CHAPTER 16. A Year Has Passed

* * *

Rare sunny days followed in Jarel Harbor, which usually brought storms and rain.

The sight of colorful ships with their sails raised looked like a scene out of a painting.

Children tossing biscuit crumbs to the squawking seagulls. Couples strolling on the pier. A gentleman in a bowler hat, looking curiously at the vast blue sea.

In the midst of this scenery, a man disembarked from a moored green ship.

A 14-year-old girl, who had been eagerly scattering biscuits, dropped her hand when she saw him. The scattered biscuits on the ground became the spoils for the ants.

His shirt was neatly knotted in a Y-shape, a dark blue vest that was bright but not frivolous, covered by a gray suit coat, and black shoes that did not hinder his slender stride.

The man, with a cold impression as if he had come from the north, was carrying a travel bag made of sheepskin.

Was he a newcomer who just arrived in Jarel? The girl, who had developed a longing just from seeing the man’s face, was about to step forward shyly when,

“Olivie! Are you crazy? That’s a ship from Zaln!”

A boy, holding the girl’s wrist, yelled jealously. Then Olivia blinked her eyes and rechecked the ship.

The name ‘Zaln’ was clearly marked over the green paint. Oh my god, Zaln. Isn’t there a famous saying in Jarel for children who don’t listen to their parents?

Cry like that and you’ll be sent to Zaln Island!

Zaln Island’s castle.

It’s a terrifying place known for its ghosts, tigers, or even artificially created humans from experiments.

An island where even the emperor dares not interfere and passenger ships are forbidden to navigate.

Olivia ran away with the boy as though she had just been enchanted by the handsome face. When the children left the port,

“Just made it on time.”

The man placed his bag beside him and checked his pocket watch. 11:24 AM. If he caught the carriage to Bistiman on time, he wouldn’t be late for the interview.

The man took out a letter from his coat pocket that had arrived a week ago. ‘Dear Dr. Hindley,’ began the letter, which was an employment offer sent by his academy professor.

The last time he saw him, the professor who had been researching by-products at the palace had surprisingly moved to the Pumong Guild.

He later heard that after the emperor started selling these by-products to other countries, he lost his job in research.

Xenobiology had already been unpopular since his days in the academy, so it was a doomed field of study as the value of magic stones rose higher than that of by-products, naturally fading from public interest.

But for Dain, it was an endlessly fascinating research topic. Thus, the professor’s offer was very welcome to him.

Of course, he accepted the job for another reason.

“Rosé…”

Dain gently rubbed his lips with his thumb and softly called out the name he had been waiting for over a year.

Rosé Mora of Bistiman. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Dain accepted the research position at the Pumong Guild because of her.

Dain reminisced about the past year. The year he had waited for her to return to Zaln Island.

Dear Miss Mora,

It’s Dr. Hindley. If it’s not too much trouble, could you visit Zaln Island once more? I will include the announcement with this letter. Please check it at your convenience.

To my dear friend Rosé,

Was my last letter a bit too stiff? If so, I apologize.

Rosé, would you consider visiting Zaln Island for your summer vacation? The sea seen from Zaln is incredibly beautiful.

I would be overjoyed if we could watch the sunset over the sea together. Please consider visiting.

To the friend I miss, Rosé,

Rosé, autumn is becoming chilly. It’s the season when beautiful autumn leaves bloom in Zaln. Although you might be busy, how about taking a day to visit Zaln?

I’ll treat you to warm tea and homemade cookies. And how about walking down the ‘Lovers’ Path’ lined with autumn leaves with me?

I’ll be waiting for you. Please do visit.

To Rosé, the main character of my terrible lovesickness,

I worry that my previous letters haven’t reached you. It’s already winter and snow is falling.

I’ve heard that winters inland can be very cold; I hope you’re keeping warm.

Today finally saw the first snowfall in Zaln. Watching the snowflakes flutter by the window makes me miss Rosé’s face even more. Would you consider visiting me even once?

I have something to tell you, Rosé. Before it’s too late, I want to look into Rosé’s eyes and confess my true feelings. I miss you.

Spring, summer, autumn, winter, and spring again. I’ve sent a total of 67 letters throughout the seasons, waiting for Rosé. However, I never received a reply.

Dain was worried that she might have become another man’s lover. It was entirely possible. There was no man in this world who wouldn’t fall for her beauty. 

But it didn’t matter. If Rosé had found another lover, then she would become her cheating partner, and that was that. 

He had chosen to major in a field that others shunned — monster biology. He could withstand that level of scandal. For the sake of love. 

“Miss Rosé, I miss you….”

