As they had lunch, the atmosphere was light but filled with subtle tension—at least for Rosalind. She rarely spoke, instead stealing glances at Mixarnt whenever she thought no one was looking. Her grandmother, Rosalinda, noticed this immediately and smiled gently. She had expected something like this. After all, Mixarnt had saved Rosalind’s life not once, but three times. Despite being a commoner, Mixarnt didn’t care about status or rank—he simply acted when someone needed help. And during their battle against Kalavan, Rosalind and Mixarnt had fought in perfect sync, as if they had been partners for years.
Rosalind, however, was annoyed at her own feelings. 'Why am I so flustered?' she thought to herself, her cheeks tinged with pink. She tried to steal another glance at Mixarnt, but his casual grin caught her off guard, and she quickly looked away, her heart racing.
"Btw, Rosalind, how old are you?" Mixarnt asked suddenly, his tone as casual as if he were asking about the weather.
Rosalind blinked, caught off guard. "14 years old." she replied, her voice tinged with irritation but also a hint of embarrassment.
Rosalinda couldn’t help but giggle at the exchange, while Sasa, sitting nearby, looked away, trying to hold back her laughter. It was clear that Mixarnt was completely innocent, oblivious to the effect he was having on Rosalind. Meanwhile, Rosalind was struggling to understand her own feelings, her usual composure slipping.
"Oh, right! So, I came here because you said you’d give me something," Mixarnt said, his smile wide and expectant.
Rosalind’s eyes widened as she remembered. "R-right, I totally forgot. Wait here," she said, quickly standing up and hurrying to her room to retrieve whatever it was she had for him.
As Rosalind left, Rosalinda seized the opportunity to tease Mixarnt a little. "So, Mixarnt, do you have a girlfriend?" she asked gently, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Mixarnt’s face lit up with excitement. "Yes, I do! She’s the princess of Elvedoria!" he declared proudly, his grin widening.
Sasa, who had been quietly observing, couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. She covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles. Elvedoria, the kingdom of the elves, was a place shrouded in mystery. Located near the mythical World Tree, it was said to be hidden from normal eyes, much like the land of the fairies. Only a handful of people in history had claimed to have seen it, and most dismissed it as legend.
Rosalinda, however, didn’t laugh at Mixarnt about his fantastical claim. Instead, she humored him, her smile warm and indulgent. "Oh, the princess of Elvedoria? How wonderful! You must tell me more about her sometime," she said, playing along.
Mixarnt nodded enthusiastically, completely oblivious to the fact that Rosalinda and Sasa were gently teasing him. "Yeah! She’s really kind and beautiful. I promised I’d visit her again someday," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Just then, Rosalind returned, holding a small, neatly wrapped package. She handed it to Mixarnt, her cheeks still slightly pink. "Here. This is for you," she said, her voice softer than usual.
Mixarnt’s eyes lit up as he took the package. "Wow, thanks, Rosalind! What is it?" he asked, already starting to unwrap it.
Rosalind looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Just... something to thank you for saving me... Multiple times..." she muttered.
As Mixarnt opened the package, the room fell into a comfortable silence, the warmth of the moment shared by everyone present. For Rosalind, it was a small step toward understanding her feelings. For Mixarnt, it was another reminder of the bonds he had formed—and the adventures that still lay ahead. And for Rosalinda and Sasa, it was a moment of quiet amusement and fondness, watching the two young heroes navigate their way through the complexities of life and friendship.
Mixarnt held the rose badge in his hand, examining it with a puzzled expression. "A... rose badge?" he asked, unsure of its significance.
Rosalinda, sitting nearby, was visibly shocked. She recognized it immediately—it was Rosalind’s most treasured possession, a memento left by her parents. "Dear, are you sure?" Rosalinda asked, her voice tinged with concern as she looked at her granddaughter.
Mixarnt, still confused, glanced between Rosalind and Rosalinda. "Hm? Why is this important?" he asked, his tone innocent.
Rosalinda hesitated, her eyes softening as she looked at Rosalind. "Well..." she began, but trailed off, letting her granddaughter explain.
Rosalind took a deep breath, her expression calm but filled with emotion. "It’s alright, Grandmother. I’ve been holding onto that for a long time now, somehow wishing I could follow Mom and Dad. I didn’t care about living... If I die, I die. But during the second trial, after I almost died multiple times, I realized that you would be sad if I were gone. I was... truly grateful that Mixarnt saved me in those moments...." She turned to Mixarnt, her smile gentle and kind. "That’s why I’m entrusting it to you, Mixarnt. Hold onto it for me, okay?"
Rosalinda couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. She sobbed lightly, her heart swelling with pride and relief. Her granddaughter had finally matured and moved past her grief, thanks in no small part to Mixarnt’s influence.
Sasa, who had been quietly observing, stood up with a fond smile. "Well, I’ll be going on ahead," she said, not wanting to intrude on the intimate moment. She gave a small nod before leaving the room, giving the family some space.
Mixarnt, still holding the rose badge, grinned widely. "Of course! I’ll treasure it and even give it back to you whenever you need a reminder of your parents’ love!" he said, his tone cheerful and sincere.
Rosalind’s face turned bright red, her composure cracking for a moment. In the Rosaria family, giving back a precious item like the rose badge was a symbolic gesture—it was akin to a marriage proposal. "W-well, if you’re... matured enough during that time... I guess I won’t hesitate to accept it," she said, her voice a mix of annoyance and embarrassment, though her blush betrayed her true feelings.
Mixarnt, completely oblivious to the deeper meaning behind her words, simply nodded enthusiastically. "Alright! Then I’m off! I still need to meet some other people. Thanks for the food, Rosalind and Old Rosalind!" he said, waving as he headed for the door.
Rosalinda couldn’t help but giggle at Mixarnt’s audacity for calling her the "old version" of her granddaughter. She wiped her tears, her heart light and full of joy. As Mixarnt left, she turned to Rosalind, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, well, it seems someone has caught your attention," she teased, her voice playful.
Rosalind’s face turned even redder, and she crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure. "Grandmother, please don’t start," she said, though there was no real irritation in her voice.
Rosalinda chuckled, reaching out to pat her granddaughter’s hand. "I’m just saying, he’s quite the remarkable young man. And it seems he’s already made quite an impression on you."
Rosalind sighed, but a small smile tugged at her lips. She couldn’t deny it—Mixarnt had a way of turning her world upside down, and for the first time in a long while, she felt hopeful about the future. As she looked down at the empty space where the rose badge had been, she realized that Mixarnt had not only saved her life but had also given her something even more precious:
A reason to keep moving forward.
