“Did you hear about how she saved my sister at the square some time ago? Do you remember by any chance?”

“Yes, I do remember, but…”

“I’ve come to express my gratitude for what you did.”

Does there really need to be such a fuss over expressing gratitude? Those words swirled around in my mouth.

My face felt like it was burning from all the stares directed our way, yet the very person who caused this commotion looked perfectly composed.

“Um, could you please stand up first…? People are watching.”

Only then did Renart seem to notice my discomfort as he hastily got to his feet.

“Ah, I didn’t consider that. My sister wanted to thank you in person, but she’s not feeling well so I came in her stead.”

“Is her condition quite serious?”

Recalling Daisy’s persistent coughing, my mouth went dry.

According to the original story, nothing should happen to Daisy right away, but since I’ve been twisting the plot, I couldn’t guarantee the future.

“No, it’s not. You don’t need to worry.”

“That’s a relief.”

Ah, I remembered now.

I met this man at a banquet hosted by the Riley family, in other words, the current Empress’ family and the family of Rosebelia’s new stepmother Olivia.

While I was talking with Cayden, Renart had approached and we briefly exchanged greetings. That was the full extent of my memory.

“After hearing the full story from my sister, everyone in our family is grateful to you, Lady Winters. My parents wish to meet you in person to express their gratitude. We plan to formally invite you soon…”

A formal invitation? From the Ilyzer family to me?

“No, I merely did what I had to as a knight. The fact that you came all this way to convey your thanks is more than enough for me.”

“…I see.”

Renart simply showed a faint smile, not looking like he planned to press the matter further.

“What happened to the ones who threatened Lady Ilyzer that day?”

“Those men will never set foot in this empire again.”

Renart spoke in a chilling voice. He was still smiling, but his eyes were sharp.

Judging by his reaction, did things proceed the same as the original?

In the original story, when Daisy confessed what had happened at the square, Renart stepped up to say he would personally punish the men who threatened her, transferring them under the jurisdiction of the Paladin Order.

“Please send my regards to your sister as well.”

“I will. Then I shall see you again soon.”

Leaving those meaningful words, Renart abruptly departed from the Paladin headquarters.

What did he mean by seeing me again soon when I clearly declined the invitation?

Was it just a polite thing to say? Like saying “Let’s grab a meal sometime”?

“Isn’t that man Renart Ilyzer?”

Edwin approached from the side, looking stunned as he asked.

“Yes.”

A soft sigh escaped through my parted lips. I couldn’t shake off the discomfiting feeling, as if I had gone to remove a lump only to get a bigger one instead.

Daisy secretly visiting the Paladin headquarters to see Ian, who had saved her, was a main episode in the early part of the story.

I had considered the possibility that Daisy might come to the headquarters, but I never expected Renart to come in her place.

“What exactly happened? Why did that man come to you…? Don’t tell me he proposed?”

“How could that be?”

“But the atmosphere was exactly like…”

Instead of saying, “He was trying to set you up with Daisy and this is how it turned out,” I glared at Edwin with my eyes and explained the full story to him.

“Something like that happened at the square that day?”

“Yes.”

“Those bastards. If I had caught them, I wouldn’t have left a single bone intact.”

Edwin, if you had coolly dealt with those bad guys and saved Daisy, it would have been the perfect…

I abruptly cut off that train of thought. There was no point in dwelling on what was already done.

Stuffing down the smoldering embers of regret that were just waiting for a chance to flare up, I deliberately tried to think of something else.

For example, what was the source of this savory smell that had been tickling my nose for a while now?

“Edwin.”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s go eat.”

“Sure.”

As we neared the dining hall of the Paladin headquarters, the smell of corn soup wafted over.

Following behind Edwin who ran ahead as if entranced by the aroma, I entered the dining hall and paused for a moment at the unusual atmosphere. The normally boisterous interior was eerily silent for an instant.

What’s with this mood? Were they just talking about me?

Sensing the stares subtly directed my way, I calmly took a seat, pretending to be unfazed. They were simply curious gazes, lacking any malice.

This much is nothing. In my previous life, I had experienced far more intense scrutiny.

