Chapter 30
“Pumpkin Carriage”
In the early dawn, as if it were routine, Lukas leaned back against the headboard, drenched in cold sweat.
He had dreamed of Shedon again.
His little brother, crying and begging not to go, whose small body was torn to pieces in the end.
In the dream, Lukas tried to stop it—tried to warn him, to put a hand on his shoulder and speak. But no matter how hard he shouted, it didn’t matter.
Just like in real life, once something happens, you can’t take it back—even in a dream.
“Haah…”
As he tilted his head back and let out a final sigh, he finally felt awake again.
Of course, Shedon still sat heavily in his heart—whether it was a nightmare or reality made no difference.
Still, this time, he was grateful to have woken up earlier than usual. Because at the end of that nightmare, a woman appeared—
a goddess with pink hair and white wings.
[It’s time to wake up now.]
Her voice rang softly in his head.
She kissed his forehead—and then he woke up.
“A goddess, huh…”
Lukas had never believed in such things. But ever since he saw that woman’s illusion in his office, he couldn’t get her out of his head.
He didn’t even remember her face clearly. Yet whenever he saw her in his dreams, he felt an overwhelming urge to hold her, kiss her, and confess his love.
And that bothered him.
To feel something so intense for a mere hallucination. To want to say “I love you” to someone he didn’t even know—it all felt irrational.
Love? For someone like him?
“Still… I guess I should thank her for waking me this time.”
He scoffed quietly.
But just then, something caught his eye—a faint glow in the dark room.
It was the flowerpot Rosedale had given him—the one where he planted the three magic seeds.
The small sprouts had grown, glowing faintly with a warm light.
Without realizing it, he walked over and stared blankly at the three stems.
They looked like they were whispering:
“You’re not alone.”
He slowly reached out a hand.
“Don’t worry, Lukas.”
“I’ll make sure you’re happy.”
He could still hear her soft voice… see those bright red eyes that shone like the sun…
and those lips that bloomed like a rose.
Lukas smiled.
“I guess I didn’t just get my family back. I got you too.”
Every time he looked at this pot, he didn’t just think of his lost family. He thought of Rosedale too.
Her cheerful smile was the thing that kept him from being crushed under his guilt.
A goddess who woke him from his nightmares.
And in the nightmare that was his waking life… Rosedale was there.
Two women who lit up his darkness.
The goddess with pink hair was like the blazing midday sun—hot and intense, impossible to ignore.
But Rosedale… she was like sunrise.
The kind of warmth you don’t even notice at first.
Softly spreading light over the world.
And by the time you realize it, you’ve already been completely bathed in her red glow.
Something hot burns you, but something warm… it stays.
It’s the kind of thing you never want to let go.
“…I like that.”
Smiling slightly, Lukas pulled back the heavy curtains.
Moonlight spilled into his room like it had been waiting for the chance.
“Yeah. Rozi’s going to leave someday anyway.”
Because she would leave before he ever got too used to her light, he wasn’t afraid to give her his heart.
There’s no way he could fall in love in such a short time.
If he just thought of it as a momentary escape, that would be enough.
“When Rozi wakes up… I’ll go see her.”
Say good morning. See that just-woken-up face of hers.
And then, take her somewhere far away.
So they could be free again—just like the first day they met.
Looking forward to the day ahead, Lukas spent the whole dawn thinking about Rosedale…
…not knowing that soon, he would be completely drenched in sunlight again.
A Few Days Later…
It had been several days since magic potions and tools were distributed to commoners.
Exhausted from mass-producing everything, Rosedale collapsed on her sofa.
I just want to fall asleep like this…
She was about to close her eyes when—a knock came at the window.
A familiar voice called out:
“Rozi! Let’s go on vacation.”
A secret one, at that.
Before she could even be properly shocked, she’d already been dragged out the window by her thief-like guest.
Not long after escaping the palace, Rosedale stared at him with a dumbfounded face.
Because of what he was holding.
“Lukas… what’s that in your hands?”
“A pumpkin.”
He lifted the round pumpkin with both hands and gave her a cheeky grin.
“Let’s make a pumpkin carriage and escape—I mean, go on vacation.”
“…You just said ‘escape’ with your own mouth—”
“Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Lukas cut her off with a dazzling smile.
His emerald eyes sparkled, and his broad back kept bouncing with energy.
“Rozi, can you cast a spell on this pumpkin? Let’s turn it into a carriage.”
