Neither Rosa, nor Theodore, could make eye contact with the other.
There was a period of awkward silence.
“...…Rosenta.”
Theodore initiated the conversation first.
She looked up.
"I had a meeting with the nobles, and everyone wanted you and Caligo to be formally put on trial.”
Oddly enough, Theodore looked distressed.
"Before the meeting, I met with Caligo for a moment...….I suppose he will try to tell the truth as soon as the gag is removed at trial.”
"Don't worry,” Rosa replied.
She shook her head from side to side.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t thought about it, so she’d prepared an appropriate solution in advance.
"If you give me a moment before the trial, I will curse him in advance and block him from talking….”
"Okay.”
Theodore smiled faintly.
Then he clenched his fists and tightly pursed his lips. Meanwhile, his golden eyes were trembling endlessly as he faced her.
It seemed like he was repeatedly making up his mind, reversing it, and making up his mind again dozens of times over.
Soon, his tightly closed mouth slowly opened.
"I’ll speak first.”
"What...….”
“I cannot forgive Caligo, but I never thought your family would listen to such stigma.”
“That was a long time ago...….”
"No. Caligo said he was just the beginning.”
Rosa’s face stiffened.
The word "beginning"...… It sounded as if he was sure someone would follow in his footsteps.
Theodore must have thought the same thing, as he nodded with a bitter smile.
Then he said:
"Even if it’s a distance ancestral past, there are still people, including your family, who have suffered unfair treatment because of it. That…is just natural.
‘Has he made up his mind?’
Theodore's wavering golden eyes seemed to gradually stabilize.
"Anyway, lies will eventually be revealed. So, I will personally correct these mistakes.”
“...…As Your Majesty wills it.”
Even in difficult situations, Theodore maintained his composure as much as possible and showed his true colors as an emperor.
She was proud of him, but she was worried.
She didn’t know how he planned to expose the truth, but even a small portion of it would be dangerous for him.
This is because he had to be prepared for a confrontation with the Holy Kingdom and could lower the legitimacy of the imperial family.
But Theodore had made up his mind to move forward.
She had to support him.
"Then, when is the trial scheduled to take place? Will it be held today?”
"No.”
Theodore shook his head, biting his lower lip slightly.
Then he hesitated and said,
"You'll have to stay here for at least another two days. I had to summon the Holy Kingdom to get this all straightened out.”
The Holy Kingdom...….
It was, as Theodore said, they were an essential cog.
However, it would not go as they wanted so easily.
Since they were the ones who joined hands with her father, they would try to push things in a different direction somehow.
Just as she was thinking that it would be better to just hold the trial right away, Theodore continued to speak.
"Upon hearing the news of your capture, the Duke of Cardia also expressed her desire to attend the trial.”
“...…If it’s her.”
"I told her to attend, since you’re on friendly terms. It would be good to have at least one more ally.”
"I see. Thank you.”
Theodore shut his mouth again at her thanks.
She did not rush him.
She just stared at Theodore, standing opposite her, under the red light.
And soon.
Theodore turned slowly and whispered in a small voice.
"I’m the grateful one, and I’m sorry.”
By apologizing, Theodore was showing that he still saw her as a friend.
But, even though he didn't seem to do it intentionally, he naturally referred to himself with the royal “I” throughout their conversation.
[t/n: there is no exact equivalent in English for how emperors refer to themselves in Korean (from Chinese). There is the royal “we” but that would have been awkward to use.]
There was a sense of distance.
Even though they were still friends, a line was drawn between them.
* * *
After the saint announced to everyone that she had received prophecies, more and more people flocked to the Holy Kingdom.
Because of this, the Holy Kingdom was in the midst of the most tumultuous and busy time it had ever seen.
Then one day, a summons came from the Helios Empire.
"They’re making a mockery of the Holy Kingdom.”
"That's right. Our Holy Lady is a precious person, to whom God himself gave a prophecy…… Why!”
"This isn’t a request, this is a notice. This is ridiculous!”
