We were having a casual conversation as usual.
Rosenta was sitting at the table, Theodore was standing by the window, and Vivian was lying on the bed.
At first, he was only looking for the right timing to speak to Theodore.
Then, he melted into this relaxation and missed the timing to talk about Yura.
Of course, it was worth it.
After a long time, they’d gathered together, talked leisurely, enjoyed contemplation, and then repeated.
Rosenta had been busy with a lot of work recently so, it felt like he was healing for the first time in a while.
He had been enjoying the situation for a long time when, suddenly, Theodore called him.
"Rosenta."
"Yes?"
Theodore's golden eyes fell gently in a curve.
His mouth opened, "Thank you."
It didn’t seem like the correct thing to say. He hadn’t done anything for Theodore while there.
If that was the case, it's must have been a ‘thank you’ for the past.
"Your Majesty, are you sure?"
Did this mean that his mind, which had been under a heavy fog, had changed?
He jumped out of his seat and looked at Theodore.
Theodore's smile grew thicker and thicker in response to Rosenta’s fierce reaction.
"Are you all right now?"
As if his throat was blocked, his words kept coming out in a muffled voice.
"Don't you feel anything?"
"No."
Theodore's answer was very firm compared to Rosenta’s quivering question.
His disappointment gradually grew.
But only for a moment. Theodore's next reply instilled him with anticipation again.
"But it's definitely different from before."
"Definitely different means..."
"I don’t feel like I’m going crazy anymore. It feels less like I'm suffocating. Plus...."
Theodore swallowed his words. After a little pause, the smile on his face disappeared.
He spoke very seriously.
"I don't respond to her."
He came toward Rosenta with great strides.
A golden thread tickled the side of Rosenta’s face. It was a familiar thread.
A low voice whispered to him, boasting a very soft melody like a lullaby.
"I know you're not crying, but I still feel like I want to comfort you…"
Rosenta, felt a hand wrapping around the back of his head. Theodore stroked his hair very carefully as if touching a baby.
Another hand swept down his back. As if to console him.
"Consolation is not only done when you are sad. I want to comfort you, who hid it from me and worked hard to solve it by himself… I just want to comfort you."
Theodore knew everything. It wasn't for Rosenta’s mother that he’d gone to Silva.
He just believed what he said and watched him quietly.
At that moment, these thoughts came to Rosenta.
That the hard work he’d done had never been useless.
And that the best thing he did was be their friend and willingly accept them into his life.
"Rosenta."
Theodore called his name and gently lifted his face, which had been buried in his chest.
It was a very gentle touch.
"Rosenta........."
Theodore's eyes became glossier. That golden face with tears was indescribably beautiful.
Theodore very fondly looked at him, smiling. Towards Rosenta and Vivian behind him.
Then he shared his honest feelings.
"You are the center and the starting point of the three of us. Don't forget that fact. It is our sorrow that you are falling apart."
It was strange.
The words touched Rosenta’s heart. But they did not make him cry.
Rather, it made him laugh.
His eyes curved and the corners of his mouth went up. Then Theodore smiled back.
Theodore caressed his smiling cheek and spoke softly.
"Pretty. Very pretty."
‘What do you mean pretty?’
Listening to a man say that, while he was dressed as a man, felt strange.
But it wasn't bad.
He kept smiling while facing Theodore, but suddenly a load slammed behind him into his back.
And he heard Vivian's voice behind him.
It was a voice full of tears.
"Ugh, I don't know what this is all of a sudden. Rosen, you're my best friend. You have no idea how much I depend on you."
Vivian rubbed her face on his back.
Theodore in the front and Vivian in the back. A ticklish feeling rose from his heart.
Whether or not she knew how he felt, Vivian kept hugging him like a puppy.
"His Majesty is also a close friend, but... you are the best. I can live without His Majesty, but I cannot live without you."
Rosenta couldn't stand it.
He knew it didn't suit him to burst into laughter in this sentimental situation, but he couldn't stand it.
"Ha! Ha ha!"
Rosenta continued to bend over into laughter.
Then came the sound of Theodore and Vivian's verbal quarrel.
"Vivian, I didn't expect you to think of me that way. Very disappointing."
"Hm. Your Majesty's disappointment doesn’t scare me!"
***
When Theodore and Vivian's argument ended, they changed the subject and continued the conversation.
"Your Majesty, are you going to go tomorrow?"
