Red rose

I silently listened to Jiho's words. There was truth in them, but that wasn't enough.

The memories showed that he had tried to protect my mother. But no matter the outcome, he had never directly resisted.

So that was the reason.

Still, something was missing. Why was this family so loyal? Normally, people only stayed obedient out of fear, but here… it felt like something else was at play. Was there a fate ability involved?

Not important for now. I'll investigate later. I need to set my priorities straight.

I fixed my gaze on Jiho.

"Now that I've asked my final question, I have a few things I need from you."

Jiho gripped the notebook in his hands tightly and bowed his head.

"First, record all of this castle's wealth. How much gold is there? What luxury items are unused? List everything."

Jiho quickly took notes, his pen moving faster than before. At least he could follow orders immediately.

"Second, gather the population data of the village below. How many elderly, how many children, how many young people? Who has fate abilities, and what kind of abilities do they possess? Write them down and bring them to me."

I paused for a moment before continuing.

"Third, I need a detailed map of the surrounding area. Neighboring kingdoms, mountains, forests, lakes… If there's an existing map, bring it. If not, write down everything you know."

Jiho finished writing and lifted his eyes to me. "Do you have any other requests, young master?"

I leaned back into the chair, wondering if I had forgotten anything. My eyes drifted down to my legs.

Right. I couldn't keep walking around in these clothes.

"Pack up all the clothes in my room into a chest. I'm not wearing that garbage. Get me a simple pair of trousers and a shirt or something similar."

Jiho nodded in acknowledgment.

"There should also be a library in this castle. I want to know where it is."

Jiho noted it down, then closed his notebook. "Understood, young master. I will fulfill your requests as soon as possible."

As Jiho left the room, he quietly shut the door behind him. Silence fell.

Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a glow on the wooden floor. Dust particles floated lazily in the air. I turned my head slightly and looked outside, taking a deep breath.

"I guess getting used to this world won't be that hard."

For now, everything was going smoothly. At least, for now.

I stood up. My bare feet touched the wooden floor, a slight chill running through them. Jiho had told me the library's location before he left.

I opened the door and walked down the corridor with slow, deliberate steps. The stone walls were dimly lit, high ceilings looming above, and old carpets muffled my footsteps. This place was cold, yet undeniably grand.

Minutes later, I arrived in front of a massive door. The entrance to the library was much larger than usual. The carvings on the wooden doors caught my attention.

I placed my hand on the door and murmured softly.

"Impressive craftsmanship… In my previous life, no one cared about things like this anymore. Everything was about mass production."

Gripping both handles, I slowly pushed the doors open.

A heavy creak echoed through the air as the doors swung inward.

The scent of old paper and dust greeted me as I stepped inside. The library was vast, spanning two floors, with towering bookshelves lining the walls. The wooden floor creaked slightly under my steps. Dim golden light cast soft shadows between the shelves.

I walked over to a nearby shelf and pulled out a random book.

The cover was deep green, slightly worn at the edges. In the center, a simple red rose was embossed. Faded gold letters on the cover read: " Final Days of the Rose."

Interesting. Even though I wasn't supposed to know this world's language, I could read it.

I flipped through the pages until page 77 caught my eye:

---

"No rose is special, but the one you nurture with your own hands becomes special to you."

A rose is just a flower. Hundreds bloom in a garden, swaying in the wind, withering away in time. But when you plant a seed in the soil, when you watch over it from the moment it sprouts, when you keep the earth moist so it doesn't dry out… that rose ceases to be just another flower.

As days pass, you grow attached to it. You memorize its colors, recognize the curve of its petals. You don't talk to it, yet a bond forms. Because you've protected it. Even when its thorns pricked your fingers, you didn't abandon it.

And one day, when it finally blooms, there will be only one flower in the garden that stands out to you.

That rose isn't any more beautiful than the others. It isn't bigger, either. But because it grew with your time, your patience, your care—when you look at it, you see something no one else can.

---

I closed the book after reading the passage.

None of this mattered to me. Whether a rose existed or not… what difference did it make? I had no time to waste on such things.

What I needed was real, useful information.

I put the book back on the shelf and moved on to the next one. But no matter how much I tried to dismiss it, some of the words I had just read continued to echo in my mind.