IRMLIP 32

IRMLIMP**Chapter 32 (English Translation)** If I had been the original Irel, I would have misunderstood Seria’s words and thought she was mocking my plain yet shabby appearance. *‘And I probably would’ve said something like this.’* Where are your eyes? You couldn’t recognize how beautiful I am? But instead, I hurriedly stood up and waved my hands. “No! It’s okay, Saint Seria.” Looking slightly startled, Seria gazed up at me with her large, watery eyes. “Y-you know my name?” I reached out my hand toward her. “Yes. This is the first time we’ve met since the welcoming ceremony. I’ve heard a lot about you from Edwin.” “Ah…” Seria’s face flushed a little. *‘Looks like she and Edwin had a nice time at the welcoming ceremony.’* The scene of the two of them running into each other on the terrace, awkwardly talking before gradually growing fond of each other, crossed my mind. *‘They really made a good pair.’* Edwin, the kind-hearted second male lead, suited gentle and warm Seria perfectly. Well, Seria would end up with Rishid in the end… That natural train of thought left a bitter feeling in my chest. Lately, I had been getting along so comfortably with Rishid that I’d briefly forgotten my own situation. “Th-thank you.” Seria took my hand and stood up. Just then, a voice called out from behind me. “Saint! What are you doing? Please come quickly!” “Ah, yes!” Startled, Seria hugged her thick books to her chest and bowed her head to me. “My lady, I’m terribly sorry, but I’ll greet you properly next time. I’m really busy right now…! I apologize for leaving so abruptly!” “Ah, no, it’s fine—” Before I could even finish, she disappeared at lightning speed. Even in such a hurry, she still cared so much about etiquette. *‘How on earth did Irel ever bully someone as kind-hearted as Seria?’* More importantly, why did she seem so busy? In the original story, around this time, Seria purifies Rishid’s curse and learns how to properly control her divine power. As a result, her innate holy power blossoms even further. It’s when she awakens as a saint. But then why… *‘Could it be that she hasn’t met Rishid, so her awakening is delayed?’* No way. Even if that were true, there wasn’t anything I could do about it—but the thought still left me uneasy. *‘It’s not like I can even confirm it anyway.’* With a faint sigh, I started walking again. Just then, something lightly hit the tip of my shoe. *‘What’s this?’* I bent down and picked up a small pin from the floor. It was a butterfly-shaped hairpin. It must have fallen when Seria bumped into me and fell earlier. I stared for a moment in the direction she had run off, then decided I’d hand it to a passing holy knight on my way out. There was no way I could catch up to her when I didn’t even know where she’d gone. Then, suddenly, a better idea came to mind. *‘Right.’* There’s someone perfect I can give this to… --- I got into the carriage that had been waiting for me and returned to the mansion with Jenis. When I told her I would be volunteering at the Grand Temple, she suddenly got emotional and teared up, so I had to calm her down for a while. “What happened?” As if she had been waiting, the duchess summoned me to her office the moment I returned. I showed her the contract and explained everything, even mentioning how I had helped the High Priest. *‘She told me to leave nothing out.’* “You were fortunate.” The duchess frowned at times while listening, but in the end, she dismissed me with a relieved expression. “Since the matter is resolved, I’ll lift your restriction on going out.” Thanks to that, I was finally free again. After leaving her office, I stopped a passing maid. “Where is my brother?” “Ah, the young master is at the training grounds.” “Thank you.” I headed straight there. It was a place I had only seen once—on my first day after transmigrating, when I explored the mansion to familiarize myself with its layout. As I approached the entrance, a knight who had just come out looked at me in surprise. “My lady? What brings you here…?” “I came to see Edwin.” “Ah—yes!” The knight awkwardly opened the door. “Please, go inside.” I nodded and stepped in. Even from afar, Edwin stood out as he sparred with the knights. His golden hair, fluttering with each swing of his sword, was truly beautiful. I sat off to one side and watched him. I didn’t know anything about swordsmanship, but just watching him made time pass quickly. Edwin only noticed me when it was time for a break. “…Irel?” When our eyes met, he looked startled—as if he’d seen a ghost—and approached me with a frown. “Why are you here…?” “Here, take this.” I cut him off and held out Seria’s hairpin. But his expression stiffened even more. “What is this ugly thing?” Hey, that’s not it… I looked down at the hairpin, flustered. Okay, maybe it was a little old-fashioned—but it suited Seria. And besides, even the hat I wore was trendy, so this hairpin definitely counted as pretty. “Well… it belongs to Saint Seria. I came to give it to you so you could return it…” “No wonder it’s pretty.” Edwin took the hairpin with a softened, affectionate expression. He gazed at it with eyes practically dripping with sweetness, then even took out a handkerchief and carefully wrapped it. Then, as if something occurred to him, he suddenly looked up. “Wait—why do you have this? Don’t tell me you did something to Seria…” A look of disgust crossed his face. What kind of misunderstanding is that? “We ran into each other while turning a corner in the Grand Temple. We both fell. I just picked it up afterward.” In case he misunderstood later, I explained in as much detail as possible. At that, Edwin stood up and pulled me to my feet. “Let me see.” “…What?” “You said you fell.” “I-it’s fine—” As I shook my head hurriedly, Edwin shouted to the knights. “That’s it for today’s training! Everyone out. Don’t let anyone in.” “Yes!” The knights, who had been preparing to resume training, grinned and quickly filed out. *No, don’t go!* Don’t leave! “Where did you get hurt?” “I-I told you, I’m really fine!” “No one’s watching now, so stop hiding it and tell me.” Edwin crouched down in front of me. “Was it your knee?” At this rate, I had no choice. I shut my eyes and blurted it out. “Uh… my butt!” “…What?” Edwin’s face froze stiffly. “That’s why I said I’m fine! I just fell lightly. I’m not hurt at all.” “…” After hearing me, Edwin sighed and covered his face. “…That must have been embarrassing. I’m sorry, Irel.” “Ahem, it’s fine. More importantly, I have something to ask.” “What is it?” Edwin looked up. “Earlier, the Saint seemed very busy. Do you know why?” “Well…” He stood up, hesitated, then sat down a short distance away. With a sigh, he answered, “I don’t know. It’s not like we keep in touch.” “You don’t?” “No. I might be able to meet her once using this hairpin as an excuse, though.” That was strange. In the original story, they had kept in contact after meeting on the terrace… *‘That’s why Rishid gets jealous.’* What changed? “You did meet her at the welcoming ceremony, right?” Edwin nodded slowly. Judging by his slightly flushed cheeks and shy smile, he definitely had met her on the terrace. I recalled the chain of events from the original. *‘Seria attends the welcoming ceremony after meeting Rishid. And she meets Edwin on the terrace after Irel says something insulting to her…’* Ah. I get it now. *‘It’s because I didn’t bully Seria that day.’