He did something for her every day. Rosana recalled the past. Though it might be trivial to him, it held great meaning for her. 

She was moved by even small things, so a desire to repay him existed in one corner of her heart. That’s why she was happy when he entrusted her with the envoy banquet matter and wanted to succeed.

Seeing Rosana give no answer even when he called her name, Jade bent his waist and brought his face close. He found it strange that someone who’d come to visit just silently stared at him without saying anything.

“Did you hear something somewhere?”

He knew she was busy preparing for the envoy banquet. He worried there might have been friction during the process. If not, Rosana would have shaken her head, but she didn’t even do that.

Jade’s eyes immediately turned fierce. Her maids and Baron were around her. He clicked his tongue with reproachful eyes, asking what they’d done. 

Baron only smiled awkwardly, Yuna read the mood, and Celine remained calm.

Jade soothed Rosana. His enchantingly curving eyes were a bonus.

“You’re doing well, so there’s no need to worry.”

She was speechless at his infinite trust. She couldn’t help her face relaxing into a smile at someone who cherished her. The same went for her face reddening.

“Ah, right. There’s a place I want to show you.”

Jade took Rosana’s hand and led her. Rosana looked at his back.

* * *

“I’m finally showing you this garden.”

“…You wanted to show it to me?”

“I heard you frequent gardens. If the imperial palace garden is beautiful, won’t you visit more often? Just wait a little. When spring comes, many flowers will bloom.”

Then Rosana’s eyes caught flowers blooming even in midwinter.

“Isn’t it amazing? That they bloom flowers breaking through this cold that even we struggle to endure. That’s why I think they resemble you.”

“…Resemble me?”

“They overcame harsh cold and wind and ultimately bloomed. Like you. So I thought they resembled you.”

Well, this is just my thought. She blinked once at his words that came in late. I’m not such an amazing person.

Without any particular objection, he tilted his head sideways, then bent his waist and touched the petals with an affectionate touch. Would he laugh if she felt that touch seemed to caress her? 

Feeling embarrassed, she tried to avert her gaze.

Then snow fell on the tip of Rosana’s nose.

“Oh dear… I thought it had just stopped, but it’s still falling. Aren’t you cold?”

A familiar question. But there was no need to worry. Rosana was already armed with various clothes he’d prepared. There was no need to lend his cloak or offer his hand. However, he…

“…I’m fine.”

Yes, she admitted it. She felt her face heating at his every gesture. Her fingertips curled tightly. 

She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know why she felt this way. Rosana tried to suppress it without showing it as much as possible.

‘What relationship could current behavior have with liking someone?’

Then lightning flashed in Rosana’s mind. She recalled Jade’s reddened earlobes.

“Jade.”

“Do you have something to say?”

Rosana reached out and grabbed Jade’s face. Then she pulled him close, seemingly telling him to come closer. Their gazes mixed thickly in the air. At the suddenly shortened distance, Jade’s earlobes began reddening. Flustered, Jade stuttered.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

Then Rosana’s eyes caught his reddening earlobes. Rosana’s eyes gradually widened.

‘He also reddens when with me.’

She realized it anew. Rosana felt a ticklish sensation. Rosana released the strength in her hand and let go of Jade’s face. Her hand slid down smoothly. Jade was flustered by Rosana’s incomprehensible action but didn’t show it.

Jade, busy hiding his reddening face, didn’t see Rosana’s cheeks turning even redder.

Rosana cooled her cheeks in the cold wind. However, the hand clasped with Jade’s was hotter than her face. The pounding sound bothered her ears. 

If she touched her heart, it seemed like her hand would bounce off. If she used her heartbeat as an indicator, would this be proof of liking someone?

‘Do I like him? Does he like me too?’

There had been many signs. However, distinguishing the emotion of liking was difficult. 

She liked Yuna, Celine, and Jane who stayed by her side. She liked the imperial knights guarding the palace. She couldn’t be certain herself whether she liked Jade as a man, as a male.

Even when others subtly hinted, she thought inwardly it was a misunderstanding. She couldn’t understand why such an amazing person would like her.

But what if he really liked her?

Thinking that, Rosana’s heart pounded uncontrollably. Seeing her body’s honest reaction, she couldn’t help but acknowledge it. Her lips curved into a smile.

‘I like him. At some point, it became so.’

Rosana smiled softly. It was understandable they’d found it frustrating. Yuna and Celine must have known long ago. Then, like Yuna said, did he like her too? Baron had also said she was his first priority. Could she hope?

She feared the sadness and pain of rejection would eat away at her heart. Since he’d already become a special existence, it would be extremely sad.

‘Is that why I thought it wasn’t so…?’

Her mouth dried and her throat felt stuffy. However, unless she heard it directly, no one would know. Hopefully.

“I hope so.”

“…What did you say?”

“No. Nothing.”

Even as a wind cold enough to sting her cheeks blew, the warmth in the air didn’t fade. Those observing their playful interactions couldn’t help but smile warmly. 

Although they had thought it might take time, the atmosphere hinted that things might progress much faster than expected.

“Just wait a little.”

Jade spoke while looking at the cardigan draped over Rosana’s shoulders. Though it was a cardigan made using warm fur, what Celine had said last time was engraved in his mind.

Though the material felt light like dust to him, she was different. Especially since he knew how sensitive Rosana was to cold, he worried. Rosana tilted her head.

