"The woman in purple who appeared in Deutschen.
She instantly eliminated the bugs that had terrorized the residents of Deutschen.
That wasn't the only thing.
It is said that she spent her own money to donate seeds and food to the village.
Our newspaper thought that she was not an ordinary woman, so we began to inquire about the woman in purple.
My initial reason for visiting was because I’d heard of a service called ‘delivery’.
However, because she was a 'personal client', the only answer I received was that they could not share her personal information.
We didn't give up and scoured the capital.
Then I learned something.
It is said that a woman matching the description of the woman in purple was spotted in the back alley of Nota.
Our newspaper speculated that she may be trying to do another good deed.
Otherwise, this woman, who is presumed to have a lot of money, would not appear in a place like the back alley.
This unidentified woman in purple.
Who is this woman?
If we hear anything further about this 'woman in purple', our newspaper will investigate wherever it is.
Nota Newspaper, Alexandra Maxey”
***
Normally, Rosa would have slept in, but strangely, she ended up opening her eyes early.
Only faint light was flowing through the curtains.
She calmly got out of bed and approached the window.
She pulled the curtain open.
The morning sun was still rising above the horizon.
"The sun hasn't even risen yet."
As she was looking at the scenery outside, she felt like she wanted to greet the morning from up close.
There was nothing like sitting on a bench in the garden and watching the rising morning sun.
Just imagining it made her feel refreshed at the beginning of her day.
"As expected, I should go out."
Her actions were as swift as her decision. She put on her magic tools and coat and came out to the hallway.
He immediately reached the hall on the first floor.
The moment he opened the door slightly, he heard Edmund's words.
"In a couple of days, the Duke will attend a banquet hosted by Marchioness Deborah Marigold, so Wolf will have to prepare what the Duke needs in advance."
Edmund seemed to have taken over the scheduled events that arose during Enoch's absence.
If Rosenta appeared at this moment, the conversation would end.
Holding the door handle for a while, he waited for their conversation to end.
"As it is a birthday banquet, there is a present the Duke ordered. Please go pick it up in time."
"Yes, sir."
"Then, let's end things here, and here's the newspaper."
"Thank you."
At last, the conversation between the two seemed to be coming to an end.
It was sooner than Rosenta expected.
He felt fortunate and gradually gave the doorknob a twist.
But he hadn’t even fully pushed the door when it started to open by itself.
"Oh...….”
He was flustered for a moment. Before he knew it, a familiar face appeared.
"Did you sleep well?"
It was Enoch.
Enoch, who had been speaking with Edmund just now, seemed to have noticed that Rosenta was there from the beginning.
The fresh, light-green eyes and the relaxed corners of his mouth told him so.
"Duke? It must be quite cold this morning. Are you okay?"
Edmund, on the other hand, worried about him with a surprised face.
"Go back in...….”
"It’s fine. I came out early because I wanted to meet the morning sun. I’ll sit on the bench and read the newspaper."
Out of curiosity, he took the newspaper out of Enoch's hand.
But when he went out, the cold wind permeated through his coat.
He closed his coat a little tighter.
He never thought the temperature would be this low because he’d never come out so early.
But he couldn't simply go back.
It was because of the two pairs of eyes gently staring at him from behind.
He didn't want to go too far, so he sat on the bench right in front.
Then, he looked at the rising sun.
“……Seeing the sunrise from a warm room was the best."
This was the morning he’d realized that reality and imagination were different.
"It's cold."
It was then.
Suddenly, a thick, black coat was hung over his shoulders.
He turned around and looked at Enoch.
"What's this?"
"It's my coat."
"I didn't ask you to...….”
"It's all right."
Enoch, who was behind him, bent forward and leaned around.
Then he made eye contact with Rosenta.
Maybe it was because of the morning sunlight that started to shine. He seemed exceptionally bright.
"While the duke is here, I will go put up defensive barriers around the castle."
“……Is it okay to use magic like this as soon as you return?"
"Who's going to stop me now?"
Enoch raised the corners of his mouth as confidently as his answer.
Well, now that the tower has collapsed, we don't have to worry about it.
However, was there a need to use magic so urgently from the very day of his return like this?
Like a man who has a day left before he leaves.
“……Take your time. You have plenty of time ahead anyway."
"No, I don't."
Enoch's answer was as determined and short as Rosenta’s words were embarrassing.
His actions were also quick.
He left in a hurry without even giving Rosenta time to respond.
‘Do you have a lot of work to do? Something you can’t do another day?’
But he didn't hold Enoch.
Because he was the reason why he was so busy...….
Before he could feel anything more complicated, he quickly took his eyes off Enoch's back.
“……I'll just read the newspaper."
It wasn’t bitterly cold anymore, so he planned to leisurely watch the sunrise and enjoy himself before going in.
He picked up the newspaper.
He was definitely going to relax and read the articles.
But, as soon as he looked at the newspaper, he gasped.
"Oh, my!"
Woman in purple?
He looked through the article and could see that it was referring to him.
He didn't expect the words he left to promote the package delivery service to also serve as a hint about him.
‘Should I like this or not?’
Dismissing any concerns, he turned the pages of the newspaper thinking that this article would be helpful in his future endeavors.