"One night is enough."
"Then Rosen and I will go to the magic circle with you. Will there be enough room to accompany you?"
It was more like giving notice than a request.
It may have been impolite, but Theodore didn't care too much.
"I don't mind Rosenta, but didn't you come with your family?"
"It's all right. If I say I don't like to travel by carriage for long periods of time, they’ll understand."
"What about your second brother?"
Vivian clicked her tongue.
"Tut. After getting beaten up somewhere, his body is not strong enough to use magic in succession. We probably don’t have the manpower to get another wizard now."
As she spoke, Vivian's voice gradually became furious.
In the end, she raised her head with her hands on her waist and asked Theodore proudly.
"Can’t you just give us a ride?"
"If you pay me the cost of hiring a wizard, I'll give you a ride. You know, getting a wizard during a peak season like this is as hard as picking a star out of the night sky."
At Theodore's words, Vivian pouted her lips.
Then she answered coyly.
"Ugh. All right. I'll pay for it, please reserve two seats."
Theodore smiled playfully and reached out to Vivian.
Vivian grabbed his hand and shook it very hard.
It was such a violent handshake.
"This will save the state coffers, and it'll be a very prosperous endeavor."
"Thanks for the compliment."
After a brief argument, it quickly became quiet.
There was no more talk, but it was the most peaceful part of the day.
Rosenta was on the sofa, Theodore by the window, and Vivian by the bed.
That's how each of them took a break.
If others saw it, they might have wondered why they were doing this in someone else's room.
But even this was an act that gave them peace of mind.
Even if they did different things, they felt that they were together simply by being in the same space.
"I...."
A woman's voice could be heard outside with a careful knock.
"Your Majesty, is your Majesty there?"
The peace was broken.
It was the voice of Yura, who called Theodore’s name.
"Your Majesty?"
When there was no answer inside, Yura called Theodore again.
However, it wasn't Theodore, whom she had been waiting for for so long, who gave her an answer.
Vivian leaped out of bed and strode near the door.
Then, she stared at the door with a defiant look and spoke very loudly.
"Please wait a moment. It would be a problem if you came in now."
It was enough to be misunderstood depending on how you took it.
But as Rosenta looked at Vivian's triumphant expression, it seemed like a deliberate misconception.
Vivian alternated between Rosenta and Theodore.
She whispered to them.
"I didn't bother to pry into what you said earlier, but... I understand this, that His Majesty will no longer play into her games."
Vivian's red eyes burned even hotter.
She had a very combative look.
When Vivian looked like that, she showed her true personality.
Rosenta looked at Theodore.
It was because he was curious about Theodore's intentions.
"Your Majesty, Vivian says so. What do you think?"
Surely Theodore had changed.
There was a brief hesitation, but no significant facial expression change occurred.
Theodore answered dismissively.
"Whatever you want."
Vivian smiled brightly at the reply. Very, very, disturbingly bright.
Then she opened the door without hesitation.
Rosenta saw Yura standing at the door with a cold, firm face.
Only then did Vivian begin to tidy up her pink hair which had become disheveled from laying in the bed.
Right in front of Yura.
"You can go in because I’m done with my business."
Vivian turned away.
But that was not the end. Vivian looked back, as if she had thought of something.
Talking to him in a very sweet voice, which would never normally be used for Theodore.
"Your Majesty, I'll be going now."
***
Rosenta had been holding his breath where Yura's eyes couldn't reach.
He couldn't see Yura's expression because he was in the corner.
But Theodore's trembling eyes were clearly visible, and Yura's pain-filled words could be heard very well.
"S-sorry."
The door slammed shut.
The sound of running down the hallway could also be heard.
"You put up with it."
"Yes...."
Theodore slumped on the sofa as if exhausted.
He quietly watched Theodore then walked towards the door. He remembered now.
Enoch, who believed his words, was waiting for him.
"Rosenta."
He grabbed the door handle to go outside and heard Theodore's exhausted voice calling him.
He continued holding the door handle while turning his head slightly and stared at Theodore.
"Please stay with me for a moment."
"That's... I think that's going to be difficult."
He laughed awkwardly.
Because he’d forgotten, he’d stayed there longer than he’d thought.
The crazy dog, who had lost his leash, might be running wild somewhere.
There was also his promise made to him, so he had to go back now.
"It would be easier for His Majesty to rest without me. I'll see you tomorrow, then."