The room fell silent.
The fire crackled softly in the background.
King Magnus stared at John for several moments without speaking.
His expression revealed neither anger nor disappointment.
Only curiosity.
Finally, the king spoke.
“May I ask why?”
John remained silent for a moment.
He had expected this question.
Magnus folded his arms.
“I am offering fresh water, military support, and a royal alliance between our kingdoms.”
The king’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Most princes would accept without hesitation.”
John slowly nodded.
“I understand that, Your Majesty.”
“Then why refuse?”
The question hung in the air.
John carefully chose his words.
He could not reveal the truth.
He could not explain that he had already lived through this moment once before.
Nor could he explain how the future had unfolded.
After a brief silence, he finally answered.
“A marriage should not begin as a political transaction.”
Magnus raised an eyebrow.
“That is a noble answer.”
John continued calmly.
“I know nothing about Princess Elizabeth.”
The king remained silent.
“I have never spoken to her.”
John looked directly at Magnus.
“And I believe it would be disrespectful to both of us if I agreed to such a marriage without even meeting her first.”
For several moments, Magnus simply observed him.
Then unexpectedly—
The king laughed.
A deep, genuine laugh.
“Hah!”
John remained calm.
Magnus shook his head.
“You are certainly different from most nobles.”
The king walked toward the window.
Outside, snow continued falling over the capital.
“Do you know what answer I expected?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“I expected excuses.”
Magnus looked back at him.
“Not honesty.”
John remained silent.
The king stood quietly for several moments before speaking again.
His gaze sharpened.
“If circumstances were different…”
He paused.
“If you knew my daughter personally…”
The king’s voice became serious.
“Would your answer remain the same?”
John froze for the briefest moment.
That question was far more dangerous than it appeared.
Because the truth was—
He didn’t know.
The future was already changing.
And unlike his previous life, he had never met Princess Elizabeth.
Before John could answer—
A knock sounded at the door.
One of the royal guards entered and bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
Magnus frowned slightly.
“What is it?”
“The princess has returned.”
The room became quiet.
Magnus nodded.
“Very well.”
The guard bowed and left.
John’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Princess Elizabeth had returned?
Magnus noticed his reaction.
A faint smile appeared on the king’s face.
“Interesting timing.”
The king slowly returned to his seat.
“Perhaps fate wishes to make this conversation more complicated.”
John said nothing.
But for the first time since entering the room—
He felt genuinely uncertain about what would happen next.
Meanwhile, in the palace training grounds…
Nick lowered his sword.
“Again.”
The young woman repeated the movement.
This time her balance remained steady.
Nick nodded approvingly.
“Better.”
A bright smile appeared on her face.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
The woman looked unexpectedly happy from such simple praise.
Nick couldn’t help noticing it.
Then she suddenly asked—
“Knight Nick…”
“Yes?”
“Do you think someone like me can truly become a knight?”
He remembered the frightened girl he had saved three years ago.
And compared to that memory—
The woman standing before him now seemed completely different.
“You can.”
Her eyes widened.
“But only if you’re willing to work harder than everyone else.”
The young woman smiled.
“I will.”
For a moment, Nick almost smiled back.
Almost.
Then he quickly turned away.
“Your footwork is still terrible.”
The young woman immediately groaned.
“That again?”
“Yes. Again.”
Before she could complain further, footsteps echoed through the courtyard.
Both of them turned.
A man wearing royal guard armor approached quickly.
The moment he saw Nick, he immediately bowed respectfully.
“Knight Nick.”
Nick nodded politely.
The guard then turned toward the young woman.
“My Lady, is everything alright?”
The young woman nodded.
“Yes.”
The guard visibly relaxed.
“Good.”
Then he lowered his head slightly.
“Your father has requested your presence.”
The young woman sighed softly.
“At this hour?”
“I’m afraid so, My Lady.”
She glanced toward Nick.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
“Thank you for teaching me tonight.”
Nick nodded.
“You have talent. Keep training.”
Her smile widened.
“I will.”
Then she took a few steps toward the guard before stopping.
Turning back toward Nick, she said:
“Let’s meet again next time.”
Before Nick could answer, she followed the guard toward the palace.
Nick watched them disappear into the darkness.
After they were gone, he quietly shook his head.
“Interesting girl.”
Then he picked up his sword and slowly made his way back toward the palace, unaware of who she truly was.