“Don’t act so surprised. You’ve received many confessions before.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“Of course, you rejected them all.”

Ian confessing to Rosebelia?

Come to think of it, recalling the beginning of the original work, Ian wasn’t a coldhearted person from the start.

‘I have no intention of taking it back. Even if it’s a rejection, please give me a proper answer. This kind of evasion isn’t like you, senior.’

Moreover, assuming Ian had confessed, it seemed quite plausible.

‘I’ve never felt that sensation before.’

‘That moment when our breaths mingled, albeit briefly, I can’t forget it.’

This part was problematic, if anything. Looking at Ian’s words alone, it seemed as if Rosebelia had given some sort of opening.

What does it mean to mingle breaths?

Rosebelia had never liked anyone before. As Edwin said, she had received quite a few confessions, but she had never reciprocated those feelings. For her, there was only the sword.

“He’s good-looking, why don’t you seriously consider it this time? You’re at the age where you should start thinking about marriage.”

Rosebelia was not even twenty years old. Recalling how she had been pestered about when she would get married in her previous life, she felt an involuntary sense of displeasure.

‘You’re almost at the age to get married, aren’t you?’

As Olivia’s words from their encounter at the mansion overlapped, she felt her brow furrowing.

It’s the same everywhere, obsessing over that damned marriage.

“Edwin, why don’t you focus on your own love life?”

“I’m a fatalist. Love isn’t something you can force by focusing on it, it comes naturally.”

“What if it never comes?”

“Then there’s nothing I can do. I’ll just wait for my fate.”

“Sure, do as you like.”

As I was about to shrug and turn away, I paused and looked up at Edwin.

Wait, when was that day?

The day when the male lead Ian and the female lead Daisy first meet in the original work. That day was…

I carefully traced back to the introduction of the original work.

[The festival had ended. It was only after a full week that I felt the excitement slowly subsiding.]

Right, a week after the end of the festival.

was a book I used to read when I wanted to cry, but the more I read it, the more I questioned Daisy’s love.

Daisy, who hadn’t been free to live outside since childhood due to her weak constitution, met the variable called Ian, and it’s true that it became a vitality in her boring life.

But the more I pondered, the more I leaned towards the idea that Daisy didn’t really love Ian.

I even became convinced that if it had been Edwin who saved Daisy instead of Ian, Daisy would have fallen for Edwin.

It was as if Daisy was more infatuated with the idea of ‘me being in love with someone’.

For Daisy, who had grown up hearing that she might die at any time due to her weak constitution since childhood, she needed something to obsess over.

After realizing this, Daisy’s existence approached me with even greater sympathy.

What if it’s Edwin who saves Daisy that day instead of Ian?

If what I felt while reading the original work is correct…

Maybe Daisy and Edwin’s fate could change?

*

Returning to the mansion, I left Emily with Roy and immediately entered the main hall of the main building.

Passing by the bowing servants, I was about to step onto the stairs when-

“Sister, are you just coming back now?”

“Elder sister!”

The young boy and small girl in front of me were Rosebelia’s half-siblings.

“Cayden, Vivian.”

Although Rosebelia didn’t show it outwardly, she adored her siblings very much.

After all, how could one not like Cayden, whose eyes sparkled every time he saw Rosebelia, and Vivian, who would run and hug her tightly whenever they met?

“Elder sister, can I sleep with you tonight?”

“Vivian, don’t bother sister.”

“I had a dream about a scary monster. Elder sister is the one who defeats all the bad monsters, right?”

One of the main duties of the White Knight Order was to go to the imperial border areas to subjugate magical beasts. It seems she expressed that as defeating bad monsters.

It might be difficult for a six-year-old to understand the term ‘magical beast’.

I looked down at Vivian, who was hugging my legs. Dressed in a light green dress, Vivian looked like a fairy, and I felt my tense expression softening.

“Vivian. The reason you have scary thoughts because of dreams is that your heart is that weak.”

At Cayden’s sighing voice, Vivian’s eyes drooped.

“But, but, I think I won’t be scared at all if I sleep with elder sister.”

“Don’t bother sister with such trivial matters, Vivian.”

As Vivian’s face changed to one that looked like she might cry at any moment, I waved my hand towards Cayden.

“Cayden, enough. Vivian’s going to cry.”

Vivian, who had hidden behind me by now, asked in a tiny voice.

“Will you sleep with Vivian?”

“It’s not such a difficult thing. If you, Vivian, get permission from mother, that is.”

“I’m not confident about that…”

“If you’re not confident, give up, Vivian. Getting mother’s permission is your job.”

I lightly patted Vivian’s head, who was dejected by Cayden’s words, and headed to my room.

Ann, who happened to be on the second floor, noticed me climbing the stairs and followed behind.

“Young lady, you went to the knight order, didn’t you?”

As Ann seemed about to pour out a barrage of nagging, I hurriedly offered an excuse.

“I did go, but I didn’t do anything. I just went to meet someone briefly.”

“Really? You went and came back without even training?”

“See, my clothes are clean, aren’t they?”

Ann, after examining every corner of my clothes, let out a deep sigh as if in relief.

“Then wash up and come out. I’ve drawn warm water in the bath.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as I entered the room, I received thin indoor clothes from Ann and immediately went into the bathroom. When I came out of the bath feeling refreshed, Ann, who had been waiting, dried my wet hair.

Although my body felt much better, my mind was still complicated, causing sighs to escape involuntarily.

“Young lady, shall I bring you some dessert?”

“It’s okay. I’m going to bed early today, so you can go now.”

“Understood. Then rest well.”

It seems Vivian couldn’t get Olivia’s permission after all.

