I was so surprised that I jumped off the Grand Duke’s feet.

The one who stood up in the middle of the flower garden was the wizard Adrian Eodel.

“Adrian!”

At the Grand Duke’s shout, the boy wizard rubbed his eyes and mumbled.

“Oh, Your Highness! What are you doing here? Huh? You’re not alone. Who is it? Lady Esther? Lady Esther?!”

“I was taking a walk with Knight Esther. We had state affairs to discuss.”

“State affairs? That man and woman-.”

‘!’

“Affairs of state! That’s what I meant!”

The Grand Duke raised his voice at Adrian, his face reddening.

“Ah.”

Adrian rubbed his eyes, still looking drowsy with an indifferent expression.

“Where have you been until now, Adrian?”

“Researching the black magic I experienced thanks to Lady Esther. I’m sorry, Your Highness. I came here to pick some blue mist flowers and ended up falling asleep.”

Adrian mumbled.

‘Black magic?!’

I asked eagerly.

“Mr. Eodel, I haven’t thanked you properly. Thank you so much. And I’m sorry.”

“No need, Sir Knight.”

“I’ve been curious, have you found out anything about the black magic that was cast on me?”

At that, the hand rubbing his eyes dropped. The boy wizard’s eyes shone.

“Of course. I am the strongest in the empire, after all.”

“!”

“The two evil spells cast on you, Sir Knight. The one that collapsed your face was probably… my elder sister’s doing.”

Adrian’s voice trailed off.

‘Elder sister?’

“Elder sister? What do you mean?”

The Grand Duke asked in surprise.

Adrian’s expression darkened.

“Yes. I have an elder sister. If she’s alive, she’d be about thirty. Her name is Joaquin, Joaquin Eodel.”

I asked him.

“If she’s alive, you say?”

“Sir Knight. Using such magic, even the caster can’t remain whole. Evil magic returns to the one who cast it. Both dark spells covering you were meant to kill you. But for some reason, you didn’t die.”

“!”

For some reason.

I recalled my mother’s holy power that enveloped me just before I was murdered by Lahert.

Along with the name of my mother’s god, Hela, that she cried out.

“The first spell that failed to take your life only affected half your face, not the entire face. The second spell probably only took part of your memory. So the remainder of that magic would have returned to the wizard who cast it. Even if they didn’t die, they might have lost their body or soul… lost their voice or at least gone blind, unable to see.”

Gone blind, unable to see.

The boy wizard fell silent for a while, as if traversing distant memories alone.

The Grand Duke asked.

“How can you be sure it was your sister?”

“Your Highness, magic is like a thin silk carefully woven by a master craftsman.”

“Silk?”

“Do you remember the transparent cloth-like magic that undulated over Sir Knight’s body?”

“How could I forget.”

The Grand Duke’s voice lowered.

“Each wizard’s weaving method is slightly different. Just as the quality of clothes varies depending on the tailor’s skill, the better the wizard, the better the magic they weave. The black magic I saw was my sister’s weaving. Probably, certainly.”

“…Then where is your sister now?”

The Grand Duke asked threateningly.

“…I’ve only heard stories. I grew up seeing the magical objects my sister, called a genius since childhood, left behind like heirlooms. My sister left the family as soon as I was born, when she was fourteen. Saying she would learn magic in the wider world. She’s been missing since then. My sister disappeared, so I became the strongest in the empire. If she were here, I wouldn’t even be able to follow in her footsteps.”

How can all those long stories be asked and heard in this short night?

I silently looked at the face of the boy wizard, who seemed to be standing alone in the rain.

The boy opened his mouth.

“Joaquin Eodel. The last genius born to the last wizard family of Ventus. I’m just a hardworking wizard. Being the only one alive is my strength.”

“Ventus.”

I rolled the name Ventus the boy said in my mouth like a transparent marble.

It tastes bitter and sad.

“So you were from Ventus too, Mr. Wizard.”

“Please call me comfortably, Lady Esther. You can just call me Adrian.”

Adrian hung his head as if he had committed a sin.

“Mr. Adrian Eodel. The black magic that was weighing me down is gone now. So please don’t make such a sad face.”

At my words, Adrian lifted his head.

“Do you wish your elder sister was alive?”

“…I don’t know.”

“I hope she’s alive.”

“Even though she tried to kill you, Sir Knight?”

“We don’t know if it was her own will. I was only five years old then. Ah, I have no memories from before I was five, so probably then.”

He finished speaking and paused for a moment, aware of the Grand Duke standing beside him.

I hadn’t told the Grand Duke yet that my memories had returned.

No, I couldn’t tell him yet. Because my memories tell me who I am.

“But why were you looking for blue mist flowers?”

“They’re ingredients for making magic potions.”

“By the way, Lady Antoinette has been eagerly looking for you, Mr. Wizard.”

“…Ah!”

The boy who had been tilting his head suddenly jumped up as if he just remembered.

