I Became the First Love of the Impenetrable Male Lead (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
Slowly turning around, I saw a woman in a deep green dress, her brown hair neatly pinned up.
The woman who had once reigned as the belle of high society—Olivia Riley—now Olivia Winters.
She was none other than Rosebelia’s stepmother.
“Oh.”
As I let out a soft gasp, Olivia approached me with elegant steps.
“Rose?”
“Mother.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I was just taking a walk.”
“I see? You must be unusually free today, then.”
Olivia stopped walking and gave me a faint, upward curve of her lips.
“I was going to rest, but it seems I’ll need to visit the knights’ order after all. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Wait, Rose.”
When I turned back, Olivia still wore that subtle smile at the corner of her mouth.
“Try paying a bit more attention to your attire. You’re Lady Winters of the Marquis Winters household, and you’re of marriageable age, aren’t you?”
Unlike Olivia’s voluminous dress, my outfit resembled more of a simple one-piece than a proper gown.
What’s wrong with how I’m dressed?
I knew well that this style—easy to wear without corsets—was favored as everyday attire not only by Rosebelia but also by many young noble ladies.
I almost retorted but clamped my mouth shut. My lips stayed firmly pressed together.
It was as if every sense in my body warned me not to speak further and to leave the spot immediately.
“When shall we summon the dressmaker, milady?”
Margaret, Olivia’s personal maid standing beside her, spoke up. Olivia gave a light nod of agreement and began walking away.
“Come along, then.”
Still turned away from them, I soon let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
Not for a single moment did my eyes truly smile.
Even in Rosebelia’s memories, Olivia always approached warmly, yet Rosebelia remained wary of her.
After all, with such an unsettling feeling, how could anyone easily open their heart just because someone wore a pleasant smile?
Though Olivia never openly showed it, I could sense her hostility toward me. My instincts rarely lied.
A year ago, Rosebelia had gained full mastery over her aura, sharpening not only her five senses but also her physical abilities and intuition to an extraordinary degree. She was, in effect, the Empire’s sole Swordmaster.
“Though Ian will eventually become a Swordmaster as well…”
Thus, only Rosebelia and Ian stood as true equals—each other’s sole rival capable of matching the other blow for blow.
If I chose not to flee to the Renor Kingdom like the original Rosebelia and instead remained in the Empire…
Wouldn’t that mean I’d never become Ian’s rival—or even face him on the battlefield in the first place?
“Milady?”
Startled by someone’s call, I snapped back to attention. The boy before me was Roy, son of Charles the stablemaster.
“Oh, Roy.”
I realized I’d wandered aimlessly all the way to the stables and gave an awkward smile.
Rosebelia often ended up here when lost in thought, so it must have been this body’s ingrained habit leading me.
“Shall I bring out Emily for you?”
“Yes.”
I’d gradually piece together why Rosebelia made that choice. No need to rush.
“Milady, here you go.”
Taking Emily’s reins from Roy, I swiftly mounted the saddle.
For now, I’d handle the matters before me—one by one, carefully…
And to do that, I first needed to find out what exactly happened between Ian and me during the Eve Festival.
“Roy, tell Anne I’ve gone to the knights’ order.”
I’ll probably get scolded again when I return.
Just as I felt the corners of my mouth soften, I noticed Roy stealing a sidelong glance at me before quickly looking down, startled.
Why’s he acting like that?
“Roy?”
“Ah—yes, milady.”
*
“Rosebelia, you’ve been acting a bit strange today.”
At Lucas’s offhand remark, I felt a faint twitch beneath my eye.
“What do you mean? My outfit?”
“Huh? Why are we talking about clothes all of a sudden?”
If it’s not that, then what’s so strange?
As I tried to recall, Lucas tilted his head slightly and spoke again.
“You’re dressed plainly enough today. You used to come to the knights’ order in far more extravagant attire.”
Right, that’s true.
The White Knights’ Order, to which Rosebelia belonged, granted considerable freedom regarding dress code. As long as members wore their uniforms properly during lessons or training, no one minded.
Despite knowing all this, I’d still hesitated for a moment before entering the order in this outfit.
That’s why the subconscious is so frightening—I nearly slipped up and said something I shouldn’t have.
“Then what exactly seems strange to you?”
