"Hmm."
"Rose?"
Her head hurts.
What happened to me? Or rather, where is this place? Rose opens her eyes and stares at the person in front of her.
"Rose? Are you okay?"
Who? How does this person know my name? Rose stares at him, unsure.
"Rose?"
"Who are you?"
Rose asked, surprising him.
"Rose? It's me, do you understand?"
"Hmm··?"
"It's Efergan."
"I don't know··."
"Rose..."
Rose shook her head.
"Where's Yanagi?"
"Yanagi?"
"Why isn't he here?"
"Why...?"
"Ugh...my head hurts."
Rose touches her head again and says it hurts.
"Are you okay?"
"Where's Yanagi? Yanagi?"
"Yanagi isn’t here."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I don't know, but Yanagi is not here."
When Efergan answered that, Rose looked around again and asked.
"Where am I...?"
"Suzukinoyama."
"I don't know··."
"Jade Castle."
"I don't know."
"Rose..."
"Yanagi...I want to hear the sound of Yanagi's heart..."
"Yanagi isn't here, but... if it's my heart... if it's my heart..."
"Yanagi··."
"Rose, stay strong."
Rose doesn't know who this man is. But why was he so desperate for me? Rose wondered.
"Ugh!"
"Rose?"
"Yanagi, let me hear your heart..."
Her eyes are spinning... Bad feeling. cold··.
"It's a huge fever. Someone call a medic!"
She wants to hear the sound of his heart. but··.
"Rose?"
"Let me hear your heart..."
"Oh, I'll let you hear it."
Dub...Dub...
"Rose...are you okay?"
"Yanagi...stupid..."
Dub...Dub...
"I'm Efergan."
"E...fer...gan?"
"That's right. It's Efergan. Remember..."
"Who?"
"It's Efergan."
"Efergan..."
"That's it."
"I don't know··."
"Rose..."
Dub...Dub...
It's the sound of the heart... It's not Yanagi's heart... but it feels good somehow.
"Efergan..."
"Yes. Do you understand me?"
"I don't know...I don't know...why...?"
"Rose... are you crying?"
"I...I don't...I...I'm...scary!"
"It's okay. I'll protect Rose. I'll always protect you..."
"E...fer..."
"Yes?"
"··sound··"
"Rose? Rose?!"
"..."
"Rose! Stay strong! Medic! Are you there yet?"
Then, darkness struck again and Rose lost consciousness.
She saw a light. The light is very bright and bright. It's warm and surrounded by a pleasant light.
"Daughter of the Dragon God."
"Who?"
"I am what is called the Holy Dragon."
"Holy Dragon?"
Rose looked around her and she heard the voice. However, the Holy Dragon was nowhere to be seen.
"What do you want?"
"No matter what people say...I just want to be happy."
"What kind of happiness?"
"It doesn't matter... hmm, such as being with someone I like, laughing together, crying together, uh... it's normal..."
Rose laughed and nodded.
"Don’t you want power?"
"What kind of power?"
"Anything. The power you desire."
"Hmm...I can't think of anything."
"I have not given you any gifts yet. So I'll give you what you want."
"Then please give me the power to be happy."
When Rose says that, the person behind the sound seems troubled.
"What kind of power is it?"
"I don't know, but I want to be happy."
"Daughter of the Dragon God, happiness is not something given to you. It is something that you realize and grasp for yourself."
"Umh, yeah, that's right."
"Now, go back to that person who bears the same wish as you."
"Who is that person?"
"See you again, Daughter of the Dragon God."
It was a strange dream. Holy Dragon...She heard it somewhere. Where··.
"Hmm··."
Sleepy··.
"Lady Rose...Please call His Highness!"
"Yes!"
Hmm, it's noisy...
"Rose, good morning."
"I'm sleepy··."
"Are you still sleepy?"
"Hmm··?"
"Rose...do you understand me?"
When she opened her eyes, she saw a kind face. He has a very kind face and a gentle smile as he sits near her.
"Efergan?"
"Yes."
"Good morning··?"
"Good morning, Rose."
Rose looked at him and she blinked.
"How are you?"
"I'm sleepy··."
"Doesn't your head hurt?"
"No."
Efergan touches Rose's head to check for her fever.
Growlth...
An embarrassing sound came from her stomach.
"Hmm."
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes."
"Can you wake up?"
"Yes."
However, she has no strength...
"Umh."
"Let me help you..."
"Thank you"
"Would you like some warm water?"
"Yeah."
Efergan supported her unsteady body, and he slowly gave her some warm water. She felt like liquid was flowing down her throat for the first time in a while.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
"Then good."
"Did I sleep too long again?"
"That's right..."
"How long did I sleep?"
