In the game, due to what he experienced as a child alongside Prince Lilith, Prince Rosen grew up fiercely protecting those he cared about.
And, like his cousin, Prince Rosen would relentlessly hunt for the truth behind the murders that occurred on that dreadful night.
He did not hesitate to bathe in the blood of those he perceived as guilty.
And of those who dared to harm his loved ones.
=====
In the game, the villainess had only one person she considered a friend: Prince Rosen.
However, when the time came to uncover her crimes against the heroine, the villainess was horrified to discover the person leading it was none other than Prince Rosen himself.
Unbeknownst to her, the only reason Prince Rosen befriended her was to track her movements against the heroine, something he revealed to the villainess only moments before her exile.
…
I wouldn't harass the heroine nor Prince Lilith in this lifetime, thus possibly avoiding incurring Prince Rosen's fury. Yet…regardless of whether Prince Rosen in this lifetime meant me harm or good…avoiding him was best.
║║║║║║║║║║
Back in the present, I hastily curtsied and greeted the young Prince Rosen.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he said warmly.
Though he was smiling, his eyes were not.
"It's my pleasure as well, your Highness," I lied, dipping my head as sweat dotted the back of my neck.
"Please. Call me Rosen," he said.
Alarms blared throughout my system, but I quickly nodded.
"If I may ask, what were you thinking so strongly on that you didn't hear me call the first time?" he asked with mild curiosity.
Ah…before encountering him I had been…?
"…I was thinking about my father, your Highness," I said, finally remembering. "The Duke sent me ahead as he still has business here at the palace." I paused before adding, "I am to swiftly return home."
Silence stretched between us, longer than I was comfortable with as he openly assessed me.
Then—
"Pity. Lilith would have been delighted to see you. Might you visit him to discuss your day, just for a while?" he asked with a small smile.
[…]
"…Please pass my apologies to his Royal Highness, Prince Lilith," I hastily said. "I…wouldn't want to intrude on his studies and training. Again, my apologies to you both—"
It happened in a flash.
Prince Rosen leaned forward to my height level, an unnerving sheen lighting his eyes.
"I insist!" he exclaimed softly, his face inches from mine.
—!!!
"M'lady?" my guard—who had given the prince and I a small distance of privacy—called out in concern as I visibly flinched back.
"Or not," Prince Rosen said, chuckling as if I done something funny. "Until next time, Airee," the prince said, nodding at the guard and giving me a small wave as he finally took his leave.
[…]
"Should we go, m'lady?" the guard asked hesitantly.
Calming my thunderous pulse, I swiftly nodded.
║║║║║║║║║║
"You've resolved yourself on this path?" the Duchess of Bearington asked me the day after my audience with the King.
"Yes, Mother," I uttered as I formally sat before her in her private study.
The Duchess gauged me for a second before responding with, "Good."
Surprised, I stared at her.
"…That's all?" I asked in a small voice.
Though the Duchess hadn't openly expressed her opinion about my desire to become an E-knight, I had anticipated some level of disapproval from her, like the Duke.
"You're not…disappointed?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Absolutely not," she immediately responded, levelling me with a firm gaze. "Airee… while you are a Valguard, do not forget you are also a Cassandra," she said, referring to the House and bloodline of her side of the family. "Whereas the Valguards may pride themselves for their strength and stubbornness—your father, for example—we Cassandras are proud [wherever] we choose to walk. That's why, despite your little bet with the King, I [know] you will dominate the Branch Sect."
[Dominate] was too much of an overestimation, but I was uplifted by the Duchess's words, nonetheless.
"Thank you, Mother," I said, dipping my head gratefully.
She smiled beautifully, a contrast to the sharpness of her next words. "If the Duke hadn't been so foolish—ah, I misspoke—[*******], instead of sending you to the border where your life was almost lost in which case I would have taken care of that situation myself before [accidentally] killing the man Claire would no longer call 'Father', we could have already sent you to my mother's."
She finished with a soft laugh, and I sat there silently, speechless.
"My grandmother?" I enquired after filtering out the violence I had no doubt could have occurred.
"Yes," the Duchess confirmed. "Marchioness Cassandra, head of the Cassandra House."
Aside from being the Duchess's maiden name, I couldn't recall anything in the game about the Cassandra House, nor any details about the Marchioness.
