The night was deepening, the festival was ripe.
Parents headed home to soothe their sleepy child, and now most of the visitors were lovers.
Rosena walked while holding Yehan’s hand with the hand that did not hold the music box.
There were a lot of people going home now and there were no crossing paths, but they were holding hands naturally.
The two really did a lot at this festival. There were so many memories that she couldn’t even count them.
Rosena and Yerhan walked down the road to return to the inn.
Rosena stopped at a shop on the way back. All kinds of masks were hung inside.
Rosena flicked through the items lightly and picked up a cute bunny mask.
It was a mask that could cover the eyes, but the large ears were impressive.
“Rosena?”
When Yerhan called, Rosena quietly put the mask on his face. Then Yerhan stiffened as if he had been frozen.
The cute rabbit mask with big eyes and ears didn’t match Yerhan’s sturdy body at all.
“Pfft… hahaha…”
Seeing this, Rosena finally burst into laughter.
Hearing Rosena’s laughter for the first time, Yerhan really couldn’t move.
Rosena, who couldn’t stop laughing for a long time, wiped her eyes. She didn’t know how long it had been since she laughed like this.
“I’m sorry for putting it on you.”
As Rosena took off the mask, Yerhan’s awkward face was revealed. Rosena looked at his face and again, she burst into laughter.
The laughter flowing with the cool night breeze was refreshing.
“I’ll take one.”
Rosena said that she should try it on Illian, and bought the mask Yerhan wore.
Rosena said as she walked slowly.
“I had a great time today. It’s the first time I’ve been around this much at a festival.”
“That’s a relief. It was my first time at a festival, too.”
“Really?”
Rosena looked at him with an expression that showed she didn’t expect it.
He bought a lot of food and he’s so good at darts.
She thought he had been to many festivals.
Only then did she realize that Yerhan was very considerate and earnest to her.
Rosena gently pressed her chest. The sound of her heart beating was arbitrary.
‘What’s wrong with me?’
Rosena let it out, as if talking to herself. For some reason, her hands seemed to be getting hotter.
She turned her eyes away so that she wouldn’t be conscious of it, but eventually all her attention was on her palm.
Rosena and Yerhan walked silently to their inn.
There was no conversation, but it wasn’t at all silent because of the commotion inside her chest.
Rosena arrived at the inn and stopped in front of the room where Illian was sleeping.
“Today, I will sleep with Illian.”
Yerhan looked at Rosena with regret. Blue eyes resembling the sea of Astania. Rosena gave strength to the hand holding the handle.
His gaze seemed to pierce her entire body like sunlight.
“Have a good sleep.”
Yerhan went into the next room with a handful of things he bought at the festival today.
Rosena stood tall and looked at it, then took a step backwards.
As she entered the room, Isaac, who was sitting on the chair, got up reflexively.
“I’m sorry. And thank you so much for today.”
Rosena offered Isaac the food she had bought at the festival.
“Don’t mention it. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Isaac bowed his head politely and left the room.
Silence filled the room, and Rosena took off her dress.
While changing into her pajamas, Rosena’s mind wandered for a moment. She recalled each event at the festival today.
Sharing delicious food, wearing a bracelet with her name on it…
What she bought, what she saw…
Rosena slowly turned her head. At the end of her gaze was the music box that Yerhan had given her.
After putting the music box on the bedside, Rosena opened the lid and slowly turned the mainspring. Then, the doll in the center turned round and round and a song came out.
Rosena stroked Illian’s hair, just like her father did. She slowly closed her eyes and felt her father’s hand.
Whenever she couldn’t sleep, her father took time out of his busy schedule to stay by Rosena’s side.
– I love you, Rosena.
A friendly voice that she couldn’t hear anymore seemed to be ringing in her ears.
This music box was a memory. The memories she had with her father remained intact.
When things got worse, Macella sold the music box while Rosena was away. And she couldn’t find it until now… She didn’t expect it would come back to her like this.
When the song ended, Rosena closed the music box.
Rosena slowly went into the duvet, kissed Illian’s cheek and looked up at the ceiling.
