Romeo and Rosaline - 9

If you go from the old town towards the direction of the forest, you will come across a long pathway that leads to a gently sloping meadow. Apart from a giant oak tree, the ground is covered with tickling green grass.

The sound of the autumn breeze rustling the grass could be heard, like the sound of waves.

“Why did we come here? I think it’s time you tell me.”

Like a low murmur escaping Romeo’s lips, the idyllic scenery seemed to transform into a rustic backdrop. Rosaline, who had been looking into the distance, slowly turned to gaze at the person behind her. Whether he had discarded his hat on the pathway or not, he now had his face exposed.

The setting sun, leaning towards the west, bathed his smooth skin and angular jaw, even ruffling his golden hair. But his eyes, seemingly dark like it was filled with solitude, resembled that of a young boy yet carried the resignation of an old man. They were eyes suited to a man who seemed familiar but remained unknowable.

“Romeo, why did you do that earlier?”

Instead of answering his question, Rosaline replied with her own question. Romeo furrowed his brow and pressed his lips together. It was a matter that could implicate more than just the two of them. She gently touched upon it.

“Not only Mr. Hormon, but also the guests. He has a loose tongue. If he were to find out about us…”

“He won’t remember my face, and he won’t mock us thoughtlessly. I’m sure of it.”

“Did you use magic or something?”

As he interrupted her in a nervous manner, Rosaline widened her eyes and pouted. It was a natural reaction that had sprung forth without her even realizing it. Romeo chuckled and took a deep breath, practicing patience.

“If his fear of me is due to magic, so be it. Let’s say I cast a spell.”

With a furrowed brow, he spoke, feeling frustrated.

“But you don’t have to worry. He took the money, so he won’t jest with us for no reason…”

“Romeo.”

Rosaline smiled and closed her eyes as though she was in a dilemma.

“Why did you do that to me?”

“…….”

“Were you concerned?”

I had pondered throughout the journey. Though he had been angry and unpredictable all day, he ultimately cast aside the things that displeased me. It was different from Juliet who was kind to me, so I had to think about it for a long time, but there was only one conclusion.

He was worried about me.

Unable to contain his worry, he had lashed out in frustration.

Romeo took a deep breath and ruffled his hair.

“You can’t stand cigarette smoke, can you?”

He finally spoke as if confessing, leaving out anything related to Hormon.

“I judged that it would be best to put it out, as his cigar was mixed with opium.”

In reality, Rosaline had weak lungs, which made her prone to catching colds during transitional seasons. But she never showed it, so no one knew about it.

It was nothing out of the ordinary, yet Romeo noticed something that even Juliet didn’t know.

“…Have we met before by any chance?”

Romeo’s sharp gaze was mixed with indistinguishable emotions. Was it longing? Desire? She tried to read his intentions even a little.

“Rosaline, even just watching you for a moment, I could tell.”

He felt sorry for her. It was a fleeting moment, almost like it would disappear in an instant, but she clearly understood. It felt like her heart was sinking.

“You were rubbing your throat and clutching your chest even before you entered the tavern. It seemed like you were sick of the smoke and were in pain.”

He grimaced, as if he himself were the one with a tight chest.

“…Didn’t you cough?”

Rosaline couldn’t understand Romeo. Neither Juliet, who cherished her, nor her mother, who bore her with a sickly belly, had ever noticed Rosaline’s condition in such a fleeting moment. She had encountered plenty of men with desires who had seen her as something ordinary, but she had never received this kind of attention.

Why? Why on earth?

Attention simply lingers nearby, maintaining an appropriate distance, facing each other from suitable positions, and quietly exchanging words. But he, like a big step taken without warning, had invaded her space.

As she continued to meet his eyes, which she simply found annoying, she became captivated by a strange and ignorant feeling, and her chest tightened. Surely, it must be discomfort. While she pondered on it, her shoulders grew heavy.

“Autumn is fickle. It will soon be cold, so wear this.”

He set down a box, draped his cloak over Rosaline’s shoulders, and securely fastened the strings. Then, he casually knelt down and opened the box that he had placed on the ground. At a glance, there were two expensive bottles of wine lying inside. He raised an eyebrow like he couldn’t believe it.

“Is going all the way there just for a bottle of wine worth it?”

Upon seeing the wine bottle that Juliet often drank, Rosaline felt a slight easing of tension. Yes, it was because of Juliet that she was with him. She comfortably sat on the grassy field and took out a glass wrapped in cloth from her bag.

