"You can follow me."
A glass greenhouse located in the forest of the royal palace in a somewhat remote and secluded area.
It was a place Rosenta had visited many times, but it looked different as dusk fell.
Without the guidance of the servants, he would have gotten lost in the forest.
"This is as far as I can go, so I'll hand you a lantern from here, Duke."
When he arrived near the designated location, the servant stopped walking, stating that she couldn't go any further.
Instead, she handed me one of the lanterns she held in each hand.
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work."
"Yes, then I'll take my leave."
There was no need to worry about the servant leaving.
In addition to the lantern, there were additional lights, as well as the light visible from the greenhouse.
He went forward without hesitation.
The glass garden, in the beauty of the night, gradually became more visible.
Numerous lanterns lit up the path like fireflies, and the stars shone brightly as if they were flowers in a garden.
“……They’re already there."
His mouth, which was firm, gradually relaxed into a light smile.
He watched the two of them in the garden.
Theodore sat at the white table, resting his chin on his hands, watching Vivian.
On the other hand, Vivian was running around the garden wearing goggles the size of her face.
"What the hell are those?"
Vivian's cheerful gestures kept making him laugh.
In dramas, the female leads would run around like that, creating such beautiful scenes.
However, the way she fluttered while wearing those goggles created a sense of dissonance.
It was more like a comedy than a drama.
"Cute..."
His steps toward them gradually became lighter.
As he approached, he could gradually see their facial expressions in detail and could hear their voices well.
For example, Vivian was holding both cheeks and freaking out by herself.
"Argh!"
Theodore, who was watching her as if he were watching a one-man show, could also be seen.
‘Somehow, I don't want to interrupt this cute scene.’
"Hmm. Let's sneak in."
He didn't knock.
It was rude behavior, but he quietly tiptoed in.
Then, Theodore turned to stare at him immediately, as though he’d felt his presence.
"Rosen...….”
"Shhh."
Rosenta briefly covered his mouth with his index finger and burst into a smile.
Then, cautiously sitting himself beside Theodore, he watched Vivian.
Vivian was still looking around and staring into the air.
It was to the extent that he was worried that her neck would be hurt.
"Your Majesty, this is really interesting."
Vivian turned around.
"A rainbow of colors spread out like rainbows in the sky...….”
Suddenly, she stopped talking.
She stopped talking and stared at Rosenta with a smile on her face.
Then she asked.
"Who are you?"
It was a strange thing to say.
In an instant, the pleasant air surrounding them froze.
Everyone was embarrassed.
Then, Theodore opened his mouth first. He burst out laughing as if he was watching a strange prank.
"Vivian, this kind of prank is scary. I know you’re happy Rosen is here, but...….”
"What?"
Suddenly Vivian raised her voice.
"Rosen?"
Vivian acted like she didn't expect it to be him.
Then, she took off the goggles.
"What?"
Vivian’s froze in place.
She’d only been talking about mysterious things since a while ago, but now she wasn’t saying much.
Instead, she put on her goggles and kept repeating taking them off. Staring at me.
"What?"
It didn't seem like a situation where asking Vivian would be fruitful.
So, Rosenta kept looking at Theodore, who had been watching Vivian, as if to ask for an explanation of the situation.
Theodore leaned forward slightly.
"She said those goggles are a magical tool. She said she’d been having fun looking around with them for days...….”
"Oh...….”
The goggles were a magical tool.
‘How silly of me. Why didn't I notice Vivian's strange behavior when I first came here earlier?’
It was only then that he realized,
‘Why was Vivian running around with her goggles? And why does she keep looking at me like that?’
As if his blood had completely gone cold, he could feel his body shaking.
First, he clenched his fist.
He tried to smile as usual, as if everything was okay, lifting the corners of his mouth that wouldn't rise.
"Then you must look surprised at my aura."
He then slowly turned away.
He could see her red eyes, which had turned from laughter to a frighteningly calm state.
He met her eyes and slowly opened his mouth.
"Isn't that so? Vivian...….”
Vivian did not answer.
She just didn't wear the goggles anymore, and she came slowly, holding them tightly in her hand.
As she sat down, she spat out one word very quietly.
“……Yes."
It went silent in an instant.
Theodore couldn't miss this strange atmosphere.
"What's wrong with you? Is something wrong with those goggles...….”
"No. Nothing’s wrong!"
Vivian was faster.
Vivian was startled and pulled the goggles into her arms. She quickly put them in the pocket of her coat.
Then he shouted at Theodore in a hurry.
"It's not that anything’s wrong; it’s just as Rosen says! It's because I was so surprised by his aura!"
She was surprised.
Vivian must have seen him, clearly covering his tracks.
Nevertheless, she was taking his side to Theodore's words, although she did not make eye contact with him...….
"Your appearance hasn’t changed, so I never thought Rosen would be wearing a magical tool...…. God, that's interesting."
“……Yes. It's a ring that's been handed down from generation to generation...… There's a magical tool that implements controls related to my ability."
There was an awkward silence again.
***
Throughout the conversation, Vivian only responded, 'Yes, I understand.'
If it were her usual self, she would have insisted on asking for more details.
But Vivian was quiet.
When Theodore looked at her strangely, she suddenly reacted violently.
"I see! I can't believe you left me out and talked about this yourselves!"
It wasn’t a smooth conversation. Perhaps that's why their conversation ended quickly without any particular tangents.
Except for Theodore, of course.
Theodore, as usual, asked as the conversation was over,
"Would you like some tea...….”
"No!"
Vivian suddenly rose to her feet.
When their eyes were set on her, she was embarrassed and did not know what to do.
Then she made an urgent excuse.
"Well, it’s because we have a family dinner today...…. I think I'll have to get going quickly."
"No matter. I called you guys out of the blue."
Theodore nodded.
Although he seemed a little suspicious, he didn't keep holding her because it was true that he had called them out suddenly.
Instead, he approached Rosenta and whispered to him.
"Did something happen with Vivian at the banquet a few days ago?"
"When I was talking to Vivian...…. I'll talk to Vivian separately."
He replied, deliberately leaving room for interpretation.
Then he quickly followed Vivian as she exited the glass garden.
"Vivian."
No matter how hard she ran, Rosenta was able to quickly catch up with Vivian.
She quickly grabbed her wrist.
"Oh!"
But Vivian hit his hand hard right away.
Maybe she was surprised herself, but she apologized with her big eyes.
"I-, I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to apologize for."
He smiled bitterly.
And before he said anything further, he asked a question to confirm.
"Vivian, did you see it?"
“……Yes."
Vivian kept turning her head away, as if trying to avoid meeting his gaze.
‘I see.’
It was ridiculous to make excuses to someone who saw it with their own eyes.
What's more...….
Even if there were circumstances, it was like he’d deceived them.
It was entirely his fault.
"I didn't do it on purpose. It was from a young age, so...….”
"I know!"
Vivian stopped him.
Vivian, who kept avoiding his eyes, stared at his properly for the first time.
"That's what Rosen has been like since we first met...…. But...….”
Vivian stopped talking and bit her lips tightly. Then she began to clench her tiny fists.
Like she was trying to put up with overwhelming emotions.
"However...….”
Eventually, Vivian closed her eyes tightly.
“……Give me time."