With the party in full swing and nobles crowding the dance floor, both Eunbi and Yerin danced peacefully without the probing eyes of the nobles surrounding them. But they nevertheless earned a round of applause from their sister as well as the princess and Sojung who watched the two with interest. For Yerin, it was the experience of a lifetime and despite Yewon’s words that her sister is a good dancer, she was still in awe at the level of skill the woman had.

 

“If you weren’t a knight, chevalière, I would have thought of you as a dance instructor.” Irene remarks as the two approach the group, “It was a beautiful dance. A shame the others are too busy to have paid attention.”

 

“You flatter me, your highness. If anything, I believe Madame Eunbi deserves all the praise. She is simply a majestic dancer, and it was a great honor to have her as a partner if only for a short moment.” Yerin bows her head in thanks and gestures to the older Kim. Eunbi just looks away in reply, trying to hide her slightly flustered state.

 

She’s gotten used to Yerin’s tirade of flowery words directed toward her, but there was a tone of genuine admiration as she spoke that made it hard to form a response. Instead, she just mumbles underneath her breath, “You danced well, chevalière.”

 

“It’s an honor to receive your recognition, madame.” Yerin turns to her with a smile which she just turns away from.

 

Eunbi pauses a bit, feeling completely unsatisfied that it was all she could offer the woman on her birthday, “Are you sure that’s all you want?” she asks after barely a minute of contemplating.

 

“Material things can be bought and made, but memories stay forever.” the knight suddenly informs her, “And you’ve given me a memory that will forever hold a special place in my heart, and for that, I have you to thank for bestowing upon me such a wondrous gi—“

 

“Stop, stop, I get it already.” the noble complains, having enough of Yerin’s monologue that reminded her of Yewon’s suitors trying their best in getting into their parents’ good graces, “You make me regret asking, chevalière.”

 

Yerin just grins. Eunbi sighs tiredly.

 

“It’s great to see the two of you getting along swimmingly.” Irene chuckles, turning to Eunbi who was eager to protest. It was at that moment that a knight approaches Sojung, silencing them briefly as he informs the captain that someone was looking for Yerin.

 

“Me?” she approaches, curious about what was going on. Based from Sojung’s expression, it looks like she didn’t know either, “Who is asking?”

 

“I apologize, one of our fellow knights has asked me to relay the message and failed to get a name. However, they assured me that it is a fellow knight requesting your presence and that they will meet you outside the castle gates. They also said to inform you as soon as possible.”

 

Yerin frowns, sensing the seriousness of the matter but she can’t understand why she and not the captain when it was something so important. Nevertheless, she knew that even if the captain was requested, she wouldn’t exactly be able to leave the princess’s side.

 

“I understand. I apologize for having to leave early madames, your highness.” she turns to the group and bows her head in apology, the group waving it off.

 

“It seems important so don’t mind us, Yerin.” Irene assures her.

 

“Do inform me what it’s all about later.” Sojung says, Yerin nodding in confirmation before heading out with the knight leading her to where they were supposed to meet this person. Walking briskly, she was out of their sights in a matter of seconds, leaving the group staring after her in curiosity and slight apprehension.

 

“Sojung.”

 

“…Your highness?”

 

“Do you know of anything about what it could be?”

 

Sojung straightens her back, “I… have a hunch, your highness...”

 

“Is it something good?”

“Unfortunately…”

 

---

 

The trip didn’t take too long since Yerin was used to rushing whenever she was needed however, the person that they were supposed to meet wasn’t present thus the two knights turned to the gate guards to ask them.

 

“Yes, there was a chevalière here not long ago before you arrived. She did ask us to relay a message.” he tells the both of them, “And she strictly told us that the message was for Dame Yerin alone.”

 

“I see. It seems that I am no longer needed here.” the other knight turns to the woman, “I should go back to my duties anyway.”

 

“Thank you for your help.” she greets and waits until he has walked away before turning to the gate guard to listen to the message for her. It turns out that she was just asked to wait at the same spot she was currently standing on. Whoever needed her seemed to be adamant in taking safety precautions to make sure that no one else would know.

 

With the amount of urgency in the tone of the knight that had brought her the message, she had assumed that she would need to move as soon as possible, not made to wait like this. It’s such a shame given that she was having a great time with the siblings and princess.

 

“Yerin, you’re here.”

