The Emperor Is My Brother's Best Friend
Ch. 102

As Rose lay on Russell's broad back, she couldn't stop thinking about the vague connection between the two figures. 

One young man with sea blue hair and another man with silver hair dyed blue under the brilliantly lit-up festive sky. 

"Your Majesty."

"It's hard to talk while carrying you, Rose."

"...Actually, I've never seen the sea before."

"Now that you've climbed on the emperor's back, you will ignore what I said?"

"Have you ever seen the sea, Your Majesty?"

Russell had no answer for her. 

Silence descended upon them as he took a few more steps before responding.

"It was before ascending to the throne. I once went to the port when I was sent as an envoy to another continent by order of the late emperor."

"I see, I have never been to a port or even a beach."

"Huh, how come you've never told me this earlier?"

He is particularly playful today. 

Rose pursed her lips.

"It's not a lie. It's the truth."

"I trust you, so don't worry."

Rose buried her face in Russell's back, feeling the weight of fatigue as he carried her.

...I can't fall asleep here. I can't sleep on his back. Hang in there, Rose Honeywell. You will not embarrass yourself in front of His Majesty.

Before completely losing consciousness, she heard Russell's voice.

"A promise to take you to the sea. You may have forgotten, but I have never."

In the carriage returning to the manor, Rose was nagged by her brother. 

Knowing it was with good intention, she listened quietly with her head down like a criminal.

"Whew! My life has been shortened by ten years."

Wells muttered, rubbing his head.

Rose crossed over to the seat next to her brother and snuggled into his arms.

"Sorry, brother."

"But are you really not going to tell me what happened? Why did you suddenly disappear?"

"Just watching the festival..."

"... Haa, alright. Don't do that again. Really, how many times have I been indebted to His Majesty?"

"...I won't do that again."

Looking at Rose's slumped shoulders, Wells changed the topic.

"His Majesty told me to tell you to come to the Imperial Palace tomorrow."

"He did?"

"Yes. When you see him, be sure to apologize for what happened today."

"Okay, but why is he calling me?"

"I don't know."

Wells tilted his head, puzzled.

Meanwhile, the carriage arrived at Honeywell Manor. 

As Rose got off the carriage, exhausted, she remembered that Kate had sent her a flower pot.

"Anne!"

"Rose! Don't run, you're going to trip!"

Wells' voice came from behind, but without stopping, Rose went up the stairs, calling Anne's name. Just then, she bumped into Anne, who was coming down the stairs.

"Anne!"

"Lady Rose. Did you enjoy the festival?"

"Yes! There are so many amazing things out there---but that's not it. Do you have a package addressed to me?"

"Ah, there is. I left it in the lady's room."

"Thank you."

Rose patted Anne on the shoulder a couple of times and ran toward the room.

In her room, there was a small box on the table. 

She untied the neatly tied string and checked the contents. 

It contained a flower pot so small that it still had room to hold on to both palms. 

Rose stared at the soil, where not a single sprout had grown.

"The flowers should bloom here... If they grow well, will they really erase my memories?"

Looking around while holding the flower pot, she approached the window and placed it on the windowsill.

"Hmm, because sunlight comes through this window, can I leave it here?"

She looked at the flower pot for a while. 

She heard the sound of her door opening and closing as Anne came in to help Rose get into bed.

"What flower pot is it? Did you buy it outside?"

"No. It was in that package."

"Aha, so that is why the postman insisted that I handle it with care. I guess it was because there was a flower pot in it. Is it a gift?"

"Yes, it is. I need the flowers in this pot to bloom."

"What kind of flower is it?"

"I don't know, but I really need to grow this."

Rose brushed the tip of the flower pot with her finger. 

She was lost in thoughts of how to grow a plant all by herself, but before she could plan her next steps, Anne urged her to wash up and go to bed. Rose had no choice but to keep going.

Morning at Honeywell Manor. 

Rose prepared to leave for the Imperial Palace.

"Lady Rose, here's your bag."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, Lady Rose. This bag goes well with that outfit."

"It does?"

Rose tilted her head but followed Anne's suggestion. 

When she went down to the first floor with her bag, Wells was already waiting for her. 

As soon as she got on the carriage and took a seat, the carriage started moving. 

Sitting quietly in the gently moving carriage, Rose suddenly noticed that there was something in the bag.

...What did Anne sneak in here? 

Rose opened the bag carefully so as not to break Wells' concentration as he read the documents, and when she discovered what was inside, a sound of horror almost came out of her mouth. 

She barely managed to swallow the sound and looked at what was in the bag. 

She should have noticed when Anne offered her a bag, using one excuse or another. 

In Rose's bag was a velvet case containing a diamond ring.

She carefully closed her bag and looked out the window. 

The carriage is entering the Imperial Palace.

"Have a nice chat with His Majesty, Rose."

After his parting words with Rose in front of the palace entrance, he slowly walked away after watching Rose walk away with the knight.

"Here is..."

Once again, the place she arrived at was the garden.

Rose entered the garden, inhaling the fragrance of flowers. 

Just like when they first met here, Russell stood on the bridge by the lake. 

The morning summer sunlight bathed his silver hair and the lakeside. 

The reflected light was so dazzling that she raised her hand to shade her eyes. 

