Chapter 233 - Chapter 117 (1) - It is Your Destiny

[Side Story: The Ninth Episode]

“Oh my goodness. You are saying you fell in love with someone without knowing who she is?” Walter looked at Rothesay with eyes that expressed how pathetic he considered the situation.

Rothesay avoided his gaze as he proceeded to make up some kind of an excuse, “There was not even enough time for me to be able to ask for a name. She left the scene right away.”

“How did you meet her?”

“On the way over here, the carriage faced a bit of an… there had been an accident, and she was riding in the carriage opposite me.”

“Oh my, is this not a little romantic?…” Walter drawled as he put down the wet towel on his forehead, almost throwing it to the side. Whatever the case, he found the whole situation very amusing. He asked, “Do you really not have any clue who she might be?”

“She has red hair that burns like a burst of fire, and eyes that are bright like the sun…”

“…Do not add in all those additional sweet nothings. Are you writing a novel or something?”

“Red hair with golden amber eyes.”

“That is better because it is so simple.” Walter smiled and came up with a solution, “Listen to me, Ro. I have a good idea.”

“What is it?”

“It will soon be celebrations for the Founding Day, am I right?”

“Yes, you are correct.”

“All of the ladies will be attending that event on that day. Like any other social gathering, it is a great place to find a bridegroom, after all.”

“That… should be the case?”

“So that is why you need to go out there this time.”

“But it is not like I will be certain to see her again just because I attend that day.”

“But if you keep yourself stuck in the corner of your room, you will not even have any sort of chance to see her again. The probability would be an absolute zero.”

That was true. Rothesay nodded, his face showing that he conceded to this sentiment. “It has been a long while since I have attended something like that.”

“That sure is something to be proud of, boy.” Walter gave him a scolding with a hoarse voice, “If you had attended events like that all over, then you might have been able to meet her earlier.”

“Perhaps that might have happened,” Rothesay replied, his voice revealing his blasé attitude about that possibility. He then asked Walter, “Do you think she will come out, for certain?”

“Mhm. If she is not someone who is an outsider who can even surpass you, she should attend,” Walter chuckled as he answered, and continued, “Rather than that, what will you do if she has a fiance? Or if she is already a married woman?”

“Well…” Walter had asked him that in a light manner, but Rothesay was seriously worried about that aspect.

Walter was surprised by his friend’s unexpected seriousness and exclaimed, “Why are you worrying about something like that already?! Without knowing anything at all?”

“That is true,” Rothesay acquiesced with a clear voice. He continued, “I have to aim for the celebration of the Founding Day first…”

—–

“I wonder where she might be…” Rothesay, who had joined in on the festivities for the Founding Day Celebration Party after a long interval of not attending, felt that everything about this event was unfamiliar. Still, he had actually attended the celebration a few times in the past, but it must have been a long time ago, since he could not remember very much. Well, since the person sitting on the Imperial Throne itself had changed in that time, the format of the parties being held might have also changed. He had never participated in any gatherings, except for the coronation party that was held when Lucio had been crowned the new Emperor.

“Do not roll your eyes everywhere like that! You look like you are cross-eyed.”

Rothesay responded neatly to Walter’s complaints with, “Be silent!”

“How will you be able to find her among this many people? It would probably be faster to find an oasis in the desert! Or to search for a needle on the beach!”

Abandoning his friend who was pouring out all kinds of grievances, Rothesay headed in a different direction on his own. He thought he would be able to find her, that he would surely be able to find her. Her physical appearance was relatively easy to notice.

Especially the hair. He could clearly recall her red hair. It was a hue that could be discerned easily, even from a distance. So he just had to keep his eyes peeled and look around a little more. ‘A little bit more…’

“Ah!” Someone released a shout and fell to the floor.

At the same time, Rothesay felt the shock from the impact and stumbled back. With confused eyes, he surveyed the person who had been the other party in the collision. Uh…?

A person who was familiar, no, someone he had wanted to see so very much had fallen and collapsed on the floor. Perhaps she had been holding a cocktail, as the dress she had on was wet, the darker parts clearly being noticeable, but fortunately her glass didn’t seem to be broken.

She seemed annoyed by her messed-up appearance as she groaned, “Ugh…”

So, if there was something like destiny, then this had to be it!

He spoke to her with a trembling voice, “Are you alright, my Lady?”

The woman heard him and naturally raised her head; Rothesay felt his heart pounding violently her every movement.

The woman saw his face and soon shouted without realizing, “Uh?!”

After some time passed, she called out in remembrance, “That time, with that carriage! Am I right?”

‘So you do remember it.’ Leaving only that fact in his mind to focus on, Rothesay laughed sharply. He politely reached out his hand to her, and said in a friendly voice, “Please grab my hand first and rise up, my Lady.”

“Ah… Yes.” The woman gently grabbed hold of the hand he extended and stood up.

She did not seem to weigh much, as he barely had to put any strength in his hand as he helped her up. ‘Why are you so light,’ Rothesay wondered to himself internally.

He swiftly apologized to her in a soft voice, “I am sorry, my Lady. I should have been more careful, but it seems I have brought trouble to you once again.”

“No, my Lord. I was also negligent, as I was not being careful. I will be taking my leave…”

‘No, you cannot!’ He screamed inside. She was trying to run away from him again. If he let her get away from here now, he would be the biggest fool in the whole world. He could not let her just go this time. At least, at the very least, he had to learn what her name was. He hastily tried to stop her, “Wait a moment.”

‘Good job, Ro!’ As Rothesay admired himself for his spurt of courage, the woman looked up at him with a confused expression. Rothesay continued with a gentle smile, “This is also some kind of fated union.”

“…”

“Do they not say it is a relationship when just clothes touch in passing?” Rothesay introduced himself with a shaky voice, “My name is Rothesay Isle Lee Bradington.”

“Petronilla Laura Les Grochester… is my name.”

‘Petronilla.’ Her name was also very pretty. Rather, Grochester, why was Grochester so familiar…?

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED