However, Maria's desire to participate in the Knight competition was originally within Noah's expectations.
After all, the Nearl family had not had a long-term Knight since Margaret left, so the title of Knight Family would thus be revoked.
Although this rule was somewhat bizarre, it was also a tactic used by the Commercial Federation to pressure the Nearl family.
If Manner could take on the responsibility of a long-term Knight, it wouldn't matter, but Manner was clearly too lazy to deal with the Knight Association's swarm of insects now.
He hadn't wielded that sword for who knows how long and had become a weary company slave.
Even with her mediation, rules were rules; the only way for the Nearl family to retain its Knight title now was probably for Maria to take over.
It was truly unbelievable; this was the Nearl family—Cyril Nearl, a descendant of a figure who broke the Ursus army in the Battle of Kazimierz and was considered the soul of the Kazimierz military, was now on the verge of losing his Knight title.
However, in today's Kazimierz, such things seemed to be commonplace.
But letting Maria participate in the Knight competition… the Knight Association would definitely agree to such a thing, after all, what they wanted was popularity, popularity, and more popularity.
It's estimated that when the application form is submitted, the next day Noah will see headlines like 'Shining Knight Returns', 'New Star of the Nearl family', 'Pegasus Reappears', and so on.
As the sister of Shining Knight, Maria Nearl's commercial value as a Knight was quite high; one should know that even now, the Shining Knight's rare cards could be speculated to sky-high prices.
Although the price of Kazimierz Knight Competition collectible cards wasn't a good representation of Miss Shining Knight's value, it could somewhat demonstrate that Margaret's commercial value was maximized.
After all, she was such a handsome fellow… Noah's mind recalled Margaret's face when she could still see her.
Although she was young at the time, some qualities never change from childhood to adulthood.
That awe-inspiring aura, that sincere gaze that one could feel from the inside out just by being looked at.
It wouldn't be surprising if she had countless fangirls…
However, ever since she lost her sight, she never had the chance to see what Margaret looked like when she grew up, only able to imagine it through a few limited touches.
—
Back then, Margaret Lin-guang, following her parents, rushed past her to help her sister, Maria, who had accidentally fallen to the ground.
At that time, Noah only thought that this blonde girl indeed looked 'handsome', and she even initially thought the other person was a boy.
At that time, Noah stood behind Russell, and was introduced to Margaret by Russell.
Margaret Lin-guang, Nearl, this surname itself represented many things.
As the young lady of the Kielanlet, Noah's education from a young age included legends about the Nearl family: the golden Pegasus, the Knight of Knights, full of glory, like a second sun on the horizon.
However, in Noah's eyes at that time, her first impression of that overly handsome girl was somewhat negative.
There was no other reason; it was simply jealousy.
After all, the last long-term Knight of the Kielanlet at the time, Noah's grandfather, died young, and she had no one else to protect her very early on.
If it weren't for Ms. Luo Su's protection, she would have long been unable to hold on to the Kielanlet family business.
But Margaret at that time had both parents, a sister, a home, and the respect and praise of countless people.
Unlike her own gloomy self, she was like a small sun, while Noah at that time was like a wild weed by the roadside.
Jealousy was a natural thing—but for Margaret, jealousy was meaningless.
After all, she was a true genius, a meritorious Pegasus, a Knight among Knights.
She had the right to be arrogant and the confidence to be so, yet she never slighted others.
Perhaps it was good upbringing; in any case, unlike herself, the wild-grown young lady, after they met, they saw each other a few more times in social settings, but at best, they were nodding acquaintances.
However, in Margaret's eyes, she seemed to have unknowingly become her friend.
Noah Guillerette still doesn't remember what the situation was back then.
She suddenly received a letter from Margaret, inviting her to go out of the city to see flowers.
She looked at the letter, hesitated repeatedly, but still agreed to go.
She actually didn't particularly like looking at flowers, nor did she particularly like Margaret, but considering the relationship between the Kielanlet and the Nearl family, she had to go.
She specially dressed herself up, choosing the clothes she was most reluctant to wear, and left home dressed like a little princess.
When she met Margaret at the agreed location, she was already a head taller than her.
This girl had developed much faster than her, and with her golden hair, she stood ramrod straight in front of the Knight statue in the Great Knight Territory.
Under the sunlight, she even appeared more upright than the Knight statue itself.
Noah instinctively averted her gaze, lest she be burned by her radiance.
She somewhat regretted agreeing to go out together.
She also didn't know why this girl would invite her; if she wanted to… no, even people begging her to go out of the city to see flowers with her could fill this street, right?
She seemed to notice Noah, who was holding an umbrella, and turned her head to smile.
While Noah was momentarily stunned, she appeared in front of her, taking the girl's hand, and seemed to have said something… but Noah at the time wasn't listening carefully, nor did she have the mind to listen.
She only focused on agreeing and then averted her gaze, not wanting to look at Margaret for another second.
However, thinking about it later, she still regretted it quite a bit. If only she had looked a few more times, even if her eyes were scorched, it wouldn't have mattered.
Two little girls, just like that, walked out of the city, without guards, and without anyone following to protect them.
At that time, Margaret did not inform her family, so the Nearl family naturally could not have known about Margaret's reckless actions, and Noah did not bring anyone out either, as it was an appointment, and bringing guards would have been impolite.
At that time, they still thought it was just a casual agreement—
She thought so until Margaret asked her that question.
"Why did you suddenly invite me out of the city to see the flowers?"
"...?"
Noah suddenly snapped out of her memories. The water was already cold… She was suddenly a bit dazed, and she didn't know if it was psychological, but her old, long-healed wounds began to ache faintly again.
If not for that accident, or rather, if not for that letter.
What would have become of her then?