The Strongest Brother Lost His Memory-Chapter 116

Inside the box was an old piece of parchment, folded in half.

With trembling hands, Zahid unfolded it.

“...Hm?”

It appeared to be some kind of map.

At the end of a winding, maze-like path was a small lake. The rest was filled with indecipherable hieroglyphs.

The Imperial Family hadn’t been able to decipher it either—and now that he looked at it, Zahid could understand why. It seemed impossible to make sense of it.

“What the hell is this? Maybe it’s only meaningful as a keepsake—”

Just as Zahid casually started folding the map in half again—

“Wait.”

Rosie caught his wrist with a firm tap.

“Wait...”

At some point, she had even taken off her mask.

Her green eyes were more serious than ever as she stared at the parchment.

“...Why?”

Zahid furrowed his brow and tilted his head.

“Do you think you can read it? Hm... Is it ‘Antata’? Or ‘Theol’? They kinda look similar...”

“No.”

Rosie slowly picked up the parchment. Then, as if in a dream, she murmured,

“Zahid.”

“...Yeah?”

“I... I think I can read the ancient language.”

“...What?”

As far as Zahid knew, there was no way to learn the ancient language.

He’d heard vague rumors that there were people in the Temple who could read it. But as far as he knew, no one outside could.

“This isn’t ‘Antata’ or ‘Theol’.”

Suddenly, Zahid remembered—how Rosie had learned to read late, and how she especially struggled with ‘Antata’ and ‘Theol.’

Rosie seemed to be digging through old memories as her eyes carefully traced the ancient letters.

“Method of Divine Beast Awakening.”

And then—Rosie began to read the ancient script fluently, without hesitation.

“Here, the master and the Divine Beast shall become one...”

She was only reading words off parchment, yet Zahid couldn’t take his eyes off her.

It looked so natural, like a child taking their first steps. And yet, there was something undeniably sacred about it.

Her maid’s uniform was modest. Her silver hair was tousled from running up the long stairs.

“...must be prepared to face the consequences.”

With a furrowed brow and one hand clutching the worn parchment, her expression was unforgettable.

Even the heavy air around her, tinged with the scent of rain, felt eternal.

Then, his father’s voice echoed in his mind—

“When you meet someone who truly follows the will of the divine, you’ll instinctively recognize them.”

It was a feeling he had never known before.

She looked disheveled, but somehow... too noble. It made him feel reverent, humbled.

Zahid loathed the Temple—but even so, the only word that came to mind was “sacred.”

“You’ll worship them without being told to. You’ll want to protect them with everything you have.”

While Zahid stared in a daze, Rosie shrugged and said,

“Well, I have no idea how to write any of this. So I guess it’s kinda useless?”

“...Wh-What?”

“And I don’t even know where this map leads. Looks like it’s going to rain—better put it away. It might get wet.”

With a crisp snap, she folded the parchment in half. The holy aura that had surrounded her faded with it.

“You...”

And yet, Zahid continued to stare at her.

“What?”

Rosie leaned in, grinning mischievously.

“Do I look too pretty? Have you finally fallen head over heels? Getting butterflies now that we’re alone? But hey, we’re still kids, you know.”

“T-That’s not it! Hey—too close!”

Flustered, Zahid stumbled back. Not just his ears, but even his neck and fingertips felt like they were burning.

Just then—

In the distance, music began to play. Specifically, the familiar melody of the Ellaine dance, drifting in from the garden.

“Huh?”

Apparently, despite the annex incident, the children’s banquet was still continuing.

“Perfect timing.”

Smiling, Rosie tucked the map back into the small box and handed it to Zahid. Then, she dusted off her gray skirt and stood up.

Zahid instinctively looked up at her.

Behind her, from atop the high clock tower, the black night sky stretched endlessly.

“Zahid.”

With a sea of sparkling stars at her back, Rosie slowly extended her hand to him.

“Let’s dance.”

Her green eyes sparkled.

“You promised.”

The melody of the dance echoed faintly but clearly in the distance.

“Hurry. Before the rain ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) starts. If it does, they might stop the music too.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Zahid took her hand and stood up.

His heart was still pounding like mad—but somehow, he managed to stay calm.

He picked up the mask that had fallen near her feet and gently placed it back on her face.

It was a small black mask with an overly fancy floral decoration. Zahid plucked a gem from his own mask and attached it to hers.

“What’s this?”

Rosie tilted her head.

Zahid took a deep breath and answered plainly.

“Something expensive.”

“Really?”

“I didn’t thank you properly earlier, but... thank you. For delivering my parents’ keepsake.”

“Whoa, so you’re giving me this as a thank-you gift?”

“No. That was just my excuse.”

Zahid chuckled quietly as he looked at the jewel he’d affixed to her mask.

It wasn’t a rare jewel by any means—but it was a purple sapphire, the symbol of the Dyfenril family.

Purple sapphires were rare. Most people mistook them for amethysts at first glance.

“I just... wanted something of mine to be on you.”

“Wow, is this a territory mark? That’s seriously romantic.”

“...”

Why did she have to say it like that...

While Zahid struggled for words, the dance music continued.

“Come on, let’s dance. We don’t have much time.”

Why was she rushing so much?

Rosie grabbed both of his hands.

Ellaine was normally danced in a circle by a group of children—but since it was just the two of them, they had no choice but to hold hands.

Spin, spin.

Then let go and spin alone—clap up, clap down.

And spin again.

As Rosie twirled with her arms fluttering, her silver hair—now completely loose—sparkled and scattered under the moonlight.

Zahid had never thought dancing could be fun.

But this moment, right now, was fun. Now he understood why the children had been buzzing with excitement for days leading up to Ellaine.

Smiles lit up both of their faces.

Zahid thought to himself—this felt like a dream.

She’d written back that Ellaine was supposed to be danced with a group.

Zahid found himself smiling without realizing it.

Once again, Rosie had been right. She always said the strangest things—but she was always right.

“You’ll fall for me. I know I’m right.”

That’s what Rosie had said the first time they met.

And somehow, that felt true too.

He wanted to say it today—how furious he’d been when Chloe tried to steal the position of his fiancée.

That only Rosie could ever fill that role now.

That he wouldn’t get flustered anymore at the mention of love or affection.

That, clumsy as he might be, from now on he’d do his best to show her how he felt.

That even though he was still young, his feelings for her wouldn’t change—not ever.

Because that was what it meant to be a Dyfenril.

“Rosie.”

He spoke softly.

“I have something I want to say.”

“Ah...”

Rosie drew a slow breath.

As the song neared its end, the once-lively tune began to slow.

“...Sorry, but could I go first, Zahid? I have something I need to say too.”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

Zahid nodded without thinking.

“Zahid.”

The girl who always spoke without hesitation... hesitated.

“I never thought I’d be the one to say this first...”

Her mask hid her face, so he couldn’t see her expression.

She wavered briefly—and then said it all at once.

“...Let’s break off the engagement.”

A single drop of rain finally fell from the heavy clouds above.

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