Yerhan’s face appeared on the dim ceiling.
Rosena shook her head. But his face was not easily scattered.
What’s wrong with her? Why was she conscious and constantly thinking about him?
She hadn’t seen him for over a month, so she wondered if it was just a temporary thing.
Rosena clenched her fist slightly. The warmth that lingered in her hand did not escape.
Rosena was unable to fall asleep easily, and she tossed and turned for a while.
Even after she decided to marry him, it wasn’t like this. It was just uncomfortable and awkward. And she lived under the illusion that she could draw a firm line.
Since when did his existence grow to be this big to her? Since when?
It didn’t happen in just one day. It was as if the clothes were soaked wet by a drizzle…. without realizing it, little by little.
Rosena closed her eyes. She wanted to sink like this.
She wanted to go back to a time when she was not aware of this feeling.
However, Yerhan might have already opened and entered the gate that had been hidden deep in Rosena.
***
It was the same dream as back then.
Rosena, who was standing suddenly, looked around her.
This place, full of drenched roses, was on the shore of the lake where she and Illian had gone the other day.
Rosena walked slowly towards the sound of laughter.
Sitting in front of the lake were a girl and a boy who had grown much bigger than before.
The two sat down and affectionately talked about various things. Most of the time, the girl spoke, and the boy listened.
– See you tomorrow.
Perhaps it was time to go, as the girl standing up smiled brightly and waved her hand.
When the boy greeted her with regret, the girl ran toward somewhere.
The boy stared endlessly at the girl’s path.
After hesitating for a long time, the boy moved toward the place where the girl disappeared.
The girl was heading to a village not far from the lake. The boy followed in her footsteps. When the boy appeared, the villagers began to murmur.
– What are you?! Are you really a human?
– Get lost!
The villagers took the lead and threatened the boy.
The startled boy didn’t know what to do, but then ran into the village.
Then people started to scream.
The boy just wanted to see the girl, but people shunned the boy like a plague and tried to drive him away.
Someone threw a stone and hit the boy in the head.
The boy fell to the floor and got up to run away from the people who were chasing him.
After a while, the boy came to his senses and found himself at the shore of the lake.
The boy slowly got to his knees and looked at his reflection in the lake.
Why do people reject him so much?
– …….
The boy looked at his reflection carefully and opened his mouth.
The navy blue eyes hidden behind the bright golden hair were different from the villagers.
A faint light was flowing through the long, torn pupil.
Flying birds spoke to the boy who was standing still and staring blankly.
The boy realized. Humans can’t talk to animals.
The boy, who had firmly believed that he was a human, realized that he could not get along with people, thus he cried for a long time because he was sad.
The next day, the girl who came to the boy was surprised to see him crying and approached him.
The boy pushed the girl away.
– I can’t hang out with you. I’m not a human.
The girl glanced at the boy. Then she smiled broadly like usual.
– It’s okay though. Because I like you.
The boy’s eyes fluttered at those words. This girl was the only one who said she likes the boy.
Since then, the boy and girl had grown closer. And it wasn’t long before the girl’s coming-of-age ceremony that she realized it wasn’t just friendship.
– I don’t want to get married. The person I like is you.
The girl ran away to the lake and cried her eyes out ahead of a marriage between families.
The boy hugged the crying girl and they remained silent for a long time.
Then he took the girl’s hand and led her.
– Let’s go.
The two got out of the lake together for the first time and boarded a carriage heading to another city.
The destination had not been determined. She was happy just because they were together.
After a while, they arrived at the emerald-colored sea.
The waves flew over the edges of the white sand shimmering in the sunlight.
The boy, who looked at the calm sea, grabbed the girl’s hand.
– I can’t live with other people and I don’t have anything… but I’ll give it to you. Half of my everything.
The girl looked at the boy. And slowly nodded her head in agreement.
The boy slowly raised his clasped hands and kissed the back of the girl’s.
A flash of blue light enveloped the girl. The boy made an unbreakable covenant with the girl.
– My power resides in your name.
His navy blue eyes faded and a blue light began to shine. His energy enveloped the girl like the wind.
