Romeo and Rosaline - 5

There were abundant zelkova trees in the Capulet mansion.

The green leaves of the zelkova trees clung to the entire outer wall and garden, filling the space with its verdant foliage and blooming crimson flowers. Similar-coloured flowers were scattered even at the place where Juliet and Romeo had died.

Rosaline leaned against the balcony and gazed at the now-withered zelkova trees. Due to Juliet’s favoritism, Rosaline occupied a small solitary room with a balcony. Juliet had wanted to give her a larger room, but due to the strong opposition of the wet nurse, she ended up in a secluded annex that almost touched the mansion’s wall. The detached building, with neither servants nor a mother present, was a place where only silence lingered.

In the familiar silence, Rosaline clenched a thin blanket around her shoulders.

“Rosaline.”

Even with the low voice coming from the opposite side, Rosaline was not surprised. Instead, she simply opened her eyes to face Romeo, who had effortlessly leapt over the railing. He smiled crookedly, as if it was unexpected for her to be waiting on the balcony, and crossed over the railing.

Silently landing on the balcony, he approached Rosaline with swift steps. In an instant, they were within close proximity, and he chuckled.

“It’s as if you’ve been waiting.”

“…You said you would come at night.”

“Anyway, you waited.”

Although she had never felt the balcony to be narrow, once he entered, she couldn’t move an inch. There was only a step’s distance between her and him. As the moonlight, obscured by clouds, gradually illuminated Romeo, their eyes met, reminiscent of a night cloaked in darkness.

She had felt it before, but the inorganic look in his eyes directed at her was never friendly. At first glance, he seemed to despise her. Because he was a Montague and she’s someone from Caplet?

No… It seemed like there was something more than just hating him because of the family…

“Did I mention where I was going?”

As he broke the silence, her thoughts were shattered along with it.

“…You said you would come. So I waited in a suitable place.”

“Knowing I would come.”

Approaching her with determined steps, he closed in like a predator hunting its prey.

“Are you waiting for me here?”

His foot suddenly appeared between her feet. Startled, Rosaline flinched, and he pricked her shoulder with his index finger.

“Boldly, in the middle of the night.”

Rosaline wanted to retort, saying it was him who had no fear. If it weren’t for him delivering the letter without a sender, or if he hadn’t secretly entered the Capulet mansion unless he had bribed the servant.

But in a state where she couldn’t be sure of his feelings towards her, she couldn’t afford to be sharp. He was like hot oil that could splatter anywhere. As he stared intently at Rosaline’s lowered eyelids, he tilted his head and fixed his gaze on her chin.

“You’ve neatly recovered.”

Muttering almost inaudibly, he distanced himself again, as if he had already come as close as possible.

Unconsciously, Rosaline relaxed her tension and slightly shrugged her shoulders. He leaned against the railing with a smirk.

“You’re the one who ignored me after putting me in debt, so I won’t apologize for the late intrusion.”

“It’s because I was contemplating what you wanted.”

“Then I’d say you’ve been thinking about me the whole time we’ve been apart.”

Rosaline didn’t deny that it wasn’t entirely untrue. He stretched his thin lips and smiled.

“Even your excuses sound sweet. I can’t even be angry.”

His words were reminiscent of flattery, but they were closer to teasing. The situation was easily understandable. Regardless of anything else, Romeo was her suitor, but she had ignored him without even giving him a proper greeting.

In fact, she had ignored him for a considerable amount of time, fearing that his interest might wane. But he had persistently reached out to her.

Whether he wanted a simple favor or considered her a temporary amusement, it didn’t matter.

She had to make an effort when he showed interest in her.

“So, Rosaline, after thinking it over, what do you think I wanted?”

He smiled affectionately, but his dark eyes gleamed dangerously. Rosaline clenched her fists. Romeo fell in love with Juliet at first sight, but that was the story after Rosaline rejected him.

Please, may the disordered sequence of your pitiful love persist.

She took a step forward, narrowing the distance Romeo had spread out. Meeting his gaze, which clearly observed what she was doing, Rosaline grabbed his wrist and gently brushed the back of his hand.

His stiff arm was as solid as a rock, and his skin was rough. She lightly touched the tip of his finger, barely grazing it.

“You said I was yours.”

“…And you said it was too much of a joke.”

Romeo’s voice sank, and his eyes grew cloudy. Rosaline found it difficult to even swallow her saliva, as they had never been this close before. From his smooth yet angular jaw to his burnt-like voice, his presence was overwhelming.

Setting aside any sense of prudence, she approached him as if she would embrace him.

“If it’s not a joke, how about truly possessing me?”

It was a feeble temptation, but his face showed surprise as if he hadn’t expected it at all. She looked straight into his well-crafted obsidian-like eyes as she spoke.

“You’re the one who saved me.”

A heavy silence was broken by the wind. The long cloak that knights would wear when concealing their armor swayed, and a strange metallic scent wafted through the air. No, it was closer to the smell of blood. Thoughts of Juliet’s death resurfaced in her mind.

A crack appeared in Rosaline’s carefully maintained mask.

In the brief moment when her eyes betrayed fear, his brows contorted in an instant as he witnessed it.

“Just by touching me, you tremble with such fear.”

