On the day some time after Rosedale came to the human world…
The scenery of the streets she stepped out into—after leaving the imperial palace—was vastly different from when she first arrived.
All of it was thanks to her newfound diligence and Lucas’s support.
“Mother… Mother woke up!”
“To see my son walk again—oh, thank the heavens!”
Magical medicine healed the deep internal scars left by war and even erased traces of poverty-born plagues.
“Now that we have magic lamps, we can keep our stalls open even late into the night. There are even nighttime festivals now, and the streets are full of people.”
“I’m most grateful for the magic items that help with heat and cold. Hopefully, fewer people will die from them now.”
The magical tools she had created returned the conveniences of the age of the mages—over a hundred years ago—back to humanity.
Thanks to historical records, humans had long been familiar with magic and easily adapted to the magical civilization.
“But… is it really okay to give away something this valuable for free?”
“Once the urgent needs are met, they’ll probably start selling it. Besides, what’s being distributed now is stuff necessary for survival, right?”
“Exactly. It’s not about choices—it’s about giving away essentials for free. She could’ve made a fortune selling them instead.”
“In any case, His Majesty is truly generous.”
Lucas, the emperor who endured the invasions of the allied nations and ultimately unified the continent—was known to the aristocracy as the Bloody Emperor for how he dealt with spies and assassins.
But to the people of the empire, he was different. He emptied the royal treasury for postwar recovery, and thus stories of his benevolence spread like wildfire.
And to top it off, he even trained a new magician when the world thought magic had vanished. Praise for him was inevitable.
“Speaking of which, that one and only magician—aren’t they amazing?”
“From what I hear, she’s probably more powerful than the archmages of old.”
“Didn’t she use something called Aether or whatever to turn an entire diamond mine into a magic stone mine?”
“Yep. Thanks to that, now we can make magical tools without needing magicians.”
Magic stones were gems that naturally held mana. Possessing one was like having a magician on hand.
No wonder even commoners knew Rosedale’s name.
“I also heard that most magicians can only use one element—like water or fire—but this one can use them all?”
“Lady Rosedale is a miracle. A gift from the gods.”
Though her face was still unknown, everyone praised Rosedale.
Her sincerity, as she worked selflessly for Iveria despite her power, was admired.
Among the crowd were two listeners blending in, hearing their own praises firsthand.
“They’re talking about you, Rozy.”
Lucas smiled at Rosedale, whose face flushed shyly.
“They’re saying you’re a miracle. Must be because they’re my citizens—they think just like me.”
“Stop teasing.”
Rosedale gave Lucas a playful glare and gently punched his arm.
It was a perfect night for a walk, with the festival in full swing.
Wearing common clothes Lucas had prepared, they both blended in naturally.
So much so that wherever they went, they overheard stories of themselves—Lucas and Rosedale.
Rosedale, who at first lifted her chin proudly, eventually blushed from embarrassment at hearing it so often.
Lucas chuckled softly.
“I’m not teasing. If anything, ‘miracle’ doesn’t even do you justice.”
Holding her small hand—one that didn’t even cause him pain with a punch—Lucas smiled sweetly.
“Look behind you, Rozy.”
She turned around.
Bathed in the light of magic lamps, the nighttime festival was in full bloom.
Street stalls were packed, and children ran through the darkness without fear of tripping on hidden stones.
“You gave them back the night.”
Lucas’s whisper tickled her heart.
“Thank you, Rozy. Truly.”
“…Okay.”
Seeing the sincerity in Lucas’s eyes, Rosedale smiled back brightly.
“Speaking of which, Rozy, how strong is your magic exactly?”
“Hmm. I’m not sure. There’s no one to compare to. But basically, I’m good at everything—except the things I can’t do.”
She shrugged proudly.
“Then it’d be quicker to ask what you can’t do. Could you tell me?”
Lucas asked, not wanting to ask anything of her in the future that might trouble her.
“Let’s see… First thing that comes to mind is reviving the dead. That’s impossible. So is healing someone moments from death. That’s the domain of the World Tree.”
“World Tree?”
“Yes. Also called the Tree of Life. All life in every world comes from its power. My fath— I mean, the Fairy King protects it in the fairy realm.”
She almost boasted that she’d inherit it someday but quickly corrected herself with a sweet smile.
“So my magic can only heal to a point—it can’t bring life back.”
