Episode 99

The sudden death of Lady Conway, the Duke’s wife, had significant repercussions in noble society. Externally, her death was attributed to a deteriorating health condition, but the reality was different.

A flaw in the wheel assembly of the carriage she was riding in caused the accident on a downhill slope. The speeding carriage was violently jolted and swerved to the side, causing serious injuries to Lady Conway. She suffered for several days before passing away.

“Under no circumstances should you speak to anyone about the carriage accident.” 

The Duke ordered all those in his household. Young Jasper was also forced to keep quiet.

Duke Conway believed that magic-related technology should be strictly limited, a conclusion he reached after studying magic engineering in depth.

He feared that the technology would disrupt tradition, destabilize societal structures, and undermine the gentry system. Preventing this outcome was essential in his eyes, as he believed it to be his duty to safeguard the empire, a responsibility passed down through generations.

As part of this effort, the Duke used the supposed danger of automobiles, which were based on magic engineering, as a pretext to push for road law reforms. However, when it became known that his wife had died in a carriage accident, it weakened his argument.

Ultimately, the family chose to downplay Lady Conway’s death, and her memory was rapidly erased from their lives. It was as if she had never existed, with everyone eager to erase her presence.

Following these events, a more pliable and obedient Ethan began emulating his father’s words and actions, growing into an adult far more quickly than expected.

Jasper lost interest in everything but wielding a sword, often becoming irritable.

Duty. Honor. Responsibility. Damn duty!

What exactly is the noble, perfect, and elegant life that his father emphasized so much? 

No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed like a mirage or hypocrisy. Just like the carriage that the Duchess was riding.

The Duke’s carriage was splendid. It appeared that way on the surface, but there were unnoticed flaws, and that led to an accident.

There is nothing perfect, at least among things made by humans. Everyone just thinks what’s good for themselves. 

The world is full of flaws, and there is no one trying to fix them. When young Jasper was lost in this disillusionment, he met that girl.

“Just wait a moment… Oh, it seems the lid opens. Can I try fixing it?”

“Look at this. I fixed it!”

That girl repaired his mother’s only keepsake.

She took the broken music box lamp that everyone had advised her to discard, and in just a few minutes, she brought it back to life.

The lamp sparkled, and its warm light shone on the girl’s red hair. Jasper smiled for the first time in months since his mother’s death.

Since there is no such thing as perfection in the world, there has to be someone who constantly fixes and covers up imperfections.

Rose Bell was that person. Living a life full of flaws, far from perfection, she knew how to smile perfectly lovingly.

“Rose….”

Jasper whispered in his sleep. A faint smile hung on the corner of his mouth.

* * *

Rose hurriedly ran out clutching a small trunk. The damp and salty smell of the sea permeated her nostrils, and she suddenly realized that she was in Valloch Harbor.

Rose went straight to the hospital Briley had told her about. It was her first time in the Republic, but she didn’t have time to explore.

‘I didn’t expect to be in the Republic like this.’

Rose’s face turned pale. Spending a few days on the ship was not as easy as she had thought. Amid her worries about Jasper, she felt queasy, and she couldn’t even eat.

She felt that seeing Jasper would help her sort out the various emotions and anxieties that had been boiling within her. Rose arrived at the hospital lobby, with her hair disheveled by the sea breeze.

Unlike the Empire, many hospitals in the Republic were operated as public facilities. In major cities, there was at least one comprehensive ward with multiple patient rooms.

Rose was momentarily overwhelmed by the grandeur of the comprehensive ward, but she quickly approached the receptionist.

“I’m here to find a patient named Jasper Conway. Where should I go?”

“Just wait a moment.”

While the receptionist rummaged through paperwork, Rose anxiously chewed on her lip.

“Um… I couldn’t find anyone by the name of Jasper Conway here.”

“What?”

Briley had clearly said this was the hospital. Rose’s wide eyes darted around. The receptionist examined the documents a little more.

“What’s your name?”

“Rose Bell.”

“Here’s a note. It was left by someone named ‘Bry’… it says that if a red-haired woman named ‘Rose’ comes, I should give her this address.”

The receptionist handed Rose a small note. The note contained the address of a certain hotel.

‘So, he moved to a hotel.’

Leaving the hospital likely meant that Jasper had regained consciousness. Only then did Rose relax slightly and take a long breath.

“Thank you.”

Rose politely thanked the receptionist and then proceeded to find the address written on the note. Her arms, which held the small trunk, were beginning to ache, but she continued to walk without stopping.

