Special Side Story 7

“Gasp!”  

Without a sound, Felix approached and suddenly snatched the paper from her hand.  

“No! That’s 100 years old! It might tear if you’re not careful!”  

Rose clung desperately to his arm.  

When he held it high above her head and gave her a playful wink, she smacked the back of his head with her palm.  

“Ow!”  

“That’s what you get. You shouldn’t joke around so much!”  

Rose carefully placed the retrieved paper on the bench and gently rubbed it with her hand.  

Even though it had been kept in a box, the passage of time had taken its toll—it was old and faded.  

Unfolding the creased paper with care, Rose pulled a small light stone from her pocket.  

She didn’t have the patience to carry it back to her room. She wanted to read what Stephan had written as soon as possible.  

“My Rose. My Queen of the Red Roses.”  

Hearing Stephan’s voice in her mind, tears welled up in her eyes.  

She placed the paper slightly farther away to keep her tears from falling on it and wiped her eyes as she read silently.  

“If we meet in the next life, please give me a different command. Whether it takes 100 years or 1,000 years to find you again, I hope you’ll order me to stay by your side then.”  

As Stephan’s voice continued to echo in her thoughts, she lifted her head as if hypnotized.  

Felix, sitting at the end of the bench, gently wiped her tears with a handkerchief.  

“Felix?”  

Rose wiped her tears to clear her view of him and tried to calm her emotions.  

He couldn’t be Stephan. Just as her appearance was completely different now, even if he were Stephan, he wouldn’t recognize her.  

“I’ve come back to you, my Queen, after wandering for so long.”  

“…Stephan?”  

She barely dared to hope, her expectations as fragile as a spider’s web.  

Yet she clung to that faint hope, calling out the name she missed so dearly.  

“Unfaithful as it may be, I’ve held you in my heart. 100 years ago… and even now.”  

“Stephan.”  

Rose opened her arms toward Felix, who smiled warmly.  

She embraced him tightly, pressing herself against his solid chest and taking in his breath.  

It was that smile—the one that had always reassured her, the one he gave her even when she ordered him to betray her, hiding his pain.  

***

“Felix! Wait!”  

“Rose Arnes. Tonight, I’ll make sure you can never run away again.”  

Felix carried Rose into the bedroom and urgently captured her lips.  

Before she could regain her senses and push him away, he pressed her against the wall and tugged at the ties of her dress.  

The dress slid down, catching precariously on their entwined legs, unable to fall further.  

As he made space between her legs to kiss her exposed chest, the dress finally dropped to the floor with a soft thud.  

“Ah… Felix…”  

“Rose. My Queen.”  

Felix’s hands slipped under her l*ngerie, brushing against the inside of her thigh.  

Even that small touch made her body tremble as she leaned into him, nearly collapsing in his arms, which filled him with euphoria.  

The memories of his past life came flooding back in an instant.  

The déjà vu he’d felt in the pirates’ prison, and the moment he saw the crossbow Rose frequently used in her past life—those memories returned.  

And he was certain.  

It didn’t matter whether her hair was red or black.  

Rose Arnes. He would recognize her in any form, just as he did now.  

“How did you know it was me?”  

“How could I not? I’ve only ever thought of you.”  

Every time he looked at the portraits in the Banquet Palace or the rose tree in the small annex, even without his past memories, he had already loved her.  

In his dreams, the one he embraced and felt tremble against him was always Rose Arnes. Only her.  

“What should I call you? Stephan? Felix?”  

“Call me Felix. That way, I’ll have an excuse to speak informally to you.”  

When he playfully wrinkled his nose, Rose gently stroked his neck.  

Felix, visibly less tense, took his time exploring her lips.  

“Well then, Felix, shall we begin your advanced lesson?”  

“Ha ha. As you command, Queen.”  

Their breaths mingled, heavy with moisture, as Felix guided Rose toward the bathroom.  

***

Rose’s ragged breathing and the creaking of the mattress filled the bedroom.  

Her occasional whimpers, tinged with sobs, drove Felix to move even more fervently.  

