I stood up in the water first.

The dress was soaked full of water, so just standing up was very difficult.

As I groaned and stood, staggering, the boy quickly grabbed my arm.

“...!”

“...?!”

Mari and Masa’s expressions changed.

Mari stomped into the water, pulled the boy’s hand off, and grabbed me firmly.

“Hey, what are you? Why are you entering our mountain?”

I had a prepared excuse.

“The carriage had a problem. I was trying to get help—”

The boy interrupted, pulling a spear from the bear’s back.

“—You ran away from the bear and came all the way here?”

That sounded more believable than saying I came to the middle of the mountain to seek help.

I roughly nodded.

“Yes, well...”

“That’s strange. Bears don’t usually come down to the winter entrance of the mountain.”

“Winter?”

“That’s the name we gave the bear. It’s kept to be eaten in winter, so it’s called Winter.”

“...”

Though he had just given a reason himself, the boy looked suspicious.

Worried we might raise suspicion, I thought of an additional excuse while my head spun intensely.

“Whatever the bear is, get out of our mountain.”

Mari glared at me and said.

Then she roughly let go of my arm, nearly causing me to fall back into the water.

I barely kept my balance and asked.

“Is this mountain private property?”

“What?”

“It doesn’t seem private. There was no sign below.”

“It’s not private, but we’ve lived here for a very long time!”

“You know that makes no sense, right?”

“Did you just speak informally?”

“You spoke informally too.”

“You were saved from being eaten by a bear, and now you don’t even know gratitude...!”

I frowned and looked at the boy.

“Is this girl your real older sister?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Then husband?”

“No!”

“What’s your relation?”

“...Neighbors from the same mountain?”

I looked at Mari again.

“This person who saved me isn’t related to you.”

“Benefit...!”

Mari’s face turned bright red.

The girl trembling while holding her skirt glared at me and shouted.

“Anyway, get lost!”

“Uh, sister!”

When Mari got excited, Masa also stepped into the water to hold her sister back.

At that moment—

“Erilot!”

I heard Han Ji-hyuk’s voice.

He looked at Mari, Masa, the boy, and me with narrowed eyes, then quickly added.

“—Young lady!”

He quickly checked me over.

“Are you hurt...?”

“No. Just the clothes are really heavy.”

“Strange things keep happening...”

Han Ji-hyuk lifted me up swiftly.

When we got out of the water, the sisters and the boy followed behind.

Mari’s face was bright red. She glared at me as if wanting to tear me apart, while the restless younger sister Masa said,

“Our house is nearby. Would you like to dry your clothes there?”

“Masa!”

“It’s autumn, so it’s cold... You should warm up, brother, too. Okay?”

The boy glanced up and down at Han Ji-hyuk.

He was actually a weakling, but on the outside looked like a healthy adult man.

The boy seemed uneasy about an unknown adult man entering the sisters’ house, his expression not very good.

“Alright.”

When the boy said he would go to the house, Mari clamped her mouth shut.

‘Ah.’

Mari likes the boy.

Even though she dislikes me so much, she wants to see the boy as long as possible, even if it means letting me into the house.

‘Masa too...’

Her eyes were full of affection when looking at the boy.

When our eyes met, she didn’t know what to do and quickly lowered her head.

Well, the boy was very handsome.

Golden ash-colored hair.

Gray eyes.

Tall and lean.

Well-tanned skin.

By appearance alone, he looked like a celebrity.

Han Ji-hyuk looked at me, asking what I would do.

‘It’s fine by me.’

It’s a chance to get close to the sisters.

At the sisters’ house.

Masa immediately brought towels to us when we entered.

I was about to dry my hair when Han Ji-hyuk rubbed my head vigorously with the towel.

Like a boy coming out of a bath, he patted my head hard, and I shook like a paper doll.

“Ugh, stop...”

Then the boy sitting at the table, chin in hand, suddenly burst out laughing.

Looking over, he let out a quiet chuckle.

“You dress so fancy I thought you were a snob, but you’re like a puppy.”