Taking one step at a time, Russell spotted her and greeted her. 

She ascended onto the bridge and exchanged greetings with Russell.

"The sun is bright today."

Russell remarked, observing the starlit sunlight cascading on the lakeside.

"Greetings to Your Majesty. I'm sorry about yesterday."

"I don't mind, Lady Rose, but if it's alright with you, may I ask you for any favor."

Those words made her feel like she was special to Russell. 

Suppressing the rising hope, Rose asked.

"The reason you called me today...?"

Standing beside Rose in front of the bridge railing, Russell turned towards her. 

Rose also faced him.

"When are you going to tell me your wish?"

"What? My wish is... You already heard it."

Russell placed his hand on the railing and tapped his fingers.

"That was a wish upon the Emperor of Tristan. Isn't there something else you want to ask from Russell?"

Rose felt caught by his amethyst eyes. 

As she looked at her reflection in them, she sensed that Russell might know what she had originally intended and bowed her head.

...Can I confess now?

Inside her bag was a ring for Russell. 

The preparations are perfect. 

But Rose couldn't open her mouth. 

When she couldn't say anything, Russell moved his feet to close the distance.

"I was waiting."

Rose looked up. 

Russell had a calm smile on his face.

"What...?"

"At that time, you said you'd tell me your wish in a week. I was hoping for you to gain the determination to confess to me."

"..."

"So, if Rose asks for a confession as a wish, let's accept it unconditionally. If you want me, give it to me with a happy heart. That's what I was thinking... But it looks like you still lack the courage."

Russell cupped Rose's cheek.

"Now you can be happy."

At his words, her heart beat faster than ever before. 

Tears formed in her red eyes.

Elliot, who saved her life and died after being crushed by rubble in the basement of the Imperial Palace, and Ilya, who was kicked out of the empire.

The images of the two people vividly appeared before Rose's eyes. 

Rose's mouth trembled.

"I am... Can I really be happy?"

"Yes, my Rose."

Russell added.

"Rose Honeywell, you deserve to be happy."

"Then... Yes, Your Majesty. I---!"

Rose grabbed the hem of Russell's clothes as if clinging to them.

In her head, the words she'd practiced countless times, "I like you" and "Please love me," came to mind, but they had a hard time leaving her lips willingly.

While Rose was speechless, Russell knelt down on one knee in front of her.

"Your Majesty?!"

Russell took Rose's hand.

"Rose, being next to me is not an easy position. The Empire is not always welcoming. Furthermore, we must rule over the entire continent. Sometimes it can be difficult to withstand the gaze and attention of many people."

"..."

"But will you still come to me? I want you to be by my side and share your happiness with me, not with someone else."

Russell took a box out of his pocket. 

Inside the box, the lid of which was gently opened, was a ring with a larger, more colorful jewel than the ring Rose had prepared to give to Russell.

Before she knew it, Rose was shedding tears.

She wiped away the flowing tears with the back of her hand and knelt down in front of Russell.

Then she shakily took out a ring from the depths of her bag.

"Your Majesty, this is my true wish. Will you marry me?"

Russell burst out laughing at the ring Rose presented. 

Unable to control his overwhelming joy, he pulled Rose into his arms.

Then slowly, giving her time to pull away, he lightly kissed Rose's lips.

"It's an honor."

Rose smiled and buried her face in Russell's arms, still filled with tears.

...I really want to be happy with this person.

The moment she made that decision, she felt her heavy heart become lighter.

"Rose."

Rose, who had been burying her face in Russell's arms, looked up. 

His hand gently lifted her chin.

"I love you."

The words she wanted to hear so much were finally spoken by the man who'd captured her heart. 

Her heart pounded.

She closed her eyes as she watched Russell's face get closer. 

Hotter than anything else, lips immediately take away Rose's breath. 

---

Wells was the first person to hear the news of the marriage between the emperor and his sister.

Russell was the first one to proudly confess. 

"I will marry Rose. I don't need the duke's permission." 

He spoke with so much confidence, showing off the finger wearing the ring Rose had given him.

Childish. He's so childish.

For the first time, Wells thought that his master was like a child.

Now all he had to do was tell everyone about the emperor's marriage.

But the other person, the fiancee of the emperor, was none other than Rose Honeywell. 

There is no way to guess how the nobles will react upon hearing the news.

"The founding ceremony hasn't even been completed, but you're preparing for His Majesty's wedding already."

Although he spoke in a tired tone, his voice was full of excitement.

His beloved younger sister had finally found her happiness. 

It may not be easy to sit next to the emperor, but what does it matter?

The Honeywell family stands behind the empress, and next to her is the emperor, who will be by her side for the rest of her life.

"I think Alison will like it too."

Wells decided to send a wedding invitation as a gift to Alison, who could not come to the founding festival because she was managing the now-vacant Titonsser Barony.

But upon hearing the news of Russell and Rose's marriage, Allison will most likely abandon everything and run straight to the capital.

"Uhm... That's a bit difficult. I guess I should send the wedding invitation as late as possible. Of course, the wedding will be held in the Imperial Palace, yes? Which salon should I entrust our dresses and tuxedos to?"

Wells was busy filling out documents in preparation for Emperor Tristan's wedding. 

Although he lacked ten bodies, at this moment, he was happier than ever.

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