It seems She has Become the First Love of the Impenetrable, Iron-Hearted Male Protagonist

“You’re acting surprised. You’ve had plenty of confessions before.”

“Oh, right. I guess I have.”

“Of course, you turned them all down.”

Ian confessing to Rosevelia? That couldn’t be right… could it?
Then again, if I think back to the early parts of the original story, Ian wasn’t a cold-hearted person from the very start.

‘I have no intention of running away. Even if it’s a rejection, I want a proper answer. Avoidance like this isn’t like you, Senior.’

The more I entertained the idea that Ian might have confessed, the more plausible it seemed.

‘That was a sensation I’d never felt before.’

‘It was fleeting, but the moment I synced with you, I couldn’t forget it.’

This particular part was… troubling, to say the least. Based on Ian’s words alone, it sounded like Rosevelia had given him some kind of opening.

Synced? What does he mean by that?

Rosevelia had never been romantically interested in anyone. Sure, she’d received her fair share of confessions, as Edwin pointed out, but she’d never reciprocated. For her, it was always the sword above all else.

“He seems like a decent guy. Maybe you should take it seriously this time? You’re getting to that age where you should think about marriage, you know.”

Rosevelia wasn’t even twenty yet. The reminder brought a rush of unpleasant memories from her previous life, where she’d constantly been pressured about marriage. It left a sour taste in her mouth.

‘You’re of marriageable age, aren’t you?’

The words Olivia had said at the mansion overlapped in her mind, and she felt her brow furrow unconsciously.

Wherever I go, it’s always about marriage. How exhausting.

“Edwin, maybe you should focus on your own love life.”

“I’m a fatalist, you know. Love isn’t something you can force—it happens on its own.”

“And if it never happens?”

“Then so be it. I’ll just wait for my fate to come to me.”

“Fine. Suit yourself.”

As I shrugged and turned to walk away, I suddenly stopped mid-step and looked up at Edwin.

Wait, when was that day again?

The day in the original story when the male lead, Ian, first meets the female lead, Daisy. That day was…

I carefully revisited the beginning of the original story.

[The festival had ended. A week later, the excitement finally began to fade.]

Yes, a week after the festival.

The Flower That Bloomed in Winter was a book I used to read whenever I wanted to cry. But the more I read it, the more I questioned Daisy’s love for Ian.

Daisy, whose frail health had kept her confined from a young age, met Ian—a sudden and extraordinary variable in her monotonous life. It was true that his presence brought vitality to her otherwise dull world.

But as I thought about it more deeply, I leaned toward the belief that Daisy didn’t truly love Ian.

If it had been Edwin, not Ian, who had saved Daisy, I was convinced she would have fallen for him instead.

Daisy seemed more captivated by the idea of herself loving someone than by Ian himself.

Having grown up hearing that she might die at any moment due to her poor health, Daisy likely needed something—anything—to cling to. When I realized that, Daisy became a figure of profound pity in my eyes.

If, on that day, it had been Edwin who saved Daisy instead of Ian…?

If my interpretation of the original story was correct…

Maybe Daisy and Edwin’s fates could be rewritten.

When I returned to the estate, I handed Emily over to Roy and headed straight for the main hall of the mansion.

I passed the bowing servants and was about to ascend the stairs when—

“Nuna, you’re back just now?”

“Sister!”

Standing before me were a young boy and a petite girl—Rosevelia’s younger half-siblings.

“Kaden, Vivian.”

Though Rosevelia rarely showed it outwardly, she adored her siblings.

How could she not? Kaden’s eyes sparkled every time he looked at her, and Vivian ran into her arms whenever they crossed paths.

“Sister, can I sleep with you tonight?”

“Vivian, don’t bother Nuna.”

“But I had a scary dream last night! Sister fights off all the bad monsters.”

The primary mission of the White Knights involved patrolling the Empire’s borders and hunting down demonic beasts. Vivian must have interpreted that as “fighting bad monsters.”

It made sense. At six years old, “demonic beasts” was probably too complicated a concept.