As for my current memories of the Marchioness…I vaguely remembered meeting her once, but I couldn't remember what she looked or sounded like.
"The Marchioness will succeed where the Duke has failed and will provide you with the appropriate, [safer] training," the Duchess continued. "This is the Valguard's last act of help, and the rest will depend on you, so sending you there shouldn't interfere with your bet," she said, winking.
"Thank you, Mother!" I exhaled, wanting to hug her.
As if reading my mind, the Duchess stood from her desk and walked towards me before picking me up. She nuzzled my cheek before informing me, "She is strict, but you will do well under her, just like the Duke."
"Father trained under her…?"
"That is how he and I met," the Duchess said lightly, feeding me even more, newer information as she continued to hold me. "Though he was several years older than I, I doted on him. And since I was his teacher's child, he only barely tolerated my presence, but that was enough for my young self." She paused and chortled to herself. "On the day he left, I proposed to him. And he accepted (he might have refused)."
Ah…
I hadn't realized my origin had been that romantic—
"I forgot about it when I grew older," the Duchess admitted bluntly.
[…]
"By the time the Duke re-approached me about my proposal, I was already in my twenties, soaring through countless social circles and parties…marriage was far from my mind." The Duchess sighed nostalgically before saying, "However, after witnessing the Duke's embarrassed face, I decided to accept his courtship to see where that took us. One stroll led to another, and then—"
[You fell in love?], I silently thought at the same time the Duchess said, "—we shared a special kiss."
"A special kiss?" I repeated, not understanding.
"It was how you were born, Airee," the Duchess said vaguely.
I stared at her blankly before heating with embarrassment.
"We then married and, from there on, every day was filled with those special kisses. And that is also how Claire was born—"
"MOTHER, I GET IT!" I barked hotly, averting my eyes. "I GET IT! SO DON'T SAY ANYMORE OF THAT, PLEASE!"
The Duchess roared with laughter, returning me to my seat before clearing her throat. "Well…that brings us to the next matter: Airee…do you still desire the second prince?"
I silently cursed my past, toddler self for begging to be betrothed to Prince Lilith.
If I had recovered my past life's memories earlier, I might have avoided both princes altogether…!
…
"…Our betrothment has already been agreed upon," I slowly said. "And the conditions the King set solidifies that agreement. So, even if I no longer desire the prince…I cannot escape it."
[For now.]
"That's right, Airee. Acknowledge what you brought forth and take responsibility," the Duchess said softly. "Your wants and actions have rippling consequences, my sweets. That said, you will continue to receive the prince whenever he visits, and you will continue your education—including etiquette lessons—while attending your upcoming social events, regardless of your training."
I internally groaned.
"You must not fall behind. Do you understand, Airee?" asked the Duchess.
[…]
"…I understand," I uttered.
║║║║║║║║║║
"Do you really have to go?" Claire whispered.
Her hand squeezed mine as we both laid together side-by-side on a blanket on the floor in my room. Behind us loomed the room's tall windows, and I arched back my neck to gaze at the midnight sky.
"…Yeah," I breathed softly. "I have to go."
"Can I go with you?" she immediately asked.
…
"Do you want to be a knight as well?" I asked curiously, turning my head towards her.
Her cheeks puffed, and she buried her face into Bunny.
"…No," she answered after a long, contemplative moment.
"Then we can visit each other in the future," I said, squeezing her hand.
Claire pulled away and turned her back towards me.
"…What if you get hurt…and I never see you again…?" she whispered, her voice cracking at the end.
…
I didn't want to lie to her.
I had almost died at the hands of a Hmon stray, and I knew how violent and sudden a life could be taken.
…
I was wading into uncertainty, uncharted territory that could trigger my death way before reaching my end foretold by the game.
…
Any day now, I would tell Claire my last good-bye, and she would only realize when my corpse returned. If it did at all.
…
My heart wavered, and I had to remind myself what all this was for.
[Saving General Os.]
…
"Even if we never see each other again…be strong, okay?" I answered Claire after recomposing myself. "I…I love you. I always will."
A shuddering cry burst out of Claire, and before I could console her, she sprang up and ran out of the room, leaving Bunny behind.
Following her in concern, I paused at the door to her room, hearing her wretchedly weep inside.
…
I left Bunny at the foot of her door and walked away in silence.
