The wind became much warmer than before, and Marcus swept up his fine red hair. His forehead was revealed, and he looked younger than when first seen.
“Truly an excellent knight.”
“……Is that so?”
“Yes, of course.”
As he walked with a plodding sound, he spoke nonchalantly.
“Rather, I have realized through this incident that I have no connection to being a knight. If I had been a proper knight, I would not have been hit by Your Highness’s sword. It’s truly embarrassing.”
“What do you want to be then?”
“What?”
“You said you’ve realized that you have no connection to being a knight. So, do you want to be something else?”
“…….”
“Knight?”
Ines called out to him again, and he stopped in his tracks. Then the two naturally faced each other.
“Ah, I apologize. Actually, no one has ever asked me that, so I was at a loss for what to say for a moment.”
“That must be the case. Asking someone born into a knight’s family if they want to do something else could be rude.”
‘So, do you have another dream?’ He simply stared at Ines’s lips as she asked. After a brief pause, Marcus spoke with determination, emphasizing each word.
“I wanted to be a doctor. No, I want to.”
“I’m envious.”
“What?”
“I’m envious. That you have something you want to be. I just wanted to live. Like a person. I think that’s enough. Anything more is luxury.”
Ines started walking again.
“Thank you.”
But the words that followed forced Ines to turn back to him. As she whipped around, the flowers blooming by the walkway trembled in the breeze.
“What is it?”
“I’ve never told anyone that I’m dreaming of something other than being a knight, but I never thought I would hear someone say they were envious when I said it.”
“Why?”
“Because there are often those who say that being a doctor is a vulgar…… occupation.”
“Is that so?”
Softly asking, Ines continued walking down the flowery path. She liked it very much. If she were her usual self, she would not have added anything more.
“Life is precious. No one will live it for you. Do what you want. Don’t go beyond the point of no return.”
Knowing she’s not someone to give advice, Ines still wanted to say those words.
At that moment, Marcus quickened his pace and stood tall in front of her, smiling brightly like the sun at its zenith. His red hair seemed to radiate light like the sun, Ines thought.
“Yes, I will remember that. No, I will bear it in mind.”
He was someone she wanted to cheer on somehow. A smile naturally formed. But then he tilted his head and stared intently at Ines’s face.
“But are you really okay?”
Concerned, Ines raised her hand and touched her cheek.
“Your face is red.”
“Ah.”
It seemed that the fever from the wound had been rising all along. Ines hadn’t fully realized that she was in pain.
“Ines.”
Startled by Carson calling her name from not far away, she froze. She didn’t have time to think when he had started calling her by her name instead of Your Highness, as his words continued.
“Come here.”
He not only called her by name but was also speaking informally to her. Startled, she merely blinked. Marcus, standing beside her, bowed deeply to Carson in respect.
“What are you doing there? Come here.”
But he ignored Marcus’s greeting and just urged her on. Ines left Marcus with words of encouragement to pursue what he wished to do.
Though she would likely never see this gentle knight again, she somehow had a feeling that their meeting would not end like this.
She hurried closer, but Carson, who had called her, had nothing to say. Thanks to Carson walking a little faster today, Ines also hastened her steps. Then he stopped and turned to Ines.
“Are you angry right now?”
Ines raised both hands to cover her cheeks. It would be more accurate to say she hid them. He raised his large hand and touched Ines’s forehead. So surprised by his sudden action, she couldn’t tell whether his hand was hot or cold.
“The doctor said you should rest and not move at all today, did you not hear?”
“I heard.”
“Then why……?”
He started to speak, then sighed heavily.
“Ines… stop causing trouble.”
As if no answer was needed, he walked ahead again. Ines followed him, scampering.
“But you spoke casually to me?”
“Where would I have just spoken?”
“What?”
“It’s nothing. And in the future, you don’t need to do such a thing.”
“What thing are you talking about?”
“Apologizing to someone. Because I won’t let that happen.”
After that, he led Ines to her room in silence and stationed another knight. Though he usually didn’t station guards well at his own room, he did so dutifully at Ines’s door. Thanks to that, she couldn’t move a step outside the room until she went home the next day.
(This is a time separator.)
Two weeks after returning from Carson’s house, Ines received an invitation letter from Charlotte. The content was to visit in three days.
“Susan.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Prepare for an outing.”
Ines hurried from lunchtime to buy a gift for Charlotte. Once ready, she went to the study to tell her father she was going out.
“Where are you going?”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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