대련……이라고? 대련이라는 게 그…….
For a moment, the whole world seemed to flicker and blur before my eyes. After blinking several times, my sanity gradually returned.
My God.
So I mistook Ian’s request for a duel as a confession?
“Ah, a duel. Right. There was a rookie who requested a duel.”
I responded calmly, but I could feel my lips quivering slightly.
Could it be that Ian, who has been persistently wooing me, irritated Rosebelia so much that she fled to a foreign country?
Isn’t this novel about a man who seeks revenge on the woman who has rejected him time and time again?
I’ve certainly jumped to conclusions. To think I’ve left such a dark history with Rosebelia.
Is there a mouse hole anywhere? Shall I even stick my nose in folding paper?
“Yes. That is it.”
“Yes, the rookie asked me for a duel……”
Then what does that whole story about breathing mean?
“Do you really not remember?”
Just as I was about to respond, Ian’s furrowed brow caught my eye.
Could he be angry?
If the story follows the original ending, Ian would kill me, and I would be the one to kill him. I must avoid following the original story at all costs.
I don’t know what to do right now, but at least during our time in the same knight order, I intend to maintain a good relationship while watching the situation……
I suddenly grabbed my head, not forgetting to press my temple as if in pain.
“Actually, I’ve been quite ill recently, so I’m a bit fuzzy on the events of the feast.”
Ian slightly tilted his head. He didn’t seem to fully believe my words.
“At the swordfighting competition held at the feast, I was winning, and you challenged me.”
I had seen the swordfighting competition held at every feast through Rosebelia’s memories.
Everyone wore the same helmet, hiding their identities, and there were no restrictions on participation.
Only the final winner would reveal their face and identity, and their name would be displayed in the square until the next festival.
For unknown knights, it was an opportunity to make a name, and for those in a knight order, it was a chance to elevate the honor of their order.
“…….”
“You easily overpowered me and then forfeited, and I followed you by forfeit as well…… and requested a duel.”
“How did you know it was me?”
I merely asked out of curiosity, but Ian’s face suddenly turned red.
“At first, I didn’t know it was you, of course. But the sensation when our swords clashed was so intense that I secretly followed…… you, and when I saw you without your helmet, I knew it was you. You said you would think about it.”
Ian coughed awkwardly as he finished speaking.
Was he embarrassed to have followed someone, given his noble status as a prince?
“I misunderstood, I’m sorry.”
“So your answer……?”
“Well, I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, so I’ll duel you once……”
Wait, even though it’s still far in the future, Ian and Rosebelia were each other’s only rivals.
Should I avoid this duel to avoid a rival situation?
Since I don’t know what choice Rosebelia made, I don’t know which side to avoid.
Should I accept so readily? Should I refuse?
“Really?”
That was the most emotional voice I’d heard from Ian yet. I looked up at his face.
Seeing his flushed complexion, I realized that changing my mind now might make things worse.
Yeah, he wants this so badly. Maybe we can get closer through this duel.
Finally, I made my decision and smiled at Ian.
“If you can handle a duel with me.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll handle it, you don’t have to go easy on me.”
In the original work, Ian was described as becoming a completely different person after his appointment as crown prince.
His aura changed, and at some point, he acquired incomparable swordsmanship skills……
「”I have something to say to Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“What is it?”」
“So……. What I mean to say is……. I…… want to……”
A deep sigh that had been floating in the air touched above my head. As I slowly raised my head, I saw Ian, who was looking down at me with cold, emotionless eyes.
I didn’t want to believe it, but now I had to. The fact that he in front of me was clearly different from the Ian I knew, the one I liked.
“I am cursed.”
“What? What do you mean…….?”
The moment I met his hollow eyes, I unconsciously hunched my shoulders. It must have been the sudden chill that crept in.
“That’s why no one can like me. That’s all I can say.”
I carefully examined Ian in front of me, fumbling through the original content. Though he seemed to be struggling to restrain himself, his agitation was obvious.
Could this boy really become a coldblooded, warcrazed tyrant?
The Ian in the original work I knew so well and the Ian in front of me seemed like two completely different people.
The fact that Ian’s swordsmanship suddenly reached an unparalleled level, and his choice of the word “curse” in front of Daisy…
Did something happen around the time of the crown prince’s appointment?
I had wondered about it even when reading the original, but I hadn’t thought deeply about it since my favorite character in the original wasn’t Ian.
“Senior?”
“Huh?”
“Can I see you tomorrow?”
“……Yes, the training ground near the annex would be nice, preferably when the members are not there.”
“Understood. I will come early in the morning.”
I paused as I started to nod.
Could he possibly know that Rosebelia often comes early in the morning to practice?
“Yes.”
“Then see you tomorrow.”
Ian, who lightly bowed his head, left first. After his figure turned into a small dot in the distance, I suddenly heaved a sigh.
I came to reject his confession, but ended up accepting a duel request.
It’ll be fine, right?
[Star Icon]I stared blankly at the darkened ceiling.
After waking up here, for the first time, a decision I made kept me from falling asleep.
The repercussions of that choice were both frightening and exciting.
Could I really change the original? If I can, how should I change it? What do I ultimately want here?
With those thoughts chasing each other, I caught a short nap and arrived early at the duel site.
Tying my hair tightly and slowly stretching my body, the dawn that had been creeping through the window suddenly brightened. That’s when the doors to the training ground, previously firmly closed, opened.
I thought it would surely be Ian, but the figure that emerged was a somewhat youthfullooking knight.
His hesitant approach, and the unfamiliar face, made it seem like he was one of the new recruits who came with Ian.
“Um, senior…….”
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s just……. I didn’t really think you’d be here this early……. Just a moment.”
“Huh? What?”
The roundfaced knight slapped his cheeks with both hands and took a short, deep breath.
“I……. came to hear your answer, senior.”
“Answer? What?”
Why does this conversation feel strange?
“……Did you forget? I’m talking about the banquet last night.”
What’s he talking about?
What happened to Rosebelia that day?
“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember that day’s events very well.”
“What?”
I held back a sigh that was about to burst. Seeing my apparent discomfort, the recruit’s eyes widened.
“I’ve been feeling unwell lately, and strangely, I only have vague memories of that day. Can you explain what happened?”
“Well……. I…….”
His voice was so soft it seemed ready to burrow into the ground.
“What did you say?”
Frustrated, I leaned in close, causing the recruit to quickly retreat.
“Oh, my name is Simon. Just in case…….”
“Okay, Simon. It’s okay, just tell me.”
“On that day……. ”
He probably challenged me to a duel again or something.
“I confessed to you, senior……. So……. I asked if you would go out with me.”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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