Even though it was late at night, lights could clearly be seen inside the glass greenhouse.
He was still there reviewing documents, even though hours had passed since his visitors had left.
“……It's endless.”
Theodore pressed his temples as he took a moment to catch his breath.
‘I’m on the verge of becoming a workaholic for the next year, but what can I do?’
With criticism against the Holy Kingdom being so strong, this was the perfect time for Theodore to change many things.
"Will this be enough for today?”
The work still wasn’t done.
There were still a lot of things Theodore wanted to change, but he couldn’t push himself any further today.
Let’s handle this much for now and deal with the remaining documents tomorrow.
"Then, now it’s time to...….”
The moment he was about to get up.
A bookmark on the table caught his eye.
Several bookmarks, made from dried flowers, were sandwiched between the letters Vivian had brought that morning.
A bookmark made of yellow baby’s breath.
It must have been a flower from the garden she tended, just as Rosenta had dreamed.
“...…Pretty.”
He had resented Rosenta for no reason.
At the time, he couldn't control his emotions and regretted that he had said and done such things to Rosen, who had always cared for him the most.
However, when he actually faced her, he didn’t know what to do because of the emotions that were boiling over, so he ended up acting as though he was keeping his distance.
"Looking back, I've done a lot of really ugly things. But it didn’t end like that, so it's really...….”
Rosenta left with the crow.
Funnily enough, the sight of the crow standing next to her made him want to snatch her away.
But he didn't do anything like that.
"Thank God.”
Aside from being ashamed of himself, Rosenta smiled as if she was very happy.
So he had no choice but to accept it.
Although he didn’t like him, he was the only one who watched over Rosenta completely and stayed by her side until the end.
Above all, the letters he consistently received from Rosenta were telling.
Of how at peace she was.
“Autumn here is truly beautiful.
Every day, a different view greets me than when I was at the Duke’s Castle.
I enjoy walking outside through the wheat fields and the streets lined with colorful fall foliage.
By the way, I’d like to show you this place that Enoch and I built together bit-by-bit someday…….
It's far from glamorous but, for me, it's a very cozy place.”
Just thinking about the contents of the letter put a faint smile on Theodore's lips.
He had been about to leave just a moment ago, but as if he had forgotten his fatigue, he picked up his pen again.
That's how Theodore's night passed.
* * *
It was a day he would look around Nota.
It was one of the new tasks he’d started in order to regain the public support he had lost over the past few months.
At first, it was awkward and tiring.
But now, it was quite comfortable and he looked forward to these days.
When his workload kept him from sleeping, he would take a nap in the carriage like he was doing now.
"It's noisy.”
While he was leaning against the wall of the carriage and taking a quick nap, he heard a loud noise outside.
Theodore immediately opened his eyes.
Then, he opened the window slightly, and looked out through the crack at the people of Nota.
"The people are...….”
Among the people bowing to the passing imperial carriage, Theodore spotted someone.
A woman in shabby clothing, begging from people with a blank look on her face. It was clearly Anna, Rosenta's maid.
"She looks like she's already been punished, so there’s no need to catch her.”
Theodore was about to turn away, his tone dripping with venom.
At that moment, however, he saw several people raising magic tools in unison toward the carriage he was riding on.
"Are they journalists?”
The emperor was continuing his unconventional actions and the reactions toward him were mixed.
Every day, a lot of articles about Theodore were pouring in.
Theodore clicked his tongue and quickly closed the curtain, which had only been slightly open.
He then closed his eyes again.
Woah, woah, woah.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived."
Theodore opened his eyes at the voice of the coachman, who soon awakened him.
And only after straightening every strand of his hair, as if he had never slept, did he exit the carriage.
The carriage had stopped in front of a restaurant.
"Oh, your Majesty...…!”
"Oh, my! What brings you to this shabby place?!”
The proprietors and clerks who worked there came out to greet Theodore.
Then, behind them, was Otis Marigold, who had been waiting there in advance.
"Your Majesty, you’ve arrived.”
"Yes, the Marquis said that he knew of a cozy and delicious restaurant, but the atmosphere is indeed relaxed.”
It was simply comfortable and cozy.
In simple terms it was a restaurant with a homestyle appearance.
But Theodore looked around in an exaggerated manner and expressed his admiration.
"The food must taste great, too! I’m very curious. If the owner doesn’t mind, I’ll have a quick bite to eat before I go.”
"Why, of course!”
When the owner of the great empire reached out to him, the owner of the restaurant grabbed his hand with a look of gratitude.
At that time, as if they had been waiting, there was someone who was diligently taking pictures of the scene with a magic tool.
It was Alexandra Maxi, of the Nota Newspaper.
She was so passionate that she kept holding out her magic tool while talking to the restaurant owner.
