It was a morning like any other.
However, it felt awkward as if something was missing. It felt empty enough to describe it that way.
As Rosenta walked along the path of the imperial palace, he quietly looked at the garden.
Contrary to his mood, the landscape of the garden was ordinary and peaceful.
The beautiful singing of birds, the breeze tickling his hair, and the greenery soaked in sunlight.
As Rosenta took in this scene, his eyes came to mind.
[t/n: he’s saying the greenery reminds him of Enoch’s eyes]
He unconsciously mumbled, saying the number of days left until his return out loud.
"There are two days left."
‘What on earth are you doing that requires you to be away for three days?’
‘Could he have had an accident?’
"Duke?"
‘No, you know how much I care for you, so you wouldn’t do something reckless.’
‘Then what?’
"What's the matter?"
Suddenly a servant popped up in front of him.
‘Oh...…. Did they call me? I can't believe I was so absent-minded on a day like this.’
Rosenta quickly erased the thoughts occupying his mind and focused on the servant in front of him.
"Nothing’s wrong."
"Yes, then I’ll guide you there."
The servants resumed walking down the path.
But unlike before, they kept looking back. Like they were trying to make sure he was still following.
Fortunately, after that, Rosenta managed not to let his thoughts drift again.
He was able to safely follow the attendant and arrive at the conference room.
The conference room was already full.
"Welcome."
"You're here, Duke Estella."
There were too many to greet individually. He nodded slightly and walked past them.
He sat across from Marquis Marigold, which had become something of a habit.
"Long time no see, Marquis."
"Yes, it's been a long time since we saw one another during our trip to the Holy Kingdom. Of course, I hear about you from my daughter often, so I feel like I've seen you."
Rosenta was sure he was being sarcastic. “I had no idea I’d kept in touch with Vivian so often.”
He replied with a bright smile, purposely pretending to be clueless.
"Is that so?"
***
By the time the empty seats started to fill up, Theodore appeared.
All the nobles rose from their seats in unison. They were only able to sit back down once Theodore took his place at the head of the table.
At first, there was only silence as they awaited Theodore's thoughts.
Then, a noble very carefully broke the silence.
"I...… I have a question, Your Majesty. Why did you let the Holy Lady return to the Holy Kingdom?"
The fuse had been lit.
Others began to ask questions one after another as though the previous silence had been a lie.
"I heard that the Holy Lady likes His Majesty. If you were aware of her feelings...….”
"There was a lot to be gained by having the saint in our empire. You have to bring her back."
Neither Rosenta nor Marquis Marigold or Theodore spoke as if to signal their disagreement with the ideas of the nobles.
Was that why? The people who were pouring out questions gradually began to shut up.
In the end, everyone was quiet.
Theodore opened his mouth for the first time as if he had been waiting for that moment.
"Since when was the Helios Empire ruled by a saint?"
It was a calm and short remark, but the impact of the answer to that question was quite extensive.
Everyone became agitated.
Theodore was right. There had been no diplomatic relationship with the Holy Kingdom to begin with. There was no reason to be obsessed with the saint.
"Of course, we have a lot to gain, but it would be no different from strengthening the power of the Holy Kingdom."
Some nobles nodded.
But others tilted their heads as if they didn't understand.
Theodore briefly clicked his tongue at the sight, as if it was pathetic.
"At first, I tried to take advantage of the reputation of being affiliated with a 'God', but even in that brief time, the priests of the Holy Kingdom acted with impudence."
They were definitively rude.
They had visited the Imperial Palace countless times under the pretext of concern for the saint and made a fuss.
There were also quite a few ridiculous demands.
For example, the demand to solely purchase therapeutic drugs from the Holy Kingdom blessed by the Pope, or to build statues of Rouge and the saint in the central square of the capital.
Theodore didn't let this point go. He further reminded them.
It would have been a great loss for them.
"Where would the money for these projects have come from if I had done what they had asked? Perhaps it should have been collected from your pockets."
As expected, there seemed to be nothing like money to provoke the nobles. The color rapidly drained from their faces.
They quickly changed their tune.
They even vehemently expressed their agreement with a fervor reminiscent of headbanging.
"That's right, that's right. We, the people of the empire, have no religion in the first place. The matters of the Holy Kingdom have nothing to do with us!"
"The Helios Empire, our nation, is a strong one, unable to be shaken by religion!"
At their responses, Theodore raised the corners of his mouth as if satisfied for the first time.
He responded resolutely.
"I will respect the Holy Kingdom, as the emperors before me have, but I will not allow them to invade."
He was no longer the person who would go blank at the sight of Yura. He was now back to the Theodore Rosenta knew.
A rational emperor who puts the interests of the empire first.
***
As always, Rosenta did not leave the palace just because the meeting was over.
He quietly followed Theodore's footsteps.
Unlike usual, Theodore moved toward the garden. Then, he stopped in front of a gazebo.
It was a gazebo decorated with flowers. It was a space that Vivian would like.
The two of them had never been there before. Therefore, of course, Rosenta wondered if Vivian would be joining them belatedly.
He asked Theodore.
"Is Vivienne coming, too?"
