both tripped," I explained, grinning. Claudius nodded with a matching smile. "Yes, we don't play much, so we thought it would be fun. Please don't tell Father."

The butler nodded in understanding. "Very well, young masters. You should change; your father will be home soon."

After a bath and a change of clothes, I went to the library to pass the time with a book. There were many books here I enjoyed, especially those about the history of heroes from the past.

Tomorrow, we would have swordsmanship training. I knew Claudius would be looking for revenge. During our training sessions, I usually let him win… Should I keep doing that?

As I read, I sighed, reflecting on the blessing bestowed on me by the gods. They had given me the physical strength, combat skills, and knowledge of Hayden Reggian.

Hayden Reggian was a legendary hero from a hundred years ago, known for saving the world in the great demon war. She had a unique fighting style and unmatched swordsmanship that no one had ever been able to master. She was also said to have two magical abilities: a rare magic and an ancient magic. Hayden was considered the strongest of her time, and even now, her legend endures.

I closed my book with a sigh. I wasn't afraid to fight back against Claudius, but I worried I might accidentally harm him. There's a time and place for everything. When the time is right, I'll use this blessing wisely.

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Fun Fact: Hayden is actually the main character of another story of mine, where she was an assassin in her past life and transmigrated into her favorite novel. I recently re-uploaded the chapters, so feel free to check it out if you're curious.

By the way, Oliver didn't inherit Hayden's magical abilities—only her combat skills and physical strength. I spent days deciding on the best blessing for him, and while it may not be perfect, I think it suits him well.