‘I need to meet as often as possible.’
Although it was virtually the same as having received permission for one year from the Emperor, Yun knew that the Emperor didn’t really intend to keep him in the imperial palace for a whole year. So it was better to have as many meetings with Seoho as possible in a short time.
‘What excuse should I use?’
He needed something that Seoho couldn’t refuse and that the Emperor wouldn’t interfere with their meeting over.
‘It doesn’t seem like he’s forcing Seoho’s actions though.’
It was clear that the Emperor didn’t welcome his friendship with Seoho.
‘I did come with Angel and it’s a suspicious situation in many ways, so it’s natural…’
But that wouldn’t be all of it. Yun recalled the Emperor’s eyes that had glinted menacingly when he approached Seoho acting friendly.
It was a gaze very familiar to Yun. Those golden eyes that looked exactly like his own when he revealed sticky emotions and slashed at his opponent.
‘Not completely identical, but the texture is similar.’
Yun, who had been recalling the Emperor’s jewel-like blue eyes, crafted a brightly kind smile at the voice getting closer and closer.
And he captured in his eyes the person who would be beyond the large tree, then stopped in his tracks.
‘Why is that person…’
There was someone he hadn’t expected at all together there.
“Oh, you’re here.”
Rosetta Borealis. When the Emperor opened his mouth, Seoho turned to look at Yun following his gaze. Yun reflexively smiled gently toward Seoho and walked toward them.
“Yun-ah. You’re here?”
As Yun received Seoho’s greeting, he turned to look at the Emperor.
“Yeah, but…”
Before Seoho could say anything, the Emperor opened his mouth.
“I thought I’d build a friendship with you too, so I asked Seoho. Would it be alright if I join you?”
There was no way he could say words of refusal here.
“It’s an honor.”
Yun welcomed the Emperor while hiding his irritated feelings.
***
Although Rosetta had joined them without prior arrangement, there was still no problem with the conversation.
‘The informal speech is a bit awkward though.’
Rosetta, who had neither favorability nor trust toward the prince, participated in the conversation more obediently than expected. His worry that he might show even a little sign of discomfort was pointless.
‘Well, he only acts childish in front of me—Rosetta is an emperor after all.’
Considering Rosetta’s original position, in fact, all those worries should be seen as something he’d brought upon himself. A person who rules such a large country wouldn’t resolve things emotionally, would he?
Rosetta put down his teacup and said.
“You were quite different from the rumors.”
“Rumors?”
“Don’t people in high positions usually get easily swept up in rumors? Especially if they don’t have outside activities.”
Of course, Rosetta occasionally threw out words as if testing Yun.
Yun smiled brightly and answered.
“I’m not interested in that sort of thing, and I couldn’t take on any special positions in order to spend time by my mother’s side.”
“I see. Is your mother feeling better? I know Seoho sent a second letter.”
Seoho, who smiled slightly at Rosetta meeting his gaze, turned to look at Yun at his answer.
“I’m thinking a reply might return tomorrow or the day after.”
“Is there no other way to contact her besides letters?”
It was another question thrown as if probing, but it was a question that wasn’t strange given the flow. Yun nodded lightly.
“Because of the distance. It’s like that.”
“You seem to have a close relationship with your mother, but it seems it takes quite a while to contact you too.”
Yun pushed a dessert in front of Seoho and answered.
“Unfortunately, that’s the case. But I’m glad she seems to be in better spirits since receiving Seoho-nim’s letter.”
As Seoho showed his thanks with his eyes and picked up a scone, Rosetta had already poured tea into Seoho’s empty teacup and spoke.
“Is that so? Still, when someone who was always by your side disappears, your heart feels empty.”
While Seoho murmured his thanks and picked up the teacup, Yun let out a cheerful laugh and answered.
“She said it was comfortable since the son who nagged annoyingly by her side disappeared. Well, I know those are words she said out of guilt toward me, who had only been in the kingdom. That’s why I’m deliberately sending her images of the empire that are different from the kingdom.”
Seoho brushed off his lips and rejoined the conversation. It was because he found something curious in Yun’s words.
“Images of the empire?”
As Yun was hiding his identity and had entered the imperial palace, he didn’t have any attendants he’d brought along. But sending images of the empire to Grace.
‘What does that mean?’
