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.

urge to talk about everything, but the

reason why he never wanted someone to accompany him was because that person was bound to

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

he could win against Anna or not. Though, he would

lot with Anna. That

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

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

her head. She had a hard time saying everything

reminded him of Anna's outburst when they were inside the previous Ardagan's mansion. At that time,

say it. But…

selfish than I originally thought. Instead of asking for forgiveness, I turned out to

that I had been considerate, but it appeared that you were more considerate. I simply used my strength to force you to

had happened in her previous life. With Noel's schemes, there were a lot of times he could kill her. Yet, he didn't do it. To put it simply, he

was forced to abandon that thought. Of course, if one looked from her perspective, she also had the strength but chose not to kill him. But the problem came from her, not the other way around. Ultimately, it was her

closer to Noel while biting her lips. "I am

was quite surprised that Anna would even say something like this. He froze, trying his best to come up with

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

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 came to the

I know you, the more I realize that you are just a human. Both of us

laziness from the beginning and worked hard to become strong? Would my family

our situation is different… if we were equal in the past, would all this happen?" Noel scratched the back of his head. "How do I say this… would there be a need for forgiveness

might even go beyond this, and his father wouldn't have to create this scheme. In fact, he could openly form a connection with his best

that time, he and Anna might be best

could change