Early dawn.

At a time when everyone was still asleep, I went out to the training grounds alone.

The butler, Hans, had not only prepared dresses for me, but also simple everyday clothes and training attire that fit me perfectly.

Among them, I chose the plainest – plain enough to be to my liking – black pants and white shirt, and picked up a sword.

The training ground was a large open area behind the mansion’s garden.

There were huge wooden dummies made in the shape of people. The dummies were tightly wrapped in thick ropes so they wouldn’t be damaged or fall over when struck by a sword.

I wanted to feel free when no one was watching.

‘Would swinging a sword relieve this frustration?’

Three nights ago, I walked with the Grand Duke around the surrounding gardens.

That day, the Grand Duke’s blue eyes were unusually downcast. Even after I left, he did not return to his room for a long time.

My room was next to the stairs, so if he had returned, I would have heard the Grand Duke’s footsteps. I would have heard the sound of his bedroom door opening right above.

But even late into the night, no such sound was heard.

‘What is it that burdens you in this life as well?’

I am angry at those who stand brazenly beside the emperor. That I cannot yet do anything to them. That I lack power. And that you are struggling.

I cannot forget the moment when Medeia removed my mask in front of the emperor.

I raised my sword and struck down on a huge wooden dummy, larger than a sizable adult male, with the thickness of a giant old tree.

– Thwack!

I won’t forgive you.

– Thump!

I can’t forgive you, Medeia Lahert.

Thinking no one was around, swordsmanship energy kept infusing into my blade.

“Hey!”

“What!!!”

– Crack!

At the annoyed voice calling me, anger surged up in me without knowing. At the same time, the wooden dummy I swung at was split in two.

Ah…… I should have controlled myself.

The upper part of the dummy flew far into the woods and disappeared, while the deeply embedded lower half was uprooted and tumbled to the ground.

Looking back to where the sound came from, I saw Bran standing there, his face pale as a sheet.

I asked as if nothing was amiss.

“What is it? Bran Ophilit.”

“Uh, uh? You, you…… did you just use swordsmanship?”

Oh no, did he see?

Unable to control my emotions, I used a tiny bit of force.

“What are you talking about? Maybe because it rained yesterday, the dummy seemed like it would be uprooted at any moment. Isn’t it the job of aspiring knights like you to secure them properly?”

I retorted nonchalantly.

“Uh, uh? Is that what it was? I thought… But still, someone like you couldn’t possibly use swordsmanship, you’re not some knight from the history books. Anyway, your strength is monstrous.”

“Have you actually seen swordsmanship before?”

“You mean in real life? Are you crazy? Is there even anyone who has reached that level these days?”

“Right.”

I answered dismissively.

“But why did you call me? Did you come at this early hour just to ask if I was crazy?”

“That’s not it!”

Bran snapped.

“You. Don’t get too cocky.”

“What?”

“I said don’t get too cocky. You’re not even an aspiring knight yet, and you’ve never been to the North, but you went with His Grace the Grand Duke to the imperial palace as if you were a Northerner? It’s because you looked so pitiful back then, well you’re a bit better now. That’s why he even made you his attendant. But to tag along all the way to the imperial palace?”

‘What’s this? Is he trying to keep me in check?’

“Who said that? That I tagged along.”

“Even if they don’t say it, that’s what everyone will think, no? I haven’t been able to go to the imperial palace yet either, but what did you do to tag along, even riding in the same carriage as the Deputy Commander? Casually talking with His Grace the Grand Duke and even e-eating meals together with the Deputy Commander!”

The more Bran spoke, the redder his cheeks became.

‘…… It’s jealousy, I see.’

“That’s not it. His Grace is using me because I can be of use to him.”

“Using you?”

“Yes. Using me. I have…… on the Lahert Grand Ducal House.”

That’s when it happened.

“Bran Ophilit!”

Deputy Commander Moby, who had come to the training grounds at some point, called out to Bran in a stern voice. Next to the Deputy Commander was the butler, Hans, who also had a strict look in his eyes.

