“For the time being, I’ll maintain this level of closeness. What I need to focus on going forward is probably suppression.”

Suppression…

Aura, wild beasts, Ian, Rinat, and Edwin…

My thoughts trailed off one after another and finally stopped.

My eyes, which had been wandering around the room, suddenly rested on one spot. Slowly getting up, I approached a slightly taller storage cabinet. Upon flinging open the top-most door, several small silver jars came into view.

“The one who gave me this ointment is Dylan Riley.”

Dylan Riley is Olivia’s older brother, someone she leans on quite a bit. He was also the most friendly towards Rosebelia in the Riley family.

Young Rosebelia had secretly learned swordsmanship and bumped into Dylan on her way home. Dylan had figured out that she was learning to sword fight but hadn’t told anyone.

Instead, he had secretly provided her with good ointment and medicine. He was the first to congratulate her when she joined the White Knight Order.

These days, whenever he visits the count’s mansion, I heard that he often sends medicine to Ann. He seemed to be the most eligible person to ask for help regarding Edwin.

Turning back, I sat at the desk and quickly drafted a letter to Dylan Riley.

Just as I was about to put down the pen, Ann walked in. Finding me at the desk instead of on the sofa where she thought I would be, Ann touched her forehead in disbelief.

“Ann, let me explain…”

“Miss, what are you doing? Your swollen wrist could get even worse.”

Holding something that looked like an ice bag, Ann chirped.

“I had no choice. I had to send a letter.”

“A letter?”

I nodded lightly and handed the letter to Ann. Her eyes widened slightly upon seeing the name written on the envelope.

“This has to be given to a trustworthy person. Make sure to deliver it yourself.”

“Yes, Miss.”

It was an unusually sleepless night. Could it be that this plush bed had become unfamiliar just because I spent a night in the knights’ dormitory? I dismissed the silly thought and tried hard to sleep.

After tossing and turning, it felt like my eyes had been closed for a long time when–

“Mother, I’ve told you. It’s not a severe injury. I was merely practicing with Schultz and got hurt, that’s all.”
“Aaron noticed bruises all over your body, and you say you’re not seriously hurt…”

The first people Rosebelia saw were Kaiden and Olivia. As she blinked slowly, Herman and the servants of the Duke family who had gathered behind them came into view.

This seems like the main hall.

“Go and fetch Schultz.”

Herman, who had been rubbing his forehead, gestured to Aaron, the male servant assisting Kaiden.

“I was actually going to ask him what happened.”

Upon Olivia’s gesture, Schultz appeared as if he had been waiting. His face seemed slightly worn compared to the last time Rosebelia remembered seeing him.

“Schultz, explain. What kind of training did Kaiden go through to end up all bruised?”

“It’s because… I inflicted wounds on Master Kaiden during training.”

“What?”

Behind the frowning Herman, Olivia seemed to sway as if she had received a great shock. Leaning on Margaret, Olivia strained to speak.

“Why would you do such a thing…”

“…I received orders from Lady Rosebelia. I was told that Master Kaiden would soon have cause to find me, and to discreetly torment him by inflicting hidden wounds.”

At his words, a few of the servants glanced suspiciously at Rosebelia. Rosebelia just silently looked at Schultz.

“Schultz, what are you talking about? You were the one who discouraged me. You know best that my wounds are due to excessive training, so why are you suddenly accusing my sister?”

Upon Kaiden’s angry retort, Olivia seemed to subtly move. She quickly stepped up beside Kaiden and tightly embraced him.

“Poor thing. You’ve been deceived as well, Kaiden.”

“That’s not true, Mother. Schultz is lying right now.”

The commotion showed no sign of dying down. It was then that Herman asked Rosebelia.

“Is this all true, Rosebelia?”

“…”

Schultz seemed ready to bury his head in the ground like a sinner. Rosebelia’s gaze slowly shifted to Herman’s face.

“Answer the question.”

“What answer would you like to hear?”

Her expression was calm, as if she had long expected this situation. No, it was as if she had long given up any expectations.

“What?”

“Both Schultz and Kaiden are saying opposite things, so I’m curious too. Whose story do you firmly believe? Think whatever you want.”

As she turned to leave, Kaiden followed her in a hurry.

“Sister!”

Kaiden’s shout made me snap open my eyes. Familiar with the ceiling, I took a deep breath. Even knowing it was a dream, I felt the sweat on my palms from the tension.

What kind of situation is this?

I, or rather, Rosebelia, ordered Kaiden to be beaten?

“What kind of ridiculous slander…”

It was clear that Olivia had conspired with Schultz to frame Rosebelia, but it was somewhat questionable that Schultz had teamed up with Olivia.

If it were the Schultz Rosebelia remembered, he wouldn’t do such a thing.

Seeing that he couldn’t make proper eye contact until the end, it seemed like there was some reason…

“Anyway, how could my father do that? Both Schultz and Kaiden were telling opposite stories, but if he questioned Rosebelia like that, even I would…”

Feeling engrossed in the situation, I felt my cheeks heat up. Struggling to regulate my breathing, I sat up in bed, pressing my throbbing head.

“Who’s showing this to me? Why am I dreaming this?”
The question swirling in his mind unwittingly spilled from his lips. It wasn’t a query aimed at anyone, more like a light murmur to himself, but in that moment, a somewhat familiar voice echoed in the void.

“That’s because you hope to make a different choice than the Rosebelia of the past.”