SN Chapter 11

But defying everyone's expectations, Rosaline returned alive. Perhaps because they'd shared meals together, some grudging attachment had formed—the news wasn't entirely unwelcome. But then came word of her promotion. She was to be appointed senior knight. Her enemies multiplied silently.

They believed her utterly unworthy of filling the positions of those who had given their lives protecting His Imperial Highness. She hadn't even shown her face at the memorial service, choosing instead to loaf around on her estate, only to slink out for the appointment ceremony. How could anyone be so wicked? If not all, then most of the order's members harbored at least some of these feelings.

The senior knights resented an unqualified, incompetent knight rolling into their ranks. The junior knights raged at having their positions stolen. The apprentice knights believed without question that Rosaline's current rank had been bought with her family name and influence. The countless gazes directed at Rosaline sprang from such emotions. They clung to her persistently, sticky and relentless, refusing to let go. More intense than the gaze of ardent courtship.

Raymond's eyes hardened as he swept his gaze around the room. The junior knights who met his eyes hurriedly left their seats. He couldn't help but sigh at the sight of them gossiping behind the back of someone who had returned from death instead of offering congratulations. Being a collection of young elites who fancied themselves skilled with the blade, they were exhaustingly bound up in pride and stubbornness. What good was studying and memorizing chivalry day after day? It all seemed to have drained away meaninglessly somewhere.

"Rosaline."

"Yeah."

"There's something I need to tell you..."

"Tell me."

"Actually... do you... have any friends... besides me...?"

She raised one eyebrow and looked up at him. Her expression was quite surprised.

"I thought I had lots of friends."

Kallix, the maids, Raymond, even the knight captain. Everyone she met clearly liked Rosaline. It was truly strange. When she looked at the human called Rosaline in the mirror, her abundant black hair gleamed with lustrous shine, and her grass-green eyes were pretty, she thought. Being a bit thin was somewhat of a flaw, but she was tall with good muscle quality, so she looked sturdy and impressive... Humans were said to be greatly influenced by outward appearance, but perhaps that wasn't everything?

Watching her bright, clear expression, Raymond clutched his chest. His heart ached too much. He felt as if he'd stolen away all the hypothetical friends who should have been by Rosaline's side. He felt like such a terrible person. Raymond wiped away the tears that had welled up with his sleeve.

"Don't worry. This big brother is a friend worth a hundred!"

Raymond vigorously rubbed his hand against her black hair. It hurt a little as her scalp pulled. As the sun began to set, the two headed together to the dining hall attached to the dormitory. The meal was delicious enough to briefly forget that many people were watching.

She thought that when she returned to her room, she should take out some writing paper first. Kallix had said Rosaline wrote to him regularly. The castle was white, and Raymond had come to meet me, and I'd met the knight captain too. People stared unpleasantly, but I hadn't hit or killed anyone. I'm pretty, but apparently didn't have many friends. The food was delicious. Like the nights in Ester, Tigaard's nights also sparkled with moonlight and starlight.

But Rosaline fell asleep from the fatigue of her long journey before she could finish writing. She slept deeply until morning, collapsed right there at her desk. She thought Rosaline might have appeared in her dream. There were many who liked me and many who disliked me. When she spoke in more fluent human language than their first meeting, Rosaline smiled as she had then and said that was just how things were.

Rosaline opened her eyes. She sensed diligent movement in the corridor. Looking at the sky, it was the color of dawn approaching morning. Today was the day of the White Night Order's appointment ceremony. She rose from the desk and checked the mirror. Ink that had seeped from the writing paper had left several characters on her cheek.

After washing and changing into her uniform, she tied up her hair. Right on cue, someone knocked. Rosaline sharpened her senses and looked toward the door. It was Raymond, her friend worth a hundred. She smiled brightly and opened the door.

"Good morning, Rosaline."

"Good morning, Raymond."

She had left behind even her family and home, those she could rely on, while having lost her memories. He'd thought she would suffer mentally, but making those worries seem pointless, she appeared to have slept soundly. Her white skin glowed smoothly. Raymond smiled without realizing it. Had she always been this adaptable? Perhaps dying and coming back to life had given her some peace of mind.

