Romeo and Rosaline - 2

Montague and Capulet’s mansions were situated in the city of Verona.

Both families owned extensive territories outside the city, but they remained rooted in Verona.

Verona was divided into regions based on the long river flowing through its center. Downstream was the flat plain where the bustling city center was located, and if you headed northwest from there, you would reach the lower hills where the old town was situated. As you moved upstream, the terrain became rugged, with forests emerging, and it was right there where the temple, where Friar Lawrence resided, was located.

Rosaline returned to her room, dressed neatly in a black carriage, and draped a cloak that reached her waist before venturing outside.

In fact, the relative decline in the religious sector’s influence compared to the past allowed her to practice and move between her home and the temple. It was a time when the temple, unable to prove its sanctity due to the absence of a divine manifestation for over a century, relaxed its strict regulations and made efforts to gather followers.

As a result, most priests residing in the city led lives not much different from the common people. Even Lawrence stayed in a private residence, instead of the temple, and only attended when there was a mass or to tend to Rosaline and the temple.

But Rosaline insisted on an ascetic and disciplined lifestyle, like some of the monks, and attended the temple as often as possible. Standing alone before the ancient statue of Kata in the worn-out temple, it felt as if sadness, loneliness, and overwhelming dark emotions were whisked away. Over time, the statue of Kata felt like an old friend with whom she could confide.

So, kneeling before the statue, even if offering a prayer, it felt like the lingering tension would finally dissipate.

It was when she hurried her steps and arrived at the temple.

“Rosaline!”

Friar Lawrence, who came out to greet her, welcomed her from the entrance of the temple. Rosaline calmly approached him, removing the cloak from her head.

“Friar Lawrence.”

“Come in quickly. You’ve arrived early today.”

“Miss sent me early.”

As soon as they set foot inside the temple, Friar Lawrence’s voice suddenly echoed in her head.

– I gave Juliet a potion. It makes her appear dead for a while. It’s all my fault. If I had told Romeo in advance, he wouldn’t have died like this.

Rosaline furrowed her brows upon hearing the voice inside her head, not her ears.

“What did you say?”

“What do you mean…? I greeted you.”

“You just said she wouldn’t really die. Romeo… Wait, who is Romeo?”

As Rosaline spoke in a frightened manner, Friar Lawrence gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“You’re saying strange things. If you mean Romeo, are you referring to Montague’s Romeo?”

– In the end, Juliet also took her own life.

“Aah!!!”

Rosaline stumbled backwards, clutching her black hair. What a horrifying sound that was. Amidst her dazed state, a dreadful smell wafted through the air. A sweet floral scent mixed with the sickening odor of blood. Even though it shouldn’t have been possible in the temple, it didn’t feel unfamiliar.

Rosaline, as if possessed, entered the heart of the temple. There were figures where the altar should have been empty. Not just one. Two, three. Two of them were people she knew. Romeo and Juliet, lying on a bed of countless violet flowers. And atop them, someone was crying out to the gods…

It was me. It was myself.

Following Rosaline who was lost in the illusion, her gaze moved slowly. But where the statue of the gods should have been, there was only a chilling emptiness. Something was wrong.

“Juliet, Juliet!!!”

Startled, Rosaline ran towards the unfolding scenery as if in a hallucination. She had to confirm Juliet’s condition immediately.

But within just three steps, the splendor of the temple was engulfed in pitch darkness.

“Juliet, Miss! Please… Where are you!!!”

Shouting with all her might, Rosaline tripped and fell to the ground. She tried to get up several times, but her legs were weak, and she couldn’t even lift her back. Helplessness and fear surged through her entire body.

How could I forget?

Montague’s fragile prince, he was Romeo.

The one rejected by Rosaline, he fell in love at first sight when he saw Juliet at the banquet. His passionate yet inexperienced courtship succeeded, and Juliet responded to his affection with love.

And then,

They died.

Both of them are dead.

Juliet, ah. Juliet! If only you hadn’t met Romeo from the beginning…!!!

“Rosaline.”

A chillingly low voice of a man echoed above her head. Somehow, the way he called her seemed to be laughing. Before she could gather her senses, a large foot approached her as she lay there sobbing. She tried to lift her head to see his face, but darkness enveloped everything.

“A promise. You must keep it.”

In the silence covered in darkness, a hand emerged and flicked her forehead. As Rosaline’s head fell back, she once again lost consciousness, as if falling into a deep, dark pit.

* * *

In the flickering consciousness, Juliet’s voice calling her name pierced her ears. Rosaline, Rosaline. With all her strength, Rosaline opened her eyes at the faint and ethereal voice calling her name.

“Rosaline!”

The walls of the missed lady filled Rosaline’s blurred vision. Then, as the familiar and beautiful face of Juliet became clear, Rosaline’s pupils moistened and trembled. Am I dead too? If not,

Is Juliet alive?

