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Chapter 18
“The Rose-Colored Lakeside.” What kind of novel was it?
When she was young, Yuse had stayed only inside the lord’s castle, and she liked to pass the time by reading books.
Of course, she read many books to gain knowledge, but what truly moved the heart of a young girl were romance novels.
Among them, the one that caught Yuse’s attention the most was “The Rose-Colored Lakeside.”
In this novel, there is a male lead and a female lead. At first, they stand in conflict, full of misunderstandings about each other.
Without even realizing that their feelings for each other are growing deeper.
Then, because of the male lead’s mistake, the female lead loses her memory. Only then does the male lead realize all of his wrongs. He begins to treat her twice as kindly as before and sincerely repents for what he has done.
However, unlike what the reader might hope, the female lead never regains her memory.
She simply continues living as she is.
And the male lead stays by her side until the very end.
[ Yuse, what kind of book do you like the most? ]
Once, Killian had asked this question in a postscript to one of his letters.
Yuse had thought about it for a long time before answering that letter, and she chose “The Rose-Colored Lakeside.”
And she added the reason.
[ I like the idea of ‘not changing’ that appears in this novel. Of course, at first they were full of misunderstandings. But when the situation changed, I liked how he admitted his mistakes and tried to be honest about his feelings. And I also liked that his determination and feelings did not change. ]
It was a letter from quite a long time ago.
Even Yuse, who vaguely remembered all the letters she had exchanged with Killian, had forgotten about this one.
And yet now, she was seeing that very letter again in Killian’s estate—now as his fiancée.
“Huh? Why is this here?”
Yuse pulled out the letter with a confused voice.
“What is it?”
“It’s a letter I sent to Killian a long time ago. It was about this book. It’s strange that this letter is tucked inside.”
The handwriting was crooked and childish—anyone could tell she had written it when she was very young.
Still, it made her feel shy, realizing again how long she and Killian had been exchanging letters.
“Are you going to read it?”
Floheta, who had been quietly looking at the letter, asked.
“Hmm… maybe? I’ve already read it hundreds of times, so I know every word by heart.”
At Yuse’s bright smile, Floheta shook his head.
“What is that? I’ll recommend you a book too.”
He reached out and pulled out a book.
“How to Love You.” You have to finish it and tell me what you think, okay?”
“Sure. I was bored anyway.”
Yuse gladly accepted the book and began walking quickly.
The weather was too nice to waste even a moment of it.
Killian was working in his office as usual.
Recently, there had been rumors that suspicious trades were taking place in the western region.
It was said that the lord there, Romhead, was involved in strange illegal dealings, and that the condition of the residents was gradually becoming abnormal.
There were also vague reports that the amount of grain the residents had to offer had decreased, and that security had grown stricter.
“Shall you go there yourself?”
His aide, Oscar, asked after carefully observing Killian’s troubled expression.
“I think I should. The movements of this Lord Romhead are suspicious, and we have no clear information. The only way is for me to see it myself.”
Oscar nodded.
“And another letter has arrived.”
“A letter?”
“From Lady Selitias.”
At Oscar’s words, Killian’s expression hardened.
“Oscar, can’t you see I’m working right now?”
“I can, but—”
“Then there is no need to read Lady Selitias’s letter and reply at this time, is there?”
“…Yes, that is correct.”
Hearing Killian’s sharper tone than usual, Oscar quickly stepped back.
There was no benefit in upsetting his master.
‘He was not this cold before.’
Oscar swallowed the thought he could not say aloud.
‘Before the future Duchess arrived, he always read her letters, even if he did not reply….’
But Oscar could not interfere in Killian’s behavior or his relationship with Yuse. He had neither the right nor the place to do so.
“Oscar!”
When Killian called his name again, Oscar realized he had been standing there lost in thought while holding the letter. He quickly placed it into a drawer.
A drawer already filled with many unopened letters.
Soon after, there was a knock on the office door.
“Hmm….”
Yuse and Floheta were lying in the garden, busy reading their books.
A cool breeze and pleasantly warm weather.
It was too nice a day to sit properly in chairs and read formally.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, a scream came from Floheta, who was lying beside her.
“Flo? What is it!”
Startled, Yuse quickly sat up.
“I got sleepy and closed my eyes, and the book fell.”
“Pfft—hahaha!”
Thinking something serious had happened, Yuse burst into loud laughter at his silly answer.
“What was that! That’s so funny.”
Floheta, now fully awake, laughed with her.
His heart beat strongly. For a moment, he wished time would stop.
But Yuse would never know his feelings.
“By the way, Flo, what is this ‘How to Love You’ about?”
Yuse, who had chosen to read “The Rose-Colored Lakeside” first, stopped near the end and suddenly turned her head to ask.
“That book?”
Floheta turned to look at her.
“Well… it’s more interesting than ‘The Rose-Colored Lakeside.’”
“What? What does that mean?”
“If you know beforehand, it won’t be fun. Hurry up and read it, then tell me what you think.”
Floheta opened his mouth as if to say more, but then swallowed his words and shook his head.
“What?”
“Nothing… just read it.”
“Tch.”
Yuse sighed and turned back to her book.
“Hmm… I feel like eating something.”
She smacked her lips.
She always had dessert at this time, but she had missed it while looking for books.
“Should I call Beila?”
Floheta asked.
Yuse had sent Beila back inside earlier, saying she did not need to stand in the sun since she was not reading anyway. So now only the two of them were in the garden.
“Hmm… no.”
Yuse stopped him.
“Shall we go out?”
“What?”
Floheta asked in surprise.
Yuse had never suggested going outside before.
“Killian takes me out sometimes, but it’s limited. I want to go out more than that, to see more things. And instead of always being introduced to new places by Killian, I want to be the one to show him new places too. So I should go out in advance when I can. What do you think?”
It was hard for Floheta to refuse when she looked at him with shining eyes.
“…If you look at me like that, how can I say no, Yuse?”
At his words, Yuse quickly stood up.
“Great! Then let’s go right now. Do you know any good places?”
“Where do you want to go?”
Yuse thought for a moment.
“Well? You know the capital better than I do. Today, you take me somewhere nice. You know my taste, right?”
Floheta nodded.
As he had spent more time with Yuse, he had learned in detail that her tastes had not changed at all since childhood.
“Very well. Shall we go then, my lady?”
Floheta stood up, straightened his clothes, and lifted one corner of his lips playfully.
“Of course, Mr. Levermillion.”
Yuse played along naturally, taking his hand and standing up.
