Seeing Rosena’s face, he opened his eyes wide. He seemed to be asking why she was here.
Rosena stood motionless and caught his eyes.
The nobles who did not see Rosena escaped one by one, and she immediately approached Yerhan.
When Rosena was about to be run over by people and stumbled over, Yerhan hurried over.
His eyes were anxious as if he was looking at a glass figurine that would break soon.
Yerhan immediately led Rosena, who was buried among the nobles.
Many people stopped walking when they saw Rosena.
But their gaze did not interrupt the two at all.
“…Rosena.”
Yerhan called Rosena carefully. But instead of answering, Rosena uttered what she wanted to ask.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Rosena asked, her face crumpled.
There was resentment about why he made her hear that there was a trial from others.
Yerhan was silent for a moment, then he quietly looked down at Rosena.
“Because it has nothing to do with you.”
“How could you say that…!”
Her voice went up automatically.
The unpleasant and frustrating feelings throughout the trial seemed to burst right now.
“You pushed me away because you knew this would happen?”
Rosena could no longer communicate calmly.
Now that he was exiled, it was hard to remain sane.
“So… that’s why you asked me to divorce you.”
Rosena’s voice became smaller and smaller.
As soon as the word ‘divorce’ came out of her mouth, the word became a thorn and pierced her tongue and lips.
Yerhan still looked at Rosena’s face.
It was a cautious look, but soon he swallowed all his emotions and shook his head.
“No, it’s not.”
“Then why didn’t you just tell me? Did you want to make a fool of me?”
She wanted to calm down, but she couldn’t.
Unlike Rosena’s rather intense question, Yerhan calmly opened his mouth.
“There’s no need for me to say it.”
Upon his response, Rosena lost all words. She felt like she was going to lose her strength and fall down at any moment.
A rush of disappointment and throbbing anger hit Rosena. Trust, which was like a sand castle, collapsed in one wave.
Rosena looked up at Yerhan and slowly turned around.
She wouldn’t have been so disappointed if he had said that it was because he didn’t want her to worry.
Yerhan did not catch Rosena. He only looked at Rosena’s figure, who was moving away from him, as if his feet were stuck there.
“Your Highness.”
Ibella hastily called Rosena.
Rosena murmured without noticing Ibella.
“I’m sorry. I have to go back to the palace…”
Ibella didn’t hold onto Rosena.
Rosena’s complexion was so bad that she couldn’t bring herself to do so.
Ibella said something, but Rosena didn’t really understand and left the building right away.
She didn’t even remember how she got back to the Third Prince Palace.
Rosena was messed up. She went back to her bedroom and took off her shawl.
She stood alone in the center of her bedroom for a long while, as she slowly covered her face.
It was difficult for her to breathe and move her body.
All the acts that were taken for granted felt disparate.
She thought there would be nothing more that could hurt her, but Yerhan’s words just completely ripped off her ragged chest.
Did he really not have a grain of heart for her?
Was he just living together out of necessity or out of responsibility for Illian?
Tears that she thought were already dried became hot again.
Rosena took a deep breath. The dry, hot air, as if from the desert, entered the lungs.
Rosena slowly turned her head to calm down.
It had been a long time since she lived with Illian for several days. But nothing changed, just like Rosena remembered.
Everywhere, traces of living with Yerhan remained intact. Remembering it made her want to sit down again.
Rosena stood still, then moved her body.
It occurred to her that she should pack her things quickly as he wished.
Rosena checked the items in the bedroom one by one.
The music box he gave as a gift at the festival was the first to catch her eyes.
The blanket that covered them together, the table where they drank together… when she saw one thing after another, many memories kept swelling up like bubbles.
Rosena was not able to pack anything.
As soon as she moved one thing from its place, everything seemed to collapse like toy blocks.
Eventually, Rosena, who didn’t pack anything, turned her head away. And at the end of her gaze came an old closet.
That closet had been there even before Rosena entered the Imperial Palace.
She tried to open it last time, but she couldn’t open it because Yerhan blocked it.
Rosena headed for it slowly.
There was a rusty latch hanging in the closet.
Rosena paused, it was as if it was warning her not to open it.
What the hell is in this closet?
How precious it was to him to hang it to the clasp.