Dain prayed, clutching his chest tightly with gloved hands. Rosé Mora. The days he could spend with her, the days he longed for.

* * *

“Hey… another bottle of liquor here!” 

A woman who was lying on the sofa in broad daylight shouted, holding up an empty liquor bottle. 

The neatly dressed male attendants seemed accustomed to this, nodding their heads slightly. 

“Jerome, do something about it. It’s the third bottle already.” 

“It’s not even 6 o’clock yet.” 

Michol Salon was an upscale social club that opened at 6 in the afternoon. It wasn’t a cheap bar that welcomed day drinking. 

Jerome patted the shoulders of the retching attendants and took matters into his own hands, picking up a tray. Instead of liquor bottles, there were eggs and hot pepper juice, known for relieving hangovers, on the silver tray. 

“Rosé, is something bothering you?” 

Rosé, who was cleaning out the empty liquor bottle, looked up at Jerome. She was smiling kindly, a priceless smile. 

Even when she came to see him with the black cloak, she looked at him with such affectionate eyes. Even when he realized she was the Black Cloak while fixing it.

“Oh, Jerome…” 

Rosé burst into tears and clung to Jerome’s arm. Jerome quickly placed the tray on the table and embraced Rosé. 

“Rosé, tell me.” 

“That scoundrel… he took it again today! My money…!” 

Jerome calculated in his head. Ah, it was payday. 

Rosé always came to the salon around this time and drank like this continuously because her boss took her salary as compensation.

“If that’s the case, you should have told me right away. Okay, no more tears.” 

Rosé’s tears stopped at those words. Jerome chuckled and took out ten silver coins from his wallet. 

“This week’s allowance. Let me know if it’s not enough.” 

The alcohol buzz dissipated. Rosé looked at Jerome with a touched expression. 

“Thank you, Jerome.” 

Jerome patted Rosé’s head as she regained her smile. Since when had Rosé become a regular who occasionally teased Jerome? 

But it was only when she was drunk. When she was sober, she drew a line out of embarrassment. It was quite frustrating for him.

“I just finished making a dress yesterday. Would you like to try it on?” 

Rosé seemed to catch on to his hint and looked at the clothes she was wearing. A strong smell of alcohol wafted off her. If she went home like this, she would surely hear it from Elion or her master.

“May I ask a favor?” 

“Of course. The measurements are tailored for Rosé, after all.” 

Jerome offered his arm to Rosé and escorted her to the sewing room.

Initially, it was a place for making banquet dresses for noblewomen, but now it was used exclusively for Rosé. 

“Have a seat, Rosé.” 

When Rosé sat on the round sofa provided for her, Jerome returned with new socks and ribbon laces.

“Rosé’s feet are always cold. Even though it’s spring.” 

Kneeling down on one knee, he took off Rosé’s shoes. Whenever she teased him, her toes wiggled as if she was ticklish.

“These are the socks I gave you last time. I’m proud to see you wearing them well.”

After neatly removing and folding her socks and placing them on the sofa, Jerome put on new socks for Rosé. Her feet were always pretty no matter how many times he saw them; it was hard to believe that such pretty feet ran around the streets.

His hand had reached up to her knees without him realizing it. To prevent them from slipping down, he had to tie the ribbon here. However, Jerome’s hand lingered on Rosé’s thighs for a long time.

“Uhm… Jerome?” 

“Your feet are cold but here it feels warm.” 

The insides of her thighs especially felt warmer. How warm would it be deeper inside?

Rosé didn’t resist. The door was locked, and outside was noisy with music. Maybe no one would notice.

But he had to stop playing around at this point. Jerome didn’t want his close relationship with Rosé to crumble.

“Um, it looks like the corset is a bit out of place….” 

Jerome led her to the mirror and adjusted his tie. It seemed that a few corset strings had snapped due to drinking.

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I tie it for you?” 

Rosé nodded slightly. Seeing her permission, it seemed like she wasn’t fully drunk yet.

Jerome’s long fingers began to gently pull the corset strings. Her slightly sagging chest rose up and perked. Usually, when tightened this much, the shape tends to collapse, but Rosé’s br*asts maintained their rounded shape perfectly. Her chest was large but her ribcage was not wide, making adjusting the corset enjoyable.

After giving Rosé a tiny bit of breathing room, Jerome pulled the corset strings as tight as possible. A small sigh escaped from her.

“I feel a bit… suffocated, Jerome.”

“There’s nothing I can do. Rosé, your body is just so exquisite.”

Jerome opened the wardrobe and once again presented a dress that emphasized the chest. The deep green color was usually chosen by noblewomen for formal occasions. It exuded elegance and sophistication.