When they returned from the Cimmaron Mansion, darkness had fallen. As Rosaline played around without the fan she received as a gift from Chloe, Moonstone Castle was already around the corner. Leticia said she had something to buy on the street, so Rosaline was the only person who got out of the carriage.
On her way to the dormitory, she noticed a small figure squatting in front of the building. It was Hessa. He was just looking at the floor, hugging his knees as Rosaline moved closer. It wasn’t that he didn’t notice he was deep in his thoughts, but Rosaline was just too quiet, like a cat or a beast, without any sign.
When the bag’s weight made a sound, Hessa lifted his head in amazement as if he had heard thunder.
“Sir Rosaline.”
It was a voice full of depression. Hessa stood from the ground. There was a lot of anguish on his young face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, well. It’s not a big deal…”
The gaze always directed at her was wandering, not meeting her. Left, right, towards the dark bush, then back to the floor. Rosaline lowered her stance to meet Hessa’s eyes.
“What’s going on?”
Hessa bit his lip tightly.
“… I have lost something during the day… Can you go find it with me?”
It seemed like something very important. Rosaline nodded without much thought.
Hessa walked for a long time away from Moonstone Castle. The destination was a splendid garden located outside the castle. The decorations and fountains illuminated by the lanterns were even more beautiful than when bathed in the daylight. Rosaline looked around.
“We’ve come a long way. What have you lost?”
The beautiful garden seemed invisible to Hessa’s eyes. When he broke the glass Raymond gave. When he lost her papers. Every time he made a mistake, the boy looked at his feet and bit his lip like now.
What the hell did you lose?! At this time, a bit of worry settled in Rosaline’s mind. Magical energy suddenly began to spread from Hessa.
“Hessa?”
There was no defense against anything, no attack, not for any action, purposeless magic that confused Rosaline. He lost his stuff, so why is he suddenly using his magical powers?
At that moment, Rosaline realized that the traces of people scattered all over the garden began to gather in one place. Toward here. In front of the fountain where she and Hessa were.
Hessa lifted his head and looked straight into Rosaline’s eyes. He looked different from how his eyes were filled with tears every time he made a mistake. His brows were furrowed, but he wasn’t crying.
“Please listen at least a little, Sir Rosaline. Although he is clearly an enemy of His Highness, the 2nd Prince of Illavenia…”
Rosaline heard that and looked around. All around the place, people approached. Rosaline noticed who they were. The magical power suddenly wrapped around the boy’s body. The people approaching. Wasn’t it obvious? They were mages. And as Rosaline knew, the appearance of this many mages except herself and Hessa…
“Rosaline.”
…could only be Haqab’s escorts. The man called her name in a feverish voice. Rosaline glanced back at him. A bronze-toned man stepped into where the two were. At the same time, she felt dozens of men line up just beyond the wall of the maze garden surrounding the fountain.
Haqab smiled at Hessa. Only then did Rosaline find out he was behind Hessa calling her here.
“I didn’t mean to fool you, but I thought you wouldn’t come if I told you the truth…”
One could read the conflict that complicated the boy’s head in the act of biting his lips. Rosaline sighed and flicked her finger lightly on Hessa’s forehead.
Tak!
The sound was not light. Hessa grabbed his forehead and fell on his butt. The boy, who was clenching his teeth to keep from crying, eventually burst into tears.
“Go to the dormitory first. I’ll be there in a little while.”
Hessa, whose tears were dripping, nodded while pressing his forehead. The boy looked back several times as he passed through the garden. However, because Rosaline was concentrating on Haqab before her, all he could see was her shadow.
After Hessa’s presence was far away, Haqab, who was appreciating her with ecstatic eyes as if she were a great masterpiece, moved.
“We finally met. Long time no see, Rosaline.”
“I see the first son of Balta.”
Haqab approached without taking his eyes off her. Perhaps knowing what he would do, by the time his chest was close enough to touch her chest, Rosaline took a step back. Haqab opened his eyes wide and looked at her.
“I was just trying to say hi.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You must’ve been trained in the meantime. What a bunch of cheap people.”