It may be that the stuff of the person he really likes was stored there.
Even though Rosena knew she shouldn’t do it, she eventually pulled the clasp down.
The sound of a clinking and a bumping iron rang grimly, and the tightly closed closet door opened.
Rosena swallowed her breath. She was ready not to be surprised by what came out.
And when the closet door opened completely, there was only one piece of clothing hanging.
Looking at the very ordinary clothes, Rosena reached out and pulled it out.
The clothes hanging in the closet for a long time were familiar to her eyes.
Rosena checked the clothes as if stuttering. And she was sure.
This was something Rosena had dressed Yerhan in seven years ago.
“How come…”
Rosena touched the clothes with a look of disbelief.
In the forest at that time, Yerhan suffered numerous injuries. The clothes he was wearing were almost rags, so Rosena went to the village in a hurry and bought these clothes.
There were even wet bloodstains on the ends of the clothes, as she has remembered.
The clothes were too shabby and insignificant for a prince to wear, but why…
Rosena grabbed the clothes and hugged them.
He took great care of it, except for the bloodstains, even though these clothes were white, they didn’t even change color.
Rosena, who was hugging the clothes for a long time, found a piece of paper placed underneath the closet.
Rosena’s eyes trembled when she saw the well-folded letter paper.
Who gave this letter to him, that he hid it like this?
After a moment of hesitation, Rosena opened the letter carefully.
“….”
Rosena looked at the familiar handwriting on the letter paper and shut her mouth.
It was a letter from Rosena, back when he left the palace for a while.
The letter, filled with trivial stories, was worn out by how much he had read it.
Rosena bit her lips and swallowed the sobs.
His heart was here when he uttered harsh words.
She couldn’t stop crying. She had drawn a line to not like him, yet she wanted to know his true heart.
Rosena sprang to her feet.
She wanted to see him right now.
The time had come to completely sever all this knot of misunderstanding and distrust.
And as soon as Rosena headed towards the door, the door burst open.
***
Yerhan, who came in with the sound of footsteps, saw Rosena and stopped.
Rosena stood still and looked at Yerhan.
As if he didn’t expect Rosena to be in the bedroom, Yerhan stopped on the spot, looking perplexed. His eyes did not fall from Rosena.
Rosena also looked straight ahead without averting her gaze.
Yerhan’s eyes, who met hers properly, wanted Rosena, unlike his mouth, which uttered only sharp words. There was sincerity in those eyes, but he had been swayed by his lies.
After a while, Yehan opened his mouth.
“If you want to sleep here, I will leave.”
“No.”
Rosena shook her head. Then he strode over and stood in front of Yerhan.
Rosena, who reached out and closed the door, said quietly.
“I have something to tell you.”
After hesitating for a moment, Yerhan slowly walked inside. Then, looking at the wide open closet, he stood still.
Clothes and letters stored deep in the closet were taken out and laid on the bed.
“….I’ll apologize first. I opened it up on my own.”
She was really sorry that she touched his stuff, but she didn’t regret it. Because her heart that had only wandered far away for a long time finally just reached the end.
“Why are you still keeping it?”
“….”
“It’s the shirt I gave you.”
At Rosena’s question, Yehan simply looked down at his clothes. It was an ordinary piece of clothing that was commonly found anywhere in the market. However, it was a piece of clothing he couldn’t even take out a few times because he thought it would wear out just by looking at it.
This shirt was the only thing that proved that the events of that time were not a dream. Even after reuniting with Rosena, Yerhan hid the clothes tightly.
He was terrified that Rosena would get sick of him if he told her that he hadn’t thrown it away until now.
He was afraid that the traces would disappear, so he couldn’t even erase the bloodstains… How could he say that?
Yerhan pursed his lips. He had to say hurtful things to Rosena like he had done before. That way, Rosena will get tired of him and leave this place completely.
But no words came out of his lips that were open with difficulty.
The words he had uttered so far stabbed Rosena and at the same time ripped Yerhan to pieces. If he uttered even one more word, it seemed Yerhan would collapse first.
“Do you really have no feelings for me?”
Rosena’s voice trembled a little. At that question, Yerhan slowly raised his head. His blue eyes contained the face of Rosena, who was about to cry.
