"Fia, you said that friends talk, go out, and sleep together, aren't you?" (Cyril)
Captain Cyril spoke in a cool voice, but—
Wait, wait! That last one was crazy!
"C-Captain! I have no intention of interfering with our friendships, Captain, but I don't sleep with friends of the opposite sex!!" (Fia)
"That's good to hear. I was listening to you and thinking that your way of thinking was quite liberal, so I'm relieved to have you correct me." (Cyril)
"Guh..." (Fia)
No good. It was assumed that I had spoken. It's not a good idea to bring up something from a time when you don't remember.
"So then? I'm sure friends have a lot in common, but what do you want to share with me, Captain?" (Fia)
So, let's change the subject.
"...Well, I guess it would be 'memories'. I'd like you to share my memories with you." (Cyril)
"Memory?" (Fia)
When I asked him, feeling like I was getting a glimpse into what was going on inside of Captain Cyril, he smiled brightly.
"Yes, there is a place that brings back memories for me. Every year, I visit that place so that I don't forget my past actions, and I was wondering if you would accompany me." (Cyril)
"...It's a very personal matter, so I'm not sure if it's OK for me to accompany you, but if the Captain says it's okay, I'll go with you. Where is the location?" (Fia)
"It will be my territory." (Cyril)
A territory! If someone owns a territory, then they must be a nobleman, right?
Thinking that, I tried to act nonchalant and ask.
"By the way, what was Captain Cyril's family name?" (Fia)
"...Fia, you're asking as if you've forgotten, but you probably don't even know my family name to begin with, do you? It's Sutherland, you know." (Cyril)
"_SAZALAND_!!" (Fia)
What a thing to say. Isn't this the territory of the Blue Knight, who was my guardian knight in my previous life?
"Is Captain Cyril a descendant of the Blue Knight?" (Fia)
When I asked in surprise, Captain Cyril asked back in surprise.
"Have you ever heard of the legend of the Blue Knight? How dare you know of such a less-known knight?" (Cyril)
"Less-known? Based on the blue and white of the kingdom's national flag, the two most outstanding knights have been chosen as the 'Blue Knight' and 'White Knight' for generations, right? I think he's the most famous and honorable knights among the knights, right?" (Fia)
"...Fia, it's been over 300 years since the kingdom's flag was blue and white. Now, Nav Kingdom's flag is red with a black dragon emblem." (Cyril)
...Th-That's right!
Indeed, one of the things that surprised me after my memories of my past life came back to me was that the national flag had changed. The current royal family's name was also Nav, so the dynasty didn't seem to have changed, so I was wondering why they changed the flag.
"Well, does that mean that the most famous knight right now is called the 'Red Knight'?" (Fia)
"...Fia. Red is a forbidden color. It is a color that is not permitted to be used, you know." (Cyril)
"Huh? Is that so?" (Fia)
"Yes. Red is the color of the Great Saint. We have returned the 'Great Saint's Red' to her." (Cyril)
The great saint's red...?
My eyes widen at the words I heard for the first time. Certainly, in my previous life, I was known as the Great Saint and had the same red hair color as I did now. Could it be something to do with that? Or perhaps after my death some great saint appeared and did something related to the color red?
I tilted my head to the side and thought about it, but there was no way for me to come up with an answer, as I didn't know anything about the events of the past 300 years—So, feeling that it might be dangerous to continue this conversation with the incredibly clever Captain Cyril, I decided to change the subject.
"I-I see. Now that I think about it, there aren't any red clothes or curtains for sale. That makes sense if red is a forbidden color. So, is Captain Cyril a descendant of the 'Blue Knight'?" (Fia)
Still, I was curious as to whether Captain Cyril was connected to "The Blue Knight," so I asked him about it again.
Captain Cyril let out a self-deprecating laugh and tilted his head.
"Do you really care that much? Unfortunately, I'm not a descendant of the Blue Knight. I believe you are referring to the last Blue Knight to bear the surname Sutherland. He had no children to carry on the name, so during his generation the Sutherland territory was confiscated by the royal family. The royal family managed that land ever since, but my father inherited it about 30 years ago." (Cyril)
"I, I see..." (Fia)
It felt strange to hear about what had happened to my old colleagues with whom I had spent time. I felt like asking him if the Blue Knight had lived a long and healthy life after my death, but I also felt that I shouldn't mention it. I hoped, belatedly, that my death would not upset him.
…Yeah, it's about 300 years late though, huh.
"Understood, Captain. I'll escort you there. When do you plan on leaving?" (Fia)
——I was suddenly overcome with loneliness and wanted to see again that beautiful land surrounded by blue sky and sea.
The Blue Knight loved the land of Sutherland. His gravestone would surely be in Sutherland. While I was accompanying Captain Cyril, I would take the opportunity to pray.
"Well, I'm sure you'd like to rest a bit too, so let's leave in three days." (Cyril)
I agreed with a smiling Captain Cyril and left the captain's room.
I thought becoming friends with the captain was a ploy to force an unreasonable request on me, but it wasn't that bad after all—I thought as I closed the door to the captain's room.
Yes, yes, the captain was a sensible knight after all...