“Juliet…”

As Rosaline murmured, Juliet burst into tears and tightly embraced her. The warm presence of the living enveloped Rosaline.

“Rosaline, oh, Rosaline. I thought you were dead.”

Rosaline blinked her eyes, trying to grasp her surroundings. This was her separate room in the annex. Behind the clear voice of the lady ringing in her ears, her disapproving mother and concerned employees stood.

The ultimate realization was that Juliet was alive.

Normally, Rosaline would have subtly pushed Juliet away while observing her mother’s reaction, but now it was simply impossible. Rosaline held Juliet even tighter, touching her face.

“I thought you were dead. If this is a dream, please tell me. I won’t ever wake up.”

As Rosaline sobbed in desperation and emotion, Juliette seemed bewildered by Rosaline’s response.

“Rosaline, it was you who almost died. Do you remember when you got involved in a fight between our children and the Montague servants on the street? You were seriously injured. Don’t you remember?”

A vivid memory flashed through Rosaline’s mind. A few months before Juliet’s death, Rosaline had been caught up in a fight between the servants on her way to the temple. She suffered deep cuts to her back and neck and endured a month of hardships.

Realizing the severity of the incident, Juliet decided not to widen the rift with Montague but to narrow it, so she hosted a dinner.

“Lady, what day is it today?”

“Why are you suddenly asking…?”

Startled by the unexpected question, Juliet seemed flustered, but seeing Rosaline’s serious expression, she promptly answered.

“It’s September 5th.”

Previously, she had woken up after a month, but this time she had woken up after a day. Rosaline suppressed her growing suspicion. It didn’t matter how long it had been since she woke up. The only thing that mattered was that Juliet and Romeo were back to before they met.

Whether it was the work of the deities or not, Rosaline had returned to the past and Juliet was alive. Just as she wouldn’t dismiss the present as a dream, she wouldn’t consider Juliet and Romeo’s deaths as mere fantasies. Juliet’s shallow breath and pale skin were real, and her soul could wager on that.

Rosaline embraced Juliet tightly once again, refusing to let go despite her mother’s disapproval.

“Oh, gods. Thank you for answering the prayers of your humble servant.”

Whispering against Juliet’s neck, Rosaline gestured towards the surroundings, as Juliet, startled by her actions, signaled her to let go.

A brief moment had passed. Juliet, concerned for Rosaline, even questioned the employees and her mother who had come to see her. Then, as if trying to calm her racing heart, she tightly held Rosaline’s hand, who was still in bed.

“I thought you were dead. After the treatment, they tried to take you to my room, but the nurse insisted on bringing you here…”

Rosaline felt deep affection towards the tearful Juliet. At the same time, she focused on understanding the current situation.

Since Juliet and Romeo had their first encounter at the dinner, at this point, Juliet didn’t even know Romeo’s face.

It was understandable since Montague had trained numerous outstanding knights, but Romeo, who had been in poor health, had been studying at an academy in another province. Even if they had crossed paths when they were young, it was unlikely that she would remember.

But since the academy was on vacation now, Romeo Montague, who was traveling in the capital, would return to Verona for the last few days.

Having arrived in Verona not long ago, Romeo coincidentally followed Rosaline, but when he was rejected, he quickly turned to Juliet and begged for her love.

Juliet was endlessly swayed by his passionate love.

And in the midst of such wavering, you died. How could I not even be able to intervene?

“Lady, let’s go on a journey.”

Pale and disgusted, Rosaline blurted out impulsively. Then, with trembling hands, she held Juliet’s wrist.

“We’re going to see the sea.”

Romeo was planning to return to school anyway, and Juliet had a well-to-do fiancé living in another city. As long as they didn’t cross paths, they would safely lead their own lives. Rosaline had no choice but to believe in that.

“What? Suddenly, what are you talking about…”

Juliet didn’t hide her astonishment, but Rosaline didn’t waver.

“If you go west, there’s a sea surrounded by cobalt light, as you always said. Since I’ve never seen the sea, I want you to show me. Let’s go, my lady. I want to go.”

“…Rosaline.”

“Please. You said you wanted to travel around before succeeding the family. Just the two of us.”

“That was a long time ago, of course, seven years ago!”

A trace of concern flickered in Juliet’s eyes, but only for a moment. She thought Rosaline was talking nonsense because she was in pain.

“But you told me you want to participate in household chores, saying that you have a lot to learn for the future.”

No, Rosaline also wanted to see the sea with Juliet, but she had no choice but to say no because her mother sternly forbade her. But she couldn’t blame her mother honestly, and the fear of losing Juliet overwhelmed her entire being, making it difficult to remain rational.

“…If not now, there may not be another chance. One month should be enough, right?”

“Rosaline.”

As if trying to calm her down, a small hand touched Rosaline’s cheek. Juliet gently stroked the bewildered Rosaline.

“Let’s talk once you’re all right.”