Chapter 1. I'm screwed! (3)
Chapter 1. I'm screwed! (3)
Usually, when a noble dies, it is a priest who reads the eulogy.
Most noble families have at least one church they heavily sponsor. This isn't just out of piety; it's a form of 'goodwill' payment to The Order, which holds quite a bit of influence across the entire continent.
After all, donating a lot to the church makes you look pious. Many nobles and commoners in the Artena Duchy genuinely follow the teachings of The Order, and more importantly, since there is someone in the Duke's direct territory who diligently cares for the duchy's orphans, not paying up would be a bit problematic from a practical standpoint.
"......Regardless of rank, regardless of wealth, may you receive the Goddess's forgiveness simply as one sinful human being."
The person reading that eulogy was a monk who looked to be in his early forties.
Like the stereotypical medieval monk, he had the top of his head neatly shaved, but he didn't actually look that ridiculous. The wrinkles etched into his face, his slightly gaunt body, and his rough hands all showed the way he lived his life.
Arno.
His name before becoming a monk was Arno von Hagen.
He is the uncle of Frida, my personal maid. Within the family, he was the third son, which is a rather ambiguous position for inheriting noble titles or land. When he joined The Order and the Hagen family made a massive donation, The Order elevated Arno to the position of 'Parish Deputy'. It also happened to coincide with the time the previous Parish Deputy passed away.
For about 20 years since then, he has worked silently as a clergyman without engaging in the common corruption. He runs a massive orphanage, provides relief to the poor in the duchy, and operates a clinic for patients with nowhere else to go.
Objectively, he is a very good person. Even in the original game, which takes place a few years later, his death is often mentioned in the context of Rosalyn's evil deeds.
After he finished reading the eulogy, dirt was sprinkled over the coffin. One shovel, then another. Little by little, the coffin was buried.
My heart broke all over again at the sight. That's right. I, Rosalyn, loved my father. Even though I was suppressed by the personality of a 21st-century South Korean who had lived twice as long as that Rosalyn, Rosalyn's emotions were still alive.
"......Gongnyeo-nim."
Rosalyn loathed Arno's smell.
Because he was always caring for orphans and staying by the sides of dying patients, his monk's habit always smelled. Sometimes it was the smell of musty sweat, other times it was the smell of a dying patient.
So, whenever I faced him, I openly insulted him. If The Order had known directly, I would have been in big trouble, but Arno never reported that fact to his superiors.
Why? Was he just a kind person?
It was the same even now.
The middle-aged monk spoke to me politely while holding the scripture in his hand.
"Gongnyeo-nim. Please, I hope you do not lose yourself to sorrow."
"......I know, -sawayo."
I answered somehow. But my voice was sobbing. Tears were streaming down, too.
Arno looked like he wanted to say something more, but soon he just nodded and stepped back.
I cried for a long time after that. Until Frida finally approached me and carefully wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
I'll kill them.
I'll kill them all.
The personality of Rosalyn inside me, who had read the memories of my past life, was muttering that.
Whether it's the Demon King or whatever. All those bastards who made Father like that. Somehow.
"......."
The fact that I couldn't even come up with a method was very Rosalyn-like.
*
The first thing to solve is the problem right in front of me.
There are, of course, many administrators within the Dukedom. In my memories, the two counties I possess, Goldfeld and Eisenforge, don't have any major problems for now. They've both appointed Vice Counts and are running well on their own.
The four baronies aren't a problem either. The four baronies, including the Hagen family, are those who swear direct loyalty to the Duke. Of course, that loyalty was toward Father, not me, but if I pull myself together and can do a better-than-average job, it won't be a problem.
The remaining one county and the two baronies under it...... I decided to judge that there were no major problems here either. At least they aren't people who would betray me. We are...... intertwined as relatives with our family.
"......."
I felt ominous just by mentioning relatives, but let's move on. Because the really important thing is elsewhere.
"Blutrosenorden."
It's based on German, so it's a bit hard to understand, but if I translate it into English, it's this.
Order of the Blood Rose.
In other words, the Blood Rose Knight Order. It's truly like Rosalyn to have named it that.
......Yeah, of course it was me.
