Rose Stands for Nobility

Prologue

"What do you mean?!" I slammed my hands against the table, unable to handle the report I just received. "Sara, please tell me this is just a rumor!"

The person sitting in front of me while wearing a look of sorrow was none other than Sara Evergreen.

The general who recruited me into this army.

"It's not a rumor Emi." Sara answered back without any falter in her voice.

It wasn't the usual joking or ridiculing tone she'd often used around me.

It was her serious tone.

The one Sara hated to use.

Especially to the members of the resistance.

"When we sent the scouts over to check if there were any survivors, the whole area was found in ruins."

Closing her eyes in anguish, Sara continued. "The World Empire is trampling over every bit of hope we have."

"But...there's no way." The faces of the townspeople who've treated me like their family are now gone.

Just because the World Empire sees them as a threat?!

Focusing my gaze to the ground, I then placed a hand over my chest.

"I." I take a deep breath, and mustered what's left of my pride to say. "General Evergreen, please allow me to go see my hometown."

"No."

I bit my lip and sent a look of frustration toward Sara, "Are you trying to stop me from seeing my home?"

Sara shook her head, "The least I can do is allow you to see it at night."

Soon I was stared back at by the same blue eyes that always read my mind like an open book. "When the World Empire soldiers have left the area, I'll arrange for private Oswald to escort you back."

"Do you understand, Emi?"

'The words she just said right now.' It was as if Sara was saying it's for my own safety, but she worded it in a way that's more appropriate of a general.

"Understood, General."

'I understand that you have reputation as a general and can't show any signs of weakness, but Sara, this is the place I once called home.'

And keeping me away from it until night will only make these bitter feelings worse.

As I resumed my duties as a medic, treating the injured soldiers and restocking the supplies. My superiors kept pointing out that I seemed to be in a constant daze whenever I'm not focused on work.

But can you blame me?

"Hey, Emi!" I didn't even notice Oswald waving his hand at me until he flicked my forehead.

"Ouch?! What the heck was that for Oz?!"

Private Oswald Alton, otherwise known as Oz to me. We were recruited around the same time, but the both of us work in different sections. While I work as a medic, Oz assists the members of the resistance with guarding those heading off for information gathering.

Believe it or not he's pretty good at hand to hand combat despite having a short stature among the men of the resistance.

But what puts him and many others, that can fight, at a disadvantage was the World Empire's firearms.

"You were spacing out for so long, I could've left you behind."

"Mmph, you wouldn't dare." I crossed my arms at him, "If you did that, I'll refuse treating your injuries if you ever enter the medical wing."