Still under the blanket so she couldn’t see properly, she could easily imagine his eyes curved with mirth and the dimple in a straight line.

“I said I’d help, get down.”

“Tomorrow. We’ll wake up early.”

“Then don’t torment me. I need to sleep early to wake up early.”

When he descended while kissing her neck like biting, Rosaline pushed his head. He didn’t budge as expected.

“Rosaline, don’t push me away so much.”

Romeo rubbed his cheek against her chest pleadingly.

“I’ve been upset lately because I couldn’t play the dog guarding your room. Please understand.”

There had indeed been times these past few days when she arrived at the room before him. Even so, if she waited just a bit, Romeo would climb through the window and enter. She stroked his hair and asked,

“Are you very busy? What is it?”

“……The prince is being annoying, so I had some things to resolve.”

“You won’t tell me what?”

“It’s really pointless. Even if things get noisy around you soon, just ignore it.”

He grew serious and furrowed his brow.

“Not seeing you is the biggest problem for me.”

Romeo parted her front and raised the corner of his mouth.

“So I’ll torment you just a little.”

In the end, Rosaline laughed too. She let him do as he pleased. In the onrushing pleasure that followed, Rosaline recalled that not much time remained until Juliet returned. With so few days left when this couldn’t continue, she grabbed him despite his claim to torment her just a little and ended up taking more than necessary.

It felt like an unquenchable thirst. Please, god. Don’t take away my transgression.

Rosaline prayed sincerely.

Rosaline was waiting for Lord Capulet with a carriage on standby since he had business in the outskirts. She’d thought he’d come out soon, but an attendant conveyed that Lord Capulet would be late checking a telegram that arrived urgently. Guessing the wait would be long, Rosaline couldn’t resist and took out a letter while facing the dry wind. She was carefully unfolding it to read each letter meticulously when a cheerful voice rang in her ear.

“Rosaline, what are you looking at and smiling like that? You’ve been strange lately.”

It was the butler who’d come to go out with Lord Capulet. Startled, Rosaline folded the letter she’d been reading and put it back in her bosom.

“It’s a postcard Miss sent.”

It was a lie. Juliet must have been very busy with her trip—she’d sent almost no letters except for the first few days. What was in her bosom were letters Romeo had written her over several days. Short and crude, but utterly endearing…….

“Oh my. You missed Miss that much? Should I say that’s admirable?”

The young butler hadn’t been working in earnest following his father, the old butler, for long. He had a friendly and outgoing personality and liked to meddle, but his smiling face was so young that no one in the estate disliked him, and the same went for Rosaline.

She smiled weakly.

“Yes, I miss her.”

Missing Juliet Capulet was true. She missed Juliet when watching her father work or when cleaning her empty bedroom and study every day. She didn’t send many letters worrying they’d be burdensome, but she made sure to send them twice a week.

“She’ll come before winter at least.”

“It’s already been over a month since Miss left. Already autumn.”

He nodded then stopped and smiled.

“You’re really something. Longing for your master amid the changing seasons. Kata will be jealous of Miss.”

Not Kata but another man was jealous of her. And she spent every night with that man. Looking back, it was amusing. Originally at this time, Juliet would hug Rosaline tight and sleep.

Not only that. As a child, she’d first thought people were warm in Juliet’s bed. But recently, she’d first thought her room was warm in Romeo’s embrace.

So much had happened in just about two months. Enough for Romeo’s letters tucked in her coat to feel heavy and hot.

It had been several days since he’d started writing her short letters. Most were things like “When are you coming?” or “Your eyes shine brighter than gold, so if valued as jewels they’d fetch a price. If you’re short on money, sell them with my hair.” Surprisingly plain or crude and nonsensical content mostly. Still, it was amusing how he stubbornly stuck to letter format by attaching “To Rosaline, from Romeo.”

But today’s content was a bit different.

[To Rosaline who’s busy again today.

Remember, you are my final destination.

Your Romeo.]

“Destination……”

She was smiling thinking of the letter when Lord Capulet emerged from the estate entrance. Rosaline picked up the prepared luggage to greet him. But he didn’t immediately enter the carriage and stopped after taking the luggage from Rosaline.

“Rosaline, it would be good if Juliet could give this to you directly, but since my daughter isn’t here, I suppose I must.”