As the girl closed her eyes and opened them, the sound of birds crying was heard in her ears.
No, it wasn’t crying. It sounded like someone was talking.
At that strange sensation, the girl looked at the boy in surprise.
The boy whispered with a more serious face than ever.
– Now all of me belongs to you.
The boy smiled slowly and kissed the back of her hand again.
– Marry me. Rosena.
***
“Haa….”
Rosena took a deep breath. Her hair was damp from cold sweat.
She looked out her window for a moment, unable to distinguish between her dreams and reality.
As if dawn had not surfaced, her surroundings were filled with a bluish light. Rosena held the blanket tightly and looked down at Illian, who was sleeping next to her.
It was only then that she realized that what she had just seen was a dream.
“It was a dream.”
But strangely, it remained vivid in her mind as if it had just happened before her eyes.
– Rosena.
The voice calling her name seemed to be heard again.
It was confusing. Last time there was a lake, but in this dream, the sea she went to yesterday came out.
“Is it just a simple dream?”
One power divided into two.…
What does this dream want to tell her, and who is that boy and that girl?
But it was the first time she saw everything in the dream, except for the lake and the sea. She had never seen such buildings or clothes.
Rosena, who had been in agony for a long time, watched the sunrise. The thought of wanting to sleep already fled as she rose her body.
Rosena took a quick bath before Illian woke up.
Today, she planned to stop by the sea early in the morning and go back to the Imperial Palace.
Illian woke up late, while Rosena was washing up.
“Nggh…”
Illian must have been very sleepy, with his head tucked under his pillow and his waist raised.
Illian, who had been doing so for a long time, was silent as if he had fallen asleep again.
“Illian.”
When Rosena called, Illian’s body flinched. Illian, who had been procrastinating like a caterpillar, slowly raised his body and yawned loudly. He slept since early evening, but it seemed like he still wanted to sleep more.
Rosena took out the bracelet and rabbit mask she bought at the festival yesterday, showing them to Illian.
“I have a present.”
“A present?”
“I’ll give it to you after you wash up.”
At that, Illian got down from the bed and headed for the bathroom.
As Rosena watched it happily, a knock was heard.
“May I come in?”
It was Yerhan’s voice.
Rosena, who remembered her dream last night for a moment, corrected her expression and opened her mouth.
“Come in.”
As soon as those words were finished, the door opened and Yerhan entered.
Illian, who had just washed his face, looked at Yerhan and paused before approaching Rosena.
“I’ve washed up. Give me the present!”
Illian glanced at Yerhan and raised his voice. He was intentionally emphasizing that Rosena bought a present for him.
“Here.”
Rosena first put her rabbit mask on Illian’s face.
Feeling it’s strange, Illian fumbled with the mask. Looking at it, Rosena smiled pleasantly. It was funny when Yerhan wore a mask because he was awkward, but it looked good with Illian.
“There’s one more gift for you.”
Rosena put the bracelet on Illian’s hand, which he had been using to touch the mask until it wore out.
Illian’s eyes opened wide when he saw it.
“Illian, it’s a bracelet with your name on it.”
While looking around at the bracelet, Illian realized that the same thing was on Rosena’s wrist and smiled broadly.
“Are we using the same bracelet?”
“That’s right.”
Illian looked at Yerhan with a triumphant face. Yerhan’s eyes narrowed slightly to the look on his face.
It wasn’t Yerhan to just sit back and watch.
Yerhan showed his bracelet by rolling up his sleeves.
Illian’s body hardened after seeing the bracelet. He didn’t even know where the two of them went yesterday.
Illian exclaimed with a face full of betrayal.
“Did you leave me out and play together?”
“Uh…?”
Rosena hesitated. She felt like Illian was going to cry if she said she went to the festival.
When the answer didn’t return, Illian sulked.
“That’s mean!”
Illian ran and slammed into the wall, leaving behind the mother he loves so much.
Meanwhile, he didn’t take off the mask that Rosena put on, so his big ears just shook.
Rosena thought this situation was so funny that she would laugh.
