Romeo and Rosaline - 0

“They say that honey that is too sweet is rather disgusting, and so is love. It is a disgusting poison that will hurt you.”

Rosaline thought it unlikely that Romeo and Juliet had heard her warning, for she was but a mere attendant.

Romeo, a man with shallow eyes and sweet words, once pursued Rosaline but was rejected. The pain of rejection was brief as he soon fell into a passionate love with Juliet. Instead of despising him for this, Rosaline briefly sympathized with his constant thirst for affection.

What about Juliet? As the dutiful successor of the Capulet family, she was sincere and not arrogant. She regarded Rosaline, who was just a mere attendant, like a sister and wholeheartedly respected her. Rosaline admired and followed Juliet from the bottom of her heart.

Therefore, when Juliet declared her love for Romeo, despite the long-standing conflict between their families, Rosaline blessed their love.

But was the blessing too much? They died beneath the white temple, surrounded by piles of jasmine flowers. Romeo’s existence may have been easily forgotten by Rosaline, but Juliet was her master and only friend.

Rosaline collapsed onto the lifeless bodies of the young lovers and endlessly caressed Juliet’s pale cheek.

“Lady Juliet, please wake up.”

It was Juliet who spoke with bright eyes, even as her love withered away. She was not someone who would leave so soon. Rosaline lifted her head, searching for a way to save Juliet.

A huge statue of the sun god Kata loomed in her blurred vision. Without pupils, the sculpture seemed to look down on the foolish worshipper. But it also seemed omnipotent.

Please, I beg you.

“Alone and exalted, O Kata, the highest of the high…!”

Though it felt like sharp thorns scratching her throat, she didn’t stop shouting.

“I will give you everything I have. My body and soul already belong to you, so if you find my insignificant love acceptable, please take it. I don’t intend to deceive you, nor do I dare to lie. My heart is as transparent as tears, so I hope you believe me.”

For Juliet…

“If you would only save Juliet…!!!”

For a brief moment, it seemed as if light radiated through the worn and cracked surface of the statue. Was it an illusion? Without even assessing the situation, Rosaline lost consciousness with a heavy heart.