Please Answer Me - Chapter 108

As Rosetta voiced the only explanation that made sense, Rashid responded, “It’s not the sea. This lake is called Moz, which means ‘sea.’ When evening mist covers the scenery behind it, it feels just like you’re at the sea. That’s how it got its name.”

Rosetta realized the truth in his words. She remembered hearing that seawater was salty, preventing trees from growing nearby. Here, however, the water was surrounded by trees and plants. If it had been the sea, this would have been impossible.

But as Rashid had said, the evening mist made the lake appear endless, like the sea.

“You said you wanted to see the sea at least once. The real sea is too far, but I wanted to show you this.”

Rosetta looked at Rashid with teary eyes, then beamed the most beautiful, radiant smile. It was the smile Rashid had longed to see.

As they walked around the lake, they found a small rowboat tied to the shore. Not wanting to leave just yet, they decided to take a short boat ride.

The small boat glided smoothly onto the lake. They enjoyed the sight of the fiery sunset for a moment before it quickly grew dark. Looking around the now-dark surroundings, Rosetta spoke in a slightly fearful voice, “Rashid, it’s getting too dark. Maybe we should head back…”

Just then, something began to glow around them. At first, it was just one light, but soon, several more appeared, floating in the air.

“What is this…?”

“Fireflies. This place is known for having many fireflies.”

As Rashid said, the fireflies were soon all around them, filling the area with twinkling lights.

“Amazing…”

While Rosetta was mesmerized by the magical scene, Rashid never took his eyes off her. In the darkness, he watched her face light up with joy as she reached out into the air.

“Rashid, can we catch one?”

“Rosetta, they’re more beautiful when admired from a distance. Besides, if you try to catch them, the boat might tip over.”

Rosetta, who usually tried to catch any insect she saw, decided to follow his advice this time. She didn’t want to risk falling into the dark water.

As they watched the fireflies, something familiar yet dangerous came to Rosetta’s mind. She realized it was time to bring up the conversation she had been dreading.

“I told you I needed to talk to you today.”

She looked at Rashid’s face, which was partly hidden in the darkness, and felt grateful for the cover of night. Only the faint outline of his face was visible, giving her the courage to speak.

“…When Iselle arrives, I’ll go back to Lysa with him. If we leave now, we’ll return within the planned travel period. That way, my coming here won’t cause any further problems.”

She couldn’t tell exactly how he was reacting. His face seemed composed, yet slightly tense.

“But I will definitely come back.”

Rosetta clasped her hands tightly in her lap. “I’ve never truly wanted or worked hard for something before. But this… this is something I really want, and I will do my best.”

Rosetta struggled to continue. “But if, despite all my efforts, I don’t achieve what I want…”

Will you come for me then?

The words were too shameless to say out loud.

Taking something back was much harder than letting it be taken. Rashid’s parents were a prime example of that.

It would be easier for Rashid if she stayed here. Protecting was simpler than reclaiming. Reclaiming something lost took many times more effort than simply keeping it safe.

Wanting to protect her people and also win Rashid’s heart—perhaps it was too much to ask. Maybe it was time to give up one dream in favor of another…

“Rosetta.”

Just as her confidence was plummeting, Rashid said, “To confess, I had some very bad thoughts.”

“Bad thoughts?”

“The kind that would horrify you. One of them was locking you in a room and never letting you step outside once you told me you planned to leave.”

Rosetta’s eyes widened at his words.

“It wouldn’t even be that difficult. I already have control over your guard, the Basque soldiers, and even the chieftain’s children. If your betrothed arrives, I could deal with him too.”

Rosetta finally grasped his meaning and swallowed hard.

“But I can’t do that because you ran away from such a life and ended up meeting me. I can’t make you unhappy again and drive you to run away.”

His sigh seemed to dissolve into the night air. “So if you must go, I’ll let you. But, Rosetta, if you ever want to return, I will come for you.”

Rosetta knew what a heavy promise this was for him. Yet, Rashid said he would personally come to bring her back.

“All you have to do is write one line in a letter: ‘Come get me.'”

Something hot and overwhelming surged in her chest, and Rosetta threw herself into his arms.

“You were completely wrong about my wish to see the sea. My wish is to be here with you.”

Her sudden movement rocked the boat. Rashid tensed for a moment, then burst into laughter. “Alright, Rosetta. Make a wish now. Let’s wish to be together.”

At that moment, a strange voice echoed in Rosetta’s mind. It was distant yet oddly familiar.

“Make your wish.”

The voice was cool but strangely kind.

“I owe you a life debt, and I will repay it with your wish.”

When had she heard that voice before? Who could it belong to?

“Rosetta?”

Rashid’s cautious voice pulled her back to reality as he felt her tense in his arms. She pulled away, shaking her head. “It’s nothing. But I do have something to tell you.”

After a deep breath, Rosetta began. “If you see something similar to these fireflies after I leave, be very careful.”

“…Similar?”

“In places without sunlight, there are stones that float in the air like this. We call them Magic Stones.”

“Is that the mineral your people were smuggling from here?”

Rosetta nodded. “Yes, Magic Stones have immense power but are extremely dangerous to anyone who doesn’t know how to use them. Rashid, Magic Stones must never be exposed to sunlight or fire for long. Just one Magic Stone can blow up an entire building.”

Rashid clicked his tongue lightly. “…So that’s why they were transported in tarred, black-draped carriages.”

“The royal family of Lysa needs those Magic Stones. But over the years, all the Magic Stones in Lysa were depleted, and that’s why they started coveting the Magic Stones here.”

Rosetta bowed her head. “That’s all I can tell you about the Magic Stones. I can’t say anything more. I’m sorry…”

But unlike the apologetic Rosetta, Rashid’s face was filled with joy. He knew the information she had shared was one of Lysa’s most closely guarded secrets.

Rashid pulled her into an embrace, kissing her deeply as he whispered, “You have no idea how happy I am right now or how grateful I am to you. I feel like I’ve already won the war against Lysa.”

***

Kind recognizes kind. This was true for Iselle, and it was equally true for the late king, Rachileo. When the king first saw the young boy who had come alone to Lysa, he gazed at him coldly and murmured, “You’re just like me.”

However, the ever-skeptical king decided to put Iselle through a test.

One day, the king summoned Iselle to his private hunting ground. But there were no animals released in that hunting ground. Instead, there were humans. It was one of the king’s favorite pastimes to shoot at fleeing humans.

“Would you like to try?” the king asked.

Iselle picked up a bow and, without a moment’s hesitation, drew the string. His arrow flew straight and struck a woman squarely in the back. He then shot and killed a child and two men with equal lack of remorse.

“As expected, my eyes did not deceive me!”

As Iselle listened to the king’s booming laughter, he thought that this decision required no deliberation. He had pretended otherwise when necessary, only because it served his purpose. However, in front of the king, such pretense was unnecessary. Unlike others, the king preferred this honesty, and Iselle instinctively knew this.

Thus, it was no surprise that the late king favored Iselle. To the king, Iselle was more trustworthy than his own flesh and blood. When one encounters their kind, they either feel repulsed or find a unique ally in the world, and the king was decidedly the latter.