 

A voice greets her out of nowhere, and when she turns, she’s met with a surprising sight.

 

“Yuna? What in the world are you doing here?” she rushes to the knight’s side, noticing how the woman was leaning against the wall, wincing every once in a while and seemingly in pain. Upon closer look, the cloak wrapped around her figure looked dirtied and a bruise was visible on her left cheek.

 

Yerin was alarmed to see the current state of her fellow knight, knowing that the fact that Yuna was injured is something that couldn’t be brushed aside.

 

“What happened?” she demands, “No, never mind that. First, we need to get you treatment.”

 

“There’s no time for that.” Yuna stops her before she walks off to call for a doctor, “I need to tell you something important.”

 

“What can be more important than getting you heale—“

 

“Yerin, I fought the Black Rose.”
 

The knight stops in her tracks, a dumbfounded look on her face at the revelation. The reaction wasn’t unexpected for Yuna since Yerin sincerely believes Eunbi to be the Black Rose despite many instances that she might be wrong.

 

“You fought…? But Eunbi is—“

 

“Yerin, I don’t think it’s her.” Yuna shakes her head vehemently, “The one I fought was just how you described her, and can easily match up to me. What’s more—I think I know who it is.”

 

Yerin cannot help but be silenced at the sudden barrage of information that just came her way in the past minute. Here she thought that it was no more than an emergency regarding trivial matters but this… this was not what she expected.

 

Still, there was no reason for Yuna to lie to her, not when she was this injured and in pain and traveled that far a distance in her current state just to pass this information to her in person.

 

“Let’s get you healed first before you tell me what happened.” Yerin decides, prioritizing her friend’s health first and foremost, “Can you walk?”

 

“I’m alright. It’s only a couple of surface wounds.”

 

“Surface wounds…” Yerin rolls her eyes, “You told me the same thing when you broke your leg one time.”

 

“It was a sprained ankle—“

 

“It was bent out of shape.”

 

---

 

The celebration long forgotten, the two knights made their way to Yerin’s residence where she called for a doctor to have Yuna checked up on as well as receive treatment. It was a relief that the family doctor was present and was able to handle everything without any delay.  Thankfully, the extent of Yuna’s injuries was not serious and she was not in any life-threatening state. Still, the fact that she only got this injured despite fighting against the Black Rose just shows how much of a skilled knight she is, and that the Black Rose herself is as skilled as any of the kingdom’s King's Guard.

 

Settled within Yerin’s room so that the two can have their privacy, she strictly told their servants to make sure that they weren’t disturbed as they discussed the events prior to meeting at the castle.

 

“It’s too much of a coincidence that the Kims were attacked just when the both of us has set off for the celebration.” Yerin grumbles as she settles down on one of the chairs. Yuna takes up the empty space in front of her.

 

“It seemed to have been planned.” the younger knight tells her.

 

“Did you meet her as soon as you arrived?”

 

“Not exactly. I managed to arrive there peacefully and even explained the situation to the viscount upon my arrival.” she narrates, taking a sip from the cup of tea served to them earlier, “I had just begun to patrol the area but it quite dark since there were fewer people in the estate so, at some point, I found myself in an unexpected place.

 

“I chanced upon the weapon room.” Yuna continues with her story, “The sword that the son, Alfred, has was there. I remember you mentioning that you were sure it was the same sword you saw the Black Rose wield when you fought.”

 

Yerin nods, “And where was Alfred?”

 

“He was in his room given that it was already nighttime. I found it weird that with the threat of the thief present, he would not have his weapon by his side.”

 

“How does this relate to you fighting the Black Rose?”

 

Yuna frowns, “It was the exact time I exited the weapon’s room.” she says in a grave tone, “I wasn’t able to see clearly due to how dark it was, however, the mask and clothes, there was no way I could be mistaken. She was standing right outside the doors of the room. It looked to me that she was about to enter, obviously my presence was not one that she had expected. I assumed that she was about to steal something. Nevertheless, a fight was inevitable which was why I had immediately readied my weapon then, but the Black Rose, on the other hand, she didn’t have any weapon.”

 

“What?” Yerin stares, finding this part of the story unbelievable. Her methods have always been the same after all, to challenge the men of the house, and thus going without any weapon would be going against what she’s always done.

 

In the first place, what was she doing in the weapon room?