“...A puppy?”

“Yeah. Like a puppy that bathes and quietly dries its fur.”

“...”

The boy raised both hands lightly.

“I’m not trying to tease you.”

Seeing Masa stagger as she carried a tray, he quickly helped.

“Soup?”

“Yes. It will warm our cold bodies. I’m glad we made a lot today.”

“What’s up with that? The stingy one who never wastes a carrot.”

Masa giggled awkwardly, and Mari’s face darkened.

Watching this, Han Ji-hyuk whispered,

“Is Mari really Dalia?”

“They look exactly alike, voices are similar, but I don’t know their personalities well.”

“Maybe Masa is Dalia. Maybe she’ll become more like her older sister as they grow.”

Right now, it’s much more likely Mari is Dalia.

But personality-wise, Masa was more similar to Dalia.

Like not being [N O V E L I G H T] able to leave troubled people alone.

Mari glared at her sister and shouted,

“Brother! I want to sit in the wheelchair. Help me.”

“Can’t you see I’m moving you? Sit alone.”

“My legs go numb again.”

“You didn’t look hurt when you went into the water.”

“You always speak so harshly... Hurry up and help me, okay? Quickly!”

The boy sighed, looking fed up.

He placed bowls of soup on the table, then opened a small door to bring in a wheelchair.

“Sit yourself.”

“You used to be so helpful...”

“That was when you weren’t bothering Masa.”

“What did I do!”

“It was cold last night. It was definitely not a night to kick out your sister.”

“...You went to brother?”

Masa quickly waved her hand.

“I didn’t go on purpose...!”

“She came to pick up firewood for the fireplace. Even though her sister kicked her out, she worried you’d be cold that night.”

“Brother knows she always gathers wood at that time. Has Masa done this only once or twice?”

“Why would Masa come to me?”

“Because she likes brother.”

Masa’s face stiffened. Then, with a near-tearful expression, she turned her head quickly.

Han Ji-hyuk shook his head.

“Wow... really mean.”

Yeah.

It’s humiliating to expose someone’s precious feelings like that.

The boy sighed.

“Mari, if you’re not going to eat, then leave.”

“Why no answer from brother?”

“You—”

“Masa likes brother. So she always uses the excuse that I bullied her and goes to brother.”

“I told you to stop.”

“I told her. She has to answer. That she can’t accept those feelings.”

Mari smirked arrogantly, looking at Masa crying with a sniffle, bent over.

‘Why are there so many crazy people?’

I sighed internally.

Then I took my seat at the table and said.

“Excuse me, can I eat this? You went to so much trouble, and it might get cold.”

When I interrupted, Masa’s eyes opened wide, staring at me.

“Oh, yes...!”

“Could I have a spoon?”

She hurried to bring a spoon.

I started eating the soup.

‘Huh?’

As I tasted it, I froze. Han Ji-hyuk quietly asked.

“Why?”

“It tastes like Dalia’s soup.”

When on a mission, the supply line was cut, and Dalia cooked soup from nearby ingredients.

“Sister, please eat.”

“...Can you cook?”

“Of course! Soup is my specialty.”

I had no idea.

‘Mari looks like Dalia, but personality and food taste are more like Masa.’

Are there unknown twin sisters?

What on earth?

As I froze, Masa asked worriedly.

“Does it taste bad...?”

“No. It’s so delicious.”

Laughter came from behind from the boy.

“Why would a noble lady freeze just because the soup tastes good?”

Then he sat across from me.

Mari quickly took the seat next to him, worried Masa might sit beside him.

“Why don’t you say anything?”

“Why don’t you eat something good? If you’re going to say useless things.”

“You have to answer Mari’s feelings. Or do you have someone you like?”

He gave a subtle look as if thinking he was the one she liked.

The boy frowned, sensing something.

“I like pretty girls.”

“What?”

“Like that young lady.”

Me?

I raised a spoon with a displeased look.

Mari’s face immediately crumpled, and Masa flinched, looking at me.