It felt like his heart was breaking when he thought that he had caused that face himself. He couldn’t remember since when Rosena didn’t laugh and just cried.
She was happy as if she had the world with a smile that shined like a handful of sunlight, but how did this happen?
“I….”
Yerhan uttered a word with difficulty. Rationality and impulse began to fight in his head. If she left after a falling out like this, they might not be able to meet again.
However, if he could make them separate like this, he thought that Rosena would be able to enjoy happiness no matter what happened to him.
But now Rosena was crying… was that really the right way?
“I….”
His throat was blocked and his voice was not coming out properly. But Rosena quietly waited for all the words to end.
“I love you.”
A truth hidden among many lies had come out.
Rosena’s face contorted. She couldn’t express all the emotions she had right now with her facial expressions.
Rosena hurried over and grabbed Yehan’s arm. Then she tiptoed and kissed his lips.
The texture of his dry lips was harsh. However, the warmth he held was the same as she remembered.
Yerhan, who had been stiff, moved slowly and embraced Rosena.
Rosena and Yerhan hugged and kissed each other. The kiss to confirm their feelings was quite different from before. Unlike the passionate days of the past, it was cautious, painful, and sweet.
The two of them, lying on the bed, kissed each other’s lips as if searching for breath when their lips fell apart even though they were stroking each other’s cheeks.
He felt the salty taste on his lips.
Yerhan slowly parted his lips and looked down at Rosena.
Rosena, who was lying on the bed, wiped her tears with the back of her hand and then whispered while facing Yerhan.
“I like you.”
She said with strength once more.
“I came to like you.”
She didn’t know when. When she realized, she had already given her heart to him.
The two looked into each other’s eyes. The tightly entangled eyes seemed to never be unraveled.
Clear blue eyes looked at Rosena lovingly.
Yerhan pressed his lips to Rosena’s cheek gently. A tickling sensation spread like dandelion spores wherever their lips touched.
As their bodies touched, the scent that Yerhan had filled the embraced Rosena.
As she smelled the scent, she felt like she was hugging him.
Rosena asked while Yerhan parted his lips.
“You pushed me out knowing that the trial was going to be like this, didn’t you?”
When Yerhan didn’t answer, Rosena raised her arm and stroked his cheek and head. His pale cheeks seemed to indicate that he had suffered a lot.
She wondered how hard it must have been for him to endure this alone. She was very sorry that he tried to carry it all on his back without a place to share, even though it was foolish.
Rosena, who was touching Yerhan with much sympathy, murmured.
“I’m not going anywhere. Even if you push me away again.”
At Rosena’s words, Yerhan stiffened his face as he had come to his senses. He slowly got up and sat down on the bed.
As Rosena sat down next to him, Yerhan spoke with difficulty.
“But you must leave.”
“I don’t want to.”
Rosena answered firmly. Yerhan looked at Rosena with subtle emotions.
His face, which was both happy and sad, was soon filled with sadness.
“I can’t lose you again.”
Yerhan grabbed Rosena’s hand. The small hand that fit in the large hand carefully wrapped it around so that it wouldn’t break any moment.
“I never want to experience it again.”
Yerhan kissed Rosena’s finger. Slowly raising his head, he met Rosena’s eyes. The clear blue eyes were no longer dark and dead.
“If you stay here, the empress will try to kill you, and the crown prince will covet your power.”
Yerhan was afraid of that.
Rosena, who would be left alone if he went into exile, would face numerous threats. Some would try to use Rosena, others would take her life. So he wanted her to escape the empire and live freely.
“I can no longer protect you.”
“…I want to go with you to Haylor.”
“No, you can’t.”
Yerhan drew the line resolutely.
“The environment is very poor there. And it’s not even a safe place.”
Actually, it wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about it. But Haylor was too barren for Rosena to live. Frozen land and nothing prepared.
The place where it was difficult to see flowers even once a year was a place where monsters appeared frequently.
Even the empress’ people would keep monitoring them, so it was like a prison without iron bars.
Obviously, assassins will continue to appear, and even a slight negligence of attention could injure Rosena fatally.
“Please leave.”
Contrary to the words, Yerhan was holding Rosena’s hand tightly. It was as if he was whispering that he didn’t want to break up.
