Episode 29
“I’m glad someone remembers me. I was quite active a long time ago.”
Autumn clapped the dust off her hands and stood up from her seat.
As if realizing she was about to leave, Oslo whimpered pitifully and clung to her, his gaze tugging at her feet.
“I’ll play with you more next time.”
Whimper.
As if understanding his master’s intent, Oslo returned to his usual spot.
Autumn watched Oslo’s retreating figure until he disappeared and then turned toward the higher balcony.
“Anyway, it’s fascinating. Oslo was an actor I really liked when I was little.”
“…Since you were little, huh?”
Unconsciously, he kept touching the arm that she had leaned against earlier.
“Ugh, again!”
Autumn wanted to smack her mouth for speaking her mind so carelessly.
“If that’s the case, it must be a name you haven’t heard in a long time. Yet you remember it well.”
“That’s true. Maybe…”
Whether Rosalyn liked the actor Huddy Oslo as a child, or if unlike her sister who lived immersed in drama, she admired Queen Charlotte—he had no way of knowing.
> “A year from now, I won’t see him again, so say whatever you want. It doesn’t matter.”
> “Oh, really?”
> “I’ve always avoided telling people about the real me. So even if you’re seen as a liar, it’s fine—as long as you don’t openly spread rumors.”
Well, who cares.
Maybe her sister liked him too. And maybe, she herself…
“I’m leaving.”
In the stillness that followed, Autumn’s quiet confession created a ripple far bigger than she expected.
> Oops, I let my real thoughts slip out again…
It felt like she’d exposed something she didn’t want anyone to know. Autumn lowered her gaze to the ground.
Randell, watching her silently, narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth slowly.
As if he hadn’t heard her soft murmur, he asked again, “Pardon? I didn’t quite catch that.”
“Ah—no, it’s nothing!” Autumn startled, hurriedly changing the subject.
“That… It was such a shame when that brilliant actor vanished from the stage like a shooting star, right?”
“Indeed.”
He brushed his chin lightly and continued.
“Many still thought he was at the peak of his career when he retired. That’s why it was all the more regrettable.”
Rosalyn will leave.
After curing her illness, and once a year has passed in this empire, on the day she inherits her massive fortune—she’ll leave and never return.
“But perhaps that’s also why he’s been perfectly preserved in people’s memories.”
Randell’s low voice strangely weighed on Autumn’s heart.
> “So, Autumn. Think about it while I’m gone. When this is all over, come with me.”
> “Let’s start over somewhere no one knows us. Outside this rigid empire, we’ll be freer.”
> “And there, I can support your dreams without holding back.”
> “Is that really what my sister wants too?”
Rosalyn seemed to have no regrets about the life she built here.
But Autumn… still hesitated.
Leaving the empire she’d lived in her whole life wasn’t an easy decision.
> “Let’s not overthink it just yet.”
She shook her head hard to clear her thoughts.
There was still time to worry later.
For now, she just had to focus on acting well—on not getting caught pretending to be Rosalyn.
> “Get a grip.”
Whatever came, if she did her job perfectly, things would work out.
As those thoughts tangled in her head, the window above her suddenly burst open.
“Young Master, dinner is ready. Please come inside!”
“That stupid ‘Young Master’ again…”
“Ah, Hudson! I was just getting hungry!”
Randell frowned as if tired of hearing the same thing, but his grumbling was quickly drowned by Autumn’s cheerful outburst as she grabbed her dress and ran out.
She suddenly stopped and looked back at him.
“By the way, is your arm okay? You’ve been rubbing it since earlier.”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
Still rubbing his arm, Randell kept a deliberate distance between them as they walked.
> “Huh? Isn’t this in front of Master Randell’s room?”
Holding a candle, Autumn was lingering on the staircase leading to Randell’s study, holding the handkerchief he’d lent her.
But from the opposite side of the stairs, she heard footsteps.
Step, step.
> “I’ll give it to him later.”
Just as she turned to go back up to the fifth floor—
> “It’s me.”
A familiar soft voice froze Autumn in her tracks.
Curious, she quietly pressed against the wall and peeked.
There, in her nightgown, was Caitlyn knocking on Randell’s bedroom door.
Moments later, Randell opened the door without hesitation and gently pulled her in. The door closed behind them.
> “W-What did I just witness?”
The candle flickered.
Autumn quickly turned away, pressing close to the wall and clutching the handkerchief as she tiptoed upstairs.
—
“Did you call me?”
“Why do you always come into my bedroom?”
“The study’s boring. Besides, I really like the sofa in your room.”
“You know the two rooms are connected anyway.”
“Aren’t you worried people will misunderstand?”
“You’ve never said anything before.”
Caitlyn teased him.
“What, are you trying to impress someone now?”
“Caitlyn, I want to go with you on your trip this time.”
“…Really?”
She rushed to his side, studying his expression.
Though he looked the same, she could tell from years of knowing him that something felt… subdued.
Carefully, she asked, “Is it Sir Hazelland calling you?”
Randell didn’t respond, but his silence confirmed the answer.
“Ugh, that grumpy old man. Why can’t he come here himself instead of dragging you around?”
“I was planning to visit him anyway.”
“You always say that.”
“…I heard you’ve been associating with gamblers in the capital.”
“They’re not gamblers. They’re my clients. Maybe even one of Dad’s ideal sons-in-law.”
Randell calmly, yet with a hint of worry, advised her.
“Be careful.”
“Pfft.”
“And just now—watch your words around that lady.”
“Tsk. If you’re that worried, you should just live with me.”
“Go. It’s late.”
Gesture.
He motioned toward the door.
“We’ll probably need to leave by tomorrow afternoon. So go back to your room.”
“Nag, nag.”
Grumbling, Caitlyn turned toward the door but then stopped.
“Still, let me make one thing clear.”
She paused, dragging her heels slowly across the quiet study.
Her footsteps echoed loudly.
“You always treat me like a kid.”
“You know I don’t trust people easily.”
As she slowly circled his study, as if looking for something that caught her interest—
Creak.
She noticed a statue of a goddess holding scales on the shelf.
With a flick of her finger, she tapped it.
“People talk about destiny and love and things more precious than money…”
She untied her pouch and placed a single gold coin on the scale.
Clink.
The side with the coin immediately sank.
Watching this, Caitlyn smiled brightly.
“What could be more certain than this?”
She retrieved the coin and muttered,
“I really wonder how people define things they can’t even see.”
“…You haven’t changed.”
Randell was back at his desk, sorting through documents.
He glanced at her over his glasses and returned to his work.
“You haven’t changed.”
Randell was back at his desk, sorting through documents.
He glanced at her over his glasses and returned to his work.
“So stay just the way you are too.”
Rustle.
He continued organizing the papers busily.
“I trust you, brother.”
