Romeo and Rosaline - 37

The final round of the war for the throne, in which the Incarnation of Kata participated, had come to an end. It was a complete and perfect victory. To celebrate this, Duke William had decided to visit Arsha. Officially, it was a congratulatory occasion.

In anticipation of William’s visit, the knights lined up in a row along the street, with Abbess Gabriella and Tybalt standing in between them. It was difficult to find joy of victory in their faces. They appeared almost expressionless, as if it were boring.

“You’ve arrived.”

As Duke William descended from the tower, Gabriella narrowed her eyes and murmured softly. The duke’s face, which emerged through the snowstorm, appeared more like a venomous snake than the leisurely demeanor of a victor.

Before Tybalt could even offer a greeting, William grabbed his shoulders.

“Well done, Tybalt. And… Romeo, I mean, the Incarnation of Kata?”

“I heard he just arrived. He is waiting in the temple.”

“Let’s go right away.”

In response to William’s tone, which lacked confidence, he pursed his lips as if to show understanding.

There was a reason why Kata came just in time to return to Arsha after finishing the last spin. Whether it’s messengers or telegrams, he ignores them, so if you want to see his face once, you have no choice but to come along.

‘Anyway, this lunatic….’

According to the theories that had been passed down, Romeo’s original personality should have disappeared after becoming the Incarnation.

However, in this Incarnation of Kata, Romeo hadn’t changed. At least that’s what William knew.

In this way, he could be considered a human with abilities more special than a god. But since he had taken on the name of a god through others, his influence was truly remarkable.

Weapons could be discarded once the war was over, but they couldn’t abandon a living god. However, it was extremely difficult to use him strategically.

“What are your plans?”

Tybalt asked quietly. They were speaking at a height that wouldn’t be heard by the followers and knights trailing behind them.

“We should take him with us. Hold a coronation ceremony for him, and let him appear at the inauguration.”

“…I’m not sure if he will agree willingly.”

William nodded his head in agreement. A sigh echoed in the halls.

William’s enemies that could be killed with sword and spear might be gone, but the politics that would require more than that were about to begin in earnest.

It would be great if Kata continued to obediently follow William’s words like he was doing now, but his inscrutable disposition remained the same as before, making it impossible to predict what would happen next.

‘I thought you were honest about girls.’

When he mentioned the issue with women back in Verona, he was the one who pretended to listen while tearing into it with an annoying persistence. At that time, he seemed ill-tempered and immature, like a young novice.

With an anxious heart, he arrived at the temple of Arsha, and there Israel and Raphael were waiting at the entrance.

William stood before them, wearing a wide smile.

“So, you were the ones who were by Kata’s side on the battlefield. I heard you knights have matched his sensitive disposition quite well.”

Israel and Raphael stiffened, only nodding their heads. They were both from respectable families, but he heard they became knights through this war. They had the eyes of killers despite their youth, and there was no trace of naivety left in their worn-out, adult-like demeanor.

They didn’t particularly stand out, but…

“They certainly have charm. They’re the kind of people who would captivate Kata.”

“Oh my, that’s not really the case…”

Words like charm and captivate caused the siblings to exchange glances with a hint of discomfort. They didn’t mind the special treatment, but it seemed burdensome.

“It’s just, Kata said something strange, that we’re not afraid of him.”

Israel quickly offered an explanation.

“So, that’s why he keeps you by his side…”

As William stared intently, she tightly closed her eyes.

“No, we feel unjust as well. It’s truly terrifying.”

Indeed, for them, rather than awe and fear towards the divine, indifference and annoyance seemed to prevail. In other words, they were individuals who feared the hardships of their own lives more than the absolute figure before them.

Moreover, these words meant that there was a possibility of making them lean towards William’s side.

“Is Baron Laufela doing well?”

“Well, my father… um… he was worried at first, but now he has high expectations.”

Israel scratched her head, unable to say that her father was doing well. After all, the baron was a noble without land, only possessing a title.

Having sent them both as volunteers with the intention of doing some business with his children, the war broke out before they could even take up their positions. Since they were already in this situation, they took the opportunity and became aides of Kata, who was known for killing people at a moment’s notice. Perhaps the baron had both worries and high expectations, as this situation was far from ideal.

“There will surely be rewards. But Kata won’t give you the rewards you desire.”

Their expressions twisted strangely at William’s words.

“The sun may be the ruler of the world, but it doesn’t own the land or gold.”

Those who owned the land and gold, as well as those who could bestow them, meant William himself. Seeing another spark ignite in their eyes, he wore a satisfied smile.

“Then let’s go inside.”

But William’s smile didn’t last long. As soon as he stepped into the temple, something unknown fell in front of his nose. It was a well-sealed silver box, and despite its polished appearance, there was a scent of decay seeping through the cracks inside.

