Evenel Istella scanned the members of the 1st Knight Order, but everyone just glanced around; no one answered.
‘Figures. They must have been certain they would win.’
Shattering their arrogance felt entirely refreshing. Their pride must have been deeply wounded.
She looked at Ha Hyun, the man who had initially picked a fight. Her gaze was imbued with the meaning of, “Are you pretending not to know despite urging me to keep my promise?”
“I trust that knights of the Empire won’t go back on their word. Can I hear your apology now?”
‘Kneel before her now? And in front of those guys?’
Facing Evenel and those he had always looked down upon was the last thing Ha Hyun wanted. He quickly changed his tune.
“To be honest, weren’t we right? We said it out of concern for you. Don’t get too close to those people.”
‘So that’s how you’re playing it.’
Evenel could only produce a cynical laugh. How could he shamelessly claim it was out of concern?
Unaware that Ha Hyun had heard her cursing him, he continued to disparage the others.
“Your Highness wouldn’t know. Unlike us, who are acknowledged for our skills and of noble status, they are nobodies. Their backgrounds are unclear; they’ve probably been involved in some dark deeds.”
He failed to notice Evenel’s eyes growing cold as he continued to speak ill of them.
“Especially the Knight Commander Demil. He’s the most uncomfortable.”
“Why so?”
Seeing Ha Hyun casually mention even Demil, it became clear how much he had been looking down on and despising them.
“It starts with the atmosphere he exudes. Should I say it’s unsettling?”
“Yes, especially that scar on his eye. His Majesty brought him one day and placed him in the position of Knight Commander. It’s utterly unacceptable…”
“Ah, I really can’t stand to hear anymore.”
Evenel unceremoniously abandoned her refined manner of speaking. These people didn’t even deserve the least bit of courtesy.
‘Yes, people like this are everywhere.’
When she was an orphan, there were people who looked down on her for not having parents and for being less fortunate. She had always shut them up with her abilities.
If they were going to cross the line like this, she had no reason to maintain it.
“What gives you the right to blabber on like that? Do you even think you’re qualified to say such things?”
“What are you saying now?”
“Ever take a look at your training ground? Can’t you see that trash?”
The training ground they used was noticeably different compared to the always neatly organized one Evenel normally used. And that difference led one to surmise their typical behavior.
“Even this gun. The people you criticize maintain their weapons like swords and firearms very thoroughly. Naturally, they have spares as well, ready to be used at any time. So who’s criticizing who now?”
Evenel couldn’t hide her smirk, seeing their faces redden with scathing criticism.
“Seeing that you have alcohol bottles, there’s no way you could have trained properly. What gives you the right to belittle those who train diligently every day, without fail?”
There was no reason for Demil and the rest to be treated like this. Her agitation might have been due to her projecting.
There’s nothing more infuriating than having your hard work negated.
“In reality, you know, don’t you? That they’re stronger and more capable. That’s why you’re jealous now.”
“Stop talking nonsense!”
Hakin vehemently denied it, but Evenel saw right through the jealousy in his eyes. Of course, if that became a motivation for growth, there would be no issue.
She, too, had felt such emotions when seeing players far more skilled than herself. However, such a despicable approach was of no help.
“Just admit it. And strive to win. Stop just running your mouth. It’s incredibly unattractive.”
Hakin couldn’t understand why Evenel was defending them. After all, wasn’t she of the same noble class as him?
Why would she take the side of unremarkable commoners?
“You still don’t understand the ways of the world…”
Evenel’s patience had run out. To not understand even after saying this much.
“Don’t belittle others’ efforts arbitrarily. Don’t speak without proper understanding. And don’t judge someone just by their appearance! Is this so difficult?”
Evenel ultimately raised her voice. At the same time, this was her genuine sentiment.
Just once, she wanted to be seen not as someone from Aodin, but for who she really was.
“I only trust what I’ve personally seen. Even if there’s such a past, it doesn’t matter to me. The present is much more important.”
As she defended the knights to this extent, Hakin wanted to bring up yesterday’s incident, anticipating a shocked expression.
Of course, that was a perfect miscalculation on his part.
“You’re deeply mistaken if you think those people consider you an ally. No, they likely look down on you! Do you think they’ll care, no matter what you do for them?”
“I’m aware of that much. I heard everything yesterday.”
“……! Then why……”
Evenel Istella paused briefly when asked why she was going to such lengths for them.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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