Princess Inoha's fingers remained firmly against Kinsley's face.
Her eyes were cold.
Her smile had disappeared completely.
"Why did you attack him?"
Kinsley could barely breathe.
"Who are you to attack my man whom I love?"
"Princess Inoha..."
Bereshith immediately stepped forward.
His voice was calm, but there was enough firmness in it to make Inoha stop.
"Please stop scaring Lady Kinsley."
Inoha slowly turned her head toward him.
Bereshith continued with a gentle expression.
"She didn't know me earlier. Now she does. All things have been forgiven."
He paused for a moment before smiling awkwardly.
"Besides, her punch didn't hurt me much."
He gave a small laugh.
"So everything was okay. Hehehe."
Inoha remained silent.
For several seconds, she simply listening at Bereshith from behind.
Then she released Kinsley's face.
Kinsley immediately stepped backward and quietly touched her own cheeks.
Inoha lowered her head.
Without saying another word, she walked toward Bereshith.
She approached the bed where he was sitting and quietly sat beside him.
Bereshith looked at her.
"Princess?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she slowly lay herself down across the bed.
Then she rested her head directly on Bereshith's lap.
Bereshith froze.
His eyes widened.
"...Your Highness?"
Inoha closed her eyes comfortably.
"I'll let it slide."
Her voice suddenly became soft and girlish.
"But in exchange... pat my head, please."
Bereshith stared at her.
For a moment, he wasn't sure whether he had heard her correctly.
"Your Highness..."
He looked around the infirmary.
"This is not how a royal should act toward a mere adopted son of a noble family."
Inoha puffed her cheeks.
"Who cares about etiquette and everything?"
She crossed her arms while keeping her head on his lap.
"Besides, you must call me Inoha from now on. Drop the 'Princess' and 'Your Highness' title!"
Bereshith blinked.
"But—"
"I am calling you by your name, aren't I?"
Inoha opened one eye and looked at him.
"You must do the same."
Then she slowly pointed toward Kinsley.
"If you don't..."
Kinsley's entire body stiffened.
"I'll punish that girl for hurting you."
Kinsley shivered.
A cold sensation ran down her spine.
Bereshith looked at Inoha with an awkward expression.
"Princess Inoha, stop joking around."
"I am not joking around!"
Her cheeks puffed out again.
Bereshith stared at her.
Inoha stared back.
Neither moved.
Eventually, Bereshith sighed.
"Alright, Inoha, if you say so..."
He slowly raised his hand.
Then—
Pat.
His palm gently touched the top of her head.
Inoha's expression immediately softened.
Pat.
Pat.
Pat.
Bereshith continued gently patting her head.
The terrifying atmosphere that had filled the infirmary only moments ago completely disappeared.
Inoha's eyes slowly closed.
Her body relaxed.
She looked almost like a cat enjoying the attention of its owner.
"Mmm..."
She gave a small, satisfied sound.
Bereshith couldn't help but smile.
"You really are strange, Inoha."
She didn't answer.
She simply moved her head slightly against his lap and continued enjoying the gentle pats.
Meanwhile...
Kinsley remained completely frozen on the opposite bed.
She stared at Inoha.
Then at Bereshith.
Then back at Inoha.
Her expression was one of absolute disbelief.
"Is this really the same person?"
Kinsley swallowed nervously.
Bereshith eventually noticed her expression.
He stopped patting Inoha for a moment and looked toward her.
"Lady Kinsley, are you alright?"
Kinsley flinched.
"Y-yeah..."
She quickly straightened herself.
"I am okay."
She lowered her head.
"Thank you for sparing me, Princess..."
Bereshith smiled awkwardly.
"It's alright, Lady Kinsley."
He glanced toward Inoha, who was still comfortably resting on his lap.
"Don't take Princess Inoha's words seriously. She's just joking around."
Kinsley stared at him.
"...Of course."
She forced a smile.
But inside her mind, a completely different thought was screaming.
"Does he really not know?"
"Or is he simply pretending not to know?"
Kinsley lowered her eyes.
