Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Meanwhile, Rosalyn stood facing Theodor, who blushed furiously as he asked what brought her there. From his earlier irritable tone to the flush on his cheeks, she couldn’t tell exactly why… but it was clear something had seriously agitated him.
Even his breathing was visibly erratic.
‘Should I just come back later…?’
But she had already tried several times to deliver her resignation, only to find Theodor absent each time. This was a rare and likely unrepeatable opportunity.
Rosalyn, determined not to provoke him any further, spoke gently, “I think it’d be better if we talked inside.”
The two entered Theodor’s chambers.
As soon as they stepped in, Rosalyn recalled the last time she was here when Theodor had taken off his formal jacket to cover her, since she had only been wearing a petticoat.
That memory stirred a strange blend of wistfulness and fluttering in her chest.
‘Idiot. What are you thinking? I’m supposed to be leaving this place.’
Rosalyn scolded herself, trying to shake off any lingering attachment. Then Theodor turned to face her, his gaze steady.
“What did you want to say?”
Though he looked slightly calmer now, his face was still flushed, and his breathing remained uneven. Rosalyn cautiously took a seat at the drawing room table, then reached into her robe and pulled out a neatly folded envelope.
Without a word, she extended it to him.
Theodor eyed the envelope with a trace of suspicion. The flap was sealed tightly. He slowly opened it, reading it.
With each line, his expression grew darker.
“… What is the meaning of this?”
His face had gone pale. Even his previously ragged breath seemed to have stopped. Rosalyn answered carefully, in a voice meant to soothe.
“My role is complete now. You’ve awakened, Your Highness. So, if it’s alright, I’d like to return to Siphoc tomorrow.”
But Theodor didn’t respond. He just stared blankly into space, as if he hadn’t heard her at all. First anger, then shock, now stunned silence.
What’s going on with him…?
“Your Highness?”
Rosalyn called gently. He flinched, then turned to her.
“So… may I leave tomorrow?”
“Wh… What… did you say?”
“I asked if I may leave tomorrow.”
At that, Theodor suddenly shot up from his chair and shouted:
“No! Absolutely not!”
“… What?”
Rosalyn’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Theodor’s mismatched eyes were glowing with intensity. His breathing had grown harsh again.
‘Is he actually angry?’
Rosalyn squeezed her eyes shut, half-expecting Arch to appear and strike her down at any moment. Then Theodor shouted once more, this time with desperate urgency:
“How could you possibly leave me?!”
Rosalyn looked up at him, stunned. He was staring at her with open desperation. But wasn’t her mission already complete?
Theodor had awakened. So why was he clinging to her like this?
What on earth is going on…?
She racked her brain for an explanation.
Was there anything she’d done that might make him unwilling to let her go?
‘… Wait. Could it be the workouts?!’
It seemed ridiculous, but she couldn’t think of anything else.
Now that she recalled it, Theodor had grown unusually enthusiastic about exercising. While they’d stayed at an inn en route to the capital, he had eagerly sought her out at dawn every day for stretching sessions.
And while it felt a bit self-congratulatory to say so, her training was top-notch. Clients who experienced her sessions rarely wanted to let her go. Some had even followed her when she moved gyms.
“I can’t live without you, Coach!”
She remembered their pleading voices and faces from her previous life. And now that she thought about it, Theodor looked exactly like one of those desperate clients.
It was a completely absurd misunderstanding, but it was the only scenario that made any sense to her.
And seeing him so fervently committed to working out… Well, it actually made her proud as a trainer. She also recalled the customized workout plan she had prepared for him after administering the elixir.
Rosalyn smiled and asked him:
“Do you really love exercising that much, Your Highness?”
Exercise?
Theodor was briefly taken aback by the unexpected word, but when he saw her bright smile, he became even more determined to keep her by his side. He looked at her with fiery intensity and declared:
“I can’t live without you!”
His mismatched eyes shone with unwavering resolve. Rosalyn, hearing the same line she’d once heard from her past clients, felt suddenly sure.
Maybe staying here, teaching what she was good at, was better than moving to some unknown tower.
And perhaps she could help others beyond just Anton. Now that she’d been in the palace for some time, she realized there were even more people than Anton suffering from severe tech-neck postures.
She looked to Theodor and said:
“Alright. If Your Highness insists, I’ll stay. Please ask Chamberlain Anton to bring over my things.”
Theodor’s expression brightened instantly.
“Are you really that happy, Your Highness?”
He nodded so vigorously it looked like his head might come off. It was kind of adorable.
“Then I’ll continue staying in the annex, like I’ve been doing?”