“I completely forgot! Oh no, Daisy is going to try to eat me again. Your Highness, please hide me!”

“Come to my office if you need to.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Adrian Eodel bowed deeply to the Grand Duke and me, then hurried off somewhere into the wildflower field.

The sad face from earlier had already disappeared, replaced by the face of a seventeen-year-old boy as he receded into the distance.

Once again, I was left alone with the Grand Duke.

Without realizing it, I opened my mouth.

“It’s sad to see the wizard looking so sorrowful.”

“Do you truly wish for that child’s sister to be alive?”

“Yes. Whatever she did, Lahert must have been behind it.”

“…You seem certain. Why would the Southern Duke do such a thing to you?”

“!”

I was at a loss for words.

Probably because I am the Imperial Princess.

He tried to kill me with black magic, but the magic didn’t work. It only ruined my face and memories.

Why did he keep me alive? He could have killed me with a sword.

Did he judge that no one would recognize me anyway since my face had become monstrous?

Did he think that even if my identity was revealed, I wouldn’t be able to return to my position as Imperial Princess since he was going to raise me as a monster?

I couldn’t say anything.

After a long silence, he spoke.

“But that reason is also in the past. When we go to the capital, other battles will be waiting for us. I’m thinking of holding a small ceremony for you tomorrow, Esther.”

“A ceremony?”

I looked at him.

“Yes.”

The Grand Duke smiled at me.

Leaning on that smile, I returned to the castle.

Many words flowing from my heart.

But there were no words that the current me could say to the current Grand Duke.

I gently folded those words under the moonlight and tucked them into my heart.

The Grand Duke who was walking ahead turned back to me and smiled.

“I think we’re a little, no, very late. How about going in through the back door?”

“Yes. We can’t wake up the others.”

I nodded.

The Grand Duke’s use of ‘we’.

The fact that I was included in that was so overwhelming that once again, I couldn’t say anything.

‘Just being together makes me happy.’

The white butterfly from my past life gradually recedes into the distance.

[This is the timeline separator]

The fact that I am a Sword Master is a secret of the North.

Therefore, it was decided not to hold an official appointment ceremony. Instead, only the Northern Knights would gather for a small ceremony.

The preparations for the ceremony were handled by Brigadier General Dag of the 4th Unit, Brigadier General Moby, and Yora.

In fact, I didn’t even know Yora was making such preparations.

Early in the morning, Yora suddenly came to me asking for advice on a concern, and I followed him without any suspicion.

He led me to a small hall attached to the great assembly hall.

The door opened, and I was greeted by the smiling faces of all the Northern Knights.

In the center were the Grand Duke and Arcadia.

Everyone stood with their swords upright in front of their bodies, bowing their heads towards me.

The Grand Duke, who had risen from his seat, held out his right hand. In his hand was the sword of the North.

Guided by Arcadia, who had memorized the historical books related to the Sword Master, I knelt on one knee under the Grand Duke’s sword.

The Grand Duke placed the sword on my shoulder.

The sword passed over my left shoulder and right shoulder, then stood upright in front of my eyes.

Then, the Grand Duke knelt on one knee in front of me.

Our gazes met equally in the air.

“Your Highness, the sword hilt to the Sword Master.”

Arcadia said.

The Grand Duke handed the sword hilt towards me.

“The Sword Master grasps the hilt and holds the sword horizontally.”

I did as Arcadia instructed.

But in doing so, the tip of the sword pointed towards the Grand Duke’s heart.

The Grand Duke grasped the blade with his bare hand.

“Your Highness!”

The Grand Duke nodded as if it was fine.

I was not fine.

This is like, aiming at your heart.

Arcadia read the ‘Words of the Sword’ written in the history book.

“The Sword Master’s sword is connected to the master’s heart.”

Then all the knights repeated those words.

“The Sword Master’s sword is connected to the master’s heart!”

Arcadia speaks.

“Your sword is your freedom. Whether to protect the heart or pierce it is your choice. What is your choice?”

“What is your choice?!”

I looked at the Grand Duke. He was gazing at me with eyes bluer than the deepest lake in the empire.

“You have to answer, Esther.”

Arcadia whispered softly.

“I choose to protect the heart.”

“I, your master, will believe in and follow your choice.”

The Grand Duke said without taking his eyes off me.

Ah, this is the Sword Master’s oath.

Everything is my freedom, my sword is my choice.

I spoke of my own will.

“My sword will protect the master of the North.”

At that, the knights silently raised their swords high in unison.

It was a short but intense appointment ceremony.

[This is the timeline separator]

The day we had to leave the North approached quickly.

And before we knew it, that day had come.

We did not announce our departure to the capital.

It was the Grand Duke’s judgment that there was no benefit in letting the Emperor and Lahert know we were coming in advance.

The head maid Luine had been busy since the morning of the previous day.

“No need for mobile tents! Warm spare clothes and raincoats! Simple meal ingredients to Brigadier General Moby!”