* But still—just because of that, they don’t keep in touch? Well, Edwin’s first letter does start with, *“Regarding the rudeness my sister committed—”*… But still. No matter how it changes, their relationship is doomed anyway—so why slow it down?! I thought about it for a moment, but it wasn’t really my concern. *‘Actually… this might be better for Edwin.’* After all, Seria ends up with Rishid. If things deepen, Edwin would only get hurt. *‘Didn’t you consider that maybe the original story could change, and Seria might not end up with Rishid?’* Of course I did. But then who would protect the peace of this world?! In this story, the male and female leads have to fall in love—no exceptions. They fight monsters together, purify them, and overcome hardships through love—that’s what keeps the world at peace. What else could be done? A faint, bitter smile formed on my lips, but I shook my head to clear it away. “Brother.” Thanks to bringing Seria’s hairpin, the atmosphere wasn’t bad right now—and there was something I had to ask him. “Do you… happen to remember someone named Laura?”**Chapter 32 (English Translation)** If I had been the original Irel, I would have misunderstood Seria’s words and thought she was mocking my plain yet shabby appearance. *‘And I probably would’ve said something like this.’* Where are your eyes? You couldn’t recognize how beautiful I am? But instead, I hurriedly stood up and waved my hands. “No! It’s okay, Saint Seria.” Looking slightly startled, Seria gazed up at me with her large, watery eyes. “Y-you know my name?” I reached out my hand toward her. “Yes. This is the first time we’ve met since the welcoming ceremony. I’ve heard a lot about you from Edwin.” “Ah…” Seria’s face flushed a little. *‘Looks like she and Edwin had a nice time at the welcoming ceremony.’* The scene of the two of them running into each other on the terrace, awkwardly talking before gradually growing fond of each other, crossed my mind. *‘They really made a good pair.’* Edwin, the kind-hearted second male lead, suited gentle and warm Seria perfectly. Well, Seria would end up with Rishid in the end… That natural train of thought left a bitter feeling in my chest. Lately, I had been getting along so comfortably with Rishid that I’d briefly forgotten my own situation. “Th-thank you.” Seria took my hand and stood up. Just then, a voice called out from behind me. “Saint! What are you doing? Please come quickly!” “Ah, yes!” Startled, Seria hugged her thick books to her chest and bowed her head to me. “My lady, I’m terribly sorry, but I’ll greet you properly next time. I’m really busy right now…! I apologize for leaving so abruptly!” “Ah, no, it’s fine—” Before I could even finish, she disappeared at lightning speed. Even in such a hurry, she still cared so much about etiquette. *‘How on earth did Irel ever bully someone as kind-hearted as Seria?’* More importantly, why did she seem so busy? In the original story, around this time, Seria purifies Rishid’s curse and learns how to properly control her divine power. As a result, her innate holy power blossoms even further. It’s when she awakens as a saint. But then why… *‘Could it be that she hasn’t met Rishid, so her awakening is delayed?’* No way. Even if that were true, there wasn’t anything I could do about it—but the thought still left me uneasy. *‘It’s not like I can even confirm it anyway.’* With a faint sigh, I started walking again. Just then, something lightly hit the tip of my shoe. *‘What’s this?’* I bent down and picked up a small pin from the floor. It was a butterfly-shaped hairpin. It must have fallen when Seria bumped into me and fell earlier. I stared for a moment in the direction she had run off, then decided I’d hand it to a passing holy knight on my way out. There was no way I could catch up to her when I didn’t even know where she’d gone. Then, suddenly, a better idea came to mind. *‘Right.’* There’s someone perfect I can give this to… --- I got into the carriage that had been waiting for me and returned to the mansion with Jenis. When I told her I would be volunteering at the Grand Temple, she suddenly got emotional and teared up, so I had to calm her down for a while. “What happened?” As if she had been waiting, the duchess summoned me to her office the moment I returned. I showed her the contract and explained everything, even mentioning how I had helped the High Priest. *‘She told me to leave nothing out.’* “You were fortunate.” The duchess frowned at times while listening, but in the end, she dismissed me with a relieved expression. “Since the matter is resolved, I’ll lift your restriction on going out.” Thanks to that, I was finally free again. After leaving her office, I stopped a passing maid. “Where is my brother?” “Ah, the young master is at the training grounds.” “Thank you.” I headed straight there. It was a place I had only seen once—on my first day after transmigrating, when I explored the mansion to familiarize myself with its layout. As I approached the entrance, a knight who had just come out looked at me in surprise. “My lady? What brings you here…?” “I came to see Edwin.” “Ah—yes!” The knight awkwardly opened the door. “Please, go inside.” I nodded and stepped in. Even from afar, Edwin stood out as he sparred with the knights. His golden hair, fluttering with each swing of his sword, was truly beautiful. I sat off to one side and watched him. I didn’t know anything about swordsmanship, but just watching him made time pass quickly. Edwin only noticed me when it was time for a break. “…Irel?” When our eyes met, he looked startled—as if he’d seen a ghost—and approached me with a frown. “Why are you here…?” “Here, take this.” I cut him off and held out Seria’s hairpin. But his expression stiffened even more. “What is this ugly thing?” Hey, that’s not it… I looked down at the hairpin, flustered. Okay, maybe it was a little old-fashioned—but it suited Seria. And besides, even the hat I wore was trendy, so this hairpin definitely counted as pretty. “Well… it belongs to Saint Seria. I came to give it to you so you could return it…” “No wonder it’s pretty.” Edwin took the hairpin with a softened, affectionate expression. He gazed at it with eyes practically dripping with sweetness, then even took out a handkerchief and carefully wrapped it. Then, as if something occurred to him, he suddenly looked up. “Wait—why do you have this? Don’t tell me you did something to Seria…” A look of disgust crossed his face. What kind of misunderstanding is that? “We ran into each other while turning a corner in the Grand Temple. We both fell. I just picked it up afterward.” In case he misunderstood later, I explained in as much detail as possible. At that, Edwin stood up and pulled me to my feet. “Let me see.” “…What?” “You said you fell.” “I-it’s fine—” As I shook my head hurriedly, Edwin shouted to the knights. “That’s it for today’s training! Everyone out. Don’t let anyone in.” “Yes!” The knights, who had been preparing to resume training, grinned and quickly filed out. *No, don’t go!* Don’t leave! “Where did you get hurt?” “I-I told you, I’m really fine!” “No one’s watching now, so stop hiding it and tell me.” Edwin crouched down in front of me. “Was it your knee?” At this rate, I had no choice. I shut my eyes and blurted it out. “Uh… my butt!” “…What?” Edwin’s face froze stiffly. “That’s why I said I’m fine! I just fell lightly. I’m not hurt at all.” “…” After hearing me, Edwin sighed and covered his face. “…That must have been embarrassing. I’m sorry, Irel.” “Ahem, it’s fine. More importantly, I have something to ask.” “What is it?” Edwin looked up. “Earlier, the Saint seemed very busy. Do you know why?” “Well…” He stood up, hesitated, then sat down a short distance away. With a sigh, he answered, “I don’t know. It’s not like we keep in touch.” “You don’t?” “No. I might be able to meet her once using this hairpin as an excuse, though.” That was strange. In the original story, they had kept in contact after meeting on the terrace… *‘That’s why Rishid gets jealous.’* What changed? “You did meet her at the welcoming ceremony, right?” Edwin nodded slowly. Judging by his slightly flushed cheeks and shy smile, he definitely had met her on the terrace. I recalled the chain of events from the original. *‘Seria attends the welcoming ceremony after meeting Rishid. And she meets Edwin on the terrace after Irel says something insulting to her…’* Ah. I get it now. *‘It’s because I didn’t bully Seria that day.’* But still—just because of that, they don’t keep in touch? Well, Edwin’s first letter does start with, *“Regarding the rudeness my sister committed—”*… But still. No matter how it changes, their relationship is doomed anyway—so why slow it down?! I thought about it for a moment, but it wasn’t really my concern. *‘Actually… this might be better for Edwin.’* After all, Seria ends up with Rishid. If things deepen, Edwin would only get hurt. *‘Didn’t you consider that maybe the original story could change, and Seria might not end up with Rishid?’* Of course I did. But then who would protect the peace of this world?! In this story, the male and female leads have to fall in love—no exceptions. They fight monsters together, purify them, and overcome hardships through love—that’s what keeps the world at peace. What else could be done? A faint, bitter smile formed on my lips, but I shook my head to clear it away. “Brother.” Thanks to bringing Seria’s hairpin, the atmosphere wasn’t bad right now—and there was something I had to ask him. “Do you… happen to remember someone named Laura?”**Chapter 32 (English Translation)** If I had been the original Irel, I would have misunderstood Seria’s words and thought she was mocking my plain yet shabby appearance. *‘And I probably would’ve said something like this.’* Where are your eyes? You couldn’t recognize how beautiful I am? But instead, I hurriedly stood up and waved my hands. “No! It’s okay, Saint Seria.” Looking slightly startled, Seria gazed up at me with her large, watery eyes. “Y-you know my name?” I reached out my hand toward her. “Yes. This is the first time we’ve met since the welcoming ceremony. I’ve heard a lot about you from Edwin.” “Ah…” Seria’s face flushed a little. *‘Looks like she and Edwin had a nice time at the welcoming ceremony.’* The scene of the two of them running into each other on the terrace, awkwardly talking before gradually growing fond of each other, crossed my mind. *‘They really made a good pair.’* Edwin, the kind-hearted second male lead, suited gentle and warm Seria perfectly. Well, Seria would end up with Rishid in the end… That natural train of thought left a bitter feeling in my chest. Lately, I had been getting along so comfortably with Rishid that I’d briefly forgotten my own situation. “Th-thank you.” Seria took my hand and stood up. Just then, a voice called out from behind me. “Saint! What are you doing? Please come quickly!” “Ah, yes!” Startled, Seria hugged her thick books to her chest and bowed her head to me. “My lady, I’m terribly sorry, but I’ll greet you properly next time. I’m really busy right now…! I apologize for leaving so abruptly!” “Ah, no, it’s fine—” Before I could even finish, she disappeared at lightning speed. Even in such a hurry, she still cared so much about etiquette. *‘How on earth did Irel ever bully someone as kind-hearted as Seria?’* More importantly, why did she seem so busy? In the original story, around this time, Seria purifies Rishid’s curse and learns how to properly control her divine power. As a result, her innate holy power blossoms even further. It’s when she awakens as a saint. But then why… *‘Could it be that she hasn’t met Rishid, so her awakening is delayed?’* No way. Even if that were true, there wasn’t anything I could do about it—but the thought still left me uneasy. *‘It’s not like I can even confirm it anyway.’* With a faint sigh, I started walking again. Just then, something lightly hit the tip of my shoe. *‘What’s this?’* I bent down and picked up a small pin from the floor. It was a butterfly-shaped hairpin. It must have fallen when Seria bumped into me and fell earlier. I stared for a moment in the direction she had run off, then decided I’d hand it to a passing holy knight on my way out. There was no way I could catch up to her when I didn’t even know where she’d gone. Then, suddenly, a better idea came to mind. *‘Right.’* There’s someone perfect I can give this to… --- I got into the carriage that had been waiting for me and returned to the mansion with Jenis. When I told her I would be volunteering at the Grand Temple, she suddenly got emotional and teared up, so I had to calm her down for a while. “What happened?” As if she had been waiting, the duchess summoned me to her office the moment I returned. I showed her the contract and explained everything, even mentioning how I had helped the High Priest. *‘She told me to leave nothing out.’* “You were fortunate.” The duchess frowned at times while listening, but in the end, she dismissed me with a relieved expression. “Since the matter is resolved, I’ll lift your restriction on going out.” Thanks to that, I was finally free again. After leaving her office, I stopped a passing maid. “Where is my brother?” “Ah, the young master is at the training grounds.” “Thank you.” I headed straight there. It was a place I had only seen once—on my first day after transmigrating, when I explored the mansion to familiarize myself with its layout. As I approached the entrance, a knight who had just come out looked at me in surprise. “My lady? What brings you here…?” “I came to see Edwin.” “Ah—yes!” The knight awkwardly opened the door. “Please, go inside.” I nodded and stepped in. Even from afar, Edwin stood out as he sparred with the knights. His golden hair, fluttering with each swing of his sword, was truly beautiful. I sat off to one side and watched him. I didn’t know anything about swordsmanship, but just watching him made time pass quickly. Edwin only noticed me when it was time for a break. “…Irel?” When our eyes met, he looked startled—as if he’d seen a ghost—and approached me with a frown. “Why are you here…?” “Here, take this.” I cut him off and held out Seria’s hairpin. But his expression stiffened even more. “What is this ugly thing?” Hey, that’s not it… I looked down at the hairpin, flustered. Okay, maybe it was a little old-fashioned—but it suited Seria. And besides, even the hat I wore was trendy, so this hairpin definitely counted as pretty. “Well… it belongs to Saint Seria. I came to give it to you so you could return it…” “No wonder it’s pretty.” Edwin took the hairpin with a softened, affectionate expression. He gazed at it with eyes practically dripping with sweetness, then even took out a handkerchief and carefully wrapped it. Then, as if something occurred to him, he suddenly looked up. “Wait—why do you have this? Don’t tell me you did something to Seria…” A look of disgust crossed his face. What kind of misunderstanding is that? “We ran into each other while turning a corner in the Grand Temple. We both fell. I just picked it up afterward.” In case he misunderstood later, I explained in as much detail as possible. At that, Edwin stood up and pulled me to my feet. “Let me see.” “…What?” “You said you fell.” “I-it’s fine—” As I shook my head hurriedly, Edwin shouted to the knights. “That’s it for today’s training! Everyone out. Don’t let anyone in.” “Yes!” The knights, who had been preparing to resume training, grinned and quickly filed out. *No, don’t go!