Chapter 8: CH 8

‘I…’

He couldn’t help but laugh because she looked a little different.

What kind of face would she make if he called her cute here?

Kiryu asked Judith, who seemed to be swimming in emotions.

“Are you ashamed of wielding a sword as a swordsman?”

“…”

Judith did not answer for a long time. The silence was a yes.

Kiryu softened his playfulness and spoke more calmly.

“If so, I hope you won’t feel that way for a long time. Those feelings are felt only by those who know what is right and what is wrong. Don’t deny it, learn from it and move on.”

He felt her gaze.

Kiryu thought that Judith’s amber eyes, which looked intently at him, were pretty.

Without further hesitation, Kiryu stood up. He took a couple of steps closer, and reached out to Judith, who was slumped on the bed.

“I’ll say it again. You did well against the leader while suffering injuries. I promise you proper treatment to the right place, so will you join the Red Knights?”

The hand he stretched out was full of calluses.

Judith looked down at his hand and acknowledged it.

The sweet words he said were as attractive as gold. It was irresistible.

“Your answer?”

…What should she answer? No, how should she respond?

Judith looked at Kiryu’s outstretched hand again.

Kiryu’s hand was like a knights’ hand. His fingers were broad and strong, like a musicians’. However, if it was looked upon more closely, the unique small wounds and calluses on the inside of the thumb could be seen. It was evidence of training and hard work.

Still, it showed his confidence.

With that, Judith made up her mind.

She didn’t want to join the Black Knights anyways.

‘Above all, this person…’

Said that there was a fine line between a knight and a swordsman. Jermel would’ve said something different.

Is this emotion from an impulse?

Judith had never once thought of wanting to lean on someone.

But for now, instead of laughing at herself saying that she lived alone anyway, she wanted to hold that hand.

She couldn’t tell if the clear change was due to her regression or this man.

But it doesn’t matter either way. The important thing was that there was someone who reached out to her.

“Okay.”

Judith, who had been thinking, took Kiryu’s hand.

“I look forward to your kind cooperation, leader Kiryu.”

“Wow… I thought the scouts were different.”

A relief crept over Kiryu’s face.

Judith smiled casually.

“Were you not confident? You seemed surprisingly relieved.”

“Don’t be silly.”

Kiryu Lwalchmei was 25 years old this year.

When he replied bluntly, his lips pouted. He was grunting like a boy for his age, and it was a little funny.

“Where did you learn to control people? My heart kept pounding.”

Judith was halfway out from the bed.

Then, Kiryu grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

Judith’s eyes widened in surprise at the close distance. It was the same with Kiryu.

‘Oh.’

It was too close; closer than when they clashed their swords together.

If Deschamps, the lieutenant, had seen it, he would have been mad at Kiryu for not thinking before acting.

He ignored the feeling of Judith’s pounding heart and let go of her hand. As the warmth in her hand disappeared, a particularly great emptiness came upon him.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. If anything happens, come to the Red Knights. The location is…”

“I know.”

“Aren’t you going to give me time to talk?”

“You’re a man who says mean things.”

Kiryu laughed at Judith’s calm response.

Unlike when he opened the door and came in, Kiryu spoke with a relaxed expression.

“Yeah. It is far better than a man who can’t even say a thing.”

It was a statement of clear interest.

~*~

The next morning, Judith filed an application to join.

Violette repeatedly said she couldn’t believe it when they were on their way to submit their applications.

“Really? Really? Is this real?”

“Violette, you’re going to fall.”

“You’re not going to lie to me later, are you? You’re not making fun of me, are you?”

“Look ahead.”

She just said she had been scouted by Kiryu herself, but Violette was more excited and fussed than she was.

“You’re serious!”

“I am. Why would I lie like that?”

“However, it is rare for the leader to personally ask to join. Whoa, whoa! What did you say? Yes?”

Judith grinned at Violette’s childish admiration.

“I don’t think this is something to be too pleased about.”

“How can you say that!”

Violet continued with a face full of emotions.

“It’s great. I thought you and Calipa were both going to the Black Knights. I was worried. I thought I was the only one being alone…”

“…”

Judith stopped walking.

That was something she never thought of.

Even after her friends had split, she often saw Violette.