“Why are you bothering Lady Esther first thing in the morning?”

“Deputy Commander Moby. I’m not bothering her, I’m trying to teach her some things as her senior. And I’m no longer an apprentice but a proper aspiring knight now, ahem. Please address me as Sir Ophilit.”

“Sir O-phil-it? Hah, that’s funny. Your behavior is still like a little brat who wets his bed.”

“Deputy Commander!”

Bran made a tearful face.

“My lady, and Sir O-phil-it. His Grace is looking for you. Everyone is gathered in the banquet hall now.”

Hans said, gazing at Bran with one corner of his mouth curled up mockingly.

‘His Grace is looking for me?’

“Hurry up and come! Bran Ophilit!”

“Yes, yes.”

Bran glared at me one more time, then followed Deputy Commander Moby.

[Timeline separator]

Dozens of knights were already gathered in the banquet hall, seated at dozens of tables arranged in rows.

At the very front of the hall, the Grand Duke, seated on a high platform, looked at me as I entered. It was our first meeting in three days.

‘Your Grace.’

He did not take his eyes off me.

Arcadia was seated next to the Grand Duke at a separate small table.

I sat next to Yora and across from Bran.

“Today, I have called you all here to conduct an important ceremony!”

Arcadia spoke.

‘Ceremony?’

I had already thought it strange that everyone except the apprentice and aspiring knights was wearing silver armor. Bran also looked around with puzzled eyes.

The Grand Duke rose from his seat.

“Gentlemen. You must all be tired from the long battles and marches, but are you finding your stay here lacking in any way?”

“Not at all!”

“It’s wonderful, Your Grace! The food is absolutely delicious too!”

“I agree! The beds are so comfortable that I fall asleep as soon as I lay down!”

The knights all laughed. The Grand Duke also showed a pleased smile.

“I’m glad to hear that. Today, I wish to convey to you all one desire of mine and speak about the path we will take going forward.”

“…….”

At the suddenly solemn atmosphere, everyone looked at each other, not understanding the reason.

“We in the North have fought countless wars and battles as the shield of the empire. Their frequency has increased in recent years, especially. But what we received in return was an attempt to poison me, and an assassination attempt on Nugent, my aide and Deputy Commander of the Knights.”

“It’s truly unjust and infuriating!”

“Just thinking about it makes me jolt awake from sleep! Those wicked Southerners! How dare they!”

Some of the large and rough-looking knights among the group shouted.

“Yes. But the wicked ones are not the people of the South. They too are subjects of the empire that we must protect. The ones who have wronged us are a few who hold power. However, I…”

The Grand Duke paused for a moment. Everyone waited for his next words.

“Have endured it until now. Because I thought that was the way to protect everyone.”

‘Grand Duke……’

I could understand his heart. But it was because you endured that in your previous life, you were ultimately defeated.

“But. When the lives of my people were threatened, and I saw my proud and great knights being hurt and torn apart, I made a resolution. That I will no longer stand by idly in the current situation. I, Sion Belfast, will now fight against them shrewdly. I will make those who threaten and harm the North kneel before my sword.”

‘!’

Within his calm voice was an icy cold fury like a blizzard.

A long silence fell over the banquet hall.

The one who broke the silence was a knight who stood up from his seat. Emils, the deputy commander of the 3rd Division, whom I had crossed swords with before.

He shouted.

“Those are the words we wanted to hear more than any encouragement or praise! Your Grace the Grand Duke! I, Emils, will follow you with my life!”

“I too will give my life!”

“Your Grace! Please use me for the cause!”

Everyone knelt on one knee and paid their respects as knights to the Grand Duke.

“I don’t need your lives. Because it is you alive that I need. And what I intend to do from now on is not battle, but politics.”

The faces of the knights brightened.

‘Not battle, but politics……’

I looked at the Grand Duke.

The Belfast Grand Duke of this time in the previous life had not yet completely erased the sorrow left behind in the North by the previous Northern Regent, Count Heron Nugent.

