Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Rosalyn was exercising with Theodor that morning, just as they always did. Now that he had stopped drinking the lavender tea, his symptoms of coughing and spitting up blood had noticeably improved.
Thanks to Hans’s confession, they had confirmed that the Empress was behind it all. But for now, Rosalyn chose to remain still. They didn’t yet know the exact nature of the substance, and making a hasty move would only put them in danger.
‘But if we don’t act soon…’
If the Empress realized Theodor had stopped drinking the tea, she might resort to something else. What concerned her more was, who was the one who told the Empress to use that substance?
‘I want to attend that tea party.’
Surely, plots to harm Theodor were being exchanged there. But it was impossible for her to get into such a tightly secured gathering, especially one attended only by the Empress’s close circle. Lost in thought, Rosalyn jogged alongside Theodor. Yet today, he was unusually quiet. As they were about to finish and head back, he hesitated.
“Your Highness, is there something you want to say?”
“… I have a request.”
“What is it?”
Rosalyn looked at him, and Theodor replied with an unusually serious expression.
“… I want to build muscle.”
“Pardon?”
Rosalyn blinked in surprise at his unexpected words.
“Why so suddenly? You look fine to me.”
He was still a little slim, but compared to how he had looked during his confinement, it was already a great improvement. But Theodor looked down at his body with clear dissatisfaction and muttered.
“…I don’t like it.”
What’s gotten into him?
Then again, most young men longed for a well-built, and muscular body. She recalled the male clients from her past life who had come to her for training with exactly that goal in mind. Besides, it wasn’t a bad request at all.
If he had a goal of his own, he’d likely work out more diligently.
Thinking so, Rosalyn answered brightly, her voice full of encouragement.
“Alright! I’ll help you with strength training too. Just follow my lead, and you’ll see results in a month!”
Theodor’s eyes lit up.
“Really?”
“Yep. I’ll make you just like Sir Aiden in a month!”
As Aiden’s name came out of her mouth, Theodor’s expression stiffened slightly. But Rosalyn, not noticing, continued excitedly.
“Your Highness, muscles can be developed by area. Is there a specific part you want to focus on?”
Theodor thought of Aiden’s sturdy, sinewy arms and his broad, powerful back, and answered solemnly.
“Upper body.”
“Then push-ups are perfect.”
Push-ups, one of the most basic bodyweight exercises, requiring no equipment. Since it involved pushing your own body weight, it was excellent for strength training. Not only does it target the chest, back, and shoulders, but it also engages the entire body, promoting balanced development.
Rosalyn taught Theodor the proper push-up form. It was a simple movement, but difficult when done correctly.
“Urgh!”
Sure enough, after barely ten reps, Theodor collapsed onto the ground. His arms and shoulders were trembling, strength drained. It was so hard he felt ready to give up on muscles altogether.
Then, a flash of memory struck him when he had collapsed in front of Rosalyn and Aiden, coughing and gasping. Shame washed over him. Was he truly incapable of ever having a body like Aiden’s?
The thought filled him with a strange sadness.
Just then, warmth spread through his arm.
Rosalyn was massaging his arm gently.
She looked at his dejected face and reassured him kindly.
“It’s always like this the first time. You’ll build up gradually.”
“Really?”
Theodor looked at her with hope. She nodded with a smile.
“Yes. Eventually, Your Highness will be able to do a hundred a day, just like Sir Aiden.”
“… What?”
That Aiden again! Theodor’s expression darkened. But Rosalyn, still unaware, continued chatting excitedly.
“I happened to see the soldiers training after a workout session last time, and they were doing a hundred push-ups each… Your Highness? What are you doing?”
Theodor had started doing push-ups again. His pale, slender arms trembled dangerously.
“Your Highness, if you overdo it, you’ll be sore to…”
“Silence!” he snapped and forced himself through another push-up.
***
As expected, Theodor ended up with severe muscle pain and didn’t show up for the next morning’s workout.
‘Theodor can be incredibly single-minded at times.’
When he fixates on something, he throws himself at it with reckless abandon. Just like when he refused food and dedicated five years solely to awakening after his confinement. Even his obsessive behavior toward Annie in the original story probably came from that same intensity.
Thanks to that, Rosalyn was enjoying a rare quiet morning.
