...Ah, it's my living room. How nostalgic.
The
"If we're here, I'd like to go somewhere with lots of books, like the library or my old room."
"Unfortunately, I was never guided there, so it's not in my memory."
"Aaah, why didn't you take me there last time? The library or bookstore we visited last time would be fine too. If there are books, let's go there."
"No."
Even though I was squirming with the desire to be surrounded by books from my Reono days,
Completely ignoring my suggestion to go somewhere with books, Ferdinand walked over to the shelf with the Okan art and pointed at the lacework.
"Last time, you explained this to me — this would be the lacework that became the model for your hair ornament, correct?"
"That's right, but you have a remarkably good memory for having seen it only once."
I couldn't remember what or how I had shown and explained things, but Ferdinand remembered it all clearly. Our brains must be structured differently. As I mused on this, Ferdinand's emotions became somewhat agitated — he seemed to grow a little nervous.
"What is it, Ferdinand-sama?"
"
"Huh?"
Sensing Ferdinand waiting intently for my answer, I searched my memory. After Papermaking had settled down somewhat, I remembered pitching hair ornaments to Benno as a new product. The Guild Master had wanted a new hair ornament for Frieda's
...Wait. But why did I make the first one in the first place?
"I don't know."
"It was for Turi, apparently."
"A hair ornament craftsperson, right?"
"I haven't met Turi many times, but I was present for one of the hair ornament deliveries."
The scene shifted. It became clear from the conversation that the delivery of the hair ornament made for
"I do remember receiving the order for Lady Eglantine's hair ornament."
"Very well. Then do you remember why you were glaring at me with such a dissatisfied expression?"
"I don't think I'd remember that regardless of whether my memories are connected or not."
The Rozemyne in the memory was glaring at Ferdinand with a face full of wariness and dissatisfaction. Ferdinand, who had to inspect the item destined for royalty despite being busy, was equally displeased — something like "You brought this trouble on yourself, so what's with that face?" He pinched her cheek until she nearly cried — surprisingly childish of Ferdinand.
...Half of that was just her taking her frustration out on him!
"That girl is Turi."
A girl with green hair braided into three plaits at the back arrived with the members of the
Ferdinand's heart was filled with anxiety and wariness — how much of a shock would Rozemyne feel at this first meeting after waking from Yurive, how much had her relationship with her family changed during the two-year gap. His hand rested on his leather pouch, ready to pull out a magic stone at a moment's notice, so that she wouldn't lose control of her Magic Power from the shock or emotional turmoil.
Despite Ferdinand's worries, Turi only needed to meet Rozemyne's gaze and smile to dissolve her stiffness. She smiled gently, and her blue eyes brimmed with love that was obvious at a glance — the eyes of someone gazing at a precious, beloved person. They were the same as the eyes of the father and mother I couldn't remember.
...I know these eyes.
"I would like to present this to Lady Rozemyne."
It seemed Turi had been making a spring hair ornament while Rozemyne was immersed in Yurive. She smiled happily, just as she had when presented with books, and when asked "Will you put it on for me?", Turi shifted her body to make it easier to attach the ornament.
Turi glanced at Ferdinand once, then with a delicate gesture, gently removed the hair ornament she was currently wearing. She tidied the slightly disheveled hair draped over her shoulders with her fingertips, letting it flow down her back before attaching the new ornament. Her touch was so gentle.
"How does it look?"
"Since I made it specifically for Lady Rozemyne, it looks absolutely wonderful on you."
Rozemyne met Turi's gaze and smiled. From their expressions, one could read that even the slightest contact was precious time.
...I want to keep watching.
Whether it was me or Ferdinand who thought this was hard to tell. The fragile bond between Rozemyne, who desperately reached out even when separated, for the briefest of contacts, and the family reaching back to take her hand — it was blinding to Ferdinand. At the same time, he bitterly reflected on his own actions of separating her from her Commoner family, even if there had been no other way, and on the attack that had created the two-year gap.
"Ferdinand-sama, do you know what the first hair ornament was made for?"
"I heard it from Benno — apparently you made it for your older sister Turi. As a celebration for the Baptism Ceremony, the whole family made it together..."
Ferdinand must have recalled his conversation with Benno. The scene shifted from the orphanage director's room to the Chief Priest's office. Benno and
"How about this? As ordered, I used the finest thread to create a splendid piece. The hair ornament started with the one a child who came to sell in my shop made for her sister's Baptism Ceremony. That's why I believe it's very fitting for Lady Rozemyne's Baptism Ceremony celebration."
"Oh?"
"...Turi, who has always made hair ornaments for Shrine Maiden Apprentices, and her mother wove the thread, and her father carefully carved this wood to create it. I'm certain Lady Rozemyne will be delighted."
Benno's smile was the one he wore when certain of victory. When that smile faded, the scene returned to the living room.
"You can't remember? How you made the hair ornament. Given your lack of interest in anything besides books, you may have started it but quickly lost interest, just like with embroidery. When you started something new, perhaps your parents and sister watched with trepidation, wondering what you were going to do. Or perhaps, knowing that family, they were on board from the start and all worked together."