"Please take a seat here.”
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Theodore sat next to Marquis Otis, whispering,
"Why did you call that woman? It’s really uncomfortable having her take pictures of me like that every time.”
"Nothing would be more encouraging than having someone in the Nota newspaper write an article defending Your Majesty. And...….”
Otis stopped talking and glanced at Alexandra, who was tinkering with the magic tool, from the next table.
Then, he opened his mouth.
"Because she’s my wife’s niece, she writes the most friendly articles...….”
Had she been eavesdropping on their conversation while pretending to do something else?
Alexandra quickly interjected into their conversation when she came up in their conversation.
"While I am indeed doing this at the request of my uncle, I am also the Emperor’s sole knight, so I’m working hard.”
She certainly resembled his wife.
Her green hair and especially those intelligent eyes, resembling a forest full of greenery, reminded him of Deborah.
"Then I'll photograph you again when the food comes out. This time, I'll go with a casual concept without an interview.”
* * *
Theodore felt that this task was several times more tiring than working on paperwork.
So he wanted to load his exhausted body onto the carriage as soon as possible.
"How can you walk that far? Hurry up and get on uncle's carriage.”
"No. The newspaper’s headquarters are in the opposite direction. If I’m having a hard time walking, I’ll just rent a carriage.”
"No! If your aunt finds out, she'll scold me immediately!”
But he couldn’t leave because of the two of them arguing.
Eventually, Theodore interrupted in an irate tone.
"If you're so worried, I'll be heading to the Imperial Palace, so I'll drop you off on the way."
Otis exclaimed, impatiently, as if he had been waiting.
"Then I'll ask Your Majesty to see Alexandra off.”
He was dejected.
But Theodore didn't even have the strength to say anything, so he just shook his head.
"You must be more tired today since went out a bit further than usual. Please go back and get some rest before it gets any later.”
Theodore and Alexandra got into the carriage with Otis seeing them off.
Soon, the coachman began to drive the carriage.
At first, no words were exchanged from inside the carriage and all that could be heard were the noises outside.
Then, breaking the silence, Alexandra spoke for the first time.
"If you're forcing yourself to give me a ride because of my uncle, it's fine. If you drop me off here, I'll go the rest of the way on my own.”
Strange words.
It seemed as if she thought it was natural to dislike her.
Of course, he was a little reluctant.
Last year, there was a scoop about him, and the name Alexandra Maxi appeared.
"I don't hate you.”
"You're lying.”
Alexandra quickly covered her mouth, as if she had regretted what she said.
"I'm sorry. There are a lot of aristocrats who don't like journalists. I've even written a lot of articles about Estella, unintentionally…"
It was true, but he couldn't hate Alexandra for it.
She did her best at her profession as a journalist.
Sometimes there were negative news stories, but when you think about it, most of them were positive.
Theodore shook his head.
"I guess I've been so tired lately that I've implicitly shown disfavor. I should be the only one who apologizes.”
Certainly, he was quite uncomfortable and showed it when he saw Alexandra at the restaurant.
He was sure she was astutely aware of Theodore's feelings as a reporter.
"No! You don't have to apologize. I'm used to it now! Well, first of all, I have to get used to it to do my job...….”
"I'll give you advice,"
Alexandra shut her mouth.
Then, she looked up at Theodore, who had suddenly interrupted her and said the word, "advice.”
She waited for his next words with great tension.
"Don't get used to it.”
For some reason, Theodore's expression seemed cold and pained at the same time.
It was because he remembered himself back then.
Whenever things got tough, he would unquestioningly rely on her [t/n: Rosenta] and just get used to it.
Of course, this was a different situation from his own and he knew that she used those words differently.
However, the phrase "get used to" penetrated into his chest like a needle.
"What?”
“…It would be best not to get used to those feelings. For your sake.”
The only part of her that didn’t resemble Deborah was the color of her blue-green eyes, which widened for a moment and stared intently at him.
Somehow, they looked like glistening grass.
And the moment she was about to open her mouth.
At that moment, the carriage made a loud noise and stopped in front of the Nota Newspaper office.
"We've arrived.”
It would have been fine for the person who needed to get off to get off alone, but Theodore insisted on stepping outside.
"Are you not getting off?”
He asked, reaching out to Alexandra, as if he was escorting her.
Alexandra grabbed his hand in a daze as if she were possessed by something.
"I'll try to greet you with a smile next time. You've done a great job today."
Theodore boarded the carriage.
Even as the imperial carriage departed with the powerful cry of the horse, Alexandra remained standing, still like a watchtower.
She did so as pink blooms began to appear on both cheeks.
Without even realizing it, Theodore had stirred up a spring breeze for the person who only knew about work, and left.