The night was deepening, the festival was ripe.
Parents headed home to soothe their sleepy child, and now most of the visitors were lovers.
Rosena walked while holding Yehan’s hand with the hand that did not hold the music box.
There were a lot of people going home now and there were no crossing paths, but they were holding hands naturally.
The two really did a lot at this festival. There were so many memories that she couldn’t even count them.
Rosena and Yerhan walked down the road to return to the inn.
Rosena stopped at a shop on the way back. All kinds of masks were hung inside.
Rosena flicked through the items lightly and picked up a cute bunny mask.
It was a mask that could cover the eyes, but the large ears were impressive.
“Rosena?”
When Yerhan called, Rosena quietly put the mask on his face. Then Yerhan stiffened as if he had been frozen.
The cute rabbit mask with big eyes and ears didn’t match Yerhan’s sturdy body at all.
“Pfft… hahaha…”
Seeing this, Rosena finally burst into laughter.
Hearing Rosena’s laughter for the first time, Yerhan really couldn’t move.
Rosena, who couldn’t stop laughing for a long time, wiped her eyes. She didn’t know how long it had been since she laughed like this.
“I’m sorry for putting it on you.”
As Rosena took off the mask, Yerhan’s awkward face was revealed. Rosena looked at his face and again, she burst into laughter.
The laughter flowing with the cool night breeze was refreshing.
“I’ll take one.”
Rosena said that she should try it on Illian, and bought the mask Yerhan wore.
Rosena said as she walked slowly.
“I had a great time today. It’s the first time I’ve been around this much at a festival.”
“That’s a relief. It was my first time at a festival, too.”
“Really?”
Rosena looked at him with an expression that showed she didn’t expect it.
He bought a lot of food and he’s so good at darts.
She thought he had been to many festivals.
Only then did she realize that Yerhan was very considerate and earnest to her.
Rosena gently pressed her chest. The sound of her heart beating was arbitrary.
‘What’s wrong with me?’
Rosena let it out, as if talking to herself. For some reason, her hands seemed to be getting hotter.
She turned her eyes away so that she wouldn’t be conscious of it, but eventually all her attention was on her palm.
Rosena and Yerhan walked silently to their inn.
There was no conversation, but it wasn’t at all silent because of the commotion inside her chest.
Rosena arrived at the inn and stopped in front of the room where Illian was sleeping.
“Today, I will sleep with Illian.”
Yerhan looked at Rosena with regret. Blue eyes resembling the sea of Astania. Rosena gave strength to the hand holding the handle.
His gaze seemed to pierce her entire body like sunlight.
“Have a good sleep.”
Yerhan went into the next room with a handful of things he bought at the festival today.
Rosena stood tall and looked at it, then took a step backwards.
As she entered the room, Isaac, who was sitting on the chair, got up reflexively.
“I’m sorry. And thank you so much for today.”
Rosena offered Isaac the food she had bought at the festival.
“Don’t mention it. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Isaac bowed his head politely and left the room.
Silence filled the room, and Rosena took off her dress.
While changing into her pajamas, Rosena’s mind wandered for a moment. She recalled each event at the festival today.
Sharing delicious food, wearing a bracelet with her name on it…
What she bought, what she saw…
Rosena slowly turned her head. At the end of her gaze was the music box that Yerhan had given her.
After putting the music box on the bedside, Rosena opened the lid and slowly turned the mainspring. Then, the doll in the center turned round and round and a song came out.
Rosena stroked Illian’s hair, just like her father did. She slowly closed her eyes and felt her father’s hand.
Whenever she couldn’t sleep, her father took time out of his busy schedule to stay by Rosena’s side.
– I love you, Rosena.
A friendly voice that she couldn’t hear anymore seemed to be ringing in her ears.
This music box was a memory. The memories she had with her father remained intact.
When things got worse, Macella sold the music box while Rosena was away. And she couldn’t find it until now… She didn’t expect it would come back to her like this.
When the song ended, Rosena closed the music box.
Rosena slowly went into the duvet, kissed Illian’s cheek and looked up at the ceiling.
