“Pardon?”

Nathan doubted his own ears.

Ian Klein Martines.

Even putting aside his status as a prince, he was a person with an overflowing presence. With flawless looks, tall stature, and a great physique…

‘He’s the type of person who would stand out no matter where you put him.’

“Isn’t it a problem that he has such a dominating presence? That’s why even though he doesn’t engage in public activities, the empress sees the prince as a thorn in her side…”

Nathan stopped mid-sentence with a startled expression. Fortunately, there was no noticeable change in Ian’s expression, so he carefully continued.

“What I’m trying to say is…”

“Yes, I understand well enough.”

“But why did you suddenly ask that? Did someone spout nonsense at you, saying that you lack presence, Your Highness?”

“It’s not like that.”

Ian, who had been lightly tapping the desk with his fingertips, rubbed his brow.

‘Simon is Simon, but why am I a newcomer?’

That question suddenly arose and he found it hard to shake off. He knew that Rosebelia had confused him, whom she requested a duel with, and Simon, who had confessed to her.

But Simon was clearly rejected, while he was accepted for the duel and was even in a dueling relationship with her.

‘Usually, wouldn’t the person who crosses swords be considered to have more presence?’

“Don’t tell me the Second Prince has offended you again, Your Highness?”

Ian let out a chuckle and tilted his head.

“Nathan, there’s no one easier to handle than Enoch.”

The First Prince Ian was the empress dowager’s son, while the Second Prince Enoch was the empress’ son.

Ian’s mother, Violet Brayton, had given birth before the empress, so from the moment he was born, Ian had been under surveillance by the empress’ faction.

After Enoch was born and Violet died, Ian had lived a life bordering on neglect, but that was exactly what he genuinely wished for. His hermit-like lifestyle was also of his own will.

‘If only Enoch was someone whose thoughts were plainly visible like most people…’

Rosebelia was a person who was hard to read.

She had joined the White Knights, admiring Gabriel, but at the eve festival, when Ian crossed swords with her for the first time, he felt a thrill.

He had requested a duel with her because he wanted to experience that sensation one more time.

Now he had become her only dueling partner, and by continually crossing swords with her, he felt he had achieved his goal in a sense.

But he couldn’t understand why he kept getting bothered by such trivial matters.

‘No? I don’t find it unpleasant at all.’

At the eve festival, he thought she had a cold and indifferent personality, but Rosebelia unexpectedly had a variety of expressions. She would occasionally laugh like a child too.

‘The square is unpredictable so be extra cautious.’

She had charisma as well.

Recalling how Rosebelia had saved him twice at the square, Ian covered his mouth. Inside his palm, the corners of his mouth were uncontrollably twitching upwards.

Finding the sensation a bit unfamiliar, Ian unknowingly curled his fingertips. Right then-

“Then what kind of insane person would…”

“Watch your words, Nathan.”

Startled by the chilly tone, Nathan dejectedly drooped his eyebrows as if wronged.

“But I was taking your side, Your Highness.”

“They didn’t say I lack presence. I just…”

Ian, who was about to rattle off excuses, suddenly closed his mouth.

‘Why am I hung up on this?’

A sigh slipped through his teeth. As he roughly ran his hand through his hair, a confused look rose in Ian’s eyes.

“I understand. It was my slip of the tongue.”

Nathan prided himself on being the most quick-witted person in the empire.

Anyone who could shake Ian up like this must be an important person to him, and he was probably troubled that he seemed to lack presence to that person.

‘Is Commander Gabriel not giving the prince enough attention?’

“Right, don’t ever speak ill of that person again.”

“I don’t even know who they are, but I won’t badmouth them again.”

Ian nodded and rummaged through his pocket. In his hand was the candy he had received from Rosebelia.

“What is that?”

“…Something like that exists.”

Why did he even accept it when it’s not even edible?

‘Hurry and eat it, Simon.’

‘You’re not eating it, newcomer…’

As soon as he recalled that situation, irritation abruptly surged. Ian clenched and unclenched his fist repeatedly. The candy rolling around inside annoyed him.

Since it’s annoying, should I just toss it?

The moment he had that thought, his fingertips curled inward. As if instinctively refusing to allow him to throw this away, more force was applied to his palm.