There was no need to ask how Violette was doing. She always smiled well and seemed to have a lot of people around her.

It was strange.

‘…She was the kind of person who didn’t show any signs of loneliness.’

She wished she had known back then.

As Judith looked at her, Violette, who looked particularly pleasant, smiled while revealing her teeth.

“It’s a shame that only Calipa went to the Black Knights. Let’s visit often from our side.”

“…”

Judith was unable to answer.

Should she say that the Black Knights’ accommodation was quite far from the headquarters of the Red Knights, and they restrict access to other Knights?

Even before her regression, Calipa chose the Black Knights.

‘It’s reasonable.’

Nothing was more important to the current Calipa than finding the person who destroyed her family.

Even if the result of suicide awaited at the end of her road, she would not have been able to stop for some reason.

“Let’s do that. We can’t leave Calipa alone.”

Judith spoke as if it were a promise.

After returning to her quarters, Judith finished trimming her hair with Violette’s help.

She normally would cut it moderately by herself, but it was the first time the two of them did it together.

‘It’s the same bobbed hair, but somehow, it feels different.’

It was awkward, but it wasn’t bad.

In fact, everything was like that.

That was also the case with the dressing room she visited in the afternoon.

The only one who matched the black uniforms of the Black Knights was Calipa. Judith matched the white uniform with Violet.

“Why is the uniform white when it’s the Red Knights? Is it too noticeable if the uniform is red?”

“Well.”

“Ask the leader.”

“That’s a bit…”

Violette grinned and ruffled her clothes. Still, this one was nicer and prettier.

Calipa left the dressing room and looked around in wonder.

“It seems like the White Knights wear a priest’s robe, not a uniform.”

“Because they’re closer to a priest than a knight.”

Judith shut her mouth after she spoke without thinking.

At this time, the White Knights were not well known, and there was nothing good about talking more.

Normally, she would’ve returned to the Knight Orders immediately, but she couldn’t resist when Violette wanted to go window shopping.

‘Of course, I’m tired.’

If it were the past, she would have avoided it.

‘I hated shopping when I didn’t have money.’

The things she wanted would only increase.

Although she practiced frugality without much effort, wandering around increases unnecessary expenses.

‘Let’s pay off the debt first… then buy what you want and eat what you want…’

Growing up in a duke’s family, Calipa had no concept of buying anything on the streets. Judith was also a person who would say ‘it’s okay’ to whatever Violette chose, so Violette quickly became depressed.

Soon after, Judith spoke.

“Let’s go back.”

“Can I look more?”

“Neither of us are having fun.”

She couldn’t say no to Violette right away.

Judith spoke while avoiding her eyes.

“I’m sorry… I just don’t feel like it.”

“No, there’s nothing to be sorry about. Let’s do it later. Judith, when you want to go shopping or whatever, you can call me when you want to go out.”

“…Thank you.”

Judith smiled faintly.

In the end, the three returned just in time for dinner.

After going back to their rooms, Judith laid down with her back against the window.

Many emotions came and went. Her heart was filled with sadness for Violette, who cared for her, and for Calipa.

And… Kiryu.

He was the one who stood at the beginning of this change. A person who reached out to her even when she was twisted. A knight leader who brought about a noticeable change in life.

‘A lot will change in the future.’

Judith thought while touching the wound on her neck.

Now that she has joined the Red Knights, she will no longer encounter Jermel.

When she joined the Black Knights, she caught Jermel’s eyes because she was useful among new recruits.

“…Jermel.”

Judith quietly called out his name in the dark room.

In the past, she wouldn’t have dared to call his name, it was just ‘leader’.

But there was no value in calling that anymore.

The sense of betrayal towards him was beyond words. Even now, her anger has not faded.

But, to risk everything to kill him… It would be a waste of her second life.

“…”

The stinging pain in her throat got worse.

It felt as if the sharp cuts were insisting not to ignore him.

Judith got up and took the prescribed pain reliever.

After laying back, she placed a hand on her forehead and closed her eyes.

She cried a lot right after her regression, but it made her see things more clearly, especially about that bastard, Jermel.

“…It’s okay, I won’t see him anymore…”

But Judith’s fingers, which were embracing the pillow, shook.