“The unsetting sun illuminates our path, and our valor will protect our family and homeland!”

The voices of the knights resonated as one, like the wind brushing past my ears, and I watched them, noticing Hecate’s faint smile.

“How was it, Darjeeling?”

As the singing ended, Hecate proudly puffed up his shoulders.

‘Really not good at all.’

At first, I thought it was somewhat okay, but my mind changed by the end.

‘A knight should excel in swordsmanship. What’s that?’

The dignity I envisioned in a knight couldn’t be expressed merely through singing. But I couldn’t outright deny it, so I just said it wasn’t bad with an indifferent face.

Of course, I could have clapped and praised it as cool.

But was my nature to say the right words? Absolutely not.

“It was really wonderful, wasn’t it? Shall we go back now?”

A little later, as Hecate resumed training, the silent Lilis approached.

“No.”

You crafty fellow. I puffed out my chubby face and put my hands on my hips.

“I’m going to sit there and see how capable the knights are.”

I then pointed with my right index finger to a long resting chair set up on one side of the training ground.

“I’ll go back at mealtime. Leave now.”

It also included the meaning of ‘please disappear from my side,’ but Lilis silently agreed and politely greeted me before leaving the training ground.

Something about assisting Hecate with paperwork?

Anyway, it was none of my business.

Swing, swing[Dash].

How much time had passed? I swung my legs back and forth as I watched. I carefully observed the knights until the sky turned orange.
“Even after participating in the battlefield for three years, there’s still an air of inexperience in those knights’ swordsmanship.”

Their lackluster performance was disappointing, and dissatisfaction was expressed with a pout.

And carelessly turning my head to the left, I found Poppy, who had followed me unknowingly, sitting in a humble posture, dozing off.

“It’s boring.”

I disinterestedly looked around.

“?”

Then, a statue that I hadn’t noticed when I first entered the training ground came into view.

“What’s this?”

A statue of a woman standing on a marble staircase leading out of the training ground.

I walked towards the artwork situated amidst welltended grass and a fountain, as if entranced.

‘Doesn’t it look exactly like me as a newborn?’

The reason was simple.

I lost myself, thinking how such a coincidence could occur.

‘Even if I look at it with fear and awe, this is undoubtedly me.’

Suddenly, curious about the identity of the sculptor, I considered finding out more when…

“That statue was dedicated to the empire by our family.”

Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from behind me along with a presence.

“You surprised me!”

I thought my heart would drop. Recognizing Sasha as the intruder, irritation was my first reaction.

“You should have made a noise if you came!”

Feeling embarrassed and even more annoyed, I decided to change the subject while staring at the young fellow.

“So, this statue was made by your family?”

Coughing awkwardly and asking, Sasha grinned, arms crossed.

“Yes, His Majesty ordered to make two statues for the training ground.”

After answering, Sasha looked up at the statue.

“This is one of them.”

“Really?”

Replying indifferently, I felt a sense of repulsion inside.

At first, I approached it out of curiosity, but the more I looked at it, the more uncomfortable the statue became.

‘Even though it’s just one of many statues, I hate that it resembles exactly my appearance from my first life.’

Why on earth did they have to replicate my appearance from my first life?

I even suspected that someone, other than Lillith, who knew my past, had intentionally made it look like me.

“Why can’t Your Majesty take your eyes off this statue?”

“It’s strange, this statue…”

On the one hand, I answered Sasha’s question like this.

“It reminds me of someone I know.”