Chapter 28. I Became a Member of the Imperial Knights

“Rosé Mora, do you swear to belong to the palace knights with unwavering loyalty to the Empire?”

Rosé quietly looked down at the sunlight that shone from the window to her feet, then slowly raised her head.

In her eyes reflected Ariel, holding a sword engraved with the imperial seal in both hands.

“Yes, I swear.”

She straightened her bent knee. Now Ariel turned his eyes to where each knight commander stood.

“I ask each knight order: Will you recognize Rosé Mora as a member of the Imperial Knight Order?”

Karl Rostin, Marien Toston, Emmett Bovir. The White, Red, and Blue Knight Commanders stepped forward one pace and saluted the Crown Prince. The response began with Karl Rostin, the White Knight Commander.

“White Knight Karl Rostin recognizes Rosé Mora as a member of the Imperial Knight Order.”

Karl’s expression remained reverently composed before the Crown Prince, but his glance toward Rosé Mora clearly revealed his displeasure.

However, Karl Rostin couldn’t dare oppose the Crown Prince’s wishes. If the Crown Prince wanted to appoint Rosé Mora as a knight, Karl Rostin and his knights would have to act according to that will.

They were the center and pillars of the Empire. The representatives of knighthood tradition and integrity. That very fact constrained their actions.

The White Knights could never go against the imperial family’s wishes. Even if it meant accepting Rosé Mora.

Stepping back, Karl glanced at Marien, next in line. The Red Knight Commander had always been known for her inability to tolerate injustice.

She might rebel. Hoping for this, Karl held his breath and stared at Marien’s lips.

“Red Knight Marien Toston recognizes Rosé Mora as a member of the Imperial Knight Order.”

But her answer was unexpectedly disappointing. Would Marien, that woman, also side with the Crown Prince? Contrary to Karl’s thoughts, Marien’s decision came from her own will.

She had closely observed the Black Cloak’s achievements in Kamit. Marien would never forget that moment when the unclosed boundary closed, that moment when tremors ran through her.

If the Black Cloak couldn’t be appointed as a knight, who could be recognized as one?

Rosé Mora would become an inspiration to all female students walking the path of knighthood.

“Blue Knight Emmett Bovir.”

Finally, the Blue Knight Commander stepped forward. Everyone’s eyes turned to him.

He was the direct superior who had to accept Rosé Mora as a member and the person most closely responsible for her. Also, he was virtually the only knight who could oppose the imperial family.

Emmett spoke to the audience waiting only for his answer.

“I recognize Rosé Mora as a member of the Imperial Knight Order.”

A heavy silence fell. With this, Rosé Mora’s knighthood appointment was unanimously accepted.

Soon Ariel presented Rosé with a sword. The platinum scabbard bore the imperial seal along with a swan pattern.

The small engraving ‘Rosé Mora’ below proved she was the owner of this sword.

“Rosé Mora, I appoint you as a member of the Imperial Knight Order. Your position from today will be a Blue Knight, and I declare that the oath’s effect shall remain unless you die or resign through appropriate procedures.”

Then, assistant secretary Otrion, standing beside Ariel, opened a storage box and took out an oath document. Soon, Rosé received a large parchment with a handwritten oath and a quill pen.

Rosé wrote her name at the bottom of the oath document, placing it on the gold stand that Otrion held. The completed oath document soon went to Emmett.

All members’ oath documents remained under the care of their knight commander until they resigned. Rosé’s oath document would also be placed in Emmett’s office until then.

“Rosé, thank you for becoming my knight.”

Ariel kissed Rosé’s forehead and left the audience chamber. Knights followed behind him, and the once crowded audience chamber soon became deserted.

When only Rosé remained, standing alone with her sword and nowhere to go, someone approached and spoke to her.

“You can receive your new knight uniform and future schedule at the First Division Captain’s office.”

It was assistant knight Trian. Rosé, unable to break her habit, first checked Trian’s conquest card.

B-tier. He was a handsome man with excellent muscles and a warm face, but perhaps he received such a rating because there were so many splendidly built men in the knight order.

Regrettably, he was outside Rosé’s interest. How could a B-tier catch her eye when an S-tier had violated her during sleep?

“Thanks for letting me know.”

With that brief greeting, Rosé left the audience chamber. Sadly, Trian couldn’t take his eyes off her retreating figure.

* * *

“Raiden, calm down!”

Patrick pleaded while grabbing Raiden’s shoulders. The man who had been fine during the appointment ceremony suddenly changed and started raging.

