Chapter 2

“So, is it that she doesn’t remember me?”

“I’m sorry, but the lady doesn’t even know who she is right now. However, when she looked at the pattern of the family flag hanging in the room, she did say, ‘The Red Wheel,’ so it’s temporarily lost, but it looks like it may come back eventually.”

“…the chances are high.”

“She’s very weak right now. In fact, I can’t guarantee much at a time like this, Sir. However, her treatment should come first, and all we can do is assume that the current symptoms will improve accordingly. It is said that the body and the mind are closely connected…”

This is a theory.

Although it was obvious, Calyx still bit his lips in frustration. The servants and the maids seemed nervous as they saw his stern expression.

He ran his hands through his hair, thoroughly messing it up. He could not bear to think of the behaviour he’d seen in the room earlier. Her hair which was always neatly tied, was scattered, and her pupils were full of confusion.

The vocal cords, which had not been used for a long time, let out a harsh sound. She was a knight and had always lived with small scars, but Calyx never could have imagined such a case happening. Originally, subordinates are those who are greatly influenced by one of their owners’ actions and feelings.

It was him who had to lead the County now that his father was away on a border patrol mission. Calyx sighed and relaxed his expression. It was a glorious day.

His sister, who he had thought was dead, came back alive, and so it was not a good face for a happy day.

“Take away the cloth on the wall. Roselin of Red Wheel is safe. Did you inform my father?”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“I’ll thank the Count of Dry Thorn for helping me with her treatment. Prepare a present. I’ll write the letter.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Choose a maid for her room and make sure only a few people visit. Don’t let any strange words be heard by Miss Red Wheel.”

“I will do as you say. My Lord.”

The servants were busy at Calyx’s orders. Soon the large castle covered in dozens of white cloths were removed and so was revealed the noble appearance once more, finally Calyx was able to calm his mind.

‘Come back. Come back alive. I’ve prayed hundreds of times.’

Compared to other knights, the White Night Knights of the Second Crown, where Roselyn belonged, were particularly damaged.

The second prince is a famous figure who is considered a candidate for the crown prince along with the first prince.

There were also many enemies against them as they were notorious for their contributions in the war. Perhaps because of this, there was always talk that the 2nd Prince was persistently pursued during the hunting contest. It was no accident that the damage caused to the 2nd Prince was double the damage of other knights.

That’s why speculation that Roselyn, a member of the team who was not very good, might have died became a fait accompli (basically a casualty of the circumstances). However, she has surpassed everyone’s expectations, and without losing any limbs, she survived the fierce battle. According to the doctor, there is also a high possibility of memory returning. It was a bolt of fate.

“Did my sister eat something?”

“She had a patient meal for lunch. I thought she wouldn’t be able to eat much because she has been starving for a long time, but I think she can have dinner later because she didn’t get sick after eating three bowls.”

“Bring my meal up to her room. I’ll eat with her.”

“Yes, my lord. It’ll be ready soon.”

The sun was setting outside the window.

The red sunset hit the wall as the servants were collecting the last remaining white cloth.

The cloth was scattered. Calyx was dazed and recalled his sister.

She blinked her eyes slowly and repeated the act of waking up awkwardly. A shallow sense of incompatibility surrounded her. Something didn’t add up in his mind. Calyx folded this thought up in his mind and put it in a corner.

The servant told him that the meal was ready. Come to think of it, he couldn’t say the first thing he had wanted to say to her. ‘Good to see you again. Glad you’re all right.’ He would have to tell her before dinner.

* * *

As a result, Calyx didn’t say that.

Because of the scene which occurred at dinner, his sister was eating the steak with her bare hands. Her cheeks were bulging on both sides like a squirrel, and the steak’s juices and reddish-brown sauce were dripping from her hands and mouth. The blood of the steak flowed down and even looked subtly frightening.

Calyx couldn’t step into the room and stood there by the door. It took a lot of time to acknowledge the sight before him as being real.

Even the experienced maid, who had worked for the Count of Red Wheel for over 20 years, could not hide surprised face. The girl who came back alive seemed to have manners as poor as a dog.

With her bare hands, it should be hot, but the fear was overcome by the confident way she chewed the meat.

