As Ian said, I’ve always been like that since my previous life. Pretending to be fine was comfortable and familiar.
Even though I habitually said it was fine, no one acknowledged or pointed it out.
Not even those I could call family.
“…”
“So your ‘I’m fine’ holds no credibility for me. From now on, I will judge whether you are actually fine.”
“Why…”
The question why he would go to such lengths circled in my mouth. As I was awkwardly coughing, he spoke in a much softer tone.
“Practice only during the day from now on.”
“That’s impossible. If anyone finds out about this, it would be bad.”
Feeling that the dizziness had fully passed, I gently pushed away the arm around my waist. Ian, who obediently took a step back, furrowed one eyebrow as he looked down at me.
“So you always practiced at night?”
“It’s the only time I can practice in peace. But I’m really fine…”
About to say I was fine out of habit, I caught myself watching Ian.
He also met my gaze, let out a disappointed laugh, and exhaled deeply.
“I will…”
“Huh?”
“I will be with you when you practice.”
What? Did I hear that wrong?
“So, only practice in front of me from now on.”
“No, that won’t be necessary… The vomiting is only temporary, and the dizziness has already passed.”
“If you don’t like it, I can tell the commander about your condition right now.”
Threatening, how cheap.
If I tell Commander Gabriel, he would either prohibit me from going on the beast subjugation, or until my aura stabilizes, prevent me from using it.
“You little…”
Do you know how sneaky you are?
Holding back the words that almost spilled from my mouth, I drew my lips into a thin line.
“Klein, won’t this bother you?”
Ian, who was moistening his lips, reached out toward my face. His thumb, closing in slowly as if about to touch, finally reached the edge of my lips.
“It’s just like today; I’ll be by your side. I already know all your secrets anyway.”
Was it because of the gentle touch? Or the eyes filled with concern?
Only after the sensation left my lips did I realize that I had momentarily stopped breathing.
The field held its breath briefly as Ian, looking at the blood on his fingertips, let out a long sigh.
“The choice is yours, senior.”
It would have been comforting if someone was by my side.
I had always been careful during practice, not knowing how sleepy I could get, but now I wouldn’t have to, right?
“I don’t have the authority to stop you, senior. So please allow me to stand by you at least during practice.”
Ian’s eyes shone vividly as they focused on me. The moment our eyes met, my lips moved on their own.
“Alright.”
“If you could tell me in advance when you’re going to practice, I’ll stay at the residence.”
Ian showed a faint smile.
It was me who had spilled the secret, but somehow he looked more relieved.
“…Anyway, thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
I wondered if this should continue, but a corner of my heart became oddly at ease. The original story had certainly changed, and the Ian before me was not the cold-blooded crown prince Ian from the original, but the junior knight Ian I knew.
“Shall we go?”
“Just a moment.”
Ian, who had called me to a stop, pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket.
I didn’t think he’d carry something like this.
Seeming puzzled by my tilt of the head, Ian cleared his throat and answered.
“My mother gave this to me when I was young, so I’ve always carried it with me.”
A handkerchief from Violet, Ian’s mother?
“But why would you…”
Without any further explanation, he cautiously grasped my palm.
Is he really trying to wipe off my blood now? With the handkerchief Violet left him?
I was about to roll up the tips of my fingers, but Ian was faster. He thoroughly wiped my palm with the handkerchief before looking up.
“It should be fine now. Are you really not hurting?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. And I’ll clean this and return it to you.”
I snatched the blood-stained handkerchief and put it in my pocket.
Whether I should call it foolish or kind, I didn’t know.
As we walked out of the bushy field, we saw some corps members walking around. Ian and I naturally blended into the crowd.
“Are you going to the training ground, senior?”
“Ah, I am…”
I turned my head toward Ian following me, just at that moment.
“Miss Rosebelia!”
Someone lunged into my arms with a voice that sounded as if it was on the verge of tears.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
