t/n: I made a little mistake in C39 (that have now been amended). To clarify: FMC is 7 years old.

‘If you know, you’d go a bit easier.’

Even if Royan tried to hide his condition, Reibella, who was a complete novice in swordsmanship, could notice something was off. A knight with much sharper eyes couldn’t possibly miss it.

Especially if he was skilled enough to teach the young master, he must be an incredible expert, and if so, he would undoubtedly know about Royan’s condition.

‘Perhaps that’s why he’s being tougher?’

To make him overcome his trauma on his own.

Though his method was rough, it seemed to be the appropriate training for Royan. After all, he would eventually grow up to become an extraordinary swordsman in the future.

“……Ugh!”

With a loud cracking sound, the small sword flew out of Royan’s hand and rolled far away. Simultaneously, Royan was pushed back and landed on his backside.

And at that moment, as Royan turned his head toward the sword, his eyes met directly with Reibella’s.

Did he know?

How frightening his eyes looked, filled with intense hostility.

Startled without realizing it, Reibella’s shoulders jerked as she slightly turned her head to avoid his gaze. Just then, the opposing knight seemed to notice her as well and approached, walking past Royan.

“You’ve arrived, Miss.”

The knight who greeted her respectfully while looking down at her was truly a man of impressive physique. Even from a distance, she had thought he was large, but up close, his mere presence was intimidating.

But his expression was gentle. Unlike when he faced Royan, he wore a smile so soft that his facial muscles seemed to melt.

“I am Jeranov Romnal, Commander of the Silver Wolf First Knight Order and Deputy Commander of the Silver Wolf.”

“Hello, Commander.”

“I received word from our lord. You need an escort knight.”

“Yes. The Duke has given me the honor of selecting knights to accompany me. Could I see the knights now?”

“Of course. Let’s go to the outdoor training ground over there. Everyone should be gathered.”

As he moved ahead to guide her personally, Reibella naturally followed behind him.

Before leaving the indoor training ground, she glanced back and caught sight of Royan struggling to get up and limping to retrieve his sword.

Judging by his heavy breathing, he seemed extremely angry. Perhaps losing was so frustrating that instead of picking up the sword, he pounded the floor with his fist to release his emotions.

If only he would shout, he might feel better.

Without uttering a word, he just struck the floor with a thud and lowered his head, which looked terribly pitiful.

‘……Will he be alright?’

Anyway, he would overcome this on his own and grow well.

‘Right, this is no time for me to worry about others.’

That boy was the male protagonist. A child with a future as vast as the open sky. In contrast, the future of ‘Reibella Felicity’ was so precarious that she couldn’t see even an inch ahead.

For someone like her to worry about that boy was no different than a mouse thinking about a cat.

Reibella turned away her gaze and deliberately shook off thoughts of him as she continued walking.

She could feel his eyes on her from behind, but she kept her focus stubbornly fixed on the path ahead.

* * *

“Miss!”

When they arrived at the place Jeranov had guided them to, the first person to greet Reibella was none other than Aiden.

He approached as if he had been waiting and greeted her, and despite only a day having passed, she was glad to see him as if they had met after a long time.

Perhaps she was excited to meet someone who welcomed her after receiving that look from Royan earlier. As she smiled broadly at him, Aiden smiled back with a face that suggested he found her adorable. But soon, his eyes filled with shock.

“Miss! How did you get injured!”

At his booming voice, the knights who had been showcasing their swordsmanship instantly turned their attention to Reibella. Then they all stopped what they were doing and began rushing over. They were all knights who had journeyed together to Louvindisi.

They too must have noticed Reibella’s ear, as they shouted with shock and dismay.

“How!”

“Who did this to you!”

“After how carefully we escorted you!”

Yes, that would be your future lord……

During the week-long journey to Louvindisi, she had sensed that the knights of Vicheravali, contrary to the cold and fierce image suggested by the name “Silver Wolf,” were actually quite gentle and warm-hearted.

They were kind and familiar even to her, who was considered the nation’s scapegoat.

Reibella couldn’t let these kind knights curse their future lord without knowing anything. So she hurriedly made an excuse.