She knew exactly who Princess Inoha was.
Everyone in noble society knew.
And everyone in Sol Academy knew.
Princess Inoha was one of the Five-Suns.
But among the students and nobles, she had another name.
A name spoken with both admiration and fear.
"The Desert Thorn."
Kinsley remembered what happened during her visit to the academy the previous year.
It had been during a duel.
A young man, the son of a marquis, had spread false rumors about Princess Inoha.
At first, Inoha had confronted him privately.
She had given him a warning.
A simple warning.
Kinsley remembered hearing about it from her elder brother.
The young man had apparently laughed at her.
He thought she was bluffing.
He thought the princess would never actually do anything.
He had been wrong.
Kinsley remembered the story clearly.
Princess Inoha had punched him so hard that he nearly lost consciousness.
And after that...
The situation had escalated into a formal duel.
Kinsley had not witnessed every moment herself, but she had heard enough afterward.
Princess Inoha had nearly killed him.
If Prince Rayryn, Lady Levanah, and Lady Lexy hadn't intervened, the consequences could have been far worse.
At the time, Kinsley hadn't understood why Inoha had become so furious.
She had only learned the truth later.
Her elder brother had explained everything.
The boy had been spreading a rumor that Princess Inoha and he were secretly in love with one another.
It had been completely false.
Inoha had confronted him.
She had warned him to stop.
He had laughed.
And then she had made certain he understood that her warning had never been a joke.
Kinsley's gaze slowly returned to the princess currently lying peacefully on Bereshith's lap.
Inoha's eyes were closed.
Her face was relaxed.
A faint smile rested on her lips as Bereshith continued gently patting her head.
She looked harmless.
Cute, even.
Almost completely different from the woman Kinsley had heard about and witnessed.
Kinsley's forehead began to sweat.
"Is this the same person?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"The same Princess Inoha who gives one warning..."
"...and then actually punish someone who refuses to listen?"
Kinsley looked at Bereshith.
He was completely relaxed.
He seemed genuinely unaware of the reputation standing beside him.
Or perhaps...
He simply didn't care.
Kinsley swallowed.
"The Desert Thorn..."
She looked at Inoha again.
The princess suddenly opened one eye.
Kinsley froze.
Inoha smiled sweetly.
Kinsley's spine immediately stiffened.
Then Inoha closed her eye again and returned to enjoying the gentle pats.
Kinsley slowly looked away.
"...Yes."
"Definitely the Desert Thorn."
And somehow...
Bereshith was the only person in the entire academy who seemed capable of treating her like an ordinary girl.
Kinsley quietly lowered her head.
For the first time since entering Sol Academy, she began to understand something.
The rumors surrounding Bereshith were not exaggerated.
There was a reason people like Prince Rayryn, Princess Alesh, Princess Inoha, Levanah, Lexy, Cyse, and Cyte gathered around him.
And there was a reason her father had warned her two years ago.
She had simply been too arrogant to understand it.
Kinsley glanced at Bereshith once more.
He was still gently patting Inoha's head.
His expression was peaceful.
Almost completely indifferent to the chaos surrounding him.
Kinsley sighed quietly.
"...What kind of person are you, Bereshith Redsun?"
Bereshith heard her.
He looked toward her with a puzzled expression.
"Did you say something?"
Kinsley immediately shook her head.
"No."
She looked away.
"Nothing."
Bereshith tilted his head.
"Alright."
He returned his attention to Inoha.
The infirmary became quiet again.
Outside, the sounds of the academy continued.
Students were entering classrooms.
Teachers were beginning their duties.
And somewhere beyond those walls, the first day of a new school year was already moving forward.
As the ceremony had finally come to an end.
Students slowly began leaving the auditorium, their voices filling the academy corridors as they discussed the events of their first day.
But far from the crowd...
Footsteps echoed through the hallway.
At first, they were distant.
Then they became louder.
Faster.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Someone was running.
"Where is he?!"
Levanah's voice echoed through the corridor.
"I don't know!"
Lexy answered breathlessly.
"You said he was in the infirmary!"