Count Heron Nugent.

The father of Arcadia Nugent. The head of the first vassal family of the North who protected the North in place of young Sion Belfast, who had to come to the capital as a hostage at the age of eight due to the system.

Eight years ago, he was assassinated by the Black Beetle, and because of that, the Belfast Grand Duke was able to return to the North. It was Lahert’s plan to send the young Grand Duke back to the North and then constantly drive him to the battlefield to kill him.

What greeted the young Grand Duke upon his return were the people of the North who kept the longing for Heron Nugent like a ‘scar’.

But now, Sion Belfast declared.

That what he intends to do is not battle, but politics. That he will make them kneel before the sword of the North.

I could see Arcadia’s eyebrows trembling faintly.

For Arcadia, the son of Heron Nugent, who had to come to the capital at the age of nine to assist the eight-year-old Grand Duke, the death of his father must also be a great wound.

But Sion Belfast said he wanted Arcadia to live and see the success of his politics, of their politics.

My heart trembled.

‘Your Grace, you just showed them hope. And to me as well. What you said a moment ago was what I wanted to hear from you in this life.’

The Grand Duke spoke.

“To that end, there is something I wish to do for the first time. Gentlemen, you all know who is the ‘one and only person’ I brought back from the South, correct?”

Then everyone looked at me.

‘!’

I was flustered. It was a situation I had not heard about beforehand at all.

‘What is this?’

“Esther is someone absolutely necessary for our politics. She has ‘information about the South’ that we do not know. I intend to use her. So…… I will appoint her as an ‘aspiring knight’ of the North at this occasion.”

The knights began to stir.

“As an aspiring knight?”

“I’ve seen that her swordsmanship is good, but directly becoming an aspiring knight without even an apprenticeship period? Isn’t that unprecedented?”

“She doesn’t seem untrustworthy, but she was still the close aide of the Southern Grand Duke’s daughter.”

“Shouldn’t we wait and observe her a bit longer? Just in case, we need to be cautious.”

I could hear the muttered words reaching my ears as well.

They were all correct.

From their perspective, the fact that I look pitiful and the fact that I am on their side are two different matters.

Even if it was the South that made half of my face like this, that does not prove my loyalty to the North.

At that moment, Sir Emils spoke up.

“Your Grace, I also heard from the Deputy Commander that you intend to use that woman. You even took her to the imperial palace, and while I don’t know the details, I heard she proved her usefulness in some way. However…… it is unprecedented. There are apprentice knights in the North who have trained for years to become knights. They become aspiring knights through a rigorous evaluation process and after that, they are appointed as knights after gaining real battle experience. Issues with the procedure can lead to unnecessary strife later on. That is my deep concern.”

There was not a single thing he said that was wrong.

The Grand Duke said.

“Your words are all correct, Sir Emils. But gentlemen. There is something I wish to gain through this visit to the capital. Among us now, the one who knows Lahert the best and is aware of their weaknesses is Esther alone. With the guise of being my attendant, I cannot officially make use of her.”

“I understand, Your Grace. But…… to fully trust her yet……”

Sir Emils trailed off.

“If it was someone who accomplished a great deed that everyone can acknowledge or made a big sacrifice for the North, no one would object to appointing them as a knight while skipping the procedure. But Lady Esther is……”

That’s when it happened.

“I wasn’t going to say this, but.”

Arcadia, who had been silent, suddenly picked up where Emils left off.

“That woman has accomplished such a great deed.”

The knights began to whisper among themselves, looking at each other’s faces.

“What? What great deed did she accomplish?”

The Grand Duke and Arcadia both looked at me simultaneously. Surprised, I looked back at them.

What is this? What great deed did I accomplish? What are you trying to say?

‘It can’t be……’

The Grand Duke let out a soft sigh and opened his mouth.

“Gentlemen.”

When the Grand Duke spoke, everyone held their breaths.

“You all remember the day when the Southern assassin laid waste to the Blue Annex Castle, right?”

