Jade silently moved his pen. Then Rosana would suddenly come to mind. He’d told her to come tell him if she had a wish. Since then, she hadn’t come to see him.

It was a day no different from usual. Yet somehow a corner of his heart felt empty. Blue eyes that had rippled with waves flickered before his eyes. Jade, who’d stopped his hand, sighed with his chin propped up.

Malek, who was waiting beside him, raised his head at the sound of the sigh. He’s stopped his hand again. Malek sighed along while looking at Jade’s face, lost in thought. He even called out to Jade at his behavior of scribbling doodles.

“Your Majesty.”

At first, he called lightly a few times. But it didn’t seem to reach Jade’s ears at all. Malek cleared his throat and called out loudly.

“Your Majesty!!”

“Has something happened?”

“Yes, if we’re talking about something happening—your hand has stopped. And this document is unusable now.”

The document with several circles drawn on it was hard to read. Malek, who pulled out the document, quietly opened his mouth.

“If you’re worried about Lady Arcadi, there’s no need to be concerned. Jane is by her side, isn’t she?”

“But I’m not there, am I?”

“Pardon?”

A hollow laugh escaped at the absurdity. Jade looked out the window, thinking of Rosana who hadn’t come.

“I thought I had deep patience. Turns out, not at all.”

He wished she would come soon. And he looked forward to what new side she’d show. The last Rosana Jade had witnessed was a girl who looked ready to burst into tears. 

He’d seen wounds he couldn’t dare glimpse. If Jade hadn’t conveyed his words honestly, Rosana probably wouldn’t have understood her own emotions well.

Removing Emma would be easy. But would that truly be the path for Rosana?

He thought not. If she doesn’t break through herself, she’ll fall into the swamp again someday. 

Beginning to forge ahead must be done with one’s own steps. Only then does the driving force to overcome the many things that will happen in the future arise.

Before rising to the position of Emperor, Jade had seen countless people. Diovaha was barren with nothing to eat, so the citizens’ lives were a mess. Naturally, the country was utterly bleak.

He’d seen enough people who accepted the unavoidable reality and gave up walking. There were soldiers who lost limbs in war, those who chose s*icide because they hated starving. 

But if given an opportunity, if provided the chance to stand up, some people rise again. He had, and several knights in the knight order had.

He wanted her to speak of her own will. He wanted to make her, who’d only avoided, speak directly. Only the first time is difficult. And hopefully…

“I wish she’d overcome it and show a lively expression…”

“Pardon?”

Jade didn’t answer Malek’s question. However, knowing roughly who he was thinking of when he muttered, Malek shook his head.

“Have you developed feelings?”

“What?”

“The person who used to be so averse is now paying quite a bit of attention, aren’t you?”

“…”

Jade couldn’t bring himself to deny Malek’s words.

“Do you wish for her to be happy?”

“Happy? Mm, it could be that. And…”

Jade recalled Rosana laughing softly.

“I’d like her to smile.”

Though he’d spoken boldly while putting on airs, in the end he just wanted to see the smile that had captivated him. He wanted to exchange conversation comfortably. Not hollow conversation hiding true feelings.

What was she carrying on those small shoulders? 

For that, he needed to untangle her knots. Conversation shared while thoughts are elsewhere isn’t enjoyable. He wanted Rosana to be happy.

To make such an earnest confession with such a nonchalant face. Malek, who’d heard the embarrassing words, quietly stared at Jade’s face.

“…Do you love her very much?”

Jade’s eyebrows twitched. Then immediately, he said what nonsense.

“Love? It’s not that grand. We’ll be husband and wife, won’t we? It’s not pleasant when she has a sullen expression.”

His words sounded like denial. Malek said “Yes…” in a reluctant, trailing voice. Then Jade, saying he suddenly remembered, gave Malek one order.

Malek’s expression at hearing the order nearly soured, but as the head chamberlain serving the Emperor, he composed his expression well.

‘Your Majesty, that is a sign of love.’

* * *

Rosana mulled over alone the words Jade had dropped like a bomb before leaving. 

She sat on the bed pondering endlessly, went to the garden for walks to get fresh air, and took out the dagger secretly hidden in her pillow to reflect her face on the blade.

She was gradually acknowledging herself.

With each passing day, she looked in the mirror. A slightly different self from yesterday was reflected in the mirror. 

Rosana’s expression reflected in the mirror changed day by day to one filled with determination somewhere. She decided to acknowledge Jade’s words.

That she had been avoiding. Though she’d spoken fancy words, in the end it was she who was avoiding out of fear, and she shouldn’t avoid anymore, and didn’t want to either.

Was that why? 

It was different from such resolutions that echoed emptily. Though fear filled the heart she couldn’t even glimpse herself, now it wasn’t so. With a clicking sound, the box opened. The person who held that key and opened it directly was herself.

On a warm morning, bright sunlight pouring down and a cool breeze. A strange heat circled in Rosana’s blue eyes reflected in the window. Then she slowly raised the corners of her mouth. 

It was a smile she always wore, but something looked different. Then Emma broke Rosana’s reverie.

“Miss. Are you going for a walk today too?”

