System vs Rebirth

"Is she the famous Anna Stargaze?"

"She shouldn't be here."

"She must be trying to ruin everything. Don't forget about that rumor, she was the one who requested the royal family to execute the former master and mistress, and she even tried to kill the current lord."

The people were discussing Anna's appearance. Only a few people, like Dimitri and Rose, knew the truth.

Unfortunately for them, Noel had asked them to pacify the rest of the people while he dragged Anna to the house in the center of the village. They hadn't specified the living quarters of the mansion and other things, so he just used the one in the middle to talk to Anna.

"Seriously… Do you even need to do something like that?" Noel let out a long sigh while closing the door. He even covered the windows with ice, preventing anyone from seeing or listening to their conversation.

"I have to. I don't know if there are any spies or not. And I go all the way here with that kind of excuse, so I should at least put up that kind of show." Anna shook her head helplessly.

"Well…" Noel paused for a moment. "You've gotten good with your acting."

"Thanks to you." Anna chuckled while pointing at the table. "Why don't we have a seat?"

"This is not going to be long. If we talk too long, people will suspect something." Noel rejected the invitation and asked, "Still, what are you doing here? I thought that staying with the royal family shouldn't pose any problems for you, right?"

"Does that mean you don't want me here?" Anna couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows.

"Of course not. I don't mind having you here. It's just… you will be tired if you have to put up the act every single time." Noel explained his concern. It was rare that Noel was this considerate. In fact, she felt Noel had changed somehow.

"I…" Anna scratched the back of her head. She recalled what her father said back then and the realization that came afterward.

everything, but the words

accompany him was because that person was bound to become a burden. What if he fell for someone and the royal family kidnapped that person to go

Anna was different. Her strength, experience, and talent were far better

protecting her, she might be the one shielding him. Even with this power, he didn't know whether he could win against Anna or not. Though, he would probably become stronger than her

lot with Anna. That

solved rationally. Sometimes, he just had to drop everything and do what

I caused you any inconveniences like acting as enemies or other things… If you're tired of it, then I

and raised her head. She had a hard time saying everything and ended up taking a

of Anna's outburst when they were inside the previous Ardagan's mansion. At that time, Anna was tired because everything she did was

and finally said, "I'm sorry. In the past, you've never wanted me to say it, and the longer I wait, the harder it becomes for me to say it. But… sorry… I apologize for all my actions in the past. I had ordered the execution of your parents and the downfall of your families. Without me, your family would still be intact, and you wouldn't

I turned out to be forcing you to change. Yes, instead of

were more considerate. I simply used my strength to force you to be like

Noel's schemes, there were a lot of times he could kill

that thought. Of course, if one looked from her perspective, she also had the strength but chose not to

while biting

quite surprised that Anna would even say something like this. He froze, trying his

tired of acting like this. She wanted to end everything and become his ally like Dimitri and

eyes for a moment. "As you said earlier, my parents' execution tore me,

longer I know you, the more I realize that you are just

become strong? Would my family get bullied to

if we were equal in the past, would all this happen?" Noel scratched the back of

even go beyond this, and

Anna might be

nothing could change