Even Daren had his limits in blocking Rodrick’s sword.

Bern, with his outstanding physical abilities as a beast, was fighting against Rodrick. However, he was not in a good condition.

The knights who were watching Bern, who was about to collapse soon, clicked their tongues.

“Captain! Isn’t that enough to accept him?”

“You’re right. I think it would be good to bring him into the knight order at this point. Hup!”

The knight who received Rodrick’s murderous gaze shut his mouth and quickly hid behind Diana.

The other knights were the same. As if Diana was their only shield, the burly men were huddled together behind her back.

“You’re all hurt, right? Why don’t you lie down?”

At Diana’s words, the knights made a tearful face.

“Ah, we’re bored.”

“We’ve been lying down too much and feel stiff.”

They were talking beside her with their bandages and splints, dragging their not-so-well bodies.

It’s good to chatter noisily, but it would be nice if they could read the atmosphere. Trying to join the conversation while looking at the knights not unpleasantly, the duel ended before I knew it.

“Thank, you.”

As soon as the sword fell, Bern collapsed with his large body. Lying face down on the floor, sweating profusely, Bern thought. It had been a long time since he had exerted himself like this.

It was truly crazy skills. To think there was someone with such skills. He thought of the old masters he had sparred with and ranked them.

Bern, who had been catching his breath with his eyes tightly closed, opened his mouth before Rodrick left the training ground.

“However, I want to be by the young lady’s side.”

Rodrick’s movement stopped as he was taking off his sweat-soaked black gloves.

A large drop of sweat fell from his tilted jawline – plop.

“The reason is.”

“There is no reason. I just want to be by her side. Please allow it.”

In the first place, Diana drew a clear line. If Rodrick does not allow it, she will not allow it either. That’s how this situation started.

The bear persistently challenged to gain the master’s permission.

The reason Rodrick did not readily accept him was a man’s intuition.

His senses, sharply honed like a beast, keenly noticed the feelings that had not yet sprouted.

The way Bern looked at her kept bothering him.

He exhaled deeply and brushed back his wet bangs. About to turn around and leave without answering, he gave a look to his subordinates.

‘Stay away.’

With a single glance, he dismissed the knights. Then he roughly held Diana in one arm and left.

“……”

“……”

The knights, who were terrified that they might be subjected to immediate corporal punishment, sighed and watched their lord’s back.

“Is that a family trait?”

“Seems like it?”

“It hurts inside, but it’s nice to see.”

The Duke of Schwartz’s direct subordinate had heard it before. When the Duchess was pregnant, the Duke carried her at every moment so that not even the tip of her toes touched the ground.

That man without blood or tears had such pure love? Of course, the knights thought it was an exaggeration that seniors tell juniors. Now it seemed that it was not a lie at all.

Even someone like the Duke showed a warm side to his woman, so why can’t our commander do the same?

But is that really warmth?

“If I were a woman, I think I would have been suffocated.”

“I agree.”

“Hmm, our young lady. I think she’s on the wrong person.”

Before they knew it, Diana had become ‘our young lady’ to the elite knights.

It seems his separation anxiety has acted up again. Rodrick had no intention of leaving her side for even a moment.

“Baby. I’m against it.”

He even followed her to the room where Bensi banned entry, taking on the role of her bodyguard.

“This granny is against it!”

Bensi, who hated the word grandmother, shouted to that extent, showing how intense the confrontation was.

Rodrick responded with his usual expressionless face without blinking an eye. Yet, he never stopped being wary of Bensi who had kidnapped her.

He would not make her pay for the kidnapping, but he would not forgive her either.

Seeing that, Bensi hit her chest, seemingly more fired up.

Damn Schwartz. What made Bensi even more angry was Rodrick’s appearance.

“How do you look exactly like that guy?!”

To be precise, Rodrick’s appearance was superior to the ancestor’s, but Diana remained silent between them.

The ancestor had also not come out of the ring for quite some time, taking the hint.

Really, what hardship is this because of you, Ancestor? Diana grabbed the ring as if pinching it out of sudden annoyance.

“Huff, I traced the mana.”

Bensi, who was panting, completely ignored Rodrick and spoke to Diana.

“I found the exact same wavelength emanating from that jewel.”

Diana’s eyes widened. Angela’s jewel. If it was the same as that, it could be a way to cure her cursed body.

That’s what Angela’s last remains would be, right? There was hope that as soon as they found it, her curse would disappear.

In fact, the pattern of her curse had already faded a little.

“Where is it?”

“The Iota Kingdom.”

Rodrick’s expression slightly hardened upon hearing the location.

“And it’s felt from the center of the kingdom.”

The Iota Kingdom was one of the kingdoms bordering the northern part of the Empire. The north was bordered by large and small countries along the Empire’s boundary line.