 

Yuna seemed to have sensed the incoming question and had already prepared an answer, “She took Alfred’s sword and fought me with it.”

 

Her eyes widened, “You mean—?”

 

“I’d like to believe that she was there for the weapon.” she continues, “It would make sense that they would use such an elaborate-looking weapon to steer the suspicion away from their real identities.”

 

Yerin frowns, knowing that Yuna’s reasoning made sense. This, however, further confirms that her suspicions that the Black Rose being Eunbi was becoming more and more improbable.

 

Not to mention that Yuna also said that she knows who it is.

 

“So they head to Viscount Kim’s estate, steal the weapon and use it whenever they attack other noble households?” Yerin summarizes the point that her fellow knight was trying to relay, “And they return it?”

 

“If they do not return it, then Alfred wouldn’t be flaunting it for all the other nobles to see.” she reasons.

 

“…But this will ruin the Kim’s reputation in turn. The more nobles that fall victim to the Black Rose, the more chances that the sword will be recognized and will immediately point to Alfred being the perpetrator, or at the very least, it will imply the involvement of the Kims.” the older knight sighs, brows furrowed as she thinks for a moment, “Does the Black Rose have a grudge against the Kims somehow…?”

 

“I’d like to think so. Nevertheless… Yerin, I want to ask you something.” Yuna leans forward, face serious as she makes sure that the woman’s attention was only on her, “Was… was the captain at the barracks when you arrived yesterday?”

 

She was asking because she was sure that the first order of action Yerin always does whenever she returns to the city is to report to Sojung.

 

“She wasn’t around, no.” Yerin shakes her head, confused at the sudden question and why Sojung was brought into the conversation, “When I asked the others, they said she left abruptly. Why are you asking? Would you like me to report this to her?”

 

“No. Don’t. I…” Yuna heaves a deep sigh, the memories of the previous night replaying in her mind over and over as if searching for a single piece of evidence to prove that she was wrong and her suspicions are just figments of images that her tired brain had conjured. However, no matter how much she tries to remember otherwise, she was very sure that the Black Rose she encountered that night could only be one person.

 

“Yerin, I think it was Sojung that I fought with last night.”

 

---

 

It was quite hard to believe.

 

Staring from a distance as the celebration ensued, despite the loud chatter and the music permeating across the courtyard, Yerin’s mind was having its own inner chaos and everything else just felt like small mutterings and white noise on the side. Yuna’s revelation has completely taken her off-guard and until now her mind hasn’t coped with the thought at all.

 

Their own captain? The one leading the chase after the Black Rose is the Black Rose herself?

 

Yuna must have been mistaken, that was what Yerin wanted to believe, but the look of seriousness on her face was not deterred in the slightest when she asked the woman if she was sure.

 

‘I’ve sparred with Sojung long enough to recognize her movements. I have no doubt it was her.’ Yuna had told her, ‘I may not have been able to see that well, but swordplay does not lie… especially not to me.’

 

Yerin didn’t want to believe it, but coming from Yuna herself who’s known to be a master of the sword and is nearly second to none—she can’t think of anyone else besting her besides Sojung. That fact was all the proof that Yerin needs.

 

After a long moment of trying to recover from their conversation, Yerin made her way back to the party while telling Yuna to stay and recuperate from her injuries. After all, she did promise to return and if she didn’t she was sure that they might find her absence worrisome. Still, it didn’t mean it made it easier to look Sojung in the eye and tell her that everything was fine.

 

She wanted to confront the woman about it. After all, Yuna’s story matched up with the events prior to this celebration. Sojung’s absence last night can be easily explained since she was at the Kim’s residence, stealing the sword. That, and she didn’t look to be in the best state. Yerin already knew that she must have gotten injured somewhere somehow, and having a bout with Yuna was the perfect explanation for it.

 

But still…

 

Yerin’s jaw hardened. There was only one way to confirm her assumptions.

 

“I fear someone might get stabbed with how much you’re glaring, chevalière.”

 

Without her notice, a presence had sidled to her side.

 

“Oh. Milady.” Yerin greets, surprised to see Eunbi beside her.

 

The casual way in how Yerin responded seemed to have caught her unawares as she raised a brow and takes in the knight’s current state. Compared to how she acted upon arriving at the party with her, she looked troubled.

 

“I remember you leaving because of something urgent, did something happen that we should worry about?”

