Chapter 58 Part 2: At the Hill of the Festival

A reply arrived from Count Anencia.

The letter Rosa had sent.

It was a reply regarding the contents of the oracle and the saintess.

Rosa, having unsealed it, carefully checked the letter.

[How are you? My daughter.]

The letter began with such content.

The contents that followed were obvious.

[An oracle after half a century… And you are the protagonist of that oracle.]

Surprise and worry.

[This father is worried. I fear that its unusual nature might become a heavy responsibility for you. But… I trust that you, who have always been mature, will do well.]

The Count worried about Rosa. And he only wished for his daughter’s happiness.

[I will try to reduce my drinking. I miss you. Rosa.]

Reading the sentence written in the postscript, Rosa’s heart warmed.

And, there was one more letter.

[Show this to His Grace the Archduke.]

“Caron.”

Rosa turned her head.

She was nestled in Caron’s lap.

The two faces drew closer.

Naturally, their shadows overlapped.

“…”

A moment of silence.

Again, the air around them heated up. Or perhaps it was Rosa who felt that way.

A light kiss where their lips brushed.

The soft, moist lips of the woman, and the slightly dry lips of the man in contrast. The sound of the two brushing against each other subsided as Rosa turned her head.

“Haa…”

It was harmful because her heart fluttered and seemed to want to leap out.

‘If this goes on, I’ll really go crazy.’

Rosa said, her voice slightly trembling for no reason.

“Caron, read the letter.”

An undeniable blush had risen on her cheeks.

Caron smiled faintly.

He finally accepted the letter.

Without removing the arm that was wrapped around Rosa’s waist.

He didn’t get tired of holding Rosa’s soft body.

“This, is it from your father?”

“Father…?”

Rosa was again taken aback by that word.

“Yes. Father.”

At those words, Rosa was reminded of a fact.

On paper, the two were a married couple.

In that sense, it was the correct title.

Yes. A married couple.

A once-in-a-lifetime partner. A companion to spend a lifetime with.

A relationship where they would only look at each other and love each other.

And as they built a family together, a cute child would be born between the two.

‘A child……?’

At that point, Rosa’s face turned completely red.

Whether Rosa did or not.

Unfortunately, Caron couldn’t see that sight.

His expression was quite serious.

Because the content of the letter was such.

Count Anencia, who had 본격적으로 entered the political arena.

He currently resided in the capital’s residence.

And he delivered a piece of news.

[Recently, His Majesty’s health is not looking good.]

It was said that a doctor visited him several times a day.

The Emperor was indeed old.

It had been more than half a century since he had ascended to the throne.

Caron remembered that time.

When he had requested Rosa as his consort from the Emperor.

‘Even back then…’

He was emaciated.

The Emperor’s hand gripping the throne was completely dry.

He looked fine on the outside, but it seemed he was already rotting on the inside.

Of course, Caron also had informants.

But if the situation was more serious than he had grasped.

His two red eyes sank.

And the content continued.

Those who were trying to stand on the line between the First Prince and him.

They started to appear.

The easiest target for them to approach.

It was Count Anencia, his father-in-law.

[Among those who have made contact, there is a big shot.]

Surprisingly, a name quite familiar to Caron.

Marquis Gallia. A close associate of the First Prince’s faction.

But, inexplicably, he was favorable to him.

It was utterly contradictory, but Caron already knew.

The Marquis had helped him many times.

Long ago, when he was a boy on the battlefield.

‘And secretly at that.’

The Marquis was thoroughly hiding that fact.

Such unexplained favor.

It was not at all welcome.

‘But…’

If necessary.

Caron would meet him.

For Rosa’s sake, he couldn’t lose.

He would use all available means.

“Why. What’s wrong..?”

Rosa held out her hand as if asking to see it too.

Caron willingly gave the letter to Rosa. She also had the right to know these facts.

But just as he expected.

Rosa’s face gradually became uneasy.

“Could it be, already…”

Wondering if the battle for the throne was approaching.

Caron slowly opened his mouth.

“It hasn’t happened yet. Don’t worry. You.”

“But…!”

Suddenly, Caron looked at her clearly.

“That future you told me about. Who won the battle for the throne?”

“That’s…”

“It must be me. Because there’s no way I’d lose to a moron like him.”

Unbelievable confidence.

Caron embraced Rosa and whispered.

“I will never lose. I. As long as you are by my side.”

All the worries disappeared.

Instead, Rosa’s heart pounded.

Caron was full of confidence.

That fact was quite a comfort to Rosa.

It would not be an easy fight.

‘But somehow…’

If it was Caron, it felt like he really wouldn’t lose.

After all, in the original story, he also won the battle for the throne.