"I was told he was here!"
"Then why aren't we there yet?!"
"Because you keep running in the wrong direction!"
"You're the one who told me to turn!"
"I told you to turn at the second corridor!"
"How was I supposed to know which one was the second?!"
Their argument continued as they rushed through the hallway.
A few students passing by moved out of their way.
Eventually, the two girls reached the infirmary.
Both stopped at the entrance.
They were completely out of breath.
Levanah placed both hands on her knees, desperately trying to catch her breath.
"Haa..."
"Haa..."
"Finally..."
Lexy leaned against the wall.
"I..."
"Haa..."
"I can't..."
"Haa..."
"Feel my legs anymore..."
Levanah slowly lifted her head.
"Forget your legs."
"We need to find Bereshith."
Then both girls looked through the open doorway.
They froze.
The infirmary door had already been broken apart earlier.
There was no longer anything separating the room from the hallway.
And inside...
Bereshith was sitting on one of the beds.
Princess Inoha was resting comfortably on his lap.
Her arms were wrapped tightly around his waist.
Her face was buried against his stomach.
Bereshith's right hand rested gently on top of her head.
He looked completely exhausted.
Levanah stared.
Lexy stared.
Neither spoke.
For several seconds...
The infirmary was completely silent.
Then—
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
Levanah's scream echoed down the corridor.
Bereshith flinched.
Inoha didn't.
She simply hugged Bereshith tighter.
"Mm..."
She made a soft, satisfied sound.
Lexy pointed toward her.
"YOU!"
Inoha ignored her.
"GET OFF HIM!"
Nothing.
"Inoha!"
Still nothing.
Levanah stormed into the infirmary.
"You shameless desert witch!"
Inoha simply buried her face deeper into Bereshith's stomach.
"Mm..."
Bereshith looked down at her.
"Inoha..."
She didn't respond.
"Inoha, Levanah and Lexy are here."
"I know."
"Then why aren't you moving?"
"Because I'm comfortable."
Levanah's face immediately turned red in rage.
"COMFORTABLE?!"
She pointed at Inoha.
"You're lying on his lap!"
"Yes."
"You're hugging him!"
"Yes."
"You're practically using him as a pillow!"
"Yes."
"And you're not even ashamed?!"
Inoha lifted her head slightly.
"Why should I be?"
Levanah nearly lost her mind.
"You shameless horny princess!"
Lexy immediately joined her.
"You damn desert witch!"
Inoha calmly looked at both of them.
Then...
She lowered her head again and buried herself on Bereshith's stomach.
Ignoring them completely.
Her arms tightened around Bereshith.
Lexy's eye twitched.
"She's ignoring us."
Levanah clenched her fists.
"She's doing it on purpose."
Inoha smiled.
"Perhaps."
"YOU!"
Levanah marched toward the bed and grab's Inoha's arm that wrap around Bereshith.
"Get away from him!"
"No."
"Let go of him!"
"No."
"Move your head!"
"No."
"Stop hugging him!"
"No."
"STOP SAYING NO!"
"No."
Lexy grabbed Inoha's body and tried to pull her off.
"She's doing this just to piss us off."
Bereshith sighed.
"I think that's exactly what she's doing."
Inoha giggled softly.
"Maybe."
Levanah pointed at Bereshith.
"And you're just going to let her do this?!"
Bereshith looked at her helplessly.
"I tried to stop her."
"And?" Levanah replied annoyingly.
"She refused."
"Then try harder!"
Bereshith looked down at Inoha.
"Inoha."
"Hm?"
"Please sit properly."
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Your Highness..."
"Inoha."
Bereshith sighed.
"Inoha."
She smiled without moving.
"No."
Levanah's face twitched.
"Move!"
"No, you move!"
Inoha watched them for a moment.
Then she slowly wrapped both arms around Bereshith again.
She pulled herself closer.
Her cheek rested against his stomach.
A satisfied smile appeared on her face.
"He's mine."
Both girls immediately turned toward her.
"HE IS NOT YOURS!"
Inoha simply closed her eyes.