Walking had become one of Rosana’s daily routines. Rosana stared intently at Emma, then slowly shook her head. Today she had somewhere else to go besides the garden.

“No, not today.”

She had no intention of organizing her thoughts anymore. Now it was time to tell him the thoughts she’d organized. Can the current me speak well to him?

But she decided to try. Like he said, she decided to become honest instead of dishonest.

“Shall I call Jane for you?”

“What?”

“Call Jane.”

At Rosana’s resolute command, Emma had no choice but to reluctantly withdraw from combing her hair and go call Jane.

A moment later, Jane, who’d appeared behind Rosana, paid her respects.

“You called for me?”

“Does His Majesty have business today?”

“I expect he won’t have anything particular. I’ll inquire once.”

“Would you? I want to meet him today.”

Jane raised her head at Rosana’s words. Rosana smiled, staring intently at Jane’s eyes like she’d been waiting.

“Tell him I want to tell him… the answer he’s been waiting for. Ah, and would you finish styling my hair? In the style that suits me best.”

“Miss! I’ll…!”

“No, you step back.”

Emma flinched at the different look in her eyes from usual. At the gaze staring intently saying she wouldn’t allow it, Emma retreated hesitantly. 

She held in her chest a resolve she’d carved and carved again so it wouldn’t break. She’d carved away and discarded crude emotions and thoughts.

She looked at the passing servants. In the ducal family, Rosana had been treated like she didn’t exist. Whether out of fear or unwillingness to deal with her, they were busy passing quietly while holding their breath. 

But here was different. The servants politely paid their respects whenever Rosana appeared.

It was this different. Unable to escape the shadow of the Arcadi ducal family, she’d covered her own eyes with a veil. She realized once again that it was she who hadn’t properly seen.

Rosana walked leisurely to the place where Jade was waiting. For the first time, she toured the palace where Jade lived.

‘Come to think of it, he’s the person who’ll be my husband, but I’ve never come on my own.’

It was the same as saying she’d had no intention of advancing the relationship herself. Because she lacked courage, she’d expected and hoped the other side would approach her. Rosana toured the palace anew.

It was splendid, befitting a palace where the Emperor lived. Even the decorations were gilded. 

She didn’t like gold decorations because they were so dazzling they stung the eyes. But the gold decorations here reminded her of Jade’s golden eyes, and a small laugh naturally escaped.

When she arrived at the castle, Malek appeared before Rosana like he’d been waiting. Malek, who bowed politely, said:

“I’ve been waiting. His Majesty is waiting in the garden. I’ll guide you.”

The place Malek indicated was outside the palace, namely the garden. Rosana nodded and followed behind Malek. A well-maintained garden appeared.

It was a garden that fully revealed Jade’s taste. Rather than flashy flowers, it was decorated entirely with foliage plants, which made the refreshing air even cleaner. It felt good to step on the rustling, densely grown grass.

In the very center of the garden was a table, and in one of two chairs, someone was already sitting. That person was waiting for the person who would sit opposite, tapping their fingers with arms crossed.

Jade and Rosana’s eyes met. He grinned as soon as he saw Rosana’s eyes.

“You came.”

“Yes.”

Jade watched Rosana. He could tell just by looking at her eyes. That she had changed.

Jade silently escorted Rosana. He went ahead to where Rosana would sit and pulled out the chair. At that gentle attitude, a smile formed on Rosana’s lips.

“I apologize for making you wait.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

After seating Rosana, Jade sat in his own seat and quietly offered her the tea before her eyes.

“I hope this suits your taste this time.”

Rosana’s eyes curved beautifully as she tasted the tea. It was tea with a slightly bitter taste. Jade chuckled seeing Rosana’s comfortable appearance.

As expected, she wasn’t a completely weak person. Rosana, who’d felt many emotions and organized her thoughts, was before his eyes with a comfortable face.

“It’s a good look.”

“Your Majesty, I want to say thank you first.”

“No thanks needed.”

Rosana spoke resolutely.

“No. I want to express my gratitude. Until now, I only avoided. I covered my ears to not listen, and restrained my mouth. Then… my heart became a bit more comfortable.”

“Is now better than then?”

Rosana stared at Jade with wide eyes. They were the same eyes as then. Words that precisely hit the core.

“Yes.”

Rosana smiled brightly with an embarrassed face, the shadow of darkness lifted. And Jade’s expression crumbled along with it. He raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

“When Your Majesty asked who ‘I’ was… I didn’t know myself, so I couldn’t answer.”

Rosana spoke calmly without any change in tone. At her serious expression, Jade also listened. Her calm voice struck Jade’s heartstrings.

“Actually, there was someone who believed in me like Your Majesty.”

“…There was someone like me?”

Jade became a bit displeased. Rosana, seemingly nostalgic as she carved out memories, became disagreeable, so words came out gruffly. But Rosana was recalling Mari’s matter, so she didn’t notice Jade’s reaction.

“What kind of person were they?”

Jade asked in a flat tone. At the voice acting nonchalant, Rosana also spoke like bringing up an ordinary past story that anyone would have.

“The only person who believed my words, a precious person. But… I didn’t want to become ‘Rosana,’ so I let go of her hand. But ironically, that incident made me closer to ‘Rosana.’”