Nevertheless, William knelt down and opened the box as if possessed. His trembling lips let out a hollow laughter.

“Well, well…”

Inside the box was the severed head of a monarch. What an insincere greeting, throwing a human head before you’ve even seen the face. He cast an indifferent glance at the face of his other sister and the exiled crown prince.

Strange circumstances indeed.

Now that he was in this position, he could understand the exiled prince who sought power through blood ties. He had wanted to leave, not wanting to be tied down, but now that he had stepped into this position, he found himself trying to suppress everything.

It was a time when the greed he didn’t even know existed spread like a wildfire in the field.

“This is what you wanted, so loosen up your expression a bit.”

The voice he had wanted to hear and at the same time didn’t want to hear for the past few months echoed through the temple. William slowly lifted his head.

The ceiling was endlessly high, a relief of the sun symbolizing Kata embedded in the wall above the altar, pointed and majestic, and beneath it, on an altar set up like a throne, sat the Incarnation of Kata, reclining.

His flamboyant appearance defied the frugality of the temple’s virtues, his arrogance stemmed from his lack of fear of opponents, and his laziness from his posture of indifference.

With no sense of reality, he opened his mouth, seeming bored.

“…I greet the sun that has descended upon the earth.”

“Greetings are unnecessary.”

Kata spoke solemnly.

“I assume the reason you’ve traveled all this way is for the inauguration ceremony.”

“…Will you grant it to me?”

“If I don’t, should I kill you?”

Kata chuckled. It was a joke that only he found amusing, with no one else laughing. He grasped the edge of the cup and drank the wine. The gold ring on his index and ring fingers caught the light and sparkled.

“Duke, don’t you desire the highest position? There is only the sun in that place, and since you cannot become the sun, you should make use of the light that has descended to the earth.”

Kata, who told him to use his body as a tool, felt like a double-edged sword even to himself. If you hold it, it’s dangerous. But it was too tempting to just let go. If he grasped the sword willingly offering his neck, could he not become an absolute ruler as if he possessed the true sun?

William, forgetting about the fire created by the sun, fueled his greed even more.

“Indeed, for your sake, I must ascend to the highest place.”

Romeo nodded lightly and raised his cup again.

William was taken aback. Just a moment ago, he appeared as cold-hearted as usual, but now he couldn’t hide his restlessness and anger.

What on earth caused this? William finally noticed the woman standing next to Kata.

She was difficult to discern in the shadows. The spot where she stood was dim, and only her light brown eyes shimmered faintly like the hazy moon on a cloudy day. Her expression was not clearly visible, but she didn’t seem particularly pleased.

‘Was her name Rosaline.’

He had heard from Tybalt that she was a woman with complicated circumstances. But what mattered to William was the fact that she was standing next to Kata.

Romeo, who was usually indifferent on the battlefield, was acting nervously and foolishly in Verona, all because of that woman.

Even in Arsha, Kata couldn’t keep his grip on Rosaline. Honestly, William thought that he wouldn’t let her stay by his side, whether he killed her or spared her.

Having a woman by Kata’s side was an act that could raise suspicions about his holiness. Thinking it might be an opportunity, William tried to use Tybalt to win over Rosaline, but she didn’t even flinch.

William had thought that their affection was unbreakable, but now it seemed otherwise. Kata did not conceal his anger even with his lover by his side.

Why on earth?

Shall we take a look?

“Umbras are present in the shadows. It’s known that entry to the temple is prohibited. Will you bring her to the ceremony?”

“Wherever there is light, there will be shadows. I’ll take her anywhere.”

Gold shimmered in Kata’s emotionless gaze. His gaze slowly turned towards Tybalt, who was standing next to William. William was astonished. Goodness, it’s jealousy. And in the midst of it, Tybalt was unabashedly staring at Rosaline.

After a moment of silence that felt like it would explode, Tybalt couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“Kata, how about giving light to Arsha’s Umbras in accordance with the ceremony?”

Kata remained motionless, sitting upright without blinking his eyes. As if urging to speak more.

“I’ve heard that the Umbras have also endured hard labor and paid their dues while the war was happening in the north. Show mercy by allowing their remaining life to be lived in light, not in shadows.”

“Mercy…”

Kata’s anger was palpable to everyone present.

“If there is no doubt in their loyalty, perhaps we can consider it.”

He spoke while gazing into empty space.

“Come here, Rosaline.”

Rosaline, who had been in the shadow behind the altar, emerged with slow steps. Romeo glared at Rosaline, standing quietly in front of him, with her back towards William and Tybalt.

“Undress.”

“Kata!”

Tybalt was astonished. Romeo completely ignored him and twisted his lips. But his red eyes didn’t show any signs of amusement.

“You said you would do anything.”