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Her slightly wavy, scarlet hair that fell to her shoulders shimmered under the sunlight streaming through the window.

Her large, clear black eyes sparkled as if she had found something amusing, and a refreshing smile rested on her lips.

Standing tall at well over 170 cm with slender limbs, she wore a uniform reminiscent of what knights from the past might have worn.

Gilbert swallowed a sigh that escaped without him realizing and recalled her name.

Camilla Alaker Tristitia.

She was the young lady of the Tristitia Count Family, one of the three great count families supporting the Empire.

The Tristitia Count Family was a renowned elite knight family that had always valued strict discipline. They had produced many knights known across the continent, and every Tristitia Count had served as the commander of the Royal Knights Brigade.

The current Tristitia Count was no exception. He too served as the commander of the Golden Lion Knights Brigade, a prestigious position within the Royal Knights, and was widely recognized as the youngest to hold such a title in the Empire’s history.

Perhaps influenced by the Tristitia Count, an unprecedented event occurred where the eldest, second, and third sons of the Count all joined the Golden Lion Knights Brigade, a rare feat even in the Empire’s long history. Yet, it seemed like no significant obstacle for the men of the Tristitia family.

And growing up surrounded by such remarkable individuals was Camilla Alaker Tristitia, who now stood before Gilbert. From a young age, she had wielded a sword before dolls and followed her brothers around. Though she hadn’t yet made a name for herself, she was the most talented in Tactical Combat among the Tristitia family.

In the Tactical Combat community, many users rated her talent as comparable to Seraphina’s. It was considered a basic strategy to recruit Camilla as a companion right after Seraphina.

Being the prized jewel of the Tristitia family, she had the added advantage of receiving support from the Count family. Considering that her father and brothers were the commander and members of the Royal Knights Brigade, it was self-explanatory.

Moreover, the Tristitia family’s loyalty to the Imperial Family meant they naturally received imperial support, adding another layer of advantage.

Gilbert himself had always strived to recruit Camilla as a companion in Tactical Combat when Seraphina wasn’t available.

However, the reason Gilbert sighed upon seeing her was simple. While it didn’t stand out much in the game, Camilla, having grown up with many brothers, had a mischievous streak. To be precise, she was a bit of a troublemaker.

As the youngest in the Count family, she was doted on and had a self-centered way of thinking, often acting on whims. In the game, she was a charming, lively character, but in reality, she was exhausting to deal with.

Initially, Gilbert had been pleased to meet Camilla while preparing for the commemorative event, but her antics had worn him down. Her unexpected pranks had landed him in awkward situations more than once.

Of course, she meant no harm and never did anything dangerous, but for Gilbert, who was on edge preparing for the Academy attack, she was not an ideal companion.

If they had successfully thwarted the Academy attack and met afterward, it might have been different, but in his current state of mind, her antics were hard to tolerate. Lately, he had been trying to avoid her, but this time, it seemed unavoidable.

“Camilla.”

“Fufufu! You’re finally here!”

Her cheerfulness was overwhelming.

Gilbert was at a loss for words as he looked at Camilla, brimming with joy. She seemed entirely focused on having the maid dress him in the outfit she had prepared. The Lion King’s outfit, the centerpiece of the parade, had been delayed largely due to her influence.

Originally, it should have been completed by now, but her insistence on perfecting the details had pushed the deadline to the day before. With no more time to spare, the completed outfit had to be worn for the rehearsal, but Gilbert felt uneasy.

It was purely a gut feeling—the kind that told him Camilla was up to something again.

“What’s going on this time?”

“Why do you look like that? As if I’m going to do something again!”

“Are you not?”

“Of course not!”

Her blatant declaration of mischief was typical Camilla.

Should he call her cheerful or just foolish?

Gilbert, his nerves on edge, reacted more sharply than usual.

But he soon sighed and shook his head. After all, Camilla was just a twenty-year-old cadet.

In this medieval-like world, twenty was considered quite mature, but to Gilbert, with his Korean sensibilities, she was still a kid.

Thinking of her as just a high school graduate made her immature behavior somewhat understandable. Considering Gilbert’s original age, she was like a much younger, mischievous sister.