* Don’t leave! “Where did you get hurt?” “I-I told you, I’m really fine!” “No one’s watching now, so stop hiding it and tell me.” Edwin crouched down in front of me. “Was it your knee?” At this rate, I had no choice. I shut my eyes and blurted it out. “Uh… my butt!” “…What?” Edwin’s face froze stiffly. “That’s why I said I’m fine! I just fell lightly. I’m not hurt at all.” “…” After hearing me, Edwin sighed and covered his face. “…That must have been embarrassing. I’m sorry, Irel.” “Ahem, it’s fine. More importantly, I have something to ask.” “What is it?” Edwin looked up. “Earlier, the Saint seemed very busy. Do you know why?” “Well…” He stood up, hesitated, then sat down a short distance away. With a sigh, he answered, “I don’t know. It’s not like we keep in touch.” “You don’t?” “No. I might be able to meet her once using this hairpin as an excuse, though.” That was strange. In the original story, they had kept in contact after meeting on the terrace… *‘That’s why Rishid gets jealous.’* What changed? “You did meet her at the welcoming ceremony, right?” Edwin nodded slowly. Judging by his slightly flushed cheeks and shy smile, he definitely had met her on the terrace. I recalled the chain of events from the original. *‘Seria attends the welcoming ceremony after meeting Rishid. And she meets Edwin on the terrace after Irel says something insulting to her…’* Ah. I get it now. *‘It’s because I didn’t bully Seria that day.’* But still—just because of that, they don’t keep in touch? Well, Edwin’s first letter does start with, *“Regarding the rudeness my sister committed—”*… But still. No matter how it changes, their relationship is doomed anyway—so why slow it down?! I thought about it for a moment, but it wasn’t really my concern. *‘Actually… this might be better for Edwin.’* After all, Seria ends up with Rishid. If things deepen, Edwin would only get hurt. *‘Didn’t you consider that maybe the original story could change, and Seria might not end up with Rishid?’* Of course I did. But then who would protect the peace of this world?! In this story, the male and female leads have to fall in love—no exceptions. They fight monsters together, purify them, and overcome hardships through love—that’s what keeps the world at peace. What else could be done? A faint, bitter smile formed on my lips, but I shook my head to clear it away. “Brother.” Thanks to bringing Seria’s hairpin, the atmosphere wasn’t bad right now—and there was something I had to ask him. “Do you… happen to remember someone named Laura?”**Chapter 32 (English Translation)** If I had been the original Irel, I would have misunderstood Seria’s words and thought she was mocking my plain yet shabby appearance. *‘And I probably would’ve said something like this.’* Where are your eyes? You couldn’t recognize how beautiful I am? But instead, I hurriedly stood up and waved my hands. “No! It’s okay, Saint Seria.” Looking slightly startled, Seria gazed up at me with her large, watery eyes. “Y-you know my name?” I reached out my hand toward her. “Yes. This is the first time we’ve met since the welcoming ceremony. I’ve heard a lot about you from Edwin.” “Ah…” Seria’s face flushed a little. *‘Looks like she and Edwin had a nice time at the welcoming ceremony.’* The scene of the two of them running into each other on the terrace, awkwardly talking before gradually growing fond of each other, crossed my mind. *‘They really made a good pair.’* Edwin, the kind-hearted second male lead, suited gentle and warm Seria perfectly. Well, Seria would end up with Rishid in the end… That natural train of thought left a bitter feeling in my chest. Lately, I had been getting along so comfortably with Rishid that I’d briefly forgotten my own situation. “Th-thank you.” Seria took my hand and stood up. Just then, a voice called out from behind me. “Saint! What are you doing? Please come quickly!” “Ah, yes!” Startled, Seria hugged her thick books to her chest and bowed her head to me. “My lady, I’m terribly sorry, but I’ll greet you properly next time. I’m really busy right now…! I apologize for leaving so abruptly!” “Ah, no, it’s fine—” Before I could even finish, she disappeared at lightning speed. Even in such a hurry, she still cared so much about etiquette. *‘How on earth did Irel ever bully someone as kind-hearted as Seria?’* More importantly, why did she seem so busy? In the original story, around this time, Seria purifies Rishid’s curse and learns how to properly control her divine power. As a result, her innate holy power blossoms even further. It’s when she awakens as a saint. But then why… *‘Could it be that she hasn’t met Rishid, so her awakening is delayed?’* No way. Even if that were true, there wasn’t anything I could do about it—but the thought still left me uneasy. *‘It’s not like I can even confirm it anyway.’* With a faint sigh, I started walking again. Just then, something lightly hit the tip of my shoe. *‘What’s this?’* I bent down and picked up a small pin from the floor. It was a butterfly-shaped hairpin. It must have fallen when Seria bumped into me and fell earlier. I stared for a moment in the direction she had run off, then decided I’d hand it to a passing holy knight on my way out. There was no way I could catch up to her when I didn’t even know where she’d gone. Then, suddenly, a better idea came to mind. *‘Right.’* There’s someone perfect I can give this to… --- I got into the carriage that had been waiting for me and returned to the mansion with Jenis. When I told her I would be volunteering at the Grand Temple, she suddenly got emotional and teared up, so I had to calm her down for a while. “What happened?” As if she had been waiting, the duchess summoned me to her office the moment I returned. I showed her the contract and explained everything, even mentioning how I had helped the High Priest. *‘She told me to leave nothing out.’