The Schwartz Ducal House was not called the shield of the north for nothing.

Over the long years, as the Empire grew in size, it won many battles, subjugated enemy nations, and created vassal states under the name of alliances.

One of those bound by the name of an alliance was the Iota Kingdom.

In reality, it was nothing more than a vassal state of the Empire, but their resentment towards the Empire was considerable. It was the same even now after a long time had passed.

They were still sharpening their swords against the Empire, but going there would not be difficult.

“Can we use teleportation magic right away?”

“The Black Forest needs to calm down a bit more, but I can move just you.”

“Then, right away.”

“Two people.”

Rodrick interrupted her words and added. He, who had been standing silently behind her, stepped forward and grabbed Diana’s shoulder.

When she looked up, his blue eyes were intensely saying that he would never leave her side.

The tip of Bensi’s eyebrow trembled.

“Who said I’d move the likes of you too?! You damn Schwartz.”

Why are people who are hostile to the Schwartz always so emotional? Diana showed an awkward smile while looking at Bensi.

“Um, Aunt Bensi. May I ask you a favor?”

“……”

Bensi alternately looked at Rodrick and Diana and let out a big sigh. Whether in the past or now, the stubbornness of the Beatus bloodline couldn’t be broken. They really had terrible taste in men.

“Pack your things. We’re leaving right away, aren’t we?”

“Thank you.”

“So, the destination is?”

“The Beatus Ducal House in the Imperial Capital.”

The priority was the capital. The center of the original story. It was a harsh place for a time-limited extra, but to survive, she had to face it head-on.

She held Rodrick’s hand tightly. With this man by her side, whom she had grown accustomed to being with, there was no fear.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

He raised their joined hands and kissed the back of her hand. The gently placed lips rose beautifully and sensually.

Bensi, who had been quietly watching the scene, clicked her tongue with a rotten expression.

“Plague.”

A rustic curse slipped out of the mouth of a woman with a timeless beauty.

It was late at night when the great migration of the Schwartz family from the north ended. Considering the delays in between, taking a little over ten days was still fast.

The quiet square rang noisily with the boisterous carriage procession. The end of the endless procession was the Schwartz mansion.

As the procession entered the district where the nobles lived, earrings dangling long under sky-blue hair sparkled.

The blue eyes that discovered something widened in surprise. Felice jumped out of the carriage without delay.

“Young master? Where are you going again?!”

At the sudden departure, a knight called out to Felice.

He was a knight who had been ordered to attend to Felice with a clear mind because of his past history of running away.

The knight quickly followed Felice with two more escorts to not lose him.

“Sister-in-law?”

Felice was certain. Although her face was covered with a veil, that was Diana Beatus.

Did sister-in-law arrive in the capital alone first? Did she miss brother on the way?

“Sister-in…!”

After chasing and chasing, he grabbed her in front of a shabby pub. As soon as he grabbed her wrist, Felice’s hand was flicked away with a smack.

“Sister-in-law?”

“How rude. Who are you to call me sister-in-law?”

The voice sounded strangely different, but the same? What is going on? Felice felt as if he was under a spell.

“Diana Beatus.”

Seeing the woman flinch, Felice’s expression instantly hardened.

With a chilled face, Felice drew the sword at his waist. It was an expression he rarely showed to Diana.

“Impersonating others, especially a high-ranking noble, is a felony.”

“……”

Looking down at the sword touching the tip of her chin hidden under the veil, Jamie broke out in a cold sweat.

‘Oh no, what is this again? How does he know the face of a young lady who is a shut-in noble?’

There were few nobles who properly knew Diana’s face. Her portrait was not included in the noble genealogy. That’s why she had been walking around without even removing her disguise.

“What do you mean…?”

“For now, I will detain you in the Schwartz’s prison. Make your excuses there. How dare you impersonate my sister-in-law? You won’t be leaving unscathed, so be aware of that.”

Just then, the Schwartz knights were coming from behind Felice. Jamie cursed inwardly.

The face that was not visible in the dark could now be seen properly.

Isn’t that Felice Schwartz?! Jamie, who had memorized all the portraits in the noble genealogy, recognized Felice instantly.

No, what is that guy’s relationship with our young lady that he knows her? I can’t fight with the young lady’s face either. Should I run away?

Felice, who immediately grasped Jamie’s thoughts, was about to boldly swing his sword.

Bang! The door of the shabby pub next to them opened with such force that it seemed like it would fall off.

“Ugh- I ate well!”

Everyone’s attention was drawn to the man who came out opening the door. He didn’t look like a noble at all. He was staggering out with his blood-red hair disheveled.

“What, it’s crowded and blocking the way… Diana?”

Nathan Beatus recognized his younger sister and frowned.