"I disagree."
Levanah at her furiously.
"You spoiled little—"
From the peak of argument, Bereshith spoke to Levanah to calm her down.
"Levanah, Please calm down."
Bereshith taps her shoulder.
"Why?!"
"She's a princess." Bereshith awkwardly replied in his soft yet calm voice.
"I don't care!" Said By Levanah in furious!
"She is stealing you away from me!"
Inoha opened one eye.
"I am not stealing him."
She paused.
"I am simply keeping him."
"THAT'S WORSE!"
The argument grew louder.
Bereshith looked around the room and gave up.
He had no idea how things had escalated so quickly.
Just moments ago, the infirmary had been relatively peaceful.
Now...
Three girls were arguing over him.
One was lying on his lap.
Two were threatening and trying to drag her away.
And somehow...
Nobody seemed to remember that there was another person in the room.
Kinsley sat silently on the opposite bed.
She watched the chaos with wide eyes.
She slowly raised her hand.
"Um..."
Nobody noticed.
She lowered it.
"...Never mind."
The commotion continued.
Then...
Calm footsteps approached from the corridor.
Unlike Levanah and Lexy, these footsteps were slow and graceful.
Cyte appeared at the open entrance.
Cyse followed beside him.
Both Men stood in front of the open entrance.
They looked inside.
Inoha was still resting on Bereshith's lap.
Levanah and Lexy were arguing with her.
Bereshith looked like he desperately wanted to disappear.
Kinsley sat silently in the corner.
Cyte closed his eyes.
he sighed.
"Of course."
Cyse sighed as well.
"I expected this."
Levanah immediately turned toward them.
"Cyte! Help us!"
Lexy pointed toward Inoha.
"Get her off Bereshith!"
Cyte stared at Inoha.
Then at Bereshith.
Then at the two girls.
"No."
Levanah's mouth fell open.
"What?!"
Cyte calmly walked into the infirmary.
"I am not touching that! I refuse to involve myself."
"But—"
"I don't care!"
Cyse nodded.
"I agree."
"You're supposed to help us!"
"We are your friends."
Cyse paused.
"But we are not suicidal."
Lexy fell silent.
Levanah slowly nodded.
"...cowards."
Inoha smiled triumphantly.
"See?"
Levanah glared at her.
"Don't look so pleased with yourself!"
Inoha simply closed her eyes again.
Bereshith sighed.
"This is exhausting."
A few moments later...
Another presence appeared at the open doorway.
This time, everyone immediately recognized him.
Prince Rayryn stepped into the infirmary.
He looked around.
His gaze landed on Bereshith.
Then Inoha.
Then Levanah and Lexy.
Then Cyte and Cyse.
Finally...
His eyes landed on Kinsley.
His expression became increasingly confused.
He crossed his arms.
"Really?"
Bereshith looked toward him.
Rayryn sighed.
"First day..."
His eyes narrowed.
"...and you skipped the ceremony which I told you not to?"
Bereshith gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry, Rayryn."
He scratched his cheek.
"Incident happened. Hehehe."
Rayryn's eye twitched.
"What kind of incident?"
His voice became noticeably more annoyed.
"What kind of incident happened that you had to skip the ceremony?"
Bereshith didn't answer.
Instead...
He simply raised his hand.
And pointed toward the opposite bed.
Everyone followed his finger.
Levanah turned.
Lexy turned.
Cyte turned.
Cyse turned.
Inoha finally lifted her head.
Rayryn stared.
And there...
Sitting quietly on the bed...
Was Kinsley.
The same girl who had been in the infirmary since before the entire commotion began.
The same girl everyone had somehow completely ignored.
Kinsley slowly raised one hand.
She gave everyone an awkward smile.
"Hello~"
Silence.
Rayryn blinked.
"..."
Levanah stared.
"..."
Lexy stared.
"..."
Cyte stared.
"..."
Cyse stared.
Even Inoha looked at her as if she had only just remembered that another person existed in the room.
Kinsley's smile became increasingly nervous.
Bereshith calmly pointed toward her.
