“I found myself asking back. What about you? As you know, I don’t acknowledge it. I don’t have the courage to call ‘that appearance’ another version of myself. But she found that courage. She acknowledged it as herself and is trying to stand proudly before others in that form.”

Jade’s eyes trembled. The impression that she was amazing after hearing Rosana’s words lasted only a moment. What came crashing in next was helplessness. 

What are you doing? 

Malek raised his head and looked at Jade’s expression.

“Rosana thinks I’m an amazing person, so wouldn’t it be pathetic to show her such a pitiful side?”

It was a small complaint. Just a thought that suddenly occurred to him. Jade picked up his quill again, saying this conversation was over. Malek kept his mouth shut. Having declared he neither heard nor saw anything, there was no reason to add more words.

He only said one thing.

“Even so, Lady Rosana wouldn’t think Your Majesty is pathetic.”

“…”

Jade was momentarily speechless.

“I know. That sort of thing is just my greed. I’ll have to change soon too. If I’m going to live with Rosana as her spouse. I don’t think I can hide it forever…”

His expression held a sense of defeat, but he seemed somehow more resolute. He had ended up on the emperor’s throne. 

But he had never once thought he could stay in this position forever. 

The moment his true form was discovered, he thought it would be a position he’d have to step down from. An emperor with monster blood mixed in—unheard of, unseen.

But he had become greedy. He had come to dream of the future. He had someone he loved. He wanted to live in this Diovaha with her.

Jade had been the one to reach out to Rosana first. It had started as a political marriage, but he was the one who soon developed feelings of love, the one who promised a marriage filled with affection. 

He recalled Rosana’s eyes brimming with laughter. He had a responsibility to make Rosana happy. He wanted to take responsibility. He didn’t want to leave her alone. Rosana had lived without feeling the sense of belonging that comes with family.

Jade clenched his fist. He turned his gaze out the window for no reason. But ridiculously, he couldn’t find the courage. He let out a self-deprecating laugh at the fact that he was more cowardly than that delicate person.

“Your Majesty has always been confident. You’ll do well.”

“…That would be fortunate.”

Malek smiled gently. They were bringing about positive changes in each other.

* * *

Venice arrived with a wilted face. The shadows under her eyes were vivid, seemingly uncovered even by powder. Even when Rosana asked if she was okay, she only urged her to hurry and try on the clothes.

So Rosana armed herself with a coat and gloves made from Kelpie fur. It was warm enough to withstand the cold wave. Jade had reason to boast. Venice kept clapping her hands. 

She seemed both admiring of Rosana’s appearance and celebrating her own hard work. It actually suited her very well.

Yuna and Celine also didn’t spare their praise for Rosana’s outfit. Rosana awkwardly adjusted her clothes. The soft texture transmitted through her palms made her heart tickle. It was exactly like his.

“Lady Rosana, it really suits you. The material and weight are on a completely different level from other furs!”

Yuna said while touching Rosana’s hem. The texture felt through her palms was different from any fabric she’d experienced before. Even though she had touched most fabrics considered luxurious while serving Rosana during her time working in the imperial palace.

Rosana smiled contentedly at Yuna’s words and asked Venice where the other prepared items were.

“Of course they’re ready!”

Venice gestured confidently. Then the prepared items were neatly stacked in the room. Since they were gifts, each was in a well-wrapped box. Rosana opened the boxes, checked the items, and smiled with satisfaction.

She had ordered gloves as gifts for the servants from Venice. The servants around Rosana always kept their hands neatly clasped near their navels to treat her preciously and respectfully. 

This left them defenseless against the cold wind. She could see their fingertips turning bright red.

Rosana gave gifts to Yuna and Celine first. They were grateful people who had been by her side the longest. Yuna and Celine, who had been looking at the beautifully wrapped boxes with curiosity, opened them. Inside were neatly placed gloves.

“A small gift from me.”

Yuna, who gently touched the gloves, shouted in surprise at the texture she just felt. Could this be…! 

Yuna looked at Venice with a clearly surprised expression. Venice calmly said they were specially made products from Kelpie fur.

“Accept them.”

“N-no! For me to receive something so precious…”

“Lady Rosana, Kelpie fur is extremely valuable. When defeating monsters, it’s nearly impossible to bring them down without damaging the fur, so high-quality fur is even harder to obtain even if you want it. Giving it to mere servants might be too extravagant a gift…”

Celine also seemed flustered, speaking rapidly without breathing properly. Rosana asked with a slightly disappointed, deflated face:

“Don’t you like them?”

“No!”

“That’s not… the case.”

“Then please accept them. Rather, there was too much and it was difficult to handle. I have a gift for Sir Baron too.”

Baron received a large box. She had prepared one cloak each for the knights. Baron silently opened the box, looked at the cloak inside, then knelt and expressed his gratitude. Though he composed his expression, Rosana’s mood lifted at his obvious joy.

“Please continue to work hard.”

