Chapter 20.
He held Rosie’s shoulder tightly and looked into her eyes.
“Rosie, we would never betray you.”
“……”
“As long as you don’t betray us. Never.”
“Never?”
“Yeah. Because we’re comrades in the same boat.”
As if confident in his words, Theo nodded.
When Rosie’s gaze shifted past his shoulder, she met Alec’s eyes.
“……”
His face still expressionless, Alec nodded.
Only then did Rosie’s face brighten.
Clutching the hairpin tightly, she shouted towards Alec and Theo.
“…Thank you!”
“Huh?”
“I’ll… I’ll try to live again. For Maria. For Maria’s share too……”
Rosie raised her still-trembling hand and slowly pinned the hairpin into her hair.
A pink flower bloomed in her silver hair.
“…So, Alec. And Theo.”
Suppressing her tears, Rosie smiled.
“Please take care of me from now on.”
“Gasp!”
For a moment, I felt as if thorns were constricting my throat.
Grabbing my neck, I opened my eyes to see the darkened window.
Outside the window lay the peaceful scenery of the garden.
The grass I had trimmed a few days ago. The trees sprouting new buds. The moonlight faintly illuminating it all.
Only then did I realize I had been having a long dream.
“Haa.”
I’m supposed to forget. No, I thought I had almost forgotten.
Why did I have to dream of that time?
‘Alec, and Theo.’
After that day, the three of us grew extremely close.
We stuck together wherever we went and shared everything about ourselves.
Theo, honest with his emotions yet warm. Alec, seemingly indifferent on the outside but deep inside.
We were good partners.
Until they, and Ruin, betrayed me.
“…Ah.”
The place where Alec stabbed me with his dagger suddenly ached.
Simultaneously, a chill that no warmth could cure enveloped my entire body.
Shivering once, I got up to put on my coat.
“……”
Heading towards the wardrobe, I suddenly stopped before the mirror and stared intently at my reflection.
My silver hair, straight and reaching my waist.
My golden eyes, noticeable even in the darkness.
Now that I thought about it, Ruin really liked my outward appearance like this.
…Although at the institute, my hair had turned black due to the drugs.
‘Rose, your hair is just like the abyss.’
‘The abyss?’
‘Mhmm. It’s my favorite color.’
Ruin would always run her fingers through my hair whenever she saw me.
I thought that action was love. I believed it was love.
But now, with time, I know.
Her actions were merely… to check for any Arcana side effects appearing on me.
Nothing more, nothing less.
‘How foolish.’
I’m sorry, Maria.
Even though I became an Arc, I couldn’t travel the country selling hairpins.
But I promise you one thing.
‘I will make sure no more people die unjustly like you did.’
So that children no longer lose their dreams and get used.
So that no one loses their human dignity and becomes a monster.
‘I will protect the children.’
I will destroy the Lumiel Research Institute with my own hands.
I opened the drawer and took out the scissors from the very back.
And without hesitation, I cut off my long hair.
Snip—
Snow-white silver hair cascaded down to my feet.
Along with it, the memories of my childhood.
The heart that fluttered, mistaking Ruin’s touch for love, and the heart that considered Alec and Theo lifelong comrades.
Looking at my now short-haired reflection in the mirror, I whispered.
“I won’t linger in the past anymore.”
Not anymore.
Because I…
‘…have been reborn.’
The golden eyes in the mirror flashed like blades.
Meanwhile, at the Lumiel Research Institute.
Inside the laboratory surrounded by white glass walls.
Under the glow of low-hanging blue fluorescent lights, the black silhouettes of researchers swayed.
Dressed in white lab coats, they used droppers to add something to numerous test tubes with gloved hands, or moved blood-soaked objects on petri dishes with tweezers.
And in their midst was a massive cylindrical flask.
The test subject writhed incessantly as if in pain, but they didn’t grant it a single glance, as if accustomed to it.
Just then, the laboratory door opened and two men entered.
One man had short-cropped grey hair and sharp blue eyes, while the other, holding a staff, had curly golden hair and vibrant red eyes.
The researchers, who had indifferently shifted their gaze towards the approaching figures in the flickering blue light, were all startled.
“Ah, Lord Alexion? Lord Theodore?”
They were flustered.
They never expected them—those who had received Ruin’s abundant affection in ‘Arc Project Phase 1’ and achieved excellent results before being active nationwide—to come all the way to this laboratory.
