My Perfect Omega - Chapter 150
“It’s truly amazing. I never knew there was such a place in the Camorr Empire.”
“Bavenberg has this river running through it. Since you and Rosalie have only been to Bavenberg Castle, you might not be familiar with it.”
“I remember crossing a bridge.”
“Next time, let’s stay a bit longer.”
“Yes, let’s do that. I want to show it to Rosalie too.”
“But why don’t you call Rosalie by her nickname?”
Lucas had always wondered about that. He knew how much his wife loved their daughter, yet she always called her Rosalie instead of using a nickname.
At his question, Leila smiled awkwardly.
“Well, it’s not a big reason… it’s just a bit awkward.”
“Why?”
“When I was little, my mother bought me a horse named Rose.”
“What? Haha!”
Lucas, worried that there might be a serious reason, burst into laughter at her cute explanation. Embarrassed by his laughter, she defended herself.
“Of all the names, it had to be Rose. I loved my horse, but I love our daughter even more. But the name Rose keeps overlapping in my mind… so I guess I just don’t use the nickname unconsciously.”
“Since they’re both loved, it shouldn’t matter.”
“Whether I use a nickname or not, I love our daughter all the same.”
“That’s true.”
They walked aimlessly, sometimes facing each other, other times side by side. They stood at the boundary where the river met the sea and ran away from the incoming waves. Although the Emperor’s childish whim had separated them from Rosalie for a while, the couple had a wonderful time together.
* * *
“Zion! Were you here?”
Rosalie found Zion, who had disappeared by himself. He was hiding in a small banquet hall, away from the other children.
“Why are you alone here?”
“…I don’t want to play with the other kids.”
“Why?”
“They ignore me because I’m from a viscountcy.”
“…Why do they ignore you?”
Zion scoffed at Rosalie’s innocent question but didn’t bother to explain. He gazed intently at her gem-like eyes, which held more colors than the stained glass in the hall.
He didn’t mind the kind look in her eyes as much as he thought he would, just like he didn’t mind the enchanting music she played before.
“I want to go home.”
“…Why?”
For some reason, Rosalie didn’t like hearing that he wanted to go home.
“My younger sister is waiting for me. Our estate is in the countryside, so there’s not much to do. There aren’t many kids my age in the village, so my younger sibling must be very bored.”
“You’re a really good big brother to your younger brother, Zion.”
“You mean younger sister.”
“…Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. You didn’t know because I didn’t tell you.”
Rosalie found herself increasingly curious about Zion, who spoke in a mature manner unlike the other children.
“Do you like your sister that much?”
“We’ve been playing together since we were little. And my sister plays the piano well. She’s not a master, but it’s probably because we have an old piano.”
“Piano? I can play too!”
“What? I thought you only played the violin.”
“I can also play the harp and flute.”
“…You’re amazing, aren’t you?”
Rosalie felt unexpectedly happy at Zion’s praise. She wanted his approval even more than her parents’.
“Want me to play the piano for you?”
“…Okay.”
Zion recalled the violin performance he had heard from her that day. It was an incredible performance that had made his whole body tingle, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her then, just as he couldn’t now.
But Zion was a more mature child than his age suggested. He knew which family Rosalie belonged to and realized that once he left the palace, he might never see her again.
He moved closer to Rosalie as she sat down at the piano. He wanted to watch her play and hear the music more clearly.
If he ever met Rosalie again, he wanted to compose a piece just for her.
Watching Rosalie play the piano with a happy face, Zion whispered softly to himself, so quietly that no one could hear.
“I never expected to meet my muse so soon.”