Seeing Rosena’s face, he opened his eyes wide. He seemed to be asking why she was here.
Rosena stood motionless and caught his eyes.
The nobles who did not see Rosena escaped one by one, and she immediately approached Yerhan.
When Rosena was about to be run over by people and stumbled over, Yerhan hurried over.
His eyes were anxious as if he was looking at a glass figurine that would break soon.
Yerhan immediately led Rosena, who was buried among the nobles.
Many people stopped walking when they saw Rosena.
But their gaze did not interrupt the two at all.
“…Rosena.”
Yerhan called Rosena carefully. But instead of answering, Rosena uttered what she wanted to ask.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Rosena asked, her face crumpled.
There was resentment about why he made her hear that there was a trial from others.
Yerhan was silent for a moment, then he quietly looked down at Rosena.
“Because it has nothing to do with you.”
“How could you say that…!”
Her voice went up automatically.
The unpleasant and frustrating feelings throughout the trial seemed to burst right now.
“You pushed me away because you knew this would happen?”
Rosena could no longer communicate calmly.
Now that he was exiled, it was hard to remain sane.
“So… that’s why you asked me to divorce you.”
Rosena’s voice became smaller and smaller.
As soon as the word ‘divorce’ came out of her mouth, the word became a thorn and pierced her tongue and lips.
Yerhan still looked at Rosena’s face.
It was a cautious look, but soon he swallowed all his emotions and shook his head.
“No, it’s not.”
“Then why didn’t you just tell me? Did you want to make a fool of me?”
She wanted to calm down, but she couldn’t.
Unlike Rosena’s rather intense question, Yerhan calmly opened his mouth.
“There’s no need for me to say it.”
Upon his response, Rosena lost all words. She felt like she was going to lose her strength and fall down at any moment.
A rush of disappointment and throbbing anger hit Rosena. Trust, which was like a sand castle, collapsed in one wave.
Rosena looked up at Yerhan and slowly turned around.
She wouldn’t have been so disappointed if he had said that it was because he didn’t want her to worry.
Yerhan did not catch Rosena. He only looked at Rosena’s figure, who was moving away from him, as if his feet were stuck there.
“Your Highness.”
Ibella hastily called Rosena.
Rosena murmured without noticing Ibella.
“I’m sorry. I have to go back to the palace…”
Ibella didn’t hold onto Rosena.
Rosena’s complexion was so bad that she couldn’t bring herself to do so.
Ibella said something, but Rosena didn’t really understand and left the building right away.
She didn’t even remember how she got back to the Third Prince Palace.
Rosena was messed up. She went back to her bedroom and took off her shawl.
She stood alone in the center of her bedroom for a long while, as she slowly covered her face.
It was difficult for her to breathe and move her body.
All the acts that were taken for granted felt disparate.
She thought there would be nothing more that could hurt her, but Yerhan’s words just completely ripped off her ragged chest.
Did he really not have a grain of heart for her?
Was he just living together out of necessity or out of responsibility for Illian?
Tears that she thought were already dried became hot again.
Rosena took a deep breath. The dry, hot air, as if from the desert, entered the lungs.
Rosena slowly turned her head to calm down.
It had been a long time since she lived with Illian for several days. But nothing changed, just like Rosena remembered.
Everywhere, traces of living with Yerhan remained intact. Remembering it made her want to sit down again.
Rosena stood still, then moved her body.
It occurred to her that she should pack her things quickly as he wished.
Rosena checked the items in the bedroom one by one.
The music box he gave as a gift at the festival was the first to catch her eyes.
The blanket that covered them together, the table where they drank together… when she saw one thing after another, many memories kept swelling up like bubbles.
Rosena was not able to pack anything.
As soon as she moved one thing from its place, everything seemed to collapse like toy blocks.
Eventually, Rosena, who didn’t pack anything, turned her head away. And at the end of her gaze came an old closet.
That closet had been there even before Rosena entered the Imperial Palace.
She tried to open it last time, but she couldn’t open it because Yerhan blocked it.
Rosena headed for it slowly.
There was a rusty latch hanging in the closet.
Rosena paused, it was as if it was warning her not to open it.
What the hell is in this closet?
How precious it was to him to hang it to the clasp.