At this question, Theodore stared at him.
He shook his head firmly.
"No, she’s not coming."
The answer was a bit too firm.
Gradually a very gentle smile rose on Theodore's handsome face.
Golden eyes, sparkling with light, drew a smooth curve towards Rosenta.
“……Because this time I said I wanted to be alone with you."
If it was Vivian who’d said this, she would have laughed cutely by now, but the current opponent was Theodore, not Vivian.
In a panic, Rosenta asked back reflexively.
"What?"
Theodore smiled.
Then, he nimbly changed his words, as if to ask him how he had been doing.
"I haven't seen you lately. How have you been?"
"Yes...….”
Rosenta felt uncomfortable, but he let it go.
He thought it was just Theodore being mischievous.
"I’m doing well. Is Your Majesty well?"
"No."
Theodore's answer was unexpected.
In fact, Rosenta hadn’t been the least bit disappointed that he hadn’t seen Theodore recently. During busy times, it wasn’t uncommon to not see each other for an entire month.
Therefore, a few days were hardly a problem.
"I missed you."
His tone was soft, but he was very determined. His eyes were also sharp.
Rosenta couldn't think of what to answer. He opened and closed his mouth several times.
Theodore stared at him like that. Then he smiled softly like a warm sun.
"I missed you, Rosenta."
Theodore repeated for a second time that he missed him.
The emperor, who was always cool towards his subjects, had become incredibly sly.
At first, Rosenta was a little embarrassed, but he quickly found his pace. This time, he responded with the same slyness.
"It's an honor that you've missed me so much."
"Rosenta, what about you?"
"I...… What do you mean?"
In an instant, Theodore's smile disappeared from his face.
He looked at Rosenta with a serious expression, as if he was about to be entirely serious.
"Did you miss me?"
Rosenta was speechless this time.
He kept opening and closing his mouth. He couldn't think of anything to say.
He thought it was a joke, but when he looked at Theodore, that thought left him.
No one would joke with such resolute eyes.
After making up his mind, Rosenta opened his mouth.
Yeah. It wasn't strange to want to see friends. It was natural, so there was no reason to be ashamed.
"I missed you."
"I see...….”
Theodore curved his eyes and raised the corners of his mouth shyly.
"That's a good thing to hear."
Theodore looked ahead, saying so.
He followed Theodore’s lead and stared down at the landscape beyond the gazebo.
Swaying leaves and bushes.
And pink hair sticking out through the bushes.
It was familiar hair. It was like soft cotton candy…….
"Vivian?"
It was definitely Vivian.
Theodore also seemed to make a similar guess.
“……It's Vivian. Does she think she's hiding?"
It was both ridiculous and cute. Without even knowing who was first, they burst into laughter.
"Pffft."
"It's like rabbit ears."
So, Theodore left the gazebo, to be exact, he left toward the protruding hair.
He put his finger on top of the hair as if it were a button.
Then Vivian popped out of the bushes, her cheeks bulging out like a squirrel’s.
Although she was caught hiding, Vivian was as confident as ever.
She ran straight to the gazebo.
"Rosen!"
"Why were you there?"
Vivian wasn't someone who wouldn't come simply because she was told not to.
No one would have been angry or embarrassed by the sudden invasion of Vivian.
So, she was hiding to eavesdrop.
"It’s because of His Majesty!"
Vivian sat down on the seat to Rosenta’s left, crying out in disapproval.
Then she pointed to Theodore who was coming just in time.
"You gave me strict orders not to come! You even used my dad!"
Despite being pointed at, Theodore remained unshaken.
Rather, he snorted.
"But didn't you come anyway?"
"If you tell me not to come, I want to come more."
Vivian clung to Rosenta with her arms folded.
Theodore, on the other hand, leaned against a post and frowned.
Then he warned Vivian.
"Are you unable to support yourself?"
It was a cut-throat tone.
If it were an ordinary person, their face would turn blue, and they’d run away immediately.
But Vivian was different.
She covered her mouth and smiled as if she had caught onto a joke.
"Your Majesty, are you jealous that I'm sticking to Rosen? I didn't expect you to like me that much."
Vivian put on an exaggerated performance.
In return, Theodore also performed a very playful scene.
"It’s Rosenta, not you."
"What? In this situation, the only option is me!"
[t/n: Vivian is referring to her being the only woman there. The talk of jealousy had romantic implications.]
Theodore tilted his head as if he didn't understand.
Then he asked Rosenta an unexpected question, as though raising doubt about whether he was actually teasing Vivian.
"Rosenta, what do you think about men liking men?"
Theodore's performance was perfect.
He didn't sound exaggerated like a theater star. He looked realistic and nervous.
‘Have your acting skills gotten better after playing with Vivian so much?’
Deeply admiring his performance, Rosenta answered seriously as if he was also joining the fun.
"I don't think gender matters in love."
A blush swept across Theodore's face at Rosenta’s reply; he even went so far as to sweep his chest.
For a moment, Rosenta wondered if he was serious.
"Your Majesty! Will you keep teasing me?"
But, when Vivian reacted furiously with a bright red face, he came to his senses.
‘I almost fell for it.’