Chapter 19

Originally intended to stabilize Odelliana’s situation, the departure from Anatolia has been unexpectedly delayed. This not only disrupted travel plans but also threw a wrench into Blair’s schedule for returning home.

The Lord of Anatolia, already under strain, was nearing his wits’ end trying to accommodate and care for Odelliana after a significant misfortune befell her within his territory. Compounding the issue was Blair, the son of a vassal, who further taxed the already-aged man’s patience. The stress eventually manifested as mild neurosis.

The decision to bring Matthias along had a butterfly effect, sweeping through Anatolia like a storm. Odelliana couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding about how this might impact the future. Though preemptively bringing Matthias felt like tampering with fate, she clung to the hope that the major course of events wouldn’t be drastically altered.

Only seven years left to benefit from regression. Can I really turn things around in such a short time? This thought gnawed at her.

Currently, Matthias was undergoing squire training, which primarily involved helping with chores. Despite its simplicity, Odelliana recognized the long-term value of this education and didn’t object.

However, her motives for bringing Matthias extended beyond mere squiredom. Elevating him to knighthood wouldn’t happen overnight, and she knew she needed to begin laying the groundwork for his future.

The path to knighthood seemed clear. Matthias possessed the raw talent that would ensure his passage through the exams with ease. But ambition gnawed at Odelliana. If he were to carve a legend on the battlefield during the upcoming Tribal Suppression War, securing his knighthood and acquiring a noble patron were crucial steps. Time, however, was a fickle mistress.

Summer, however, was a mere two moons away, and winter’s cruel breath often disrupted the exam schedule. Indefinite postponements, even cancellations, were not uncommon. Thus, setting his sights on the summer trials proved the most practical course.

The Tribal Suppression War was a rare crucible for heroism. Merely acquiring the title of knight was insufficient. True glory demanded a stage of chaos, a proving ground where valor could be etched in the annals of history, and such opportunities were scarce—almost nonexistent—in these peaceful times.

A hundred years had passed since Reveln’s glorious expansion, absorbing four neighboring nations. A century of unbroken peace stretched before them. Smaller kingdoms like Rochelle and Ervaden bordered Reveln, but they were mere puppets, dancing to their powerful neighbor’s tune. Rebellion was a distant dream.

Thus, the avenues for knights to etch their names in legend were limited. Bandit eradication, beast hunting – these were mere skirmishes, fleeting and forgettable. Even the allure of mercenary work in neighboring conflicts was a fading dream. Even the beast-hunting grounds dwindled. The Kingdom of Reveln had largely tamed its wilds, leaving only the frigid expanse surrounding Solitude, a vast, cursed region teeming with monstrous threats. The abnormalities emanating from the beasts’ curse rendered the area an impenetrable wasteland, effectively a forgotten corner of the kingdom.

War, then, presented itself as the swiftest path to glory.

History bore witness to the most brutal civil war, orchestrated by barbarian hordes. These vagabonds, owing allegiance to no nation, united their forces and unleashed atrocities with the backing of neighboring countries. Yet, amidst the carnage, heroes bloomed. Matthias, a commoner by birth, ascended the ranks, transforming from a knight of the prince to a champion of the king and, ultimately, the esteemed captain of the knights.

The illegitimate prince, despite his dubious lineage, used Matthias’ rise as a springboard, ultimately seizing the throne from his rightful brother. But Odelliana, reborn with the memories of her past life, wouldn’t allow history to repeat. 

Jocelyn, she vowed silently, everything you achieved through Matthias will be mine in this life. Your coronation? A forgotten dream. Matthias’ brilliance will outshine all, just as it did before.

This time, defeat won’t be an option. Whether I find Lelusha or remain trapped in this life, you will not triumph.

***

“Lelusha?” Blair tilted his head, brow furrowed in thought. “The name doesn’t ring a bell.”

A flicker of disappointment danced in my eyes. “Do you know of a female knight named Lelusha, perhaps associated with the second prince?”

Blair’s brow shot up. “A female knight? First I’ve heard of it. Sir Aidas Rashua, head of the Second Order, guards His Highness personally. Never heard a word about a female knight on his detail. Though,” he admitted, a hint of sheepishness creeping into his voice, “I am fresh back from abroad, so I might be a bit out of the loop. Still, why the sudden curiosity?”