 

Yerin forces a smile, enough to convince the woman that it was nothing, and shakes her head, “Not at all, it was merely an acquaintance seeking help. I had to send her to my home to get treated so I worry about her state.”

 

It wasn’t exactly a lie, but she wasn’t about to blurt the truth to her either. Yerin still needed to know what exactly is going on.

 

“A woman? Hm. She must be quite special for you to welcome her to your home with open arms.”

 

“She is.”

 

Eunbi couldn’t help but pause at this. Already used to her flirty nature, she would have expected her to say something along the line of: ‘Oh, but of course, you are special to me as well and I would readily welcome you to my home.’ But there was none of that. It could be possible that Eunbi had just overestimated her worth but the fact that Yerin’s reply was too short for her liking, and she seemed too out of it for the past minute. She’s more than sure that something was bothering the knight.

 

Not that she cared, of course, just curious is all.

 

“I wish her a speedy recovery then.”

 

The knight just nods, but quickly smiles the next second, and all of a sudden it was as if what Eunbi saw earlier was just a figment of her imagination.

 

“To what do I owe this pleasure of having your presence beside me, milady?”

 

The sudden change of tone caught her off-guard that Eunbi took a minute to respond.

 

“What? I can’t be here?” Eunbi retorts, ignoring the nagging question at the back of her mind.

 

“I didn’t say that.” Yerin laughs, “I just thought you’d find something more interesting than just standing here beside me.”

 

Eunbi sighs, gesturing to the crowd of people around the princess and Yewon, “Too many people.”

 

“Wow.” Yerin blinks, “Did something happen while I was gone?”

 

“Only that Yewon performed.”

 

The knight turns to her, shocked, “What!? To have missed such a spectacle— Ah, what have I done to deserve this misfortune?”

 

Eunbi just rolls her eyes, the corners of her lips turning up slightly at the sight of Yerin acting more like herself.

 

“Maybe if you beg her for it, she might sing once more for you.”

 

“I’ll go do just that.”

 

Yerin steps forward only to be dragged back.

 

“For a knight, you sure fail to act like one.” Eunbi scolds, keeping a firm hold on the collar of her clothes to make sure she doesn’t go off and embarrass herself in front of a crowd of nobles.

 

“You wound me, milady. I have the blood of a knight and even act like a knight when I sleep.”

 

“I somehow doubt that.”

 

Yerin pouts.

 

“You’re such a child.” Eunbi grumbles, letting go, “Anyhow, the celebration is about to end. I and Yewon will be heading back to our home so I came here just to tell you that. Will you be joining us, or will you go back to that friend of yours?”

 

“Oh, that’s…” a contemplative look passed over Yerin’s face for the briefest of moments, “I would be happy to the both of you. However, if I may…”

 

Eunbi's brows furrow, “What is it?”

 

“I have some matters to attend to for the rest of the night. I’d just like to inform you in advance should you search for me.”

 

Eunbi refrains from asking what those matters were, given that it wasn’t her business. However, she had an inkling that it involved her friend whom she mentioned earlier.

 

“You have no worries in that regard, chevalière. I won’t be looking for you.”

 

“Ah, your words are still as sharp as a rose’s thorns milady. But then again, that is what I like about you.”

 

“Stay away from me.”

 

“…You approached me first though?”

 

Eunbi stutters for a bit, “That’s… Whatever. Don’t bother coming back to the estate with us. It seems that as a knight, you prioritize your flirting over your actual duties.”

 

The noble was expecting a retort to that, as what she had gotten used to with their banters the whole time she was with her, but the knight had fallen uncharacteristically silent—the troubled look on her face returning and seemingly lost in her world once more.

 

Eunbi couldn’t help but be curious just what in the world brought the usually happy-go-lucky woman to go into this state?

 

“Something the matter, chevalière?” she can’t help but question, finding the lack of response unnerving.

 

“Oh, it’s nothing milady. But perhaps there may be some truth to what you said.”

 

“What?”

 

“I may not return with you back to your estate after this night.”

 

Eunbi takes a minute to register the knight’s words, and another minute to wait in hopes that the woman was joking and was ready to make fun of her, but another minute of silence made her realize that she was completely serious.

 

“What… exactly do you mean by that?”

 

Yerin opens to answer but was interrupted by Eunha, telling her that the princess was calling for her. The party was about to end and the princess wanted to relay her final words to the guests thus she wished for the celebrators’ presence to be with her as she does so.