* “You were fortunate.” The duchess frowned at times while listening, but in the end, she dismissed me with a relieved expression. “Since the matter is resolved, I’ll lift your restriction on going out.” Thanks to that, I was finally free again. After leaving her office, I stopped a passing maid. “Where is my brother?” “Ah, the young master is at the training grounds.” “Thank you.” I headed straight there. It was a place I had only seen once—on my first day after transmigrating, when I explored the mansion to familiarize myself with its layout. As I approached the entrance, a knight who had just come out looked at me in surprise. “My lady? What brings you here…?” “I came to see Edwin.” “Ah—yes!” The knight awkwardly opened the door. “Please, go inside.” I nodded and stepped in. Even from afar, Edwin stood out as he sparred with the knights. His golden hair, fluttering with each swing of his sword, was truly beautiful. I sat off to one side and watched him. I didn’t know anything about swordsmanship, but just watching him made time pass quickly. Edwin only noticed me when it was time for a break. “…Irel?” When our eyes met, he looked startled—as if he’d seen a ghost—and approached me with a frown. “Why are you here…?” “Here, take this.” I cut him off and held out Seria’s hairpin. But his expression stiffened even more. “What is this ugly thing?” Hey, that’s not it… I looked down at the hairpin, flustered. Okay, maybe it was a little old-fashioned—but it suited Seria. And besides, even the hat I wore was trendy, so this hairpin definitely counted as pretty. “Well… it belongs to Saint Seria. I came to give it to you so you could return it…” “No wonder it’s pretty.” Edwin took the hairpin with a softened, affectionate expression. He gazed at it with eyes practically dripping with sweetness, then even took out a handkerchief and carefully wrapped it. Then, as if something occurred to him, he suddenly looked up. “Wait—why do you have this? Don’t tell me you did something to Seria…” A look of disgust crossed his face. What kind of misunderstanding is that? “We ran into each other while turning a corner in the Grand Temple. We both fell. I just picked it up afterward.” In case he misunderstood later, I explained in as much detail as possible. At that, Edwin stood up and pulled me to my feet. “Let me see.” “…What?” “You said you fell.” “I-it’s fine—” As I shook my head hurriedly, Edwin shouted to the knights. “That’s it for today’s training! Everyone out. Don’t let anyone in.” “Yes!” The knights, who had been preparing to resume training, grinned and quickly filed out. *No, don’t go!* Don’t leave! “Where did you get hurt?” “I-I told you, I’m really fine!” “No one’s watching now, so stop hiding it and tell me.” Edwin crouched down in front of me. “Was it your knee?” At this rate, I had no choice. I shut my eyes and blurted it out. “Uh… my butt!” “…What?” Edwin’s face froze stiffly. “That’s why I said I’m fine! I just fell lightly. I’m not hurt at all.” “…” After hearing me, Edwin sighed and covered his face. “…That must have been embarrassing. I’m sorry, Irel.” “Ahem, it’s fine. More importantly, I have something to ask.” “What is it?” Edwin looked up. “Earlier, the Saint seemed very busy. Do you know why?” “Well…” He stood up, hesitated, then sat down a short distance away. With a sigh, he answered, “I don’t know. It’s not like we keep in touch.” “You don’t?” “No. I might be able to meet her once using this hairpin as an excuse, though.” That was strange. In the original story, they had kept in contact after meeting on the terrace… *‘That’s why Rishid gets jealous.’* What changed? “You did meet her at the welcoming ceremony, right?” Edwin nodded slowly. Judging by his slightly flushed cheeks and shy smile, he definitely had met her on the terrace. I recalled the chain of events from the original. *‘Seria attends the welcoming ceremony after meeting Rishid. And she meets Edwin on the terrace after Irel says something insulting to her…’* Ah. I get it now. *‘It’s because I didn’t bully Seria that day.’* But still—just because of that, they don’t keep in touch? Well, Edwin’s first letter does start with, *“Regarding the rudeness my sister committed—”*… But still. No matter how it changes, their relationship is doomed anyway—so why slow it down?! I thought about it for a moment, but it wasn’t really my concern. *‘Actually… this might be better for Edwin.’* After all, Seria ends up with Rishid. If things deepen, Edwin would only get hurt. *‘Didn’t you consider that maybe the original story could change, and Seria might not end up with Rishid?’* Of course I did. But then who would protect the peace of this world?! In this story, the male and female leads have to fall in love—no exceptions. They fight monsters together, purify them, and overcome hardships through love—that’s what keeps the world at peace. What else could be done? A faint, bitter smile formed on my lips, but I shook my head to clear it away. “Brother.” Thanks to bringing Seria’s hairpin, the atmosphere wasn’t bad right now—and there was something I had to ask him. “Do you… happen to remember someone named Laura?”**Chapter 32 (English Translation)** If I had been the original Irel, I would have misunderstood Seria’s words and thought she was mocking my plain yet shabby appearance. *‘And I probably would’ve said something like this.’* Where are your eyes? You couldn’t recognize how beautiful I am? But instead, I hurriedly stood up and waved my hands. “No! It’s okay, Saint Seria.” Looking slightly startled, Seria gazed up at me with her large, watery eyes. “Y-you know my name?” I reached out my hand toward her. “Yes. This is the first time we’ve met since the welcoming ceremony. I’ve heard a lot about you from Edwin.” “Ah…” Seria’s face flushed a little. *‘Looks like she and Edwin had a nice time at the welcoming ceremony.’* The scene of the two of them running into each other on the terrace, awkwardly talking before gradually growing fond of each other, crossed my mind. *‘They really made a good pair.’* Edwin, the kind-hearted second male lead, suited gentle and warm Seria perfectly. Well, Seria would end up with Rishid in the end… That natural train of thought left a bitter feeling in my chest. Lately, I had been getting along so comfortably with Rishid that I’d briefly forgotten my own situation. “Th-thank you.” Seria took my hand and stood up. Just then, a voice called out from behind me. “Saint! What are you doing? Please come quickly!” “Ah, yes!” Startled, Seria hugged her thick books to her chest and bowed her head to me. “My lady, I’m terribly sorry, but I’ll greet you properly next time. I’m really busy right now…! I apologize for leaving so abruptly!” “Ah, no, it’s fine—” Before I could even finish, she disappeared at lightning speed. Even in such a hurry, she still cared so much about etiquette. *‘How on earth did Irel ever bully someone as kind-hearted as Seria?’* More importantly, why did she seem so busy? In the original story, around this time, Seria purifies Rishid’s curse and learns how to properly control her divine power. As a result, her innate holy power blossoms even further. It’s when she awakens as a saint. But then why… *‘Could it be that she hasn’t met Rishid, so her awakening is delayed?’* No way. Even if that were true, there wasn’t anything I could do about it—but the thought still left me uneasy. *‘It’s not like I can even confirm it anyway.’* With a faint sigh, I started walking again. Just then, something lightly hit the tip of my shoe. *‘What’s this?’* I bent down and picked up a small pin from the floor. It was a butterfly-shaped hairpin. It must have fallen when Seria bumped into me and fell earlier. I stared for a moment in the direction she had run off, then decided I’d hand it to a passing holy knight on my way out. There was no way I could catch up to her when I didn’t even know where she’d gone. Then, suddenly, a better idea came to mind. *‘Right.’* There’s someone perfect I can give this to… --- I got into the carriage that had been waiting for me and returned to the mansion with Jenis. When I told her I would be volunteering at the Grand Temple, she suddenly got emotional and teared up, so I had to calm her down for a while. “What happened?” As if she had been waiting, the duchess summoned me to her office the moment I returned. I showed her the contract and explained everything, even mentioning how I had helped the High Priest. *‘She told me to leave nothing out.’