The Knights of the continent were divided into three main groups, the first of which was the National Order of Knights of the Imperial family or Royal family.
The National Order of Knights was a colossal organization. It didn't only have knights; university-graduate wizards and dungeon researchers formed most of its personnel. The knights belonging to this group were called the nation's executives during emergencies, which was why only the highest level of talent among the cadets in the Knight Academy could join.
The second was the Knight Orders managed by families. Of course, unless they had a large territory, they wouldn't even be able to dream of running a Knight Order. Only families with vast domains with a high possibility of forming multiple dungeons could manage such a division. Among them, the Yukline Household's Hadekain Knights were most preferred by the Knight Academy cadets due to its special geographical conditions and the fact that they'd be stationed in a major city.
Finally, the Private Knights. More than half of the 108 knights of the kingdom were private knights. If most National and Familial Knights were connected to their region, Private Knights usually stayed in major cities and went on trips two to three times a month. They carried out local duties such as suppressing evil, dungeon raids, and other such tasks, earning them plenty of money from loot and donations.
However, since the conditions for establishing a Knight Order were very strict and complex, forming a new one only happened once or twice a year.
"…What a relief."
Hence, a group of private knights became affiliated with Freyden's main building instead. Julie sighed in relief as she looked at the book of accounts, finding a surplus in the first half of this year. Good luck seemed to have finally caught up to her, considering how much evil they had suppressed by attacking villages and the number of dungeons they had successfully raided.
"That's right. We just have to work this hard in the future as well…."
Julie leaned back in her chair and enjoyed her listless happiness.
Knock, knock—
"Commander Julie."
Rockfell, Julie's senior knight and the current vice-captain of Freyhem, opened the door.
"Yes, Lord Rockfell? What's going on?"
"A company in Brecht is asking for an escort on the express train."
He fiddled with his scruffy beard and held out a document.
"Are you talking about the Bercht summit?"
"Yes."
Private knights sometimes received missions more suited for adventurers. However, the credibility required by knights was different from adventure teams. The knights only accepted tasks from verified organizations or the nation itself if it served the public interest.
"It's been fifteen years since Bercht's last summons. I didn't think we'd receive a request."
The Bercht express train. It was a magically engineered train that passed through the edge of the mountains and served as the only means of transportation that could bring people close to the summit of Bercht's mountain range.
"I don't know even why this suddenly came to us," Rockfell sounded repulsed.
It wasn't Deculein's fault, but since he was going to attend the conference as well, her knights chatted as if it was anyway.
"It's fine. You can accept the request."
"What?"
Rockfell's eyes widened, and Julie simply shook her head in reply.
"Is it really fine? Veron said he wanted to do it, but…"
"Veron?"
Julie's tone sounded stern, unbending. In public, she was known to be a firm and inflexible boss.
"Yes. The duty came designating him. He has distinguished himself these days as a VIP escort."
Veron was a commoner who hadn't even gone to university. However, with his knightly mentality and tremendous efforts, he had reached the same caliber as the knights from the Imperial Family. He had the tendency to meditate alone most times, but he showed great courage and care for his colleagues in the Gracken dungeon. Julie witnessed his feats in person.
"That's good, then. He'll do a great job. I authorize you to proceed."
Veron was the most trusted knight in Freyhem, even with Julie included. Even the meticulous Zeit complimented him, saying, "he smells of the old school knights, which is very rare these days."
"But…will it be okay?"
"Yes."
"Really? Veron has been raised riding in our coattails."
"…Lord Rockfell. If you doubt me further, you'll soon incur my wrath."
Julie's eyes narrowed. She couldn't stand him asking if it was okay despite her already saying multiple times that it would be.
"Don't you know it just as well as I do? Express train escort missions are one of the hardest there is. If Veron does well, it will be beneficial for our Knight Order's reputation and, of course, his career."
"Yes, I know, but…"
Rockfell thought quietly.
'No way. Did she make up with Deculein? Was it yesterday that I heard they held a meeting? No, it simply can't be possible!'
"Stop thinking about weird things."
Julie, glancing right through him, cut his thoughts off completely.
"Ah, yes. Ahem. By the way, Commander, what are you doing today?"
"I have to stop by somewhere today."
"Well, I was thinking of a company dinner, but if you have something to do, then it can't be helped. I'll be on my way."
Rockfell left the room, scratching the back of his neck.
"…Haaa."
Julie sighed and peeked under her desk. At her feet was a bouquet that she was going to give as a gift to someone. She had never seen that person's face or even knew their name, but she bought it anyway, thinking it was only morally right to show her face at least once.
