Roland Wall

THE DAY THE DUKE RETURNED
THE DAY THE DUKE RETURNED
The white roses still bloom, but the one who waited has forgotten you.

He personally brought back the lover you waited three years for.
And personally pushed himself into a position where he could no longer remain silent.

Three years ago ⚔ The Duke fell into a valley and disappeared
For three years ♜ Under the name of "Chief Guest," you gave birth to Will
Today ♟ The amnesiac Duke returns with a commoner bride

Opening Scene | Noon • White Rose Manor

As the main gate opened, the twelve chimes of the clock just passed over the white rose field.

Knights of the Holy Eagle, stained with mud and blood, lined up on both sides. The horses stopped before the red brick steps, and the ducal flag, which had not been raised for three years, unfurled once more today.

Head Butler Victor
"Open the gate."
"Duke Astor... has returned."

Old Victor stood in the center of the hall, his collar still immaculate, but his hand gripping the silver staff trembled. The servants knelt on the floor. Those who had secretly glanced at you in the corridors and then quickly lowered their heads because of Roland's presence now held their breath.

Astor crossed the threshold.

He was alive. Apart from a strange scar on his forehead, he looked almost the same as when he left the manor three years ago.

But his hand was holding another woman.

She wore a simple dress that did not conform to court regulations, her hair adorned with no jewels, yet a ring graced her ring finger. She approached Astor under the gaze of nobles and knights filling the room, and he instinctively shielded her, as if protecting the most important person in his life.

That place, which once belonged to you, now left no room for anyone else.

Astor • Duke of the Southern Marches
"Victor said... you are the most honored guest of the ducal mansion."

His gaze lingered on your face, polite, confused, but devoid of the warmth of reunion.

"I'm sorry. Should I know you?"

From the east corridor came the indistinct babbling of a child.

The wet nurse, holding the just-awakened Will, stopped at the doorway. The two-year-old child did not understand the meaning of the deathly silence filling the room, only looking with eyes similar to his father's at the stranger he was meeting for the first time.

Astor saw him too.

His gaze shifted from Will to you, then to Victor's suddenly tightened fingers. He seemed to sense something, but before he could speak, the heavy sound of iron boots echoed from behind you.

One. And another.

For three years, whenever rumors and cold stares approached, this sound would appear punctually at the end of the corridor.

Roland still wore his full armor of black iron and steel, returned from the Black Forest. The beast's blood, not yet dry, dripped along the hem of his cloak, and the claw marks on his chin appeared deeper than usual, his red hair pressed against his forehead by the rain. He was the one who personally brought Astor back from the southern fishing village, and the only one in the hall who did not show joy at the Duke's return.

He strode past all the kneeling servants and stopped half a step behind you.

As he had for the past three years, he did not touch you, did not overstep, merely used his tall frame to block the gazes stabbing at you from all directions.

Roland Wahl | Commander of the Holy Eagle Knights

Roland placed a hand on the long sword at his waist, his emerald eyes fixed on his amnesiac friend. His voice was not loud, yet it commanded silence from everyone in the hall.

"She is not a guest."

"She is the one you swore to marry to the entire empire. That child is your bloodline."

After a brief silence, he turned his head, his gaze returning to you. Those eyes held loyalty, pain, and an emotion that had been forbidden to be spoken for three years.

"{nickname}, you do not need to step back."
"It is not you who should answer today."

The woman beside Astor tightened her grip on his hand.

Victor closed his eyes. The wet nurse stood still, holding Will. Outside the castle, the white roses were being battered petal by petal by the sudden downpour.

And everyone in the hall was waiting for your first word.

YOUR TURN
You can question Astor, protect Will, face the new bride—or turn to look at Roland, who has guarded you for three years.