“Pardon? What……”

“And I’m sorry for opening it first.”

Lord Capulet took out a letter from his bosom. At the end of the paper was a seal that had already been opened and resealed. A seal with Kata’s symbol, the sun, clearly drawn.

The central diocese had decided Rosaline’s residence.

Rosaline received it with trembling hands and read the contents.

Lord Capulet, watching her complexion, couldn’t hold back and spoke excitedly,

“You’re going to the grand temple in the capital, Rosaline.”

Her first thought that came was that the capital and Valher were close, so Juliet could visit often. And that in the capital, there would be many more ways to meet Romeo secretly.

“Fortunately, you’ll be able to say goodbye to Juliet before you go.”

Lord Capulet took out a long box from inside his coat. Opening it revealed a fountain pen. Though old, it was well-maintained and clearly of very high quality at a glance.

“My gift for you. When you go to the capital, you’ll exchange letters with Juliet, so use it.”

“……N-no. I can’t accept something like this……”

“Don’t tell me the temple will confiscate it? I know there’s no such rule.”

“But……”

“Refusing twice is not polite.”

He patted her shoulder and smiled. Rosaline finally accepted his pen and held it tight while bowing her head.

“……Thank you.”

“Yes, you’ve really worked hard, Rosaline.”

Lord Capulet lightly stroked the crown of her head. Between him stroking her head and the fountain pen gift happening so suddenly, Rosaline could only repeat her thanks like a cuckoo.

Even after Lord Capulet got in the carriage and left, Rosaline stood rooted to the spot. Other attendants waiting nearby offered congratulations in turn.

“My goodness, congratulations, Rosaline!”

“You worked so hard……”

“Your mother will praise you too.”

A sharp sense of guilt rose, but either way, Rosaline felt just as good. Despite having resented Miss over temple work, she wanted to tell Juliet right away. She would surely be happy.

‘And Romeo too……’

Romeo would surely sneer. But like every night, he’d spew out dozens of ways of where and how to be by Rosaline’s side.

Their future was only unstable. Yet imagining that future made her heart flutter. Leaving the Capulets, imagining breaking taboos—it felt like gently stroking the self she’d suppressed until now.

She wanted to run to the Montagues right away to share this news, but she’d see him soon, so she decided to suppress the floating joy for a moment.

First, let’s go back and write a letter to Miss with this fountain pen. She’ll probably be able to receive it at the inn on her return. No, would it be better to write to Romeo first, even briefly? If he found out she wrote to Miss first, he’d surely sulk.

Dusk was already falling. She’d agreed to see Romeo after sunset, so there wasn’t much time left.

“Isn’t that Father Laurence?”

One of the attendants surrounding Rosaline suddenly spoke as if puzzled.

“It’s not just Father… huh? Are those holy knights?”

“There are several priests too.”

True to the attendant’s words, Father Laurence and priests presumed to be high-ranking clerics were heading toward the Montague estate in a line with holy knights on the street. Perhaps from the capital, the priests wore dark red mantelletta cloaks symbolizing the central diocese.

Was it because of Romeo? Though he’d said not to worry, concern arose somehow.

“The Montague heir participated in the war. Well, he distinguished himself, so that must be why.”

“What great deed could warrant them all marching over like that?”

The attendants giggled, unable to hide their curiosity. In the end, Rosaline couldn’t hide her impatience either and quickened her pace.

“Oh, Rosaline. Where are you going? Stay a bit longer and we’ll ask the head maid if we can all eat something together.”

“……I remembered something I left behind. I’ll just check and come back down.”

“Alright. Don’t be cold to us until the very end when we’re about to part!”

Rosaline gave a perfunctory greeting and entered the estate. Originally she’d planned to rest in her room, but she changed direction toward the side gate connected to the annex garden. She’d agreed to go to the temple at night, so she’d promised to meet Romeo there.

Even if she couldn’t see him right away, waiting would ease her anxiety. But the moment she entered the annex, her wrist was roughly grabbed.

“Mother?”

Her mother pulled her close with bloodshot eyes. She glared at what was in Rosaline’s grasp.

“What did you receive from the master? Give it here.”

“It’s nothing. Just a fountain pen……”

“Why would you receive that? What did you discuss? No, no need to explain. Give it here now!!!”