"I still can't believe it…."
She didn't trust Deculein at all, but if he really kept his word and changed like that, then, one day, if he confessed his sins and apologized…
Julie looked around but found no mirror. She hadn't paid attention to her appearance up until now. For lack of anything more effective, she used the nameplate on top of her desk, which, albeit only slightly, reflected her beauty. Julie puffed up her cheeks once and smiled. The corners of her lips trembled as she stretched them.
It was awkward. But then again, she hadn't enjoyed a good laugh in almost three years.
"Ah, by the way, Commander…?"
Rockfell came in once more. Julie, smiling strangely at the nameplate, glanced up at him.
"…"
"…"
After a brief moment of staring each other down, Rockfell hastily left without a word. Julie put the nameplate down gently and, with her arms crossed, thought calmly as if nothing happened.
Express train escort missions were great opportunities. If Veron could protect it properly, he'd be able to make his abilities known. If he ever were scouted by the Imperial Family Knights, she intended to let him go.
Knock, knock—
This time with a proper knock, Rockfell came back in.
"Commander, I have one more thing to report."
"You may proceed."
Rockfell spoke as if nothing had happened, and Julie replied nonchalantly, but their faces both burned red.
*****
The graveyard's atmosphere unexpectedly reminded me of old half-forgotten sentiments despite it just being a grass field with tombstones. The wind caressing through me felt like someone's hand, and the sound of bugs in the distance sounded like cries from a far-off world.
I came to this place with one emotion in my heart: solitude. Yet as I walked down the street, my eyes caught on the grave of Deculein's deceased fiancé. I didn't know what her name was. However, considering his personality, I thought she would stand out.
I stepped on the grass as my eyes darted over the graves. Fancy tombs, simple copperplates, a well-maintained headstone, tombstones buried behind vines…it didn't matter where my eyes landed. I would always find the story of someone long gone.
"Hmm?"
The sunset glow slowly fell as dusk settled, creating an orange-tinged sky.
"….As expected. Yeriel came and left."
A newly placed bouquet stood out, carrying a certain scent that reminded me of the morning dew at the top of mountains. It was Yeriel's perfume.
I stood in front of the headstone holding a bouquet with a bitter smile, water droplets hitting the ground around me. Why was the rain falling this late in the afternoon?
"…"
I looked at the name engraved on the tiny tombstone for quite some time. I couldn't bring myself to drag my gaze away from it.
"Gosh, you're…"
Should I say extraordinary or too much? I just thought it was aggravating.
"…Why?"
The emotions I felt weren't Deculein's. It wasn't anyone else's but mine. The name caused my heart to shake, sending tremors coursing through my whole body. I felt pain similar to my flesh being scraped out as my breath caught, almost as if my air passages were being crushed…
All because of the name engraved on the tombstone.
[Yoo Ara von Vergiss Meinnicht.]
[The person who's always grateful to you.]
Perhaps it was one of her easter eggs. Just like Kim Woo Jin was the model for Deculein, she snuck her name in secretly. I was dumbfounded.
It was strange. I was angry, yet at the same time, I felt curious. Why in the world did she give her name to Deculein's deceased fiancé? What was she even grateful to me for?
"…Thanks. Was this before we broke up?"
I tried to mutter a joke, but my voice didn't sound as steady as I hoped it would be. I couldn't stop shaking. I could hear her whispering into my ear, drawing out the memories of days gone forever.
When I closed my eyes, they came alive as if they just happened yesterday. I was reminded of her losing her family, her timid smiles and the way she praised my paintings, how she wore my blue coat on a winter night. How she often took me in her arms and told me she loved me, picked me up whenever I fell, and cried, grew angry, and smiled together with me for seven years.
Even now, as I thought about her, with my chest shaking, she felt like a late snowfall…
No, she was like snow that had piled up for a while, covering my heart entirely.
I knelt, took off my gloves, and wiped the moisture off of the tombstone, allowing her name to come into view more distinctly. She wouldn't know. It was just her name, carved there like a cruel joke. The weight was too much for me to handle.
"…"
I was out of breath, and my vision blurred. I had never felt like this before. Now, as Kim Woo Ji, and not as Deculein…I still loved her. At that moment, I heard the sharp sound of leaves rustling and cracking behind me.
I came to my senses and quickly stood, teardrops flowing down my cheek. My hair was still messy and poking in around my eyes, but I had to find out who the person approaching me was. When I turned around, I saw someone looking at me.
"…You."
I instinctively frowned. She just stood there in silence, shock visible on her face. I came back to the world feeling more embarrassed than I had ever felt before.