“In Illavenia, unnecessary contact is avoided unless the people involved are close.”
“Then is it okay to have unnecessary contact if we are close?”
Rosaline pondered and nodded.
“Yes. Maybe.”
Haqab smiled with eyes bent. That’s good news. The man muttered quietly.
“If you don’t have any special business, may I leave?”
“No. I have a special business, Rosaline.”
Haqab smiled, revealing his teeth. Rosaline only looked up at him without expression because the way the man called her name was annoying.
“Should I change my posture first? Your neck must be suffering like this.”
Haqab bent down and got down on one knee. The situation was completely reversed from before. Now Haqab looked up at Rosaline. Rosaline was uncharacteristically embarrassed to answer. Um, this feels a little weird. The man smiled lightly.
“What do you think?”
“It’s very uncomfortable.”
“Your neck?”
“No. Your actions make me uncomfortable.”
“… I don’t know who it is, but they taught you so well. Just have fun, Rosaline. The only person who sees me in that position is Hiksala Adon. Since he’s suffering from a disease, there won’t be anyone in a while.”
Rosaline pondered hard and found the right answer after a while.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Haqab burst into laughter.
“No, Rosaline. That fact makes me happy.”
“Ah, yes. I guess it does.”
Haqab covered his eyes for a moment as his shoulders shook. After a while, the exposed dark-brown eyes twinkled in the lantern’s light. Seeing they were a bit watery, she thought he cried a little.
“Yes. I’m happy. I’m thrilled that soon everyone will look up to me like this. But Rosaline.”
Haqab grabbed Rosaline’s hand immediately. Then he drew it closer to his face and kissed the back of her hand. It was a natural action, like flowing water, so there was no time to stop it.
“You can always see me in that position if you want. The Hiksala of Balta will worship you at your feet and offer you love forever.”
“No? I don’t really want that.”
There was a change in the monotonous answer. No? What are you talking about? She even looked puzzled. Even though Haqab had already expected it, he was still slightly hurt when this person reacted like she had heard nonsense.
“I’m not asking you to answer right now. The more paths, the better, so just keep my suggestion in mind. I’m sure one day if you’re still Illavenia…”
The man hesitated for a moment. He seemed to be choosing his words.
“… You will be very disappointed.”
Haqab left aside the explicit and more destructive words. What would be the use of cursing Illevania to a knight from the current Illavenian imperial family? He was just waiting for the right time to come.
“So remember. I said it once in Balta. The door of Livita is open to you.”
Rosaline’s expression was still vague, making Haqab didn’t know what she was thinking. Haqab asked suspiciously.
“… Do you understand what I mean?”
“If I go to Livita, they will open the door for me.”
Haqab chuckled.
“I’m proposing to you.”
Proposing? Wasn’t it an act of a man asking a woman or a woman asking the man for permission before marriage? Haqab and her marriage? She couldn’t even imagine it, but it was a little unpleasant. Rosaline frowned and tried to say no, but Haqab quickly added.
“I didn’t come all this way to hear a negative answer, Rosaline. So for you… I’ll make suggestions until you say ‘yes’. You don’t seem to be the type to be greedy for power or wealth… All right.”
Haqab kissed the back of her hand between the words. Rosaline didn’t care about his atrocities and waited patiently for the following words.
“From the moment you accept my proposal, Balta will become an ally of Ricardis, the 2nd Prince of Illavenia.”
Thud! It was as if she had been hit hard on the head. Haqab was the enemy, and she didn’t show her true feelings before her enemies. But now, an expression of astonishment was clearly visible. She felt the importance of the content.
“The deadline is as long as you want. If you wish it for life, I will devote my whole life to protecting him from Elpidio and also from the Emperor. This isn’t a mouth-watering alliance like ‘then’, Rosaline. This is really… I want you to know that this is a big decision for me as well. The fact that I bring this up…”
Haqab kissed the back of Rosaline’s hand. His lips, which had pressed once, touched her knuckles again and slowly descended as if fumbling.
“And the fact that I want you.”