As she held the glass by the waist, prompting him to pour, Romeo took his place next to her and received the glass with the same aloof expression.

“You said you want me to do what I did with the lady.”

Rosaline caressed the neck of the bottle with her thumb and then inserted a corkscrew into the cork, which she had prepared in advance.

“When we were young, the lady and I used to secretly drink here. I had a little too.”

“…….”

“Even now, the lady occasionally seeks out this wine, but since it’s not officially distributed, I can only get it by going there myrself.”

“You must be on drugs or something.”

“A little?”

When he looked serious, Rosaline smiled.

“It’s a joke. Although it’s bottled as ordinary fruit wine, the fruits inside are not approved, so it can’t be sold.”

“…That’s quite a joke.”

“Just for you.”

He burst into laughter without any hesitation. Finding it truly amusing, the laughter exploded without a trace of shadow. Rosaline, who was silently observing, discovered a new fact.

When he laughs so brightly, a long dimple appears on Romeo’s left cheek. Was there a dimple there before?

The contemplation didn’t last long. He extended the glass towards her and narrowed his eyes.

“Understood. For now, pour me a drink, Rosaline.”

Rosaline poured the wine, feeling her unsettled heart jumping strangely. He held his own glass and smoothly took the bottle with his other hand, pouring it into her glass.

“Just a little…”

“Like this?”

He lightly touched the rim of the glass with the bottle opening and flashed his characteristic twinkling smile. It was unclear whether it was a conscious action or not. The twilight sky, his smile, and the gently blowing grass all felt unreal, and Rosaline nodded absentmindedly.

“Just a little…….”

“This much?”

He poured only as much as Rosaline wanted and leaned the bottle against the box. They raised their glasses and drank a toast to the air. Romeo downed the wine all at once. The thick droplet moved refreshingly.

Contrary to his appearance, his actions were reminiscent of a seasoned mercenary. His thick, long fingers gripping the glass, the rough back of his hand with small scars, and the firm elbow with taut muscles. When his gaze brushed past her from a distance, Rosaline turned her head and swallowed a sip of wine to moisten her dry throat.

The sun, tilting toward the horizon, came into her view.

“I ran away here when I was fourteen.”

It was the first time she had told this story to someone else. She faintly smiled as she brought up something that had happened at least ten years ago.

“I couldn’t bear it anymore, it was suffocating. I didn’t even know what the problem was, so I packed my bags and left.”

* * *

At fourteen years old, during the summer.

It was an ordinary day like any other. She woke up early in the morning, went to the temple with Lawrence, prayed all morning, cleaned the altar, and studied religious texts. If there was anything slightly out of the ordinary, it was that she had a fever and a particularly painful lower abdomen.

On her way back home, she noticed blood flowing between her legs, signaling the start of her menstrual cycle. It was something she couldn’t ignore. Just a few months ago, Juliet had her first period and cried out of surprise. At that time, Rosaline’s mother comforted the startled Juliet with a hug.

“It’s alright, my lady. You’re not sick.”

Although Rosaline’s mother was naturally affectionate towards Juliet, on that day, even tears she had never shown before were visible.

“Kata says that menstruation is a noble occurrence. You have become an adult now. You’re able to bear children.”

“But, but the blood…”

“If you’re human, it’s only natural for blood to flow through your body. Don’t be afraid. Blood is a natural thing.”

Rosaline, who had been crying in panic, was deeply relieved by her mother’s words. After Juliet fell asleep and the cleanup was done, her mother hummed as she gathered flowers and dessert for the young lady.

“You seemed very surprised, but I’m glad you were by her side. Well done, Rosaline.”

Perhaps for the first time that Rosaline could remember, her mother stroked her head. The scent of untouched flowers and soap mingled around her nose from her mother’s hands. Her heart fluttered.

“Wash the cloth clean. No, wash it after you boil it, okay?”

Her mother seemed strangely excited. Rosaline wondered if she had some expectations. If the she herself went through the so-called ‘noble occurrence,’ would her stoic mother pat her forehead and say, ‘you’ve done a noble thing’?

Rosaline had mostly done what her mother wanted without a word of complaint. It was only natural to repay the favors received from the Capulet family, but even animals and horses are praised for listening to their master’s words. They receive care when they give birth to offspring.

So perhaps she would embrace her ailing child.