It may be that the stuff of the person he really likes was stored there.
Even though Rosena knew she shouldn’t do it, she eventually pulled the clasp down.
The sound of a clinking and a bumping iron rang grimly, and the tightly closed closet door opened.
Rosena swallowed her breath. She was ready not to be surprised by what came out.
And when the closet door opened completely, there was only one piece of clothing hanging.
Looking at the very ordinary clothes, Rosena reached out and pulled it out.
The clothes hanging in the closet for a long time were familiar to her eyes.
Rosena checked the clothes as if stuttering. And she was sure.
This was something Rosena had dressed Yerhan in seven years ago.
“How come…”
Rosena touched the clothes with a look of disbelief.
In the forest at that time, Yerhan suffered numerous injuries. The clothes he was wearing were almost rags, so Rosena went to the village in a hurry and bought these clothes.
There were even wet bloodstains on the ends of the clothes, as she has remembered.
The clothes were too shabby and insignificant for a prince to wear, but why…
Rosena grabbed the clothes and hugged them.
He took great care of it, except for the bloodstains, even though these clothes were white, they didn’t even change color.
Rosena, who was hugging the clothes for a long time, found a piece of paper placed underneath the closet.
Rosena’s eyes trembled when she saw the well-folded letter paper.
Who gave this letter to him, that he hid it like this?
After a moment of hesitation, Rosena opened the letter carefully.
“….”
Rosena looked at the familiar handwriting on the letter paper and shut her mouth.
It was a letter from Rosena, back when he left the palace for a while.
The letter, filled with trivial stories, was worn out by how much he had read it.
Rosena bit her lips and swallowed the sobs.
His heart was here when he uttered harsh words.
She couldn’t stop crying. She had drawn a line to not like him, yet she wanted to know his true heart.
Rosena sprang to her feet.
She wanted to see him right now.
The time had come to completely sever all this knot of misunderstanding and distrust.
And as soon as Rosena headed towards the door, the door burst open.
***
Yerhan, who came in with the sound of footsteps, saw Rosena and stopped.
Rosena stood still and looked at Yerhan.
As if he didn’t expect Rosena to be in the bedroom, Yerhan stopped on the spot, looking perplexed. His eyes did not fall from Rosena.
Rosena also looked straight ahead without averting her gaze.
Yerhan’s eyes, who met hers properly, wanted Rosena, unlike his mouth, which uttered only sharp words. There was sincerity in those eyes, but he had been swayed by his lies.
After a while, Yehan opened his mouth.
“If you want to sleep here, I will leave.”
“No.”
Rosena shook her head. Then he strode over and stood in front of Yerhan.
Rosena, who reached out and closed the door, said quietly.
“I have something to tell you.”
After hesitating for a moment, Yerhan slowly walked inside. Then, looking at the wide open closet, he stood still.
Clothes and letters stored deep in the closet were taken out and laid on the bed.
“….I’ll apologize first. I opened it up on my own.”
She was really sorry that she touched his stuff, but she didn’t regret it. Because her heart that had only wandered far away for a long time finally just reached the end.
“Why are you still keeping it?”
“….”
“It’s the shirt I gave you.”
At Rosena’s question, Yehan simply looked down at his clothes. It was an ordinary piece of clothing that was commonly found anywhere in the market. However, it was a piece of clothing he couldn’t even take out a few times because he thought it would wear out just by looking at it.
This shirt was the only thing that proved that the events of that time were not a dream. Even after reuniting with Rosena, Yerhan hid the clothes tightly.
He was terrified that Rosena would get sick of him if he told her that he hadn’t thrown it away until now.
He was afraid that the traces would disappear, so he couldn’t even erase the bloodstains… How could he say that?
Yerhan pursed his lips. He had to say hurtful things to Rosena like he had done before. That way, Rosena will get tired of him and leave this place completely.
But no words came out of his lips that were open with difficulty.
The words he had uttered so far stabbed Rosena and at the same time ripped Yerhan to pieces. If he uttered even one more word, it seemed Yerhan would collapse first.
“Do you really have no feelings for me?”
Rosena’s voice trembled a little. At that question, Yerhan slowly raised his head. His blue eyes contained the face of Rosena, who was about to cry.