They were all fighting over the notice, trembling in anger at the offense.
No matter how influential the religion was, the power of the empire could not be ignored.
But they were prideful because of the special saint who had spoken to God.
Except for two people.
"What do you think saint?”
"It seems that they really need me for this trial because of the prophecy that I received.”
"Since it is a trial to judge a duke of a country, they must have summoned you for public confidence.”
Conitel and Yura had a peaceful conversation.
It was different from the priests who continued getting angry.
They talked to each other without hesitation, as if reading from a script.
"It happened because of my prophecy, so I want to attend this trial.”
Conitel immediately nodded as if he had been waiting for Yura.
Then, with satisfaction, he laughed.
"I see. That's what the saint wills, so I'll also attend.”
***
The dark, quiet prison was now bustling.
Rosa could hear the chatter.
"Rosen, is there anything you need? I should have at least brought a wet towel. What were Edmund and Aphra doing without telling me that?”
"I asked several times if you shouldn’t bring more.”
"That's right! I asked Edmund time and time again, but he said Vivian was procrastinating...….”
Usually, Rosa would cover her ears and pretend they weren’t there because it was noisy.
But now, it was fun.
It was a welcome break from the eerily quiet prison.
"Oh my, these men are so talkative. Isn’t that right, Rosen?”
Her disgruntled eyes turned to Rosa.
Her red eyes twinkled brightly like jewels in the dark.
She answered in a bright voice, with a calm smile on her face.
"Yes, you do. You talk a lot. So, I'm very happy.”
“...…Oh?”
"I finished my work faster than I expected, and it feels real now that I’m back with you all.”
She wanted to stroke Vivian's hair, which was fluffy like a poodle.
But it was impossible.
She looked at her darkened palms and tried to pull her hand back.
But Vivian quickly grabbed her hand, as if she had noticed what was on her mind.
Black dust smeared on Vivian's white hands like a stain.
She didn't care at all.
She fixed her gaze only on Rosa, facing her directly.
"It's all over now, isn't it?”
Starting with Vivian's question, Edmund and Aphra also asked their own questions.
"When can I go back, Duke?”
"The courier service continues...….”
She quickly cut them off, especially when Aphra tried to ask questions related to delivery.
"I'm not going back.”
As soon as she finished, Vivian was the first to react violently.
She pulled her hand in great shock and kept shouting,
"Why? Aren't you going to come back when it's over? You said you were asking me a favor.”
As if clinging to a breaking cord, Vivian squeezed her hand tightly.
She couldn’t bring herself to push her away.
She held Vivian’s hand tightly and just smiled.
"I'm tired. I didn't want to be in this position from the beginning. I told you so back then.”
Before she’d met Vivian and Theodore, she had been thinking about quitting as soon as she took care of the duke.
Then, as she met with them, some of her plans were revised.
"I want to rest when this is all over,” she said sadly and spoke in a weak voice.
It wasn’t acting.
The moment she let out the feelings of exhaustion, the dam she had built up crumbled and it all poured out without hesitation.
"Vivian.”
Vivian winced her mouth at her call and just looked at her face.
Vivian still wanted to hold onto her, but seeing her look so tired, she must have realized she couldn't keep holding on.
She called her again.
"Vivian.”
When she and Vivian's eyes met, she quickly asked a question.
"If I step back from this position, will I no longer be your friend?”
Vivian was taken aback.
After quickly letting go of her hand, Vivion started shaking not only her hands, but also her head.
"What are you talking about?”
"Vivian, I want to find my life. I don't mean I want to end my relationship with everyone.”
She closed her eyes as she said, imagining her future,
"I’d tend to the flowers I love, all by myself. In the evening, the chimney would be filled with the smell of baking bread, and when the weather gets a little chilly, I’d enjoy a warm cup of tea and a book in front of the fireplace.”
Without any worries.
Of course, that would be an ordinary day with nothing special for others, but that’s why it was even more special to Rosa.
"I want to live like that."