I saw the blue-tinged eyes trembling. When that subtle vibration subsided, Ian asked me.

“Does that mean you’re a Sword Master, senior?”

“Yes, but at some point I felt the aura was a bit strange, and since then there have been side effects every time I use aura. That’s the truth behind what you witnessed that day.”

“So you coughed up blood not because of internal injuries from the magic beast, but because of side effects from using aura?”

It was a very clean summary. As I nodded, Ian opened his mouth with an impatient expression.

“Then what did I see at that time? In the dormitory……”

“That was also due to side effects. I’ve been practicing since I felt the aura was unstable. I was returning from secret practice when I ran into you.”

Ian tilted his head, but at some point nodded slightly up and down as if agreeing. Eventually, his expression, which had been stiff throughout, softened.

“A Sword Master…… So it was true after all.”

“You knew I was a Sword Master?”

“Rather than knowing, I guessed you might be a Sword Master when I saw your hands without calluses. I had read a book about aura before.”

Did he see the same book as me?

That book that seemed to explain aura well but didn’t know how to actually handle it.

I think the author’s name was Bintz or something like that……

“Anyway, don’t worry about my body. I didn’t get hurt at all when fighting the magic beast.”

“……”

“If you want to be sure, I can show you using aura directly.”

It would be better to drive the point home now that I’ve revealed everything. So he won’t suspect internal injuries or anything anymore.

“……You’ll show me directly?”

Ian’s expression darkened. I thought he would eagerly want to see it like when he kept asking for a duel, but for some reason he seemed hesitant.

“If you don’t want to……”

“It’s not that, but according to what you said, you cough up blood after using aura, right?”

Ian was frowning as if he had empathized with my pain.

“It looks bad when you see it, but it actually doesn’t hurt much. So it’s fine.”

“Alright. I need to see for myself if you’re really okay.”

With a gesture to follow me, I headed to where I had practiced aura before. Passing by the training grounds in the corner of the knights’ quarters, we walked a bit further until a wooded path came into view.

“I practiced here that night too.”

As soon as I said that, Ian quickly looked around. It was closer to a wary look than one of curiosity.

I drew my sword and immediately operated the aura. Soon, a white light could be seen as I pushed the aura towards the sword.

I turned around and cut down a tree with it. As expected, a surge of nausea rose up. As I covered my mouth, I saw Ian running towards me.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Just coughing up some blood……”

For a moment, I squeezed my eyes shut at the sensation of the world spinning. It was then that I felt strong arms wrap around my waist.

“You call this really being fine?”

As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Ian’s tightly closed lips. As my vision gradually expanded, his face, seemingly very angry, filled my sight.

“There’s only a brief moment of pain when coughing up blood. The dizziness is the same.”

“Do you have to use aura? You’re strong enough without being a Sword Master, senior.”

“……I know, I do.”

Just being able to implement Rosebelia’s swordsmanship like this, I prided myself on having the best sword skills in this empire.

It’s because I’ve reached the realm of swordsmanship that I can operate aura.

As Ian said, Rosebelia is certainly strong even without aura.

“But I really want to operate aura again.”

If I didn’t know Rosebelia was a Sword Master, I might have been satisfied with this level, but……

I know all too well the weight that the name ‘Rosebelia’ carries in the original work.

Moreover, one of my favorite scenes was when it was revealed that Rosebelia was a Sword Master and the empire was in an uproar.

For a supporting character to have such a special life, I couldn’t help but admire it.

But what if I can no longer use aura because I’ve entered this body? That was absolutely unacceptable.

“So you’re going to keep practicing like this?”

“I have to until I go on the magic beast subjugation.”

Even if others don’t know, I do.

What Rosebelia’s previous life was like, what Rosebelia’s past that I read was like.

I knew better than anyone her pride in trying to walk only the path given to her as a knight, trying to hide the fact that she had become a Sword Master even though she knew it.

“Were there no side effects at first?”

“Yeah. Back then the aura felt stable, but now it’s like, how should I say it. It feels like it’s running wild. So I’m trying to stabilize it again somehow.”

If I couldn’t use aura at all since entering this body, it might be different.

But because I can still use unstable aura, I couldn’t give up easily.

I didn’t want to ruin the ‘Rosebelia’ that remained vivid in my memories with my own hands.

“Are coughing up blood and dizziness the only side effects?”

“My body also gets lethargic and sleepy. But it’s fine since it’s only for a moment.”