“I love you, Rose. I’ll never let you go in this life.”  

He held her exhausted body close, stroking her back.  

“I love you, Felix. Stay by my side in this life. Forever. That’s an order.”  

“As you command. I am your eternal servant.”  

Rose, trembling, wrapped her arms around his neck. Tonight, she would accept all of him.  

This foolishly devoted man who had only ever looked at her, in both past and present lives.  

She would make him certain of her feelings.  

That she had always loved him too.  

In her past life and now, the only man she loved was him.  

“Well then, Felix, shall I teach you the advanced third level?”  

“You know such things?”  

“I’ve read some adult-rated material.”  

Rose pushed Felix onto the bed and straddled his thighs.  

“As expected, you’re my perfect Queen.”  

She began kissing his smiling lips lightly, her hands exploring his firm muscles.  

Just as he had done, her lips followed the path of her hands.  

Just as he had done, she guided him in her rhythm, their bodies perfectly in sync.  

Just as he had done, she cried out in ecstasy as they reached the peak together.  

“I love you, Rose. I love you.”  

As he, drenched in sweat, showered her body with kisses, Rose placed her hand over his lips.  

“I’m tired. I can’t do any more.”  

She had done her best to satisfy him. Even now, he was sucking on each of her fingers one by one.  

“Is that so? Then just lie still. I’ll take care of everything.”  

“Felix, the lesson is over for today!”  

“Not a chance!”  

Despite her stern words, Felix ignored her and captured her lips once more.  

***

Felix and Rose’s wedding took place within fifteen days.  

It was all thanks to the Empress’s bold decision, fearing that Felix might return to being a man unable to hold a woman.  

– I’ll take care of everything. Just show up. Just you.  

Those were the Empress’s words to Rose, who had hesitated at the rushed schedule.

As soon as the Empress heard that Felix and Rose had spent their first night together, she arranged for Rose to stay in the annex and practically confined Felix as well.  

The Empress seemed ready to even give up her own palace if it meant ensuring the continuation of the Duke’s lineage.  

Thanks to this, the newlyweds were able to start their honeymoon fifteen days early.  

Unexpectedly, the person most unsettled by Felix’s marriage was none other than Crown Prince Douglas.  

‘I thought I’d have a child first! At this rate, Felix might even have a child before me!’  

Felix had been too complacent, given the rumors that he was impotent.  

Even when the Empress had sent beautiful women to his chambers, Felix hadn’t so much as raised an eyebrow.  

Douglas had assumed Felix would act somewhat aloof toward Rose as well.  

‘They say they’re together every night? Felix, how did you hold back all this time?’  

Douglas almost wanted to commend Felix for his self-control.  

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”  

When he entered the Imperial Rose Garden, Cecilia, who had arrived earlier, stood up to greet him.  

After Felix’s marriage became public news, all the eligible young ladies of the Empire were said to be busy attending matchmaking events. Cecilia, apparently one of them, was particularly well-dressed today.  

Douglas plucked three freshly budding roses and approached her.  

“Cecilia, it’s been a while.”  

“Hmm. If I recall correctly, we met just two days ago.”  

Cecilia extended her hand, reminding him of the young nobles’ gathering they had both attended two days prior.  

“Did we?”  

Douglas didn’t sit down or hand her the flowers. Instead, he began plucking the petals off one by one.  

“Sit.”  

He suddenly commanded Cecilia to take a seat.  

‘What’s this? What’s he doing now?’  

Cecilia sat down with uneasy eyes.  

Sometimes, Douglas’s inexplicable actions made her heart race with anxiety.  

“Ahem. Women seem to like things like this.”  

Standing behind Cecilia, Douglas scattered rose petals over her head.  

“Your Highness?”  

When Cecilia turned to look at him, puzzled by his strange behavior, a red rose petal landed on her cheek.  

As if spellbound, Douglas reached out and picked the petal off her face.  

The brief contact with her breath and the soft texture of her cheek left him itching to touch her again.  

‘Douglas? Is this that thing? The one where you scatter rose petals on the bed?’  

