Shadowless Night

“But I think there is something more. I hear he’s moving the Golgartens and protecting Fertan's daughter. He even issued threats that he normally wouldn’t make… Of course, we need magic for the night of blessing. That may be the reason, but I personally think Ricardis doesn’t see her just as a tool.”

Elpidio glanced at Diech where he was standing and continued.

“I like to have conversations with people of the same perspective, Diech.”

As if the situation he faced was unpleasant, Elpidio gave a noble order. Diech knelt and politely held the ashtray in both hands. At that moment, Elpidio showed a satisfied smile.

“She’s known Setistia since childhood, so it must be an old relationship. Ricardis may look like that, but he has a soft side, so maybe that woman is his…”

Elpidio laughed. His eyes gleamed like the scales of a snake.

“People tend to become weak when they have something precious. Do you know why I called you?"

“…”

"You're friends with the Radwiell girl."

"Yes, Brother."

“Then you are also useful.”

Diech only looked at Elpidio's knees and hesitated. Elpidio harshly knocked his tobacco pipe into the ashtray, and it dropped to the floor. Diech lifted his head and met Elpidio's gaze.

“I told you I liked you more than that bastard Tillend.”

3rd Prince Tillend was Elpidio’s younger brother. His personality, looks, and image were just like Elpidio's. And his ambitions were second to none.

“You know your place.”

As Elpidio said that, he glanced up and down at Diech. The word ‘place’ brought Diech to his senses. As Elpidio sat on the sofa, crossing his legs, Diech knelt in front of him, acting as an ashtray.

“That’s why I like you, Diech. Do you understand what I said?" His voice began to sharpen. 

Diech bit his lip as Rosaline’s figure came to mind. Her sleeping with a pale face in Drythorne Castle and more memories of the past came to him.

With short hair that fell to her shoulders, she smiled softly in the sunlight. Diech's heart pounded. Suddenly, he remembered what Elpidio had said.

[People tend to become weak when they have something precious.]

Deich realized how weak he was now. He was miserable. He hadn't forgotten why he was here, but he had become too weak.

"…Brother."

"Yes."

“I always picture the day Brother wears the golden laurel wreath.”

Elpidio smiled and stroked Diech’s head.

“It’s a nice day. Let's go out and have a cup of tea."

***

It had been two weeks and five days since Rosaline woke up in Drythorne Castle when the anticipated letter came from the capital, Tigard. It was an order to return to the Knights of White Night when Rosaline was well. As soon as Rosaline received the letter, Calyx could barely stop her from leaving without her luggage or anything else.

Calyx also received a letter written by Ricardis himself. Even after receiving the letter with the Imperial seal on it, Calyx was hardly agitated. Ricardis said he had something to say about Rosaline, and Calyx only thought it was finally coming.

The first meeting between Rosaline and Ricardis happened longer ago than you would expect. Seven years have passed since she joined as an apprentice of the Knights of the White Night. Because she is one of the few female knights, Rosaline became an escort for Setistia as soon as she joined. Setistia had been very fond of Rosaline, and Ricardis was a person who wouldn't hesitate to die if it was for his sister, so of course, the three of them spent a lot of time together.

Their relationship became badly strained by Setistia's death, but Rosaline did not leave Ricardis even then. It was a time that led to her current hard work and efforts, but perhaps some other emotions are intertwined with her dedication.

So, no matter how indifferent Ricardis was to her, it would be hard to believe the present Rosaline is the same as the former Rosaline. There was a limit to covering everyone’s eyes with the flimsy excuse of memory loss. And Calyx thought that he had now reached that limit.

Ricardis has never been dull or stupid. He would have already noticed everything, but perhaps he had covered it up. No, he was still keeping it covered.

Calyx had heard his sister had broken Sir Pardict's shield with her bare hands. It was one of the rumors floating around about Rosaline, but Calyx had a gut feeling this one was true. Rosaline, who heard the rumor along with Calyx, proudly said, "Yeah, I broke it." Making Calyx’s heart even more burdened.

Pardict was famous for his unrivaled physique even in the Walegrave family, which consisted of rough sailors. Pardict's shield was even more famous. A masterpiece that took three years for a skilled expert to craft. People were amazed by the size and thickness of the shield.