“If you’re curious, why don’t you come and ask directly? Why is everyone sneaking glances like that?”

At Edwin’s loud voice, the concentrated stares gradually dispersed.

“It’s fine. Stop it.”

“Should I go over and explain what happened?”

I waved my hand at Edwin, who was fidgeting as if he would jump up at any moment.

In the meantime, one of the servants stationed in the dining hall brought over bread, soup, smoked chicken with a side of salad.

“It’s okay. Rumors are bound to die down on their own.”

“Well, that man won’t have any reason to visit again…”

The hand holding the fluffy bread trembled ever so slightly. I dipped the bread into the steaming soup, trying to act as if nothing was amiss.

He won’t come again… right?

*

“Rose, you’re going to the training grounds, right?”

“What about you?”

“I’m… Deputy Commander, good day to you.”

Deputy Commander?

In the direction of Edwin’s gaze stood none other than Deputy Commander Fabian.

“Good day, Deputy Commander.”

From Rosebelia’s memories, I recalled he seemed strict and sensitive.

The uniform he wore was immaculately pressed without a single wrinkle, and the white cloak draped over it was as pristine as freshly fallen snow.

“Rosebelia, come with me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Leaving behind Edwin who wished me luck with his eyes, I followed Fabian.

As we entered the Deputy Commander’s office in the main building, I felt the probing gaze of Fabian’s adjutant.

What’s this uneasy feeling?

“I heard there was a commotion today.”

“A commotion, sir?”

“Did I mishear?”

When I tilted my head quizzically, Fabian cleared his throat and continued.

“I heard you’re getting married soon.”

For a moment, my thought process slowed at the abrupt question with its omitted subject.

“Who, sir?”

He asks if there was a commotion and then suddenly brings up someone getting married…

Wait, is he asking if I’m getting married?

“Do you mean me, sir?”

Fabian simply stroked his beard without any response. The silence implied an affirmation.

“No, who would spread such a preposterous rumor…”

I was so dumbfounded that I could barely get the words out. As I let out an incredulous laugh, Fabian’s eyes narrowed as he observed my expression.

“A preposterous rumor, you say?”

“I went to the square the other day and helped out Lady Ilyzer. The Deputy Commander of the Paladin Order came to express his gratitude for that.”

Fabian frowned at me with one eyebrow raised. His hand massaging his forehead made it clear he was flustered.

“Is that all?”

“Yes, that’s the answer.”

Fabian’s adjutant Philip buried his head deep into a stack of documents. It seemed Philip had heard the rumor somewhere and passed it on to the Deputy Commander.

“Then you may go.”

Fabian waved his hand, looking rather disappointed.

He had always disapproved of Rosebelia, so he must be let down that he couldn’t find any fault this time.

“Transparent, I’m transparent.”

Muttering to myself, I headed towards the training grounds when Simon timidly approached.

“Senior Rosebelia.”

“Yes, Simon. What is it?”

Simon hesitated and stammered, not readily answering. He looked like he had a lot he wanted to ask me.

He’s probably going to ask some silly question like if I’m getting married soon, just like Fabian.

“Is it true that you’re leaving the Paladin Order?”

“What? Who said that?”

“That you’re getting married soon and leaving the Order…”

“The rumor has already expanded that much?”

I pressed on my throbbing head. I shouldn’t have just brushed it off as mere curious gazes.

If the scene looked to Edwin like Renart was proposing to me, it must have appeared similarly to the other knights as well.

To those who didn’t know the details, that scene itself became an interesting piece of gossip.

“…It’s not true, right?”

“No, it’s not.”

I replied firmly. Only then did life return to Simon’s face that had been crestfallen the whole time.

“I knew it couldn’t be true. My goal is to go on monster subjugations with you, senior. But then I suddenly heard this absurd and preposterous rumor that you were leaving the Order. You have no idea how shocked I was.”

His emotions must have gotten the better of him as Simon’s eyes looking at me were brimming with tears.

Wait, Simon? The one who feels like crying is me, you know?

“You must have been very surprised. Tell them there’s absolutely no chance of that happening.”

I lightly patted Simon’s shoulder as he sniffled.

“Tell who?”