“Didn’t you say it was heavy last time? There’s a monster called Kelpie. Kelpie fur is very warm and fluffy. Above all, it’s light. Nobles are clamoring to obtain it.”

He said a herd occasionally appeared around this time, so if there was an opportunity, he’d get some. However, Rosana was horrified at the mention of monsters.

“M-monster fur?”

“Hmm? Surprising? To me, monsters are similar to wild beasts. After subjugating them, if there’s something useful, I should use it. Among them, Kelpie fur is priceless.”

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Ha, don’t treat me the same as others. It’s an easy task for me. They just travel in herds, which is bothersome, but if you’re careful of their horns and kicks, it’s nothing much.”

‘Isn’t that because it’s you?’

Rosana smiled awkwardly. Though she’d never directly seen his skills with her eyes, just seeing knights admiring his swordsmanship showed how amazing he was. Still, she hoped he wouldn’t overdo it.

“It’s fine. The gifts Jade already gave me are enough.”

“Don’t worry. Monsters also have ranks. Kelpies are on the weak side as monsters.”

Jade changed the subject, pretending not to hear. Watching him evade, Rosana laughed emptily. Rosana’s neatly gathered fingertips gradually turned red. The temperature had dropped further with the falling snow.

“It’s troublesome that you’re so sensitive to cold. Your hands are already red. Wear gloves too.”

“Originally I planned to just check the hall’s condition and leave.”

“So you had no thought of meeting me at all.”

Rosana’s body flinched at his seemingly disappointed murmur. If Yuna hadn’t mentioned it, she would have returned straight to the palace.

“…That’s not true.”

“Sure it’s not.”

“It’s true I stopped by because I thought of Jade.”

“Hmm… Well, fine. Even if seeing me isn’t the purpose, visit often. I’ve decorated the garden, so it’ll be good for spending time. If the distance is far, shall I send a new carriage? It’s hard for you to walk directly…”

“W-wait a moment.”

Rosana looked up in surprise. She saw him wearing a playful smile.

“What’s wrong?”

“I have a carriage. There’s no need to give me a new one…”

“I want to give it because then you’ll come often. This garden is most visible from my office.”

Rosana’s gaze turned toward the finger Jade pointed. The large palace was magnificent, and he was saying his office was among countless windows.

“Malek rarely lets me go unless work is finished. You just saw it, right? Him carrying a bundle of documents. The gaze I feel from behind is piercing.”

Malek’s smiling face, waiting quietly behind, contorted.

“I have to see your face at least this way.”

It was the moment Rosana smiled slightly and was about to open her mouth.

“Jade!”

Someone called his name from afar. It was a voice that sounded clear just from hearing it. 

Rosana turned her head toward where the voice came from. Jade frowned and said a name, seemingly guessing who it was from the voice.

“Lily?”

Jade watched the approaching woman with eyes seemingly asking why she was here. It was a name Rosana heard for the first time.

Snow-white hair and red eyes. At this moment of sleet falling, she was a beautiful woman who made one think of a snow fairy. 

However, conversely, her eyes were blazing. She stopped in front, seemingly having run looking only at Jade, and flinched in surprise upon seeing Rosana.

“Uh…?”

However, that was only momentary—she erased her flustered expression and smiled brightly with a carefree face. Her variously changing expressions and lively smile seemed to brighten the surroundings.

“Lady Arcadi, excuse me. I’m Lily Helpe.”

The woman greeted leisurely. Rosana responded awkwardly.

“Yes…”

“Go away.”

Jade was displeased with Lily for interrupting his meeting with his fiancée. His handsome eyebrows furrowed noticeably. When he waved his hand dismissively like shooing away a fly, Lily got angry.

“I came after a long time!”

“Ah, whatever. Quickly state your business and disappear. What did you come for?”

“Well, you see…”

Lily smiled awkwardly while glancing at Rosana. It was a sign that it was difficult to speak now. 

Lily, who’d run over with blazing eyes, hesitated upon seeing Rosana. So she couldn’t help but notice. A fine crack appeared in Rosana’s calm expression.

She clearly was reluctant for Rosana to hear her words. Rosana’s nearly unchanging lips twisted crookedly.

‘Unpleasant.’

Rosana was surprised by the thought that suddenly occurred. The word she’d recited inwardly was unfamiliar. 

Why unpleasant? He inevitably had many people she didn’t know, and women could be included among them.

‘Is it because I became aware… that I like him, so my feelings are stranger?’

It wasn’t like this when she met Venice. Rosana straightened her stirring heart. She consoled herself alone that her mood had soured because an intruder had interrupted while spending leisurely time. The two spoke informally to each other without seeming awkward at all.

Irritation surged even as she tried to endure Lily’s continuously glancing gaze. 

Rosana composed her expression. These were emotions that would settle if she calmed her heart alone for a bit.

“You seem to be meeting after a long time, so please speak comfortably. I’ll be going now.”

Rosana spoke coldly and left. Actually, she had work piled up like a mountain.

“Rosana?”

Jade was flustered by her curt tone. He urgently grabbed the wrist of Rosana, who roughly turned her body.

“There’s no need for you to leave. Lily, speak quickly.”

Rosana looked down at the hand Jade had grabbed. Lily read the mood slightly. A strange current existed between them.

“Father keeps talking about you. I came to see your face while hearing about it. It’s been a long time since I saw Baron too. But…”

‘Do you really have feelings for Lady Arcadi?’

She swallowed the whisper. After hearing from Duke Helpe, she’d just entered the imperial palace to immediately uncover the truth.