At Ferdinand's words, something surfaced in my mind — my voice pestering for "thread," my hands carefully beginning to knit with a finely carved crochet hook. There were people around me. I could tell I wasn't alone.
"...There were. They were there. But I don't know whose fingers touched the finished little flower. Who was it that praised it, saying 'Wonderful'?"
Like finding a small thread to pull, hope sprouted within Ferdinand's emotions.
"Probably your family. They may have made baskets and bags together too."
My mother in my Reono days had gotten bored partway through, so I was the one who finished it. In my Commoner days, there was someone who made bags alongside me. Desperately searching my memory, I tried to grasp the shadowy figures appearing in my mind.
"You said you also made lint, candles, soap, glue, and ink — you couldn't have made all those alone. There must have been someone who made them with you. Someone who looked after you when you fell ill, who supported your frail body and worked alongside you. How did you make them? Who supported you? Weren't there many who worried and scolded you?"
At Ferdinand's words, multiple shadows flickered through my head. "Now, now, Mine!" "Stay still!" "Mine, what are you doing?" "Come on, let's go!" — multiple voices speaking simultaneously. It gave me a headache.
"I was... scolded a lot and worried about... I was frail and weak and couldn't even do chores properly... So there were lots of people around me."
As I spoke, something hot welled up in my eyes and my vision blurred. I knew that precious memories were there.
"But... I don't have memories of loving my family. Books were the most important thing, and the only thing more important than books was... probably only Ferdinand-sama..."
"The reason the only thing more important than books to you was me is because after Memostora severed your memory connections, I was the only one they were reconnected to. Your feelings for your family are deep enough to drown in."
Within Ferdinand's emotions, a faint mix of joy, resignation, and grief emerged, along with an imploring plea for her to remember quickly. Ferdinand's impatience made even my chest feel restless.
"Your feelings for your parents and family were an emotion I hadn't known before. An attachment completely different from what I felt toward my father or
As Ferdinand spoke, a meal from Reono's mother appeared — the same menu as in his memory. Freshly cooked white rice, miso soup with tofu and wakame, grilled yellowtail teriyaki, meat and potato stew, mixed simmered hijiki, and pickles.
"Even though I've never eaten it myself, it felt delicious and nostalgic."
"Has Mother's cooking become a nostalgic taste for you too, Ferdinand-sama?"
"No. It only feels that way because I resonated with you. What I find nostalgic and delicious are the dishes you created. ...I learned that in
Being relieved that food wasn't poisoned — was that actually meant as a compliment? I had always thought Ferdinand was quite the gourmand who loved delicious food, but apparently his standards for meals were surprisingly low.
"What kind of life have you been living where whether or not there's poison is your standard..."
The moment I said that, the Japanese Food before me transformed. There was a meat dish like roast beef, and a woman who looked like an aged Ditrinde wore a cruel smile as she watched what was happening. Ferdinand's pain — the agony of struggling to breathe, desperately holding back the urge to vomit — spread through my entire body in an instant.
"You fool."
With Ferdinand's roar, the woman's image vanished and was replaced by Reono's mother, and the meal before me returned to Japanese Food.
"Choose your words carefully. You'll end up seeing things you shouldn't. Focus only on recovering your own memories. You don't need memories like that when the time comes to recover your family's memories."
Ferdinand's emotions churned with irritation and hatred. Was that what his daily mealtimes had been like?
"That woman just now was Lady
"...Yes, that's right. You were truly raised with care and loved deeply."
The mother sitting before me, sharing the meal, had deep love visible in her eyes. *How happy,* I thought. She had been raised with love so abundant it was obvious at a glance. Joy and happiness piled up inside my chest.
Because these were memories from the time of resonance, I could also feel the confusion young Ferdinand had faced from his mother's direct love. What I felt was love for my family, tangled with regret, reflection, and nostalgia. Among the complexly intertwined feelings, the strongest was love for family. Love for the Reono family I had already lost, and love for the family I was living with now — both swirling together.
...I love all of them.
"Ferdinand-sama, even though my family memories haven't reconnected properly, it feels like my feelings have come back. My family is so important to me. I love them all, I love them so much it's unbearable. ...But even though I love them, I can't remember..."
I had seen their faces. Heard their voices. I knew their names. They were right there. I truly felt that the memories of time spent with precious people were just a little further. And yet, the memories seemed to be behind a thin membrane I couldn't grasp.
"Hey, Ferdinand-sama. Was I properly returning the love I received? Was I just taking without giving back? How did I love them?"
With my question, something close to anguish spread within Ferdinand, and the scene before us changed.
...The Chief Priest's office. My adoptive father and father were there, but whose memory was this?
"Mine!"
"Turi!"
Turi broke free from Father's hand and ran toward Mine, who wore the blue clothes of a Shrine Maiden Apprentice, with a radiant smile. After hugging her tightly, she pulled back and began checking whether Mine was hurt.
"Father was seriously injured and came to get us with such a scary face, and even Mother and Kamill ended up coming to the Temple — we were so scared something had happened to you, Mine. I'm so glad you're safe."
Turi innocently rejoiced at Mine's safety, and I felt a warmth as the "love" inside me meshed with the love radiating from Turi.