"It's because of her why I skipped."
Rayryn slowly turned toward Kinsley.
His expression changed.
He looked at her.
Then at Bereshith.
Then back at Kinsley.
"...I see."
Kinsley swallowed nervously.
For the first time since arriving at the infirmary...
Everyone's attention was finally on her.
And judging from Rayryn's expression...
She suddenly wished they had continued ignoring her.
Then...
Rayryn continued staring at the young woman sitting quietly on the infirmary bed.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then his expression changed.
The confusion in his eyes disappeared.
His posture straightened.
"Kinsley Korlock..."
Kinsley's shoulders immediately stiffened.
Rayryn stepped forward.
"Lady Kinsley."
His voice was calm and respectful.
"It has been some time."
Kinsley slowly stood from the bed.
She immediately lowered her head.
"Your Highness, Prince Rayryn."
Her voice was nervous.
"I apologize for not greeting you properly earlier."
Rayryn gave her a small, polite smile.
"There is no need to apologize."
He placed one hand against his chest and gave her a formal nod.
"It is good to see you again, Lady Kinsley."
Kinsley returned the gesture.
"It is an honour to see you again, Your Highness."
The atmosphere inside the infirmary changed instantly.
The playful shouting from moments ago disappeared.
Levanah and Lexy stopped arguing.
Inoha slowly sat upright on Bereshith's lap.
Cyte and Cyse became silent.
Even Bereshith's relaxed expression disappeared.
The room suddenly felt heavier.
Rayryn looked toward Bereshith.
"Now..."
His voice was quiet.
"But I believe there is something we need to discuss."
Bereshith smiled awkwardly.
"Ah..."
Rayryn's eyes narrowed.
"Why did you skip the ceremony?"
Bereshith scratched his cheek.
"I already told you."
"An incident happened."
Rayryn stared at him.
"I am asking what incident."
Levanah crossed her arms.
"Yes. We heard you were sent to the infirmary."
Lexy nodded.
"And we found you here with a princess sleeping on your lap."
Inoha smiled innocently.
Bereshith sighed.
"That part isn't important."
"It is absolutely important!"
Levanah snapped.
Inoha simply smiled.
Rayryn raised one hand.
"Enough."
His voice wasn't loud.
But it was enough.
Everyone immediately became quiet.
Rayryn looked at Kinsley.
"Lady Kinsley."
Kinsley swallowed.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"I would like you to explain."
Kinsley froze.
"Explain..."
She looked around.
Everyone was staring at her now.
Levanah.
Lexy.
Cyte.
Cyse.
Inoha.
Bereshith.
And finally, Prince Rayryn.
Kinsley nervously clasped her hands together.
"I..."
She took a deep breath.
"I was the one who caused the incident."
Bereshith remained silent.
Kinsley continued.
"When I first saw Sir Bereshith this morning, I..."
She looked down.
"I confronted him."
Lexy raised an eyebrow.
"You confronted him?"
Kinsley nodded awkwardly.
"Yes."
Levanah narrowed her eyes.
"What did you do?"
Kinsley hesitated.
"I..."
She looked toward Bereshith.
"I attacked him."
Silence.
Levanah's eyes widened.
"You attacked him?!"
Kinsley quickly nodded.
"Yes."
Lexy stared at her.
"Why?!"
Kinsley took another breath.
"Because I didn't know who he was."
She looked toward Bereshith.
"I thought he was simply some arrogant noble who had somehow managed to stand beside the Five-Suns."
Bereshith scratched his cheek.
"That's what she said."
Kinsley continued.
"After that I demanded that he introduce himself."
"I became angry when he ignored me."
"And..."
She lowered her head.
"I tried to punched him, again."
Levanah's expression became incredulous.
"You punched Bereshith?"
"Yes, I tried to..."
"And so what happened after that? Did he hit you back?" Asked by Cyse whom also curious.
Kinsley nodded.
"Yes, he struck me, after he dodge my punch."
She touched her jaw.
"Then I lost consciousness."
Lexy blinked.
"Wait..."
"You mean..."