“…”
“Wait, where’s a duck? I need to turn it into a horse.”
“Should I make you some glass slippers while I’m at it?”
“You want glass slippers? I’ll buy them for you.”
Rosedale gave him a look like he’d lost his mind.
Tsk, typical greenhouse prince.
She shook her head. After all, she’d only read about the human world in books.
A fairy godmother who makes a pumpkin carriage for Cinderella? If Elpis found out, he’d throw her in jail for helping a human.
But humans, who only knew such stories from fairy tales, had no idea how serious it could be.
Lukas stifled a laugh as she looked at him like he was a clueless child.
“I feel giddy being alone with you. It’s… weird.”
Lukas had been trained in patience and cold rationality since he was young.
As someone who would one day rule over others, he had no time to be a child.
But then he met Rosedale—a girl who treated him like a person, not an emperor.
Maybe that’s why… when he was with her, he felt like a kid again.
Even remembered fairy tales with pumpkin carriages.
“Put that down.”
With a deep sigh, Rosedale told him to place the pumpkin on the ground.
Lukas did as she said, looking a bit disappointed.
But she smiled softly.
She understood why he made such a silly request and asked her to run away with him.
Because I’m his comfort.
He believed that when he was with her, he could take off the weight of the crown—at least for a little while.
And she knew… she was the only one he showed this side to.
Being someone’s one and only—it made her heart swell.
Golden light wrapped around the pumpkin, and soon, it transformed into a white carriage with huge wheels.
“Rozi!”
Lukas’s mouth dropped open in pure joy.
“If His Majesty wishes it, his one and only mage must deliver.”
His excitement made Rosedale grin, too. Her actions grew more eager as she looked around.
“If we don’t have a duck to turn into a horse… should I use a rock?”
“A rock?”
“It might look a little lifeless, but it’ll work. Or maybe there’s a bug around here to use as a coachman…”
“Hahaha!”
Lukas laughed out loud as Rosedale got more and more into it.
“Thanks, Rozi. But this is enough.”
“Huh? But what about the horse—”
“Already taken care of.”
He disappeared into the woods and soon returned with two real horses.
“I hid them here earlier, before going to find you. For our escape.”
“You said ‘escape’ again…”
“Alright, let’s hook up the horses and get going.”
Lukas attached the horses to the carriage, brushing past her protest.
And Rosedale, finally accepting this strange little vacation, took the reins from him.
“I’ll drive. You sit inside.”
“Why?”
“You’re the emperor. What if someone sees your face?”
“Good point.”
He paused for a second—then stretched out his arms.
“Rozi, can you cast a disguise spell on me?”
“Now it’s serious.”
Sighing like she had no choice, Rosedale poked his cheek with her finger.
“Done.”
“That’s it?”
Lukas looked in the reflection on the shiny carriage. His face looked the same.
He gave her a suspicious look.
“Rozi… are you trying to get me arrested?”
“Pfft—of course not.”
She let out a deflated chuckle.
“I didn’t change your face. I just made it so others won’t recognize you. Your looks are too good to mess with.”
“Thanks.”
Lukas believed her instantly, and Rosedale couldn’t help but smile sweetly.
She even opened the carriage door for him.
“Please board, Your Majesty.”
“Now I feel like Cinderella.”
He chuckled awkwardly as he climbed in.
“Hey, men can be Cinderella too—especially if they’re runaway emperors.”
“Then you must be my fairy godmother.”
“Nope. I’m your fairy friend.”
And she meant it.
Lukas didn’t know it yet.
Rosedale climbed into the coach seat proudly and grabbed the reins—but stopped just as she was about to go.
She got down, knocked on the carriage door.
“Rozi?”
When Lukas opened it, she stood there awkwardly, eyes darting.
She whispered,
“I… don’t know the way.”
“…Pfft.”
She’d confidently insisted on driving, but now looked embarrassed.
As Lukas laughed, Rosedale puffed up her cheeks.
“It’s not that I don’t know! I was just deciding the best route.”
“I know. There’s nothing you don’t know, Rozi.”
Lukas got out of the carriage.
“You like riding, right? Let’s skip the carriage. Let’s just ride together.”
“Okay!”
Rosedale smiled brightly.
They took the carriage apart, released the magic, and returned the pumpkin to nature.
Then, climbing onto their horses, they gently kicked their heels—
And just like that, their runaway vacation began.
