Subliminal Wayfarer

When the man hesitated to speak, the woman’s eyebrows drooped.

“Could it be… You’re against it?”

Her voice carried a playful tone, but the man was visibly flustered, waving his hands in denial.

“No, not at all. It’s just…”

“Just?”

“…It just feels like I’m always getting my thunder stolen.”

“Hmm?”

Without a word, the man blinked, then caught the woman’s wrist.

The hand that held her wrist slowly slid down to tap lightly on the palm of her hand.

The woman quietly smiled and interlocked her fingers with the man’s approaching hand.

Together, hand in hand, they headed somewhere.

The voices of the crowd gradually faded away.

They stopped in a somewhat secluded place, a bit removed from the festive atmosphere.

The woman glanced around, then removed an earring from one ear.

Simultaneously, her red hair turned silver, and her black eyes turned gold.

The woman, Rosetta, watched as the man also removed his earring.

Like Rosetta, the man’s blonde hair and gray eyes reverted to their original black hair and red eyes.

“Why here? This place is a bit away from the festival site.”

Rosetta asked, fixing Cassion’s tousled hair.

Every time Rosetta’s long fingers brushed past his ear, Cassion’s shoulders twitched.

With his adam’s apple bobbing up and down, his throat swallowed nervously several times.

“It’s our first date in a long time, and it seemed too crowded with people.”

Rosetta nodded at the barely uttered response.

“Well, that makes sense. I also…”

Prefer being alone with you. 

The subtle whisper touched her ear and then drifted away.

Rosetta then pulled on Cassion’s collar, bringing him down.

Their lips touched lightly and then parted.

“We can’t do this when there are too many people.”

Her voice was sweet, as was the smile on her face.

Cassion stared at Rosetta, lost for a moment, then came to his senses.

‘I shouldn’t be like this.’

Today was indeed a rare date.

They had been in touch through the crystal ball, but meeting in person like this had been a long time.

He wanted to show his best side, but…

‘I’m going crazy.’

Quite literally, he felt like he could lose his mind just from seeing her face, hearing her voice, and feeling her touch.

This was a big problem.

With his heart pounding at anything, he definitely looked more like a shy boy than a cool man.

But that couldn’t be the case today.

Not just because it was a rare date, but for an even bigger reason…

“Cassion?”

Rosetta tilted her head, calling out to Cassion who had been silent.

Cassion, who had been quiet, clenched his fists and lifted his head.

His face was rigid with tension, his shoulders taut with strain.

Anyone could tell he was about to do something significant.

Rosetta also became quiet as she looked up, understanding the mood.

Gulp. 

The sound of someone swallowing nervously was heard.

With a short exhale, Cassion faced Rosetta directly and spoke.

“Rosetta.”

Just calling her name seemed to make his head spin.

Cassion, trying to calm his trembling heart, reached into his pocket.

Rosetta silently watched his actions.

Finally, his hand produced a small, square box.

At a glance, the luxurious box was wrapped with a yellow ribbon.

As the man’s fingers untied the dainty ribbon, the ring case revealed itself with a rustle.

“Rosetta.”

“…Yes, Cassion.”

Crimson and golden gazes intertwined in the air.

Though filled with uncommon shyness, neither averted their gaze first.

Cassion slowly opened the ring case, kneeling on one knee.

Following his movement, the woman’s gaze gradually lowered to meet the man’s face.

Amidst the distant murmur of voices and their excited breaths,

“Rosetta, will you marr—”

“Hey, there’s no one here!”

“Oh, right!”

It was then.

Before Cassion could finish, a loud voice interrupted.

Both turned their heads towards the source of the noise.

From afar, a young couple ran towards them cheerfully.

Cassion and Rosetta looked at each other again.

‘We can’t be seen!’

That was the only thought that crossed their minds.

Although rumors about their inseparable relationship had already spread throughout the empire, they didn’t want this scene to be witnessed by others.

They certainly didn’t want such a crucial event like a proposal to become gossip fodder.

