Chapter 6
The place where the carpet had been pushed aside was now neatly tidied up.
When I entered the room and opened the door, I saw Theo sitting on the sofa.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”
“You always have something to say, don’t you?”
Being back home and having a peaceful conversation relaxed the tension in me. The corners of my lips lifted unconsciously.
It seemed that Estelle had gone back since it was late at night. Otherwise, the two of us would have been waiting together.
While I was standing there, the maids removed my coat and accessories and put them away.
“Estelle went back?”
“Yes. She said to tell you to get some rest. You didn’t look very well.”
“Me?”
I tilted my head in confusion. Had my face looked bad because of the memories that had suddenly returned?
Theo shrugged.
“He didn’t go into detail, but he said to come again tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow… maybe we can go on a little picnic together…”
I draped my shawl over my shoulders and walked over to Theo. As I got closer to the sofa, I noticed something placed on the low table.
‘It looks like… a book.’
The color drained from my face. The book in front of Theo was my diary.
“What’s that?”
I hurried over and snatched the book, lifting it high to make sure he wouldn’t grab it.
Since it was still early, Theo probably couldn’t read anything meaningful yet, but my nerves were on edge.
The first sentence definitely said that Estelle had become a saint. What should I call it? Delusion?
But one day, Estelle really would become a saint. Wouldn’t Theo get suspicious then?
“Did you… go through my drawer?”
The thought that came to mind made me snap in irritation. In response to my sharp voice, Theo frantically waved his hands.
“No, I just wanted to borrow some stationery, and I saw that notebook… I didn’t know you cherished it. I’m sorry.”
“You opened the whole drawer just to borrow stationery?”
Theo’s expression turned noticeably guilty.
“No! I only opened the first compartment!”
“What?”
“Anyway, you always put everything in the first compartment.”
Now that he said it, it was true. In the rush to sort out things before Demian called, it seemed I had accidentally placed my diary with the stationery.
‘…But a notebook?’
I narrowed my eyes.
“You didn’t open it?”
Theo looked puzzled at my question. He said,
“What did you write? There’s nothing in it.”
Startled, I almost dropped the diary. I lowered my arms and opened the diary. On the first page, it clearly read: “Diary of Rosaline Moore.”
“You’re saying I didn’t write anything?”
“I thought it was new. I was going to take it if you weren’t going to use it.”
Theo’s voice was full of genuine frustration. His eyebrows knitted into a grimace, and his hand went to his chest as if to plead his case.
Could he really not see it? Or was this writing visible only to me? I deliberated, then opened the first page and held it out to him.
“Can you see this?”
With the hand that wasn’t holding the book, I carefully pointed to the text. My hand hurt from holding the diary so high, but I didn’t care.
“The writing here.”
Theo squinted and then frowned.
“…Are you joking? Or are you teasing me?”
“You can’t see it?”
“Ah, don’t tease me, it’s no fun.”
He shook his head and leaned back.
“Like when we were kids, pretending there’s something there, and then when I approach, you cover it over my face.”
Theo looked utterly disgusted as he stared at me. His twisted expression didn’t seem acted. I nodded and closed the diary.
“Indeed, now that we’re grown up, teasing isn’t fun anymore.”
“Since you’re already teasing as soon as we arrive, I guess it means you’re feeling better? I’ll tell Estelle she doesn’t need to worry.”
Theo muttered, and I calmly sat down across from him. I placed the diary on the table.
“Anyway, I can’t give this to you. I’ve been saving it to write in.”
When I realized Theo couldn’t see the writing, my heart skipped a beat.
I wanted to call a maid immediately to see if he really couldn’t see it. I wanted to yell at him.
But acting further here would surely cause worry.
Maybe even Demian would hear rumors that I’d gone strange. He might think I hit my head when I fell on the stairs.
I decided to wait for another opportunity to check.
As I gathered my thoughts, Theo stopped grumbling and looked at me.
His eyes, a vivid red like rose petals, fixed on me.