* “You were fortunate.” The duchess frowned at times while listening, but in the end, she dismissed me with a relieved expression. “Since the matter is resolved, I’ll lift your restriction on going out.” Thanks to that, I was finally free again. After leaving her office, I stopped a passing maid. “Where is my brother?” “Ah, the young master is at the training grounds.” “Thank you.” I headed straight there. It was a place I had only seen once—on my first day after transmigrating, when I explored the mansion to familiarize myself with its layout. As I approached the entrance, a knight who had just come out looked at me in surprise. “My lady? What brings you here…?” “I came to see Edwin.” “Ah—yes!” The knight awkwardly opened the door. “Please, go inside.” I nodded and stepped in. Even from afar, Edwin stood out as he sparred with the knights. His golden hair, fluttering with each swing of his sword, was truly beautiful. I sat off to one side and watched him. I didn’t know anything about swordsmanship, but just watching him made time pass quickly. Edwin only noticed me when it was time for a break. “…Irel?” When our eyes met, he looked startled—as if he’d seen a ghost—and approached me with a frown. “Why are you here…?” “Here, take this.” I cut him off and held out Seria’s hairpin. But his expression stiffened even more. “What is this ugly thing?” Hey, that’s not it… I looked down at the hairpin, flustered. Okay, maybe it was a little old-fashioned—but it suited Seria. And besides, even the hat I wore was trendy, so this hairpin definitely counted as pretty. “Well… it belongs to Saint Seria. I came to give it to you so you could return it…” “No wonder it’s pretty.” Edwin took the hairpin with a softened, affectionate expression. He gazed at it with eyes practically dripping with sweetness, then even took out a handkerchief and carefully wrapped it. Then, as if something occurred to him, he suddenly looked up. “Wait—why do you have this? Don’t tell me you did something to Seria…” A look of disgust crossed his face. What kind of misunderstanding is that? “We ran into each other while turning a corner in the Grand Temple. We both fell. I just picked it up afterward.” In case he misunderstood later, I explained in as much detail as possible. At that, Edwin stood up and pulled me to my feet. “Let me see.” “…What?” “You said you fell.” “I-it’s fine—” As I shook my head hurriedly, Edwin shouted to the knights. “That’s it for today’s training! Everyone out. Don’t let anyone in.” “Yes!” The knights, who had been preparing to resume training, grinned and quickly filed out. *No, don’t go!* Don’t leave! “Where did you get hurt?” “I-I told you, I’m really fine!” “No one’s watching now, so stop hiding it and tell me.” Edwin crouched down in front of me. “Was it your knee?” At this rate, I had no choice. I shut my eyes and blurted it out. “Uh… my butt!” “…What?” Edwin’s face froze stiffly. “That’s why I said I’m fine! I just fell lightly. I’m not hurt at all.” “…” After hearing me, Edwin sighed and covered his face. “…That must have been embarrassing. I’m sorry, Irel.” “Ahem, it’s fine. More importantly, I have something to ask.” “What is it?” Edwin looked up. “Earlier, the Saint seemed very busy. Do you know why?” “Well…” He stood up, hesitated, then sat down a short distance away. With a sigh, he answered, “I don’t know. It’s not like we keep in touch.” “You don’t?” “No. I might be able to meet her once using this hairpin as an excuse, though.” That was strange. In the original story, they had kept in contact after meeting on the terrace… *‘That’s why Rishid gets jealous.’* What changed? “You did meet her at the welcoming ceremony, right?” Edwin nodded slowly. Judging by his slightly flushed cheeks and shy smile, he definitely had met her on the terrace. I recalled the chain of events from the original. *‘Seria attends the welcoming ceremony after meeting Rishid. And she meets Edwin on the terrace after Irel says something insulting to her…’* Ah. I get it now. *‘It’s because I didn’t bully Seria that day.’* But still—just because of that, they don’t keep in touch? Well, Edwin’s first letter does start with, *“Regarding the rudeness my sister committed—”*… But still. No matter how it changes, their relationship is doomed anyway—so why slow it down?! I thought about it for a moment, but it wasn’t really my concern. *‘Actually… this might be better for Edwin.’* After all, Seria ends up with Rishid. If things deepen, Edwin would only get hurt. *‘Didn’t you consider that maybe the original story could change, and Seria might not end up with Rishid?’* Of course I did. But then who would protect the peace of this world?! In this story, the male and female leads have to fall in love—no exceptions. They fight monsters together, purify them, and overcome hardships through love—that’s what keeps the world at peace. What else could be done? A faint, bitter smile formed on my lips, but I shook my head to clear it away. “Brother.” Thanks to bringing Seria’s hairpin, the atmosphere wasn’t bad right now—and there was something I had to ask him. “Do you… happen to remember someone named Laura?”**Chapter 32 (English Translation)** If I had been the original Irel, I would have misunderstood Seria’s words and thought she was mocking my plain yet shabby appearance. *‘And I probably would’ve said something like this.’* Where are your eyes? You couldn’t recognize how beautiful I am? But instead, I hurriedly stood up and waved my hands. “No! It’s okay, Saint Seria.” Looking slightly startled, Seria gazed up at me with her large, watery eyes. “Y-you know my name?” I reached out my hand toward her. “Yes. This is the first time we’ve met since the welcoming ceremony. I’ve heard a lot about you from Edwin.” “Ah…” Seria’s face flushed a little. *‘Looks like she and Edwin had a nice time at the welcoming ceremony.’* The scene of the two of them running into each other on the terrace, awkwardly talking before gradually growing fond of each other, crossed my mind. *‘They really made a good pair.’* Edwin, the kind-hearted second male lead, suited gentle and warm Seria perfectly. Well, Seria would end up with Rishid in the end… That natural train of thought left a bitter feeling in my chest. Lately, I had been getting along so comfortably with Rishid that I’d briefly forgotten my own situation. “Th-thank you.” Seria took my hand and stood up. Just then, a voice called out from behind me. “Saint! What are you doing? Please come quickly!” “Ah, yes!” Startled, Seria hugged her thick books to her chest and bowed her head to me. “My lady, I’m terribly sorry, but I’ll greet you properly next time. I’m really busy right now…! I apologize for leaving so abruptly!” “Ah, no, it’s fine—” Before I could even finish, she disappeared at lightning speed. Even in such a hurry, she still cared so much about etiquette. *‘How on earth did Irel ever bully someone as kind-hearted as Seria?’* More importantly, why did she seem so busy? In the original story, around this time, Seria purifies Rishid’s curse and learns how to properly control her divine power. As a result, her innate holy power blossoms even further. It’s when she awakens as a saint. But then why… *‘Could it be that she hasn’t met Rishid, so her awakening is delayed?’