At that instant, the arms around my waist tightened. Surprised, I looked up to see eyes as deep as the ocean.

“That word.”

“……”

“Do you say it out of habit?”

My teeth clenched involuntarily.

Should I say he has good eyes? He’s surprisingly good at reading people.

As Ian said, I’ve always been like this since my previous life. It was comfortable and familiar to pretend to be fine.

I would habitually say I was fine, but there was no one who understood or pointed it out.

Even those I could call family.

“……”

“So when you say you’re fine, it has no credibility to me. From now on, I’ll be the one to judge whether you’re really okay or not.”

“Why……”

The question of why he was going that far just lingered in my mouth. As I cleared my throat awkwardly at the tickling sensation, he spoke in a softer voice.

“From now on, practice only during the day.”

“That’s impossible. I can’t let anyone see me in this state.”

Feeling the dizziness completely gone, I gently pushed away the arm around my waist. Ian, who stepped back obediently, looked down at me with one eyebrow furrowed.

“Then have you always practiced at night?”

“That’s the only way I can practice at ease. But I’m really fi……”

I caught myself about to habitually say I was fine and glanced at Ian.

He too met my eyes and gave a wry smile before letting out a deep sigh.

“I’ll……”

“Huh?”

“I’ll be with you when you practice.”

What? What did he just say……?

Did I hear something wrong?

“So from now on, practice only in front of me.”

“No, that doesn’t seem necessary…… The blood coughing is only for a moment, and the dizziness is gone now.”

“If you don’t like that, I’ll tell the captain about your condition right now.”

How underhanded, after I confided my secret.

Captain Gabriel would probably prevent me from going on the magic beast subjugation, or even if I went, he’d tell me not to use aura until it stabilizes.

“You’re……”

Do you know how annoying you are?

I forcefully swallowed those words that rose to the tip of my tongue and slowly lifted the corners of my mouth.

“Klein, won’t it be troublesome for you?”

Ian, who had been mumbling something, reached out towards my face. His thumb, which was approaching slowly as if about to touch, grazed the corner of my mouth.

“It’s just me being by your side like today. I already know all of your secrets now anyway.”

Was it because of the gentle touch? Or because of the worried look in his eyes?

Only after the sensation on my lips faded did I realize I had momentarily held my breath.

“……”

As I took short, shallow breaths, I saw Ian looking down at the blood on his fingertips and letting out a long sigh.

“The choice is yours, senior.”

It would be comforting to have someone by my side.

I had always been careful when practicing because I didn’t know how drowsy I would get, but now I don’t have to worry about that anymore, right?

“I know I don’t have the authority to dissuade you. So at least let me stay by your side when you practice.”

Ian’s eyes, which were fixed on me, shone brightly. The moment I met those eyes, my lips moved on their own.

“Alright.”

“Please let me know in advance when you’ll practice, and I’ll stay in the dormitory.”

Ian gave a faint smile.

I’m the one who confided the secret, but somehow he looks more relieved.

“……Thank you anyway.”

“It’s nothing.”

I’m not sure if it’s okay to let things flow like this, but a corner of my heart has become strangely comfortable. The original work is clearly changing, and the Ian in front of me now is not the cold-blooded crown prince Ian from the original, but the junior knight Ian that I know.

“Shall we go now?”

“Just a moment.”

What Ian pulled out from his chest was a handkerchief.

He doesn’t seem like the type to carry such a thing around.

As I tilted my head quizzically, Ian cleared his throat and answered.

“It’s something my mother gave me when I was young, so I’ve been carrying it with me all along.”

A handkerchief given by Ian’s mother, Violet?

“But why……”

Without any reply, he carefully grasped my palm.

Is he trying to wipe my blood with it now? With the handkerchief Violet left behind?

I was about to curl my fingertips, but Ian’s movements were one step faster. Only after thoroughly wiping my palm with the handkerchief did he look up.

“I think that’s done now. Are you really not in pain?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. And I’ll clean this and return it to you.”

I snatched the blood-stained handkerchief and put it in my pocket.

Should I say he’s naive or kind for not just ignoring it?

After walking out of the grass for a while, we saw knights coming and going on the street. Ian and I naturally blended into the crowd.

“Are you going to the training grounds, senior?”

“Ah, I……”

It was at that moment, as I turned my head towards Ian who was following behind.

“Lady Rosebelia!”

With a voice that sounded like it was about to cry, someone threw themselves into my arms.