Rosana had servants find owners for all the boxes Venice brought. Rosana’s palace became bustling. It was that precious, precious Kelpie fur.

“Venice. You worked hard. The banquet dress…”

“Don’t worry! I’ll definitely have it ready on time.”

“Yes. I’m counting on you.”

She had tried to give her more time, but it seemed unnecessary. Venice’s eyes blazed like she was saying, “Let’s see who wins, you or me.”

Rosana chuckled. Then she picked up one gift box she needed to deliver herself. She held the box preciously in her arms. Yuna and Celine offered to carry it for her, but Rosana shook her head. She wanted to give it herself.

Imagining Jade wearing the cloak brought a smile to her face.

“Let’s go to the emperor’s palace.”

Having gone in and out of the palace where he lived when substituting for his role for a week, she had already figured out the layout.

“Seeing him wear the gift will make me feel good, right?”

She didn’t know why, but she recalled Jade’s dejected appearance. It had been right after the monster subjugation and hosting the Ales delegation. 

The debutante ball and wedding were scheduled immediately after, so she wondered if it was because he was busy, but it seemed like it was for a subtly different reason.

The correlation between being busy and becoming dejected was ambiguous.

‘Rather, Jade would have liked it. Since he said he wanted to welcome me as his wife quickly…’

And if he was having a hard time, he would act spoiled rather than become depressed—she couldn’t think of any reason for him to be gloomy. 

She was worried about his listless face. A shadow fell over Rosana’s face. She let Celine’s words that everything was ready go in one ear and out the other.

He was always the one who made her happy, gave her strength, and instilled courage.

Rosana held the gift preciously in her arms and headed to the palace to meet him.

“Lady Rosana?”

She saw Malek approaching from afar. There was no need to ask what brought her here. He immediately understood by looking at Rosana’s outfit and the box she held in her arms.

“His Majesty is in his office. Please go in. I’ll prepare tea.”

Rosana hesitated. Malek was someone who watched his every move. Rosana paused before speaking.

“Is Jade okay?”

“How about asking him directly?”

Malek, who paused briefly, deflected with a smile. He led the way and brought her to the front of the office. And placing his hand on the handle, he said:

“There’s probably no need to worry.”

Before Rosana could grasp the meaning of his words, the door opened.

Jade, who had been flipping through documents while resting his chin on his hand, slightly raised his eyes at the sound of the door opening. Then, seeing Rosana, he stood up abruptly.

“Did you leave something behind… Rosana? What brings you here?”

“I’ll bring tea right away.”

Malek pushed Rosana’s back and withdrew. She couldn’t even ask what he meant by those words earlier. Something was definitely there… 

Rosana stared intently at Jade. Then she shook off her useless thoughts.

She just needed to act as always. Even if something was troubling him, she would always be by his side. Rosana placed the box on the table.

“I received a gift, so I thought I should show you how I look wearing it. And I have a gift to give you too.”

Rosana opened the box and held up the cloak.

“Come here.”

When Rosana flipped the cloak up and gestured that she would put it on him, Jade approached like he was drawn by a magnet. The cloak fluttered and was draped over Jade’s body. 

She was pleased at how perfectly it suited him. Thinking of when he would go out to subjugate monsters, she had deliberately requested black, which didn’t show dirt easily.

“It suits you well.”

“You suit yours well too. Isn’t it uncomfortable or heavy?”

“I’m not that weak.”

It had been like this since Celine mentioned the cardigan was heavy and she didn’t wear it much. If it was an excuse, it was an excuse, but naturally shoulders get heavy when walking around for a long time continuously wearing a long cardigan.

Rosana raised her arm. She showed her upper arm to display her muscles, but it only emphasized her thin arm. Jade gently stroked her hair, seemingly finding such a Rosana cute.

“I’m just worried.”

Rosana was about to turn her head away, displeased with his voice that soothed her like a sulking child, but then she examined his complexion. 

That day, when Rosana had patted his back, he had stayed still for a long time before standing up with a sad expression, saying it was enough now.

“Are you okay today?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you looked tired that day?”

Though it was a statement of certainty, she added a question mark at the end. Jade chuckled. It meant his emotions had been fully revealed to her too. Had it shown… Well, he had deliberately closed his eyes because he couldn’t control his fluctuating emotions.

“I’m okay now.”

“Really?”

Looking at Rosana’s brightly shining eyes, he couldn’t say that her words had created a worry for him.

“I just thought I need to try a bit harder.”

Was there some other difficulty? 

Rosana tilted her head. She had simply thought vaguely that things were getting better. She had said goodbye to those fleeting days. And she had honestly revealed her heart to him.

Rosana carefully took his hand.

“Let’s try hard together. Don’t suffer alone.”

She hoped the warm warmth enveloping his entire body would help him.

“Tell me when you want to talk. I can wait too.”

“…I’ll do that.”

And they exchanged conversation like nothing had happened while drinking the warm tea Malek brought.