* No way. Even if that were true, there wasn’t anything I could do about it—but the thought still left me uneasy. *‘It’s not like I can even confirm it anyway.’* With a faint sigh, I started walking again. Just then, something lightly hit the tip of my shoe. *‘What’s this?’* I bent down and picked up a small pin from the floor. It was a butterfly-shaped hairpin. It must have fallen when Seria bumped into me and fell earlier. I stared for a moment in the direction she had run off, then decided I’d hand it to a passing holy knight on my way out. There was no way I could catch up to her when I didn’t even know where she’d gone. Then, suddenly, a better idea came to mind. *‘Right.’* There’s someone perfect I can give this to… --- I got into the carriage that had been waiting for me and returned to the mansion with Jenis. When I told her I would be volunteering at the Grand Temple, she suddenly got emotional and teared up, so I had to calm her down for a while. “What happened?” As if she had been waiting, the duchess summoned me to her office the moment I returned. I showed her the contract and explained everything, even mentioning how I had helped the High Priest. *‘She told me to leave nothing out.’* “You were fortunate.” The duchess frowned at times while listening, but in the end, she dismissed me with a relieved expression. “Since the matter is resolved, I’ll lift your restriction on going out.” Thanks to that, I was finally free again. After leaving her office, I stopped a passing maid. “Where is my brother?” “Ah, the young master is at the training grounds.” “Thank you.” I headed straight there. It was a place I had only seen once—on my first day after transmigrating, when I explored the mansion to familiarize myself with its layout. As I approached the entrance, a knight who had just come out looked at me in surprise. “My lady? What brings you here…?” “I came to see Edwin.” “Ah—yes!” The knight awkwardly opened the door. “Please, go inside.” I nodded and stepped in. Even from afar, Edwin stood out as he sparred with the knights. His golden hair, fluttering with each swing of his sword, was truly beautiful. I sat off to one side and watched him. I didn’t know anything about swordsmanship, but just watching him made time pass quickly. Edwin only noticed me when it was time for a break. “…Irel?” When our eyes met, he looked startled—as if he’d seen a ghost—and approached me with a frown. “Why are you here…?” “Here, take this.” I cut him off and held out Seria’s hairpin. But his expression stiffened even more. “What is this ugly thing?” Hey, that’s not it… I looked down at the hairpin, flustered. Okay, maybe it was a little old-fashioned—but it suited Seria. And besides, even the hat I wore was trendy, so this hairpin definitely counted as pretty. “Well… it belongs to Saint Seria. I came to give it to you so you could return it…” “No wonder it’s pretty.” Edwin took the hairpin with a softened, affectionate expression. He gazed at it with eyes practically dripping with sweetness, then even took out a handkerchief and carefully wrapped it. Then, as if something occurred to him, he suddenly looked up. “Wait—why do you have this? Don’t tell me you did something to Seria…” A look of disgust crossed his face. What kind of misunderstanding is that? “We ran into each other while turning a corner in the Grand Temple. We both fell. I just picked it up afterward.” In case he misunderstood later, I explained in as much detail as possible. At that, Edwin stood up and pulled me to my feet. “Let me see.” “…What?” “You said you fell.” “I-it’s fine—” As I shook my head hurriedly, Edwin shouted to the knights. “That’s it for today’s training! Everyone out. Don’t let anyone in.” “Yes!” The knights, who had been preparing to resume training, grinned and quickly filed out. *No, don’t go!* Don’t leave! “Where did you get hurt?” “I-I told you, I’m really fine!” “No one’s watching now, so stop hiding it and tell me.” Edwin crouched down in front of me. “Was it your knee?” At this rate, I had no choice. I shut my eyes and blurted it out. “Uh… my butt!” “…What?” Edwin’s face froze stiffly. “That’s why I said I’m fine! I just fell lightly. I’m not hurt at all.” “…” After hearing me, Edwin sighed and covered his face. “…That must have been embarrassing. I’m sorry, Irel.” “Ahem, it’s fine. More importantly, I have something to ask.” “What is it?” Edwin looked up. “Earlier, the Saint seemed very busy. Do you know why?” “Well…” He stood up, hesitated, then sat down a short distance away. With a sigh, he answered, “I don’t know. It’s not like we keep in touch.” “You don’t?” “No. I might be able to meet her once using this hairpin as an excuse, though.” That was strange. In the original story, they had kept in contact after meeting on the terrace… *‘That’s why Rishid gets jealous.’* What changed? “You did meet her at the welcoming ceremony, right?” Edwin nodded slowly. Judging by his slightly flushed cheeks and shy smile, he definitely had met her on the terrace. I recalled the chain of events from the original. *‘Seria attends the welcoming ceremony after meeting Rishid. And she meets Edwin on the terrace after Irel says something insulting to her…’* Ah. I get it now. *‘It’s because I didn’t bully Seria that day.’* But still—just because of that, they don’t keep in touch? Well, Edwin’s first letter does start with, *“Regarding the rudeness my sister committed—”*… But still. No matter how it changes, their relationship is doomed anyway—so why slow it down?! I thought about it for a moment, but it wasn’t really my concern. *‘Actually… this might be better for Edwin.’* After all, Seria ends up with Rishid. If things deepen, Edwin would only get hurt. *‘Didn’t you consider that maybe the original story could change, and Seria might not end up with Rishid?’* Of course I did. But then who would protect the peace of this world?! In this story, the male and female leads have to fall in love—no exceptions. They fight monsters together, purify them, and overcome hardships through love—that’s what keeps the world at peace. What else could be done? A faint, bitter smile formed on my lips, but I shook my head to clear it away. “Brother.” Thanks to bringing Seria’s hairpin, the atmosphere wasn’t bad right now—and there was something I had to ask him. “Do you… happen to remember someone named Laura?”**Chapter 32 (English Translation)** If I had been the original Irel, I would have misunderstood Seria’s words and thought she was mocking my plain yet shabby appearance. *‘And I probably would’ve said something like this.’* Where are your eyes? You couldn’t recognize how beautiful I am? But instead, I hurriedly stood up and waved my hands. “No! It’s okay, Saint Seria.” Looking slightly startled, Seria gazed up at me with her large, watery eyes. “Y-you know my name?” I reached out my hand toward her. “Yes. This is the first time we’ve met since the welcoming ceremony. I’ve heard a lot about you from Edwin.” “Ah…” Seria’s face flushed a little. *‘Looks like she and Edwin had a nice time at the welcoming ceremony.’* The scene of the two of them running into each other on the terrace, awkwardly talking before gradually growing fond of each other, crossed my mind. *‘They really made a good pair.’