The atmosphere within the Knights’ Order was gloomy due to the sudden bad news.

Three senior members had lost their lives. Three out of five knights sent on dispatch was more than half.

Senior Oliver was also injured, so he would be returning to the capital soon.

Lost in thought as I walked, I examined the notice board in front of the main building. There was a post seeking volunteers for knights to be dispatched to the count’s territory.

I was just about to turn away after staring at the notice for a while. In the distance, Vanessa was walking towards me.

“Rosebelia, what are you going to do?”

“What are you going to do, senior?”

“I’ve decided to go.”

Vanessa nodded with a determined look, then casually asked:

“Are you still thinking about it?”

“I…”

As I trailed off, I felt an obvious gaze examining me. Vanessa grinned and playfully poked my arm.

“Unlike me, don’t make a hasty decision. Think it through carefully.”

“What?”

“It’s not something you should do because someone pushed you. You should look into your own heart and judge, without worrying about others’ opinions.”

Would Rosebelia have volunteered without hesitation like Vanessa?

As that thought crossed my mind, a part of my heart tightened needlessly.

But going on dispatch meant staying in the count’s territory for at least a year. There were too many people I would miss if I stayed there.

Daisy, Edwin, Cayden, Vivian, Anne, and…

Ian.

I forcefully collected myself and focused solely on my feelings, as Vanessa had said.

It was true that my heart sank when I heard someone had lost their life. Especially since they were seniors clearly remembered in Rosebelia’s memories.

But what’s important to me now is…

By now, a familiar scenery filled my vision. I stopped in my tracks and looked around. Walking aimlessly, I had reached near the castle walls.

Below, I saw a rather familiar back.

“Commander?”

“Rosebelia.”

The one immersed in solitude beneath the castle walls was Gabriel.

“Why are you here?”

“I wanted to organize my thoughts a bit.”

Gabriel’s anguish was palpable in the way he stroked his beard. I glanced at his seemingly hardened eyes and asked:

“Is the situation that bad?”

“Fortunately, amidst the misfortune, there wasn’t much loss to Chloe Castle’s forces. It’s just that our knights suffered heavy casualties.”

When facing magical beasts, it was ultimately the White Knights who would be at the vanguard. They had essentially risked their lives to protect the castle’s forces.

“Are you thinking of volunteering too?”

I felt my lips tighten at Gabriel’s casual question.

“I…”

“I’d like to assign you a different task.”

“What kind of task?”

“The situation doesn’t seem right. We may have to form another subjugation force soon.”

“You mean we’re going on another subjugation mission?”

We haven’t been back in the capital for long, and now we’re leaving for subjugation again?

‘Are the magical beasts evolving too…?’

A chill ran down my spine at that sudden thought. For some reason, I couldn’t dismiss those words Gabriel had said before. Could that speculation have been correct?

“Yes, we’re not leaving right away, but looking at the situation, it probably won’t take long. For the next subjugation, we plan to divide into two camps from the start to subdue the ‘Abandoned Mountain’.”

“Divide into two camps?”

“The two camps will start climbing from opposite sides of the mountain and meet at the summit. The subjugation force I lead will start from the point where we climbed to the mountain summit and descended last time…”

Gabriel fixed his gaze on me and continued:

“The subjugation force you lead will start from the base of the mountain we usually climb and make your way to the summit.”

“What? Who’s leading?”

“Rosebelia, I mean you.”

Faced with that firm gaze like an unshakeable belief, my mind went blank for a moment. Barely regaining my senses, I hastily shook my head.

“Commander, I don’t have the ability to…”

“I’m entrusting this to you because it’s you. Didn’t you always take charge of the other side when we split the search party in two?”

“A search party that briefly separates during the day and regroups is different from leading a subjugation force from the start. When I led the search party, the vice commander of the Guardian Knights was also there.”

“I’m entrusting this to you because I believe in you. When the subjugation force roster is drawn up again soon, it would be good if you lead alongside me from when we depart the capital.”

“Commander, I…”

I’m not the Rosebelia you knew.

I couldn’t bring myself to utter those words that kept circling in my mouth. After finally swallowing them, only a faint sigh escaped through my teeth.

“I believe in you, Rosebelia.”

Gabriel lightly patted my shoulder and then walked away.

I have to lead what?