I pestered Father to let me become the 'Knight Commander'. Naturally, when Father created the new knight order, he chose the best people he could hire at the time to form it. The duchy is wealthy. Creating one small knight order wouldn't make the whole thing wobble.
The problem is, I don't have the ability to properly operate this knight order. In the game, Rosalyn's martial prowess was quite strong, but the current me couldn't even harbor magic, and above all, I have no intention of accepting it. This was something that both the 21st-century me and the Rosalyn inside me agreed on.
The power that killed Father, and the power that will lead me to ruin.
There's no way I'd accept it, is there?
"Hoo."
Alright.
Having chosen the first thing to solve, I immediately called for Frida.
"Erna. Call Erna, -sawayo."
"......-sawayo?"
Frida questioned my suddenly changed tone of voice, but she still left the room without delay.
Erna arrived not long after that.
"Did you call for me, Excellency?"
"Yes, I called for you, -sawayo. I have something I want to talk about regarding the knight order, -sawayo."
I gestured to Erna, who was kneeling on one knee, to stand up. And I pointed to the seat facing me.
Erna sat down with a stiff expression.
"First, there is something I want to order, -sawayo."
"That is not possible, Excellency."
"......I haven't even said anything yet, -sawayo?"
"You intend to set out to take revenge for the Duke, Excellency."
"......."
"I heard it from Frida-nim. Excellency, you must not try to fight an enemy whose true identity has not been revealed. Even if you were to send out the entire seven-member knight order right now, no, even if you sent out every knight order within the Dukedom, you wouldn't be able to catch a single one. Above all......."
I raised one hand.
"How do you know what I'm going to talk about right now?"
Huh.
My voice is a bit venomous.
Above all, there was no '-sawayo' at the end of my sentence.
Blink.
I blink once.
Erna still had a determined expression in front of me. Like Frida, she was probably the existence who had seen Rosalyn's atrocities at the closest range until now.
Even if it wasn't an evil act worthy of having her head chopped off immediately, it was the kind of expression that thought she didn't know what I would do with a wrong choice.
"......You said you would take revenge, didn't you."
Erna said.
"That's right. I will find the person who murdered Father and take revenge."
"In that case—"
"However, not right now. Because I haven't found any evidence."
"......If so?"
The body is buried. I have no intention of digging it up now.
Probably no poison or anything would have come out. There wouldn't have been any traces of magic either. The Demon King's magic is a different kind from what humans use.
Probably, I won't be able to find it anyway.
But if that's the case, there is only one way to take revenge.
I will support the Hero. At the very least, I will create an environment where the Hero won't die easily.
The Hero is the protagonist of the scenario mode. If the Saintess is alive, just that alone will be a reliable strength for the Hero. The Hero will slaughter the demons and, ultimately, cut off the Demon King's head.
And at least, the right to decide the fate of the Saintess in this world lies with me.
So this story is just a story of the distant future.
It's separate from what I want to talk about right now.
"I will step down from the position of Knight Commander, -sawayo."
Blink.
Blink.
Erna's eyes blinked twice.
"Pardon?"
"Durchlaucht."
Durchlaucht. This title, which means shining brilliantly, can be translated simply as Your Highness or Excellency.
"The title attached after the name Rosalyn is enough with just that. Excellency Rosalyn, who shines brilliantly. It's cool, isn't it? Already. I am a person who knows restraint well as a noble."
I crossed my legs.
"I don't need the position of Knight Commander anymore."
Erna's face turned pale.
Of course it would.
It's a knight order created by the Duke himself. It has no history or anything, and the name is a childish one named by a chuunibyou kid, but it is a proper, official knight order.
Isn't it a perfectly excellent position for a commoner to rise to?
"That doesn't mean it needs to be disbanded. It's better for it to exist as the knight order that Rosalyn 'served' in. Wouldn't it be necessary to leave it as proof that I was the Knight Commander? Don't worry. All the support you've been receiving will return."
Maybe it might even be a bit more.
I haven't decided what to do with this knight order. But if I have a force under my command that I can trust for sure, that alone makes the range of my movements much freer.
.......
I don't know if Erna will understand or not.
"So, that means you will be the Knight Commander, Vice-Commander Erna. Congratulations on your promotion."
Rosalyn speaks indifferently.
My side that recalls the memories of my past life thought that perhaps half of that indifference might be sincere.