‘What could have brought them here?’
Did they come to report to Ruin about the lab? Or to inspect it themselves?
Either way, it was disconcerting.
As the researchers swallowed dryly, trying to hide their anxiety, Alex looked up at the flask, his hands in his pockets.
Inside the flask, a massive test subject squirmed.
Occasionally, when the subject moved, glimpses of black hair would flash by.
This test subject was the cloned human that all the researchers were pinning their hopes on.
And the name of that clone was… ‘Rosie.’
Rosie was the main focus of Arc Project Phase 2.
Because Ruin, judging that it would be difficult to assassinate Lienne and Calix with just Alec and Theo, was aiming for a sure assassination through Phase 2.
Alex asked in a low voice.
“How much progress has the research made?”
“Only about 20%. There are limits to creating life with just blood or organs, and besides, it’s saturated with poison……”
“What limits?”
“It’s difficult to replicate fine muscle contractions or blood circulation. Brain transplantation is also a problem.”
“If brain transplantation is the problem…”
Theo cut in with an urgent voice.
“You mean when this test subject awakens, she might not remember the past?”
“…I’m sorry, but I can’t guarantee it.”
At that, Theo clenched his fist tightly. Something flower-shaped in his hand made a crunching sound.
The mage, composing his emotions, bit his lip hard and said.
“Make her remember the past, no matter what. If she can’t remember the past… I’ll kill every single one of you.”
“Y-yes, understood!”
The startled researchers nodded hastily before scattering.
Alex stared intently at the test subject and muttered.
“Rosie, wake up soon. We need you.”
“……”
Bubbles gurgled from the hunched red body.
He took a step closer to the flask and whispered.
“This time, please… don’t betray us.”
“……”
“Of course, you probably couldn’t even if you wanted to.”
Just then, the test subject’s eyes flashed open and looked at Alex.
They were golden eyes, like a brilliant sun.
They say that when distracting thoughts dominate your mind, moving your body is best.
I woke up early and prepared breakfast for Calix.
The moment the clock hands pointed exactly to 7:30.
Calix, having changed into casual clothes, came downstairs and spotted me.
“…Oh.”
His eyes widened slightly.
“Your hair.”
“Yes, I cut it a bit.”
I fiddled with my hair and asked.
“Does it look awkward?”
“Huh? No. It’s not awkward, short hair also suits you… well…”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, never mind.”
He, who seemed about to say something, ruffled the back of his hair and sat down, then looked at the breakfast I prepared and asked in surprise.
“…Rosie, what is this?”
“Ah. I thought my skills had improved a lot. I tried making this by adapting the recipe Lady Vesti taught me.”
I looked proudly at the dish placed on the table.
On the wide plate was a large watermelon, steamed whole.
But the important thing here is that this is no ordinary watermelon.
‘I should tell His Highness the secret of this watermelon soon.’
I looked at Calix with a pounding heart, but his expression seemed somewhat unenthusiastic.
He hadn’t even picked up his cutlery yet.
“You… adapted it, you said?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Why, you ask? In any field, once you’ve accumulated knowledge, shouldn’t you try to adapt it?”
“Was it necessary?”
“Necessary…? Besides, if I make the same menu every day, wouldn’t you get tired of it, Your Highness?”
“I actually like getting tired of things. I love having the same meal over and over until I’m sick and tired of it.”
“Pardon?”
“…Never mind. So, what exactly is this dish?”
“This dish, you see…”
I took a knife and split the watermelon in half.
Inside, revealed, was a whole chicken, steeped and marinated in watermelon juice.
I shrugged confidently and asked.
“What do you think?”
“You… steamed a whole chicken inside a watermelon? Seriously?”
“Wow, you figured it out! That’s right!”
“…Why?”
“You’re asking a lot of questions today. Are you interested in my cooking?”
I explained kindly with a smiling face.
“Think about it. Watermelon is sweet, and chicken has a deep flavor. So what happens if you steam watermelon and chicken together? You get a sweet and deep flavor simultaneously, right?”
“……”
“Plus, I scooped out the watermelon and generously added herbs and mushrooms. I even used expensive spices, so it’s sure to be delicious. So quickly…”
I cut a large piece of the chicken, speared it with a fork, and handed it to him.
“Please, try it.”
