No matter how many times I blinked, nothing changed. It was definitely Daisy in front of me.

“How on earth did you get here…”

“Rose, what’s going on?”

Edwin, who had followed behind, took a sharp breath when he spotted Daisy.

Before I could even examine Edwin, words like a bolt from the blue pierced my ears.

“I came to learn swordsmanship from Lady Rosebelia.”

“What? You came to learn swordsmanship?”

This wasn’t how it went in the original story.

Wasn’t she supposed to have secretly come to see Ian?

“…Is that not allowed?”

Her dejected look was like a puppy with its tail between its legs. As I hesitated to answer, Edwin asked in a trembling voice.

“Rose, who is this?”

Edwin’s slightly widened eyes, seemingly surprised, were fixed on Daisy.

In the original story, Edwin fell for Daisy at first sight when she came to the knights’ quarters to see Ian. I guess some things don’t change.

“This is the lady I saved in the square.”

“I apologize for the late introduction. I’m Daisy Elizer.”

As Daisy smiled brightly while holding the hem of her dress, Edwin exhaled a heavy breath.

“Did you really come here to learn swordsmanship?”

“Ever since I saw Lady Rosebelia’s swordsmanship in the square that day, I couldn’t sleep. The image of Lady Rosebelia wielding a sword kept lingering in my mind, and I thought I’d like to learn too… Is that not possible?”

I slightly raised the corners of my mouth, trying not to show my bewilderment. I intended to let her down gently so as not to hurt her feelings.

“You see, swords are quite heavy by nature. It would be too heavy for you to wield, Lady Daisy…”

As soon as I mentioned her name, Daisy covered her mouth with her hand, seemingly surprised. A faint blush bloomed on her cheeks that weren’t fully covered.

“You could practice some light movements with a wooden sword, but as you know, this is a knights’ order, so it’s not really suitable for you to train here, Lady Daisy.”

“I see.”

Her face, which had been visibly joyful, instantly became gloomy.

“There should be a training ground at the duke’s residence, so you could practice there little by little…”

“But I want to learn from Lady Rosebelia.”

Considering Daisy’s physical condition, refusing would be the right thing to do, but facing those sparkling eyes that were almost burdensome, my resolve kept weakening.

Come to think of it, wasn’t it the duchess who was strict with Daisy at the duke’s residence?

“Did you get permission from the duchess?”

Daisy shook her head with a sheepish look.

“I think you should get permission first.”

“I suppose so. But I really want to learn…”

Just as the thought crossed my mind that I should help since Daisy was showing such enthusiasm, she suddenly clutched her head.

“Are you alright?”

I immediately approached and grasped her shoulder, and Daisy leaned her body against me.

“I just felt a bit dizzy all of a sudden.”

Daisy had been frail since childhood and had always been overprotected.

For the past few years, she had frequently complained of dizziness, but even renowned physicians couldn’t determine the cause, and eventually, she was told she wouldn’t live long.

“How much do you walk in a day?”

“I often don’t leave my room because my heart races even after walking a little.”

If that’s the case, she probably doesn’t even take light walks most of the time, which means her exposure to sunlight must be significantly less.

“You don’t eat much either, do you?”

“No, I don’t feel hungry.”

It was just as I had suspected from the original story.

In fact, in my previous life, there was someone around me with similar symptoms to Daisy. It was my mother, who passed away in an unfortunate accident when I was young.

My mother had a pre-existing condition, which was arrhythmia.

“Have you ever experienced chest pain or difficulty breathing?”

If there’s pain in the heart or difficulty breathing, one needs to undergo a procedure, but in my mother’s case, fortunately, there was no pain as it wasn’t severe arrhythmia.

I remember forcibly dragging my mother out for walks when I was young because regular exercise was said to be beneficial. At first, it was hard for her, but thankfully, her condition gradually improved.

“No, I haven’t experienced anything like that.”

“I see.”

Daisy’s condition suddenly worsened in the middle to latter part of the original story. She complained of heart pain and fainted several times due to her heartbreak over Ian.

If we can manage her condition properly at this point before the symptoms worsen, couldn’t we prevent Daisy’s condition from deteriorating?

“But why are you asking…”

“Senior, the Captain is looking for you.”

My heart sank at the sudden interruption.

The one walking towards me, passing by Edwin who still stood there with a dazed expression, was Ian.

The original male lead, the female lead, and even the second male lead. I involuntarily swallowed dry at this sudden three-way encounter.

“Is that so? Alright.”

I glanced down at Daisy, who was still in my arms.

Daisy briefly looked at Ian, then turned her head with an indifferent expression.

Fortunately, it seemed she wasn’t showing interest in Ian, but it was safer to remove potential risk factors in advance.

“It would be best if you return for today, Lady Daisy.”

“Oh my, now that I think about it, I forgot…”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. Never mind.”

Her downcast eyes now held a faint hint of a smile, as if nothing had happened.

“Did you come here alone?”

“The carriage is waiting outside. Then, I’ll see you again soon, Lady Rosebelia.”

As I watched Daisy’s retreating figure, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Come to think of it, why has Edwin been so quiet all this time?

When I glanced over, what I saw was Edwin, frozen like a statue.

“Edwin, what’s wrong with you?”

“…I think…”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

“I think I’ve met my destiny.”

Hearing Edwin’s voice muttering as if in a dream, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“It seems so. Congratulations.”

I thought you wouldn’t change, Edwin, even if the original story changed.