I was embarrassed as I became the focus instead of the boy, probably as a substitute for him.

At that moment, a bright red light emitted from a small pouch hanging around my neck.

An urgent signal came from the communication stone.

The sudden light startled the sisters and the boy.

I quickly connected.

[Eril, where are you?!]

[Where are you?]

[Erilot.]

It was my brothers.

“Near the castle. Something came up for a moment.”

[What! We were so worried because the signal kept breaking!]

“Sorry. I was too distracted to check.”

[The completion ceremony is soon. Should we come get you?]

“No. I’m leaving now. I’ll change clothes at Eclipto Castle and come quickly.”

[Hurry, we’re worried.]

“Okay.”

I ended the communication.

Both sisters stared at me with wide eyes.

“A voice came from a jewel...”

“What’s that...?”

The boy answered for me.

“It’s called a communication stone. Nobles can talk through such magic tools.”

“Wow...”

“...”

Commoners might not be familiar with it.

Communication stones are very expensive, so only high-ranking nobles can usually afford them.

I stood up and looked at Masa.

“Thank you for the delicious food. Sorry I couldn’t finish it.”

“Oh... No! You seem busy, so please go quickly.”

I looked at Han Ji-hyuk, who was standing awkwardly.

He said “Ah,” then took some gold coins out of his pocket.

“This is a token of thanks for saving you.”

“G-Gold coins!”

Masa looked extremely surprised and stared at the boy.

His eyes were a bit wide too.

Gold coins were rare for commoners.

Considering an average servant’s monthly wage was 70 silver, this was several years’ worth of salary.

Han Ji-hyuk took out more gold coins and placed them down.

“This is a gift for your hospitality.”

“T-That much money?! Oh no! The soup was just something I had!”

Masa shouted, but Mari quickly grabbed the gold coins.

“Sis!”

“It’s a gift. She looks like she’s going crazy because of the money, so just take it.”

She said it nicely.

Masa was flustered.

“But, mother said, we shouldn’t accept others’ money carelessly...”

“Look, you have money, right? Will you ask to return it or charge interest?”

Mari’s words made me frown.

“No.”

“She said no. Then go.”

Mari quickly got up, left the kitchen, and sat on the bed, shouting at Masa.

“Warm up some towels. My legs are numb.”

“But you should see them off...!”

“I said I’m hurting!”

Masa panicked, and the boy said,

“I’ll see her off.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Masa bowed her head to me.

“Sorry.”

“No.”

Leaving the sisters, Han Ji-hyuk and I stepped outside.

I said to him,

“I’ll move by Gaho stone. I need to change clothes. You take the carriage.”

“To where?”

“To the castle to rest. You’re wet too.”

“Okay.”

While we talked, the boy came out.

“Thanks for the money. Winter’s coming, and those kids will have a hard time.”

“No need to thank me for repaying a favor.”

“You treat Masa politely but talk down to me.”

“You talk down to me too.”

The boy chuckled and shrugged.

“If you need anything, call me. I’ll ‘repay’ you in gold coins too. I’m pretty strong.”

“...”

“Well, I doubt a young lady like you would need me.”

“...”

“Aquila.”

“...What?”

“Aquila. That’s my name.”

I stared at the boy, mouth agape.

Since I rarely get so surprised, Han Ji-hyuk frowned.

“Erilot... Young lady?”

“A, A, Aquila?”

The boy blinked, puzzled at my shocked reaction.

“Yeah. Aquila. Why?”

“Ah, ah, no... No, never mind!”

I quickly greeted him and dragged Han Ji-hyuk out of the sisters’ house.

He asked,

“What’s wrong?”

“Aquila... Aquila Evergreen!”

The strongest sword of Dalia, the Wonha who commanded many knights in the past.

“A man who will be the shadow of Dalia as the future central knight commander!”

“What, that means one of those sisters really is Dalia.”

I took a deep breath.

Through the window, I saw Masa bringing towels to Mari.

But something was strange.

‘What is it?’