“There must be someone spreading that nonsensical rumor to you.”

Simon nodded as if he understood what I meant.

“I see. Then I’ll get going, senior.”

This rumor can’t be left alone, can it?

*

Ragged breaths rose all the way to my chin. Steadying my breathing, I looked down at the sweat-stained wooden sword grip.

How long had I been at this?

Glancing out the window, I saw the sky dyed in red. The sun had been high in the sky when I entered the training grounds, so I must have been practicing for several hours, yet my body still felt heavy.

I thought if my body felt light like when I sparred with Ian last time, my cluttered mind would clear up as well…

“Senior.”

Am I hearing things? Why do I think I hear Ian’s voice?

Shaking my head, I picked up the wooden sword and walked over to the storage rack. The auditory hallucination came again.

“Senior?”

This footstep resounding in the training grounds can’t be a hallucination too.

Only then did I turn towards the entrance and saw Ian approaching with a rather leisurely gait.

“Rookie, it was you. Were you at the headquarters this whole time?”

“What about you, senior?”

“I was… diligently training for once…”

Trailing off, I glanced sideways at Ian. Judging by his expression, he didn’t seem to take my words at face value.

“Is it because of what happened during the day?”

“It’s not just because of that.”

My mind was in a jumble for various reasons. The original story’s content and the parts I had twisted were entangled, causing confusion.

I just needed to steadily walk my own path, but I was afraid because I couldn’t clearly see what path I should take.

Perhaps I had been subconsciously relying on the original story. I even thought it might have been better to not know the original plot at all.

Not knowing what will happen tomorrow and having an uncertain future was only natural, but at times it felt suffocating.

“You don’t need to worry.”

Startled, I looked up at Ian. The first thing that entered my sight was the color blue. His eyes, deep like an abyss, were shimmering.

“About what?”

Even though I knew it wasn’t possible, I swallowed dryly, feeling as if he had seen through my thoughts.

“Everyone found out that the rumor about you getting married and leaving the Paladin Order was preposterous.”

Ah, so that’s what he was talking about.

“That’s a relief.”

It was worth it to mobilize Edwin and Lucas, who had a wide network within the Paladin Order, to spread the truth about the rumor.

I had also told them to add that anyone who wanted more details about that day’s events should come to the 7th training ground behind the dining hall, but regrettably, no one came.

“Senior.”

“Yeah?”

“Shall we… spar?”

I couldn’t help but smile at the cautious question. It seemed he had properly grasped that my mood wasn’t very good.

“Sure.”

“How about using real swords?”

“You’ll regret it.”

“There will be no such thing, so don’t worry.”

Ian drew his sword without a moment’s hesitation. Contemplating his provocation for a moment, I pulled out my own sword from its scabbard.

He stepped closer as if he had been waiting, touching the tip of his sword to mine.

It was distinctly different from sparring with wooden swords. Each time the sharpened blades clashed, my senses became twice as keen.

Amidst the tension that squeezed my heart, the ending of the original story suddenly came to mind.

Did Rosebelia and Ian also cross swords like this in the original?

The instant that thought flashed by, I felt strength surge into my hand.

Before I knew it, my sword collided with Ian’s and sent it flying. The clanging sound rang out loudly in the training grounds.

Ian blinked slowly as if trying to comprehend what had happened, then raised his hand to his own face.

Did he get hurt?

Startled, I tossed my sword aside and immediately stepped in front of Ian.

“Are you okay? Let me see.”

“I’m fine…”

I brushed Ian’s hand aside and examined his cheek. It seemed his sword had lightly grazed his cheek as it flew off.

It was a very minor wound, but as expected of a well-honed blade, a bit of blood was seeping out.

“Rookie, you’re bleeding.”

As I pulled his face closer, Ian abruptly stepped back. Not expecting him to pull away at that timing, I stumbled and bumped my forehead against his chest.

Rubbing my forehead, I looked up to see Ian’s face with one eyebrow slightly furrowed.

“Does it hurt?”

The moment I tried to reach for his cheek again, he swiftly grabbed my wrist.

“Do you usually act this way with just anyone?”

“What?”

“Or are you being so forward because I’m just a junior with a forgettable face?”