The eyes that had seemed dull moments ago now looked sharp.
“So… why did His Highness summon you?”
“To move up the wedding date a bit.”
When I answered calmly, Theo leapt up. His wide eyes made his sharp gaze suddenly look vacant.
“What do you mean? Is that the Emperor’s decision?”
“No, the Crown Prince and I decided. We’ll persuade our parents individually.”
“…Why?”
Theo asked, genuinely confused.
“You avoided talking about what the Crown Prince was thinking, remember?”
He knew how I had avoided marriage discussions with him and Estelle. I had told them that I didn’t know what he was thinking and felt uneasy about being singled out.
Of course, that didn’t mean I planned to avoid marriage forever.
Even without my memory, I would have married him eventually. In the story, I did marry him.
“But we can’t keep delaying it. I’m the fiancée. There have been false rumors in society for a long time.”
Even though we were both of marriageable age, the gossip suggested our relationship was bad because we hadn’t married.
Though it wasn’t exactly true, a broken engagement would be disastrous. Even when we were family, he could be ruthless.
“Did His Highness persuade you?”
Theo asked skeptically. My sudden change in demeanor was hard for him to understand.
A natural reaction. I wrapped my shawl tighter and shook my head.
“No? I said it myself. If it’s going to happen anyway, it’s better to get it over with quickly. Seeing him made me think that.”
I raised my hand and shyly touched one cheek. The same cheek that Demian had touched today.
The warmth of my cheek and the soft flow of black hair and violet eyes came vividly to mind.
“The Crown Prince is handsome, after all.”
“Huh.”
Theo shivered as if creeped out. He opened his mouth to say something but then gave up and shook his head.
“…Fine, don’t say any more. I’ll handle it myself.”
“Yeah, I’ll take care of it.”
I smiled at Theo. He waved his hand and stood up.
As he approached the door, he stopped.
“Sis.”
“Hmm?”
Our gazes met. The emotion on his face was ambiguous. Compared to me reading his feelings, he seemed more confused by his own.
“…If anything happens, tell me.”
His eyes, more delicate than the deep red of blood, looked like fresh May roses.
‘I’ve seen those eyes fill with tears so many times,’
Now he even worries about his sister. He’s grown up.
“Of course not. Tell Estelle we’ll go on a picnic tomorrow.”
I lightly shook my head and placed my hand on the diary.
The touch of my fingers felt cold.
“Are you feeling okay?”
The late-summer wind was cool, but the sun still harsh. I folded my lace parasol.
Estelle, wearing an adorable yellow bonnet, clasped her hands tightly, looking at me with a worried gaze.
“Of course I’m fine. Resting well always makes me feel better quickly.”
I shrugged, but Estelle still couldn’t shake her concern. She held my hand tightly.
“Just in case, please don’t overdo it.”
“Got it, got it.”
“Really.”
Looking into her sparkling blue eyes, I felt a twinge of guilt despite feeling perfectly fine.
I hurriedly boarded the carriage, avoiding her gaze.
“The weather’s nice.”
Theo, who got on the carriage a bit later, whistled. Drawing back the curtains, the clear blue sky became even more visible.
“Today we’re going to Lake Rafine. I heard they’re starting boating again since the weather cleared up.”
“Really?”
I raised my finger, and Estelle’s face brightened.
It was as if the cloudy sky had cleared. She clapped her hands.
“I really wanted to go!”
“Last time, we couldn’t go because of the rainy season. Afterwards, the water level rose, so we couldn’t take the boat out.”
Theo responded to Estelle’s excitement gently. Sometimes that side of him was unnerving, but seeing them both happy made me feel good.
‘Sandwiches, cutlery, raspberry juice, and a mat—all packed.’
Everything was perfectly prepared. I was just as excited as Estelle.
Once the wedding preparations were done and I entered the royal court, outings like this wouldn’t happen anymore.
So this was practically my last outing.
Perhaps theirs too.