And she broke it with bare hands… Upon hearing this, Calyx looked at Macaron with a slightly resentful look. Macaron the eagle gave him a regular bird stare, then shook her head. She wasn't there at the time because she was on patrol for a while.

Anyway, at that time, they say that Ricardis was the one who ordered the destruction of Pardict's shield, so Rosaline had certainly been discovered. ‘Isn’t Ricardis saying that he knew she was a being that could destroy things harder than steel?’

But Calyx wasn't too worried because he knew Ricardis was the one who made it possible for his sister to live a comfortable life in this castle.

Even though an unprecedentedly powerful mage appeared, the surrounding gaze was not hostile. The fact that Rosaline saved the 2nd Prince could not be the only explanation. Whenever an unfavorable story almost emerged, the information would subtly be twisted and purified somewhere. And small stories from the past roamed in every alleyway, sharing how intelligent and compassionate Rosaline had been since she was a child.

In addition, myths about the 2nd Prince not previously revealed also drifted around. Like Viscount Sandcliff, whose acts of benevolence and rumors of his savage beauty [E/N: TL really says savage beauty. Decided to keep it as is.] spread throughout the country three years ago, was actually another one of the 2nd Prince's titles.

[Sandcliff: of Sand Cliffs.]

It was clear that the Golgarten family, the owners of the massive communication network that stretched out their influence all over the continent, had moved information helped along with a stream of money. But it might be more accurate to say that Ricardis was leading them from behind. The 2nd Prince was not a person who liked to manipulate public opinion like this, but now he is borrowing hands and feet to take action. 

His movements told his enemies that behind Rosaline lies the 2nd Prince Ricardis. 

A week ago, Calyx and Count Drythorne received news that a meeting on Rosaline's fate had yielded a unanimous vote to delegate all the decision-making powers to Ricardis.

“…Does a unanimous vote make sense?" 

Calyx's secretary, Alter, laughed, saying it was ridiculous.

“His Highness, the 2nd Prince, seems more resourceful than I thought.”

It was not just a matter of Ricardis' leadership skills that had the 1st Prince's faction contributing to the unanimous vote in the meeting. 

Calyx glanced at Alter. Alter raised his eyebrows and disclosed another piece of information he had learned.

“It seems that some bad things happened to some noble families a few days before the meeting. It is not widely known because it cannot be made public… Uh, I guess it's because some things that aren’t quite pristine have suffered a blow [E/N: their dirty deeds have been discovered and are being used as blackmail]. They say that the families in which the unfortunate incidents occurred were, by chance, all noble families belonging to the 1st Prince's faction. Thanks to that, they couldn’t afford to lose more strength in the meeting.”

“How coincidental.”

“It’s such a great coincidence, indeed.”

After hearing Alter's words, Calyx pondered. It was a good result, but the process was rougher than he expected. It was different from how Ricardis had been doing things before now, back when he only passively reinforced his shields.

Calyx thought that maybe it was Rosaline who had changed the man. Even as he thought Ricardis’ steps were utterly naive, it didn't seem like he was wrong either, so Calyx felt perplexed.

Whatever he was thinking, Ricardis ensured that his sister, who had been hanging around outside the fence, was inside his territory and protected. Thanks to that, Calyx could receive the letter with peace of mind.

Like Ricardis, Calyx had a business with him. He never expected to meet so soon, but it was a timely opportunity anyway.

Calyx tucked the letter into his pocket.

“It will be a long trip to the capital, Sister, so I will prepare.”

"Are we going together? What about Esther?”

Moved, Calyx's eyes lit up. He was so proud of his sister's development as she worried about their father and the land that was unfamiliar to her before.

“Viscount Radmare under the Radwiell will be in charge for the time being. Don’t worry.”

[Radmare: of Red Horse] 

“Ah, Uncle Marsh.”

Rosaline nodded her head in understanding. Calyx looked at her with a strange expression on his face. ‘Have I ever told you about Viscount Radmare?’ But Macaron's flight out the window quickly diverted his attention.

"I'll ask Drythorne to make the preparations quick."

“Okay," Rosaline smiled brightly. “Then what do you want me to do?”

Calyx gestured with his chin to the book he held in his hand, and Rosaline's mood instantly dampened.