Of course, the timing had been moved up.

But Caron had also accomplished a lot.

The two spent a leisurely weekend together.

A peaceful and languid afternoon.

They were always close together.

The weather had become quite nice, making it suitable for horseback riding.

Lactea was not in the stable.

Rosa found that out the day she returned to the Archducal House.

“Caron, surely… You didn’t do anything to him, did you?”

Of course, she had been in danger because of the horse.

But it was just an animal. A somewhat intelligent animal.

“Thanks to him, Raina was saved too.”

Her former maid, Raina, was thankfully recovering well.

Her fiancé, Hesen, had also returned safely.

Caron, who had been silent for a moment.

“If it’s Lactea… he’s in a good place.”

She was worried if that place was really a good place.

Rosa was the epitome of kindness.

Caron knew that fact well.

So he had barely suppressed the urge to behead the horse.

An animal that had almost harmed Rosa.

But to a woman named Raina, it was a grateful animal.

“So. I gave the horse to that woman.”

He didn’t want to lie to Rosa.

Caron had resolved it in a good way.

“That’s a relief.”

Rosa was relieved.

“Lactea did it all to save Raina, too.”

So Rosa was very grateful to Caron.

“Good job. Caron.”

Caron was rewarded for his patience at that time.

Rosa was quite happy.

Of course, he demanded a separate reward.

“Ride together. The horse.”

Rosa was momentarily flustered.

“Huh…? Really?”

She was standing in front of Caron’s horse.

It was a gift Caron had given her.

It had grown a lot, but it was definitely too much for two people to ride.

As expected, Caron pointed to his horse.

As if asking for a reward.

He looked at Rosa silently.

“Uh… Alright. Then let’s ride together.”

Rosa finally agreed.

Naturally, she rode in front, and Caron behind her.

A fairly thick saddle was placed where Rosa sat.

Caron’s massive black horse easily carried the two.

“Um, Caron…?”

But Rosa couldn’t concentrate on riding.

“Why.”

Caron embraced her from behind.

He had his head buried in her neck.

“You smell good.”

Rosa’s face turned red.

She should have known from the moment he suggested horseback riding.

“Ngh…”

It was strange.

She had almost no memories of being hugged like this, in a back-hug position.

She could feel Caron’s breath on her neck.

His long, large hands were placed on her lower abdomen.

“Caron. A little…”

Her head gradually lowered.

“Why.”

How shameless.

“Can you focus on riding?”

A chuckle echoed in her ear.

“I am focused. Just on something else.”

“I’m going to get angry.”

Even as she said that.

Rosa’s breathing gradually quickened.

Because of the firm embrace against her back.

Because of Caron’s presence, completely in contact with her.

“Caron. Let go.”

There was no force in those words.

Rather, at Rosa’s words, Caron hugged her as if to savor her.

It was really strange.

At this point, Rosa was concerned.

About her lower abdomen where Caron’s hands were.

She wondered if he could feel her belly fat.

“…Rosa.”

Caron’s low voice.

The voice was quite hot.

“It’s really. Hard to resist.”

Because the woman in his arms was lovely.

His voice cracked.

“Haah-“

In fact, Rosa’s breathing had also heated up.

Eventually, they soon stopped riding and devoured each other in a secluded place.

A peaceful weekend passed.

For Rosa, it was not at all.

She really felt self-loathing.

‘If it weren’t for the doctor’s words…’

It was really dizzying just imagining it.

Her and Caron’s lovemaking.

They really spent the whole weekend just doing that.

Of course, she didn’t dislike it.

It was a problem because she liked it too much.

‘That’s not necessarily a bad thing but…’

She was embarrassed to be seen that way by others.

She was also embarrassed by Caron’s straightforwardness.

But the fact that his straightforward desire felt strangely good.

‘…It’s dangerous.’

Rosa thought so.

Caron wanted her.

That fact was honestly good to Rosa.

She was also painfully aware of it. Her own awkwardness.

‘I wasn’t even a woman in the first place…’

It was strange to think about this.

Awkward and uncomfortable.

And yet, she kept thinking about it.

‘At least to Caron……’

Could she be a little more greedy?

Could she try to look a little prettier?

That was Rosa’s honest inner feeling.

Embarrassing and full of self-loathing.

But Caron was special to her.

Until recently, she hadn’t really thought about it.

About her own body or her appearance.

It was Rosa’s inevitable identity.

She never thought of looking good to a man in the first place.

She knew the reason for that very well herself.

But lately, Rosa had become very interested.

In her own appearance.

A moderately slim body.

Not a very sensual body.

She had no memory of ever paying attention to it.

But now Rosa was standing in front of a mirror.

