Just walking down the street, she naturally felt a wall between herself and those around her. 

The public divided into two groups: those who maintained a certain distance and avoided her, or those who picked fights. 

Going out brought no joy, only adding to the tightness in her chest, so she naturally refrained from outings.

Yuna finished styling her hair and dressed her in clothes that made her look like a noblewoman from the provinces. This reflected Rosana’s wish to move about comfortably. However, insisting she couldn’t give up on this one thing, Yuna firmly draped a cardigan over her.

It was the long cardigan Jade had gifted her, reaching all the way to her feet.

“Your first date with His Majesty—good luck!”

Yuna clenched her fist tightly. Rosana smiled gently at Yuna’s energetic appearance. Infected by Yuna’s enthusiasm, Rosana also felt energized. Timidly, she mimicked her gesture.

It had been a while since she’d seen his face. Her heart beat a little faster.

Rosana finished preparing and went outside to find Jade. Like her, he wore different clothes than usual. He was dressed like an upper-middle-class noble or nouveau riche who had just succeeded in business and come to the capital.

He was even wearing a fedora. Though she couldn’t have imagined such an outfit, it suited him well enough. When Rosana stared intently at Jade’s hat, he let out a hearty laugh.

“Not good?”

Seemingly awkward, he fidgeted with the brim of his hat. Rosana shook her head. She smiled broadly and said it suited him well.

“Really? As long as you find me handsome, that’s all that matters.”

Jade shrugged. Then he calmly looked over Rosana’s outfit. It was exactly the attire he’d expected.

“You’re beautiful in any form… but especially beautiful today.”

He lightly kissed her hand. Rosana grinned, and Jade smiled back.

He knew she disliked fancy dresses. Or rather, he couldn’t tell whether she truly disliked fancy things or just disliked the label of being “fancy.”

If she disliked flashy things, there were plenty of elegant dresses available. Designs with delicate embroidery blooming beautifully rather than designs decorated with dazzling jewels. 

But Rosana consciously avoided anything fancy.

Jade wanted her to enjoy what she could enjoy. It wasn’t like they lacked wealth. He wanted to give only good things to the one he loved. No matter how elaborately she dressed, no one would say anything. More importantly, he wouldn’t allow it.

‘Who decided the standard for what’s fancy? By that logic, were all the queens throughout history extravagant people?’

They were simply malicious people who wanted to insult her by calling her extravagant. Various malicious intentions piled up and placed infamy upon her.

Given Rosana’s personality, she would never spend money so recklessly as to lead the empire to ruin. That’s the level it would take to call something extravagant. In the first place, the one who was extravagant wasn’t her but her maid.

Jade lifted his hat slightly with a confident smile, seeming to have forgotten his earlier awkwardness. Then he bowed politely and extended his hand to Rosana.

“Today, I’ll escort you properly.”

“Yes, I look forward to it.”

Rosana gently placed her hand on his.

The carriage was already waiting. Jade calmly opened the carriage door and escorted Rosana, who took his hand and climbed aboard. The carriage moved smoothly.

Unlike its shabby exterior, the interior was luxurious. The plush cushions made sitting comfortable. Rosana looked at Jade sitting across from her and asked:

“But Jade, is it alright not to hide your face?”

He was the emperor of a nation. Wouldn’t people recognize him immediately if they saw his face? He showed no sign of trying to conceal his face.

Though he was disguised like an upper-middle-class noble and wore a hat, the hair sticking out was dark blue, and beneath it, if you looked closely, his golden eyes shone distinctly.

“Hmm…” Jade, who had been slightly avoiding Rosana’s eyes, muttered somewhat bitterly.

“No need to worry. I’m surprisingly not well-known to the people.”

Rosana expressed doubt at those words. He had made his name through war and expanded his territory. Yet few people knew him?

“Like I said, I was a forgotten existence. The previous king didn’t want me to be known. Neither did I. Opportunities to be exposed to the public were remarkably few.”

“Aren’t there many people you saved?”

“During wars or subjugations, I was often covered in the blood of monsters and people. It’s not like the imperial family has distinctive physical features. Since I avoided media exposure, that’s how it turned out.”

He spoke in a flat tone and shrugged.

He seemed unbothered, but… somehow it bothered her. Thinking about it, Rosana knew almost nothing about Jade. Just like Jade had known Rosana through circulating rumors, what Rosana knew about Jade was only circulating rumors.

‘I’ve never once asked him.’

About his past.

When did he leave the tower? 

They said he was locked in a tower as a child. What must he have felt? What did he think, and did he hate people? 

Rosana unconsciously glanced at Jade.

Jade continued speaking.

“Unless they’re nobles, few would recognize me. So we can move about comfortably.”

She knew nothing accurate about him.

Jade rested his chin in his hand and casually looked out the window. He looked like someone who had shaken it all off. When he returned to the capital after winning the war and announcing his victory, had no one seen him?

“Why did you avoid media exposure?”

Jade stared at Rosana, then spoke in passing.

“…Because I thought it was temporary.”

‘Temporary?’ Rosana tilted her head. But Jade, seemingly having nothing more to say, changed the subject with a playful tone. For the first time, she felt he was avoiding the topic.

“More importantly, it would be awkward to use our names on a leisurely date. Both your name and mine are well-known to people. Should we decide on different names to call each other just for today?”

Jade grinned.

