“Leah!”

As soon as Evenel returned to the palace, she found Leah and immediately embraced her.

“Miss?”

Leah was puzzled but pleased to see that Evenel, who had seemed low in spirits just this morning, had suddenly regained her vitality.

“I trained with the Knights today.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Together.”

Although they had conversed a few times before, it was the first time they had trained together. Evenel was still excited, feeling as though she had really become comrades.

Seeing Evenel so excited as she recounted the events at the training ground, Leah couldn’t help but feel happy as well. Especially because she sometimes felt lonely seeing her always alone.

“But what happened to make you suddenly so lively?”

On one hand, Leah couldn’t understand the sudden change in attitude. It seemed as though Evenel would never leave her side.

“Well, actually, earlier…”

As Leah listened to what had happened to Evenel with the First Knight Division, she urgently checked if she was alright.

“Are you injured?”

“I’m fine. The King himself appeared just in time.”

“I was scared. Please don’t act so recklessly. It feels like my lifespan is shortening.”

Since coming to Karies, Evenel had frequently been injured, and it was no exaggeration to say that everyone looked at her unfavorably. Every time Evenel charged ahead without thinking, Leah felt as if she was experiencing heaven and hell multiple times a day.

“I understand. But I’m really so happy.”

Although she hadn’t been hoping for this, the lingering resentment melted away like snow when she was asked to train together.

Evenel was genuinely happy, but Leah still couldn’t fully relate.

“Don’t you hate those people, Miss? They’ve always spoken harshly to you.”

Leah, who had seen what kind of treatment Evenel had received, often resented the others too, since she was in a similar situation.

After contemplating Leah’s question, Evenel shook her head.

“I can’t say I don’t resent them, but I don’t think they’re bad people. I’ve learned things here that I didn’t know before. Perhaps, if the situation was reversed, wouldn’t we have thought the same way? Of course, tormenting you like that was definitely wrong.”

Leah couldn’t deny that. As unfortunate as it was, she now had some understanding of Karies’ point of view. Evenel was right: they had also learned things they didn’t know when they were in Aodin.
So naturally, it was undeniable that this was a part I had to accept. And the influence that led me to think so was largely due to Evenel. After all, haven’t I been gaining recognition bit by bit?

“Listening to you, Miss, makes me want to work harder.”

“That’s why I like Lia. But you being my first hasn’t changed.”

“You’re always my first too, Miss. Just a moment, your hand.”

At that moment, her right hand vividly entered Lia’s sight.

“Ah, I must have overexerted myself recently. Just like earlier.”

Evenel looked down at her own hand as if it was no big deal. After all, this body had never handled a gun, so there were days when my hand would feel sore after intense training.

Moreover, today I used a gun that was not in good condition, so it seemed like I had overexerted myself even more.

“Your hand is quite injured.”

“Is it?”

Calluses had formed on her hand as evidence of her training, and it was scarred. The delicate and beautiful hands she had initially could not be found.

Knowing that this was a badge of honor, Evenel felt even prouder.

“I should bring an ice pack.”

Lia quickly brought an ice pack and placed it on Evenel’s right hand.

“Thanks. I’ll do it myself, so you can go now.”

“Don’t do anything else today, just rest.”

Evenel took a short break as she iced her hand. However, that was only for a moment; she immediately sat at her desk and picked up her pen.

Except for a brief moment for a meal, Evenel was so focused on the book in front of her that she lost track of time. Only when she felt a strain in her hand did she put down the pen.

Squeezing and releasing her right hand several times, she decided to stop for today.

‘Should I ice it some more before bed?’

Realizing that it was already late, Evenel put on a shawl and left her room to fetch some ice.

“I can never get used to this eerie atmosphere.”

Whenever she was alone in the dark hallway, she couldn’t help but feel an eerie sensation. As if a ghost might appear at the end of the hallway any moment.

Fortunately, she quickly found ice in the kitchen and filled the bag that Lia had brought. She was about to return to her room but was drawn to the bright moonlight and went outside the palace.

Feeling the cool breeze and walking around the garden, her mind calmed down in the peaceful atmosphere, different from daytime.

“Wow, I didn’t know there was a place like this here.”

Discovering a table and bench set up like a rest area in one part of the garden, Evenel went and sat there. And she enjoyed the silence while icing her hand.