I Was the Hero, But She Turned Me Into the Villain

That’s how I spent my days: running tirelessly around the training ground.

The routine became constant and, surprisingly, I got used to it quickly. At first it was hell: I ended up lying on the ground unable to move a muscle, and I had to rely on Alice to get me back to the mansion. But the body is stubborn. With enough punishment, it learns.

And luckily, just in time... tomorrow would be the day of the duel.

Tomorrow, finally, this charade would end.

Part of me wanted it desperately. The other part... felt absolutely nothing.

There was still work to be done. It wasn’t enough yet.

I kept moving, feet burning and legs trembling. Sweat soaked through the fabric of my shirt until it clung to my skin like an unpleasant second layer. Every breath tasted like metal, as if I were swallowing rusted blood.

The servants watched me from a distance. More of them than before.

Some simply observed in silence, others whispered among themselves.

But the strangest thing was something else: the number of women in the training field had increased.

Young maids, mages, even soldiers with no reason to be there wandered around. Some carried empty jugs or pretended to clean benches that were already spotless. Others just strolled through the corridors, engaged in dull conversations... though their eyes, without fail, always ended up on me.

At first, I thought it was coincidence. But no...