Bereshith calmly raised his hand.
"I caught her before she hit the floor."
Kinsley nodded.
"He carried me here."
Rayryn looked at Bereshith.
"And you stayed?"
Bereshith nodded.
"I couldn't leave her here alone."
Rayryn's expression softened slightly.
Kinsley continued.
"He could have left."
"But he didn't."
"He stayed beside me."
She looked down.
"Even though I attacked him."
Rayryn folded his arms and confused thus he looked at Bereshith.
"I understand now... all things happens because of her, then how did you discover her identity?"
Bereshith answered calmly.
"I remembered the Korlock family."
He looked toward Kinsley.
"Your father has three children."
Kinsley looked surprised.
"The eldest is Karl."
"The second is Kyesec."
"And the youngest is Kinsley... Which is girl, according the records which I remember from Lady Maria's lesson."
Bereshith smiled.
"There was no third son named Kriska."
Kinsley's face became embarrassed.
"That..."
She looked away.
"That was my disguise."
Levanah suddenly looked at her clothing.
"Wait."
She pointed toward Kinsley's uniform.
"Why are you wearing a boy's uniform?"
Lexy looked at Kinsley as well.
"That's what I've been wondering, too!"
She gestured toward Kinsley's clothes.
"Why are you dressed like a male student?"
Kinsley hesitated.
Then she slowly exhaled.
"Because..."
She looked at her hands.
"I wanted to prove something."
Levanah tilted her head.
"Prove what?"
Kinsley looked toward them.
"That I can become a knight."
The room became quiet again.
Kinsley continued.
"I have two older brothers."
"Karl and Kyesec."
"Both of them are respected knights."
"They are strong."
"They are skilled."
"They have fought monsters, criminals, and even participated in military campaigns."
She clenched her hands.
"Whenever people talked about my family..."
"They praised my brothers and father."
"They talked about their swordsmanship."
"Their courage."
"Their achievements."
"But when they talked about me..."
"They only talked about how I was the daughter of Archduke Korlock."
Her voice became quieter.
"I became tired of it."
"I wanted to prove that I could stand beside my brothers."
"I wanted to show my father that I wasn't helpless."
"I wanted to become a knight."
She looked toward her uniform.
"So I disguised myself as a man."
"I enrolled in the men's knight course."
"I wanted to take the same training as my brothers."
Levanah's expression softened slightly.
"So that's why..."
Kinsley nodded in determination.
"Yes."
Lexy crossed her arms.
"But why hide it from everyone?"
"Because if my father knew..."
Kinsley smiled bitterly.
"He would stop me."
She looked down.
"He already told me that becoming a knight wasn't necessary for me."
"He wanted me to learn court etiquette."
"Attend social gatherings."
"Prepare myself for marriage."
"But I don't want that."
Her voice became firmer.
"I want to hold a sword."
"I want to protect people."
"I want to earn my own honour."
For a moment...
Nobody spoke.
Then Cyte broke the silence.
"That is impossible."
Kinsley's expression froze.
Cyte looked directly at her.
Her face was completely serious.
"Not because you are incapable of learning how to use a sword."
"Not because women cannot fight."
"But because you don't understand what you have chosen."
Kinsley swallowed.
Cyte continued.
"The men's knight course is not designed to accommodate you."
"The physical training is different."
"The endurance requirements are different."
"The sparring is brutal."
"You will train alongside men who have spent years conditioning their bodies."
"You will be expected to withstand injuries."
"Exhaustion."
"Pain."
"Fear."
"Failure."
"And you will not receive special treatment simply because you are a woman."
Kinsley's eyes began to tremble.
Cyte didn't stop.
"If you enter that course believing determination alone is enough..."
"You won't survive."
Kinsley's lips parted.
Cyte's voice remained cold.
"You may believe that becoming a knight is about holding a sword."
"It isn't."
"It is about discipline."
"Endurance."
"Obedience."
"Responsibility."
"And the willingness to continue when your body is begging you to stop."
Kinsley looked down.
Cyte continued.
"You said you want to prove yourself."