It was a habit from the moment she woke up in the morning.

And as she examined her body from various angles, she let out an inevitable sigh again this time.

“Haah…”

Wouldn’t it have been nice if she had a more sensual body, like Freya’s?

Freya was taller than her, and her chest was bigger.

In a word, it was a voluptuous body.

Perhaps Caron, although he didn’t express it in words, preferred that type of appearance?

Rosa looking at herself.

She was cute and innocent, but she didn’t feel very feminine.

Of course, Caron kept saying she was pretty and expressed his insatiable desire for her.

‘At least to Caron, am I attractive?’

That fact was a small comfort to Rosa.

Still, it was a bit disappointing that her chest wasn’t big.

Most men liked big breasts.

‘No, why am I thinking like this…’

Rosa knew.

Caron also liked breasts.

So maybe that’s why she was more concerned.

Even if you looked at it favorably, her chest couldn’t be called big.

‘It’s adequate but…’

It was definitely not big.

What did Caron really think on the inside?

Honestly, Rosa was depressed because she knew the answer.

Maybe that was why. She was lost in thought when Freya came to work.

“Excuse me, Your Grace…?”

Freya asked with a puzzled expression.

“Is there something on my chest…?”

“Ah, no.”

Rosa shook her head.

But soon, she confessed the truth with a flushed face.

“Well, Freya. You have a pretty big chest. I’m envious, I guess.”

That was true.

Freya was dumbfounded.

“Yes…?”

It was a little while later.

Freya burst into laughter, unable to contain herself.

“What did His Grace the Archduke say?”

The Archduke that Freya knew wasn’t that type of person.

“No. It’s not that.”

As expected. The Archduchess was flustered.

“……I was just suddenly thinking that maybe men prefer bigger ones.”

“You don’t know that, Your Grace.”

Freya answered with a smile.

“Your Grace has a very pretty shape, and you’re not small at all.”

Freya’s unexpected reaction. Rosa wasn’t used to this kind of talk in the first place.

“Re, really, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Freya said, trying to contain her laughter.

“Yes. You should get ready now.”

The inner castle was quite busy from the morning.

Refreshing air. The chirping of birds.

Freya’s expression was also full of excitement.

“Today is finally the day.”

A somewhat special day.

The morning of the Day of Emergence had finally dawned.

Freya was quite skilled at styling Rosa’s hair.

“I tried a little change today.”

“Yes. Thank you. Freya.”

Rosa knew the reason too. In fact, the dress she wore the next moment was a neat commoner’s dress.

Suddenly, Freya whispered to Rosa.

“Ah, right, about ways to make them bigger. There’s one I know.”

“…?”

Rosa pretended not to care, but she listened to Freya’s next words.

The next moment.

“Freya!”

Rosa was very flustered.

“It’s a joke. Why are you so surprised, Your Grace.”

Freya burst into cheerful laughter.

An innocent Archduchess was so cute.

[You know. Your Grace. Breasts grow when a loved one touches them.]

That was what Freya whispered.

Rosa’s face had been flushed for a while.

She was standing in the hall of the inner castle.

Waiting for Caron.

It was the day of the Day of Emergence.

A small festival that lasted for two days.

It could be seen as a holiday where people celebrated the birth of the divine beast in their own way and just had a good time.

The hall of the inner castle was decorated.

Flower beds of various colors, intertwined vines hanging down.

Greenery of all colors.

The castle was transformed into a beautiful garden.

The invited guests arrived one by one.

They were all artists participating in this event.

Watercolor paintings that looked like landscapes, elaborate and detailed sculptures.

And after finishing the preparations, they left with excited expressions.

In the morning, there was a procession in the city.

Everyone was gathering to see that.

So Rosa was waiting for Caron.

Before long, Caron appeared.

He was wearing a brown hood.

Like Rosa, he was dressed as a commoner.

But his appearance was very striking.

Rosa momentarily stopped breathing.

Of course.

It was the same for Caron.

Rosa with a ponytail.

Thanks to that, her fair neck was shyly revealed.

It felt more innocent than usual and somehow new.

Caron’s breath momentarily stopped.

But he soon moved and stopped in front of Rosa.

Then he held something out to Rosa.

A mask similar to the one they had used during the lantern festival.

The two had promised to enjoy the festival together.

That was why they were deliberately dressed as commoners.

“You know. Caron. Does Elchen wear masks at every festival?”

“The divine beast is a revered object. So it’s common during festivals.”

They were talking.

But their gazes never left each other.

Thump-thump-

A fluttering feeling.

It had been a long time, perhaps their second outdoor date.

But hiding that tremor, Caron held out his hand to Rosa.

“Then, shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Rosa willingly took his hand.