"What, Fia?" (Fabian)
As I left the captain's room and walked down the hallway, I heard a voice call out to me from behind. When I turned around, the silver prince was standing there. It was Fabian.
"Oh my, Fabian. Even though we haven't seen each other for a while, you've become even more of a prince! I wonder how to create that sparkly effect?" (Fia)
Not only was Fabian's silver hair, but the whole area around him seemed to be sparkling, and I couldn't help but muttered.
Fabian came closer and was laughing amusingly.
"As always, Fia, you make statements that normal people can't understand. That's what makes you interesting. How was the Fourth Monster Knights?" (Fabian)
If I were asked again, I wouldn't know how to answer.
"Hmm, between you and me, I ended up returning home without having accomplished any of my original goals." (Fia)
"Yeah?" (Fabian)
"During the extended absence of Captain Quentin of the Fourth Monster Knights, Vice Captain Gideon was acting in his place, but he didn't seem to like me, so he was assigned other duties. I wasn't able to do the work that Captain Cyril asked me to do." (Fia)
"That's unfortunate. I've heard that the Fourth Monster Knights have an exclusive side to them, so maybe they didn't like Fia trying to help them with their work while still being a member of the First Knights. I guess we'll just have to accept that it's the nature of the Fourth Monster Knights and accept that it can't be helped... It'll be fine, because we all know that Fia works hard. It's not Fia's fault that you didn't achieve their original goal, you know." (Fabian)
Looking at Fabian, who was smiling brightly and trying to subtly lighten my mood, I thought he was a really handsome guy. He was handsome both inside and out, this was the best.
"Thanks, Fabian. Captain Cyril didn't even scold me for not carrying out my duties. Knowing Captain, even if there were complaints, I'm sure he would just take them on himself and pretend like there's nothing wrong with him, so I was worried that I was causing trouble without realizing it." (Fia)
"Huhu, Fia is a good girl. It'll be fine, Captain Cyril won't be protected indiscriminately. If someone is protected, there's a reason for that, you know." (Fabian)
"Huh? ...So, you think I'm so unreliable that I can't survive on my own?" (Fia)
Certainly, compared to the veteran Captain Cyril, I'm nothing more than a child...
I asked worriedly, and Fabian burst out laughing.
"Huhu, Fia's ideas are interesting. I have no way of knowing what happened in the Fourth Monster Knights, but looking at last night's banquet, unless you're a complete idiot, I can see that you've accomplished something great. Not only Captain Cyril and Captain Desmond, but even Captain Quentin and Captain Zachary refuse to leave Fia's side." (Fabian)
"Huh? Um..." (Fia)
"You don't have to say anything. It seems like there's a gag order on anything related to FIIA. ...But it's interesting, isn't it? You're the important one, but they didn't tell you anything? I guess you're free to talk about it?" (Fabian)
I blinked at Fabian, who was mumbling mysteriously.
...Huh, what kind of observation skills are those?
It would be one thing if it was captains in the position of knight captain, but even Fabian. The knights around me were so competent, it's a bit annoying.
I actually looked at Fabian with a displeased look on my face, but Fabian continued speaking without seeming to mind.
"By the way, it seems that Captain Cyril will be visiting the Sutherland Duchy soon on behalf of His Royal Highness the King's younger brother, Savis." (Fabian)
"Huh…………?" (Fia)
...Did you just say Sutherland? Sutherland is the place we're going to visit with Captain Cyril next time, right? Wait, Captain Cyril sounded like it was a private trip, but is it an official event? Moreover, acting on behalf of His Highness the King's younger brother...?
"F-Fabian, did you say that he's not the Commander of the Knights, but the representative of His Highness the King's younger brother?" (Fia)
If they were representing His Highness the King's younger brother, then the ceremony would not be conducted as part of the Knight Order's business, but as an official national event. If he was to attend as a representative, then wouldn't a visit to Captain Cyril's territory be an important event for the entire nation?
I was so surprised that I asked flustered, and Fabian answered in affirmation without hesitation.
"That's right. That place became a battlefield ten years ago. It was a civil war called 'Sutherland's Lament'. Since then, the royal family has visited that place every year to pay their respects." (Fabian)
"I, I didn't hear about it being an official event! If they're appointing a representative, does that mean Commander Savis is too busy to visit? But, it's amazing that Captain Cyril can act as the representative of the Commander...no, His Royal Highness the King's younger brother. The authority of a Captain, the head knight, is limitless." (Fia)
"No, this time, Captain Cyril's position is that of Duke Sutherland, with the right to inherit the throne..." (Fabian)
"Fia"
Fabian was interrupted by a voice calling his name. I turned around and saw Commander Savis standing there.
Well, I knew this morning would be a day when I would meet new acquaintances one after another, and finally the commander showed up. An encounter with an SS-ranked important person! Right?
Together with Fabian, I turned towards the Commander and took the knight's bow. Commander Savis approached me with long strides and looked down at me.
"It seems that Fia and Cyril are going to visit Sutherland. ...We need to talk, so come over to me and Cyril later." (Savis)
Well, being summoned directly by the Commander of the Knights was no small thing, you know.
…Captain Cyril, now it's clear!
The visit to Sutherland was not at all as relaxed as Captain Cyril had made it seem!!