“I always thought things like the World Tree were just myths… but hearing you say it, I feel like it really exists.”
“It does! The gods, fairies, the World Tree—everything. I can’t show them all to you, but they do exist.”
Lucas’s casual comment had her raising her voice in defense.
As a fairy and divine messenger, she found human skepticism frustrating.
“We even saw that magical beast that was only supposed to be a legend—and fought it.”
“True.”
Lucas nodded slowly.
After seeing a magical beast with his own eyes, even the stories of gods couldn’t be dismissed as mere myth.
If gods truly existed and had sealed away the Demon King a thousand years ago, what did the return of magical beasts today mean?
“Oh, speaking of beasts, that black panther statue we brought back—”
Lucas began to say something but stopped himself.
“Never mind.”
“Spoilsport.”
She gave a small, puffed laugh instead of prying. Then asked something else.
“I’ve always wondered—why did magicians disappear in the first place?”
“About 100 years ago, a huge earthquake struck the north where the Magic Tower was. After that, one by one, magicians started losing their powers. Eventually, not a single one could use magic.”
“An earthquake?”
Now that she thought about it, the human world’s aether was strangely lacking in mana.
Sword Masters still existed, but no one could wield magic. Something didn’t add up.
Just as she was about to dwell on that, Lucas interrupted.
“But Rozy, you always said playing was your favorite thing. Still feel the same now that we’re out here?”
“Huh?”
“Let’s play. We snuck out, didn’t we? Let’s not waste it.”
He held out his hand.
Behind him, the noisy, colorful scene of the festival stretched out.
Just recently, she’d only read about such things in books—and now it was right in front of her.
No longer a far-off world. Just one step, and she could be part of it.
And even without taking that step alone, someone was already reaching for her.
The one person who could make Rosedale—a fairy—feel normal in the human world.
“You’re right.”
Rosedale took Lucas’s hand without hesitation.
As if made to be held, it fit perfectly—comfortably.
“Then shall we?”
“Let’s.”
Hand in hand—and gripping tighter—they stepped into the night festival.
“Wow, there’s so much I’ve never seen!”
The night festival offered new experiences beyond the usual daytime stalls—portrait booths, carnival games, and more.
But food was what drew Rosedale’s eye the most.
“We have to try that!”
Dragging Lucas—her walking wallet—she darted from one food stand to another.
Lucas almost dislocated his arm a few times but followed her without a word.
He even pointed something out before she could.
“Rozy, look. Candy apples.”
“Really? Let’s go!”
Only after clutching a candy apple—meant to be slowly savored—did she finally take a break from raiding food stands.
As they strolled, Lucas smiled watching her delight in the candy.
“I guess cute people just love candy apples.”
He muttered to himself—then instantly froze, realizing what he’d said.
Rosedale tilted her head.
“Who else liked them?”
“…Shedon. Iveria’s second prince. My little brother.”
At that name, Rosedale remembered what Cain had told her—about Lucas’s brother and his family, who died in the war.
“Was he… cute?”
“Yeah. So much so, no one could help loving him.”
Lucas answered with a bittersweet smile.
“I think he was five when he suddenly stopped calling me ‘brother’ and started saying ‘your highness.’ Said he was grown up now.”
“…”
Rosedale listened quietly to his lonely recollection.
“Even when acting all grown-up, he couldn’t resist candy apples. He’d still sneak them later, worried it made him look childish.”
“…”
“He was always smiling, even during the war. So bright that just being near him made you forget the danger… Even at the end.”
Suddenly, Lucas stopped walking.
Rosedale also halted and looked at him.
No magic lamp could light the shadow that had fallen over his eyes.
Even if she held his hand, it felt useless. He still stood alone, in the depths of despair.
“I killed him.”
That once-soft voice now leaked a deep sorrow.
“That sweet boy—I took him away from everyone.”
“What do you mean—”
Before Rosedale could ask, a sinister chill ran down both their spines.
“Rozy. Did you feel that?”
“Yeah. What was that?”
Whatever it was, it had already vanished when they looked around.
It was the same ominous energy as when they faced the magical beast—but far, far stronger.
So powerful, even Lucas, a Sword Master, and Rosedale, daughter of the Fairy King, shuddered.
They exchanged glances and nodded.
No words were needed. Their steps turned in the same direction.
Toward a deserted, dark alley.
