Episode 12

Chatting and laughing, the two arrived in front of the two-horse carriage.

“We haven’t even started the counseling session,” Kyle said.

“We can start now. There’s a café nearby, it’s close enough to walk.”

Rosanna replied, walking past the carriage toward the front gate. Kyle, who had fallen a step behind, quickly lengthened his stride to catch up and walk beside her.

“Can I ask you something?” he inquired.

“Go ahead.”

“Though it’s been a short time, I’ve noticed something. You’re as noble as nobles get. So why would someone like you even bother talking to a mere theology student? When you said you wanted my advice, I was honestly surprised.”

“Do you really want to know? You might want to run away if you hear it.”

“Of course not.”

Kyle responded, half-joking.

Rosanna could have said something that would truly make him flee in terror—like how she wanted to leave bite marks on his neck, or straddle his sturdy body, or see what lay beneath his tightly fitted black clothes, like armor. Any one of the countless thoughts running through her mind would have caught Kyle completely off guard.

But it wasn’t time for that yet. She still had to play the part of a proper lady.

“Kyle, it’s because it’s you.”

“Ah…”

“I don’t care if you’re an orphan or a theology student. Those things don’t matter to me.”

She meant it. To Rosanna, humans were all the same, more or less. No matter how impressive their status, in the end, they were still humans—an inferior species in her eyes.

But Kyle was different. The fact that he stood out meant he was special. His scent, in particular, was uniquely distinct.

“That’s kind of you to say.”

Kyle rubbed the back of his neck as he looked toward the road. His ears flushed a bit, but Rosanna pretended not to notice. Instead, she lightened the mood with a joke.

“But what do you mean by ‘noble’? Are you saying I’m pushy? Arrogant?”

“I’d say confident and free-spirited.”

“You’ve got it right. That’s me.”

Kyle laughed out loud as he looked at Rosanna, which distracted him from noticing the speeding bicycle coming down the sloped road. It was one of those dandy horses, a pedal-less bike that had to be ridden by pushing off the ground—a feat only a stuntman could pull off on a downhill road. Unfortunately, the rider was clearly someone who didn’t know their limits.

“Watch out…!”

The cyclist shouted, unable to control the increasing speed.

In the split second before the bicycle could collide with Kyle, Rosanna plucked a jewel from her headpiece and threw it. The gemstone hit the side of the bicycle’s frame, causing it to swerve in the opposite direction and crash. The entire thing happened in the blink of an eye.

“Are you okay?”

Kyle asked, immediately checking on Rosanna, completely disregarding his own near-miss. His instinct to put others first was a testament to his kind-hearted nature.

“I’m fine. I was walking on the inside anyway,” she reassured him.

“Then just a moment, please.”

Kyle smiled before hurrying over to the fallen cyclist. He helped the rider to their feet and asked how injured they were, reminding them to go to a hospital if they felt any dizziness.

To the passersby, it was a heartwarming scene, but Rosanna found it annoying. The way he was so generous with his kindness, giving it out freely to others, was not to her liking.

Kyle was destined to be hers. And that meant everything about him should belong solely to Rosanna.

“He only has a few bruises, fortunately. Shall we go?”

Kyle asked, returning to her side.

Kyle, who had returned, nodded toward a café a block ahead.

With a burst of energy, Rosanna marched forward, her steps filled with frustration.

“Who in their right mind rides a dandy horse on a hill? Even the name is ridiculous. What part of that dangerous contraption is ‘dandy’? Where’s the elegance, the gentlemanly charm? It looked ridiculous!”

Though it was considered a fashionable toy for gentlemen, to Rosanna, it was nothing more than scrap metal on wheels.

“I should report it to the police for reckless driving. No, better yet, I’ll propose a bill in parliament to ban those hideous things. Scrap them all.”

“Sister Rosanna.”

Kyle said gently. Standing a step ahead, Kyle turned to face her, stopping her in her tracks.

“What’s with that smile of yours?” she asked, still fuming.

“It ended without anyone getting hurt, didn’t it? I’m fine, really. No need to get angry. It’s bad for your health.”

“Who says I’m angry?” Rosanna shot back.

Kyle, silently watching her, tilted his head with a slight grin, as if to say.

“Aren’t you?”

“When did I ever get angry…?”

“Are you sure?” he teased.

“I’m telling you, I’m not.”

Kyle, still smiling, gestured to the side.

“Shall we go in, then?”

Rosanna followed his gesture and turned her head to see the café.

* * *

The department store Liberty had opened.