If he had objections to the Black Cloak’s appointment, he would have expressed his anger much earlier. What could be bothering him so much?

“Emmett Bovir! That damn bastard!”

The cause of his anger lay elsewhere. Patrick and the knights exchanged confused glances. Meanwhile, Raiden, consumed by his own thoughts, remained oblivious to his surroundings.

Throughout the appointment ceremony, he knew how Emmett had been looking at Rosé. Standing opposite, he couldn’t help but notice.

He recognized those eyes filled with obvious desire. He felt nauseous, just like when he discovered the Crown Prince with Rosé that night.

“Raiden. I know you oppose the Black Cloak’s entry, but as long as His Highness the Crown Prince wishes it……”

Patrick caught his breath and continued.

“The Commander couldn’t have done anything either.”

Raiden let out a hollow laugh. Had that man ever been one to faithfully obey the imperial family?

Emmett Bovir recognized Rosé Mora purely out of his own greed. He would have wanted her to join the knight order as much as the Crown Prince did.

“Then what about all of you.”

Raiden’s eyes, which had been smiling emptily, turned toward the members. Those bloodshot eyes looked even eerie.

“Can you recognize that woman as a member?”

The members pressed their lips tight and glanced at each other. Raiden watched them hesitate to answer and twitched the corner of his mouth.

On the day of the Black Cloak’s welcome banquet, they could hardly close their mouths while looking at Rosé in her dress. These guys were no different from Emmett. They all must have lost their minds.

“D-Dame Rosé saved us at the Kunalgi boundary. She is our benefactor. I don’t oppose her, Captain.”

One member bravely spoke up. For others, perhaps not, but for the First Division members, the Black Cloak was the benefactor who saved their lives. So in terms of knight qualifications, she had already fulfilled them long ago.

She was Bistiman’s hero. The boundaries in the outskirts that she had closed over the past two years were proof of that. Then there was no reason why she couldn’t become a Blue Knight.

But Raiden couldn’t accept it. One fact surrounding her negated all of that. The fact that she was Lian Mora’s daughter.

“Do you all think the same as this guy?”

Raiden sneered and looked over the members. They all kept their heads down without answering. Idiots.

Knock knock.

Patrick, who stood closest to the door, flinched and turned around. Soon, a familiar woman’s voice was heard along with a small sound of deep breathing.

“This is Rosé Mora. I’ve come to receive my knight uniform.”

Patrick secretly signaled to the members. They needed to leave quietly before trouble started.

“Get out.”

Raiden rubbed his forehead as if suddenly overwhelmed by fatigue. Patrick opened the door. Rosé, standing in front of the door, was startled for a moment and backed away to the wall.

“Go in.”

Rosé stepped over the threshold with a slightly stiff face. But the state of the room was unusual.

Chairs scattered everywhere and broken statues. While scanning the room with an uneasy heart, she heard the door slam shut behind her.

Completely sealed in a confined space. Rosé fidgeted with her forearm.

Raiden, who had been looking at her—barely reaching his chest—let out a dejected laugh.

“I didn’t expect you to come right after the appointment ceremony. Not even formally inducted yet, but eager to show off, aren’t you?”

His underlying tone was full of hostility. Rosé tried to explain, but to Raiden’s eyes, she only appeared to be flapping her insufficient mouth.

“Sir Trian told me to go to the Captain’s office……”

“Don’t attach ‘Sir’ to an assistant knight. You came here calling yourself a knight without even knowing basic etiquette.”

“I’m sorry, Captain… sir.”

Rosé deliberately suppressed her anger and added the honorific. Before being appointed as a knight, perhaps not, but now Raiden was her superior. That meant she would have to address him as ‘Captain sir’ from now on.

Did she think Raiden would look favorably upon her? A man who hated her with his entire being. Moreover, a loose-lipped man who might have exposed her identity. How could she possibly be pleased with such a man?

‘Once I fill all my ability stats, I’ll sew that mouth shut. Really.’

“What? Feeling bad because I’m speaking informally after calling you ‘Black Cloak sir’ so diligently?”

‘You call that talking?’

“Not at all, Captain sir.”

“Hearing ‘Captain’ from your mouth makes me sick.”

‘Look who’s talking!’

Rosé bit her lip hard to suppress the rising curses. But she couldn’t hide her cheeks flushing red with anger, which made Raiden sneer.

“You said you came for your knight uniform.”