As Cecilia frowned, wondering how to handle this romantic novice, Douglas suddenly spoke.  

“Don’t move.”  

With an unusually serious expression, Douglas slowly leaned toward her lips.  

She closed her eyes and relaxed her lips.  

It was, after all, a direct command from the Crown Prince. Since he told her not to move, she had no choice but to comply.  

Their lips met, both of them tense and awkward.  

When their lips parted, Douglas suddenly slipped his tongue between hers.  

The unfamiliar and intense sensation of their entwined tongues made them forget to breathe.  

“Cecilia…”  

When the kiss ended, Douglas gazed down at her with a face full of emotion.  

“Cancel all the match meetings Earl Bettran has arranged.”  

“I cannot. They were promised between our families.”  

Though he tried to sound commanding, Cecilia responded dismissively, leaving Douglas momentarily flustered.  

“But we kissed!”  

“You didn’t propose. A kiss is just a kiss, and a proposal is a proposal.”  

Her cold response made Douglas squint and place his hand on his forehead.  

This brat! 

She had never once fully captured his heart.  

She had never once understood his feelings.  

And yet…  

D*mn it. I liked her.  

Douglas suddenly lifted her into his arms.  

“Your Highness! What are you doing?”  

Her panicked fists pounding against his chest didn’t bother him at all.  

“Proposing.”  

Douglas carried Cecilia into the Crown Prince’s palace.  

By locking her in the room next to his bedroom tonight, rumors would surely spread by tomorrow.  

Rumors that Crown Prince Douglas was utterly infatuated with Cecilia Bettran.  

***

“Rose!”  

“Cecilia!”  

The two finally met on the day of Rose’s wedding.  

Rose greeted Cecilia in the bridal waiting room, where Cecilia wore a dress that shimmered with a subtle green hue.  

“Is His Highness treating you well?”  

“Yes. He says once we’re married, I’ll be allowed to leave the Crown Prince’s palace. He even promised to establish a women’s military unit and let me command it if I bear him a child.”  

“Cecilia… That’s called imprisonment.”  

Hearing Cecilia’s cheerful response, Rose gently clasped her hands.  

Douglas had prepared everything Cecilia needed.  

He even allowed her to host tea times in the Crown Prince’s palace and let members of the Bettran family stay there overnight if needed.  

There was just one condition: Cecilia was forbidden from leaving the Crown Prince’s palace.  

“I know. But isn’t it fun? Having a man so obsessed with me?”  

When Cecilia winked playfully, Rose released her hands.  

‘Cecilia, I don’t think you’re entirely normal either.’  

Though slightly worried about the Empire’s future, Rose reassured herself.  

‘I’m a Duchess now. I’ll live a carefree life as a Duchess! I won’t get involved in politics!’  

She decided to trust that future generations would handle politics responsibly.  

***

Thanks to the Empress’s generosity, Felix and Rose’s wedding was held in the Banquet Palace.  

With all the Empire’s most influential nobles in attendance, Felix and Rose entered the banquet hall arm in arm.  

“Felix, this feels like a dream.”  

With each step she took along the red carpet, her elation was tinged with unease.  

What if I suddenly got pulled back into the mirror?  

What if all of this was just a dream born out of my long solitude?  

“Rose, this is all real. I’m becoming your husband, and you’re becoming my wife.”  

Felix gripped her hand tightly where it rested on his arm.  

If she were pulled back into the mirror, he would follow her.  

If he had to wait another 100 or even 1,000 years, he would gladly do so.  

As long as she returned to him.  

“Rose, wherever you go, I’ll follow. I’ll never leave you alone again.”  

“Yes, Felix. Let’s go anywhere together.”  

Rose placed her hand over his and held it tightly.  

She was no longer afraid.  

As long as they were together, she could live happily anywhere.  

Rose and Felix walked the remaining length of the red carpet side by side and ascended the wedding platform.  

As red rose petals scattered over their heads, the wedding ceremony proceeded.  

It was a peaceful, sunny day in April.  

~~ This concludes the special epilogue. Thank you for reading. ~~