I Want to Make You My Knight.

The 2018 Russia World Cup wrapped up with France edging out England 2-1 in the final, securing the championship glory. In the third-place match, Belgium defeated Russia...

Meanwhile, the tournament's top scorer was Marisol of Uruguay (18, Real Madrid) with seven goals. The Golden Ball went to France's Charlotte Gbagbo (26, Bayern Munich), and the Best Young Player award was presented to Louise Godart of France (18, Manchester United), who led her nation's victory...

Here are the various awards from the Russia World Cup:

The Dream Team consisted of Marisol (Uruguay), Jenna (England), Charlotte (France), Ryu Ha-neul (South Korea), Annie (Belgium), Louise (France), Cheryl (England), Josephine (Belgium), Camille (France), Tatiana (Russia), and Yulia (Russia).

"Ha-neul!"

"Noona, please stop..."

My manager, the one assigned by the agency, calling my name sent a chill down my spine. Every time Noona called me in that tone, it meant she had work for me. Between ads, variety shows, and overwork, I just wanted to rest now.

'My vacation is almost over, I can't push it anymore...'

After the Russia World Cup, the club's three-week vacation was generous. I was worried about joining too late and missing training, but the club wanted me to recover fully. With a long break in Korea, it was only natural that everyone wanted me—ads, variety, the works. Especially ads, as people from around the world came to Korea to model with me. Appointing a manager was inevitable.

With my contract still having time, and money to spend on a house, car, and later buying the club, I chose appearances that maximized my value or enhanced my image. Especially the image—my usual one had drawn cards and PKs, so I stayed careful in variety shows to look kind and proper.

Across history, no one hated the kind wife—or here, the kind husband.

Forgiving Deborah was part of that image management. In the VAR era, a good image was a big asset, so I gave her a generous pardon. I wanted to punch her, but I didn't.

Now, after carefully scheduling, I was exhausted.

Even if I wrote only about variety and ads, it would be over 5,500 characters.

After the brutal season, I really wanted a week of peace.

"Ha-neul, that's not it."

"W-well, can't I rest a bit? The mandatory shoots in the contract seem done. Noona can return to the company..."

"No, it's not that."

"...Then what is it?"

"The British royal family wants to award you a medal!"

"...What?!"

But the story my manager Noona delivered wiped away my desire to rest.

The British royal family wanted to award me a medal?

This was unprecedented for the world's best football player ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who reached the top in the EPL in my previous ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠life.

But why?

"...Is this a joke?"

Then would I become Ryu 'Sir' like Ferguson 'Sir'? The sudden news left me dazed, but I wasn't unhappy. There was no need to refuse a gift.

"Ha-neul!"

"Ah, sorry. But it's weird. Why me in England...? Then, are they giving me a knighthood?"

"No, it's not that. It's a 5th-class medal, I think it was an honorary MBE? As far as I know, it's separate from a knighthood."

"Ah, I see."

It wasn't a knighthood, but a medal was something. Honestly, in my previous life with my terrible personality, I never received anything like this, and the corners of my mouth lifted slightly.

But why Spain and not England? I couldn't understand no matter how I thought.

"It symbolizes breaking the wall between men and women, and here, football was made in England. In this football, breaking gender stereotypes and the wall between men and women into a true era of equality..."

And Noona handed me the letter she received and explained kindly.

'They're giving medals for this? Well, I'm happy...'

With that, I finished my vacation in Korea and flew to England. The moment I arrived, I met the president of the agency, George, and heard the behind-the-scenes of the medal award.

"Probably because England lost to France in the final. You know they're almost enemies, right?"

"Well, to some extent."

"Losing to France in the final caused chaos in England. Their football pride is huge. So they're trying to bolster the pride of the football establishment with this."

"Ah..."

"And PC groups were talking a lot."

PC groups, I thought they were useless trash, but this was surprising.

"In the end, His Majesty liked you. Because you're both men? George II said he likes you. After all, the king is leading the British Empire as a man."

"Wow."

Well, it's up to the giver's heart.

Moreover, as the first male professional player to play with women and prove to the world that men can do it, there was no reason not to receive a medal in the football host country, England.

Regardless of my wishes, I was now the icon of every PC group in the world.

"So, please continue to take care of me. Sir Ha-neul Ryu."

"...They said they wouldn't give a knighthood?"

"Well, how about it? With this momentum, how about an EPL transfer? Getting British citizenship has actual benefits."

"...That's a bit."

"Why? Your salary would probably rise a lot? Clubs are lining up to buy you out now."

"...English food is so bad. The weather isn't good either."

"Hahaha. Well, Spain's weather is better."