Chapter 1.1

“Hestia.”

Some time later, she opened her eyes and found herself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. 

Where was this? 

The dazzling light of an extravagant chandelier, completely out of place for someone of her status, glittered above her head.

Startled, she tried to sit up abruptly, but her body wavered. Suddenly, an unfamiliar hand reached out to support her arm. 

Who was it? 

She turned her head to look and saw someone sitting to her left. It was a man, seemingly around her age, though he appeared to be a few years older. His physique was remarkably robust.

He wore a plain white shirt and trousers devoid of any decorations or patterns. Upon closer inspection, she realized that her own attire was similar—a loose, white dress. This made her wonder if she was in some kind of medical facility. However, the surroundings were far too luxurious for that, resembling a room where a noble might reside.

“Hestia?”

Once again, a voice came from beside her. The man called her name as he gazed at her with a slightly bewildered expression, blinking slowly. His voice, though curt, carried a hint of warmth, as if he was glad to see her. She tilted her head in confusion.

Who was he? Why was he calling my name…?

Having been addressed mostly as “the baker’s daughter” in her daily life, hearing her own name after so long felt strangely unfamiliar. Then, as her vision sharpened, she suddenly noticed the man’s radiant expression and was taken aback. His face was filled with uncontainable joy.

“You’re the one who saved me from the fire back then… Aren’t you?”

Fortunately, she was able to recognize him immediately. It was thanks to his striking, crimson eyes and his unforgettable, handsome features. To be honest, she had never seen a man as stunning as him in her life. He looked as if he had stepped straight out of a painting.

Despite her unsteady state, she tried to bow and express her gratitude to him. But at that moment—

“Thank you so much for back then… Uh?!”

Suddenly, the man pulled her into a tight embrace. Through the thin, white fabric of their clothes, she could clearly feel the pounding of his heartbeat. Frozen in shock, she stammered, “E-excuse me…?” in a voice barely above a whisper.

“Sir Clyde! Are you here again?!”

Abruptly, someone flung the door open with a loud bang and shouted. The next moment, they rushed over and hastily separated her from the man.

“Have you lost your mind? What are you doing right now? Can’t you see she’s startled? Get a grip! Ugh, why are you so strong? Let go already! She’s a patient, too, you know?”

The hurried, exasperated tone of the newcomer, paired with the fluttering of their cloak, caught her attention. She was shocked to see the emblem of the Imperial Knight Order on their attire. What was going on? How did things come to this?

While she remained frozen in place, the man who had been forcibly pulled away from her called her name once more.

“Hestia.”

“Yes…?”

When she responded, the man’s eyes lit up, and he smiled brightly. His eyes resembled beautiful amber gemstones, and his sculpted features appeared even softer thanks to his smile. That smile made her heart race uncontrollably.

But then, a voice filled with astonishment came from beside her.

“Wow, this is insane!”

It was the young man in knightly attire who had separated them earlier.

“Get a hold of yourself, Sir Clyde! What kind of disgrace is this?!”

As the name “Clyde” echoed in her ears, she felt a sense of familiarity. 

Clyde? 

She was sure she had heard that name somewhere before. Judging by the way he was addressed as “Sir,” he must also be a knight. 

Where had I heard it? 

Tilting her head in confusion, she suddenly noticed more people entering the room. This time, it was a man and a woman dressed in flowing white garments that gave off a serene impression.

Both of them seemed to have their eyes closed, yet they moved without any difficulty, as if they could see perfectly fine.

“You’ve arrived at just the right time! Our deputy commander is still acting strange.”

“Why is Sir Clyde here?”

The man among the pair asked, looking puzzled as he glanced over at the young knight who had shouted earlier. Then, his gaze shifted to her, sitting there blinking in confusion. “Ah…” he muttered, nodding slightly.

“Angela, check on the young lady’s condition.”

At his command, the woman accompanying him approached her. She quietly bowed her head in what seemed to be a greeting and then, after murmuring an apology, raised a hand to touch her forehead. Instantly, a warm sensation spread throughout her body, as if it were coursing through every corner of her being. When the woman removed her hand, she spoke.

“She appears to have fully recovered. She should be able to return to her daily life without any issues.”

What had just happened? 

It was fascinating.

As she marveled at the mysterious healing method she had just experienced, something suddenly enveloped her shoulders from behind. With a startled yelp, she bumped into something firm. Looking up, she realized it was the man with the beautiful eyes. He was gazing down at her with a cheerful expression. Then, as if he were a dog reunited with its owner, he began nuzzling his chin against her hair.

“Look at this! He’s been like this the entire time. He barged in here without permission, too. I’m at my wit’s end! Does inhaling too much smoke make a person this foolish?”

“Hmm…”

The man in white robes closed his eyes and let out a low sigh at the knight’s exasperated complaint. Then, just as the woman had done earlier, he raised a hand and touched Clyde’s forehead. Even after doing so, his expression remained puzzled.

“His condition seems fine. However, there’s a trace of something newly imprinted on his soul. That’s slightly concerning.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s not something I can easily explain. This is a realm that only those like us can perceive. Angela, take a look as well.”

The man’s cryptic words left everyone puzzled as he gestured for the woman to examine Clyde. However—

Smack—

Clyde turned his head away, clearly rejecting her touch. The room instantly fell into an awkward silence.

The young knight broke the stillness with a loud shout.

“Sir Clyde! How dare you behave so rudely toward the Saintess! She came here personally to heal you, and instead of showing gratitude, you act like this?!”

The Saintess?

Her eyes widened in shock as she let out a small gasp. 

Was this woman the one and only Saintess of the kingdom? 

But her astonishment didn’t end there.

“My deepest apologies, Your Eminence, and to you as well, Saintess. As you can see, he’s not in his right mind…”

Your Eminence? If that title referred to the Cardinal…

Why were such prominent figures gathered here? Or was it stranger that I was part of this situation?

Her mind swirled with countless questions. Then, she suddenly realized something. It was the man’s touch on her shoulder—Clyde. 

Could it be because of him?

‘What kind of extraordinary man could he be to warrant the presence of the Cardinal and the Saintess?’

At that moment, while she was lost in thought, a memory suddenly flashed through her mind. It was a scene similar to the profile of the man she was looking up at now. She felt as if she was on the verge of remembering something.

Back then, she was certainly watching people waving yellow handkerchiefs and flowers from a second-floor window, while a majestic army on horseback passed by. The name of the tall and impressive deputy commander of the Imperial Knight Order at that time was…

“Lian Clyde?”

His name slipped out of her mouth instantly.

Suddenly, all eyes in the room turned to her. Flustered, she stammered, “Ah, the name just came to me…” and hiccupped. To her dismay, she heard laughter from above her head. It seemed to be from the man holding her. Then, with a silly grin, he called her name again, 

“Hestia.”

Beside her, she heard a voice resigned to its fate. It was the young knight. With a tone of despair, he muttered, 

“He’s not someone who would normally wear such a foolish expression; what a calamity this is…!” 

The Cardinal and the Saintess standing before them also appeared quite puzzled, despite their eyes being closed.

Amidst the unending hiccups, the laughter from above, the long lamentations beside her, and the dismayed reactions of the two holy figures… it seemed the only happy person in the chaotic room was the man holding her.

‘Please, someone explain to me what’s going on…!’

Her head spun. She felt like fainting again.