Chapter 135

“How did it go?” Enria asked the moment she saw Roseanne return from the Count’s estate.

Roseanne smiled softly as she watched Enria practically fly down the stairs before even exchanging greetings. She felt a wave of gratitude toward Enria for worrying about her as if it were her own business. Though she hadn’t realized it at the time, facing her father to ask for permission to date Tearen had been a significant burden. She had known her father would oppose them and couldn’t help but worry that Tearen might lose heart in the face of that resistance.

“It ended well,” Roseanne said with a smile, causing Enria’s face to brighten instantly as she clasped her hands together as if in prayer.

“Oh my goodness! Congratulations, Rose! I’m so happy for you!”

Seeing Enria’s genuine joy made Roseanne feel a bit choked up. She took Enria’s hands and gave her a radiant smile. The two walked toward the drawing room hand-in-hand, continuing their conversation.

“Did your father give his consent easily?”

“Yes.”

“How? H-hey, it’s not like Lord Tearen used his illusion magic on him, right?”

Enria looked around worriedly and whispered the question, making Roseanne burst into laughter. Since they had both gone into this fearing an absolute rejection, it wasn’t a stretch for Enria to imagine such a thing.

“No, no. We received proper permission.”

“That’s such a relief. I’m truly happy for you, Rose.”

Enria let out a deep sigh of relief and squeezed Roseanne’s hands even tighter, beaming at her.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to your support.”

“Now you two can just focus on loving each other without any worries, right?”

“Yes. Actually, even now, I can’t tell if this is a dream or reality.”

“It’s reality. Be as happy as you want!”

Enria gave a playful wink, then suddenly let out an “Ah!” as if a thought had just struck her.

“Right, a double date! Should we start with a double date?”

“A double date?”

“Yeah! Since you’re a brand-new couple, things might still feel a little awkward between just the two of you, right? Oh, or am I wrong?”

Enria looked at Roseanne, wondering if she had overstepped, but Roseanne shook her head.

“No, you’re right. To be honest, I still don’t quite know what I’m supposed to do next.”

Roseanne admitted that while they were officially a couple now, she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to act around Tearen. Enria suggested that starting with a double date might help break the ice before they spent time alone.

“Yeah, I think that would be less awkward and a lot of fun,” Roseanne agreed, her excitement growing as she suggested they look for a place to go together. Just then, Belona entered the drawing room. Overhearing the word ‘double date,’ she turned to Roseanne.

“A double date? Did things work out well?”

“Yes, thankfully.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful news.”

“Thank you.”

“Ah, so that’s why you’re planning a double date?” Belona asked as she sat on the sofa, pointing her index finger back and forth between Enria and Roseanne.

“Have you ever been on one?” Roseanne asked, picking up on a hint of experience in Belona’s tone.

“Me? Yes, I have… Why, a few years back they were quite the trend. Couples would get together for parties and trips.”

“Is that so? I had no idea.”

“Well, you aren’t part of the Magic Tower… and Lady Roseanne, you said this is your first time dating, just like your brother.”

Belona added that since they hadn’t dated before, they likely wouldn’t have been interested in such things even if they were part of the Tower.

“What was it like?” Enria asked, then bit her lip. She realized the experience likely involved memories of Groen and worried it might be painful for Belona to recall.

Reading Enria’s mind, Belona smiled faintly.

“I wasn’t that close with my other colleagues, so I actually preferred spending time alone with Groen. Plus, by the time we did double dates, we had been together for almost two years, so there was no awkwardness left between us.”

Both women looked at Belona in surprise at how naturally she brought up Groen’s name, as if she were at peace with it.

“Um… are you okay?” Roseanne asked cautiously.

Belona’s expression softened. It was a smile that still held a trace of pain, but she nodded.

“It still hurts. But I feel like if I intentionally avoid thinking of him or saying his name, the wound I have will only fester more.”

She explained that Rahar had told her to just be in pain if it hurts—that only then would the wound have a chance to heal.

“He said the more I hide it, the more it will just tear open.”

Seeing the oddly comfortable smile on Belona’s face as she thought of Rahar, Enria reflexively looked at Roseanne. She wanted to suggest that Belona and Rahar join the double date, but she hesitated. They weren’t a couple, and she worried it might be awkward for them to be squeezed between two established pairs. She also didn’t want to make Belona uncomfortable by pressuring her.

But while Enria was swallowing her words, Roseanne suddenly blurted out to Belona: “Would you like to come with us?”

Both Belona and Enria’s eyes went wide.

“With you…?”

Belona looked at Roseanne with a puzzled expression. Roseanne nodded.

“I think it would be great if my brother and you came along.”

Seemingly reading Enria’s mind perfectly, Roseanne added that outings are always more fun with more people. Then, she delivered the clincher that Belona couldn’t easily refuse.

“To be honest, Lord Caldeon, Lord Tearen, and my brother are best friends known throughout the empire. It would look a bit strange if only two of the three went out to have fun.”

She added that if Belona didn’t mind, she would love it if Belona could be Rahar’s partner for just one day.

“Hmm, I don’t know if we should be crashing a gathering of couples,” Belona said with a bittersweet smile, unconsciously referring to herself and Rahar as ‘we’ even while maintaining they were nothing special.

Enria chimed in, saying she’d love to have her.

“It’s better for everyone to gather and have fun. Besides, we’ve never done a double date, so we could use help from someone experienced like you, Miss Belona.”

“….”

“What’s the best thing to do on a double date? Which one did you enjoy the most?”

Encouraged by Belona’s willingness to speak of her past to heal, Roseanne asked without hesitation. Belona thought for a moment, then shrugged.

“It depends on the couples’ personalities, but Groen and I used to enjoy small parties at home.”

“Small parties?”

“Yes. Inviting about three close couples over for dinner, drinks, and dancing.”

Belona mentioned that while they had tried picnics by the lake and traveling to famous spots, they often found themselves wanting private time. She suggested that a small party at a mansion was best for group conversation while making it easy to slip away for a moment alone if needed.

Roseanne and Enria instinctively looked at each other. Both agreed that a small party was the perfect, most natural choice for their first “double date.”

“So, how about we start small with a wine party?”

At Belona’s suggestion, both Roseanne and Enria nodded eagerly.

“A wine party sounds perfect. Let’s do it tonight!”

Expectation filled Enria’s face as she beamed at her friends.