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IBLC 03

IBLC

Chapter 3

 The Eve Festival (2)

“You act like it’s something new. You’ve had plenty of confessions before, haven’t you?”
“Ah, right. I suppose I did.”
“And you turned down every single one.”

Wait—did Ian confess to Rosebellia?

Well, thinking back to the early chapters of the novel, Ian wasn’t cold-hearted from the start.

‘I’m not asking for an answer right away. Even if you refuse, I just want you to face me properly. Avoiding me like this
 that’s not like you, Senior.’

Now that I imagined Ian saying it, it sounded strangely plausible.

‘It was a feeling I’d never known before.’
‘That fleeting moment when I caught your breath
 I can’t forget it.’

That line—that was the problem.
Taken literally, it made it sound like Rosebellia had given him some kind of hope.

“Caught your breath”? What does that even mean?

Rosebellia had never loved anyone. Sure, she’d received plenty of confessions, as Edwin liked to remind her—but she’d never accepted any of them. Her only love was the sword.

“He’s a fine man, though. Why not think seriously about it this time? You’re reaching that age, you know—marriageable and all.”

Rosebellia wasn’t even twenty yet.
Hearing that phrase again—‘You’re old enough to marry’—made irritation rise in her chest.

And when Olivia’s earlier words overlapped in her mind—

‘It’s about time you start thinking of marriage, dear.’

—she couldn’t help but frown.

Why is everyone so obsessed with marriage, no matter where I go?

“Edwin, worry about your own love life instead.”
“Hey, I’m a fatalist. Love isn’t something you chase—it finds you when it’s time.”
“And if it never does?”
“Then that’s fate too. I’ll just wait for it.”
“Fine, suit yourself.”

She turned to leave, but then paused mid-step.

Wait—what day was it again?

The day the male lead Ian and the heroine Daisy first met


She retraced the opening chapters in her memory.

[The festival had ended. It took a full week before the lingering excitement finally faded.]

Right. One week after the festival.

The Flower That Bloomed in Winter—a novel I used to read whenever I wanted to cry.
But the more I read it, the less I believed in Daisy’s love.

Yes, Daisy had been frail all her life, sheltered and confined. Meeting Ian had brought color to her dull existence. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed
 she didn’t love Ian, not truly.

If Edwin had been the one to save her instead of Ian, Daisy would’ve fallen for him.

Daisy was in love with the idea of being in love.

She had grown up constantly reminded that her weak body might fail her any day. To her, love was just something to cling to—proof that she could still feel alive.

Once I realized that, Daisy became someone I could only pity.

So
 what if, on that day, it’s Edwin who saves Daisy instead of Ian?

If my interpretation of the story was right

then maybe—just maybe—their destinies could change.


When I returned to the mansion, I handed Emily’s reins to Roy and stepped into the main hall.

I was just about to climb the stairs when—

“Sister! You’re back!”
“Big Sister!”

A young boy and girl ran up to me—Rosebellia’s half-siblings, Cayden and Vivian.

Though she rarely showed it outwardly, Rosebellia had always adored them.

Who wouldn’t, when Cayden’s eyes sparkled every time he saw her, and Vivian would run into her arms the moment they met?

“Sister, can I sleep with you tonight?”
“Vivian, don’t bother her.”
“But I had a nightmare! The scary monster came again! You always defeat the bad monsters!”

Ah. The “bad monsters.”
To Vivian, that meant the demonic beasts the White Knights often went to slay at the borders.

I looked down at her, still clutching my leg.
In her pale green dress, she looked like a little fairy. I felt my stiff expression soften without realizing it.

“Vivian. If you’re scared of a dream, it only means your heart’s still weak.”

Cayden sighed, and Vivian’s eyes welled up with tears.

“But if I sleep next to you, I won’t be scared anymore
”
“Stop pestering her over something so trivial.”

Vivian’s lip trembled, and I waved a hand to stop him.

“Cayden, that’s enough. You’ll make her cry.”

Vivian peeked out from behind me.

“So
 will you sleep with me, then?”
“That’s not too hard to grant—if you get your mother’s permission first.”
“Oh
 I don’t think I can.”
“Then you’ll have to give up. Getting permission is your responsibility, Vivian.”

I patted her head gently and climbed the stairs.

Anne was waiting at the top, hands on her hips.

“You went to the Knight Order again, didn’t you?”
“I did, but I didn’t do anything strenuous—just met someone for a bit.”
“Really? You didn’t even train?”
“See? My clothes are spotless.”

Anne inspected me, then sighed in relief.

“Then please go wash up. I’ve already drawn a warm bath.”
“Thanks.”

After a long soak, I emerged to find Anne drying my hair.
My body felt light again—but my mind was still tangled.

“Shall I bring you dessert, my lady?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll turn in early tonight.”
“Very well. Rest well.”

As she left, I glanced toward the door.

Vivian probably hadn’t gotten permission after all.

Then my thoughts turned to Herman, Rosebellia’s father.
I’d run into Cayden, Vivian, even Olivia—but not him.

“He’s really indifferent, isn’t he? Even to his own daughter.”

Not that Rosebellia had cared much for him either.
She had no attachment to this household.

If she could, she would have lived at the Knight Order dorms.
But she’d stayed here—for Cayden and Vivian’s sake.

