# Chapter 36
Rite acted as if nothing had happened at all. Thinking about it carefully, he seemed even more well-behaved than before. Although I wasn’t confident in my disciplining abilities, Rite seemed to have understood my words better than I expected.
I worked based on the order form I received again from Markus, while Rite spent his time doing his own tasks. Rite, who usually spent his time creating things in the living room, had lately been spending more time in his room.
‘What are you making?’
‘It’s a secret.’
He wore a meaningful smile and refused to tell me, but I had a pretty good idea. Something he was making in secret to hide from me could only be a gift for me. Whenever my birthday approached, these kinds of secrets would multiply.
After peaceful days accumulated one after another, the morning of the 28th arrived. Rite must have woken up at some ungodly hour, because the breakfast table was different from usual.
“…What book did you read this time?”
That day, even the tablecloth was different. Instead of the usual fabric, there was a knitted lace covering. The tightly knitted tablecloth was so intricate and delicate that it was hard to believe it was made by human hands.
On top of it were a teapot and teacups that we rarely used, along with pancakes. Two well-cooked pancakes were beautifully decorated with sliced strawberries and honey.
“Where did you get this from…”
“I washed it thoroughly. Don’t worry.”
I carefully examined the sharp coniferous leaf stuck in the strawberry. If I had to describe today’s breakfast table in one phrase, it looked like an imitation of a princess or prince’s breakfast. Though I’d never seen what real princesses or princes ate for breakfast, it had that kind of feeling.
That wasn’t the end of it. Lunch was also served on the same tablecloth as breakfast. There was gratin filled with cheese and meat, tomato salad, and for dessert, chocolate-covered strawberries.
He always tried to make my birthday special each year, but this year was more extravagant than usual. To begin with, we never bothered with appetizers or desserts at our dining table. That was all considered a waste of time—a belief of Plin’s that had been passed down to me. At this rate, I was already worried about how much I would have to do for Rite’s next birthday.
‘Kill time until dinner. Don’t go down to the village. Stay nearby. Got it?’
And then he practically kicked me out. I had to promise him several times that I understood his repeated instructions to stay nearby. It oddly reminded me of how I used to tell Rite when he was young, “Don’t go deep into the forest,” or “Don’t go down to the village alone.”
“When did our roles reverse like this?”
I sat absentmindedly on the ladder of the tree house, staring at the forest. I needed to stay like this, lost in thought for at least two hours, but I was already bored.
I lifted my head to examine the tree house above. Although considerable time had passed, it was still in good condition, not needing any repairs. Though not as frequently as before, Rite still often spent time there. It was Rite’s private space that I had never entered even once.
When I asked what he did in the tree house, he answered that he mostly reminisced while looking at traces he had left from when he was young. If asked whether I wanted to look inside, I couldn’t say I had no interest at all, but…
Fearing my curiosity might grow stronger, I got up from the ladder. I slowly walked away to inspect and maintain the equipment and magical devices I had set up around the area.
* * *
Even with Rite’s permission to enter, my feet wouldn’t move easily. I had passed through the entrance of this old cabin countless times. It was such an ordinary thing, yet my heart felt strangely anxious.
I worried that Rite might have created an unfamiliar atmosphere. There was a more precise word than “unfamiliar,” but I didn’t even want to think about it.
“Sit down.”
Rite pulled out my chair for me and then returned to his own seat. I headed to my place while scanning the table. Thankfully, the worst-case scenario of candles or scattered flower petals wasn’t there.
My attention was drawn to the large chicken centered on the table. Around the appetizingly roasted chicken were onions, carrots, and even the coniferous leaves that had been on the breakfast pancakes.
“Was what you bought last time delicious?”
It was similar to the chicken we had bought after dinner with Jack. Seeing it on the menu again so soon, it must have been from a shop that really excelled at roast chicken.
“Rather than delicious, I liked it.”
Rite muttered softly, looking at the chicken as if recalling that time. Isn’t liking something the same as finding it delicious? I couldn’t understand the difference between the two expressions, but I didn’t ask. If I asked what the difference was, I’d probably be scolded for Arden lacking sensitivity.
“And this…”
Rite placed a small package on the table from between his back and the chair. Rite’s eyes were fixed solely on that small package.
“A gift?”
“Yes.”
Unlike previous birthdays when he would hand them over confidently, Rite was hesitating. I waited patiently for Rite without rushing him.
Rite nibbled on his lips while fidgeting with the gift. The thin paper wrapping crinkled in Rite’s hands.
“Open it.”
After hesitating, Rite pushed the gift toward me. The package, slightly smaller than my palm, was incredibly light.
“Should I open it now?”
At my words, Rite nodded his head with an expression that seemed almost solemn. What could it be? With such curiosity, I carefully untied the ribbon. Looking at it now, even the ribbon was handmade, knitted.
The soft texture of the densely knitted ribbon made of white yarn felt pleasant. It seemed like no engineer who created a knitting machine could match Rite’s handcraft skills.
“Hurry up and open it.”
Rite, who had been hesitating earlier, now urged me on as I stopped unwrapping to fiddle with just the ribbon. Finally, I left the ribbon alone and unwrapped the package.
“…What is this?”