She commanded the maids busily, packing the luggage as lightly as possible.

It’s a long journey of almost a month to the capital. The heavier the luggage, the more tiring it is.

There were five of us heading to the capital: His Highness the Grand Duke, myself, Brigadier General Moby, Ergo in charge of weapons, and Yora to take care of the horses.

“Your Highness! Are you sure you don’t need to bring tents? Even if we have to bring servants.”

“It’s fine, Luine. To move without alerting the capital, it’s better to have less luggage. We’ll sleep at inns.”

The Grand Duke soothed the overflowing worry of Luine with his familiar skill.

Arcadia, standing next to the head maid, said with a smile.

“Your Highness, I hate to say this, but for people moving in secret, the composition is quite unique.”

“Hmm… That worries me too.”

The Grand Duke made a troubled expression.

Arcadia looked back and forth between me and the Grand Duke.

“A young woman and a young man pair is a normal combination, but add to that two large elderly gentlemen and a young man who’s neither son nor grandson.”

“Elderly gentlemen!”

Ergo and Moby, who were designated as elderly, raised their voices towards Arcadia.

“I’m sorry, Brigadier Generals. I’m sorry.”

Arcadia waved his hands with a smile.

Moby laughed heartily.

“Later when the vice-captain joins, we’ll have to disguise ourselves as some big family. Then the vice-captain can play the role of the good-for-nothing uncle, how about that?”

Those jokes were so funny that I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Arcadia retorted playfully.

“I’m no longer the vice-captain but a regular knight now, Brigadier General. The vice-captain is Brigadier General Dag, isn’t it?”

At those words, Brigadier General Moby looked at Arcadia with a sad face. Yet Arcadia was grinning like that.

“When will you follow, Arcadia?”

At the Grand Duke’s question, Arcadia answered.

“After I finish handing over to Vice-Captain Dag and tighten the discipline here once, I will follow.”

“I’m worried about leaving right after the monster war.”

“Well, what’s waiting for us in the capital is war anyway.”

The Grand Duke smiled bitterly at Arcadia’s words.

“That’s right.”

“You’re leaving all the knights here, and there’s the even stronger Adrian too, so don’t worry too much about the North.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness! My Aurora is much stronger now!”

“Your research has paid off. Beyond burning the monsters, you can turn them to ash now?”

“Yes!”

The boy wizard answered happily.

‘That’s a relief.’

Feeling somewhat reassured, I did a final check of our luggage with Yora.

At that moment, the head maid approached me.

“Sir Knight.”

“Yes, Head Maid.”

“Such a delicate body, yet a knight, and even a Sword Master… I still can’t believe it.”

Luine lowered her voice especially when saying Sword Master.

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Sometimes I can’t believe it either.”

“Are you really sure you don’t need to pack any dresses? There might be balls and such…”

“Yes, my uniform as a knight will be enough.”

“…That’s a shame.”

She showed a kind smile. Then she took out a letter from her bosom.

“Um… When you go to the mansion in the capital, could you deliver this to my elder brother?”

“This is.”

“It’s my reply to the letter my elder brother sent through you.”

“I’ll deliver it well. But, Head Maid.”

“?”

“If it’s not too presumptuous, may I ask… what was in the letter the butler sent to you?”

I had been curious all along.

What did Butler Hans write that made the head maid trust a woman from the South she had never met before?

What did he write that made her risk her life to even capture the spy’s escape on a video stone?

“Ah, that.”

She smiled as if it was nothing. Rather, she seems embarrassed.

“We’re not much different from other siblings. Is that what you were curious about?”

“…Yes.”

“Hoho. Sir Knight, you’re like a young girl.”

She took Hans’s letter from her bosom and showed it to me.

It said:

That was all the letter said.

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Seeing me, Head Maid Luine laughed too.

“See, it’s nothing much. My letter is nothing special either. I haven’t seen him in so long, I miss my elder brother.”

Shallow wrinkles formed at the corners of her eyes.

“I’ll deliver it well, Head Maid. Really… thank you.”

I bowed my head to her.

“No need for such formality between us.”

The head maid hugged me lightly and let go.

“Young lady, no, Sir Knight. As I get older, I keep making verbal mistakes.”

“It’s alright, please call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

Both titles make me happy.

“Don’t hold back too much on anything. If you’re angry, get angry; if you’re sad, cry. Understood? I can see you’re the type to suffer alone inside.”

I was momentarily taken aback by her unexpected words.

But… a corner of my heart grows warm.

“Thank you so much, Head Maid.”

I also gathered courage and lightly hugged her back. She patted my back.

In the early afternoon, we set out for the capital. Hiding our identities, just as a group of travelers.

Fierce battles await us in the capital, but…

Why does this long journey, which would take at least two weeks even without sleep, feel like an exciting trip?

I looked at those departing together. At the forefront was the Grand Duke.