Rosebellia was a knight through and through—earnest, steadfast, proud of her title.

She wasn’t one for politics or petty household feuds. She’d rather endure quietly than stir up conflict with her stepmother.

She was such an admirable person


Which made me wonder—
Where did the real Rosebellia go?

The thought struck me suddenly, stealing my breath.

Is this really okay? Living like this, in her body
?


“Rosebellia!”

I froze. Quick footsteps approached, and a familiar voice called again.

It was Edwin.

“Ed?”
“Where’s your head been? I’ve been calling you for ages.”
“Ah, sorry.”

I’d had a dream last night—vivid, yet now it was slipping away.

‘You worry too much.’
‘You may resemble that child, but you are not the same. Do as your heart tells you
’

The voice had sounded so familiar—like the one I’d heard during the accident.

What was that dream
?

“So, how’d it go with the new recruit?”
“What do you mean, how?”
“You still haven’t talked to him?”
“I was going to. Later.”

I pressed my temple, trying to steady myself.

“Don’t keep him waiting too long. Or are you actually considering it?”

His sharp gaze narrowed at me. I waved a hand dismissively, and he muttered—

“You’re just going to turn him down anyway.”

Then suddenly—

“Oh, right. Can you spare some time three days from now?”
“Three days later? Why?”
“Don’t ask. Just come with me to the plaza.”
“Is that a request or an order?”
“An order.”

The look in his eyes said: If you don’t come, you’ll regret it.

“Fine.”
“I’ll tell you the exact time later.”
“Hey—look. There’s the recruit.”

He pointed toward the training ground—and sure enough, Ian was there.

Right. Better to deal with this now than drag it out.

“I’ll go talk to him.”

Ian must’ve noticed me too, because he stopped walking.

“Be gentle with your rejection, alright? Don’t crush the poor guy’s spirit.”

Ignoring Edwin’s teasing, I walked toward Ian.

But as I did, a strange thought crept in—

If Ian had confessed before the story even began, then Rosebellia must have rejected him.

And if he’d kept liking her anyway
?

When I’d read the original story, I’d always wondered why Rosebellia kept refusing Ian’s offer to become Knight Commander—over and over.

Could it be
 that Ian’s persistent affection had driven her away?
That she’d defected to another kingdom just to escape him?

If that were true, then maybe—
this whole novel was really about a man who, after being rejected countless times, takes revenge on the woman who left him.

I shook my head quickly.

No. Impossible.

The story was about Daisy’s pure, tragic love—not some hidden tale of obsession and vengeance.

“Good afternoon, Senior.”

Ian’s eyes lit up as he greeted me.
The faint shimmer of anticipation in his gaze made guilt prick my chest.

It’s fine. Just say it clearly and kindly.

“Hey, um, Recruit. There’s something I wanted to talk about—”
“Understood. I’ll follow you.”

We moved toward a quiet section by the outer wall, away from prying eyes.

When we finally stopped, Ian met my gaze squarely.

“So, you’ve finally decided to give me your answer?”
“Well, I mean
”
“Please, speak freely.”

Speak freely? With that face?

I swallowed the words and forced myself to breathe evenly.

“I don’t know when these feelings started, but honestly
 we haven’t known each other long enough for anything serious. So I think maybe your feelings—”
“Don’t assume they’re shallow. Time doesn’t measure sincerity. You don’t have to know someone for years to recognize their worth.”

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
His voice was low and steady, like a wave about to break.

I pulled myself together, somehow.

“You’re right, but
 what I mean is, I’m too busy right now. I don’t have the time or the room for—”
“Then I’ll wait. It doesn’t have to be now. I can wait until you do.”

Wait? Until I have time?

Was his affection for Rosebellia really that deep?

“No, I mean
 not now, not later—I don’t think I’ll have that kind of time for quite a while.”
“Pardon?”

His brows furrowed sharply, confusion flickering across his face.

That uneasy chill crept down my spine again.

“Uh
”
“Senior, what are you saying?”
“I’m giving you an answer to your confession.”

He blinked once. Then—

“Are you
 mistaking me for another recruit?”
“
”

Mistaking you for—what?

He exhaled softly. His tone dropped, quiet but edged.

“Whoever you’re confusing me with, Senior—what I asked for was a sparring match.”

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It seems like I Became the first Love of the Iron-Clad Male Protagonist.

It seems like I Became the first Love of the Iron-Clad Male Protagonist.

ìČ ëČœ ë‚šìŁŒì˜ ìČ«ì‚Źëž‘ìŽ 된 ëȘšì–‘입니닀
Score 10.0
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: , Released: 2024 Native Language: korean

I thought I was dead—
but when I opened my eyes, I had become the male lead’s senior in the knight order.


Except, something’s wrong.

The cold, stoic male lead who never accepted the dying heroine’s feelings in the original story—
is acting very strange.

“Do you act like this with just anyone?”
“Huh?”
“Or is it because I’m just a blurry-faced junior that you’re being so casual with me?”

Maybe trying to befriend him, just to avoid dying like in the original ending, was a mistake.

“You don’t know, Senior.”
“What don’t I know?”
“How I look at you

how many filthy, base desires are running wild in my head.”

Wait—what?
Desires? What kind of—

“...You don’t know, do you?”

Hold on.
You’re not supposed to be this kind of character, right?!

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