I glanced down at Vivian, who was clinging to my leg. Dressed in a light green dress, she looked like a tiny fairy. I felt my lips, which had been slightly tense, relax into a faint smile.

“Vivian, the only reason your dream scared you is because your heart is weak,” Kaden said with a sigh, his voice laced with exasperation.

Vivian’s eyes drooped, her expression turning crestfallen.

“B-but if I sleep with Sister, I won’t be scared at all…”

“Don’t bother Nuna with something so trivial, Vivian.”

As Vivian’s face began to crumple, on the verge of tears, I raised a hand to stop Kaden.

“Kaden, that’s enough. You’re going to make her cry.”

Vivian, now hiding behind me, peeked out with a small, hopeful voice.

“Will you sleep with me, Sister?”

“That’s not such a hard request. But only if you can get Mother’s permission.”

“That… I don’t think I can do.”

“If you can’t, then give it up, Vivian. Asking for permission is your responsibility,” Kaden said firmly.

Seeing Vivian deflate, I gently patted her head before heading to my room.

Just as I reached the second floor, Anne, who had been nearby, spotted me and quickly followed.

“Miss, you’ve been to the knight order, haven’t you?”

Anne looked like she was about to launch into a lecture, so I hurried to offer an explanation.

“I went, but I didn’t do anything strenuous. I just went to meet someone briefly.”

“Really? You’re saying you didn’t train or spar at all?”

“Look, my clothes are perfectly clean.”

Anne scrutinized my outfit carefully before letting out a relieved sigh.

“In that case, go wash up. I’ve already prepared warm water for your bath.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as I stepped into my room, Anne handed me a light indoor robe. I headed straight to the bathroom and sank into the warm water. By the time I emerged, feeling physically relaxed, Anne was waiting to dry my damp hair.

My body felt refreshed, but my mind remained cluttered, and I couldn’t stop sighing.

“Shall I bring you some dessert, Miss?” Anne offered.

“No, it’s fine. I’m going to sleep early tonight. You can leave now.”

“Understood. Please rest well, Miss.”

Vivian must not have managed to get Olivia’s permission.

I glanced at the firmly shut door, my thoughts turning to Rosevelia’s father, Hermann.

I’d encountered Kaden, Vivian, and even Olivia, but Hermann was nowhere to be seen.

“He really is indifferent, isn’t he, even to his own daughter.”

Then again, Rosevelia didn’t share much of a bond with Hermann. She had no particular attachment to this household, either.

She could have lived at the knight order barracks instead, yet she chose to stay in the mansion where Olivia constantly schemed against her. Why?

It must have been because of Kaden and Vivian.

Rosevelia cared deeply for her younger siblings. Even though she was well aware that Olivia viewed her as a threat, she avoided provoking unnecessary conflicts.

Rather than engaging in a power struggle with her stepmother, Rosevelia chose to endure, prioritizing peace in the household.

She was a knight through and through—steadfast, dutiful, and far removed from the games of political intrigue.

Rosevelia was a person who took immense pride in being a knight—a truly admirable figure.

But if that’s who she was… then what happened to the real Rosevelia who once inhabited this body?

The thought struck me suddenly, and my breath caught in my throat.

Was this really okay?

“Rosevelia!”

I stopped in my tracks as hurried footsteps approached. It was Edwin running toward me.

“Ed?”

“Where’s your head at? I’ve been calling you for a while, and you didn’t even respond.”

“Oh, really? Sorry.”

Last night, I had a dream. I was certain I’d dreamed something, but I couldn’t remember it clearly.

‘You’re worrying unnecessarily.’

‘You resemble her, but you’re different. So just do what you want…’

It felt like I’d heard those words.

And the voice—it sounded strangely similar to the one I’d heard when the accident happened.

What on earth was it?

“How did it go with the recruit?”

“What do you mean?”

“You haven’t talked to him yet?”

“I’m planning to later.”

I pressed my fingers firmly against my temples to ease the throbbing pain.