"Then understand this."
"The course doesn't care about your dreams."
"It doesn't care about your family."
"It doesn't care about your pride."
"If you cannot keep up..."
"You will fall behind."
"If you cannot endure..."
"You will break."
"And if you let your emotions control you..."
"You will die."
The words struck Kinsley harder than any punch.
Bereshith frowned.
"Cyte..."
He gently raised one hand.
"You don't have to crush her dream like that."
Cyte turned toward him and gaze intensely.
"I am not crushing her dream!"
"I'm telling her the truth!"
Bereshith sighed.
"Still..."
Cyte's expression remained firm.
"Everything I said is true."
Bereshith became silent.
After a few seconds...
He nodded.
"...You're right."
Kinsley's eyes began filling with tears.
She clenched her fists.
"I..."
Her voice trembled.
"I understand."
Cyte looked at her.
"Then understand completely."
Kinsley shook her head.
Tears finally rolled down her cheeks.
"I said I understand! You don't have to tell me what I wanted to do! You're not my Dad!"
Her voice cracked.
Then she turned around.
And ran.
"Kinsley!"
Bereshith immediately stood.
He was about to took a step toward the door.
But Cyte reached out and stopped him.
"Bereshith, stop."
Bereshith looked at her.
"Cyte."
"Let her go." Cyte response in firm and cold.
"But she's crying."
Cyte's expression remained cold.
"If she wanted to survive in men's knight course, she must not let her emotions take over her."
Bereshith frowned.
Cyte continued.
"Emotions have no part in knight duty."
"You only need duty."
"Courage."
"And honour."
She looked toward the doorway where Kinsley had disappeared.
"Until she learns that..."
"She won't survive the first day of being a knight."
Bereshith remained silent.
Cyse slowly nodded.
"Cyte is right."
Everyone looked toward her.
Cyse continued calmly.
"Even in the Magic Tower, I had to endure everything."
"I had to prove myself before they would respect me."
She looked toward the doorway.
"Nobody gave me respect simply because I wanted it."
"I earned it."
Bereshith sighed.
He lowered his head.
"I understand."
Rayryn had remained silent throughout the entire exchange.
Now...
He finally spoke.
His voice was cold.
Yet gentle.
"Bereshith."
Bereshith looked toward him.
Rayryn's expression was unusually serious.
"I know her brothers."
"Karl and Kyesec are both respected knights."
"They are highly skilled."
"They have earned their reputation through years of training."
Bereshith nodded.
Rayryn continued.
"And recently..."
He paused.
"I heard something from my sister."
"From Royal Highness Verleen?" Said by Bereshith
Rayryn response respectfully
"Yes."
He looked back toward Bereshith.
"At the tea party she held recently..."
"Verleen told me that Lady Kinsley had vowed she would become a knight after she punched one of the daughters of a baron."
He looked directly at Bereshith.
"Bereshith."
His voice became softer.
"Since both of you are attending the same courses and sections..."
He paused.
"Please guide her."
Bereshith blinked.
"Me?"
Rayryn nodded.
"Yes."
He lowered his head slightly.
"She is still young."
"But her father and brothers entrusted me with protecting her identity."
Bereshith's expression became serious.
Rayryn continued.
"True... I pulled some strings behind the academy's rules so that she could live as a man and attend the academy as one."
"But I cannot have her relying on one of my people..."
He paused.
"...when I don't know whether they are trustworthy or not."
Rayryn looked directly into Bereshith's eyes.
"So please..."
"Protect her."
The room became quiet.
Bereshith stared at Rayryn for a moment.
Then...
His usual smile returned.
He nodded.
"I understand, Rayryn."
He placed one hand behind his head.
"Leave it to me!"
Then he laughed.
"Hehehe!"
It was a small laugh.
A genuine one.
The tension in the room loosened slightly.
Rayryn sighed.
"Somehow..."
He shook his head.
"I already regret asking."
Bereshith laughed again.
"Hehehe!"
And somewhere beyond the infirmary...
Kinsley's footsteps continued echoing through the corridor.