Slowly turning around, I saw a woman in a dark green dress with her brown hair neatly tied up.

The woman who once reigned as the flower of society, from Olivia Riley to Olivia Winters.

She was Rosebelia’s new stepmother.

“Ah.”

As I let out a low exclamation, Olivia approached me with graceful steps.

“Rose?”

“Mother.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I was just taking a walk.”

“I see? You seem to have some free time today.”

Olivia stopped and slightly raised the corners of her mouth towards me.

“I was going to rest, but I think I’ll have to go to the knights’ order. I’ll be going now.”

“Wait, Rose.”

As I turned around again, I saw Olivia still wearing a faint smile on her face.

“Pay a little more attention to your attire. You’re the young lady of the Winters Marquis family, and you’re almost of marriageable age, aren’t you?”

Unlike the voluminous dress Olivia was wearing, the clothes I was wearing were closer to a one-piece dress rather than a formal gown.

What’s wrong with this outfit?

I know it’s comfortable to wear without any understructures, and not only Rosebelia but also young noble ladies often wear it as casual wear, don’t they?

I was about to argue but kept my mouth shut. Once my lips were pressed together, they wouldn’t easily part.

It was as if all my senses were warning me not to continue the conversation and to leave the place for now.

“Why don’t we call for a madame sometime, my lady?”

Margaret, Olivia’s dedicated maid standing beside her, said. Olivia nodded lightly as if agreeing and took a step.

“Let’s go.”

As I walked away with my back turned to them, I soon burst into a small laugh.

Not for a single moment did her eyes smile.

Even in Rosebelia’s memories, Olivia always approached her in a friendly manner, but Rosebelia was wary of her.

Well, with such an uneasy feeling, how could one easily open their heart just by seeing a smiling face?

Although Olivia didn’t openly show it, I could sense that she harbored hostility towards me. This body’s instincts must be right.

A year ago, when Rosebelia became fully capable of utilizing aura, her physical abilities, including her five senses, and even her sixth sense, were remarkably enhanced. She was, in a sense, the only Sword Master in the current empire.

“Later, Ian also becomes a Sword Master, but…”

So only Rosebelia and Ian became each other’s rivals. The only rivals who could match each other.

If I, unlike the Rosebelia in the original story, don’t go into exile in the Kingdom of Lenore and stay in the empire…

Wouldn’t there be no need to become Ian’s rival, and no chance of confronting each other on the battlefield in the first place?

“Surely he wouldn’t deceive me?”

“Rosebelia, what did you just say to me?”

Rubbing my dry eyes, I hurriedly waved my hand towards Lucas.

“It’s nothing.”

Yes, I need to meet Edwin first.

If I could get even a small clue about that day from Edwin, it would be much easier to face Ian again.

“Lucas!”

“The vice-captain is calling. I’m going.”

Before I could stop him, Lucas ran towards the main building. Left alone, I looked around and headed towards the less crowded area near the castle walls.

Ian wouldn’t appear here, right?

As I was strolling beneath the castle walls, I suddenly stopped. According to Rosebelia’s memories, there was a sea beyond the walls.

As I traced her memories, I was quickly consumed by the desire to see the open sea.

I know it’s dangerous, but with this body, it should be fine. Rosebelia used to sit on the castle walls to look at the sea from time to time.

I found a relatively low part of the wall with familiarity and climbed up.

Seeing the open sea, it felt like all worries and concerns disappeared.

The vast sea with no visible end, white foam breaking against the rocks.

As I inhaled the cool breeze deep into my lungs, the refreshing scent of the sea rushed to my nostrils.

How long has it been since I’ve enjoyed such a sense of freedom in broad daylight?

Although everything is still confusing, just being able to take in this scenery makes me grateful to be alive.

“Are you up there again?”

This voice.

As I quickly turned around, I saw Gabriel, the captain of the White Knights Order, with his graying hair and beard.

Gabriel was looking up at me with his usual warm smile.

“If only you would turn a blind eye, Captain.”

“Come down quickly.”

“Yes, yes. I was about to come down anyway…”

I hesitated as I was about to jump down. Behind Gabriel, that face approaching quickly was definitely…

As I tilted my head, Ian, who had approached the base of the wall, reached out his hand to me.

“Shall I help you down?”

“No.”

With the strong sea breeze blowing, my golden hair fluttered here and there. As I brushed back the unruly hair, now my skirt was causing trouble.

While I hesitated for a moment, grabbing my skirt, an urgent voice came from below.

“It’s dangerous, senior.”

As I looked down, I saw Ian standing with his arms awkwardly outstretched.

After landing safely on both feet, I looked up at Ian with a bewildered expression.

“What were you trying to do just now?”

“It looked dangerous, so I was trying to help.”

Ian shrugged his shoulders as if to say, what’s the problem?

In the original story, he definitely seemed emotionless and dry.

That’s why he didn’t even blink at the affectionate advances of the adorable original female lead.

He was truly a tyrant obsessed with war, without blood or tears!

“It seems the one who needs to be silenced is not me, but this person.”

“I apologize for the late greeting, Captain.”