“Well, judging by your attire, you don’t have lessons today… yet you haven’t gone to the training grounds and have just been trailing behind me since earlier.”
That’s only because among today’s knights-in-training, you happen to be the tallest!
There’s someone I really don’t want to run into right now!
“I won’t be doing personal training today anyway. By the way, when is Ed supposed to arrive?”
“He said he’d be back by afternoon at the latest.”
“You clearly saw me with Edwin at the Eve Festival, right?”
Lucas bobbed his head.
“That’s what I said.”
As soon as I arrived at the knights’ order, I’d asked my fellow trainees if they’d seen me during the Eve Festival.
Everyone shook their heads, but only Lucas claimed he’d seen me with Edwin.
If only I could extract even the tiniest clue from Edwin…
Should I just go straight to Ian and ask him outright?
I bit my lip hard to suppress the sudden impulse. Ian assumed I’d feigned intoxication to avoid answering his questions.
But what if I confessed I remembered nothing about that night? What if Ian had already decided to deceive me from that very moment?
“He wouldn’t lie to me, would he?”
“Rosebelia, what did you just say to me?”
Rubbing my dry eyes, I hastily waved my hand at Lucas.
“Nothing at all.”
Right—I should meet Edwin first.
If I could obtain even a single clue about that night from him, facing Ian again would be far easier.
“Lucas!”
“The deputy commander is calling for you. I’m off.”
Before I could stop him, Lucas sprinted toward the main building. Left alone, I glanced around and headed toward the deserted section of the castle wall.
Surely Ian wouldn’t appear here, would he?
As I strolled beneath the wall, I suddenly halted. According to Rosebelia’s memories, the sea lay just beyond it.
The deeper I delved into her recollections, the stronger my urge grew to see that vast, open ocean.
I knew it was risky, but this body would surely manage—it wasn’t as if Rosebelia hadn’t occasionally perched atop these very walls to gaze at the sea.
Familiar with the terrain, I quickly found a lower section of the wall and climbed up.
Seeing the boundless sea stretched before me, all my worries seemed to vanish.
The endless expanse of ocean, white foam crashing against the rocks.
I drew in the cool sea breeze deeply, and its refreshing scent filled my nostrils.
How long had it been since I’d felt such liberation in broad daylight?
Though everything remained confusing, simply being alive to witness this view filled me with gratitude.
“Climbing up there again, are you?”
That voice—
I spun around quickly to see Gabriel, commander of the White Knights’ Order, his hair and beard streaked with gray.
Gabriel looked up at me with his usual warm smile.
“As long as you pretend not to notice, Commander.”
“Come down at once.”
“Yes, yes. I was just about to—”
I paused mid-motion as I spotted someone swiftly approaching behind Gabriel. That face was unmistakably…
While I tilted my head in confusion, Ian reached the base of the wall and extended his hand toward me.
“Shall I help you down?”
“No.”
A strong sea breeze suddenly blew, sending my golden hair fluttering wildly. After tucking the unruly strands behind my ears, my skirt began flapping inconveniently.
As I fumbled to hold it down, an urgent voice called up from below.
“It’s dangerous, senior.”
Looking down, I saw Ian standing awkwardly with his arms outstretched.
After landing safely on both feet, I looked up at him with a dazed expression.
“What were you just doing?”
“I only wanted to help—you looked unsteady.”
Ian merely shrugged as if puzzled by my reaction.
In the original story, he’d always seemed cold and emotionless.
He hadn’t even blinked when the sweet, affectionate heroine showered him with love!
He was a ruthless tyrant obsessed with war—utterly devoid of mercy!
“Seems the one who should keep quiet isn’t me, but you.”
“My apologies for the late greeting, Commander.”
At Ian’s respectful bow, Gabriel chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
“I’m the senior and you’re the junior—surely that’s acceptable?”
“Is climbing the castle wall strictly forbidden?”
“Normally, yes. A knight once fell and was injured.”
“But I’m fine, Commander.”
“I know you’re exceptional, but haven’t I always reminded you of something?”
Gabriel stroked his goatee with mock solemnity.
“Yes—not to grow complacent.”
Gabriel cherished Rosebelia more than anyone. Even before she achieved Swordmaster status, he’d admired her talent and repeatedly urged her to succeed him as commander.
