SN Chapter 10

"Even more austere than usual. You don't have a single dress."

"Kallix said all my clothes are out of fashion. Told me to buy new ones in the capital. Said to ask you to go with me."

That bastard's dumping everything on me, isn't he? Raymond cursed Kallix a little in his mind. Well, still, it was for someone like his own little sister—he supposed he could sacrifice a day off to tour dress shops. Roseline looked around her room before flopping onto the bed. Thump. Raymond paused his organizing and handed her a uniform.

"Here, take this. First change clothes and come out. No! I'm leaving first, then you change!"

When Roseline began unbuttoning at his instruction to change, Raymond hastily covered his eyes. After emerging in her uniform, Roseline endured a lengthy scolding from Raymond. Don't just strip in front of other people like that, understand? Hm? Quickly promise this big brother. Pinky swear. Stamp.

Though Roseline frowned at the continued lecture, she dutifully answered that she understood. The dormitory corridor was wide and well-maintained. Raymond walked down the length of it while explaining several things to her.

"First priority is visiting the commander's office to report your return. There's time until the investiture ceremony, so you'll need to look around the order and observe things... Ah, and after tomorrow's official appointment as senior knight, you'll be assigned a few knight apprentices. Up to five maximum. Apprentices who want to receive your teaching will apply, and you can choose from among them. You can assign minor tasks or errands, but looking after them properly takes some effort. Only take as many as you can handle. Did you memorize the ceremony sequence and oath?"

"Yeah."

"That's amazing, well done. And Roseline, you... about losing your memory... um... what did we decide? Is it okay to mention?"

"Yeah."

Kallix had agonized over this. Mentioning it might disadvantage Roseline, but not mentioning it would make her free-spirited behavior incomprehensible. Though her conduct had been somewhat refined, anyone who'd known Roseline's previous self would likely notice. It couldn't be helped. Before strange rumors spread wildly beyond control, they needed to preemptively block other interpretations.

Roseline's condition: amnesia. However, it wouldn't interfere with knight order duties, and despite losing her memory, her loyalty to the Second Prince remained, prompting her return to the order. That was Roseline's story.

Roseline arrived at the commander's office guided by Raymond. Two knight apprentices standing before the door saw Raymond's face and opened it. Roseline's eyes met those of a man examining documents at the desk. Sharply gleaming eyes, deeply carved wrinkles. His appearance conveyed seasoned experience. The red-haired man rose from his seat and moved before the desk. Raymond and Roseline lightly closed their right hands into fists and placed them over their hearts with knuckles facing outward.

"The glory of Idelabheim who cleaves the Onyx Moon. Roseline of Redvielle. I have just returned to the White Night Order."

"The glory of Idelabheim who cleaves the Onyx Moon. Raymond of Grandram. I greet the commander of the order."

The order commander, Stas, also placed his fist over his heart as they had.

"The glory of Idelabheim upon you. How is your health, Dame Roseline?"

She could feel Raymond watching with an anxious expression. Roseline clasped both hands together behind her back.

"I'm fine."

"You appear so. That's fortunate. I hope you'll continue using that luck for His Highness's sake."

"Understood."

"Congratulations on your promotion to senior knight. It's thanks to your diligent efforts."

"Thank you."

"Do you have any questions regarding the investiture ceremony?"

"No."

Raymond watched their exchange flash back and forth like blades, then cleared his throat loudly and interjected. Even knowing the commander wasn't typically verbose, the current Roseline seemed to be picking a fight with him. Her tersely clipped words appeared almost sullen.

"If it's not impolite, may I say one thing, Commander?"

"Speak."

"...Actually, Dame Roseline's body has fortunately recovered completely, but... her... heart is still somewhat pained..."

Stas looked at Raymond with an expression full of questions. What is this vice-adjutant saying?

"What do you mean, Sir Raymond? Her heart is pained. Of course I understand the sentiment. I too lost comrades, as you all did. But standing up despite that grief and anger is our duty."

"..."

Did I speak too indirectly...? Raymond erased the smile at his lips in an instant. Ah, whatever. Let the chips fall where they may.

"There's some problem with Dame Roseline's memory. They say it's amnesia."

"...?"

Bewilderment rose across the face of the order commander, who always maintained an expressionless mask. It was an extremely rare sight.

"Despite most memories being lost, she still remembers White Night's oath to protect His Highness the Second Prince. Also, her speed of knowledge acquisition is very fast. I judged her not unsuitable for conducting missions and proceeded with the return order. There's also a physician's report stating her memory will likely return soon."

