CH 61

It was Rose who averted her gaze first.

Rose dropped Ilya's hand like it was made of fire, then looked the other way.

"That, stop... Haa... Can you leave? I'm a little tired."

"Ahh, it's morning, but... Have a good rest, Rose."

Ilya stood up without saying another word.

Rose did not move from her seat. It was as if she had no intention of seeing the baron's daughter off.

Ilya left towards the door, pausing when she passed the couch Rose was seated on.

"Rose."

The young lady of Honeywell Manor did not move, but that didn't keep Ilya from speaking.

"It doesn't take a big reason for people to betray others. Since there was a kidnapping case yesterday, I don't think it's bad to be wary of people around you."

Bang.

The door shut behind Ilya with a loud bang.

When Rose realized she was left all alone in the room, she finally stopped holding back her urges.

"Urgh!"

Rose gagged.

Having trouble sitting down, the woman slipped off the couch and crouched down on the floor.

The insides of her stomach twisted as she fought off her nausea, feeling as though she was seconds away from regurgitating her last meal.

"What---urgh---what?"

Fortunately, no vomiting occurred, but Rose could not get rid of the urge, so her hands remained over her mouth.

Rose's hands began to tremble.

"Urgh."

The events that occurred just a few moments ago came to mind.

It was that brief moment of holding Ilya's hand---no, was it the moment when we made eye contact?

When Rose met Ilya's eyes, her stomach felt like it was going crazy.

Perhaps if she hadn't let Ilya go and had kept eye contact with her, Rose would have thought that she might have gone mad by now.

"What the hell, just..."

Rose raised her hand and wiped her forehead, where a cold sweat broke out.

She breathed deeply, inhaling and exhaling, before looking back at the door.

"Ilya, you, haa. I'm not really sure but are you up to something?"

As she continued to control her breathing, her nausea finally calmed down. 

Rose climbed to her feet and plopped herself into the couch cushions. 

"How nice would it be if I had the ability to prophesy."

A long sigh escaped her throat as Rose discarded the thought and found the shopping bag she had put down under the table.

It was a gift that Ilya had purchased for her after all.

"What did you give me?"

Rose looked at the bag with doubtful eyes, then straightened up and set it on the table.

After untying the ribbon around the box and opening the lid, a mirror neatly wrapped in wrapping paper was revealed.

"A hand mirror?"

The palm-sized mirror had no jewels or decorations attached to it. Instead, it had elaborate and detailed patterns engraved on the rim and back.

For someone who didn't like shiny things which hurt her eyes, she didn't hate the mirror.

"Hmmm. Is it really an ordinary mirror?"

Rose inspected it, her hand on the handle, and put it back in the box. She put the lid back on, tied the ribbon back in the same knot as before, and pushed it under the bed.

"Ugh. I'm sorry about this, Ilya. I cannot fully accept your gift."

Rose chucked the box deeper under the bed once more and stood up.

Laying on the bed, exhausted, she looked out the now fully lit window.

Soon Anne will come to wake me up.

"Haa... Anne will be worried if she finds out I haven't slept."

Her body felt as heavy as soaked cotton, but Rose got up and put the teacup and kettle back on the table.

It's not like Anne wouldn't notice a used teacup, but still.

Rose went back to bed, thinking about what she would say if Anne asked.

"Ohh, come to think of it, I was supposed to go to the Imperial Palace today to meet His Majesty as usual. But after yesterday's kidnapping, can I go? I'm a little worried about His Majesty..."

Rose lay down on her back and stared at the ceiling.

"What kind of relationship do you and I have?"

Clearly, even last year, I hadn't been close to Russell.

Wells was the only person close to him as a Honeywell.

If it weren't for Wells, there wouldn't be a single point of contact between us.

After the regression, Rose thought of Russell, whom she had met strangely often.

"I like him, but His Majesty..."

Although she didn't know much about dating or love, Rose knew that Russell was overly nice to her.

...If that's because I'm my older brother's younger sister, it would be a bit sad.

Rose shifted and laid down comfortably.

As she hugged the pillow tightly, Russell, whom she had met before returning, suddenly came to mind.

It was like that then, too. 

The look in Russell's eyes as he looked at her was truly friendly.

[TL/N: She's talking about her past life here.]

It was a kindness that was not different from now.

"if... If I hadn't insisted on my engagement to Elliot... If the person I loved was someone different..."

Rose imagined it even though she knew it couldn't be done.

The one she fell in love with first would be Russell, not Elliot.

The thought made Rose even more miserable.

In the end, Rose buried her face in the pillow, unable to shake off her melancholy.

Perhaps it was because she had been up all night. Rose complained for the first time to Anne, who had come to wake her up.

Perhaps because of the accident yesterday, Anne decided not to let Rose go about her day early. Instead, she let her sleep in. 

Thanks to this, Rose was able to get up refreshed only after lunch had passed.

"Ahh! I slept till this time."

Rose stretched her arms upward when she heard the door open.

Turning her head, Rose met Wells' gaze as he entered the room.

Wells looked surprised when he found his beloved sister awake.

"Rose. You're awake."

"Yes?"

"If I had known you were awake, I would have knocked. I'm sorry."

"No, brother. What's to hide between you and me? But why did you come to my room?"

Wells approached Rose and sat on the bed.

Gently, he began tucking and tidying up Rose's messy hair very naturally.