Absolutely not.
There was no way Theodor could allow her to remain in that cramped little annex. Rosalyn deserved far better accommodations. In fact, he had already picked out the perfect place for her.
“I’ll prepare proper quarters for you. Don’t worry.”
His voice was soft and kind now. From rage to shock to blankness, to joy and gentleness. Watching his mood swing like a pendulum, Rosalyn gave a little sigh, then remembered something.
“Oh, by the way…”
She hesitated, her lips parting and closing.
“What is it?”
“If it’s alright… may I ask a favor?”
Theodor nodded.
“There’s a brown cat that wanders around the Siphoc villa garden. I was wondering if I could bring it here and raise it?”
At her words, the shadows near the curtain stirred. It was Arch, who had flinched ever so slightly.
‘That’s surprising… what’s with him?’
She wasn’t surprised to find the assassin hiding there since he was good at concealing himself but she had never seen him twitch like that.
Oddly enough, Theodor also looked a little startled.
“What did you say? A brown cat?”
“Yes. I found it in the garden. I’d feel bad leaving it behind. May I take care of it here?”
The curtain rustled again, but Rosalyn didn’t notice and continued.
“If it’s a problem, I’ll keep it quietly in my room. Please let me?”
“In your room?”
Arch was now fully staring at Rosalyn, no longer even trying to hide his presence.
Then Theodor replied: “That cat already has an owner. You can’t keep it.”
“It does?”
“Yes. It’s mine.”
Rosalyn stared at him, surprised. “Truly, Your Highness?”
He glanced subtly toward the shadows before replying.
“Yes. I’ve already told Anton to bring it over. But…”
Theodor trailed off in thought.
Having Arch stay near Rosalyn would mean she’d be well protected. There’d be no repeat of what happened with Kyle putting her in danger.
Satisfied with that thought, he continued.
“… If you want, you may visit anytime. Even stay with it.”
“Really?”
Rosalyn beamed.
“Then I should prepare a gift for the cute little thing!”
Of course, she didn’t see the curtain twitching once more.
***
Theodor’s exercise sessions were scheduled for early mornings. With court duties and various lessons filling his day, it was the only time available.
Each morning, Theodor and Rosalyn would meet in comfortable attire at the palace entrance. Though it was early, spring had arrived and the sky was already bright.
They started with jogging. Since taking the elixir, Theodor had regained enough stamina to handle it. And running through the palace grounds, surrounded by beauty, was exhilarating.
As they jogged side by side, Theodor glanced at Rosalyn.
Her chestnut-brown hair danced in the morning light, and her breathing was light and rhythmic.
She’s mine.
The thought alone made the run feel joyful. After a while, they stopped to rest.
Rosalyn sat in the garden and began a series of stretches with her legs extended. She wore a thin dress instead of her usual heavy robe, revealing pale, slender legs.
Glancing around, Theodor removed his jacket and handed it to her.
“Put this on. And I have to head back now.”
“So soon? Don’t you have some time before your court duties?”
“I have something important to do.”
There was a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
“Alright then. I’ll stay and run a bit more. Here, take your coat…”
“Keep it. You’ll need it for stretching.”
He said this while recalling the sight of her bare legs from earlier. The idea of anyone else seeing her like that infuriated him. Rosalyn nodded, draped the jacket over her shoulders like a shawl, and resumed running.
Theodor wiped away his sweat and stood watching her disappear into the distance.
Then he hurried off straight to Chamberlain’s office.
“Your Highness?”
The chamberlain and other attendants were startled by Theodor’s early arrival and bowed hastily. He walked straight to the chamberlain, his eyes gleaming.
“How are the preparations I ordered?”
The chamberlain bowed his head.
“They’re nearly complete, as a matter of fact.”
“Are they?”
“Would you like to inspect it yourself?”
Theodor nodded brightly.
He followed the chamberlain down a corridor. They soon arrived at a particular room within the palace.
The elaborate floral engraving on the grand door struck a chord deep in his chest. He remembered standing on tiptoes as a child, staring at that very door while waiting to see his mother.
This had once been the residence of the late Empress.
But after her death and Theodor’s exile to the northern villa of Siphoc, the room had been abandoned, left to gather dust. Until just a few days ago, it had been little more than a storage space.
But once Rosalyn chose to stay, Theodor had summoned the chamberlain and attendants to clean and redecorate the room completely.
He had even ordered each new item himself, from furnishings to the dresses Rosalyn would wear.
After all, this would be her new home. With trembling hands and anticipation in his heart, Theodor slowly opened the door to Rosalyn’s new quarters.