But if Daisy’s ending doesn’t change, even if things go well between the two of you…

Trying to shake off the negative thoughts, I hurried towards the main building where the Captain’s office was located.

*

“Klein, what are you doing here?”

Ian, who was leaning against an old tree, lifted his heavy eyelids. Reflected in his eyes was Jace, a new knight who had entered the White Knights Order with him.

“As you can see, I’m just sitting here.”

“I heard a beautiful lady came to the knights’ order earlier, did you see her?”

Ian slowly furrowed his brow.

‘A beautiful lady?’

There was a woman who clung to Rosebelia persistently like a thorny vine.

‘Is he talking about that woman?’

A sneer escaped through his tightly closed teeth.

If one had to attach the word ‘beautiful’ to a person, the one who would fit that description would be…

Ian recalled the time a few days ago when he stood on the castle wall and looked at the sea at Rosebelia’s suggestion. The scenery was truly beautiful.

But what captured Ian’s attention even more was Rosebelia’s pale face, fully illuminated by the soft moonlight, her golden hair that particularly sparkled…

And her languid laughter scattered in the wind.

When he closed his eyes, occasionally the scene from that day would come to mind. After the vision of Rosebelia, which flickered like an illusion, disappeared, the pit of his stomach would tingle strangely.

Rosebelia, who was smiling faintly with her eyes closed, seemed as if she didn’t belong to this world.

It felt like she might fly away somewhere at any moment, which is why he unknowingly grabbed the hem of her cloak.

“Klein? Are you listening to me?”

“I’m listening. Do you know who that person is?”

Ian asked while tapping his chest, which felt heavy as if something had settled on it.

“I heard she’s the young lady of the Elizer family that Senior Rosebelia saved in the square.”

“Ah.”

When Ian acknowledged it, Jace’s eyes widened.

“Klein, did you see her?”

“I did see her.”

“Senior Rosebelia is a dazzling beauty, right? I heard that young lady is a pure beauty with a delicate feel to her, is that true?”

“It’s not to that extent…”

His carelessly cast gaze caught on something. Rosebelia, who had just come out of the Captain’s office, was talking closely with Edwin.

As Edwin leaned his head towards Rosebelia and touched her arm familiarly, Ian’s fingertips involuntarily curled.

‘What is this feeling?’

The sudden surge of displeasure didn’t seem to subside easily for some reason.

“Klein?”

“…”

“What are you looking at so intently while talking?”

Jace, who had noticed where Ian’s gaze was fixed, patted his shoulder lightly with a knowing look.

“You also admire Senior Rosebelia and Senior Edwin, don’t you?”

“Admire?”

“I admire them too. My goal is to get closer to both seniors while I’m in the knights’ order.”

“If you admire someone, you want to get closer to them?”

Ian, who couldn’t take his eyes off Rosebelia, asked back with an irritated expression.

“Of course. Since they’re people you look up to, you naturally want to become friends and get closer to them.”

For a moment, Ian’s prominently visible Adam’s apple moved significantly.

“And you’d like to be the closest to that person, more than anyone else?”

“Huh? Well… if your admiration is strong enough, that could be…”

Before Jace could finish his sentence, Ian nodded his head. He closed his eyes for a long moment and then opened them, as if facing his own emotions.

‘So this is what they call admiration.’

His eyes, which naturally followed Rosebelia, shone brightly.

*

“What? Cayden?”

Olivia looked up at Arnold with her delicate brow furrowed.

“Yes. It seems he’s training separately with Schultz, who used to be Lady Rosebelia’s swordsmanship instructor.”

Olivia remembered Schultz as well. He was a high-ranking knight who had been in charge of the Winters family’s security for quite a long time.

“Why on earth is Cayden doing that?”

“The young master once asked me if he would ever be skilled enough to spar with Lady Rosebelia. I think the young master sought out Schultz because he wants to spar with Lady Rosebelia.”

She had stripped Schultz of his position because she disliked how devoted he was to Rosebelia.

She could have driven him out, but she kept him at the marquis’s residence to show Rosebelia.

To show her clearly what becomes of those who follow Rosebelia within the Winters family.

It also contained a warning message: if you don’t want to end up like that, leave this place quickly.

‘Whether it’s Cayden or Vivian, why do they follow Rosebelia so much?’

Olivia was already on edge just from Rosebelia, who looked exactly like Liliana, running around the marquis’s residence.

‘Moreover, it’s been so long since Liliana died, yet when people think of the Winters family, they still think of the former marchioness Liliana and Rosebelia.’

Born into a humble viscount’s family, Liliana, with her striking appearance, attracted attention wherever she went.

Olivia still couldn’t forget the sight of Herman, whom she had loved for a long time, falling for Liliana at first sight.

Every time that memory vividly came to mind, the desire to completely erase Liliana’s deeply cast shadow in this mansion consumed her.

From now on, Cayden and Vivian should represent the Winters family.

Not Rosebelia, who inherited the bloodline of a humble viscount’s family and had nothing to boast about except her beauty.

“Keep a close eye on them.”

“Pardon? But Schultz’s training methods are quite strict.”

“Yes, they were.”

Schultz treated Cayden the same as others, even knowing he was the next head of the marquis’s family.

‘That’s why Cayden sometimes got minor injuries…’

A cold smile played on Olivia’s lips as she recalled the past memory.

“You entrusted me with young master Cayden’s training, saying that not even a hair on the young master’s head should be harmed. Surely, if he trains with Schultz, the young master might get hurt…”

“That’s why I’m telling you to watch for now. It seems like quite an interesting picture might unfold.”