Stas received the report from Raymond and read it carefully. Other content blurred, but [amnesia]—that word alone stood vivid and distinct. Had her curtly clipped answers, shorter than usual, originated from this?

He stroked his chin while looking alternately at the report once, then at Roseline once. He briefly wondered if this might be some scheme by the First Prince's faction, but her upright, consistent attitude convinced anyone watching that she was truly loyal to the Second Prince. If only her origins weren't from the First Prince faction's House of Redvielle, he would have cherished her more.

The black-haired woman maintained her expressionless mask even while clearly hearing discussion about herself. She even looked somewhat bored. The former Roseline had been generous and bold, but not the type of smooth operator who'd use lies to line her own pockets. Stas, who knew her character well, had to acknowledge it. This absurd report was infinitely close to truth.

Complex emotions appeared on Stas's face. After maintaining silence for a long while, he opened his mouth with difficulty.

"...How... is your health, Dame Roseline?"

It was the same question as before, but the meaning behind it differed slightly. Roseline straightened her back and looked directly at Stas.

"I'm fine. Thank you."

Stas's lips twitched slightly in hesitation before he dismissed her. Raymond remained in the commander's office to discuss matters with him a bit longer.

The two knight apprentices standing outside the commander's office glanced repeatedly at her face. She was a celebrity within the White Night Order. The eldest daughter of a house protecting the First Prince, Roseline Ester of Redvielle who'd returned from death. Receiving gazes filled with various emotions directed at her, she smiled. It wasn't disconcerting. Kallix had told her in advance, so she roughly understood the situation.

The humans in the White Night Order didn't like her. Because their factions differed, he'd said. Then that person called the order commander must be the same. Yet his gruff speech and expression couldn't conceal his concern. The sound of Raymond and Stas exchanging quiet conversation drifted from inside. Though Roseline stood outside the door, she could hear their discussion. It was thanks to borrowing a few cells from something with excellent hearing ability.

"...Dame Roseline..."

"If that's the case..."

Even after Roseline left, the order commander's worry didn't cease. Enough to exhaust Raymond. Roseline waited for Raymond with her head lightly resting against the wall. Thunk.

How regrettable, Roseline. Black-haired human. You might have been quite a decent person.

Roseline wrinkled her brow and displayed an uncomfortable mood. Raymond fidgeted anxiously beside her.

She felt gazes stabbing from every direction. Setting aside how every passing human turned their head to look again, some even came from far away specifically to confirm her face and survival. Roseline's patience was gradually reaching its limit.

Roseline—'it'—disliked being conspicuous. Organisms evolved over years, over hundreds of years and several generations in directions advantageous for survival, sometimes becoming obsolete. They'd imitate nearby organisms to blend into crowds and escape threats. 'Its' mimicry ability might have developed in such environments.

So this moment when people's gazes concentrated on Roseline was nothing less than an optimal situation to drive her into an anxious mood. Was it necessary to stare this much? Not in a monster's form, not missing an eye, not with an arm somehow mangled—just an extremely ordinary human shape? Had the mimicry somehow come undone without her noticing? She checked her limbs, then struggled to see her own back.

"What are you doing, Roseline?"

"Is something wrong with me?"

Why do they keep staring? Raymond watched her spin around and around before shaking his head. Her attire was perfect without a speck of soot.

"You're a good person, Roseline. But that doesn't mean everyone has to like you."

"I don't understand. It's strange."

"A bit strange and difficult, right? Human relationships are like that."

Count Pertan Ester of Redvielle. Someone who protected the First Prince and earned countless titles beyond his countship through numerous achievements on the front lines. In short, a house with considerable influence and power even within Illavénia. That house's daughter had one day entered the Second Prince's order, then completed her apprenticeship in short order and been promoted to junior knight. The order commander was the type to observe her quietly without discrimination or distaste, and the vice-captain had cherished her deeply, finding her heart to protect the Second Prince admirable despite her origins in another faction.

But the problem was that this sight didn't look particularly good to other knights. Despite being young. Despite being a woman, despite being from the First Prince's faction, despite not even having particularly good skills! Someone who knew neither her place nor shame. To them, Roseline Ester of Redvielle was that kind of person. Then came word that she'd been lost in combat at the hunting competition, her corpse beyond recovery. Even those who'd disliked Roseline had mourned that time.