Meanwhile, the couple was quickly approaching them.

Rosetta promptly grabbed Cassion, hoisting him onto her shoulder, and with a short run-up, she leaped up to the branches of a tall tree.

“?!”

Cassion was startled by the sudden change in perspective.

As Rosetta’s feet touched the branch of the tallest and largest tree, the couple appeared exactly where Rosetta and Cassion had been.

They settled down while exclaiming,

“This spot is perfect! No one’s here!”

But, well, there’s two other people here.

“Yeah, it’s so nice to be alone with you.”

No, really, there’s someone else here.

Rosetta internally screamed the unheeded cries, carefully setting Cassion down on the branch.

Cassion, who had been dazed, blinked several times before covering his mouth to laugh.

“Why are you laughing?”

Rosetta, sitting beside Cassion, asked, baffled, her voice lowered.

“Just, suddenly finding you so attractive.”

“That’s true. I am quite charming.”

Despite the unexpected compliment, Rosetta shamelessly nodded in agreement.

Cassion chuckled again, nodding along with Rosetta.

“Yes, you are incredibly attractive. That’s why…”

Even as they flew through the sky, he had clutched the ring case dearly, now pulling it out once more.

The mood turned serious again.

Cassion, with a smile on his lips, opened the case to present it to Rosetta.

A large gold diamond sparkled on the ornate silver ring.

Rosetta silently observed the ring, then lifted her gaze at the sound of her name.

“Rosetta.”

Their eyes met.

Just like when they first encountered each other.

A very deep gaze, as if promising not to let go of the person in front of them.

After a moment of silence, Cassion slowly parted his lips.

“I know I’m still lacking in many ways. But even so, will you marry me, Rosetta?”

His voice was a bit stiff, but Rosetta was too tense herself to notice.

Rosetta’s large eyes blinked several times.

Soon, tears rolled down her long lashes.

“I thought I wouldn’t do something like love.”

Her voice, mixed with moisture, quietly mocked herself.

“How could I not love you? Ha.” 

A faint breath drew a curve on her lips.

Even the eyes, streaming with tears, curved like crescent moons.

Rosetta extended her hand.

“Put it on yourself. This is the shackle I choose for myself, for us.”

It was a rather bold choice of words, but to her, it held significant meaning.

Always feeling dictated by fate, swayed this way and that,

And ultimately, feeling shackled by Urien in a never-ending prison sentence.

To her, love and bonds were nothing but shackles.

Heavy, bothersome, and something she didn’t want to engage in.

But the connections made as ‘Rosetta’ were all choices of her own destiny.

And this love…

Even love that always felt like shackles, this time was entirely her choice.

She would spend her lifetime with this man.

And they would be bound together by the name of each other.

Cassion carefully slid the ring onto Rosetta’s left ring finger.

The ring fit perfectly.

It sparkled beautifully as if it had found its rightful owner.

“…I’ll make you happy forever and ever, Rosetta.”

With a small vow, tears also fell from Cassion’s eyes.

Yet, his gaze was smiling just the same.

Just then, huge fireworks began to burst in the plaza where the festival was in full swing.

Together, they watched the beautiful fireworks decorating the night sky.

As colorful flames bloomed and disappeared, Rosetta murmured quietly,

“It really feels like a true happy ending.”

“What?”

“When a beautiful movie ends, fireworks burst like this.”

Though Cassion couldn’t fully understand, he guessed she was referring to one of her past life’s memories.

Cassion reached out to grasp Rosetta’s hand tightly.

Rosetta’s gaze turned towards Cassion.

“Maybe it’s the opposite?”

Cassion said, looking at his reflection in her golden eyes.

“Huh?”

“It’s not the end for us—it’s the beginning. Not a happy ending, but a joyful start.”

“…Yes. We’re just beginning.”

Without knowing who initiated it, they wrapped their arms around each other and kissed.

The warmth passed between them, coming and going in repetition.

Watching each other amidst excited breaths, they burst into light laughter and kissed again.

Truly, it was the joyful first step of their story.