Merlin began searching through her room, hoping to find anything useful. She stumbled upon a sword and a martial arts manual. "I think I can use these," she thought to herself.
Lia, who had been silently observing Merlin, couldn't help but notice the drastic change in her behavior. Though Merlin had regained her sight, her demeanor and actions were entirely different, making it hard for Lia to recognize the girl she once served.
In truth, the original soul of the princess was gone, replaced by Merlin, whose soul was now inhabiting the princess's body. Merlin herself wasn't sure if her original body was still alive or not. All she knew was that her current goal was to avenge the princess's suffering. Perhaps by achieving that, she could return to her own world.
Merlin began to read and practice the sword techniques from the manual she had found. Despite the unfamiliar setting, she quickly adapted due to the body's innate muscle memory from past training. She diligently practiced, growing more adept with each passing day.
Lia eventually left the room, unable to bear staying any longer. She returned to her chores, cleaning the yard despite the injuries on her back. Lia feared the wrath of her mistress and didn't want to face punishment again.
Meanwhile, Merlin focused entirely on her training, even practicing with her eyes closed to maintain the facade of blindness. She knew the household was hostile towards her, and revealing her recovery could put her in grave danger.
Later, Lia returned with a tray of food.
"How are your wounds?" Merlin asked with concern.
"They're healing, Princess," Lia replied, her voice soft but weary.
Despite her injuries, Lia continued to work. In this household, not working meant no food, a rule that applied to both Lia and Merlin. Lia's loyalty stemmed from a promise to Merlin's late father, a promise she held onto despite the abuse from the others in the household. She ensured Merlin received food, even if it was only scraps.
Merlin spent her days immersed in the martial arts manuals, focusing especially on swordsmanship. The room, isolated and distant from the main house, provided a perfect hideout. She practiced in solitude, her skills improving steadily.
The last time anyone had visited her room was when Lia had begged for a healer to tend to Merlin after she had regained consciousness. The punishment Lia received for that act made Merlin vow to sever ties with her family, who treated her with cruelty and disdain.
Merlin had instructed Lia to keep her recovery a secret. Lia complied, visiting only to deliver meals and otherwise keeping her distance for both their safety. The household had already written Merlin off, treating her as a blind, useless liability. Her room was nothing more than an old storage space, cold and far removed from the main house.
Unbeknownst to them, the original princess had already perished due to their abuse. Had Merlin's soul not taken over, the princess's body would likely have been left to rot.
With this second chance, Merlin resolved to train herself, aiming to avenge the princess and one day return to her own world. Days turned into weeks, and Merlin grew stronger, mastering several techniques from the manuals. However, her progress in internal energy techniques was slower. She could barely execute basic moves, like a flying technique, and continued to struggle without guidance. She chose to avoid seeking a teacher to prevent drawing attention to herself.
One night, Lia arrived quietly with food.
"Princess, I'm sorry," she said hesitantly. "The mistress has cut off your food rations. This is all I could sneak in."
"It's alright, Lia. You don't need to take such risks for me," Merlin replied, worried for Lia's safety.
"But how will you survive without food?" Lia asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Don't worry. I'll sneak out to find food and stretch my legs," Merlin said with a smile, trying to reassure her loyal servant.
Merlin understood that defying her stepmother and stepsiblings would only lead to more suffering for Lia. If they discovered that Merlin was no longer blind, they would see her as a threat and likely attempt to eliminate her outright. Merlin's lineage as the true heir to her father's estate made her a potential rival to their grasp on power. Her blindness had given them the upper hand, allowing them to treat her with disdain and plan her demise.
But Merlin had no intention of remaining a victim. She continued her training in secret, determined to confront her enemies and reclaim the justice the original princess deserved.