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.

an urge to talk about everything, but

him was because that person was bound to become a burden. What

strength, experience, and talent were far

or not. Though, he would probably become stronger than her when they both reached the limit of absorption

lot with Anna. That

solved rationally. Sometimes, he just had to drop everything

this question… Have I caused you

a hard time saying everything and ended

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

Anna clenched her fists. Surprisingly, she lowered her head all of a sudden 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.

asking for forgiveness, I turned out to be forcing you to change. Yes, instead of taking

that you were more considerate. I

her previous life. With Noel's schemes, there were a lot of times he could kill her. Yet, he didn't

other hand, the current Noel didn't have the strength and was forced to abandon that thought. Of course, if one looked from her perspective, she also had the strength but chose not

closer to Noel while biting her lips. "I am sorry

surprised that Anna would even say something like this.

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

that I have put a big burden on your shoulders." Noel closed his eyes for a moment. "As you said earlier, my parents' execution tore me, and my exile broke me apart. When you

you are just a human. Both of us have made a

pushed aside my laziness from the beginning and worked hard to become strong?

all this happen?" Noel scratched the back of his head. "How do I say this… would there be a need for forgiveness if things went

His family might even go beyond this, and his father wouldn't have to create this scheme. In fact, he could

that time, he and Anna might be best friends or

nothing could