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Chapter 05
Behind the annex, in a clearing within the forest.
This was where Sion secretly trained in swordsmanship, away from prying eyes.
Swish—
A thick log was cleanly sliced in two by Sion’s sword, like cutting through pudding.
Watching the scene, I clapped excitedly like a seal.
“Waa~ That was amazing, Sion!”
You’re amazing, my precious!
“……”
Without a word, Sion set up a new log.
Just yesterday, he flinched at my enthusiastic cheering, but now he seemed to have gotten used to my presence.
“Alright then, time to organize my plan.”
I hopped down from a tree stump and landed on the snowy ground.
Then, picking up a stick, I ran across the snow, drawing a long line.
It was the timeline from the original story that I had carefully organized in my head last night.
“So, here’s the current situation.”
I pointed to the start of the timeline.
“Continental Year 918. There’s about a month left until the main storyline of the original begins.”
Sion is currently 18 years old, about to have his coming-of-age ceremony in a month. But he already stands nearly 180cm tall, with broad shoulders, a sharp nose bridge, and a chiseled jawline—basically a finished product…
No, no, focus!
I snapped myself out of my fangirling trance and quickly summarized the key points in the snow again.
- Timeframe: One month before the original story begins
- Sion’s situation: Being an illegitimate son, he is shunned and mistreated, living in isolation in the annex
“And then…”
My eyes sparkled with resolve.
- Near-future event: The Winter Coming-of-Age Ceremony
“One month from now, the ‘Winter Coming-of-Age Ceremony’—the official starting point of the original story—will take place.”
A quick explanation.
What exactly is the Winter Coming-of-Age Ceremony?
It’s a sacred annual tradition deeply rooted in the North’s customs.
Because of the region’s brutal cold and the ever-present threat of monsters, children in the North are rare and precious. To honor those who survive until the age of nineteen, the Winter Coming-of-Age Ceremony is held each year.
Regardless of birth or status, every Northern child who lives to see this age receives official recognition and full rights and protection through the ceremony.
“In other words, if Sion successfully completes this year’s ceremony, he’ll be formally acknowledged as a noble of the Grand Duke’s household and granted the rights and protections that come with it!”
But in the original story, Sion didn’t get the chance to attend.
The reason? The schemes of the story’s main villain—
Grand Duchess Priscilla.
I sketched a wild-eyed woman with disheveled hair in the snow.
Power-hungry and estranged from her husband, the former Grand Duke, she tried to use her own son—the male lead of the original—as a puppet.
She saw the heroine as a threat to her plans and treated Sion, the illegitimate child she couldn’t stand the sight of, with relentless cruelty—trying at every turn to ruin or kill him.
But if Sion could avoid her schemes this time and safely attend the Winter Coming-of-Age Ceremony, he could be registered in the Grand Duke’s family ledger and claim his rightful status.
That would finally free him from the blatant mistreatment and abuse he’s silently endured from the Grand Duchess over the past ten years.
“Which brings me to the first two things I absolutely need to do.”
I glanced at Sion, still diligently chopping firewood nearby, and murmured to myself.
“First: Make sure Sion safely completes the upcoming ceremony.”
That way, he can receive all the rights and benefits due to him as a Grand Duke’s son.
Even if I put everything else on hold, I had to immediately do something about his miserable living conditions and poor diet.
He needs to eat and rest well. That’s how he’ll stay healthy, grow stronger, and become even more dashing than he already is.
“Of course, Sion is already the most handsome, beautiful, and perfect person in the world. But still, if we want to outshine the male lead and win the heroine’s heart, it wouldn’t hurt to boost his looks and his fortune.”
I nodded to myself and moved on to my second goal.
“Second: Change the course of Sion and the heroine’s first meeting!”
This was the most critical task.
In fact, everything else I planned was just groundwork for this.
In the original story, their first meeting was anything but romantic.
The Grand Duchess had sabotaged Sion’s chance to attend the ceremony, leading to him getting badly injured. It was while wandering around the castle, injured and disoriented, that he ran into the heroine.
And what was the first thing Sion said to her?
“Oh my gosh! Are you okay?! Your wound…!”
“If you don’t want to die, then get lost, you noisy woman.”
At that time, Sion was in a dangerously unstable and sensitive state. As a result, he lashed out at the female lead who had tried to help and support him, even pushing her away.
Later on, as he gradually opened his heart to her, Sion would come to regret that first encounter—over and over again, quietly, within himself.
Even in the final moment when he faced death.
“…Did she get away safely?”
Lying in the snow, Sion murmured softly.
Snowflakes fell onto his bloodied face, blooming like red flowers against the white.
In the silent, snow-covered world, Sion thought of someone’s face.
She was the first woman who had ever taught him warmth, compassion, and love.
So precious that even trading his life for hers didn’t bring the slightest regret.
If there was one thing he regretted… it was that he never got the chance to apologize for pushing her away with cold words on the night they first met.
“……”
Sion’s lips quivered.
With his final breath, a mist of cold air left his mouth, carrying the lingering feelings he could never let go of.
That was the end of Sion Luxior, the Shadow Knight of the North.
“…Ugh.”
Just recalling it brought an overwhelming heartache. I had to cover my mouth to stop myself.
But soon, I composed myself and made a solemn vow.
No way. As long as I’m here, that future will never happen.
That’s right. From now on, things like being a sub male lead, one-sided love, or noble sacrifice had nothing to do with Sion.
“Because I, Lin the devoted fangirl fairy, armed with knowledge of the original story and infinite devotion, will use every means possible to support Sion!”
“In other words, the <Escape Sub-Male Lead Project> begins now!”
I was grinning like a fool, already imagining Sion’s happy future, when—
Whiiit—!
A whistle rang from the edge of the forest.
It was a signal from Garen—someone was approaching.
I flew over to Sion in a panic.
“Sion, someone’s coming!”
As I spoke, I quickly slipped inside his cloak, hiding within.
Sion calmly sheathed his sword and slung it over his back with practiced ease.
Moments later, Advisor Luman arrived, accompanied by a royal guard and a servant.
Casting a doubtful glance around the clearing, Luman asked:
“Goodness, in this cold weather… What brings you out here instead of resting?”
“I was chopping wood. Couldn’t sleep because of the cold.”
Sion replied smoothly, expression unchanged.
“Firewood, huh? Ah… I see. It seems supplies haven’t been delivered properly to the annex. I’ll make sure to take care of that.”
Luman added this weakly, clearly aware of the situation.
“Why are you here, Advisor?”
Sion asked coldly.
“Ah, that is…”
Flustered, Luman pulled something from his coat.
It was an official document sealed with the crest of House Luxior.
To the Young Lord at the Annex,
A distinguished guest will soon be visiting the Grand Duchy. You are advised to refrain from public activity and focus on your rest and recovery.
– Grand Duchess
“……”
I immediately scowled.
In short: Stay hidden because your existence is inconvenient.
I tore the letter to shreds.
Just as I was about to blurt out spoilers—
“Ding—!”
“……”
That was not a friendly reminder. It was a warning.
I swallowed my words mid-sentence.
“…That woman’s doomed to face karma and lose all her hair!”
Silence.
“…Can women go bald too?” Garen asked.
“I’ve never heard of it,” Sion said calmly.
“Of course they can! Anyone who messes with Sion will go bald!”
“……”
Sion quietly watched me fume, then lifted the firewood.
“Let’s go back.”
He turned toward the annex.
“Wait up, Sion! I’m coming with you!”
I hurried after him.
