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Chapter 08
Marcella Armierosha.
The first female knight on the continent, and the vice commander of the Luna Knights, one of the three imperial knight orders that directly served the royal family.
And the eldest daughter of the Duke Armierosha household.
Lisbeth had seen her end.
“Do you know whose land you dare to tread upon? This is the land of the great Armierosha!”
Her sister’s commanding shout that made even seasoned soldiers tremble to the very last moment.
And then… how that very same woman—who had seemed as though she would never lose Armierosha—collapsed helplessly at the sight of her younger sister.
“Lisbeth, what are you thinking so hard about?”
Marcella, fresh from training, asked. Lisbeth flinched and snapped out of her recollection.
The woman who had leaned against her husband in a burning mansion, closing her eyes, no longer existed.
The place she stood now was the vice commander’s office of the Luna Knights. And the woman before her was the ever-proud and indomitable Marcella Armierosha.
“It’s nothing. Did afternoon training end?”
“Just did. Now I’ve got paperwork to approve. I’d rather not work overtime, but when does that ever go as planned?”
“And brother-in-law?”
“Ah, he’s busy too.”
There was no longer any need to wallow deliberately in the past.
The people who had once left her side were all here now. And she would never make the same mistakes again.
So this woman would never fall. Lisbeth’s proud sister would forever remain the pillar protecting Armierosha.
So I’m not apologizing.
“I heard you were coming, so I washed up more thoroughly than usual… But do I still smell?”
When Lisbeth, seated on the sofa, merely stared at her with her lips pressed tight, Marcella awkwardly lifted her forearm to her nose.
Seeing that, Lisbeth’s expression twisted slightly.
Of all things… that stupid smell.
In her first life, Lisbeth had hated the smells clinging to her sister—the sweat unique to knights, the metallic tang of iron, even the faint scent of blood.
She had made a fuss about it, and that was how they had grown distant.
More than once, she had sneered at Marcella to her face.
And every time…
Her sister, who would have been justified in getting angry, had always treated Lisbeth generously. She had even stopped her husband when he grew angry on her behalf.
How had she ever misunderstood her?
Looking at her sister, who was still cautiously watching her reaction even now, Lisbeth let out a hollow laugh and said firmly,
“What smell? There’s nothing like that, Sister.”
“Hmm… really?”
“And even if there were, so what? It’s proof you worked hard all day.”
“…Are you really our Lisbeth?”
Lisbeth Armierosha—the epitome of fussiness—would never say something so easygoing.
Marcella studied her suspiciously. Then, after a moment, she gave a small exclamation.
“Ah. It’s because of Calix Peyon.”
“…What does Calix have to do with this?”
“He’s a knight too, isn’t he? That’s why you suddenly don’t mind. Come to think of it, didn’t you visit the order just to see him?”
Since she had indeed just seen Calix moments ago, Lisbeth, feeling oddly guilty, pursed her lips and said nothing.
“Isn’t this place a bit too rough for you? You’re pregnant—what if you faint at the sight of a sword?”
“Sister.”
“Just joking, just joking~.”
Though she had sounded annoyed, it seemed Marcella had been thinking about her (nonexistent) niece or nephew as well.
Lisbeth stared at the table to hide her awkwardness.
Then a different thought crossed her mind.
Was Calix worried about this too?
Was the reason he fidgeted so much around her because he feared she might dislike the scent clinging to him?
“It really doesn’t bother me…”
As Lisbeth murmured softly, Marcella removed her outer coat, sat down, and picked up a pen.
After signing the first document, she looked at her sister and grinned.
“Love really is great, Lisbeth.”
“Stop teasing me, Sister.”
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to treat the man who changed my prickly little sister like this. I was planning to put him through hell, you know.”
“…Do whatever you want. Calix isn’t the type to be shaken by that.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
Lisbeth knew Marcella was only speaking mischievously.
Like their father, her sister would ultimately accept the man her sibling loved.
This hadn’t been her intention, but because of this incident, Lisbeth was finally certain—
That her entire family loved her and would support her decisions.
And she renewed her resolve. This time, she would protect her family.
I could tell them, like I told Calix, that this is my second life…
But if they heard the truth and tried something reckless to eliminate the First Prince, it could spark conflict between Armierosha and the imperial family.
Lisbeth didn’t want to create unnecessary risk.
…No. I’ll have to remove him myself.
She felt sorry for Calix, but she couldn’t drag anyone else into this.
After pondering carefully, Lisbeth spoke.
“Sister, I have a favor to ask…”
To do that, she needed to prepare for what came next.
Some time later, on a day off—
As promised, Lisbeth headed to a dress shop on the shopping street with Calix.
As if she had been waiting, the madam escorted them to a private room with no other customers.
Thanks to that, the two could browse dresses freely without worrying about prying eyes.
“How about this dress?”
“It’s very beautiful.”
And that made ten times already.
Hearing the same answer every time she emerged in a new dress, Lisbeth frowned.
It wasn’t as if Calix knew anything about women’s dresses, and she had tried to be understanding.
Is he just saying that because he’s bored?
But his consistently serious expression made that hard to believe.
Finally, Lisbeth complained in a sulky tone.
“Calix. You say the same thing every time I come out.”
“……”
“You’re the one who asked to choose the dress. That’s why I brought you. But now that I’m out here, do you just want me to hurry back inside? Is answering me such a bother?”
“Of course not, my lady.”
Calix rose from the sofa as if to soothe her.
The summer dress was made of rather thin fabric.
As he approached, his body heat seemed to seep through the delicate cloth. Strangely warm.
Calix leaned down, brushing her hair aside.
Then, pressing his lips close to her ear, he whispered,
“How could I ever find you bothersome?”
“……”
“It’s just that the sight of you before my eyes is something I… someone like me could never dare to judge.”
Then we didn’t need to come all the way here.
Lisbeth was about to retort when she flinched slightly.
Calix had blown a soft breath against her ear.
She suddenly remembered—this had been a prank she used to play on him when they were very young.
Sneaking up quietly, blowing air into his ear, and bursting into giggles.
…Was that such a suggestive thing to do?
Watching his reflection in the mirror, Lisbeth felt faintly embarrassed and pushed him away.
Even with the light force, Calix stepped back obediently.
“I said I’d leave the dress to you, so do as you like.”
“Thank you for your permission.”
“…Instead, let’s switch roles now, Calix.”
“Pardon?”
Though he asked in confusion, Lisbeth ignored him and called the shop attendants.
The staff, who had been whispering among themselves, hurried over at her single gesture.
Whether Calix was a crude beast or Lisbeth a legendary temptress didn’t matter to them. To the attendants, they were simply extraordinary aristocratic customers who spent lavishly.
“Bring me every outfit that would suit this man.”
There was a touch of mischief in her heart.
Changing clothes repeatedly was quite a hassle. Let him experience it too.
“……”
But the moment Calix emerged after changing—
Lisbeth was rendered speechless.
Thud.
The catalog slipped from her hand.