* Edwin, the kind-hearted second male lead, suited gentle and warm Seria perfectly. Well, Seria would end up with Rishid in the end… That natural train of thought left a bitter feeling in my chest. Lately, I had been getting along so comfortably with Rishid that I’d briefly forgotten my own situation. “Th-thank you.” Seria took my hand and stood up. Just then, a voice called out from behind me. “Saint! What are you doing? Please come quickly!” “Ah, yes!” Startled, Seria hugged her thick books to her chest and bowed her head to me. “My lady, I’m terribly sorry, but I’ll greet you properly next time. I’m really busy right now…! I apologize for leaving so abruptly!” “Ah, no, it’s fine—” Before I could even finish, she disappeared at lightning speed. Even in such a hurry, she still cared so much about etiquette. *‘How on earth did Irel ever bully someone as kind-hearted as Seria?’* More importantly, why did she seem so busy? In the original story, around this time, Seria purifies Rishid’s curse and learns how to properly control her divine power. As a result, her innate holy power blossoms even further. It’s when she awakens as a saint. But then why… *‘Could it be that she hasn’t met Rishid, so her awakening is delayed?’* No way. Even if that were true, there wasn’t anything I could do about it—but the thought still left me uneasy. *‘It’s not like I can even confirm it anyway.’* With a faint sigh, I started walking again. Just then, something lightly hit the tip of my shoe. *‘What’s this?’* I bent down and picked up a small pin from the floor. It was a butterfly-shaped hairpin. It must have fallen when Seria bumped into me and fell earlier. I stared for a moment in the direction she had run off, then decided I’d hand it to a passing holy knight on my way out. There was no way I could catch up to her when I didn’t even know where she’d gone. Then, suddenly, a better idea came to mind. *‘Right.’* There’s someone perfect I can give this to… --- I got into the carriage that had been waiting for me and returned to the mansion with Jenis. When I told her I would be volunteering at the Grand Temple, she suddenly got emotional and teared up, so I had to calm her down for a while. “What happened?” As if she had been waiting, the duchess summoned me to her office the moment I returned. I showed her the contract and explained everything, even mentioning how I had helped the High Priest. *‘She told me to leave nothing out.’* “You were fortunate.” The duchess frowned at times while listening, but in the end, she dismissed me with a relieved expression. “Since the matter is resolved, I’ll lift your restriction on going out.” Thanks to that, I was finally free again. After leaving her office, I stopped a passing maid. “Where is my brother?” “Ah, the young master is at the training grounds.” “Thank you.” I headed straight there. It was a place I had only seen once—on my first day after transmigrating, when I explored the mansion to familiarize myself with its layout. As I approached the entrance, a knight who had just come out looked at me in surprise. “My lady? What brings you here…?” “I came to see Edwin.” “Ah—yes!” The knight awkwardly opened the door. “Please, go inside.” I nodded and stepped in. Even from afar, Edwin stood out as he sparred with the knights. His golden hair, fluttering with each swing of his sword, was truly beautiful. I sat off to one side and watched him. I didn’t know anything about swordsmanship, but just watching him made time pass quickly. Edwin only noticed me when it was time for a break. “…Irel?” When our eyes met, he looked startled—as if he’d seen a ghost—and approached me with a frown. “Why are you here…?” “Here, take this.” I cut him off and held out Seria’s hairpin. But his expression stiffened even more. “What is this ugly thing?” Hey, that’s not it… I looked down at the hairpin, flustered. Okay, maybe it was a little old-fashioned—but it suited Seria. And besides, even the hat I wore was trendy, so this hairpin definitely counted as pretty. “Well… it belongs to Saint Seria. I came to give it to you so you could return it…” “No wonder it’s pretty.” Edwin took the hairpin with a softened, affectionate expression. He gazed at it with eyes practically dripping with sweetness, then even took out a handkerchief and carefully wrapped it. Then, as if something occurred to him, he suddenly looked up. “Wait—why do you have this? Don’t tell me you did something to Seria…” A look of disgust crossed his face. What kind of misunderstanding is that? “We ran into each other while turning a corner in the Grand Temple. We both fell. I just picked it up afterward.” In case he misunderstood later, I explained in as much detail as possible. At that, Edwin stood up and pulled me to my feet. “Let me see.” “…What?” “You said you fell.” “I-it’s fine—” As I shook my head hurriedly, Edwin shouted to the knights. “That’s it for today’s training! Everyone out. Don’t let anyone in.” “Yes!” The knights, who had been preparing to resume training, grinned and quickly filed out. *No, don’t go!* Don’t leave! “Where did you get hurt?” “I-I told you, I’m really fine!” “No one’s watching now, so stop hiding it and tell me.” Edwin crouched down in front of me. “Was it your knee?” At this rate, I had no choice. I shut my eyes and blurted it out. “Uh… my butt!” “…What?” Edwin’s face froze stiffly. “That’s why I said I’m fine! I just fell lightly. I’m not hurt at all.” “…” After hearing me, Edwin sighed and covered his face. “…That must have been embarrassing. I’m sorry, Irel.” “Ahem, it’s fine. More importantly, I have something to ask.” “What is it?” Edwin looked up. “Earlier, the Saint seemed very busy. Do you know why?” “Well…” He stood up, hesitated, then sat down a short distance away. With a sigh, he answered, “I don’t know. It’s not like we keep in touch.” “You don’t?” “No. I might be able to meet her once using this hairpin as an excuse, though.” That was strange. In the original story, they had kept in contact after meeting on the terrace… *‘That’s why Rishid gets jealous.’* What changed? “You did meet her at the welcoming ceremony, right?” Edwin nodded slowly. Judging by his slightly flushed cheeks and shy smile, he definitely had met her on the terrace. I recalled the chain of events from the original. *‘Seria attends the welcoming ceremony after meeting Rishid. And she meets Edwin on the terrace after Irel says something insulting to her…’* Ah. I get it now. *‘It’s because I didn’t bully Seria that day.’* But still—just because of that, they don’t keep in touch? Well, Edwin’s first letter does start with, *“Regarding the rudeness my sister committed—”*… But still. No matter how it changes, their relationship is doomed anyway—so why slow it down?! I thought about it for a moment, but it wasn’t really my concern. *‘Actually… this might be better for Edwin.’* After all, Seria ends up with Rishid. If things deepen, Edwin would only get hurt. *‘Didn’t you consider that maybe the original story could change, and Seria might not end up with Rishid?’* Of course I did. But then who would protect the peace of this world?! In this story, the male and female leads have to fall in love—no exceptions. They fight monsters together, purify them, and overcome hardships through love—that’s what keeps the world at peace. What else could be done? A faint, bitter smile formed on my lips, but I shook my head to clear it away. “Brother.” Thanks to bringing Seria’s hairpin, the atmosphere wasn’t bad right now—and there was something I had to ask him. “Do you… happen to remember someone named Laura?”