It felt like his heart was breaking when he thought that he had caused that face himself. He couldn’t remember since when Rosena didn’t laugh and just cried.
She was happy as if she had the world with a smile that shined like a handful of sunlight, but how did this happen?
“I….”
Yerhan uttered a word with difficulty. Rationality and impulse began to fight in his head. If she left after a falling out like this, they might not be able to meet again.
However, if he could make them separate like this, he thought that Rosena would be able to enjoy happiness no matter what happened to him.
But now Rosena was crying… was that really the right way?
“I….”
His throat was blocked and his voice was not coming out properly. But Rosena quietly waited for all the words to end.
“I love you.”
A truth hidden among many lies had come out.
Rosena’s face contorted. She couldn’t express all the emotions she had right now with her facial expressions.
Rosena hurried over and grabbed Yehan’s arm. Then she tiptoed and kissed his lips.
The texture of his dry lips was harsh. However, the warmth he held was the same as she remembered.
Yerhan, who had been stiff, moved slowly and embraced Rosena.
Rosena and Yerhan hugged and kissed each other. The kiss to confirm their feelings was quite different from before. Unlike the passionate days of the past, it was cautious, painful, and sweet.
The two of them, lying on the bed, kissed each other’s lips as if searching for breath when their lips fell apart even though they were stroking each other’s cheeks.
He felt the salty taste on his lips.
Yerhan slowly parted his lips and looked down at Rosena.
Rosena, who was lying on the bed, wiped her tears with the back of her hand and then whispered while facing Yerhan.
“I like you.”
She said with strength once more.
“I came to like you.”
She didn’t know when. When she realized, she had already given her heart to him.
The two looked into each other’s eyes. The tightly entangled eyes seemed to never be unraveled.
Clear blue eyes looked at Rosena lovingly.
Yerhan pressed his lips to Rosena’s cheek gently. A tickling sensation spread like dandelion spores wherever their lips touched.
As their bodies touched, the scent that Yerhan had filled the embraced Rosena.
As she smelled the scent, she felt like she was hugging him.
Rosena asked while Yerhan parted his lips.
“You pushed me out knowing that the trial was going to be like this, didn’t you?”
When Yerhan didn’t answer, Rosena raised her arm and stroked his cheek and head. His pale cheeks seemed to indicate that he had suffered a lot.
She wondered how hard it must have been for him to endure this alone. She was very sorry that he tried to carry it all on his back without a place to share, even though it was foolish.
Rosena, who was touching Yerhan with much sympathy, murmured.
“I’m not going anywhere. Even if you push me away again.”
At Rosena’s words, Yerhan stiffened his face as he had come to his senses. He slowly got up and sat down on the bed.
As Rosena sat down next to him, Yerhan spoke with difficulty.
“But you must leave.”
“I don’t want to.”
Rosena answered firmly. Yerhan looked at Rosena with subtle emotions.
His face, which was both happy and sad, was soon filled with sadness.
“I can’t lose you again.”
Yerhan grabbed Rosena’s hand. The small hand that fit in the large hand carefully wrapped it around so that it wouldn’t break any moment.
“I never want to experience it again.”
Yerhan kissed Rosena’s finger. Slowly raising his head, he met Rosena’s eyes. The clear blue eyes were no longer dark and dead.
“If you stay here, the empress will try to kill you, and the crown prince will covet your power.”
Yerhan was afraid of that.
Rosena, who would be left alone if he went into exile, would face numerous threats. Some would try to use Rosena, others would take her life. So he wanted her to escape the empire and live freely.
“I can no longer protect you.”
“…I want to go with you to Haylor.”
“No, you can’t.”
Yerhan drew the line resolutely.
“The environment is very poor there. And it’s not even a safe place.”
Actually, it wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about it. But Haylor was too barren for Rosena to live. Frozen land and nothing prepared.
The place where it was difficult to see flowers even once a year was a place where monsters appeared frequently.
Even the empress’ people would keep monitoring them, so it was like a prison without iron bars.
Obviously, assassins will continue to appear, and even a slight negligence of attention could injure Rosena fatally.
“Please leave.”
Contrary to the words, Yerhan was holding Rosena’s hand tightly. It was as if he was whispering that he didn’t want to break up.