Rising from his chair, Ian shoved the candy back into his pocket and lightly waved his hand at Nathan.

“Yes, yes. Then sleep well.”

*

“I’m really sorry about yesterday, Rose.”

“I said it’s fine. I understand it was an unavoidable situation.”

The engagement with Daisy is important, but of course you had to go check when you heard your mother fell and got injured on the stairs.

“Really?”

“Yes, let’s stop talking about this. Thankfully the Duchess is alright, and it’s already over anyway…”

“Huh? What’s over? Explain so I can understand, Rose.”

At first, when Edwin disappeared, I thought I couldn’t change the original story. But when Daisy was in danger, Ian didn’t show up.

It does bother me that I ended up revealing myself at the square though…

Even if something gets altered because I intervene, is there still a chance things will flow according to the original in the end?

“It’s nothing much…”

Just then, some junior knights passing by were chattering about something. Hearing the word ‘fight’ in their conversation, I abruptly grabbed the arm of one of them.

“A fight?”

“Ah, sunbae-nim. There was a fight in front of the training grounds…”

Before the junior knight could finish speaking, Edwin was already running towards the training grounds.

“Right, thanks for letting me know.”

The scene unfolding in front of the training grounds when I arrived was a sight to behold. Two rookie knights, faces already bruised, with uniforms half-undone, were in a standoff while other knights surrounded them.

“Lucas, where’s the commander?”

Lucas, who was standing there with a troubled look, answered.

“He went to the palace today. The vice-commander doesn’t seem to be around either.”

Should I consider this fortunate?

While I was feeling relieved, I saw Edwin pushing through the knights and approaching the problematic rookies.

Judging by his stubbornly closed lips, he seemed really angry. Should I just leave him be?

“You two, what are you doing?”

At Edwin’s question, Derick immediately responded.

“Jace started it, didn’t he?”

“I started it? You bumped into my shoulder first.”

Jace let out a scornful laugh and growled, ready to face off against Derick again. It seemed they had finally clashed after their petty disputes.

“Both of you, stop. Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves, knights throwing punches at each other?”

At Edwin’s reprimand, the two rookies who were about to argue further simultaneously shut their mouths.

“Rather than doing this here, why don’t you have a proper duel?”

“Edwin! If the vice-commander finds out…”

“Lucas, I think Edwin’s suggestion is good. It’s an official duel, right?”

Vanessa, who had been silently observing with folded arms, chimed in. She was a senior to Rosebelia and one of the top knights in the order, frequently participating in demonic beast hunts.

Right, an official duel might be better.

About to mindlessly nod in agreement, my eyes met Vanessa’s head-on. She seemed to send me a silent gaze, wiggling her eyebrows, before speaking again.

“Rosebelia, what do you think?”

“I agree with sunbae-nim’s opinion. How about the loser leaves the knight order?”

“What?”

“The knight order?”

Derick and Jace looked at each other in surprise. Barely suppressing a scornful laugh, I said in the sweetest voice possible.

“If you caused such a disturbance without even that much spirit, it’s even more incomprehensible.”

“Rose is right. We are considered the most elite among the knight orders in the empire. We are the only White Knight Order that participates in every demonic beast hunt without fail, and we always assemble the largest scale hunting teams. Do you know what that means?”

“That the White Knight Order is strong…”

Vanessa waved her hand as if the rest went without saying.

“Yes, we’re strong. So honor follows. But that’s not everything. There hasn’t been a war recently, but we knights can lose a comrade we were with just yesterday in the blink of an eye. Of course, you can lose your own life too.”

At Vanessa’s words, the expressions of several knights, including Edwin, who had gone on the demonic beast hunt last year, darkened.

At that time, the commander’s adjutant was severely injured and left the order, and the adjutant position had remained vacant since.

“Why don’t you join the Royal Guard instead? Their main job is guarding the palace, so even if knights fight each other, people will just think you’re bored, right?”

Edwin’s half-joking remark made Jason and Derick’s faces turn pale.

The imperial knight orders were divided into the elite White Knight Order and the Royal Guard in charge of palace security. The two orders had a long-standing rivalry and didn’t get along well.