Even the palace staff didn’t have yoga class today.
But she headed to the military training grounds anyway because Aiden had made a request.
‘Miss Rosalyn, could you teach our soldiers yoga once a week as well?’
At first, she thought he was joking. Imperial soldiers doing yoga?
But Aiden had been completely serious. He claimed yoga was the perfect exercise to build strength, flexibility, and even bolster spiritual discipline. Seeing it as a perfect opportunity to grow closer to Aiden, Rosalyn had readily agreed.
With the Empress plotting such dangerous schemes, having Aiden on her side would be a great advantage.
She turned to the brown cat in her room, Arch.
“Want to come with me?”
“Meow…”
Arch grimaced at the memory of the training grounds’ stench but couldn’t disobey his master’s unspoken command to stay by her side, so he went along. Together they headed for the training grounds. The maids near the Empress’s palace were unusually busy today. It was another tea party, no doubt.
When they arrived near the barracks, Rosalyn left Arch in the brush, since the soldiers disliked cats.
“Stay still.”
“Meow!”
She entered the training grounds.
Aiden and dozens of soldiers were waiting for her. Aiden was shirtless, just like when she had first met him. His perfect, chiseled upper body gleamed under the sunlight. So dazzling that Rosalyn almost gasped aloud.
“Miss Rosalyn, you’re here.”
“Yes, hello. But…”
She cast a glance at his bare torso, and Aiden answered politely,
“My apologies. I’ve grown used to training this way. I’ll go change right awa…”
“No, it’s fine! After all, the purpose of yoga is to liberate oneself from all worldly attachments.”
Of course, she said it because she wanted to admire his physique a little longer. But Aiden looked at her with admiration in his eyes.
“Liberation from worldly attachments… Truly a sacred practice filled with devotion.”
Smiling inwardly, Rosalyn brought her palms together in greeting and began teaching the yoga session. Unlike the palace staff, the soldiers had excellent baseline strength and conditioning, so she could guide them through more advanced poses.
Especially Aiden, who followed the most difficult movements with ease. His athleticism was impressive. No wonder he had become the youngest Grand Marshal in the original story.
The more she watched, the more she felt it was a shame his character had turned dark in the original plot, he was almost too perfect now.
Meanwhile, Aiden was watching Rosalyn closely as he moved through the poses. Her graceful movements, the way she stretched effortlessly, there was nothing forced or pretentious about her.
Instead, there was a radiant vitality to her presence. Something indescribably captivating.
Now moving among the soldiers, Rosalyn corrected their postures. Aiden’s gaze followed her.
Then, their eyes met.
The moment he looked into her calm, chestnut eyes, an unfamiliar flutter stirred in his chest. He quickly clasped his hands in a reverent gesture, trying to suppress the sensation with spiritual discipline.
Rosalyn smiled at him.
Her radiant smile was like that of a saint or a divine angel. The excitement he had barely managed to quell surged up again. What was this feeling?
He wiped the sweat from his brow. He wanted to know more about her.
After training, Aiden carefully approached her and asked in a polite voice,
“Miss Rosalyn… would you join me for tea sometime?”
“Here?”
“No, in my office. Please stop by whenever you’re free.”
The soldiers around them gasped in hushed disbelief. The noble, untouchable Captain Aiden Hailey had just invited a woman to tea!
It was something they’d thought they’d never witness in their lifetime.
But Rosalyn didn’t realize the weight of it. She simply thought it was a polite, casual invitation and replied that she would, then left the training grounds.
“Let’s go, kitty!”
She walked into the nearby brush to retrieve Arch. Just then, she heard a rustling noise that suddenly stopped. The brush went still.
“Are you there?”
No meow replied. She moved toward the source of the sound. A foul, metallic stench hit her nose.
‘What is this… this bloody smell?’
A chill ran down her spine.
Pushing aside the foliage, she stepped deeper into the thicket. The scent grew stronger. Before long, she felt a wet sensation underfoot.
“Kittyyy!”
Rosalyn gasped in disbelief at what she was seeing. There, lying in a pool of blood, was the brown cat, collapsed and motionless.
TN: At least, Rosalyn is very accurate when criticizing Theodor. If he wants something, he was reckless, throwing himself to do his idea.