Yerhan’s face appeared on the dim ceiling.
Rosena shook her head. But his face was not easily scattered.
What’s wrong with her? Why was she conscious and constantly thinking about him?
She hadn’t seen him for over a month, so she wondered if it was just a temporary thing.
Rosena clenched her fist slightly. The warmth that lingered in her hand did not escape.
Rosena was unable to fall asleep easily, and she tossed and turned for a while.
Even after she decided to marry him, it wasn’t like this. It was just uncomfortable and awkward. And she lived under the illusion that she could draw a firm line.
Since when did his existence grow to be this big to her? Since when?
It didn’t happen in just one day. It was as if the clothes were soaked wet by a drizzle…. without realizing it, little by little.
Rosena closed her eyes. She wanted to sink like this.
She wanted to go back to a time when she was not aware of this feeling.
However, Yerhan might have already opened and entered the gate that had been hidden deep in Rosena.
***
It was the same dream as back then.
Rosena, who was standing suddenly, looked around her.
This place, full of drenched roses, was on the shore of the lake where she and Illian had gone the other day.
Rosena walked slowly towards the sound of laughter.
Sitting in front of the lake were a girl and a boy who had grown much bigger than before.
The two sat down and affectionately talked about various things. Most of the time, the girl spoke, and the boy listened.
– See you tomorrow.
Perhaps it was time to go, as the girl standing up smiled brightly and waved her hand.
When the boy greeted her with regret, the girl ran toward somewhere.
The boy stared endlessly at the girl’s path.
After hesitating for a long time, the boy moved toward the place where the girl disappeared.
The girl was heading to a village not far from the lake. The boy followed in her footsteps. When the boy appeared, the villagers began to murmur.
– What are you?! Are you really a human?
– Get lost!
The villagers took the lead and threatened the boy.
The startled boy didn’t know what to do, but then ran into the village.
Then people started to scream.
The boy just wanted to see the girl, but people shunned the boy like a plague and tried to drive him away.
Someone threw a stone and hit the boy in the head.
The boy fell to the floor and got up to run away from the people who were chasing him.
After a while, the boy came to his senses and found himself at the shore of the lake.
The boy slowly got to his knees and looked at his reflection in the lake.
Why do people reject him so much?
– …….
The boy looked at his reflection carefully and opened his mouth.
The navy blue eyes hidden behind the bright golden hair were different from the villagers.
A faint light was flowing through the long, torn pupil.
Flying birds spoke to the boy who was standing still and staring blankly.
The boy realized. Humans can’t talk to animals.
The boy, who had firmly believed that he was a human, realized that he could not get along with people, thus he cried for a long time because he was sad.
The next day, the girl who came to the boy was surprised to see him crying and approached him.
The boy pushed the girl away.
– I can’t hang out with you. I’m not a human.
The girl glanced at the boy. Then she smiled broadly like usual.
– It’s okay though. Because I like you.
The boy’s eyes fluttered at those words. This girl was the only one who said she likes the boy.
Since then, the boy and girl had grown closer. And it wasn’t long before the girl’s coming-of-age ceremony that she realized it wasn’t just friendship.
– I don’t want to get married. The person I like is you.
The girl ran away to the lake and cried her eyes out ahead of a marriage between families.
The boy hugged the crying girl and they remained silent for a long time.
Then he took the girl’s hand and led her.
– Let’s go.
The two got out of the lake together for the first time and boarded a carriage heading to another city.
The destination had not been determined. She was happy just because they were together.
After a while, they arrived at the emerald-colored sea.
The waves flew over the edges of the white sand shimmering in the sunlight.
The boy, who looked at the calm sea, grabbed the girl’s hand.
– I can’t live with other people and I don’t have anything… but I’ll give it to you. Half of my everything.
The girl looked at the boy. And slowly nodded her head in agreement.
The boy slowly raised his clasped hands and kissed the back of the girl’s.
A flash of blue light enveloped the girl. The boy made an unbreakable covenant with the girl.
– My power resides in your name.
His navy blue eyes faded and a blue light began to shine. His energy enveloped the girl like the wind.
