Time passed quickly. A few days ago, a letter from Anne stated that there was nothing unusual in the imperial palace and that the First Prince had recently recovered from an illness.

However, Ian still did not show up at the knight order. Even Gabriel, who would know about Ian’s news, insisted that he did not know why Klein was not coming to the knight order.

Letting out a small sigh, I glanced at the window. The sunlight, heartlessly indifferent, was seeping through the curtains.

“Morning comes so well.”

A hollow laugh escaped involuntarily. My suspicion that Ian’s curse had manifested had long since turned into certainty, but there was nothing I could do.

Forcing myself to get up from the bed, I washed and headed straight to the training ground. Even as I tried to focus on training, steadying my floating mind, I couldn’t help but pause occasionally.

The curse wouldn’t make his emotions disappear, would it?

Thinking of Ian in the original story, he was close to a cold-blooded person who showed no emotion whatsoever. Later, he even became a war-crazed tyrant.

‘You can forget what I said today. I will properly convey it tomorrow evening.’

Would I have been less troubled now if I hadn’t known Ian’s heart?

If Ian comes to me asking to kill him, like I saw in my dream, like Rosebelia experienced before the regression…

Suddenly, the strength left my grip. The wooden sword that rolled across the training ground floor stopped at Renart’s feet.

“Are you alright?”

Renart, who had approached without notice, asked with a voice full of concern.

“I’m fine.”

“Since tomorrow is the day we leave for the subjugation, I think it would be better not to overdo it today. What do you think, Lady Rosebelia?”

I looked alternately at the wooden sword in Renart’s hand and his face. Although his tone seemed to be asking for an opinion, judging by his determined expression, he wasn’t going to return the wooden sword even if I said I wanted to stay in the training ground.

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“I’ll clean this up, so Lady Rosebelia should rest.”

As if being driven out, I left the training ground and headed straight for the castle wall. Though I only remembered leaving the quarters and training in the training ground, the sun was already setting.

After looking around, I climbed up onto the castle wall and faced the sea just before it sank into darkness. It seemed static at times, but at moments a dynamic force could be felt, and it would turn fierce before becoming calm again as if nothing had happened.

I thought seeing this scenery would improve my mood a little, but…

Smiling weakly, I took a deep breath to gather my thoughts.

Right, tomorrow we leave for the subjugation, so for now, I should focus on the subjugation…

“Klein?”

I felt a presence behind me, and that name spontaneously came out.

I came down from the castle wall and looked around, but no one was in sight. The presence was no longer felt either.

I thought I heard the sound of gravel being stepped on, but did I hear wrong?

And Klein, of all names. There’s no way Ian would be here…

Brushing back my windswept hair, I slowly started walking towards the quarters. How long had I been walking?

As I approached the quarters, I saw Edwin lingering in front of the door.

“Edwin?”

“Rose, where have you been?”

“Just went out for some fresh air. Don’t tell me you were waiting for me?”

“Yeah, I wanted to tell you to be careful. I know you’ll do well on your own, but still…”

Seeing Edwin acting somewhat hurriedly, unlike his usual self, I couldn’t help but smile a little. I tugged at the corners of my mouth as if to say not to worry.

“Thanks for worrying. Please take good care of Lady Daisy.”

“You can count on me.”

Edwin thumped his chest confidently. Perhaps comforted by the thought of meeting Daisy, Edwin’s expression seemed much better.

“Every other day, I’ll teach her simple movements repeatedly. Lady Daisy…”

“I know she shouldn’t overdo it, so don’t worry.”

Edwin quickly cut me off. It seems he’s been brainwashed after I mentioned it every time we met these past few days.

“And…”

As I trailed off, I could see Edwin’s nose twitching nervously.

He must have thought I was going to nag again.

I shrugged lightly and grinned.

“Take good care of yourself too.”

*

“Your Highness, are you going to stay in your bedroom like this?”

“Yes.”

Nathan shook his head. Although Callisto had said to leave Ian alone for now no matter what he did, Nathan just couldn’t understand.

After being sick for a whole day, Ian had shut himself in his bedroom and rarely came out. He either soaked in the bathtub for long hours or lay on the sofa or bed, that was all.

“Do you know that the subjugation team is leaving today?”

“Was that today?”

Ian rose from the sofa and pretended to be nonchalant. He had known early on that the subjugation team was leaving today, having received a report from Karl.

“Didn’t you say before that you would participate in the subjugation? Aren’t you going to the knight order?”

“I’ve always been like this, haven’t I? Never stuck to one thing for long.”

“Then what about Lady Rosebelia Winters? She’s strong, so she’ll be going on the subjugation. Aren’t you worried?”

Ian’s Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably. He had tried to clear his mind of thoughts about Rosebelia, but he couldn’t shake off his worry about her.

After all, he had been receiving daily reports that Rosebelia was practicing Aura alone.

How was her condition before the subjugation, was she struggling with the side effects of Aura? Feeling like he needed to see with his own eyes, he had secretly visited the knight order last night.

He had watched from afar as Rosebelia left the training ground, went to the castle wall, and then entered her quarters. After that, it became even harder to stop thinking about her.

Even though he knew he couldn’t stand before her. Even though he knew he should empty his heart of these feelings.

He just couldn’t empty it.

‘Why are you acting like this when you should be protecting Lady Rosebelia, whom Your Highness has a one-sided love for?’

