“....”

“You were here this morning too.”

“Did you fall asleep?”

Khalid deflected the question.

“If you’re that curious, why don’t you just go in?”

“...It’s fine.”

The boy spoke coldly, crossing his arms. Standing among the knights, he looked like he belonged.

“...I don’t deserve to.”

“What?”

“Nothing. I’ll guard this place.”

Khalid turned his head away from Leviathan as if making a firm vow, his attitude showing a stubbornness that refused further discussion.

‘Really, all our kids are unbelievably stubborn.’

Leviathan judged that sending him away immediately would be too much, so he signaled one of the knights to take Khalid later, when the time was right. The knight gave a small nod.

The couple walked upstairs to the bedroom.

Rosetta couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Who is that boy?”

“Ruby’s friend.”

“Friend?”

Her eyes narrowed. Leviathan asked, “Why?”

“Rubian’s male friend...”

Rosetta rubbed her chin quietly. To Leviathan, the word “friend” was the main point. But for Rosetta... her mind kept stopping on the word male.

“Rose, the way you’re looking right now... it’s scary.”

“You’re imagining it.”

She gave him a sly smile, moonlight falling across her face.

Leviathan stared, entranced. Come ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) to think of it... it had been so long since he’d been alone with his wife like this. With all the chaos lately, he hadn’t even properly welcomed her back.

“But what’s that you’ve been holding since earlier?”

Leviathan reached for her hand.

“Oh, this?”

When Rosetta opened her palm, a cute strawberry-shaped hairpin appeared.

“I saw it on the nightstand earlier and picked it up without thinking...”

Leviathan’s expression grew complicated as he watched her toy with the pin.

“Sorry.”

“Suddenly?”

“That room.”

“....”

“I opened it without asking you.”

Rosetta stayed silent. She remembered clearly when and why she had bought that pin. She and Leviathan had chosen everything in that eastern room together—even the thinnest ribbon.

“Why apologize for something like that?”

“....”

“You did well. I would’ve done the same. It suited Rubian perfectly.”

She didn’t know how Rubian ended up wearing the pin, but honestly, she thought it was for the best.

“And actually, I was planning to say this when I came back from the south. That room... let’s clear it out.”

“Rosetta.”

“We can’t live forever tied to bad memories. Ah, I don’t mean our baby was a bad memory!”

Leviathan nodded right away.

“I know.”

“I just mean... we’ve already...”

A spring breeze slipped in through the window, warm as a gentle hand.

“I think we’ve grieved long enough.”

Pain flickered in Leviathan’s violet eyes, but it wasn’t as heavy as before. Stronger love now carried the weight alongside the sorrow.

‘It’s thanks to Rubian. She’s eased your suffering.’

Rosetta smiled faintly.

She had thought nothing could ever fill the hollow pit of loss. But there was Liam, Boyd... and now Rubian, like a gift.

There is no wound that must remain painful forever.

“...It’s already been ten years,” Leviathan murmured.

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe we really have mourned enough.”

Though scars remained, the past no longer bound him. His daily life with Rubian was healing him.

“When we return to Zerox, let’s visit the memorial together.”

He spoke calmly. Rosetta gave him a sidelong glance.

“...They might be angry we haven’t come for so long.”

“Then we’ll just have to beg forgiveness.”

Rosetta laughed softly and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Leviathan...”

“Mm.”

“Rubian is so precious to me. Strange, isn’t it? We’ve only known her a short time.”

She remembered Rubian crying in the hut, overwhelmed by her secret. Her chest tightened again at the thought.

“If Rubian wants it, I’d like to give her that room.”

Her voice trembled with tears.

“Yes.”

“I filled it with the cutest, prettiest things. Honestly, I didn’t want to throw them out.”

“I know.”

“Levi...” She buried her head against him again.

“I’m so happy to have a daughter now.”

Her words spilled out like a broken dam. Leviathan nodded heavily. In silence, they leaned on each other, sharing warmth and comfort.

“Why are you crying so much? You never used to.”

“Tell me about it.”

Rosetta’s rabbit-red eyes lifted.

“In the past, you cried more than me. Remember? When you confessed, you cried. When you proposed, you cried too...”

“Lies.”

Leviathan couldn’t take it anymore and swept her into his arms. He kissed her and whispered:

“I never cried. Though... whenever I saw you, I always felt like I might.”

“You always use your body when you’re cornered.”

Leviathan rained light kisses across her face until he suddenly paused.

“Speaking of which—how’s your body now?”

“You’re the only one who doubts my health. Stop treating me like glass.”

“Alright.”

A sly smile tugged at his lips. Rosetta realized too late.

“Uh—I think I suddenly feel a little sick?”

“Too late.”

His long strides carried them swiftly to the bedroom.

Rosetta clutched his neck in a panic.

“Wh-why are you like this...? Your eyes are scary, Duke.”

“You said yourself—when cornered, use your body.”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

The bedroom door slammed shut. Before Rosetta could argue again, his lashes brushed hers.

This time, she had no chance of winning.