She followed the path Raymond guided her along. She saw the wide altar where the appointment ceremony would take place. In the center where white stones formed a large circle stood a laurel tree with an eagle statue beside it. She could recall the human mythology Kallix had told her about.

Idelabheim sent his avatar to humans as a medium connecting heaven and earth—that avatar was the eagle, and the Empire of Illavénia was founded around the laurel tree where that eagle perched. That was why every altar for Illavénia's important ceremonies had a laurel tree and eagle statue—such information she'd half-listened to.

While she stood blankly observing the altar, knights in white uniforms gathered one by one. Even without orders, they began to form ranks. This too was something she'd learned from Kallix. Apprentice knights in the back row. Junior knights in the middle rows, senior knights in the front row. Before them would stand the knight captain's adjutant and the vice-captain and vice-captain's adjutant, facing the senior knights. The center of the altar would be occupied by the Second Prince conducting the ceremony, with the knight captain beside him for protection.

Rosaline hadn't been officially appointed yet, so she stood in line with the junior knights. Unfriendly gazes still circled around her. The senior knights were nowhere to be seen in the formation—only junior and apprentice knights. They remained that way for a long time.

Boooom.

A sound resonating through the air spread as white flags bearing images of intertwined masses of light rose in sequence. The knights made sharp thud, thud sounds as they straightened their backs and stood at attention. In the distance, senior knights could be seen walking in step from the white palace. In the center, surrounded by them on both sides, was a man dressed in white like the knights. But instead of a knight's uniform, he wore ornate ceremonial robes that might be worn in a temple. He walked slowly toward the altar, his long, flowing hair hanging loose. It was silver hair that glowed softly as if holding moonlight.

For a moment, Rosaline thought their eyes met. It was before she could fully realize who he was. The moment she saw his ocean-blue eyes, incomprehensible emotions and confusion overwhelmed her. Her heart pounded noisily, hammering at Rosaline.

What is this? What is this? Poison? No, although she was in human form, unlike other living things, poisons didn't work on her. Was it a side effect of breaking the taboo against absorbing living things? No, if that were the case, she would have noticed something wrong long ago. By the time Rosaline was breathing heavily and pressing her right hand firmly against her chest, all the knights made the same motion as her. It was the knights' way of saluting. By coincidence, Rosaline blended in among them.

The senior knights escorted the man in the center to the altar, then naturally returned and stood before her. Rosaline stared at him, visible only in fragments beyond the shoulder of the senior knight standing in front of her.

Rosaline had heard of him. The only prince in the current Illavénian imperial family with silver hair. The Laurel of the Snowfield. Second Prince Rikardis.

He was the master of the White Night she had sought to protect.

'His Imperial Highness the Second Prince's mother, Empress Millya, is from a frontier viscount family. Her mother was even a commoner. So there are many who take issue with His Highness the Second Prince's origins. Saying he's lowborn, that commoner blood flows in him. But even while saying such things, they can't utter a word in front of His Highness. Why do you think that is, sister?'

'Because he's a prince?'

'That's part of it. The biggest reason is holy power. And His Highness's appearance.'

'...Appearance?'

'He possesses beautiful looks that are admired regardless of gender. Also, pure white—symbolizing Idelabheim. His Highness's dazzling silver hair brings that to mind. On top of that, an amount of holy power that doesn't fall short even compared to past emperors. Are you getting the picture? How His Highness appears in a country that worships the god of light and wields holy power?'

At the time, she'd just thought, 'I see,' and moved on. But Rosaline could now understand that meaning keenly. Even to her eyes, which hadn't fully grasped human aesthetics, the Second Prince was devastatingly beautiful. Deep, vivid water-colored eyes. A straight nose bridge. Soft lips and transparent white skin like a porcelain doll, and even a robustly trained body that was flawless compared to the knights.

Rikardis's pure white clothes and hair shone brilliantly. It was a strange landscape, as if even the sunlight sought to illuminate his side.

Kallix, Raymond, the servants of the count's estate, and the members of the White Night Order. Rosaline had seen quite a number of men, but such devastatingly instinctive beauty was a first. Was that it? Had her heart been racing like this because his outward appearance was so shocking? She thought it a bit strange, but unable to fathom any other reason, she simply accepted it.