In the end, Rosana swallowed her words and played along with Jade’s tune.

“Names, you mean?”

“Right. What should we use?”

He stroked his chin.

She also didn’t want anyone recognizing her. She was just as controversial as Jade. ‘What do the people of Diovaha think of me?’ She was both afraid and curious.

Rosana pondered what to call him. ‘What would be good…’

Then Jade’s eyes lit up as he spoke.

“How about ‘honey’?”

“Pardon…?”

Rosana looked up in surprise. Jade grinned mischievously and said playfully:

“It’s a term we’ll need to get used to soon anyway, so how about practicing with this opportunity? Didn’t you say last time you’d try to get accustomed?”

Jade smiled lazily. Rosana blinked.

“Then should I call you ‘honey’ too?”

“That sounds good.”

Jade grinned, looking very satisfied.

Then Rosana noticed his ears turning slightly red. Rosana, who was usually the one feeling embarrassed or avoiding eye contact, found herself laughing at this different side of him she’d been seeing lately.

“Why are you laughing?”

“You’re cute.”

Jade’s eyebrows twitched.

“…Nonsense. We’ve arrived, anyway.”

They had indeed reached their destination. Seeing Jade wanting to escape quickly made her laugh once more.

“Knights are secretly following behind, but don’t stray from me.”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Jade gently brushed Rosana’s hair. Then, worried about Rosana who would be walking outside for a long time, he carefully wrapped her outer garment so she wouldn’t be cold.

A sharp wind swept past Rosana’s cheeks. Though her cheeks froze cold, her eyes sparkled with vitality. Her gaze was naturally drawn to the scenery. She hadn’t expected much, having heard certain things.

But she was wrong. Rosana took time to reflect.

There were many buildings standing as splendidly and magnificently as in Astrot. ‘I was still trapped in narrow thinking.’

Rosana leisurely looked around. Jade chuckled softly, thinking Rosana looked like a puppy enjoying its first walk with sparkling eyes. He didn’t rush her and waited until she finished looking around.

Though she didn’t know the way, she walked naturally. Jade slowly followed behind Rosana. Eventually, an exclamation escaped Rosana’s lips.

“…It’s magnificent.”

“It’s a place to be proud of.”

Affection dripped from Jade’s voice. Rosana looked up at him. The Diovaha Empire, in a way, had imprisoned him, forgotten him, made him less than human.

‘How can he love such a place?’

Rosana shuddered at the mere mention of the Astrot Empire. But he was different. A thought that suddenly occurred to her came straight out without passing through her mental filter.

“Why is that?”

“What do you mean?”

Rosana swallowed at Jade’s question. But words already spoken couldn’t be taken back.

“…You have bad memories.”

“Bad memories do come to mind from time to time. But there are good memories too. The fact that I can live like this now is, in a way, because this place existed.”

“…”

Rosana couldn’t find words to say and listened silently. Jade didn’t expect an answer from her either.

“I want you to like this place too.”

“It’s the place you rule. How could I not like it?”

“Is that so?”

Jade chuckled. Then, seemingly to change the mood, he extended his hand with a triumphant expression.

“Does my wife have anywhere she’d like to go?”

His tone suggested he’d take her anywhere.

“Well… I don’t know any places… May I leave it to you?”

“Good. Just follow me.”

Jade wanted to give her as many experiences as possible. He showed her not just places nobles frequented, but various shops that commoners also visited.

He showed her bakeries selling desserts, quiet places to drink tea, antique shops, and more. Whenever there was an interesting place, they went in and out repeatedly.

Rosana looked around energetically. People’s laughing voices and happy expressions. The streets were harmonious, not desolate. 

It had been a long time since she’d looked around this comfortably. However, as they moved toward the center, she began to feel tense due to the increasingly fancy carriages and nobles.

‘What if nobles recognize me?’

Jade, seemingly well aware of Rosana’s anxiety, gently tapped her shoulder.

“Rosana.”

“Yes…?”

“No need to worry too much. Did I mention this before? We value the framework of family. If there are nobles gossiping, I’ll deal with them.”

Jade cracked his knuckles, indicating his words weren’t idle.

“No one will be able to treat you carelessly.”

Rosana felt puzzled by his meaningful voice. ‘If we keep our disguises, no nobles will notice.’ Rosana unconsciously pulled at her hat. However, it was thwarted by Jade’s hand lifting her chin.

“Lift your face. No one cares. Now, throw off your hat too.”

When he snatched Rosana’s hat, her hair fluttered in the wind. Jade also removed his own hat.

“Jade…!”

Startled, Rosana reached out but couldn’t reach the hat.

“You agreed with my opinion! I wanted to look around quietly without anyone noticing…!”

“Until when?”

Rosana’s words stopped. Jade had gone along with Rosana’s opinion. That’s why he’d disguised himself. But he never planned to hide until the end. He had places to go with her from the start.

Jade gestured to Baron in the distance. Baron, who had been hiding, revealed himself.

“Baron, take good care of the hats.”

Then a noble passing near Rosana stopped in his tracks. He’d heard a very familiar voice and a familiar name.

The noble who had glimpsed Jade’s face while passing by gasped.

“Gasp! Your Majesty?!”

At his words, the nobles stirred.

They instantly became the center of attention. However, Jade calmly asked Rosana where she wanted to go. Rosana looked around, but there was no shield to protect her.