My lips pressed into a thin line. “Just a rumor,” I hedged. “Perhaps you could keep an ear out – a female mercenary, or a woman protecting the Second Prince in any capacity.”

Blair chuckled. “Female royal knights? Not a chance. The entire continent would be buzzing if there were a woman among them. Trust me, I’d know.”

In my past life, Lelusha, Jocelyn’s renowned knight, graced these very halls. The first woman ever inducted into the royal ranks, let alone as the second prince’s retinue knight, her appointment sent shockwaves through the nobility.

…Am I a ghost in this timeline? I grappled with the unsettling truth. Matthias, Jocelyn, even Lady Odette – they were all constants across both lives. Yet, Odelliana from that time and Lelusha from this one were inexplicably absent. Perhaps Odelliana remained hidden, a secret I was never privy to. Regardless, the discrepancy gnawed at me.

“Intrigued by His Highness, the second prince?” Blair’s question pulled me back.

“How could I not be?” The mere thought of that treacherous man twisted my gut. Betrayed, murdered… the embers of resentment still burned hot.

He’s likely living comfortably, indulging in lavish meals and carefree pleasures. Meanwhile, I’m trapped in this wretched second life, clawing my way out of despair. The injustice of it all fueled a white-hot rage.

One can only hope his existence is plagued by misery, mirroring my own, or even surpassing it.

“Odelliana,” Blair began cautiously, “I’m only saying this because your memory is a bit hazy… Do you recall that Lady Odette is betrothed to Prince Jocelyn?”

The question slammed into me like a physical blow. “…What?”

Blair offered a hesitant smile under my stunned silence. “Oh dear, Odelliana. Prince Jocelyn and Lady Odette were engaged when you were both just seven years old.”

Seven? Engaged at seven? A humorless laugh escaped my lips. “Ha!”

So, he was already promised to another. All those sweet nothings, the stolen glances, the promises of a future together – a cruel game orchestrated by that deceitful Jocelyn. He’d manipulated me while shackled to another!

The revelation left me speechless. I knew whispers followed Jocelyn, rumors of a scandalous private life. But engaged? At such a young age too!

“Did you perhaps harbor feelings for the Prince?” Blair prodded gently.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” I scoffed. The mere suggestion sent a wave of disgust crashing over me.

“Then why the sudden interest?” Blair tilted his head. “It’s unlike you to be so curious about another.”

“I heard rumors,” I muttered, forcing a dismissive tone. “Apparently, he’s quite popular.”

“He is,” Blair agreed readily. “A good man, handsome and pleasant.”

My stomach churned at his glowing description. Blair couldn’t be more wrong. Jocelyn’s facade of charm hid a darkness. His “scholarship programs” for the underprivileged were nothing but elaborate schemes to exploit them for his own gain. Blair was blissfully unaware of the corruption that festered beneath the surface of Jocelyn’s noble acts.

How blind I was, I thought bitterly. Once, I too saw him as a beacon of hope, a worthy king to serve.

Infatuation had blinded me. Jocelyn’s name, once a whisper of affection, now loomed as the darkest stain on my life. I had believed I’d reached the depths of emotional despair, but this revelation plunged me even lower. Every memory we shared now twisted into something dreadful.

“Brother, how much longer do you plan to stay?” I inquired.

“It’s time to head back, I think,” Blair replied.

“Don’t worry about me,” I reassured him. “I’m truly recovered now, and Matthias is here. We’ve overstayed our welcome. The Lord seems on the verge of a stress-induced collapse.” Besides, lingering here wasn’t an option. The knight’s exam loomed, and preparation couldn’t wait.

Blair frowned. “You’re really taking that boy with you?”

“Indeed.”

“Do you trust him?”

“Absolutely,” I declared. “Saving my life wasn’t the only reason. Matthias, like you, is someone I can’t do without.”

Blair sighed deeply, unable to refute my logic. “Still,” he said, “keeping a young man so close… I might find someone to watch over him.”

“Suit yourself, brother,” I said with a hint of amusement. “Matthias would never do anything to jeopardize your trust.”

Blair shook his head. “You don’t understand men.”

A silent chuckle escaped me. No, I knew Matthias very well. He was the most dependable man I could have by my side. No matter what the world threw our way, the scenario Blair envisioned was utterly out of the question.