Sparring… you say? Sparring, that’s…

For a moment, the world seemed to flicker before my eyes. After blinking several times, I gradually felt my senses returning.

Good heavens.

So I mistook Ian’s request for sparring as a confession?

“Ah, sparring. That’s right. There was a new recruit who requested to spar.”

I tried to answer nonchalantly, but I could feel my lips trembling slightly as I forced them into a smile.

Given Rosebelia’s personality, could it be that she fled to another country because Ian’s persistent courtship was annoying?

Is this novel about a man who was rejected multiple times finally getting revenge on the woman who left him?

I really jumped to conclusions. To think I’d leave such an embarrassing history for Rosebelia.

Where’s a mouse hole when you need one? Should I just dunk my head in cold water?

“Yes. That would be me.”

“Right, so you, the new recruit, asked me for a sparring match…”

Then what was all that about breathing and such? What did that mean?

“Do you really not remember?”

As I was about to reply, I noticed Ian’s deeply furrowed brow.

Could it be that he’s angry?

According to the original story’s ending, Ian was the one who would kill me, and I would be the one to kill him. I had to do whatever it took to avoid following the original plot.

I didn’t know exactly what to do right now, so I at least wanted to maintain a good relationship while we were in the same knight order and observe the situation…

I suddenly clutched my head. I made sure to press around my temples, pretending to be in pain.

“Actually, I’ve been quite ill recently, and the events of the eve of the festival are rather hazy.”

Ian tilted his head slightly. As expected, he didn’t seem to fully believe my words.

“At the tournament held during the festival eve, I was on a winning streak, and you challenged me, senior.”

I had seen the tournament held at every festival eve through Rosebelia’s memories.

Everyone wore identical helmets, participating with their identities strictly concealed, and there were no restrictions on participation.

Only the final winner would reveal their face and identity, and their name would remain in the center of the square until the following year’s festival.

It was an opportunity for unknown knights to make a name for themselves, and for knights belonging to orders to elevate the honor of their respective orders.

“…”

“You subdued me in an instant, senior, and then withdrew. I advanced by default, but… I also withdrew and followed you to request a sparring match.”

“How did you know it was me?”

I had asked out of mere curiosity, but suddenly Ian’s face turned red.

“At first, I didn’t know it was you, of course. But the sensation of crossing swords was so intense that I secretly followed… and when I saw you remove your helmet, I realized it was you, senior. You said you would think about it.”

Ian cleared his throat awkwardly after finishing his explanation.

Was he embarrassed about having followed someone, given his noble status as a prince?

“I made a terrible misunderstanding. I’m sorry.”

“Then, your answer… is?”

“Well, if only to make up for my misunderstanding, I suppose we could spar once or twice…”

Wait, even though it’s in the distant future, Ian and Rosebelia were each other’s only worthy opponents.

To avoid a rival dynamic, should I avoid such sparring matches too?

Since I don’t know what choices Rosebelia made, I couldn’t tell which path I should avoid.

Is it alright to accept so readily? Should I just take it back?

“Really?”

It was the most excited voice I’d heard from Ian so far. I raised my gaze to look at Ian’s face.

Seeing his visibly brightening expression, I felt that if I were to go back on my word now, it would only worsen our relationship.

Right, he wants this so badly. We might even become closer through sparring.

Having finally made my decision, I flashed a grin at Ian.

“If you think you can handle sparring with me, that is.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Handling it is my responsibility, so you don’t need to go easy on me.”

In the original story, Ian was described as having become a completely different person after his crown prince investiture ceremony.

His whole demeanor changed, and at some point, he gained unrivaled swordsmanship skills…

「”Um, I have something I’d like to say to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“What is it?”

“Well… What I want to say is… I… Your Highness…”

A deep sigh floating in the air brushed over my head. As I slowly raised my head, I saw Ian looking down at me with cold eyes devoid of any warmth.

I didn’t want to believe it, but now I had to. The fact that the person before me was clearly different from the one I knew, the one I liked.

“I am a cursed being.”

“What? What do you mean…”

The moment I met those empty eyes, I unconsciously shrank back. It was because of the chill that suddenly came over me.

“So I cannot like anyone. That is all I can tell you.”」

As I recalled the original content, I carefully examined the Ian before me. Although he seemed to be trying hard to restrain himself, his excitement was evident.

How could this boy become a cold-blooded, war-obsessed tyrant in the future?

The Ian I knew from the original story and the Ian standing before me seemed like completely different people.

Well, considering how Ian’s swordsmanship suddenly reached an untouchable level, and his choice of words about being cursed in front of Daisy…

Did something happen before and after the crown prince investiture ceremony?

I had such doubts when reading the original story too, but since Ian wasn’t my favorite character in the original, I didn’t think deeply about those questions.

“Senior?”

“Huh?”

“So, can I see you tomorrow?”

“…Sure, I think the training ground near the annex would be good, and preferably at a time when other members aren’t around.”

“Understood. Then I’ll come early in the morning.”

As I was about to nod, I hesitated for a moment.

Could he possibly know that Rosebelia often comes early in the morning to practice?

“Alright.”

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Ian bowed his head slightly and left first. Only after his figure had become a small black dot did I let out a sigh through my teeth, as if the tension had finally been released.

To think I’d end up accepting a sparring request when I came to reject a confession.

This should be fine, right?

*

I stared blankly at the ceiling shrouded in darkness.

Perhaps because it was the first decision I’d made since opening my eyes in this place, I couldn’t fall asleep easily.

I was both afraid and excited, not knowing what ripples this choice would create.

Can I really change the original story? If I can change it, how should I change it? What do I ultimately want here?

Such thoughts kept chasing each other, so after a short nap, I came to the sparring location early.

As I was tying my hair tightly and slowly warming up my body, the dawn light seeping through the window suddenly brightened. It was at that moment that the firmly closed door of the training ground opened.

I naturally thought it would be Ian, but the one who appeared was a knight with a rather youthful impression.

Judging by his hesitant approach and unfamiliar face, he seemed to be one of the new recruits who had entered with Ian this time.

“Um, senior…”

“What is it?”

“Well… I didn’t really think you’d be here in the morning… Just a moment.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

The knight with round features patted his cheeks with both hands and took a short deep breath.

“Um… I came to hear your answer.”

“Answer? To what?”

Somehow, this conversation feels familiar…

“…Did you forget? About the festival eve.”

What is this about now?

What on earth happened to Rosebelia that day?

“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember that day very well.”

“Pardon?”

I swallowed the sigh that was about to burst out. As I rubbed my forehead as if troubled, the recruit’s eyes widened.

“I haven’t been feeling well recently, and strangely, my memories of that day are particularly hazy. Can you explain what happened?”

“Well… I…”

His voice was so small, it was as if he was about to burrow into the ground.

“What?”

Feeling frustrated, I leaned in closer, causing the recruit to instantly back away.

“Ah, my name is Simon. Just in case…”

“Right, Simon. It’s okay, go ahead and tell me.”

“That day, I…”

He probably just requested a sparring match or something.

“I confessed to you, senior… That is… I asked you to be in a relationship with me.”