“Exactly. Exceptional skill doesn’t excuse recklessness. If you truly set your mind to it, my position could one day be—”
“Commander, let’s discuss that another time.”
Cutting him off abruptly, I felt Ian’s curious gaze brush against my cheek. Gabriel glanced between us and chuckled softly.
“Feeling shy, are we?”
“Well… someone’s listening, after all. A little?”
“You handle discipline among your juniors.”
“No, Commander…”
You can’t just leave us alone like this!
As if waiting for Gabriel to leave, Ian stepped directly in front of me.
“Senior.”
“Hm?”
Startled, I lifted my head while searching for an escape route. We stood quite close. His black hair, damp from training, fluttered gently in the breeze.
I stared quietly at his uniquely colored hair and momentarily held my breath.
Before me stretched a deep, vast sea. Upon closer look, Ian’s eyes held the exact same hue as that profound ocean which had just given me such a sense of freedom.
“A reply I never heard before…”
Right—this isn’t the time to lose myself in daydreams.
Snapping back to my senses, I quickly pointed toward the training grounds. Someone seemed to be passing by there just now.
Wait—red hair?
“Sorry, rookie. Something urgent just came to mind. Let’s talk later.”
Thankfully, Ian didn’t chase after me as I dashed off. Catching my breath in front of the training grounds, I received greetings from the new recruits.
Thinking it might be Edwin—given his rare red hair—I scanned the area, but found no one with crimson locks nearby.
Had I imagined it?
Just as I turned toward the stables after glancing around, a voice called out.
“Rose?”
Recognizing the cheerful tone immediately, I knew the red-haired man blocking my path was none other than Edwin, the original story’s secondary male lead.
“Ed?”
“Yes, the very Edwin you’ve been searching for so desperately.”
“I wasn’t searching that desperately…”
“Really? Then I’ll be off.”
“I do have something to ask you.”
Since Edwin was a character I’d grown fond of alongside the original heroine Daisy, I found myself studying his face intently. Though I’d seen it countless times in Rosebelia’s memories, meeting him in person felt strangely novel.
Now that I think of it, I’m curious about the original heroine Daisy too.
“What’s wrong?”
“Hm?”
“You look serious.”
Edwin was Rosebelia’s fellow knight trainee and closest confidant.
He alone understood her innermost thoughts, and she trusted him above all others.
So perhaps it was alright to tell him this much.
“It’s just… I can’t remember what happened recently.”
“What?”
“I was bedridden for an entire day, right? Strangely, everything from around that time is completely blank.”
“What did the physician say?”
“He said there’s nothing wrong.”
“Are you sure you’re truly fine? Shouldn’t you rest more?”
Frowning slightly, Edwin placed his hand on my forehead.
“No fever.”
“I’m fully recovered.”
“What exactly can’t you remember?”
“I don’t recall a single thing from the Eve Festival. Lucas said he saw you and me together—was that true?”
Before I could finish, Edwin tilted his head in confusion. My hopeful anticipation instantly cooled.
“You and I weren’t together—I was just nearby.”
Just nearby?
Noticing my disappointment, Edwin rolled his eyes as if trying to recall, then let out a soft gasp.
“Oh—I did see you talking to a rookie.”
“A rookie?”
“Yes. Klein, I think his name was. You really don’t remember anything at all?”
“That’s what I’m saying. He asked me for some kind of reply, but I can’t recall our conversation at all. It’s as if that entire day was erased—I don’t know who I met or what I did.”
“If you can’t remember, why not ask him directly? I think he’d understand if you were honest.”
“…”
I swallowed a sigh inwardly. Guess I’ll just have to confront him head-on.
‘Have you forgotten? Or do you wish to forget?’
‘No, I just… want to pretend it never happened.’
If I told him the truth—that I fabricated the excuse because I genuinely couldn’t remember the Eve Festival—would he believe me?
“I only witnessed you speaking with the rookie, but I didn’t hear your actual conversation.”
“How did you two look while talking?”
“The rookie seemed a bit nervous, while you appeared fairly calm.”
“The rookie was nervous?”
Edwin gave a light nod and spoke casually.
“Yeah, probably received another confession.”
A confession? He said confession?
“The rookie confessed to me?”
…That can’t be right.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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