As Ian bowed his head slightly, Gabriel burst into a hearty laugh and waved his hand.

“Since I’m the senior and this is the junior, isn’t it fine?”

“Is climbing up on the castle walls a taboo?”

“Originally, yes. There was a member who fell and got injured before.”

“But I’m fine, Captain.”

“I know you’re exceptional, but there’s something I always advise you, right?”

Gabriel stroked his chin beard, putting on a deliberately solemn expression.

“Yes. Not to let my guard down.”

Gabriel cared for Rosebelia more than anyone else. Even before knowing that Rosebelia had reached the level of a Sword Master, he admired her talent and urged her to succeed him as the captain of the knights’ order.

“That’s right, just because you’re skilled doesn’t mean you should act carelessly. If you just set your mind to it, you could anytime take my position…”

“Captain, let’s talk about that another time.”

As I hurriedly cut off his words, I felt Ian’s curious gaze touch my cheeks. Gabriel looked back and forth between me and Ian, then laughed, “Ho ho.”

“Are you embarrassed?”

“Well, there are ears listening. A little?”

“You take care of keeping his mouth shut.”

“No, Captain…”

You can’t leave us alone like this, can you?

As if waiting for Gabriel to move away, Ian blocked my path.

“Senior.”

“Huh?”

I raised my head, having been busily looking for an escape route. I was quite close to Ian. His black hair, wet with sweat, perhaps from diligent training, fluttered slightly in the breeze.

As I quietly gazed at his hair with its mysterious color, I held my breath for a moment.

There was a deep and wide sea before my eyes. Looking closely, Ian’s eyes were the same color as that deep sea that had given me a sense of liberation just moments ago.

“The answer I didn’t hear before…”

That’s right, this is not the time to be lost in thought.

Snapping back to my senses, I hurriedly pointed towards the training grounds. It seemed like someone was passing by there just then.

Wait, red hair?

“Sorry, rookie. I just remembered something urgent. Let’s talk later.”

Fortunately, Ian didn’t follow me as I dashed away. As I caught my breath in front of the training grounds, the new recruits greeted me.

I thought it might have been Edwin because of the rare red hair, but there was no one with red hair near the training grounds.

Did I see wrong?

As I was looking around and about to turn towards the stables, it happened.

“Rose?”

I immediately sensed from the voice full of delight. This red-haired man blocking my path was none other than Edwin, the sub-male lead from the original story.

“Ed?”

“Yes, it’s Edwin, the one you were looking for so desperately.”

“I wasn’t looking that desperately…”

“Oh, really? Then I’ll be going.”

“I do have something to ask you though.”

As he was one of the characters I had been fond of, along with Daisy, the original female lead, I unconsciously examined Edwin’s face closely. Although it was a face I had seen countless times in Rosebelia’s memories, it was still fascinating to meet him in person for the first time.

At this point, I’m curious about Daisy, the original female lead, too.

“Did something happen?”

“Huh?”

“You look serious.”

Edwin was Rosebelia’s fellow knight and close friend.

He was the only one who understood and knew Rosebelia’s inner thoughts, and he was also the only person she fully trusted.

So, I guess it’s okay to tell him this much.

“Well… I can’t remember what happened recently.”

“What?”

“I was sick for a whole day, remember? Strangely, I can’t remember anything that happened around that time.”

“What did the physician say?”

“He said there’s nothing wrong.”

“Are you sure there’s really nothing wrong? Shouldn’t you rest more?”

Edwin slightly furrowed his brow and placed his hand on my forehead.

“You don’t have a fever.”

“I’ve recovered from being sick.”

“Exactly what can’t you remember?”

“I can’t remember anything that happened at the eve of the festival. Lucas said he saw you and me together, is that right?”

Before my question was even finished, Edwin tilted his head. The anticipation that had been rippling in my heart instantly cooled.

“You and I weren’t together, but I was near you.”

Just near me?

Perhaps noticing my disappointment, Edwin rolled his eyes this way and that as if trying to recall, then let out a low exclamation.

“Ah, I saw you talking with the rookie.”

“Rookie?”

“Yes. Klein, I think his name was. Do you really not remember anything?”

“That’s what I’m saying. He wants me to give him some answer, but I can’t remember what we talked about at all. It’s as if that whole day was erased, I don’t know who I met or what I did.”

“If you can’t remember, why don’t you just ask him directly? I think he’d understand if you explain honestly.”

“…”

I inwardly swallowed a sigh. Is there no choice but to confront him directly?

‘Did you forget? Or do you want to forget?’

‘No, I just… want to pretend it never happened?’

If I tell him that I actually don’t remember anything about the eve of the festival and that’s why I made up an excuse, would he believe me?

“I did witness you talking with the rookie, but I didn’t directly hear what you were saying.”

“How did we look while talking?”

“The rookie looked a bit nervous, and you seemed relatively calm.”

“The rookie was nervous?”

Edwin nodded lightly and spoke with an unconcerned expression.

“Yeah, I guess you received another confession this time.”

Confession? A confession?

“The rookie confessed to me?”

…That can’t be right?