“Were you a Sword Master?”

For a moment, my mind went blank.

How should I answer?

“Well….”

If it became known in the Empire that I was a Sword Master, everyone would praise and come forward, but there was also a high possibility of being politically exploited.

That’s why Rosebelia tried to silently walk the path of a knight without revealing that she was a Sword Master…..

Moreover, I’m currently operating unstable aura, so wouldn’t it be more troublesome if it became known that I’m a Sword Master at this point?

“Was it something you were hiding from others?”

“I’m still in a somewhat unstable state. I’d like it if you could keep the fact that I’m a Sword Master a secret…”

“If Lady Rosebelia wishes it, I’ll do so.”

Renart readily agreed as if it was no big deal.

“Thank you.”

“…I’m asking just in case. It wasn’t Lady Rosebelia who defeated the monster ahead of the subjugation team, was it?”

Renart asked, furrowing one eyebrow. Then, before I could open my mouth, he tilted his head halfway.

“No. That wasn’t my doing.”

“I see. Only after asking did I realize it didn’t make sense. When we first discovered the monster’s corpse, the subjugation team was moving together, so there’s no way Lady Rosebelia could have defeated it…”

“But how did you know I was here?”

It was a mountain path that required quite a descent from where the temple ruins remained.

I had certainly confirmed that there was no one around, so where did he appear from?

“I was about to move when I couldn’t see Lady Rosebelia, so I started looking…”

Renart gestured with his chin towards the temple ruins. I didn’t realize when I jumped down, but looking up from below, it was quite a dizzying height.

Could he have jumped down like me?

“Did you jump down?”

Instead of answering, he gave an awkward smile.

“It seems I’ve been causing trouble for the vice-captain throughout the subjugation.”

“Not at all. To say it’s Lady Rosebelia’s fault…”

Renart’s lips moved as if he was about to say something more, but he soon closed his mouth. His face was filled with a confused expression as he rubbed his forehead.

Why is he suddenly acting like this?

“Vice-captain, instead of doing this here, everyone will be waiting, so for now…”

“I also have something I’d like to ask of you.”

Renart’s voice came across more clearly. I glanced up to see his eyes looking somewhat more stern than before.

“What is it?”

“When the subjugation is over…”

“Vice-captain! Lady Rosebelia! What are you doing there!”

At the urgent cry, I suddenly looked up. Conrad had come out of the temple ruins and was looking down at Renart.

“It doesn’t seem to be the time to say it now.”

“I don’t know what kind of request it is, but on the way…”

“No, I’ll tell you after the subjugation is over.”

Renart let out a short sigh and then stepped onto the path leading towards the temple.

What kind of request could it be?

By the time I tilted my head in wonder, Renart had already moved quite far away. I immediately followed behind him.

*

Night had deepened before I knew it. The place where we set up camp was close to the mountain peak, so the perceived temperature was noticeably lower. I half-raised my body while looking at Vanessa, who was sleeping as if wrapped in a blanket.

‘May I dare to like you?’

‘…Huh? So, I…’

‘It seems I’ve confused you, senior. You don’t have to be flustered, I wasn’t trying to get an answer right now.’

In front of Ian, who was smiling bitterly, I couldn’t say anything in the end. As he said, my mind was in a jumble.

Is he waiting? If I don’t go out to meet Ian today, will he think it’s a rejection?

He might be heartbroken. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, a part of my chest seemed to tighten.

But to accept Ian’s confession…

As I was pressing down hard on my stiff eyelids, I suddenly opened my eyes wide.

Come to think of it, in my previous life, when I was living as ‘Yoo Jae-yi’, I received a confession from a senior at school right before the national youth fencing team selection.

If it had been someone I wasn’t interested in, I would have coldly rejected them, but it was a senior I quite liked. After much deliberation, I ended up rejecting them and focused on preparing for the competition.

What’s different between then and now? Why am I hesitating even to reject this time?

It was true that I was increasingly mindful of Ian. But if I turn my attention elsewhere while there are problems piled up in front of me…

“No. At least for now…”

The rest of the words faded away before they could fully come out. I gathered the sighs that had piled up and exhaled deeply. Eventually, I carefully left the tent.

I should at least tell him how I feel right now.

How long had I walked after leaving the camp? At some point, I felt the presence of someone following, so I turned around to see Ian approaching me.

“I thought you wouldn’t come out today.”

“I thought you might be waiting.”

