Chapter 3.7
“Who are you, Evan?”
Rosette asked with caution. Evan only hesitated, not giving a straightforward answer. Rosette found this frustrating.
“…Rosette.”
“Answer me.”
“…I can’t tell you. Not yet.”
“Why?”
Evan gave a bitter smile and tapped his lips.
“Because it might be dangerous if I tell you now.”
“For whom? You? Or me?”
“For everyone in the world.”
Rosette was about to say she didn’t care about the danger, but her mouth closed. Everyone in the world? That scale?
“Then, when can you tell me?”
Evan smiled awkwardly at Rosette’s question.
“After the wheel has rolled.”
“…What does that mean?”
Rosette made a dissatisfied expression. Evan, finding her cute, placed his hand on her cheek. Evan’s warm body temperature transmitted through her cheek.
“I’ll definitely tell you when the time comes.”
Instead of pressing further, Rosette looked at Evan with anxious eyes and asked.
“Then… are you the same person now as when you were a dog? It sounds strange to say ‘person’… Can’t you tell me that either?”
Evan blinked at Rosette’s words and then smiled gently.
“Is that what you were worried about? Of course, I’m the same person. And I wasn’t a dog, I was a divine beast.”
Rosette stared at Evan as he said this. He didn’t seem to be lying. Relieved, Rosette exhaled deeply and collapsed on the bed.
“Haa… Then that’s fine.”
“Were you that worried? That I might be someone else?”
Evan asked with a sly smile. At his mischievous response, Rosette pouted and said.
“…Yes. You acted like a fool, then smart, back and forth, so I was anxious, not knowing from where you were deceiving me.”
Rosette glared and snapped. Evan, struck precisely where it hurt most, licked his lips and scratched his nape.
“It was difficult for me, too. It had been so long since I became human that sometimes my personality from when I was a dog, no, a divine beast would come out without me realizing, and because of my appearance, old habits would surface too. And…”
Evan was about to continue, but stopped. Rosette, who had been listening, made a puzzled expression. Evan stroked Rosette’s cheek and then grabbed her nose. Rosette looked surprised at suddenly having her nose pinched.
“When I acted like a human, you were scared.”
“Me?”
Rosette asked with a nasal voice, her nose pinched.
“Yes, and when I realized that and acted foolishly, only then would you feel at ease. I couldn’t sleep well at night because I was concerned about your frightened and confused expression.”
Though he seemed to have slept quite well, Rosette decided to quietly pretend not to notice.
“I didn’t know. That you were so concerned.”
She had thought she was the only one worrying and fretting, but realizing that wasn’t the case made her feel relieved.
“How could I not be concerned? You’re the being I care about the most.”
“…Huh?”
Rosette’s cheeks turned red at Evan’s direct statement.
“I misheard. Say it once more.”
“…No.”
Evan turned his head away sharply, looking sulky. Looking down at him like this made Rosette’s heart flutter.
“I’m the being you care about the most? Why? Why do you care about me?”
“You heard me already. I’m not telling you again.”
“Just say it once more. Please? Evan.”
Evan glanced at Rosette, whose eyes were sparkling with excitement, then closed his eyes and turned his gaze away again.
“I care because you’re precious to me.”
“…I’m precious to you?”
“Yes. Otherwise, why would I abandon my mission and…”
Evan hastily covered his mouth with his hand mid-sentence. Rosette tilted her head at Evan’s dismayed expression. He covered his eyes with his hand and spoke in a dejected tone.
“Rosette, you still have some seasickness medicine left, right?”
“Yes, there should be a little left. Why?”
“Take it now.”
“But I’m not feeling seasick right now?”
“…You’ll need it soon.”
As he said this, Evan pointed outside the window. The night sky, which had been clear enough to see stars, was now filled with dark clouds. Soon after, heavy raindrops began hitting the window one by one.
***
Rosette got up from her bed, looking half-dead. All sorts of items, including books, had fallen onto the carpet. It was fortunate that the lamp hadn’t fallen and caused a fire. Looking out the window, the sea was so calm it was hard to believe there had been a storm last night. Evan had been right. The rain had brought a typhoon with it, and the ship had rolled across the sea all night as though it were liquid rather than solid.
Her body had repeatedly risen and fallen with the massive waves, and she had nearly fallen out of bed several times, but each time Evan had held onto Rosette and endured. Other people seemed to be in similar situations, judging by the sounds of retching against walls, groaning, and calling out to God. Rosette’s stomach churned so badly she almost threw up the seasickness medicine. Thinking it would be harder to endure if she vomited, she swallowed back the bitter fluid that rose up and held on until dawn, when she collapsed into sleep, her consciousness fading completely.
When she woke up to the raging waves not long after falling asleep, Rosette heard Evan praying rapidly in a small voice, almost whispering. It was difficult to understand because it was in the ancient sacred language, but unlike the prayers calling out to God that occasionally came from the next room, this prayer seemed full of discontent. Suddenly afraid of Evan’s unfamiliar side, Rosette burrowed into his arms. Evan held Rosette and kissed her forehead, and she fell back asleep.
Rosette responded from inside to a weak knock. Levit entered with breakfast.
“Were you alright last night?”
Levit himself looked pale as he asked. Rosette shook her head and said.
“No, it was terrible.”
“Me too. I thought I was used to waves by now, but waves like yesterday’s were the first in my life. I thought I was going to die right then and there.”
Levit said with a disgusted expression. Rosette quietly closed her mouth, unable to shake the feeling that she had somehow contributed to last night’s waves. Like a warning not to try to uncover secrets. Rosette decided not to ask anything until Evan brought it up first.
“Looks like you used up all your seasickness medicine. Should I get you some more?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll buy it myself.”
“I won’t overcharge you this time.”
They looked at each other and giggled at Levit’s playful words. Evan got up groggily from bed at the sound of their voices.
“Good morning…”
“Good morning.”
Rosette sat at the table, absently dipping bread into thin soup. Levit approached her, seemingly concerned about her state.
“But there’s good news.”
“Good news?”
“Yes, we deviated slightly from our route because of yesterday’s storm.”
“Why is that good news…?”
Rosette asked with puzzlement. Levit wrinkled his nose bridge and smiled.
“Because of that, we’ll be docking at the Kingdom of Eldive for a while.”
“Kingdom of Eldive?”
Rosette asked with curiosity. She thought she knew all the major empires and kingdoms, but this was her first time hearing of the Kingdom of Eldive.
“Yes. It’s actually more of a large island than a kingdom, but it’s warm year-round and rich in resources. It’s a bit off the route, so I’ve never been there, but they say the Kingdom of Eldive is on the way from where we deviated back to our original route. So it seems we’ll resupply fuel and provisions there before departing again.”
“I wonder what kind of place it is? I’m curious.”
“I heard from my brother, who works with m,e that there are lots of corals and fish, and the water is so clear you can see them all. Trees are laden with fruits I’ve never seen before, and the beaches are all white sand that’s incredibly soft.”
Rosette imagined each thing Levit described. Taking a bite of fruit picked from a tree with sweet juice running down her arm, watching fish swimming among coral reefs while feeling soft sand sifting between her toes…
“…Miss? Are you feeling ill?”
“Leave her be. Her mind is already on that island.”
Evan stopped the worried Levit and picked up some bread. While Rosette was lost in her imagination, Evan and Levit conversed.
“By the way, you’ve got work too.”
“Huh? Me?”
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