Suddenly, she felt strangely overwhelmed by the fact that she had come to this foreign land alone and was frantically searching for Jasper. The mere reality of crossing the ocean and arriving here seemed surreal.

‘I… I really do like Jasper.’

Rose realized as she dragged her tired body. She was astonished by how deeply she could be affected by someone who wasn’t even her family.

They had said that a bullet had pierced Jasper’s shoulder. Just imagining the scene made Rose feel a shiver running down her shoulder.

‘It must have hurt terribly. Still, I’m glad he seems to be okay… but what if there are lingering effects that prevent him from using his arm for a while?’

Not knowing Jasper’s exact condition led to a flurry of thoughts. She had a multitude of questions she wanted to ask. But for now, just seeing his usual mischievous face would put her mind at ease.

Anxious, Rose took a wrong turn a couple of times and finally arrived at the hotel. The humid air had caused sweat to bead on her forehead.

With no time to even tidy her unruly hair, Rose headed straight for the elevator. The note Briley had left contained the hotel’s name and the room number.

Inside the state-of-the-art elevator, using magic engineering technology, Rose pressed the 5th-floor button without her usual fascination for the technology. Her sole focus was on Jasper.

A short while later, Rose got off the elevator and headed to room 507. She placed the trunk she had been carrying on the floor and knocked on the hotel room door with the back of her hand.

Knock, knock, a cheerful knocking sound echoed, but there was no response from inside. Rose knocked again and spoke.

“Jasper… Are you here? It’s me, Rose.”

However, there was no response for quite some time. Rose’s face slowly transformed into a look of distress.

‘Did I come to the wrong place? No, that can’t be… The address is right.’

She had come to this foreign country with only one small trunk, all to see Jasper. She didn’t know a single person in this unfamiliar land.

Anxious, Rose paced back and forth in front of the door.

‘Maybe I should try contacting the exchange Briley informed me about last time. Oh, what if something suddenly happened to Jasper’s health… No, I shouldn’t think like that.’

She tried to calm her mind, but it was difficult. 

Rose, who had not slept properly for days and was exhausted, was at her weakest.

Her full lips quivered, and moisture began to well up in her large pupils. It felt like tears were about to fall. The worries and anxieties that had accumulated over time burst out all at once and engulfed Rose.

“Jasper…”

Rose, with teary and pleading eyes, knocked on the door once more. And then it happened. After several repeated knocks, the once-silent door suddenly swung open.

“Who on earth… Rose?”

Thud.

At that moment, a teardrop that had been clinging to the corner of Rose’s eye fell to the ground. It was Jasper. Jasper was standing right in front of her.

As soon as Rose faced Jasper, the tension that had gripped her body since the beginning dissipated. Although Jasper didn’t look as well as he usually did, he seemed unharmed. Tears streamed down her face with profound relief.

She had many questions she wanted to ask, but when she finally saw Jasper, her lips trembled. After hearing about his gunshot wound, all the countless worries and concerns she had heard vanished.

With a furrowed brow, Jasper opened the door and came out, looking surprised and bewildered. Jasper, still groggy, mumbled with a bewildered expression.

“Am I still dreaming? This is strange. Why are you here…”

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Rose completely let go of her emotions and burst into tears.

“J-Jasper…”

“What on earth happened… Are you crying? Oh… please don’t cry. Hmm?”

Jasper, looking confused, grabbed Rose’s wrist and pulled her into the room. As the door closed, Jasper’s thick fingers delicately brushed away the tears from the corners of Rose’s eyes.

“Why… why are you crying?”

Jasper desperately wiped away the tears, looking at Rose with an unbelieving expression. Rose sobbed uncontrollably for a moment, then noticed that there was a bandage wrapped around Jasper’s shoulder under his clothes.

“Oh, you’re really hurt…”

Rose’s crying intensified. Jasper patted her cheek with the back of his hand, his voice sounding bewildered.

“How did you get here?”

“Briley… she informed me through a message. That you got, got shot…”

“What? Oh, I told her not to say anything.”

Jasper furrowed his brows, muttering to himself, and Rose’s heart sank as soon as she heard it. She spoke with a wounded voice.

“Why…? Were you trying to hide it from me? You’re so badly hurt…”

Jasper fumbled and paced quickly.

“Huh? No, I was trying to tell you. But, you look like you’ve been crying a lot. Stop crying.”

Jasper attempted to steer the conversation, but when he saw Rose’s expression, he fell silent again.