It was a remote underground location.
But, in this underground space, there were signs of a strange, collapsed temple.
"When I looked inside Hyorin's head, I saw this. Their base and the temple of Estella.”
“...…What?”
Rosa moved a little closer.
Then, as Enoch had said, there was a black flash in the shape of what looked like an upside-down temple pillar.
The Temple of Estella was clearly visible.
But she only felt surprised, and nothing else.
They’d now reached the final ordeal that appears in the novel. So, although the ending was different, they’d reached the end.
After this, they would continue their story without her being involved.
From now on, she wanted to live her life.
So, wondering why he’d brought her here, she just stared at Enoch.
"Now that they've all been taken away, this would be the best place to have a quiet meeting.”
"Are you having a meeting? Who are you meeting with?”
He laughed instead of answering.
Then, he pointed his finger at an empty spot.
Light burst violently.
She reflexively closed her eyes tightly at the sudden light flooding in, then slowly opened them again.
"Rosen!”
Vivian was running.
It wasn't just her.
Theodore, Lysander, the other Marigolds, Aphra, Cardia, and Edmund.
Everyone was there.
"Where are you hurt? Are you hurt?”
Vivian was crying frantically.
But, even in the midst of all that, she was busy spinning Rosa’s body like a top and examining her first.
To begin, Rosa hugged her tightly to calm her down and patted her on the back.
Then, she asked the people and Enoch who were approaching her,
"What's going on here?”
"You said you wanted to live a normal life...….”
Vivian murmured something.
She looked at Vivian, slightly pushing her away so that she could see her face.
Then, Vivian hesitated a little and then spoke again.
"That dream you shared with me, I told Theodore…….”
Theodore then said,
"Now, like a true emperor, I must take responsibility for my failures and do my part, without your help...…. You’ve done a great job, Rosenta. Thank you."
Theodore said this, bending his head low, clenching his fists.
But he quickly raised his head, as if he had made a very determined decision.
"As a gift for your retirement...… I wanted to make it happen somehow, so I asked Otis for advice.”
This was not the end.
As if they were dominoes, they began to speak one after another, following Theodore, as if confessing their consciences.
"When I heard from my daughter, I immediately asked Lysander if he could help me. And when I met the Duke of Cardia, I also asked her for her opinion.”
"Since it was about the Duke, of course I relayed it to the Lord of the Tower.”
So, what Rosa understood was that, starting with Vivian, her wish made its way around and ultimately reached this point.
‘Is this the butterfly effect?’
She didn't intend to get angry because they were all trustworthy people and did this out of consideration for her.
She was just curious.
She was sure there was a reason why they were all here.
"So did you find an answer?”
“...…Yes."
The reply came from Enoch.
Rosa slightly turned her head and looked into Enoch's pale, smiling green eyes.
"I'm going to stage your death. We'll arrange everything, so you can go find your.”
While staring up at him blankly, she could feel Vivian’s tiny hand clasping her own.
She could also see Theodore, who was approaching her and patted her on the head.
Their eyes were moist, but they smiled brightly at her.
Vivian told her,
"Rosenta, you’ve brought me so much joy. We'll make you happy now.”
It was warm.
No matter what gap may have formed between them, they remained her friends.
She made eye contact with each one of them and listened to their words.
Then, came Enoch's turn.
"I've already found a suitable location. I've even cast illusion and boundary magic, so it'll be safe.”
His tone was strange for some reason.
It sounded like he would send her off alone, and that Enoch wouldn’t follow...….
"What about you?”
"What?”
Enoch frowned as if he couldn't understand the vague question.
She couldn't bring herself to say anything.
I wasn't upset. She wasn’t angry either.
For some reason, a feeling of loneliness and not wanting to let go of this hand burst out inside of her.
She bit the flesh in her mouth and slowly looked up.
Looking into Enoch's eyes, she said,
"……The conclusion I spoke of back then.”
Had he realized what she meant this time?
Enoch's smile gradually faded.
They felt countless gazes watching them, but he and she fixed their eyes only on each other.
And, almost at the same time, they opened their mouths to speak.
"I'll come once the Magic Tower is settled. I'll go with you…….”
"I think I feel the same as you...….”
* * *
Enoch was standing outside waiting for Rosenta, who had gone out for a while.
The sky was already dim.
Since it was already a remote forest, he was worried that she might get lost because of the dark visibility.
"Why is it so cold today?”
He hugged the cloak he had brought with him and looked at the entrance to the mansion wall covered with vines.
It was already the end of autumn.
The cold winter of that year had passed, and spring, summer, and fall had come.
As many as three seasons had changed.
He was looking up at the sky for no reason and reminding himself of that distant time, when a familiar silhouette appeared in the distance.
"Rosa."
Enoch approached her.
Breaking through the boundary, the person who’d appeared wearing a robe removed the hood from her head.
The indigo hair, which resembled the night hanging low in the sky at that moment, flowed down in waves.
It was Rosenta, no, Rosa Veronica.
"It’s been a while since you last met. How was the meeting?”