Once again, everyone began to mutter.

“How could we forget!”

“That assassin bastard! He put us all to sleep with a sleeping gas!”

“It’s a memory that’s shameful beyond compare! To put Your Grace and the Deputy Commander in danger……”

The Grand Duke lightly raised one hand. Then everyone closed their mouths.

“At that time, there was someone who helped Arcadia and fought off that assassin. You all know, right?”

“Yes! We heard about it……!”

The knights answered, then stopped and looked at me. They had looks of disbelief on their faces.

I also looked at the Grand Duke.

It can’t be……

I looked at Arcadia.

It can’t be.

Arcadia was gazing at me with heated eyes. Then, brushing his hair back, he spat out.

“She’s the one who saved me.”

“!”

“Esther fended off that Black Beetle with a sword. I’m the one who dropped him off the balcony to his death, but if it wasn’t for Esther, the one falling to their death would have been me. Doesn’t this count as a great deed? If you say it doesn’t, I think I’ll be quite hurt. You all must have thought that even if someone like Arcadia Nugent dies, it wouldn’t be a big blow.”

Nugent glared at the knights with those clear eyes of his.

The knights were silent with dumbfounded expressions.

After a while, Sir Emils broke the silence and asked.

“Is it true that you, Esther, saved the Deputy Commander?”

I looked at the Grand Duke.

‘You knew.’

The Grand Duke’s blue eyes seemed to be telling me to answer.

I slowly nodded my head.

“Yes. I knew that the Black Beetle, that man, was an assassin of the Southern Grand Duke. That day, after hiding the dying Yora in my room, I was keeping watch of the surroundings in case we were discovered……”

I mixed in a small lie. I couldn’t say that I had gone to the annex because I knew about my previous life.

To gather courage, I looked at Yora. Yora was gazing up at me with tear-filled eyes.

“I saw that man climbing the walls of the annex castle. Since I had already reported the poison to Your Grace, I knew that the place you were staying was on the fifth floor. But when I saw that he had nearly reached that area.”

I took a deep breath in and let it out.

“I thought the knights wouldn’t know me and be wary, so they wouldn’t let me in, so I snuck into the castle. I saw everyone succumb to the sleeping gas, but by holding my breath right away, I was able to avoid falling asleep.”

Silence followed.

Then.

“Wooooow!”

“Thank you!”

Cheers erupted like waves.

“Esther! Thank you!”

“You saved Lord Nugent!”

Everyone began shouting.

I was stunned.

What was this intense reaction?

Sir Emils, who had run up to me, grabbed my hand.

“If the Deputy Commander had died, the North would have been split in two!!! Thank you! Thank you so much!!!”

In the distance, I could see Moby and the blacksmith Ergo raising their hands above their heads and applauding. The butler Hans was looking at me with eyes full of affection.

The Grand Duke spoke.

“It is for you all to judge whether this is a great deed or not.”

“It is indeed a great deed! She saved the Deputy Commander!”

“The one who saved our brother is also our sister!”

The knights shouted in unison. Among those shouting was Bran.

“I acknowledge it! Your Grace!”

Bran added once more.

Arcadia opened his mouth.

“Not brother, but sister. Esther is a woman.”

Then, as if embarrassed, he turned his head away by himself.

I see.

I really did greatly help the North.

I looked at the Grand Duke. He was gazing at me with heated eyes.

“Then let us begin the aspiring knight appointment ceremony.”

‘Your Grace, are you truly accepting me as a knight of the North? Truly, me.’

I couldn’t take my eyes off the Grand Duke. He didn’t avoid my gaze either.

[Timeline separator]

The Grand Duke’s sword rested on my shoulder as I knelt on one knee. As if gently placing it, so I wouldn’t feel the weight of the sword.

“I pledge my loyalty, Your Grace.”

I spoke those words while looking at the Grand Duke. His eyes met mine.

“I will look forward to it, Esther.”

Everyone let out cheers of jubilation.