Romeo let out a short laugh, sounding “Ha.”

“Are you suggesting I should violate you?”

He grabbed Rosaline’s arm firmly. His fervent hand dug into her cold flesh.

“What an adorable plan. If a knight of the royal court mixes with a novice priestess, we’ll both fall together. You, for betraying God, and me, for daring to touch a priest.”

I got completely caught. It was a gamble to tempt him and keep him from touching Juliet altogether. It was clichéd and reckless, but I thought it was the best she could do in such a short time.

“You don’t seem to hold any grudge against me to the point of ruining your own life. Why?”

As Rosaline bit her lip, overwhelmed by a sense of defeat, he laughed even louder. Whether he was angered by insulting him, the knight, or simply overwhelmed with excitement, it was hard to tell.

“How do you think I would treat you, my lady?”

Though startled, she tried to break free from his grasp, but he pulled her back. Romeo saw through her shallow intentions and even understood her true intentions. How on earth?

As if he sensed the doubts in her mind, he chuckled.

“It’s strange that you don’t know. You’re treating me like a ruthless beast who would devour your nonexistent offspring. It’s quite amusing to see you rolling your eyes in such an absurd manner.”

“No, it’s not… a misunderstanding… Ugh!”

The grip on her wrist was brutal. Unable to escape his hold, Rosaline bowed her head and trembled. But he stayed close, inching closer to the edge of her chin.

“It’s quite impressive how you’re willing to sacrifice yourself just to get rid of a mere man who hovers around a lady. But how about reconsidering?”

Every time Romeo spoke harshly, his breath tickled her cheek, as if his lips were brushing against her skin.

“You may see yourself as a faithful personal servant, but well, it seems that your master sees you as just one of many dogs.”

The whispering sound twisted a part of her chest like a snake.

“As I look at this fierce dog, I can’t help but feel sorry for you.”

Though it was her mistake to insult the knight with feeble seduction, his attitude of acting like he knows everything was incredibly rude.

Knowing she shouldn’t react, Rosaline raised her head to glare at him. It was an intentional provocation, telling him not to speak carelessly without knowing anything, but as soon as their eyes met, her words failed her.

The shadows in Romeo’s eyes were closer to sadness than anger.

Was it a misconception? While they stared blankly at each other, only the harsh sound of breathing filled the air. His gaze, once shining brightly, slowly descended and touched his lips. Even though it was just a gaze, Rosaline couldn’t move a muscle.

Everything around her seemed to capture her. The night, the shadows, the dense scent of flowers wafting over the balcony, and the scent of iron.

And Romeo.

At the moment his Adam’s apple quivered, like he was about to say something, Rosaline had no chance to examine him further. He released her hand before she could, and Romeo took a step back, leaning against the railing. As if cooling down his heated breath, he let out a long exhale.

“I don’t need a body that is so easily thrown away. There is no such thing as a bargain.”

Romeo spoke again with a cold expression.

“Give me your heart.”

He spat out the words harshly, as if saying them to an enemy. Rosaline stared at some point in the empty space, not even looking at Romeo.

“It’s about the feelings you have for your master, the one you’re trying to save even at the cost of throwing away your own dignity.”

It was an absurd statement. Even if she could give her body, she couldn’t give her heart. But in the face of having everything exposed, she couldn’t deny it. The current Romeo exuded an atmosphere that was completely different from before. If she made up her mind, the virtuous Juliet would passively submit without a word.

After the banquet, Juliet would leave with her fiancé for a trip. Until then, she could pretend to give her heart.

But there was a problem with simply accepting it.

“How would you know that my heart has gone to you? If you keep insisting that it’s not the case and tormenting me until the end…”

“I will know.”

He sighed as if chewing on his words.

“I am well aware of the unwavering dedication and longing for an unreciprocating partner more than anyone else.”

Rosaline blinked her eyes like she had been hit by someone, trying to understand his words. Did his words mean that my feelings for Juliet are a dedication without reciprocation and longing for an unreciprocating partner?

She unintentionally spoke sharply.

“My feelings for Juliet are not only reciprocated, but they are also not one-sided.”

Romeo finally looked at Rosaline. His eyes, devoid of any affection, were filled with mockery.

“Oh, is that so? Then how should the ignorant me confirm it? It would be easiest if I asked you to die for me, but it would be a waste to kill again what I have saved.”

He shrugged nonchalantly while uttering chilling words.

“If I am to perceive your dedication to Juliet, I need to know about it. What should I do…”

He clenched and relaxed his hand near his waist, contemplating.

“Teaching seems to be the priority.”

“Understanding emotions cannot be taught.”

“Rosaline, I have no intention of debating with you about you and philosophy.”

He laughed.

“What’s important is my desire to know.”

There was a strange power in Romeo’s eyes. A strange power that enveloped people and made their spines stiffen whenever they made eye contact. Slowly, he raised his hand and wrapped Rosaline’s hair around his index finger. Then, he tilted his chin slightly and whispered.

“Do to me what you did with Juliet.”

He kissed Rosaline’s cheek. It was so short and light that it could be called a mere formality.

“If you only accept the debt, I will disappear cleanly.”

In the blink of an eye, he fell below the balcony and disappeared into the darkness. All that remained was a chilling silence.