Then he skimmed the 'regional information' sections and raised the corners of his mouth.
"Today's Local News"
Deutschen, which has been through great hardship, is recovering thanks to a woman in purple.
It is said that the saint, who was heading to the Holy Kingdom, visited there late.
After praying for them, it is said that she left Deutschen with only a very small amount of money donated."
***
After reading the article yesterday, Rosenta immediately called Aphra to the office.
It was to make a plan. He thought it would be a great benefit if they could use this publicity well.
That's why, though it was sudden, they had no choice but to finish all the preparations in a day.
And today,
Though he had to prepare for tomorrow's banquet, Rosena went out boldly.
Of course, he left all the preparations to Enoch.
He wasn’t the main character of the banquet, so he, the guest, didn’t have to be elaborately adorned.
That's how *she was able to head to the back alley with Aphra.
*[t/n: Rosenta is in disguise so ‘he’ has become ‘she’]
Of course, along with a delivery service cart and some skeletons.
"Rosa, we've arrived at the slums. Then I'll go out first."
"Yes, I'll be waiting in here a little longer."
The back alleys weren’t filled with only shady and violent people.
There was also a slum where the poor lived.
A so-called shantytown.
"Hello!"
Aphra used a voice-amplifying tool and announced.
"A package has been delivered for you. I'd appreciate it if you could all come this way."
A commotion was gradually building.
In the luggage compartment, Rosa slightly rolled up the shade and looked outside.
She could see people running forward one by one like a heard of buffalo.
Aphra, looking overwhelmed, was gesticulating his hands and asking them to keep order.
"Everyone, there’s no need to cut in line. Just stand in a single file."
Since there were so many people gathered, Rosa thought it was her turn to come out.
But she didn't go out right away.
First, the skeletons crumpled in the luggage compartment were given an order.
"Move the cargo."
Then she opened the screen the cart used as a door and went out.
She felt sludge stick to the soles of her feet. The ground seemed to be mixed with filth.
It wasn't just that.
The hem of her long purple dress was also covered with mud.
But she walked along casually.
When she tried to approach the nearby Aphra, a girl was suddenly pushed forward by the people.
She approached the child right away.
"Are you okay?"
"Ugh, yes...….”
She wiped the dirt off the crying child's face with her sleeve.
She then picked up the child and hugged her in her arms.
"Come here."
***
It wasn't that Rosenta did a tremendous service in the shantytown. He just gave them some of what he had.
As a result, the items that were loaded in the cart ran out quickly.
It was impossible to fully help them anyway. There were only basic necessities.
To really help them would be to build their capacity for self-reliance.
‘Then what should we do next...….’
"Duke."
Suddenly, a pale green light entered his sight, which had been unfocused.
He came to his senses.
"What are you thinking about?"
His voice was quiet, but his eyes were not at all relaxed.
He seemed to blame me for not listening to him.
It was obvious that Rosenta’s thoughts were elsewhere.
While Enoch was explaining the clothes he’d picked for him, Rosenta was thinking about something else.
Rosenta quickly straightened his posture.
“……Oh, I'm sorry."
He met Enoch's eyes.
Enoch finally smiled happily as if he had achieved his goal.
Rosenta tilted his upper body slightly forward. He even focused his eyes to full strength to emphasize his concentration.
"So, which of these outfits do you think suits you the best?"
"I think this would be the best."
He had only shown that he was fully immersed in this conversation with Enoch for a short while.
Nevertheless, Enoch’s mood seemed to have picked up speed.
"I'm sure this will look very good with your navy hair."
"Yeah. I think it will look good on me."
The clothes that Enoch pointed to were pretty in line with Rosenta’s taste. A suit of plain but luxurious fabric that didn't stand out.
Most of all, as Enoch had said, Rosenta liked the navy-blue color, which was similar to the color of his hair.
He immediately pointed to the suit.
"I'll wear this tomorrow."
Enoch set aside the suit and began to select the appropriate accessories.
Rosenta quietly looked at that figure and leaned against the backrest.
He then crossed his legs.
The preparations were just about finished, so he tried to continue thinking about the slums again.
He closed his eyes.
"Duke."
But again, Enoch called him, as if he shouldn’t be thinking about anything else while he was in front of him.
"Duke."
At the urging call, he slowly began to open his closed eyes.
He turned his head towards Enoch.
He could see Enoch standing in front of a bare wall with only a framed picture and lamp hanging.
"What are you going to do now...….”
"Rosa."
Rosenta couldn't finish talking.
It wasn't because Enoch called him Rosa out of the blue.
It was because the wall slowly moved as if his words were a code.
Then, without a speck of dust, the wall split very quietly into two.
"I worked hard on it for two days."
Behind Enoch, a passage appeared, filled with golden lamps, bright and warm, incomparably brighter than the top floor.
As Rosenta stared blankly at the underground passageway, in a daze at the sudden situation, Enoch approached him.
Then he took his hand.
He was led into it, guided by Enoch.
A vast, white space with underground stairs appeared before his eyes.
"I hope you like it."
Enoch came up behind him and placed his chin on his left shoulder.
Rosenta felt a dull weight.
And he soon saw jet-black hair streaming down his neck.
"Rosa...….”