But Ferdinand, watching the two of them, was filled with sorrow. He would soon have to separate this family. While it was a blessing that there was a way to save the lives of Commoners who had defied the Nobility, every time he heard reports from Fran or
Mine's parents seemed to understand the situation, their faces twisted in pain as they knelt. Turi, told to kneel as well, looked around and hastily knelt down. When she noticed that Mine wasn't kneeling, her expression stiffened — Ferdinand could see it from his perspective.
The room was cleared of others and fell silent. There was visible hesitation in the adoptive father's actions, but he wore the face of a Lord as he granted the kneeling family permission to sit and respond directly. Then he explained that Mine would become a noble and his adopted daughter.
"It's my fault!? Because I came to get you, you were attacked, weren't you?"
"No, Turi. The attackers were already at the Temple, so even if you hadn't come, I would have been attacked. If anything, I'm sorry you got dragged into it. Were you scared, Turi?"
To avoid burdening Turi with guilt, Mine explained earnestly that she was becoming a noble to prevent the crime from extending to her family and Attendants — that the attackers had struck against Nobility out of desperation, and that becoming a noble was the only way to protect everyone.
...No. It was because my education was inadequate.
If Arno had properly conveyed Fran's messages and the former High Priest's visit, it could have been prevented in advance. Ferdinand gritted his back teeth as he watched Mine reach out to stroke the head of Turi, who was bowing and weeping.
...This was not how things were supposed to go.
Tormented by regret and humiliation, Mine's family members exchanged promises and embraces one by one. Ferdinand's chest was squeezed by the deep family bonds, and he was nearly crushed by remorse and guilt at the sight of the family being torn apart.
"I promise. I'll definitely make clothes for you, Mine."
"I love you, Turi. My wonderful, proud big sister."
"Don't push yourself. Stay healthy. ...I love you, my Mine."
"I love you too, Mother."
"Kamill probably won't remember, but I'll make lots of picture books for him, so make sure you read them to him."
"Father always protected me. If I ever get married, I want someone who'll protect me like Father does."
"Mine, when that happens, you say 'I want to be Father's bride.'"
"Mm. ...I want to be Father's... bride."
With aching love and hope clinging to even the smallest chance of meeting again, I received promises from my family but felt like I had nothing to give in return.
"Aren't I just... receiving love without giving anything back?"
I wanted to cry, but this was Ferdinand's memory, so I couldn't. I wanted to remember everything quickly. I couldn't stay like this, having lost memories of such precious people.
"I'm going to change my name, and I won't be able to call you 'Father' anymore... but I'm Father's daughter. So I'll protect everyone — the whole town."
When Mine said this, her ring glowed. She could feel her emotions surging and her Magic Power overflowing. Ferdinand immediately gripped his Stab and stood. Mine's Magic Power must not hurt her family. But Mine, thinking of her family, decided the overflowing power must be used for them, and began to pray with her emotions laid bare.
"Supreme God who governs the lofty, majestic heavens — the divine couple of darkness and light. Five great gods who govern the vast, expansive earth. Water Goddess Fluträne, Fire God
As Mine raised both hands slowly while offering her prayer to the gods, a pale yellow light began to shimmer and overflow from her ring alongside the divine names. There was no auxiliary magic circle, no sacred symbols drawn — only pure intention and prayer as the light of blessing danced through the air.
...This is putting too much strain on her body!
While Ferdinand hesitated over whether to stop her, Mine continued to pray. In her own words, she prayed earnestly to the gods.
"I offer you my heart. I offer my prayers and gratitude. Grant me your sacred protection — the power to heal pain, the power to press onward toward my goals, the power to repel malice, the power to endure hardship. For those I love."
The sight of blessing light dancing throughout the room, woven from nothing but love for her family, was so beautiful that Ferdinand was rendered speechless. I, too, could only watch from Ferdinand's vantage point as the light of blessing rained down.
"Hya!"
"Rozemyne, what's wrong?"
The moment the blessing light descended, memories suddenly began connecting one after another. Starting from when she had awakened feverishly, they linked in succession. Days spent with family, the joy of being accepted when
Only once they began connecting did I understand. What had vanished wasn't just memories of precious people. Memories from when emotions had been severed — even in a terrible way — had also disappeared. The sight of young children writhing in the underground chamber of the orphanage returned to my mind.
"...Rozemyne! Rozemyne!"
I could hear Ferdinand calling. If I didn't answer quickly, I'd be scolded. I tried to answer but hesitated, because his voice was already angry.
...My head is still spinning, so just give me a moment.
I cautiously opened my eyes to gauge my surroundings. Ferdinand's face was right there. The instant our eyes met, the deep furrows between his brows relaxed into relief. He embraced me, and a whisper laced with a sigh reached my ears — "Thank goodness..."
...Huh? Who is this? The real him? What happened? Could it be that Ferdinand-sama broke?
Rozemyne, who somehow managed to reconnect her memories.
Ferdinand, who has far too many memories of regret and anguish.
The type who probably recalls his regrets before happy memories.
Dumbfounded by Ferdinand's strange behavior once her memories returned.
Next is Part 3.