As I stared at the tightly closed door, I thought of Herman, Rosebelia’s father.

I’ve met Cayden, Vivian, and even Olivia, but the fact that I haven’t seen Herman yet…

“Even though she’s his daughter, he’s really indifferent.”

Then again, Rosebelia didn’t have much affection for Herman either. She didn’t have any particular attachment to this family in the first place.

So she could have stayed in the dormitory at the knight order, but the reason she stayed in the mansion where Olivia was holding out was…

Is it because of Cayden and Vivian after all?

Rosebelia loved her siblings, so even though she knew Olivia was wary of her, she chose not to provoke conflicts.

Rather than engaging in political struggles with her stepmother in the household, she chose to overlook it.

She was a straightforward knight, far from power struggles, just faithful to her identity as a knight.

She was a very cool person with great pride in being a knight, but…

What happened to the real Rosebelia who existed in this body?

Suddenly remembering that fact, I felt my breath catch.

Is this really okay like this?

*

“Rosebelia!”

As I stopped abruptly in my tracks, I heard urgent footsteps approaching from nearby. The one running towards me was Edwin.

“Ed?”

“Where’s your mind wandering? I’ve been calling you, but you didn’t answer.”

“Ah, really? Sorry.”

I had a dream last night. I definitely had a dream, but somehow I couldn’t remember it clearly.

‘You’re worrying needlessly.’

‘You resemble that child, but you’re different. So, do as you wish…’

I thought I heard something like that vaguely.

It sounded similar to that voice I heard when the accident happened…

What was it?

“How did it go with the rookie?”

“What do you mean, how did it go?”

“Haven’t you talked to him yet?”

“I’m planning to talk later.”

I replied while pressing my throbbing forehead.

“Don’t keep the person waiting on tenterhooks, do it quickly. Are you seriously considering it?”

Edwin’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me. As I waved my hand as if to say it was nothing, Edwin grumbled that I was going to reject him anyway.

“Oh, right. Can you spare me some time three days from now?”

“Three days from now? Why?”

“Don’t ask why, I just want you to come to the square with me.”

“Is this a request or an order?”

“An order.”

I shot him a look that said, ‘If you don’t come to the square with me that day, you’ll surely regret it,’ and Edwin nodded readily.

“Alright.”

“I’ll let you know the exact time later.”

“Oh? The rookie’s coming over there.”

The place Edwin’s fingertip pointed to was in front of the training grounds. I thought he was joking as usual, but Ian was really there.

Right, putting it off won’t solve anything, so let’s just get it over with quickly.

“Then I’ll be going.”

Ian, who was about to enter the training grounds, also stopped in his tracks, apparently having noticed me.

“Remember to let him down gently, okay? Don’t hurt the rookie’s feelings.”

Leaving Edwin’s playful voice behind, I walked towards Ian.

Wait a minute?

If Ian confessed to Rosebelia before the original story began, Rosebelia must have rejected him…

What if it didn’t end there, and Ian continued to like Rosebelia?

Even when I was reading the original work, I thought it was strange that Rosebelia repeatedly rejected Ian’s invitation to become the captain of the knight order.

Given Rosebelia’s personality, she might have gone into exile in another country because she was annoyed by Ian’s persistent courtship?

If so, in the end, this novel is about a man who was rejected multiple times taking revenge on the woman who finally left him…

I quickly shook my head.

No way, that can’t be.

The original work is about Daisy’s sad and beautiful unrequited love. There’s definitely no such hidden aspect in the original work.

“Hello, senior.”

Ian’s eyes, which greeted me, were full of life. Looking at his eyes, which seemed to ripple with expectation, a sense of guilt crept in.

It’s okay to reject him, right?

“Um, rookie. I have something to say…”

“I’ll follow you.”

As there were many people passing by, I moved towards a somewhat secluded part of the castle wall. Ian followed behind me, maintaining a constant distance.

Reaching a place where I couldn’t sense anyone else, I took a short breath and faced Ian.

“Have you finally decided to answer?”

“Well, that is…”

“You can speak comfortably.”

You tell me to speak comfortably, but what if your expression becomes stiff?

Swallowing the words I couldn’t bring myself to ask, I took another breath and opened my mouth.

“I don’t know when you started having those feelings for me, but honestly, we haven’t known each other long enough for such an occasion to arise, right? So I don’t think your feelings are that deep…”

“Please don’t assume my feelings are shallow. Just because you’ve known someone for a long time doesn’t mean you fully understand their true worth. I don’t think the length of time you’ve known someone is important.”

I quietly looked up at Ian. It felt like a big wave was rippling right in front of me.

Momentarily captivated by Ian’s eyes, I soon snapped back to reality.

“That may be true. So what I want to say is… My heart is very busy right now…”

“It doesn’t have to be now. Anytime is fine. I can wait until you have time to spare, senior.”

Anytime is fine? He’ll wait until I have time to spare?

Were his feelings for Rosebelia this deep?

“No, I… I don’t think I’ll have time to meet anyone for the foreseeable future, neither now nor later.”

“Pardon?”

Perplexity spread across Ian’s face, who had been seriously listening to my words.

His furrowed brow seemed to ask what I was talking about, and my mind went blank.

What is this chilly feeling?

“Huh?”

“Senior, what are you talking about right now?”

“I mean, I’m answering your confession…”

Is this not it?

“Could it be that you’ve mistaken me for another rookie?”

“…”

Another rookie? A mistake?

As I slowly chewed over Ian’s words, I hurriedly held my breath.

The brief silence was broken by Ian’s faint sigh. Soon, his voice, now lower, rang in my ears.

“I don’t know which rookie you’ve mistaken me for, but what I requested from you, senior, was a sparring match.”