"You were supposed to see His Majesty today. Don't worry, His Majesty will understand, so if you're tired, take a break today."

"No, we shall go!"

Rose shook her head and expressed her opinion.

Wells' hand, which had been tidying up her hair, hesitated for a moment.

"Is that okay?"

"Yes, brother, and I want to quickly express my gratitude to His Majesty. He saved me."

"He did. Haa... Rose..."

Wells sighed and called out to his sister, causing Rose's shoulders to tremble.

"I would like to believe that you are doing this purely to express your gratitude to His Majesty."

...That's right, I should have known. My brother noticed the shift in my heart.

Rose moved the motionless muscles of her face, lifted the corners of her mouth into a grin, and pretended.

"Huh? What do you mean, brother? I---I have no idea what you mean."

Wells looked at Rose with pity.

She laughed lightly, but she could see it clearly in Wells' eyes. Rose's expression, seeing the truth, was unable to hide her disappointment.

Wells reached out, pulled Rose's small shoulders closer, and held her in his arms.

"I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry about, brother?"

Rose patted Wells on the back. With the comfort of his beloved sister, Wells felt like crying.

...If only I were the vessel that contained the monster's soul.

If that were the case, I would have cheered Rose on as much as I could, no matter who she liked, whether it was Elliot or His Majesty.

Wells slowly pulled Rose away.

"Rose."

"Yes?"

"I will protect you no matter what."

Rose was stunned and replied belatedly.

"Ah, me too. I will also protect my older brother."

"You are strong, Rose. I'll call Anne. Let's have a simple lunch and prepare to go to the Imperial Palace."

Not long after Wells left, Anne brought in a light meal for Rose, who had skipped breakfast and lunch.

She finished the meal in an instant, then prepared for the outing to the Imperial Palace with Anne's help.

When the butler informed her that a carriage was waiting outside, Rose put on her cloak and went down to the first floor, where Wells was waiting patiently.

"Are you going to the Imperial Palace too?"

"No, I took a few days off, so for the time being, I will be working at the manor. Right now, I have come to see you off."

Rose tucked her arm in his and went out with Wells, getting into the carriage with Wells' help.

As she settled down, Wells knocked on the carriage window. Rose moved to the window and rolled it down.

"Brother?"

"How is your relationship with Lady Titonsser these days?"

"Ilya? Uh... Hmm... I think it's fine..."

"Truly, Rose?"

"Yes, but why do you ask?"

"Nevermind that. You should go ahead. When you arrive at the Imperial Palace, the knight will guide you to His Majesty's place."

Wells gestured for her to close the window.

Rose closed the window, and then the carriage started to set off as she looked at Wells through the closed window.

She raised her hand and mirrored her brother's wave, then moved away from the window as the distance increased.

"What did my brother mean? Recently? The relationship between Ilya and I... Ah! Is it because of Stanley Gardner?"

Wells knew that Stanley Gardner often came to the manor to see Ilya.

Since he kidnapped me, was that why he asked about his relationship with Ilya?

"My older brother's words earlier were meaningful."

Wells' words of protection were a bit sudden, but she knew that they meant that darker and more chaotic times were heading their way. 

As if someone predicted that something big would happen to her in the future.

"What do you know, brother?"

Rose was lost in thought as she touched the hem of her skirt, returning to reality when the carriage stopped.

As the coachman opened the door, the knight who had been waiting for her approached, as Wells said.

"Welcome, Young Lady Rose Honeywell. I have come to guide you."

"Thank you."

Rose took the knight's hand, got off the carriage, and followed him.

The direction the knight headed was not the building where Russell's office was located.

What lies this way?

"Is His Majesty in the palace?"

"Yes, His Majesty is waiting for you in the greenhouse there."

The place where the knight took Rose was the emperor's palace, Russell's residence.

Soon after, the palace appeared, and Rose was able to follow him to the greenhouse.

"Please enter, Lady Honeywell."

The knight stopped in front of the greenhouse. 

It seems that only those who have received permission and the attendants on duty can enter.

Rose entered the greenhouse with a trembling heart.

As she stepped into the greenhouse, a warm feeling enveloped her.

With every step she took, the fragrant scent of flowers permeated her nose.

After walking down the paved road in the greenhouse, a table for two appeared.

However, the owner of the greenhouse was nowhere to be seen.

"Your Majesty, Lady Rose Honeywell is here."

Standing a little away from the table, an attendant announced her arrival, but Russell did not appear.

Rose stood still, not moving, as subjects of the emperor couldn't sit on their own without his presence and consent.

She didn't keep standing for long.

"Why aren't you sitting down?"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind.

"Ahh!!!"

Rose grabbed her startled heart, turned around, and tripped.

As her body staggered haphazardly, only one thought came to Rose's head.

Whaa! Maybe I should practice walking in these shoes more often.

It wasn't once or twice that she tried on the shoes, but strangely, recently, she felt like she kept tripping over her feet whenever she wore that particular pair of shoes. 

"Rose!"

Russell reached out, urgently calling her by name.

Fortunately, she was able to avoid the misfortune of falling flat thanks to the nimble Russell.

"Ah, thank you, Your Majesty."

"That's alright. Rather, I'm sorry I surprised you."

"No, because I was in a daze..."

Placing her hand on her chest to calm her heart, Rose noticed what Russell was holding in one hand.