Hearing Nathan’s inner thoughts, Ian unconsciously bit his lip.

Subjugation and Aura practice were surely different. What if something went wrong from overusing the still unstable Aura? If she were to bleed and lose consciousness in front of everyone like that time…

Suddenly, strength filled his teeth. Ian put down the records he had brought from the forbidden room and approached the window.

His eyelids were heavy from not being able to sleep properly for days, but ironically, his body felt light.

It was because of the Aura surging throughout his body.

‘So, to put it simply, it’s about a Sword Master with stabilized Aura making contact with a Sword Master with unstable Aura.’

At the sudden recollection of Vincent’s words, Ian’s eyes widened.

He had been too distracted by the incessant voices and auditory hallucinations all day to think deeply about anything, but…

‘Can I stabilize Rosebelia’s Aura?’

“Nathan, call Vincent.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Ian, who had finally entered his office, sat down at his desk. He was tapping the desk nervously with his fingertips, then got up and was pacing in front of the window when the door suddenly opened.

Nathan must have gone to fetch Vincent himself, as they were entering together.

“I greet the First Prince.”

“About that method you told me before, do you still think that’s the only way?”

Even before I finished my question, Vincent lowered his head.

“Yes, that’s right. I haven’t found any other method.”

“So it’s possible even with this kind of palm-to-palm contact?”

“Yes. Since the process of pushing and accepting Aura requires contact, I think it would be possible anywhere as long as there’s contact, not just the palms.”

Vincent had said before that just Rosebelia making contact with another Sword Master would help with her internal injuries. Although he had assumed that Aura had pure healing abilities, not just self-healing abilities.

“Will transferring stabilized Aura really help?”

“That’s what I speculate, but until we try it, it’s just a hypothesis… Have you perhaps found another Sword Master?”

Vincent asked anxiously.

“Yes.”

“Really? Are they in this empire?”

“He’s right in front of you.”

“In front of me… You mean Your Highness?”

Ian nodded with an expression that was half smiling, half frowning. Ian gestured for Vincent to step back and drew his sword.

As he slowly pushed out his Aura, a blue light enveloped the sword. At that moment, Vincent let out an exclamation.

“It’s truly a beautiful sight. Witnessing a real Sword Master has been my lifelong dream, and Your Highness has fulfilled it.”

“If the method you mentioned works, I can show you sights like this many more times.”

“Really?”

Vincent’s eyes, which had been dreamy as if in a fantasy, sparkled with life.

“Yes, but for now I don’t want to reveal the fact that I’m a Sword Master, so don’t breathe a word to anyone…”

“I’ll keep my mouth shut. My goodness, to think there are two Sword Masters. Then, I’ll research more deeply about the method I mentioned to you.”

As Vincent left the office, Nathan approached nervously and asked.

“Did you really become a Sword Master?”

“You saw it too, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes, but…”

‘How did he become a Sword Master overnight? Did he suddenly reach such an incredible level that everything else became bothersome?’

Cursedly, he had become an immortal body, but having become a Sword Master, perhaps he could help Rosebelia.

But to transfer Aura, he would need to make contact with Rosebelia. It meant that he would have to face her with this body after all…

‘Is there no way to help Rosebelia without encountering her? At least to prevent her from using Aura during the subjugation…’

With a sudden thought, Ian immediately called Nathan.

“Nathan.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Pack lightly. We’re going on the subjugation.”

“Yes. What? You’re going on the subjugation?”

Ian shrugged as if to ask if there was any problem with that.

‘I’m confident about facing the beasts, but it would be better to have someone to guard the rear…’

Ian stopped his thought and stared at Nathan. Although Nathan was his assistant, he wasn’t completely unfamiliar with swordsmanship.

After all, when Callisto selected assistants, he basically included those who were also skilled in swordsmanship as candidates.

“Come to think of it, Nathan, didn’t you say you wanted to take a vacation?”

“Well, yes, but why bring that up suddenly…”

Ian nodded with a grin. As Nathan pondered what the meaning behind his gesture might be, his eyes gradually widened.

“Come on, Your Highness. This isn’t right. You can’t possibly be asking me to join the subjugation…”

Nathan, hurriedly rubbing his face, waved his hands as if to say this was absolutely not okay.

“Right, I’ll approve your vacation.”

“No, I’d like to continue working in a comfortable place.”

‘You said you were itching to get out just a while ago, and now you’re playing hard to get.’

“It would be just as troublesome if I left alone and you stayed here by yourself.”

That was true. Nathan clutched his head as if unable to easily choose either option.

“…You’ll guarantee my safety, right?”

“Who will?”

“You, of course, Your Highness!”

‘Surely this prince isn’t planning to use me as a shield?’

Ian suppressed a laugh internally. Nathan tended to wear his thoughts on his face, so even when his inner thoughts were heard, it wasn’t unpleasant.

“I’ll handle the beasts, you just need to watch my back.”

“Is that really all I need to do?”

“Yes, just provide minimal rear security.”

‘I was curious about the Red Spring said to be in the abandoned mountains…’

After pondering for a moment, Nathan finally seemed to have made up his mind and looked straight at Ian.

“Well, alright. I’ll go with you. But you have to provide a hefty vacation pay.”

Ian grinned and replied.

“Deal.”