“No matter how you look at it, how could I…”

My head spun from the pressure and burden that came upon me one after another.

‘I believe in you.’

Had I ever received such firm trust from someone before?

I don’t think I ever received it even from my family…

I smiled self-deprecatingly and let out a long sigh.

The words Gabriel left behind weighed heavily on one corner of my heart. The funny thing was, going on subjugation felt more comfortable than being dispatched for over a year.

Just as I was letting out a hollow laugh, hurried footsteps approached.

“Senior, you were here.”

“Klein?”

Did he run all the way here?

Even though a cool breeze was blowing, beads of sweat had formed on Ian’s forehead.

“Were you talking with the commander here?”

“How did you know?”

“I happened to see the commander on my way here.”

“Ah, I see.”

Thinking of Gabriel made my heart heavy again. Honestly, I didn’t want to betray that trust. But more than that, I was afraid of whether I could live up to that trust.

“Perhaps…”

Ian trailed off, rubbing his cheek with a dry hand. Noticing his tense expression, I took a step closer and asked:

“What’s wrong?”

“Did you say you’re going to be dispatched to the count’s territory?”

“Ah, about that…”

Before I could finish saying no, Ian suddenly spoke:

“Don’t go.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t go on dispatch.”

“Klein, you’re misunderstanding something…”

“I know you’re stronger than me. But I’m always worried.”

Ian’s face contorted as if he was about to cry. The pain he was feeling was clearly visible on his clouded expression.

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed visibly. Suppressing my own surging emotions, I slowly opened my mouth.

“I’m not going to the count’s territory.”

“What? You’re not going?”

Ian blinked with a dumbfounded expression, then furrowed his brow and asked again.

“Yeah. I’m not going on dispatch.”

Though it seems I might be taking on an even greater responsibility, at least I’m not leaving on dispatch right away.

As I nodded, Ian’s expression brightened noticeably.

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ve been trying to tell you, but you wouldn’t give me a chance to speak…”

“That’s a relief.”

Seeing his relieved face, a smile naturally spread across my own. Just taking in the smile spread across his face seemed to make me forget all the worries that had been clouding my mind.

As if everything but Ian had blurred, only his gaze, his smile, and the expression softening towards me remained clear.

Letting out a faint sigh between my teeth, I swallowed dryly.

Setting aside the original story, the ending, death, and all that – if I just look into my own heart…

How do I really feel about Ian?

The ripples caused by that question gradually spread outward.

Ian was pitiful yet cute, and looking at him brought waves of tender feelings, suddenly replaced by affection.

The small ripples soon became fierce waves crashing over me. Feeling like I might be swept away, I unconsciously squeezed my eyes shut.

After a brief moment, when I opened my eyes again, his gently curved eyes met mine as if they had been waiting.

Faced with his faintly smiling expression, my fingertips curled in on their own.

“Klein.”

“Yes. What is it?”

Looking at Ian, I thought I somewhat understood why my hands always twitched around him.

“So…”

I had been trying to hide my feelings that had already flowed towards you, constantly holding back.

Even in that moment when I wanted to hug you tightly, I held back, this feeling of wanting to embrace you so many times…

I had been holding back all along.

“This might not be the right timing to say this, but…”

Ian’s eyes wavered briefly. Caught up in the thought that it might be me wavering rather than him, my lips moved on their own.

“Can I hug you just once?”

“Pardon?”

“Can I hug you?”

Ian looked at me with a bewildered expression but awkwardly opened his arms. Letting out a soft laugh, I ran into his embrace.

“Senior?”

Ian seemed surprised but lightly hugged my shoulders. It was barely more than just placing his hands on me, not really hugging properly.

“You said you’d wait until I had room in my heart, until I was ready to hold someone in my heart, right?”

“…”

“But there was no need to wait.”

As I lowered my eyelids, I could feel Ian’s heart beating strongly. My own rapidly beating heart also became more clearly perceptible.

Ah, I had already given my heart to you.

“What?”

“You were already in here.”

As I raised my gaze, I saw his eyes trembling helplessly. Ian was looking down at me with his brow slightly furrowed, as if he had just heard something unbelievable.

Ian’s Adam’s apple moved slowly, and then he finally parted his lips.

“So now…”

“I already liked you, Ian.”