“Don’t keep him hanging; just get it over with. Are you seriously considering it?” Edwin’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

I waved him off, as if to say it wasn’t worth discussing, and he grumbled, “You’re going to reject him anyway.”

“Oh, right. Can you free up some time for me in three days?”

“Three days? Why?”

“Don’t ask why. Just come with me to the square.”

“Is this a request or an order?”

“An order.”

Edwin shot me a look that practically screamed, You’ll regret it if you don’t come. Faced with his persistence, I relented with a shrug.

“Fine.”

“I’ll let you know the exact time later.”

“Wait—there goes the recruit.”

Edwin pointed toward the training grounds. I thought he was teasing, but when I looked, I saw that Ian really was there.

He’s right. Delaying won’t solve anything; better to get this over with now.

“Alright, I’m heading over.”

Just as I walked toward Ian, he seemed to notice me too and stopped in his tracks.

“Remember, reject him gently,” Edwin called after me, his voice brimming with mischief. “Don’t hurt his feelings.”

Leaving Edwin’s playful tone behind, I approached Ian.

Wait a second.

If Ian confessed to Rosevelia before the original story began, she must have rejected him, right?

But what if that wasn’t the end? What if Ian kept liking her?

When I read the original novel, I’d always found it odd how Ian persistently asked Rosevelia to become the commander of the knights, despite her repeated refusals.

Could it be that Rosevelia found Ian’s relentless advances so bothersome that she chose to flee to another country?

If that’s the case, this story might actually be about a man who, after being rejected countless times, seeks revenge on the woman who left him…

I quickly shook my head to dispel the thought.

No way. That can’t be it.

The original story was about Daisy’s bittersweet and beautiful unrequited love. There’s no way such a hidden layer could exist within the original plot.

“Good day, Senior,” Ian greeted, his eyes alight with energy. The glimmer of expectation in his gaze filled me with a creeping sense of guilt.

It’s okay to reject him, right?

“Um, Ian, I need to talk to you for a moment…”

“I’ll follow you.”

With many people bustling around us, I led him toward the quieter side of the fortress wall. Ian followed at a measured distance, maintaining a respectful gap.

Once we reached a spot where no one else was in sight, I took a short breath and turned to face him.

“Have you finally decided to give me an answer?” he asked, his tone calm but expectant.

“Well, uh… about that…”

“Please, speak freely.”

You say that, but your expression is so tense! How am I supposed to do this?

Swallowing the words I couldn’t bring myself to say aloud, I steadied my breath and began.

“I don’t know when you started feeling that way about me, but honestly, we haven’t known each other long enough for there to be a real reason. That’s why I can’t believe your feelings are all that…”

“Don’t dismiss my feelings as shallow. You don’t have to know someone for a long time to recognize their worth. The amount of time isn’t what matters.”

I looked up at Ian in silence. It felt like standing before a towering wave about to crash.

For a moment, I was caught in the depths of his gaze, but I quickly snapped out of it.

“Well, that may be true, but what I’m trying to say is… I’m really busy right now…”

“That’s fine. It doesn’t have to be now. I’m willing to wait until you have the time.”

He’s willing to wait? Anytime is fine?

Could Ian’s feelings for Rosevelia really be this deep?

“No, I mean… right now, and probably for a while, I don’t think I’ll have the capacity to be in a relationship with anyone.”

“…What?”

The confusion spreading across Ian’s face was clear. His brows furrowed tightly, as if he were silently asking me to explain what I just said. The icy tension in the air made my mind go completely blank.

“What…?”

“Senior, what are you talking about right now?”

“Well, I’m responding to your confession…”

Wait, is this not what he meant?

“Don’t tell me you’ve mistaken me for another recruit,” Ian said, his voice steady but tinged with disbelief.

“…What?”

Another recruit? Mistaken?

As I replayed Ian’s words in my head, realization hit me like a freight train, and I froze.

A quiet sigh escaped Ian, breaking the silence. His voice, now lower and laced with exasperation, echoed in my ears.

“I don’t know which recruit you’ve mistaken me for, but the request I made to you was for a sparring match.”