The name was a shortened version of the famous wine and tea brand Libér & Tea. It was also a play on words, combining “liberty” and “tea.”

True to its honest name, reflecting the founder’s humble roots, Liberty was bustling with ordinary people from its very first day. The slogan, “Wine and tea culture for the working class too!” helped keep prices reasonable, drawing in a large crowd.

Kyle stood in line for an hour before finally entering. A sign at the entrance provided directions.

Liberty had four floors, each selling different items. The first floor offered tea, teapot sets, and cookies. The second floor featured wine, crystal glasses, and jerky. The third floor was filled with trinkets and decorations, and the fourth floor housed the office.

“Perfect, I can buy a gift and then head up to the office.”

Though Kyle had a meeting with his friend Matteo, he also had a personal errand—he needed to buy a gift for Rosanna. The gratitude and guilt he felt toward her had been weighing on him, and he wanted to repay her in some small way.

Their first counseling session had ended poorly.

At the café, a waiter had accidentally spilled tea on Rosanna’s dress. She immediately returned to the carriage, and the session had fizzled out. Although she hadn’t outwardly shown it, it was clear that her mood had soured.

Even though it wasn’t his fault, Kyle still felt responsible. That’s why he had decided to bring her a gift at their next meeting.

“What would she like…?”

He carefully examined the displayed items. The intricate packaging featured the Libér & Tea brand’s logo, inspired by grapes and the goddess of liberty. Kyle felt a sudden wave of pride for his friend Matteo.

Just then, a salesperson approached him.

“Is there something specific you’re looking for?” they asked.

“I’m not very familiar with tea varieties… I’d appreciate your recommendation. It’s for a young lady,” Kyle said.

“I’d love to recommend something that suits her. Could you describe her a bit? Anything that comes to mind is fine.”

How could he describe her? Rosanna was not someone who could be summed up in a single word.

Kyle tried to pull her image from his memory. At times, she was like the calm before a storm, and at other times, like a fantastical melody heard underwater.

“She has hair darker than midnight, pale skin, but her eyes burn with a flame that never dims. Her voice is comforting, like the night, but when she raises it, it stings like cinnamon. Her face is often cold, like she’s from a different world, but there’s a kindness that slips through now and then.”

“Oh my, she must be your sweetheart. You seem to be in love,” the salesperson replied with a knowing smile.

It wasn’t until then that Kyle realized what he had just said. He wanted to deny it, but the heat rising to his face caused him to miss the moment.

Without skipping a beat, the salesperson enthusiastically began recommending products, and it didn’t take long for Kyle to be convinced of his purchase.

“How about pairing it with a teapot set, sir? You can buy the teapot and teacups separately, but with the teapot set, we’re offering a sampler of three different teas as a special promotion. Plus, there’s a discount for our grand opening.”

Kyle glanced at the display. It was a luxurious teapot set. Rosanna, being a noble, probably already used fine items, but this one seemed fitting, not something he’d feel embarrassed to gift.

It was more expensive than he had planned… but wouldn’t it be better to give her something she’d truly appreciate? A gift that doesn’t bring joy isn’t really a gift at all. After all, she had given him far more. Nobles likely had a discerning eye for such things.

But would it seem like too much for a simple thank-you? Would she misunderstand? Would she think he was trying to curry favor with her, to gain her approval like some sycophant?

His thoughts waged war with each other. The internal debate was so fierce that he couldn’t make a decision.

“…I’ll come back another time,” he said.

* * *

[Headline! The Night Creatures Have Arrived?]

A Royalist MP’s Dandy Horse Mysteriously Destroyed – The Work of a Monster or a Warning from the Parliamentarians?

[Senator Oswald Removed from Parliament Over Suspected Mental Illness]

The fire was sparked by a gentleman’s account.

He had been shocked to find his dandy horse wrecked overnight. The iron frame and wheels were twisted in an unusual manner, with clear handprints visible on the metal—handprints of the size of an adult woman. To make matters worse, one of his chickens was found dead, and scrawled on the side of his barn in blood were the words: “Damn your driving skills. Take the road to hell alone!”

The police found no signs of forced entry, and the case was quickly closed without resolution.

It was something no ordinary human could have done.

The man went around to various newspapers, spinning his tale, and soon an article was published. This, in turn, fueled rumors that a vampire duke, much like the one in a popular novel, was actually real. The public became even more enthralled with the story, and the publishing house happily churned out more copies of the book.

The spark grew into a roaring fire that spread across all of Britna. But for Rosanna, who paid no attention to the papers, it was nothing but a distant rumor.

She was simply counting down the days until she could meet Kyle again.