Penelope’s POV
"Dear... co here for a mont. How long will you keep swinging that sword without rest?" My mother’s voice trembled as she called out, worry tightening across her face while her eyes remained fixed on , watching every movent as I continued to swing the sword with a stubborn, unyielding resolve.
My arms moved in steady arcs, the wooden blade cutting through the air again and again.
Huff!
Huff!
Huff!
My breath ca out ragged, my body drenched in sweat that clung to my skin and dripped to the ground beneath my feet.
My shoulders burned, my palms throbbed, yet my grip never loosened, as though letting go would an losing sothing far more important than strength.
This was not desperation... This was hope!
I knew what I was now.
Soone with nothing, soone the world had already decided was insignificant.
Yet even then, that did not feel like the end. Not after what Father told on that quiet night when my dreams had nearly faded into nothing.
He spoke of a woman, the Ruler of the Naiadae Empire, soone who began just like , holding a blank card that ant nothing to anyone.
And yet, she rose beyond it, surpassing even those blessed with golden cards, standing equal among the Chosen as though the world itself had to acknowledge her existence.
At first, I could not believe it. It sounded like a story ant to comfort a broken heart.
But the more I listened, the more I asked, the more I searched, the clearer it beca that she was real, and that her strength was not a myth.
If soone like her could carve a path through a world that had already rejected her, then why should I stop here, standing still and accepting defeat?
"All it takes is effort," I whispered under my breath, tightening my grip around the sword. "If she could do it... Then I can too."
I was not asking for power that could shake Empires or rival Chosen ones.
I did not need to stand above others or be rembered by history.
I only wanted sothing simple, sothing small enough to hold close.
"I just want enough... enough to protect them, enough to see them smile without worry," I murmured, "That alone is enough for ."
Morning after morning, I stood in the sa place, repeating the sa movents until my body felt like it would collapse.
Without a teacher that we could afford, without proper training or knowledge, I swung the sword again and again.
Each strike felt clumsy, yet stopping never felt like an option. Even a flawed effort carried more aning than doing nothing at all.
When the light disappeared and the sky softened into night, my sword finally rested, but my struggle did not.
I would sit beneath the light, books spread before , forcing my tired eyes to stay open as I studied for the academy that felt like my only other path forward.
"They say rit is enough," I repeated quietly, recalling every word I had heard about that distant place. "That if you prove yourself, they will accept you... no matter where you co from."
The thought alone kept awake, pushing through exhaustion as I traced each line of text, morising, learning, refusing to fall behind.
"And if I succeed... if I truly do well... then maybe I can stand on my own, maybe even beco soone who doesn’t have to worry about where they were born," I added softly, as if speaking it aloud would make it real.
Days passed like this, blending together into a cycle of effort that never paused. The monts I once spent laughing, playing, and running with other children slowly disappeared, replaced by training and study that consud everything.
My parents saw it all, every strained breath, every trembling hand, every quiet mont where I pushed myself beyond what my body could endure.
"Dear... you don’t have to do this to yourself," my father said gently one evening, stepping closer with hesitation.
His eyes fell to my hands, lingering on the bruises that darkened my skin and the raw patches that refused to heal.
"We have our bakery. It may not be much, but it keeps us together, and that is already enough."
I lowered the sword slightly, my fingers tightening as pain flared through my palms, yet I did not let go.
"Father..." I spoke quietly, lifting my gaze to et his, my voice steady despite the ache that spread through my body.
"I know it hurts. I know I’m pushing too far. But if I stop now... then nothing will change."
"We’re not like others," I continued, "We don’t have the sa chances. We don’t have the sa future waiting for us."
Images of my friends flickered through my mind... they were still playing without her, they were still happy without her because their future was already settled, unlike hers!
"They can play because they know tomorrow will be kind to them," I said, my voice softening, "But for people like us... Tomorrow only changes if we force it to."
I looked down at my hands, at the wounds that told the story of every effort I had made, every step I had taken without turning back.