The White Knight Order mocked the Royal Guard as knights who only cared about appearances, while the Royal Guard ridiculed the White Knight Order as boorish knights who only had strength.

Moreover, the internal dynamics of the two orders were polar opposites. The Royal Guard still strictly limited entry to only male nobles, while the White Knight Order accepted anyone regardless of status as long as they proved their skills.

The White Knight Order was also the first to allow female knights. Since the emergence of female knights was relatively recent, Rosebelia was the only case of a noble lady becoming one.

So the empire had been in an uproar for a while. It was quite amusing to see Herman and Olivia’s reactions when it was announced that Rosebelia would be joining the White Knight Order.

“You’re all curious about the demonic beast hunts, right? When you’re a knight who has been on a hunt even once, people’s gazes change. Why do you think that is? Think about it simply.”

“Because many people don’t return unharmed.”

It wasn’t Derick, who was scratching his forehead, or Jace, who had been sneaking glances at me, who seconded Edwin’s words. It was Ian, who had appeared at some point.

It was rather unexpected for Ian of all people to chime in. I thought he would stand back as if it were someone else’s business, like last time.

“So if you’re going to muddy the waters of the order, get out now.”

The training ground entrance fell silent as if a mouse had died at Edwin’s resolute voice.

“As rookies, what you should be doing is not some petty power struggles, but diligently attending lessons and training even a bit more. There are plenty of knights here who can’t go on a single hunt no matter how endlessly they train. It’s not luck, only those with the skills to survive can go on the hunts.”

“But I heard some of the sunbaes go on the hunts every time…”

Derick’s gaze was fixed precisely on me and Edwin.

“That’s because we have outstanding skills.”

Edwin retorted with a nonchalant expression.

“Then may I request a duel with sunbae-nim?”

The target of Jace’s hesitant question was not me, but Edwin.

I thought he would ask to duel me since he kept glancing at me, but it was Edwin?

“Me?”

“That… I heard Rosebelia sunbae-nim doesn’t accept duels.”

Right, that rumor had spread. I guess it’s true that I gave Ian special treatment.

“Rosebelia not accepting duels isn’t because she looks down on you, but because she’s showing leniency.”

Feeling called out by Edwin’s words, I sneaked a glance at Ian. As if he had also been looking at me for a while, our eyes met in midair.

What, since when was he watching?

The moment I tried to hide my flustered state, the corners of Ian’s mouth gently curved upwards.

Is he laughing after startling his sunbae?

I glared at him with one eyebrow contorted, and Ian discreetly covered his mouth.

“If you want to duel Rose, you’ll have to defeat me first.”

I knew my judgment was right. He seems like a good kid.

Although I missed the golden opportunity, it’s not like there won’t be any chances to meet Daisy in the future.

This time, I’ll definitely make your one-sided love come true, Edwin.

“What’s that?”

Lucas pointed to a man riding a horse into the knight order entrance.

The stables aren’t this way though?

“Isn’t that the Royal Guard’s cape?”

The murmuring grew louder. The silver-haired handsome man on the white horse approached leisurely, indifferent to everyone’s attention.

The man, with a prince-like appearance, briefly surveyed the surroundings and soon dismounted.

The destination of the man’s steps was…

Huh? Why does it seem like he’s coming towards me?

The man, wearing the red cape symbolizing the Royal Guard, approached me without a moment’s hesitation.

“Who are you…”

“We’ve met once before, but it seems you don’t remember.”

We’ve met before? Then why does it feel like our first meeting?

Was he not someone who left much of an impression on Rosebelia’s memory?

While I hesitated, the man took one step closer and said with a bright smile.

“I am Renart Elizer.”

“Renart Elizer…”

The Elizer family is Daisy’s family, right?

Looking closely, his eye color was a dark violet like Daisy’s.

Right, Renart Elizer.

Daisy’s older brother and the vice-commander of the Royal Guard. And the next head of the Elizer Duchy.

In the original story, wasn’t he considered the best marriage candidate?

In the brief moment I recalled the original, the murmuring grew louder. What entered my sight was Renart kneeling on one knee in front of me.

“Wait a moment…”

And before I could react, Renart kissed the back of my hand.