The first thing that caught my eye was a carving made from a small piece of wood. It was so small and delicate that I was reluctant to touch it carelessly. As I gently caressed it with my fingertips, I could feel the smooth wooden texture. It was perfectly smooth without a single rough edge.
“It’s a rose.”
The identity of the small flower painted black was a rose. Aren’t roses usually red? A long string was woven above the black rose carving. Belatedly, I realized this wooden piece was a pendant.
“Since Arden’s birthday is in summer. I thought you might miss your hometown.”
“But why a rose?”
“In the book… there was a rose.”
Rite’s eyes trembled anxiously. It was exactly the same expression he had when he gave an uncertain answer to a problem I posed when he was young.
“Remember the book we looked at together when I was little? The Summer Forest.”
“Ah…”
There was one thing that came to mind. Was it a book about the geography and climate of the country? There was one illustration for each season. And in the summer illustration, there was a rose, and…
“Ah, so that’s why.”
Only then did I realize why the rose was black. The book’s illustrations were in black and white. The summer scenery Rite had seen was a pitch-black rose, black grass, and white dew formed above them.
“Why are you laughing, Arden?”
Despite Rite’s grumbling, I couldn’t stop smiling. The small black rose was adorable. Thinking that this was the summer image Rite could imagine somehow made it feel a bit special.
Rite, who knew nothing beyond the world I showed him. The weight of that sentence pressed down on me, but I didn’t want to avoid it.
“Just hurry up and put it on.”
I looked up at the sound of the chair being pushed back to see Rite standing up. Rite approached me and took the necklace from my hand.
“Why…”
“I’m going to do it for you. I’m not taking it away.”
Rite came behind me and raised the necklace over my head, pouting his lips. The necklace, which had no particular clasp, had to be passed over my head like putting on a shirt. I watched Rite’s hands with anxious eyes, worried that the string might break.
Fortunately, Rite successfully put the necklace around my neck. As I lowered my head, I noticed the black rose sitting on my white shirt.
“It suits you well.”
I heard Rite’s voice from above my head. I looked up and met Rite’s eyes. In those purple eyes viewed up close, my silhouette was faintly reflected.
“Thank you. I like it.”
At my greeting, Rite abruptly turned his gaze and returned to his seat. He seemed embarrassed, so I didn’t push further.
I tapped the carving lightly with my fingertips. Though small in size, it was quite eye-catching.
At my age, suddenly appearing with a flower necklace—wouldn’t everyone think it strange?
I didn’t go out often, but I couldn’t help feeling self-conscious. As I was about to tuck the necklace inside my shirt, Rite’s voice suddenly interrupted.
“Why? Leave it out.”
“It seems a bit too fancy for me to wear.”
“What exactly is fancy about it?”
Rite looked like he couldn’t understand. Don’t people usually consider all flowers fancy? When I stayed in the capital, all ten out of ten people who wore floral decorations enjoyed dressing up.
“It’s not like it has jewels embedded in it, or is made of gold wire.”
“That would be too much…”
“You said you liked it.”
Do you not like it? As Rite added in a small voice with a gloomy face, I quickly shook my head. Of course not. I really liked it very much.
“I really do like it. Truly.”
“…”
“Alright. I’ll wear it. All the time.”
At my promise to keep wearing it, Rite’s expression softened. Right, I was being too difficult. After all the effort put into making it. With a brief moment of remorse, I carefully placed the rose carving back on top of my shirt.
“Someday, let’s live together in the Summer Forest.”
I looked up at Rite, surprised by this proposal I had never imagined. It must have been a pleasant thought for Rite, as a faint smile graced his lips.
“Hot, with no snow falling, a dazzling forest.”
“…”
“Let’s live there together.”
Was he serious? Probably. Rite wasn’t the type to make things up. As I sank into thought, my mind wandered to unexpected places. Did Rite dislike this forest?
It would be understandable if he was tired of this forest. Dangerous, cold, barren, and filled with lonely scenery.
If I hadn’t taken Rite in, he would have died. That was an obvious fact. But despite that, I couldn’t completely erase the guilt of having chosen to raise a child in such a dangerous environment.
“Why do you suddenly say that?”
“We promised back then, didn’t we? To find the Summer Forest together.”
I think I might have said something like that, but finding a place together and living there together were very different stories. One way or another, it might have been a promise of little significance to me, but it seemed not so for Rite.
I could help him search for it in books, but I couldn’t leave with him. I had to protect this Winter Forest for my entire life. So I couldn’t join him on that journey. Rite would have to find it alone. On that journey, I wouldn’t be by Rite’s side. Imagining Rite’s life without me felt awkward and unfamiliar, and an inexplicable sadness washed over me.
“The Winter Forest is nice too, but the Summer Forest will be better. Arden’s body is cold, and you’re sensitive to the cold.”
It wasn’t particularly true that my body was cold or that I was especially sensitive to cold. Compared to Rite, I might relatively appear that way, but if anything, Rite was the one who ran hot. I had no idea how such a Rite would manage in a Summer Forest, but Rite’s expression was filled only with positive emotions like excitement and anticipation.
“…Sure.”
I made a false promise. It seemed I was also unwilling to accept the reality that there was a future that belonged only to Rite, one I couldn’t be part of.
Jealousy. That word suddenly came to mind. Was what I was feeling jealousy? I wasn’t confident about my emotions. But if it was, it was truly absurd jealousy.