“I just got scratched by a tree……”

“A tree? What kind of tree could cause such a large wound! We must uproot it immediately!”

“Indeed, someone more fragile than glass……”

She had only said she was scratched by a ‘tree.’ But the impact was tremendous.

Everyone made shocked expressions as if saying ‘To be injured by a mere tree!’ and now they began to perceive her as someone more fragile than glass. They were treating her like a sugar cube that would dissolve in the rain.

“I think I should accompany you, Miss.”

Aiden added with a grave expression. He seemed to have completely forgotten that he was the Commander of the Silver Wolf Second Knight Order.

“I am confident I can care for you like a newborn baby……”

Hmm. Rejected.

Sugar cube and newborn baby.

That was treatment she hadn’t experienced even as Felicity. Of course, it was problematic for being excessive, but she appreciated such attitudes. After all, the world that ‘Reibella Felicity’ had belonged to until now had been cold and indifferent.

On the other hand, it was also somewhat unwelcome. She might become attached. And if she became attached, she would be reluctant to part ways.

Reibella smiled once at Aiden and then examined the knights gathered around her.

They were all exceptionally skilled knights. She had no doubt about their abilities, having observed them throughout her journey here.

So Reibella was confident she wouldn’t regret her choice. With everyone’s attention on her, Reibella called out two names with her small lips.

“I like Sir Cleo and Sir Tony.”

The two people who were the most insensitive in the world.

Perhaps because of this, everyone was shocked by her choice.

“No! Why would Miss choose such guys!”

“That’s not a human. It’s a bear. A bear!”

“Do you know how insensitive those guys are? Miss, absolutely not!”

As if a preciously raised daughter had brought home a boyfriend, everyone united in opposition.

The interesting thing was that despite being criticized by everyone, Cleo and Tony just shrugged their shoulders as if it didn’t bother them at all.

“Miss, I will protect you.”

“It’s an honor, Miss.”

As they stepped forward to accept Reibella’s proposal without any hesitation, everyone stopped shouting and began to whisper quietly.

“After running that bastard ragged, he’ll be too tired to……”

“First, we’ll get him drunk and then……”

The details weren’t audible, but one thing was clear. Cleo and Tony’s lives wouldn’t be very comfortable from now on.

But Reibella deliberately ignored this fact. They would part ways in two months anyway, so couldn’t they just endure a little?

They were knights, so even if they got pushed around a bit, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Having rationalized it this way, Reibella pretended not to hear and just smiled.

Unaware of this, Tony and Cleo smiled brightly and bowed their heads, pledging to serve her with all their hearts.

Swallowing her guilt toward the two, Reibella gave them a mischievous smile.

* * *

After deciding on her escort knights, Reibella went out that same day with the two knights she had selected.

The purpose of the outing was, of course, to find a ‘merchant group heading to the Kingdom of Baribe.’

Since Louvindisi was a territory where commerce was highly developed even within the Empire, there were many merchant groups coming and going, making it not easy to find the right one. Especially since she had to extract that information naturally without being detected by everyone.

Reibella decided to move as calmly as possible. She spent the day going around with the knights, looking at items at stalls, buying things, and sometimes eating street food.

Although she became increasingly anxious as time passed, fortunately, at a small shop selling foreign goods, she happened to overhear information about a merchant group heading to the ‘Kingdom of Baribe’ and its schedule.

‘Let’s see, they said they’re departing from there in the middle of next month, so probably this winter? Hey, Jo. Am I right?’

‘Yes, we’re planning to leave before sunrise on the 14th, so you should come too, brother. I heard the Master is planning to slaughter a cow before departure this time.’

‘That boss sure knows how to set the mood.’

The middle of next month meant about a month and a half later.

It was sooner than expected, but that wasn’t a problem.

The detoxification herb would stay fresh for at least two months if kept in a bottle containing magic stones, so she could continue taking it until the day she left the Empire. She would need to write at least one letter to the Emperor to make a gesture that she hadn’t betrayed him yet.

And then.

‘Goodbye to this wretched Empire.’

As the farewell to the Empire gradually became a reality, her heart filled with excitement.