Subliminal Wayfarer

II.

Special Side Story

 

Clang.

A dropped fork noisily tumbled across the table.

Yet, the fork’s owner remained utterly unconcerned, his attention wholly transfixed on another matter.

“…What did you just say?”

The fork’s owner, Duke Valentine, inquired in a stiff voice, to which Rosetta calmly replied,

“I said I’ve been proposed to by Cassion. And I’ve also said I wish to marry him.”

Proposal, marriage.

“…Right, marriage.”

Muttering pale-faced, the duke rose abruptly from his seat.

“Father?”

“Let’s discuss this matter of marriage later.”

“What about the meal? You’ve hardly touched your plate.”

Indeed, the duke’s plate was almost untouched.

The dinner had barely started when Rosetta brought up the topic of marriage, distracting him.

He glanced at the scarce empty space on his plate and shook his head.

“I’m fine. Continue with your meal.”

With that, he trudged away.

The remaining three exchanged glances, watching the duke’s departing figure.

 

* * *

 

The duke, leaving the dining hall early, found his way to his wife’s secret garden.

Well, it was no longer a secret.

The garden, which had once been neglected after his wife’s death, was restored thanks to Rosetta.

Since the resolution of an empire-shaking event, he made sure that there were people managing it.

He realized how foolish it was to neglect memories of a loved one.

The duke perched on a flat rock amidst well-tended bushes, pondering.

‘Marriage. Marriage, is it….’

His expression hardened as he mulled over Rosetta’s words.

Indeed, he had anticipated this day would come.

With all the children of age now, it wasn’t unusual, especially when noble engagements at a young age were common.

But, for it to be so soon….

“I still have so much left undone.”

He muttered, a mix of self-reproach and regret in his voice. He had lived too long as a neglectful father.

 

“Take care of the children for me.”

 

He had thought he fulfilled his wife’s wish, but he hadn’t. Overwhelmed by his grief, he failed to properly care for his children.

Like the garden, he chose neglect over facing reality, unaware how his children’s hearts became as tarnished as this abandoned garden.

Now, he could finally face the past, acknowledging and reflecting on his mistakes.

Though clumsy, he resolved to be a better father from now on.

Even knowing it was presumptuous, he wouldn’t seek forgiveness but hoped to make amends by doing his best.

But… marriage?

Once married, Rosetta would become the lady of the Carter ducal family.

Leaving this home for another.

Rosetta Carter.

The name felt awkward and bitter on his tongue.

As they say, ‘Out of sight, out of mind’.

If they hadn’t fully connected yet and were to be physically apart, how much further apart would they become?

Could that gap ever be bridged?

His unrest was indescribable.

‘But who could I possibly tell?’

All these concerns stemmed from his own faults.

Above all, it was Rosetta who chose to marry Duke Carter.

He couldn’t deny her the life she desired just because it was making him feel regretful.

He had no right to do so.

‘Yes.’

He slowly stroked the rock with his palm, feeling its texture under his calloused hand.

Cold, rough, and lonely.

At that moment.

Whoosh—

A breeze blew from somewhere.

The sudden wind made the tree branches clash, creating a sound like waves.

At the same time, a few unopened early spring flowers fluttered in the wind.

 

“My dear, please take good care of the children.”

 

With the longing voice of his beloved…

Unbeknownst to him, the duke caught a falling petal and clenched his fist around it.

‘At least until the wedding…’

He would give it his all.

Golden eyes flashed in the fading sunset.

 

* * *

 

“Father seemed more upset than I thought, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

Rosetta nodded in response to Alicia’s question.

Dressed in a nightgown, Alicia naturally took a spot on one side of Rosetta’s bed.

There were nights when the sisters chose to sleep side by side, and tonight was one of those nights.

“Honestly, if I hadn’t heard it from you beforehand.”

“If you hadn’t?”

“I would have been so shocked, I might have just run out.”

“And cried in your room?”

“Ah, Sister!”

Alicia’s cheeks reddened as she burst out and then hid under the blanket.

Haha, Rosetta chuckled briefly before settling down herself.

“Sorry, sorry.”

“I’m not going to cry that easily anymore, you know?!”

“Right. That’s admirable.”

Rosetta sincerely praised her, causing Alicia to sigh.

However, the sigh soon turned into laughter.

“Actually, I am a bit sad. If you get married, we won’t be able to see each other as often, right?”

“Just visit often.”

“But still—”

Alicia trailed off, her expression turning serious as she nodded.

“If it’s what you want, Sister, I’ll support and cheer for you. Even if Father opposes it!”

Opposition.

Wait, opposition?

“…Ah.”

Rosetta sighed, and Alicia blinked in surprise.

“You didn’t think of that?”

Indeed, Rosetta hadn’t.

‘I’ve never thought about that.’

Even when their father had gotten up and left during the meal.

After all, throughout her long life, she had experienced imprisonment… but a formal marriage procedure was new to her.

She had momentarily forgotten that parental consent was necessary.

It was all because she brought up the topic almost as an announcement instead of a request for permission. And this was coming from someone with zero dating experience, let alone marriage.

‘What if he really opposes it?’

The two families were no different from enemies. Somehow, their relationship became known across the empire, but a marriage between the two families could be a different matter.

…Oh, my head.

That seems like it could be bothersome.

‘But what if the marriage will be postponed…?’

Well, she was also not in favor of that.

Wrapped in thought, Rosetta crossed her arms and leaned against the headboard.

“I’m absolutely on your side!”

Alicia’s somewhat helpful encouragement accompanied Rosetta through a night full of contemplation.

Not long after.

Before Rosetta could resolve her concerns about getting permission to marry, another worry surfaced.

‘…What?’

What exactly is this? What’s going on?

While walking, Rosetta furrowed her brow at the intense gazes she felt from behind.

One, two, three…

It was hard to count the countless gazes she felt.

Maids, servants, and other staff members.

When she swiftly turned around to see why, they all gasped in surprise and busied themselves with something else.

‘Why are they all acting like this?’

Diana soon provided the answer.

“Someone is looking into you, Milady.”

“About me? What are they investigating?”

“What you like, what you dislike, etcetera. Everything about you, Milady. They said even the trivial things matter.”

Rosetta sensed something odd.

‘Ordered by someone?’

That meant someone had instigated this peculiar action.

“Who ordered to investigate me?”

“His Grace the Duke.”

“…What?”

“Your father, the head of the Valentine family, the Duke.”

Rosetta blinked in surprise at the unexpected name.

“My… father?”

“Yes.”

“But why?”

“I’m not sure. A few days ago, he called all the servants and ordered them to observe and report even the trivial things about you.”

He personally called the servants to give the order?

“When?”

“About four days ago, perhaps? I thought you might have noticed, so I didn’t mention it. Should I have told you?”

At Diana’s anxious question, Rosetta waved her hand.

“No, there was no need.”

It was Rosetta who had told Diana to live a normal life after everything was over.

Diana said she wanted to stay as a maid in the ducal residence. So now, Diana was just an ordinary maid, not a secretly hidden guard or assassin for Rosetta.

There’s no need for a regular maid of the ducal house to report everything to her, right?