In the brief moment of silence that fell, I could see his cheeks twitching.

“So you’re here to reject me after all.”

“I didn’t come out to reject you… But accepting your feelings is… To be honest, I’m not sure about my own feelings.”

Tension spread across Ian’s face. Feeling that tension spreading to me as well, I spoke with my eyes tightly shut.

“I thought I didn’t have room in my heart right now to hold someone, to like someone, or further, to date someone until much later.”

“…Can I interpret that to mean you don’t dislike me?”

“If I disliked you, I would have rejected you right away.”

I vaguely thought that after avoiding the sad ending of the original story and giving everyone a happy ending, I too could live my own life.

“Then I’ll wait. Until there’s room in your heart, senior.”

He’ll wait?

“Later, when you have room in your heart and are ready to hold someone in it, if I’m not in that heart… Then I’ll step back cleanly. Instead…”

“…”

Ian, who had been looking at me with calm eyes, slowly opened his mouth.

“Please just let me stay by your side. That’s my only wish.”

As I barely managed to nod, Ian showed a faint smile with a relieved expression.

“When the subjugation is over and we return to the capital… Will you give me another chance?”

“What chance?”

“This time, I’ll treat you to something delicious.”

Ah, he’s talking about the plaza incident.

It seems that incident has been weighing on his mind all this time, even though I told him not to feel sorry about it.

“You’ve gone through so much trouble, I should be the one treating you. No, how about this – you buy the meal, and I’ll buy you a nice gift.”

I held out my hand towards Ian, who was tilting his head with an expression that seemed to ask, ‘Is this right?’ Ian then placed his hand on my palm with a bewildered face.

“This reminds me of old times.”

“Did you not mean for me to put my hand up this time?”

As I laughed softly out loud, Ian’s cheeks twitched and he curled his fingertips. I gently wrapped his hand and answered.

“I did mean for you to put it up. You said your world becomes quiet when we do this. I thought I’d like you to feel comfortable, at least while you’re with me.”

A ripple disturbed the once-quiet sea. As I blankly stared at the sea undulating right in front of me, Ian suddenly gripped my hand tightly.

“Then I’ll also transmit aura to you.”

A blue light rose between our connected palms. As a sensation of relaxation swept through my entire body, a languid smile naturally flowed out.

“Did I mention it before?”

“What…”

“Blue aura, it suits you well.”

For a moment, a soft breeze blew, tickling my forehead. Suddenly raising my head, I took in the scenery visible beyond Ian.

The tall, lush trees sometimes looked like magnificent roofs, and the dense grass swayed like waves with each gust of wind.

Perhaps because human hands hadn’t touched it? Despite its name as the ‘Abandoned Mountain’, it was an incredibly beautiful landscape.

When I faced Ian again after taking in each and every wildflower blooming here and there, strength naturally flowed into my fingertips.

“What is it, senior?”

As I blinked slowly, he responded by creasing his eyes.

Is my heart fluttering because the scenery I’ve taken in is so poignant?

Or is it because you’re here in such a poignant scenery?

*

“Did Herman ask elder brother about Liliana’s illness too?”

“Yes, he sent me a letter.”

“What did you answer?”

Dillan rose from the sofa and approached the window. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before facing Olivia.

“I said it was an illness with an unknown cause, and even now the cause is unknown.”

“…”

“Did you make a slip of the tongue in front of Herman?”

Olivia smirked at Dillan’s question.

“What slip could I make? I don’t even mention Liliana’s name in front of Herman.”

“Then why did Herman suddenly…”

Olivia, who had been holding her forehead, waved her hand as if she didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

“By the way, about the medicine that was completed this time. You said it still needs more testing, right?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“I was wondering if I could test that medicine once.”

Dillan’s eyes shone clearly beyond his rimless glasses. He asked back with furrowed brows.

“You? What are you going to use this for?”

“You don’t need to know that far, elder brother.”

“No. This medicine is something Father and Her Majesty the Empress poured their hearts into. Rashly…”

Just as a sense of unease struck, the reception room door opened with a click.

“Olivia, you said you would test that medicine?”

Olivia, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up. Her complexion, which had been showing a relaxed smile until just moments ago, quickly turned pale.

“Yo-Your Majesty the Empress!”

“How did you come without notice, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Evelyn, who had slightly raised the corners of her mouth, looked at Olivia with gentle eyes.

“There’s no need to be so surprised, Olivia. I came because I think I’ll need that medicine soon too.”