║║║║║║║║║║
"Had you not bet with the King, I would have done everything in my power to help you," the Duke told me as we stood outside before my carriage.
"…Betting was not of my own will, Father," I couldn't help but comment.
His expression twisted with emotion, and he fell silent for a moment.
Then, glancing at my neck, the Duke uttered, "…For what you went through… For the pain you endured…forgive me, little Airee."
[Ah…]
I felt my neck, lightly wrapping my fingers around it.
Had the Duke been feeling guilty…?
…
"Then…for everything selfish I have asked from you up until now…forgive me as well," I said in return.
A gruff chuckle burst from him, and I grinned at him toothily.
"AIREE!!!" someone shrieked from afar.
I looked past the Duke and saw Claire running down the manor's main entrance stairs, bunching up her dress at the sides as she sprinted towards us at high speed.
The Duchess followed closely behind her.
"Claire—" I began but was cut off when she barreled straight into me.
"I thought she didn't want to see Airee off?" the Duke asked the Duchess softly as Claire clung onto me.
"I told her she wouldn't see Airee for a while so if she wanted to say good-bye, she'd best do it now," the Duchess replied, smiling.
"I—I'll be strong, okay…?" Claire blubbered against me. "And—and I'll wait for you, okay? And I'll visit whenever I'm allowed to—so, so you wait for me too, okay…?! We [will] see each other again… We—we will…!"
My heart strummed.
"…Okay," I said, kissing the top of her head.
Giving Claire one final embrace and nodding to the Duke and Duchess, I climbed into the carriage and finally left for the unknown.
=====
Throughout the week, the Cassandra training grounds bustled with talk and excitement about a new arrival.
Winston absentmindedly listened as he completed his tasks and duties.
His interest only piqued when Sir Ruloc, the captain of the Cassandra knights, told him the new arrival was his age.
Winston was the only nine-year-old training under the Cassandra House, and while he enjoyed the company of the older squires, he wouldn't mind having a friend his age to train with.
Thus, when a familiar, grand carriage arrived, Winston investigated as the household servants and even the Cassandra knights themselves stood outside to greet the new arrival.
He watched from afar with the others as Sir Ruloc greeted the occupant of the carriage, Sir Ruloc's large frame blocking Winston's view of the arrival as Sir Ruloc accompanied them towards the manor castle.
He wondered what they looked like.
Were they kind? Were they fun?
Would they both get along?
Would they practice the bow with him and join during the hunts?
Would they—
His thoughts ceased when he glimpsed the back of the arrival's head as they disappeared into the house.
Long, pink hair, braided back neatly into a bun.
…
[…Pink…?]
"Winston, we're heading back!" one of the squires called for him.
He rejoined the others silently, hazily.
For the rest of the day, his concentration strayed as did his thoughts.
That new arrival…it couldn't possibly be…?
Yet…if it was…?
…
Only when Sir Ruloc and the new arrival began touring the training grounds did Winston finally calm as he saw who it truly was.
There.
[Airee], he silently whispered.
Everything about her was the same, from the pink of her hair to the gold in her eyes.
Everything was the same…except she had grown taller, still towering inches over him. And except…she looked more serious—and gaunt.
Sir Ruloc introduced her to the gathered squires, and she greeted them stoically, her expression reserved and distant until—
"…Winston?" Airee uttered, causing Winston's breath to stutter.
She…remembered him?
"Oh? You know Clafford's boy, m'lady?" Sir Ruloc asked.
"I do!" Airee declared with certainty, her eyes gleaming with stars as her demeanor shifted to a much brighter one. "Winston, it's me, Airee…!!"
"…Airee…?" Winston uttered aloud for the first time.
She burst out into a toothy grin—a familiar one—and Winston felt his entire being warm.
"Well, well, well…! This takes me back to when your fathers met as rascals themselves!" Sir Ruloc bellowed with amusement as Airee stuck her hand out for Winston to grasp.
"I'm glad to see you!!" she exclaimed, her genuine happiness spilling out of her contagiously.
[…]
Winston slowly took her hand, a wild, uplifting feeling buzzing throughout him.
[Father…is it okay if I feel this happy…? Just for a little bit…?]
"I'm glad to see you, too," he finally uttered, hesitantly glancing at Airee before mirroring her grin. "I'm happy we met again!"