"And if I don’t try... then it will stay the sa forever," I whispered. "I can’t accept that."
The world had already turned away from people like , casting us aside as if we were nothing worth noticing.
Even the goddess, unmoved by our struggles, as though we had been forgotten long ago.
But even then, even in a world that offered nothing freely, I refused to remain empty.
So we just lay down and accept whatever they offered us?
No! Only through hard work could we overco everything standing in our way.
If that woman from the Naiadae Empire could rise from nothing... then I could too.
That thought stayed with , burning quietly inside my chest, as I turned each page under the dim glow of the lamp that lit my nights.
While I was studying, I noticed a faint movent beyond the window. When I looked up, I saw him, the boy who loved , standing there with a worried expression that softened the mont our eyes t.
A small smile ford on my lips as I raised my hand and waved at him.
His face brightened instantly, relief washing over him as he returned the gesture. He leaned forward slightly, motioning as if asking for permission to co inside, his eyes hopeful, almost pleading for a mont of my ti.
For a heartbeat, I hesitated.
But the books in front of , the weight of everything I was chasing, pulled back.
I slowly shook my head, my smile turning apologetic as I held his gaze. I did not have the ti to stop, not now, not when every mont mattered.
I had to study, to work harder, to keep moving forward, no matter what it cost.
His shoulders dropped just a little, disappointnt flickering across his face, yet it did not linger. Instead, he offered a soft, understanding smile, one that carried no bla, only quiet acceptance.
After all, he knew the kind of girl he loved.
Ti moved forward without waiting, carrying along with it until the day of the academy’s admission process drew close, a day that felt like the first real step into a world far larger than anything I had ever known.
As I packed my things, folding each piece carefully, my hands began to tremble ever so slightly.
A quiet unease settled in my chest.
I... I was scared.
The realisation struck deeper than I expected, my heart clenching at the thought of leaving my family behind for four long years.
Would they be alright without ?
What if the debtors ca again and frightened them when I was not there to stand beside them?
What if the bakery struggled, and the cakes did not sell like they used to?
What if... what if they fell sick, and no one was there to take care of them—
"Penelope... co here. Your father has a surprise for you."
My mother’s voice cut through my spiralling thoughts, pulling back before they could drag any deeper.
"Coming," I replied, forcing my voice to remain steady as I stepped away from my things and walked toward them.
When I reached them, my mother stood there with a bright, almost glowing smile, while my father seed unusually stiff, his hands hidden awkwardly behind his back as though he were trying to conceal sothing.
Curiosity stirred within .
"What is it, Father?" I asked, tilting my head slightly as I tried to peek past him.
"Here," he said, his voice warm yet carrying a trace of nervousness as he brought his hands forward.
A real steel sword rested in his grip.
"For my girl, who has worked harder than I ever have in my life," he continued, pride shining through his eyes, though it was laced with a quiet sadness that did not go unnoticed.
"And I am sorry... that this father of yours could not teach you any sword techniques, or even arrange for a proper sword master—"
"Oh, co on, don’t start that again," my mother interrupted, nudging him with a playful slap on his shoulder. "I know how hard you worked to buy that sword. There is no need to talk yourself down like that."
She smiled, though I could see the effort behind it, the way she tried to keep the mont bright for both of us.
A steel sword was not sothing grand or magical, not sothing that would draw attention or admiration from others.
But for us... It ant everything.
I knew how difficult it must have been to afford it, how many days of effort, how many small sacrifices must have gone into bringing it here.
He must have used his savings.
He must have pushed himself further than he ever let us see.
Why?
"Dear?"
Both of them looked at , their expressions shifting into confusion and concern as I stood there, not reaching out to take the sword they had given .
But in the very next mont, my body moved on its own.
I stepped forward, not toward the sword... but toward them.
My arms wrapped around both of them tightly, as if I were afraid they might disappear if I let go, my face pressing against them as the warmth I had always known surrounded completely.
Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them, my voice trembling as the words finally escaped.
"I love you, Mama... Papa."
For a brief second, they froze, caught off guard by the sudden embrace.
Then their arms closed around , holding just as tightly, as though they had been waiting for this mont without even realising it.
Their eyes widened, and soon after, tears slipped free, carrying everything they had quietly held inside for so long.
...
...
After reluctantly parting with them, I managed to enter the academy. Even though the practical test was hard and... I lost, I still managed to top the written test.
I ranked last, but... I passed the admission test and entered the academy.
That was all that mattered.
Later, I would improve my skills and try my best to reach the top.
And of course, the boy who loved also entered the academy. He passed with flying colours. He was placed in the elite classroom, while I was in the bottom-ranked class... but it was fine.
I knew my worth.
I wouldn’t be jealous of him.
In fact, this only gave more motivation to reach the elite class.
We had four years, you know?
Four whole years.
Nothing stays the sa forever, right?
And once I reached the elite class... I would propose to him.
Yes, he had been waiting for my answer for so long.
Even though I had decided a long ti ago, I still wanted to beco worthy enough to stand beside him. I had to work hard, reach his level, and then...
"I love you."
I blushed just whispering it to myself. Even saying those words made my face burn.
"I wonder what kind of reaction he would make... haha... I’m really curious."
With one more goal burning inside , I pushed forward even harder, chasing a height that was never ant for soone like .
I would break my fate and prove that I was worthy!
After all, it wasn’t impossible if soone else had already done it.
So I worked harder, day and night, barely caring for my well-being or even trying to make friends.
Even with my tight schedule, I still made ti for my future boyfriend. I would tell him everything, what I had done that week, what I tried, how the professors appreciated my efforts.
Just like my father, he would stay silent and calmly listen to my ramblings, never interrupting, never complaining.
There was sothing comforting in that quiet patience.
He was so cute~
Sotis, I almost said the words I had been saving for that special mont.
"Sigh... sotis it’s really hard to hold back, isn’t it?" I thought with a wry smile. Even though we didn’t spend much ti together, he truly cared for .
He was understanding, gentle... just like my father.
Seeing my hard work, Professor Delphine, who seed to have checked my background, offered a sponsorship.
I couldn’t have been happier. Even though she always had a cold expression and rarely engaged in casual conversation, for her to personally offer that... it felt unreal.
You have got to be kidding !
I was terrified of her gaze whenever I made a mistake. It felt like her eyes were piercing straight through , silently warning... make another mistake, and you’re done.
And yet...
"Penelope, you really worked hard to reach this place from Class F to Class C in just two years. That has never happened before. Even though you are not strong in combat, your theories and written work are on par with the elites... no, even beyond them. So, I would like to be your sponsor. Is that alright with you?"
For a brief mont, she looked... warm.
Like my mother.
I didn’t know why, but that was what I felt.
I guess we really cannot judge a book by its cover.
Of course, I accepted without hesitation. I was so happy.
Truly happy~
People were finally beginning to see ... to see my worth.
With even more support, I worked harder. The money I earned from doing nial jobs, I sent back to my parents.
With that, they might finally be able to clear their debts.
Everything was going smoothly, just like the peaceful days of my childhood.
"It seems the Goddess hasn’t forgotten after all."
Everything felt wonderful.
I was earning money, receiving a free education, having food and a place to stay... even if it wasn’t truly permanent, it still felt like a blessing.
And from the letters I received, my parents had finally gotten out of debt.
Finally!
What more could I possibly ask for?
Except... a loving husband?
I laughed softly at my own thought. Even that, I already had... in my heart.
Just a little longer. Once I reached the elite class, I would be the one to confess, to give him the answer he had waited so patiently for.
I felt like I was standing at the very peak of the world, the happiest and richest girl alive... or so I thought.
Until—
"Ahhh~ yes~ faster~"
I stood there blankly at the sight before .
My future boyfriend... with another girl... on my bed.
...
..
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