Chapter1

For three years, rumors circulated throughout the magic academy that Liam was deeply devoted to me. He would push aside all his noble social engagements to come see me, shield me from every act of ostracism, and climb through my window in the dead of night when my stepmother punished me, accompanying me in magic practice until dawn.

I used to think that with him around, I would never fall into the abyss.

Until tonight. The memory crystal we had shared for three years untimely popped up a plan.

Only then did I realize that he had already found someone else to save, and personally thrown me into hell.

Liam, since you decided to let go, don't ever expect me to look back.*

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The day before the High Tower Academy recommendation list was made public, the memory crystal Liam and I had shared for three years suddenly popped up a notification.

The Anna Salvation Plan.

First: Intercept Elena's recommendation letter for the High Tower Academy, erase the signature, and transfer it to Anna.

Second: Use the family quota to enter the High Tower and stick close to Anna to protect her cultivation.

Third: Ensure Anna marries a high-ranking noble upon graduation. After that, marry Elena and accompany her as an independent adventurer.

My eyes locked dead onto "transfer it to Anna," and my hands trembled uncontrollably.

Liam hated mistresses the most; his own mother was poisoned by his father's lover. Over the years, he accompanied me in magic practice, shielded me from bullying, and climbed through my window on countless nights to hand me recovery potions.

"Elena, don't you dare give up."

Only now did I finally notice he had already swapped his damsel in distress.

I grabbed the communication stone and connected to the academy mentor.

"Mentor, my recommendation letter—"

"Elena, Liam used his family's influence to force my hand. Half an hour ago, that quota was branded with your sister's magic mark."

The mana connection severed. Only the blinking blue light of the memory crystal remained in the room.

The communication stone slipped from my palm. I lowered my eyes, staring at those three floating plans. Outside the window, the magic towers were brilliantly lit, but not a single light belonged to me.

I did not move. Not until my father's voice cut through the silence from downstairs.

"Elena, come out and eat."

I went downstairs. My father sat at the head of the table, while my stepmother served him food. The moment I sat down, she tossed a piece of meat onto my plate.

"Eat up. After all, you won't be eating at home much longer."

I looked up at her. "My quota is gone. You knew about this already, didn't you?"

"Enough!" My father slammed a parchment contract onto the table. "The path to the High Tower Academy is closed. The Viscount offers a good home."

My hands resting under the table began to shake. "The first twelve wives of Viscount Bloodbeard all died."

My stepmother's smile deepened. "That's because they were useless. You, on the other hand, are a magic genius."

"So he can treat me as high-grade material and dismantle me on the dissection table for a bit longer."

My father set down his wine glass. "If you marry him, he'll grant the Griffin family the mining rights to an entire coal mine. Your siblings' cultivation resources, the magic circle maintenance fees, my dignity—it all relies on this marriage."

"So you knew he was a lunatic, yet you still sold me."

"Sold?" My father slammed the table again. "Anna is frail and sickly. What about you? With the academy path severed, this family cannot afford to raise you for nothing."

My stepmother chimed in. "You'll have flocks of maids and feasts of meat when you marry him. Isn't that better than practicing those useless spells nobody cares about?"

I smiled. "Then why don't you go yourself?"

My father stood up abruptly. "The Viscount's carriage will arrive when the time comes. Even if you have to die, you will die on that dissection table!"

I said nothing more and turned to go upstairs.

Closing the door, I slid down against the wooden panels to the floor. A familiar magical fluctuation came from outside the window. Liam climbed in, holding a recovery potion, and habitually reached out to pat my head.

I dodged him.

"Where is my quota?"

His hand paused. "You already know. I was planning to comfort you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I sneered. "Tomorrow, while watching Anna show off with my quota, and me being thrown out like trash?"

Liam's face darkened. "Anna's magic core is defective. Without the High Tower's magic spring to nourish her, she won't survive this winter. You're different. Your talent is extremely high; you can survive even as an independent adventurer."

I stared at him. "Because I'm strong, I deserve to be sacrificed?"

"I did it for the greater good!" He took a deep breath and put on a gentle mask. "Once she secures a foothold, I swear I'll take you away. I'll take you to the end of the world. Isn't that fine?"

I raised my hand and swatted the potion to the ground.

Liam looked awful. "Stop throwing a tantrum. The mark is irreversible. I said it goes to Anna, so it goes to Anna."

He turned toward the windowsill.

"Liam," I spoke. He stopped impatiently.

"Your salvation plan is beautifully written. But you miscalculated one thing—you won't live to see the day you marry me."

Liam scoffed lightly, didn't even bother to look back, and jumped out the window, vanishing into the night.

I stood rooted to the spot.

My father took my blood money. Liam cut off my last straw.

Did they want me to obediently wait for death in purgatory?

Dream on.