"About a month and a half."
"It's tough...oh no, school..."
"It's okay. I contacted them properly."
"I see. Thank you."
Rose nodded, looking relieved.
"No problem. But it's good that you understand me properly."
"Huh?"
"I was worried, really..."
"Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize."
Efergan patted her and smiled.
"I don't really remember. Did something happen?"
"After fighting the Morg monster near Banada Village?"
"Monster··?"
"You don't remember?"
"Umh?"
"Hot spring."
"Ah... Chiata... was it...?"
"Yes. Do you remember?"
"Somehow."
Rose tilts her head, trying to remember.
"No wonder, but I'm glad you woke up."
"I feel like I wasted my time."
"It's okay. Just do more activities from now on."
"Yeah."
Efergan called a maid outside her room and ordered her to prepare food.
"It's almost time for food."
"Yeah."
Efergan sat on her bed and pulled Rose's back against him again. She feels the warmth of Efergan's body. She is warm and pleasant.
"Your hair has gotten longer."
"Yeah, if I sleep for a long time, I'll probably grow taller or only my hair will grow longer..."
"It seems like you've grown taller. I heard from the maid that your clothes no longer fit."
"Oh really? That's good."
"The growth process is really different."
"Yeah. I was small. It's the size of a doll, a small doll."
"Hey..."
Efergan straightened Rose's hair slightly to the left and right.
"Didn’t I tell Efergan about it?"
"About what?"
"When I arrived in this world, I was in the form of a soul. It seemed like I was flying around..."
"That's the first time I've heard of it."
"I see. I'm keeping it a secret from everyone except my family."
"Can you tell me more?"
"Yeah. The only thing nearby that could become a body was a garden doll. The soul was put into that doll. Then, with the Dragon God's power, it became a body with blood flowing through it. So, everything was different from any race in this world."
"I see. That's right."
"Aren't you scared to know me like this?"
"Why?"
"Because I am a mysterious creature."
"I think I told you before that I would take everything about Rose."
Efergan said so. He said it without hesitation.
"Really..."
"Rose appeared in this world as someone who received the blessings of the Dragon God. You are the ultimate proof that you are the princess of the Dragon God."
"Thank you."
"So even if something strange happens, I won't be surprised. I've decided to accept everything about Rose."
"Yeah."
"Then, why are you crying?"
"I don't know. But somehow I'm happy."
Rose said.
"I heard women cry much. Both when they're sad and happy."
"Yeah. I'm a crybaby. I used to stay on the roof and cry alone."
"May I ask why you were crying?"
"Because I was lonely."
When Rose said that, Efergan looked at her kindly and smiled.
"I see. If you are feeling lonely right now, you should definitely tell me. Besides, if you cry alone on the roof here, the guards will be in trouble. It's dangerous more than anything."
"Yeah."
Efergan remembered Rose's quirk and smiled.
After a while, the maids came and brought her food. A small table-like object was set up above the bed, and food was prepared. Hattie, the poison taster, came and appraised everything, then issued a safety declaration.
The maid tried to help Rose with the meal, but Efergan ordered her to leave the room. Efergan himself said that he would help Rose with her meals.
"I can eat it by myself."
"I want to help, so let me do it."
"Then, okay..."
The food served was very simple porridge and soup. Apparently, this was the menu prescribed by the medical doctor. It had a very mild taste, so she decided to eat it slowly.
After she finished eating, the maids cleaned up. Efergan is sitting next to her the whole time. He is being very kind to her today.
"Rose, can I ask you something?"
"What?"
“What kind of person is Yanagi to Rose?”
Somehow, Efergan heard his name. Because he is very curious about what kind of existence he is.
"Why do you ask that..?"
"Rose woke up suddenly a month ago and didn't seem right."
"Ugh, maybe..."
"You don’t remember?"
"No, I don't."
"At that time, Rose was looking for Yanagi."
"Yanagi··."
"I heard that Yanagi is Rose's older brother, but it turns out that he is a brother who is not related by blood."
"Yeah."
"Do you like Yanagi...not just as an older brother, but as a man?"
Efergan asked without hiding it.
"Yeah,..in the past..."
"I just want to understand my position. I don't blame Rose."
"Yanagi and I...we used to love each other..."
Rose answered clearly.
"Really."
"But...he left me and went somewhere. I haven't heard from him for two years. And I don't know where he is."
"Did he tell you why he left?"
"He said he would go train because he couldn't protect me. He lost his confidence to a Morg swordsman in the battle of Ooramorg. I think this is a journey to regain that confidence. But I still feel lonely. I felt like I was just a weight on him."
"I see."
