I longed for this touch to continue… Is it because my heart has already frozen that this hand finally touching me feels cold?

She smiled bitterly. She once thought someone would see her someday, but that belief had long faded after more than ten years passed. Just like she had thought Rosana’s touch was horrifying, now Rosana found her horrifying too.

Rosana tilted her head slightly and asked. She expected the answer that would come from her mouth, but she wanted to hear it directly from her lips.

“Has it been decided that I’m the one, just like Mother said?”

Rosana smiled sadly. Then she blinked her eyes wildly like a madwoman.

“Of course.”

Like it was the natural order of things. The Duchess released Rosana’s hand and gestured around like an actor in a play, pacing about.

“His Majesty has no princess, and Amy is engaged to His Highness. Shouldn’t you go? Why did you do it? Even if you loved His Highness, you should have maintained basic human decency.”

At her actions, playing the role of a loving mother, Rosana quietly closed her eyes. She no longer took in the sight of her, who appeared black. Rosana spoke to her with a sad smile. 

Hiding her anxiously trembling eyes, she asked her.

“Mother, I didn’t do that. I had no intention of killing Amy.”

The reason Rosana couldn’t even push open a single door was because she was suspected of trying to poison her twin sister Amy.

It was an herb to relieve headaches, and depending on how it was used, that herb could also be used as poison. Her medical records clearly showed frequent headaches. 

There were even records of prescribed medicine, yet they blamed Rosana. They packaged it nicely and created a story.

“…How could that be? I know you well.”

Rosana’s eyes sank sadly. Yes, that was her catchphrase. No matter how much she denied it, those words wouldn’t be erased. The “Rosana” she created showed no signs of disappearing. 

She laughed bitterly at how absurd and insignificant her situation was—that she could only be free if she let her go.

“The Emperor of Diovaha is rumored to be a monster. Occasionally, terrible screams echo through the imperial palace. They say the Emperor, unable to forget the war, takes people and t*rtures them. When you think about it, you’re quite similar, Rosana.”

“…Is that so?”

Rosana spoke in a powerless voice. And now, to completely end this farce that was finally reaching its conclusion, to shake off all lingering attachments, she prepared herself.

She moistened her dry lips several times and grabbed her arm, pretending to be fine to hide her trembling hands. Then Rosana raised her head and looked straight into her eyes. Her eyes no longer held any kindness.

Like facing an inanimate object, Rosana wasn’t reflected in her eyes. She wanted to ask calmly, but Rosana couldn’t control her trembling voice.

“Mother. There’s something I want to ask.”

“Hm?”

Someone’s brow furrowed, seemingly finding even one question unacceptable.

“Did you… love me?”

Did she know? How much courage was contained in these words? She tilted her head, looking at Rosana like she’d heard something strange.

“Of course. There’s no mother who doesn’t love her child.”

“…But you have no intention of stopping the marriage… or meeting me later after I’m taken as a hostage, do you?”

“You’re curious about such useless things.”

Useless… Rosana quietly rolled that word around in her mouth. The words she heard were never different from what she expected.

“Well, your story ends there. There’s no mention of me meeting you after that.”

“…”

She’d been so tense until just before, but hearing the answer, her chest didn’t even ache with emptiness. Her heart accepted it, saying it was natural.

“How is it? Isn’t the Emperor of Diovaha horrifying?”

She dismissed such half-hearted questions and forced an answer to her question. A strange emotion swirled in her eyes. It resembled expectation. 

Rosana knew the answer to that. If she didn’t give the right answer, she would change again and corner Rosana.

“Yes, it’s truly horrifying.”

“Enough to end your life?”

“Yes, the Diovahans are barbarians. To marry such a person is truly… utterly horrifying.”

Rosana pretended to be disgusted, pretended to be horrified, lowering her head to avoid her gaze. Then she glanced at the mirror. A manufactured smiling face reflected back. She had always made Rosana sit in front of the mirror and practice this smile.

This is the smile you must wear.

The expression of Rosana—tyrannical and extravagant. 

She looked at Rosana’s face and smiled contentedly. Her daughter was leaving for a distant empire, yet instead of offering comfort, she asked if she hated it enough to die. 

Her attitude was incomprehensible, but in this place, the only one twisted was Rosana.

Here, her actions were correct.

She smiled deeply, satisfied with Rosana’s answer. Then with a light, bouncing touch, she patted Rosana’s shoulder.

“Stories never change. You’ll need to prepare for the wedding. The imperial palace won’t care about you, poor Rosana. Please get along well there.”

The tone was indistinguishable between comfort and mockery. She smiled brightly, covering her mouth with her hand. Rosana wasn’t the only one whose wish had been fulfilled. The curtain fell, and she left Rosana’s room.

‘I’m an actor.’

Nothing more than a doll moving as she desires. The door closed with a thud, and Rosana looked at her face reflected in the mirror. The smile disappeared soundlessly. Only expressionlessness remained.

“Where exactly is the scary, tyrannical, and extravagant part?”

Brilliantly shining blonde hair and eyes that held the scent of the sea. She was beautiful like a doll, literally. But the mask she wore wouldn’t come off.

Rosana smiled. Her smile, lamenting her own life, didn’t look joyful at all. The smile with one corner of her mouth raised trembled at the edges, and when she tried to lower the corners of her eyes to look gentle, she looked like she was sneering at people, looking down on them.

“But it’s fine now.”

Rosana let out a deflating laugh.

“She’s impressive, I’ll give her that.”

Rosana couldn’t hide her amazement at her. She anticipated what would happen like a prophet. That might be why people trusted her so deeply.