Yun looked around, then asked Rosetta and Seoho for their understanding and snapped his fingers. Then a box popped up onto the table. Yun opened the box and showed the inside.
“I send them using magic.”
Seoho’s eyes widened at seeing the rectangular object that revealed itself inside the box. And for good reason—the appearance of the object was very similar to something Seoho knew.
“Oh…”
Yun took out the object and continued speaking.
“It’s one of the reasons I first learned magic. Because my mother missed things from her previous world.”
Yun suggested to Seoho, who was staring at the object as if entranced.
“You seem to know what it is. Should I show you?”
Seoho nodded quickly without realizing it.
“Yeah.”
Yun immediately operated the object. The process of using the object was also very familiar to Seoho.
And after a moment, what popped out from the object was a photo containing Seoho himself with expectant eyes.
Seoho grabbed Rosetta’s arm looking at the result and shook it slightly.
“Rosetta! This is what’s called a photo.”
Hadn’t he thought not long ago that it would be nice to have a camera when Rosetta said he’d leave a portrait? But right now, there was a camera in front of Seoho.
‘An instant camera at that!’
Seoho’s eyes shone as he carefully held the photo. Of course, he didn’t forget to get permission from Yun before touching the photo.
As soon as Yun readily nodded, Seoho, who had picked up the photo, brought it close to Rosetta and spoke.
“Look. My appearance from just now came out exactly, right?”
Then Rosetta, who had been examining the palm-sized photo closely, expressed puzzlement.
“It could come out on paper like this?”
“Huh?”
What did that mean? If photos didn’t come out on paper, then what else would they come out on… As Seoho tried to understand Rosetta’s words, he continued.
“Back then, your face was contained in such a small object. In front of the cake, you put on this kind of hat-shaped thing several times…”
Seoho, who quickly recalled the situation Rosetta was describing, jumped in surprise and grabbed Rosetta’s clothing tightly.
“Ah! Th-that comes out like this when you print it.”
Rosetta had seen him wearing a party hat and taking photos with his phone.
‘Come to think of it, seeing that he even used English back then, of course he would have seen that too.’
Feeling like his whole face would turn red from embarrassment, Seoho shook the photo again. Fortunately, Rosetta didn’t continue the words Seoho had tried to cut off.
“It’s certainly fascinating.”
“I didn’t know you’d like it this much. I’ll give you that as a gift.”
It seemed like he’d gotten too excited over just one photo. An awkward laugh flowed out from embarrassment.
“Thank you. Actually, I was just thinking not long ago that it would be nice to have a camera.”
Seoho leaned his body slightly against Rosetta, who was still staring intently at the photo, and asked.
“It’s okay, right?”
“I see.”
The quality wasn’t bad either, which was even more surprising. Seoho asked Rosetta with eyes full of anticipation.
“Could Aris make one too?”
“Well, this seems to be a separately created magic.”
When Rosetta looked at Yun as if asking isn’t that right, Yun nodded.
“That’s correct.”
“I see.”
It was a bit disappointing. All the more so because he knew he couldn’t ask someone to teach him magic they’d created personally.
Then Yun made eye contact with Seoho and said.
“If you want, I can give you this before I leave the empire.”
“Really?”
When Seoho looked at him with delight, Yun smiled brightly and answered.
“But will you grant me one request?”
“Uh…”
It wasn’t something he could answer right away. Because he didn’t know what he would request. As Seoho trailed off, Yun turned to look at Rosetta.
“There’s nothing left around my room to show my mother. Would it be alright if I walked around the Imperial Palace a bit? With Seoho.”
Seoho frowned, and Yun continued.
“I think you wouldn’t like me wandering around alone.”
“With Seoho?”
Rosetta, who had questioned back, turned to look at Seoho.
“I want to become close with Seoho, and the mage Aris is always by Seoho’s side. Of course, after taking photos, I’ll show them to Your Majesty first. Please select only the ones you think are okay to send.”
It wasn’t that he would leak the interior of the Imperial Palace at will, but even so, it was a request that could be sufficiently problematic.
‘Isn’t this too dangerous?’
The camera was tempting though.
There were times when he wanted to capture Rosetta’s beautiful face in photos often, and he’d regretted not having a camera when eating delicious food, when seeing pretty gardens, and when discovering birds showing him favor. It would be fun to make albums and good for reminiscing about the past.
But still, this wasn’t right.