"He said he loved and wanted me, but right after he said those words, he left me and disappeared. He asked me to go with him once but left me alone. I sometimes wondered if he didn't think about how I felt, being left behind without any news."
"How does Rose feel about Yanagi now?"
"I'm sorry if you ask me, but he will always be 'the most important person' to me. He told me that I was his reason for living. He is also my emotional support. But even if we are not related by blood, we are indeed brothers, it won't allow any further relationship between us. So, in a sense, he is by my side. I think it was probably for his self-confidence that he left."
"No matter how much you love each other, it won't help..."
Efergan asked calmly.
"Yeah. That's why I think it's because of my love for him, to let him go and live separated ways."
"What would you do if you met him again?"
"I want to know how he feels now. I wonder what he thinks about the past few years when he made me cry..."
"Are you going back to him?"
"I don't know. But I want to cherish the present."
“What is now?”
“Now, I mean the people around me who support me. Even if we loved each other in the past, I am who I am today because of the people I have now, so if I had to choose between them, I think I'd choose someone desperate for me right now..."
Rose sighed as she said this.
"Rose is a very down-to-earth woman."
Efergan said that and he smiled.
"Just··."
"Yes"
"I decided I could only give my heart to one man."
"Have you decided who to give it to?"
"Not yet."
"I see."
"Since I'm in this position, I can imagine when my body will be used as a marriage of convenience. So even if my body ends up with someone I don't like, I want to protect my heart."
"Is this women's last stand?"
"I think so. It might be my reason for living."
"I see. Thank you for letting me know how you feel Rose. Now I can move forward with peace of mind."
Efergan smiled and hugged Rose.
"Huh?"
"Now that I know Rose's heart doesn't belong to anyone yet. That means I have a chance of winning your heart."
"Efergan is already a part of my heart."
Rose said and he shook his head.
"I'm a greedy man. I'm not satisfied with just being a part of Rose."
"Hmm."
"I want to capture your heart and everything about you."
"I...still..."
Efergan said gently into Rose's ear.
"I'll take my time and open the door of your heart."
"The door of my heart..."
"I may be weak compared to Yanagi. I don't even know if I can protect Rose. But I want to become strong together with Rose. If we can't do it alone, what kind of strong Morg swordsman would we be if we could fight together and protect each other? Even monsters aren't our enemies. I think our biggest enemy is ourselves. I can understand Yanagi's feelings of being afraid of his own weakness. I vowed to myself that I would continue to work hard to be happy with Rose. Ever since that encounter, I will spare no effort in that effort, even now and in the future."
Efergan hugged Rose tightly.
"I swore to Holy Dragon at the temple that I would work hard. Because I wanted to have a happy life with you. I asked Holy Dragon to be on my side."
"Efergan..."
"I will never leave Rose behind. No matter how difficult the situation may be, I will do everything possible to be able to be with Rose until I find that path."
"Thank you··."
"I love you, Rose. I love you as much as Yanagi, even more than that."
"I··."
"Rose, just think about it slowly. From now on, until the end of the period, you can always tell me your answer. Don't rush..."
Efergan said as he felt her warmth.
"Yes."
Rose nodded.
"It was refreshing to be able to convey my feelings."
"I'm sorry if I hurt Efergan because of Yanagi."
"There's no need to apologize. It's Rose's history. The flow of time you spent. The things you experienced. But I want to walk with Rose from now on. Together, we can share our own history. I want to make it with you."
"Yes."
Knock, knock.
There was a knock on the door, and Follett, the butler, appeared. After polite greetings, he relayed a message to Efergan.
"I understand. Thank you for your hard work."
Efergan gently moved Rose's body away from his and towards the back of her bed. and he kissed her forehead.
"I'm going to be a little busy from now on. I won't be able to see you for a while, but could you bear with me for a little while?"
"Are you working?"
"That's right. This is all the work that needs to be done. But it's okay, I don't think Rose will have time to get lonely. You'll get well soon, take care of the plants and other school tasks."
"Hmm, that's true. I still want to finish the assignment as soon as possible."
"Not today. Get some rest and build up your strength."
"Yes, I will."
"I'll be back."
"Go safely, Efergan."
Efergan gently kissed Rose's hand again. Then he walked towards the door.
"Follet, I ask you to take care of Rose while I'm away. Please increase the number of bodyguards and arrange for thorough security when I go out."
"Yes, Master."
Efergan left the room. When Follett, the butler, was about to call for the maids, Rose called out to him.
"Did something happen?"
"What do you mean?"
Follett approached politely and asked.
"Efergan's... His Highness's demeanor has suddenly changed."
"His Highness is about to go to war..."
"War?!"
"Yes. He will go to subjugate the forces that are targeting Lady Rose..."