 

Hesitantly excusing herself, Yerin accompanies Eunha to Irene’s side and leaves Eunbi with her question unanswered.

 

The noble just stares after the knight, unease filling her senses at the seemingly parting words Yerin said to her.

 

---

 

“The princess had given you a day off as a gift and you decide to spend it in the barracks?” the captain of the King's Guard muses as she stares at her fellow knight standing before her.

 

It was the day after the two’s celebration, the siblings have gone ahead that morning and departed for the viscount’s estate meanwhile Yerin had decided to stay behind, given that there was something she needed to do. Of course, she didn’t waste the opportunity to bid the sisters farewell, however, Eunbi was treating her coldly and was not willing to speak to her. In the end, she only managed to say goodbye to Yewon and watched as they departed, Eunbi not even bothering to meet her eyes as they did so.

 

To say that she was disappointed was an understatement. After all, their relationship had gotten better if one ignores the snide remarks she would receive from the noble once in a while. Nevertheless, there was a feeling of companionship, at the same time a sense of comfort by just being around the person.

 

Well, Yerin knew she was at fault anyway. She was unable to provide her with an adequate reason which resulted in a rather brash farewell. She was sure that this wouldn’t be the last time they will see each other, but it would obviously not be the same.

 

At the moment, she stood before her captain in the middle of the training field within the barracks. The princess had granted her as well as the others a day off to spend however she wished it to. As a result, she decided to use it to confront the captain about what she’s heard the previous day.

 

What better way to confirm Yuna’s words than to ask the person herself?

 

Of course, Sojung still has no idea about what she and Yuna had talked about and she preferred for it to stay that way. She’d rather hear a straightforward answer, than a response full of excuses after all.

 

It was early in the morning, and there were no other knights around, having gone to their respective duties. Eunha had yet to wake thus it was the perfect opportunity.

 

Sojung seemed to sense the seriousness of the atmosphere and turns to her, “You look as if you wish to say something to me.”

 

“I have a lot of things I want to say.” Yerin responds, “And I have questions to ask as well.”

 

“About what?”
 

“Where were you the night before the celebration? All the knights have told me you left for an urgent matter.”

 

“It was a personal trip. I did not feel the need to inform anyone of such.”

 

“Normally on such celebrations where a member of the Royal family would be hosting such a celebration, you would be drilling the knights of their duties until nighttime and you yourself would make sure everything goes smoothly. Leaving right before such an important celebration doesn’t seem like something you would do, so I will ask again: where were you?”

 

The captain remained undeterred by the sudden animosity in Yerin’s tone, “…And why should I answer your question?”

 

“You know that response just makes you suspicious.”

 

“Suspicious of what, Yerin? What exactly are you trying to tell me?”

 

Yerin frowns, having enough of the charade, “Yuna returned to the estate that night and fought the Black Rose, the same night that you were gone. Not to mention that you arrived that morning with slight injuries seemingly recovering from a fight. With someone of your expertise, the only person I know that could inflict such injuries would be someone of Yuna’s caliber and it just so happens that she is also injured. It all seems too much of a coincidence, doesn’t it?”

 

Sojung remains silent, but the look in her eyes was worth more than what a thousand words can convey.

 

“Are you the Black Rose, Sojung?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then why did Yuna tell me that it was you that she fought in the estate? She is not the kind of person who would say such things without proof.”

 

“Your ‘proof’ is mere speculation in the end, Yerin.” Sojung says, her tone radiating authority, “In the first place, I have no need to answer baseless accusations. I will let this slip for today, but the next time, I wouldn’t be so merciful.”
 

Sojung makes a move to walk away, trying to make it known that she considers their conversation to be finished.

 

“A pity.”

 

The King's Guard’s captain immediately stops in her tracks, her eyes wide at the gleam of metal that swiftly places itself underneath her chin. She dodges just in time, but the act completely caught her off-guard.

 

“If you won’t answer my questions, then I will have to make you.”

 

Yerin flicks her rapier to the side before entering into a stance, her blade pointed at the captain.

 

“Take up your sword Sojung. I challenge you to a duel.”

 

---

I'm alive. Just hella busy recently. I'll apologize for not being so active in the future for now. 

 

Still, please accept my sincerest gratitude to everyone who still reads this despite the inconsistent writer XD