Chapter 9

Roselyn was not frustrated by the limitations of her physique, she tried her best and had spent more time training than anyone else. She had polished her strengths, but did not turn a blind eye to her weaknesses.

Even those who ignored her because she was a female officer gradually changed their view of her, thanks to her efforts. At the news of her promotion to a Senior Officer, Raymond was as happy as if it were his own job. He was delighted that her efforts were not in vain. He even got beaten when he tried to kiss the vice president, who told him about her promotion, as thanks. Therefore, he could not give up. What Roselyn had wanted, what she desired to protect. Now, even if Roselyn had forgotten, those things were not gone.

She couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.

Raymond handed her a sword. Then he held the body of his sword upright. The Bastard Sword was as wide as his face. Roselyn watched his every move quietly.

“You don’t have the basics right now… what can you do to come back to the Knights?”

“Yeah, but still….”

“Still?”

“I have to go back.”

“Why?”

Raymond held the sword in front of his face. It was lying flat and, over the top surface of the sharp blade, he glanced toward Roselyn, her eyes were shining.

“To protect the Master of the White Night.”

Raymond laughed. She said she lost her memory, but at least she remembered the most important thing. It was just like her. Roselyn was excellent at identifying what’s important, anytime, anywhere. She didn’t even know she was doing it in most situations. Raymond laughed and moved a little further away from her. Calyx also stepped back a little, knowing what Raymond was about to do.

“Watch this, Roselyn. Remember it well. You have to remember.”

Raymond closed his eyes for a moment and then opened his eyes with a sharp movement. Although he was a strikingly tall man, just like Calyx, he was also very quick. He was accurate and moved naturally as if water was flowing. These were the most basic movements of the Illavenia Empire’s sword style.

Roselyn looked carefully at every move he made. ‘Look carefully, you must remember it well.’ As he said, she was looking without an eye. Her green pupils scanned Raymond’s movements. Her concentration was frightening. Stab, cut, block.

The end of the sword tip was pointed toward the sky, as it cut through the air slashing toward the ground. There was a great breeze everywhere the sword passed.

Despite the distance, the sword appeared extremely sharp.

“Wow.”

Raymond put his sword in front of his face and stopped moving, ending the same way in which he began. Roselyn was able to blink her stiff eyes when Raymond’s serious face left and laughter returned.

“That’s the end! You’re half done if you can do all this. In fact, you had more skill with your head, planning and analyzing, rather than your body itself, so the rest should be learned step by step…”

“One more time.”

“Yeah?”

Rosalyn frowned. Why are you making me ask twice? That was the expression she was making.

“One more time.”

Raymond thought, ‘uh… ..What?’ He said yes, then hurried to give a second demonstration of the sword play. He recalled the time when he was just learning how to wield a sword as a child. He practiced several hundred times a day. Back then he felt so bored, tired and frustrated all the time, and it was hard, but now it was just a memory of a time long ago.

He smiled inwardly and finished the second demonstration.

“One more time.”

“…I… why do I feel nervous…Roselyn…?”

Raymond did it one more time, then one more time, and then one more time, until that memory from in the past became his current reality. He had to listen to her request endlessly. His sword movements had gone on now for hours, without stopping. Until the night came and the moon was shining down on the blade.

“I’m going to charge… I’m going to charge you for being a sword teacher!”

“Do it. Calyx has a lot of money.”

“Damn it! That’s right!”

“….”

Calyx looked at their conversation as if it were absurd. Raymond sprawled out onto the sofa, huffing and puffing. The uniform, which was usually buttoned up to the top of the neck, was undone.The old Roselyn would have worn the same thing.

“Thank you. Bring dinner for Sir Raymond.”

Raymond waved his hands. He seemed to have no power to even answer.

“I have to get back soon too. Thank you for the offer, but my schedule is busy. By the way, what’s the use of all the hard work I put in today? You didn’t even move yourself. You just watched?”

Calyx grinned.

“My sister has a very good memory.”

“That is good to hear. Oh, there’s the appointment ceremony in two weeks. Please tell me… …how is Roselyn’s speech…?”

“….”