Maybe even an uncle-like figure.

With that thought, Gilbert decided to let Camilla’s antics slide.

“Lady Camilla, I’ve brought the outfit.”

“Ooh! Perfect timing, Celine!”

Celine, who had somehow brought the outfit, stood beside Camilla with the neatly folded clothes in her hands.

Camilla proudly explained that they had scoured historical records of the Lion King’s era to create the most accurate design.

The outfit, indeed, had a vintage feel with its black base.

They had used the finest ceremonial fabric imported from Cottonpoly Territory, famous for its textiles, and commissioned a renowned designer from Novatis, who was leading the Empire’s fashion trends.

Chattering excitedly, Camilla unfolded the red cloak that came with the knight’s uniform. She had put the most effort into the cloak, as it was the symbol of the Lion King, embroidered with a golden lion.

The craftsmanship was impeccable, with every stitch reflecting the artisan’s dedication.

“How is it? Cool, right?”

“Not bad.”

Even to Gilbert, the knight’s ceremonial outfit looked quite impressive. Though he wasn’t one to fuss over appearances, he would have balked at wearing something clownish.

“Fufufu! That’s high praise coming from you, Gilbert! Now, go try it on!”

“Right now?”

“We need to make adjustments if anything’s off!”

She had a point. With the parade tomorrow, there was no time to waste.

Though his mind was a mess, it was a necessary task, so Gilbert took the outfit without complaint and changed into it.

Dressed in the black knight’s uniform, leather belt, and boots, he draped the red cloak over his shoulders and stepped out. The work of a skilled designer was indeed different—the fit was comfortable.

“Fufufu! I knew it would suit you!”

Camilla was the first to notice Gilbert and clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling. All eyes turned to Gilbert as he emerged in the outfit.

– He really looks like the Lion King…

– Definitely.

Murmurs of admiration filled the air. Gilbert, cloaked in red, looked like the Lion King himself, stepped out of a history book.

His appearance played a significant role in this impression. Despite his poor reputation, Gilbert was, in fact, a handsome man, though in a different way from Ian.

If Ian was slender and soft-featured, Gilbert was the opposite—broad-shouldered and muscular, exuding masculinity. His tall stature and robust build even surprised the female cadets.

“How is it, Celine? I think there’s nothing left to adjust.”

“Indeed, Lady Camilla, it seems perfect.”

“See? Celine agrees with me!”

Camilla examined Gilbert from every angle, nodding in satisfaction. She looked like a fan admiring a cosplayer.

“You seem happy.”

“Of course! As someone who admires the Lion King, I’m proud to have recreated such a perfect version!”

She placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest proudly, resembling a childish little girl.

Gilbert looked at Camilla, her scarlet hair swaying. Until now, his nerves had kept him from noticing, but her attitude toward him was distinctly different from others.

Since awakening in this world, Gilbert had always been met with wary glances due to the original Gilbert’s poor reputation. His infamy had created a distance between him and others.

But Camilla had treated him without hesitation from the start. Was it her bright, friendly personality?

Gilbert was curious about that.

“Camilla, I have a question.”

“Oh! Gilbert has a question for me? How rare!”

“It’s nothing much. I was just curious about your attitude toward me.”

“Hmm… You mean why I don’t seem to have any preconceptions?”

She tilted her head, and Gilbert nodded. That was the core of his question.

“I’m not sure either. I just thought you were a good person. No matter what others say, the Gilbert I see is like that!”

“The rumors are true.”

“I don’t get complicated stuff! That’s just how I see it.”

Her carefree smile made Gilbert feel like he’d asked a foolish question.

Should he call her radiant or just a bit silly?

But Gilbert found her demeanor endearing. It was so very Camilla.

Moreover, knowing that at least one person saw him for who he truly was provided some comfort. Being a game character in reality was no small source of stress.

Whenever he felt the influence of the original Gilbert, that stress intensified, almost as if he were losing himself.

But seeing Camilla’s harmless smile made him feel like his worries were unnecessary.

And for Gilbert, that was enough.

 

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