Enoch approached Rosa and put the cloak over her shoulders.
Then, he put his hand on her head, as usual, and pulled her close.
He kissed her forehead right away.
"Enoch!”
Unlike Rosa, who was bright red, Enoch took a step back with a cunning face.
"Now what...…!”
"Isn't it time you get used to it?”
Enoch had changed as the two of them settled down here and had started to build their own home bit by bit.
He no longer treated Rosa like he was her butler, nor did he try to use honorifics.
He expressed his feelings more honestly than before. Even his subtle touches became sweeter and more poignant.
Just like now.
"I’ve told you many times to wear a robe with warmth magic cast on it, Rosa. It's chilly outside...….”
He skillfully spoke informally and grabbed Rosa's blushing hand.
"Uh, uh.”
Wolf, the man nicknamed “the madman”, had changed so much it was hard to believe.
It was definitely not acting.
Through Rosa, he began to understand more deeply the various emotions such as affection, happiness, and stability.
"Stop."
Rosa said, with a blunt face, but her red ears were honest.
"And this is some precious tea Vivian’s given me, so let's have a drink together.”
Rosa hurried into the mansion, having placed a small box in Enoch's arms.
Watching her back, Enoch smiled lovingly.
* * *
Enoch placed his steaming cup of tea on a tray and headed toward the living room where the fireplace was.
There was a small table in front of the fireplace.
Rosa could be seen reading the newspaper she had been saving as kindling for the winter.
At first glance, it was an old newspaper.
"It's six months old.”
Enoch casually asked her, putting two teacups on the table,
"What are you reading?”
"An article saying I died.”
It was an eerie remark.
But Rosa kept reading the newspaper with a casual smile.
The Nota newspaper was able to uncover countless truths during the trial.
These truths are covered separately on the following pages, so please refer there.
During the trial, Caligo attempted to set a fire and escape, but was quickly recaptured.
However…….
While everyone was busy fleeing or catching Caligo, Rosenta Estella and her butler were said to have been unable to escape the fire.
It was truly a pitiful ending.
And perhaps that was why a tremendous aftershock has recently struck.
First and foremost, His Majesty the Emperor, based on the words spoken in court, attempted to reform religion within the Empire.
He demolished the temple of Luz as much as possible and created several temples and statues of gods, calling them the ancient gods.
Originally, the Holy Kingdom would have been outraged and labeled this heresy.
However, with so many witnesses to this incident, and the criticism against the Holy Kingdom growing uncontrollably, the Holy Kingdom refused to comment or issue a statement.
Ultimately, the Holy Kingdom remained silent.
There was no choice but to make the decision to formally depose the Pope and send the Saint to a convent.
Thack.
Enoch took away the newspaper Rosa was reading and magically placed it in the fireplace, which he had lit.
"Do you miss them?”
Having chosen a normal life, there was no way to go back.
Enoch was worried she might regret the choice she’d made.
"No.”
But there was no reason to worry.
Fortunately, Rosa kept her smile and shook her head firmly.
"There are people I miss, but I don't want to go back. Life now is better and happier.”
Things that had happened in the past came to mind.
There were many happy times, but there were more days when she felt anxious.
She thought about whether she should ruin the original plot many times...….
Later, with the sole determination to protect those she cared about, she fought fiercely, even inferring the back story that was not written about in the book.
But now it was over.
It was time for her to find what she wanted to do and what she wanted to achieve.
“I look forward to gardening with you, going on trips together, and even throwing small parties when I miss my friends. It’s those little things in life that I look forward to even more.”
When he heard that, Enoch placed his teacup down.
Strangely enough, her words sounded like a confession.
Her vague words, "I think I feel the same as you," now seemed like a definite answer.
Enoch asked Rosa, without even considering relaxing his furrowed brow,
"What does that mean? Does that mean...….”
Rosa rose to her feet.
Then, she approached Enoch from behind and carefully touched the choker he was wearing around his neck.
"Enoch."
She said, and at the same time she called him, she unlocked the choker.
Enoch leapt to his feet reflexively.
Then, he grabbed the wrist of Rosa’s hand, holding the choker.
"Why...…!”
"Let's stop taming each other, and let's face each other like this from now on.”
Then, there was silence.
No one even thought of speaking first, and they just looked at each other.
As if to keep this dream-like situation from disappearing.
Then, Rosa opened her mouth.
"When the first snow falls, I want to go outside and build a snowman. And then, I want to walk down the softly snow-covered streets."
Rosa listed the things she wanted to do in the future and recited them one by one to Enoch.
Then, she slowly extended her hand.
"Will you join me?”
There was no confession more definitive than this.
From now on, Rosa would break free from the original story that had bound her and write her own life.
She would have countless first experiences.
In the picture to be painted, Enoch who, like her, was experiencing everything for the first time, would also be there.”
“...…As long as you want me, Rosa.”
So, they took a long walk before coming back together, holding each other’s hands.
-The Second Male Lead is Actually a Girl
(side stories coming next)