“The Second Prince himself will be directly be conducting the appointment of the senior knights. At that time Sir Roselyn of the Red Wheel will become a senior knight! She‘ll have to declare it. Shouldn’t we stop the situation? Just imagining it gives me chills.”

Calyx shuddered as if he agreed. Two weeks. Only two weeks are left to learn martial arts and etiquette. Raymond has no spare time, so he told her he’d probably meet her next at the imperial palace.

“Yes, yes.”

She replied. Their spines felt a chill again.

Raymond left the mansion soon, and the brother and sister saw him off. Roselyn came back to the training field with a rapier in her hand, which was found hanging in her room. Though Calyx and the maid announced it was time for dinner, she stood in the middle of the field, with her eyes closed and didn’t move.

A man in a white uniform appeared in her mind beyond her closed eyes. He swung his sword with his messy brown hair. Find the centre of the gravity in the body, then watch out for movement from either direction, left, right, soft yet strong. It was replaying endlessly in front of Roselyn.

She recalled the scene for a while. The movement of the muscle under the uniform. Perspiration fell from his hair. A vision of the sword that split the wind, cutting through the air several times.

Roselyn drew her sword. It was a sword that was different form and weight in comparison to his Bastard Sword. But she moved without hesitation. Calyx watched quietly.

Raymond showed her the steps for a few hours, so she clearly remembered the order and form of the movement. But it was still very clumsy. It was the first time she had truly wielded a sword, but even the gripping method was a mess, so this may have been a natural result. However, every time she wielded her sword, the form began to refine itself little by little. Despite that, there were still many restrictions to following exactly as Raymond performed the steps; he had a distinctly different physique. After a few strokes of her sword, she seemed to realize this.

It might have been something she instinctively knew while brandishing a sword. Although she did not blindly follow Raymond’s movements, she understood exactly what they meant. From cutting, stabbing, and blocking to attacking, guarding, and strengthening the centre of her body. She had to find herself, her own path, from Raymond’s movements. Roselyn’s physique, the strength of this current body, the length of the sword. It was a reasonable and very clever idea, all things considered.

Within hours, she was able to display her excellent swordsmanship, like a man who had spent years using the sword. Just as how Raymond ended his demonstration, she too finished with the blade in front of her face. The white moonlight was shining behind Roselyn, who stood with her eyes closed. Her curly black hair fluttered and scattered into the night sky.

This was the land of the god, Idelavheim, who drove out Crean Tidanion, the god of darkness, and brought light to the world. The Divine Empire of Illavenia. It was a size worthy of the widespread prestige in every corner of the continent. The white castle, with its blindingly brilliant walls, spread out so far and so high that  no matter how far you look, you cannot see its end.

Roselyn appreciated the beautiful castle, in the distance, through the carriage’s windows. It is white.

There were many. Those high castles, which contain certain rules, rules which are very different from the forests in which she had lived.

It was a beautiful place that was both [good and not good]. Her instincts faltered. Calyx, who always stood by Roselyn, wasn’t with her now.

It was only Roselyn who left for Tigard, the capital. Calyx had an obligation to protect the Red Wheel County as a the heir. Only his endless nagging and worrying eyes lingered on in her mind. No, you can’t do this. You can’t do that. This is no longer possible. It’s really a big deal, so don’t do it. There’s a lot you can’t do. Humans were a piece of work.

“Roselyn!”

The carriage passed through the gates of the Yellow Star, but kept travelling for a long time. As soon as Roseline got off, she could see Raymond running in the distance. Raymond stopped in front of her with a gasp of air.

“Long time no see, Sir Raymond. Have you been at peace?”

“……you can speak comfortably with me, Roselyn.”

Raymond could tell someone put effort into her appearance. He nearly burst into tears. Then, Raymond unloaded the luggage from the carriage alongside her.

Probationaries under Raymond helped carry her luggage to the dormitory. It was a neat and big building. Although she was not officially appointed, she was still promoted to a senior knight, so she was transferred to a spacious and good room.

There wasn’t much luggage to fill up the space. Only several white uniforms, swords, some casual clothes and daily necessities. When she threw her luggage down roughly, Raymond took items out and sorted it.