The problem was that Master Calyx, who was in the room and witnessed the performance, couldn’t stop staring with his mouth open.

The maid stood sullenly far away, unable to decide whether to help the girl with her meal or to take care of the Master’s spirit as it dispersed into the air.

Only the smacking sound of chewing and eating filled the room. Calyx barely came to his senses and sat next to her.

“….”

“..well… can you already eat meat? It’s not a burden?”

He took great pains to ignore the sight before his eyes.

The maid would remove the stitches on her shoulders, but with the meat in her hands everything else was invisible.

“Even when you’re unconscious, you’ve had a little soup and some patient food. I put the chopped meat in the soup you had in the morning, but I think it’s safe to say you don’t have any problems.”

He replied.

“Yeah…”

Calyx pushed her share of the soup in her direction. The steak was supposed to be on its own, for him, but he could tell where it was now.

“If you wait a moment, I’ll serve your meal.”

“Yeah.”

Calyx put the watery soup in his mouth with no flavour. It was too bland and tasteless, but it was not a relaxed situation to savour the taste.

Roselyn stuffed a third of her steak into her mouth. Calyx looked vaguely at his sister, who had two plump cheeks.

“…take your time, what if you get indigestion”.

Roselyn nodded and chewed. She was an incredibly mature sister who was two years older than himself.

He had never seen her act like this before.

Somehow he felt like he was eating with a childhood version of sister. Calyx, who was smiling slightly, had to distort his face with this thought.

Roseline was sticking out her tongue to lick the sauce on her hand. Fortunately, Calyx quickly grabbed her by the wrist, and ended her attempt.

Calyx’s heart throbbed.

“I’m not ready for it yet, sister.”

The difference between before and after was enormous. His sister’s licking of the sauce, which contained no grace or chivalry in each act, was too destructive. Roselyn’s face changed when Calyx restrained her.

It was the first emotion that had ever appeared on her face. Irritation. Calyx made a hollow laugh. Roselyn’s annoyance, was rare.

By nature she was gentle, good, generous to others and strict to herself. No matter how unreasonable the task might be, she took the opportunity to reflect on herself and train herself to be better. She was a woman of insatiable integrity.

However, now the sharp eyes of the Countess of the Red Wheel were even sharper, as passed down from generation to generation.

Calyx hurriedly spoke in a gentle voice when he saw her expression full of discontent.

“This is your favourite avocado salad. This…”

Calyx, who was going to say ‘eat this,’ quickly changed his words. It was because Roselyn’s expression toward the salad became even more ugly. What is this grass? Her eyes were saying.

“Don’t eat… I’ll bring you a steak in a little while, so please have some more. Just a little.”

Roselyn finally loosened her expression and nodded. Calyx washed her hands with the water in the finger bowl. She managed to make a pout, but, left her hands him. Come to think of it, their relationship as brother and sister was very simple and plain.

They didn’t do the usual hugs nor have any kisses on the cheek. Even this short contact was awkward, even though he had only grabbed her hand to stop her from licking it. He has eaten with her for twenty-one years but never has he held his older sister’s hands before. He gave a bitter laugh. Soon she picked up the lemon from the finger-bowl and without stopping to think, she tried it. She seemed to be loosing all her sensibilities, but anyway, she was in such a strange mood for a while.

“Sister.”

Roselyn’s eyes moved toward Calyx. They were sharp eyes that seemed to be staring at him without laughter or anger.

Though she looked the same, she was clearly fierce due to the events of the day.

“You know who I am, sister?”

He remembered asking the same question to his distraught great-grandfather, Calyx uttered a loud groan. Roselyn shook her head.

“I’m your brother, Calyx, two years younger than you. I haven’t seen you very often lately because you’ve been busy with the knight order. Of course, I did send my regards by letter. No matter how busy you are, you always send a reply once a month. Oh, my sister, you belong to the Imperial Knights. To be exact, the Knights of the Second Prince’s Direct escort. You’re a White Night junior.”

Roselyn seemed to listen to Calyx.

“Yes.”

She didn’t show any signs of answering or nodding, but it seemed to feel that way anyway.