As the girl closed her eyes and opened them, the sound of birds crying was heard in her ears.
No, it wasn’t crying. It sounded like someone was talking.
At that strange sensation, the girl looked at the boy in surprise.
The boy whispered with a more serious face than ever.
– Now all of me belongs to you.
The boy smiled slowly and kissed the back of her hand again.
– Marry me. Rosena.
***
“Haa….”
Rosena took a deep breath. Her hair was damp from cold sweat.
She looked out her window for a moment, unable to distinguish between her dreams and reality.
As if dawn had not surfaced, her surroundings were filled with a bluish light. Rosena held the blanket tightly and looked down at Illian, who was sleeping next to her.
It was only then that she realized that what she had just seen was a dream.
“It was a dream.”
But strangely, it remained vivid in her mind as if it had just happened before her eyes.
– Rosena.
The voice calling her name seemed to be heard again.
It was confusing. Last time there was a lake, but in this dream, the sea she went to yesterday came out.
“Is it just a simple dream?”
One power divided into two.…
What does this dream want to tell her, and who is that boy and that girl?
But it was the first time she saw everything in the dream, except for the lake and the sea. She had never seen such buildings or clothes.
Rosena, who had been in agony for a long time, watched the sunrise. The thought of wanting to sleep already fled as she rose her body.
Rosena took a quick bath before Illian woke up.
Today, she planned to stop by the sea early in the morning and go back to the Imperial Palace.
Illian woke up late, while Rosena was washing up.
“Nggh…”
Illian must have been very sleepy, with his head tucked under his pillow and his waist raised.
Illian, who had been doing so for a long time, was silent as if he had fallen asleep again.
“Illian.”
When Rosena called, Illian’s body flinched. Illian, who had been procrastinating like a caterpillar, slowly raised his body and yawned loudly. He slept since early evening, but it seemed like he still wanted to sleep more.
Rosena took out the bracelet and rabbit mask she bought at the festival yesterday, showing them to Illian.
“I have a present.”
“A present?”
“I’ll give it to you after you wash up.”
At that, Illian got down from the bed and headed for the bathroom.
As Rosena watched it happily, a knock was heard.
“May I come in?”
It was Yerhan’s voice.
Rosena, who remembered her dream last night for a moment, corrected her expression and opened her mouth.
“Come in.”
As soon as those words were finished, the door opened and Yerhan entered.
Illian, who had just washed his face, looked at Yerhan and paused before approaching Rosena.
“I’ve washed up. Give me the present!”
Illian glanced at Yerhan and raised his voice. He was intentionally emphasizing that Rosena bought a present for him.
“Here.”
Rosena first put her rabbit mask on Illian’s face.
Feeling it’s strange, Illian fumbled with the mask. Looking at it, Rosena smiled pleasantly. It was funny when Yerhan wore a mask because he was awkward, but it looked good with Illian.
“There’s one more gift for you.”
Rosena put the bracelet on Illian’s hand, which he had been using to touch the mask until it wore out.
Illian’s eyes opened wide when he saw it.
“Illian, it’s a bracelet with your name on it.”
While looking around at the bracelet, Illian realized that the same thing was on Rosena’s wrist and smiled broadly.
“Are we using the same bracelet?”
“That’s right.”
Illian looked at Yerhan with a triumphant face. Yerhan’s eyes narrowed slightly to the look on his face.
It wasn’t Yerhan to just sit back and watch.
Yerhan showed his bracelet by rolling up his sleeves.
Illian’s body hardened after seeing the bracelet. He didn’t even know where the two of them went yesterday.
Illian exclaimed with a face full of betrayal.
“Did you leave me out and play together?”
“Uh…?”
Rosena hesitated. She felt like Illian was going to cry if she said she went to the festival.
When the answer didn’t return, Illian sulked.
“That’s mean!”
Illian ran and slammed into the wall, leaving behind the mother he loves so much.
Meanwhile, he didn’t take off the mask that Rosena put on, so his big ears just shook.
Rosena thought this situation was so funny that she would laugh.