The kind Duchess praised by everyone.

Rosana rationalized, desperately attaching reasons. People’s opinions were unanimous. 

At first, they expressed concern about how they could send a noble lady there. But when talk emerged that the subject might be Rosana, they all agreed she was perfect for barbarians.

Words mocking Rosana spread. They said they were a well-matched couple, birds of a feather, and that it was fortunate they wouldn’t have to see her anymore. They made snide remarks that she should suffer a bit in Diovaha for tormenting people.

On the other hand, unlike the public atmosphere, Rosana’s heart was at ease. If she could leave the detestable Arcadi Ducal Family, she was willing to walk in as a hostage herself.

“What will Diovaha be like…”

Diovaha was an unknown country. But she thought there couldn’t be a worse place than here. She even harbored a small hope that perhaps she could live as Rosana, not “Rosana Arcadi.”

Of course, she couldn’t be certain. “Rosana Arcadi” was someone whom people who had never met or seen her pointed fingers at, swept up in rumors. It might be the same in Diovaha.

Knock knock.

Rosana’s thoughts shattered at the clear voice she heard. Rosana slowly turned her head with a stiff expression. Following the cheerful sound of knocking on the door, a very familiar voice was heard.

“Sister… are you there?”

Everyone knew the voice of Rosana’s younger sister, Amy Arcadi. Emma peeked her head out with the door slightly open. Emma, who glanced at Rosana, opened the door wide, and Amy stood there.

“…Amy.”

Rosana’s voice trembled. She wanted to leave quietly without incident, but it seemed they wouldn’t let her go easily.

“What brings you here?”

She couldn’t remember when they last had an affectionate conversation.

Amy, the other half of her soul. That was all in the past now. Though Amy looked exactly like Rosana, the atmosphere surrounding her was warm and peaceful, making it easy to distinguish between Rosana and Amy.

“I wanted to… talk with you for a moment, sister.”

Rosana’s lips stiffened. Rosana, who had been exchanging glances with Amy, lowered her eyes. Strong, upright eyes. Whenever she saw those eyes, she felt endlessly shabby. Did you know that?

Rosana had absolutely no ill feelings toward Amy. More precisely, she’d shaken them off. 

After realizing it did her no good. She once resented her. Her twin sister who always ate, slept, played together, spent her whole life together. Why couldn’t she discover her inconsistencies?

‘It was strange why you only affirmed Mother’s words and couldn’t hear mine. And I hated and despised you, shining in contrast to me, to a sickening degree.’

‘But it was all in the past. Now the relationship itself, naturally intertwined, was detestable. I just wanted to be perceived by you, by all of you, like air quietly passing by. Rosana raised her head.’

‘I was trying to leave quietly…’

It was a telegram that came directly from the imperial palace. Naturally, it would have spread throughout the ducal estate and reached Amy’s ears. 

Just from her worried expression, she could tell what she was thinking when she came.

Rosana let out a small sigh and sat on the sofa. When she gestured for Amy to sit on the opposite side, the tense Amy smiled brightly.

“Thank you!”

Amy’s face didn’t lose its smile, seemingly happy that Rosana allowed the meeting. She quickly sat on the sofa, worried Rosana might take back her words. That smile made her feel even more shabby, and she didn’t want to face it. That kind smile I could never imitate.

“Emma. Serve Amy some tea.”

Rosana instructed Emma to bring tea. But suddenly a maid blocked Emma. That maid was one who stayed by Amy’s side, and she objected to Rosana’s order.

“Miss Rosana. I apologize, but may we prepare the tea instead?”

The maid stared at Rosana, putting strength in her eyes, saying she wouldn’t back down. Her attitude was polite, but her expression, gaze, and tone were anything but. 

Rather, she treated her like a thug and was on guard. It was a sharp hostility that stung her face. Rosana looked at the maid blankly and opened her mouth.

“…Do as you please.”

Everyone knew that Rosana had tried to poison Amy. And Amy didn’t particularly stop it either. 

From that attitude, she could glimpse Amy’s true feelings hidden deep down—that she didn’t trust Rosana either. No one blamed the maid who ignored Rosana’s words.

“Hah…”

The sensation of her throat being squeezed damply was unpleasant.

In the end, Amy’s maid brought the tea, and fragrant tea was placed in front of Rosana and Amy. Rosana took a sip of tea to soothe her parched throat. Even knowing this thirst wouldn’t be relieved by tea, it was the best method for now.

The tea was, as expected, sickeningly sweet. Tea that didn’t suit her taste. But everyone thought Rosana liked sweet tea. It was a place that gave her an unpleasant feeling until the very end.

Rosana put down the tea with a cold expression. A clattering sound rang out, and Rosana urged Amy, who was hesitating, to quickly state her business.

“So, what is it? Didn’t you come because you had something to say?”

After hesitating several times, Amy’s mouth finally opened. The words that followed weren’t much different from Rosana’s expectations.

“…Sister. Let’s go apologize.”

She spoke after much deliberation. Amy suddenly stood up and firmly grasped Rosana’s hands. Unlike Rosana’s hazy eyes, Amy’s eyes shone clearly. She was pleading.

That she couldn’t send her sister away like this. Her eyes, filled with that determination, shone brilliantly.

Rosana lowered her eyes. Shadows fell heavily due to her eyelashes. So different. Rosana smiled self-deprecatingly. She couldn’t erase her upset feelings. 

Though they looked so alike, Amy was shining. To a degree her toes couldn’t even reach, her eyes stung from that dazzling light.

No one objected to Amy’s words.