A few days ago, I went to Lena’s room to ask her something and happened to see a book on her table.

It was a love story between a man and a woman of different social status.

Although I didn’t like romance novels, I wanted to read this one. So I swallowed my embarrassment and asked Lena to lend me the book.

I wanted to see the ending where the two lovers overcome their class differences and achieve their love. To see something that rarely happens in reality, I read the novel to the end.

The lovers, who had sadly parted due to parental opposition and social barriers, reunite by fate one afternoon years later on a busy street.

Then, after confirming that their feelings for each other hadn’t changed at all, they pledge eternal love under the blazing red sunset.

I praised myself for not closing the book at the scene where the lovers parted and reading it to the end.

In fact, throughout reading the book, I had substituted myself and Edric for the male and female protagonists.

Even though the book’s heroine was much prettier and more independent than me.

It must have been out of habit.

I have a habit of visualizing specific people and places in my mind for any story I read, imagining each scene vividly. It just so happened to be a romance novel, so I naturally cast myself and Edric as the protagonists.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to imagine such an unattainable outcome with him.

While I was at it, I decided to recall a place I knew well for the last scene in the book, for the sake of immersion.

It was Milord Square.

That place where pink feathery clouds spread wide. A space where people, glowing softly in the sunset, rest freely and comfortably. A magical place where even the strictest and most rigid person becomes more flexible and generous in their thinking…

My mother once told me about that place.

But mother’s last words always ended like this:

‘I shouldn’t have gone there that day.’

I knew what was implied after that.

‘I regret to death marrying your father whom I met there.’

Mother fell in love at first sight with father, a free-spirited man, at Milord Square, and the two eloped, set up a household, and had me.

Mother earnestly advised me never to go to such a vulgar place that clouds one’s judgment.

I said I understood, but I often harbored desires that went against mother’s wishes.

I wanted to see the sunset that was said to be so beautiful. Also, I wanted to discover unexpected paths in that place that makes rigid thinking flexible.

But above all, the reason I wanted to go to Milord Square was because it was the starting point of my existence.

Mother might regret meeting father and having me, but I don’t regret being born.

Because, by being born, I was able to meet Edric.

And I wanted to take Edric to a place that meant so much to me.

I wanted to go there together to watch the sunset, listen to music played by musicians, ask a portrait artist for a painting. Or sweat pleasantly while dancing folk dances together.

I subtly mentioned Milord Square to him, but I rarely got the response I wanted.

He either ignored my words or said he understood but then said nothing more after that.

Well, it’s natural for him who is always busy.

I once again recalled in my mind the reunion scene of the protagonists in the novel.

The first conversation the two people had after a long silence, discovering each other among the crowd.

‘What brings you here?’

‘Perhaps… I came to meet you.’

The female protagonist burst into laughter at the man’s words, as if it was absurd, and I laughed too.

Actually, I hoped.

That such a day would come to me someday.

A magical moment where Edric and I fall in love, looking at each other’s faces softly tinted pink under the sunset sky above our heads like a roof.] [This is the timeline separator]

“……”

Melly was speechless for a moment.

The familiar red brick wall in front of her eyes. And what was surely behind it.

“Why Milord Square……”

“I’m sorry, Melly.”

“……”

“For only now keeping the promise to watch the sunset together at the square.”

Edric said. He was now apologizing for not keeping the anniversary promise from long ago.

“No.”

Melly shook her head and said.

“Thank you for remembering and keeping it.”

A grateful smile bloomed on her face.

Edric put down Jade, whom he had been carrying in his arms.

The two of them each held one of Jade’s hands and slowly walked through the arched main gate into the square.

‘When was the last time?’

Melly tried to recall the last day she visited this place as she took each step.

‘Ah, it was then.’

Right after the redevelopment construction he was in charge of was completed. So about 7 years ago.

That day, after cutting the tape herself with the royal family members, Melly stopped short when she encountered an unfamiliar sight.

The unpretentious and common scenery of Milord Square that she had loved was nowhere to be seen, replaced by magnificent marble buildings and dazzlingly luxurious high-end shops lined up in rows.

Everyone marveled and praised Edric who was in charge of the construction, but Melly couldn’t readily offer words of praise.

She felt a deep regret that the vibrant place that had first strengthened her resolve had completely disappeared.

It would probably be the same now.

She would likely only see nobles elegantly dressed, belonging to Edric’s world, strolling through the high-end shopping alleys, followed by modest servants carrying their shopping bags.

But now, she didn’t mind such things.

After all, Milord Square was where her life began. And where her relationship with Edric reached a turning point.

Just as redecorating and remodeling doesn’t make it a different house, this place is still Milord Square and a precious place to her. So now she will gladly accept the changes.

Thinking this, Melly slowly entered through the gate.

But it was strange.

Across from the area lined with high-end boutiques in sleek marble buildings.

‘Why is there a street of ready-made wholesale shops?’

That wasn’t the only strange thing.

Not far from the area with expensive jewelry and watch shops, there was a store selling affordable handmade shoes. And across from it were shops for remodeling out-of-fashion clothes, bags, and jewelry.

“…?”

Melly felt somewhat dazed at the combination of shops that seemed utterly mismatched. That’s when.

“Mom!”

At Jade’s call, Melly snapped back to her senses and looked down at the child.

The child was pointing at something and pleading.

“Mom, can’t you buy me something from over there?”

The place the child pointed to was an area full of balloons, toys, and snacks.

Melly, still puzzled by the unresolved questions, headed where the child was leading.

Jade was delighted, her eyes sparkling.

She liked expensive assembly toys, but her attention was quickly drawn to hand-carved wooden dolls. Then she struggled to choose between a mobile ice cream shop and high-end handmade cookies…

‘Ah, I see.’

Melly finally realized.

This seemingly chaotic group of shops was actually a combination meticulously composed so that no two items overlapped.

That’s why they could coexist despite being so different.

Like how a wonderful work is born after cutting and pasting various materials, this curious combination had transformed the uniform shopping street into a more interesting place.

The three of them had now come deep into the shopping alley.

Just as they were full of expectation about what interesting sight would unfold next.

“…!”

Melly’s eyes widened at the scene that suddenly appeared before her.

The entire view of the vast square was visible at a glance, with a beautiful pink sunset covering the sky. Without any part being obstructed.

Some of the high-end shops that had made the square look narrow and cramped had been demolished, securing a wide space for people to freely enjoy their leisure time.

There were musicians playing folk songs with mandolins and cajóns, artists drawing portraits, children playing in light clothing. And there were also quite well-dressed nobles.

The nobles didn’t directly join in asking for portraits or dancing to the music, but they sat on street benches, observing people with quite interested faces.

In one corner, a magic show was in full swing.

Jade had somehow let go of her parents’ hands and was sitting among the children watching the magic show.

As Melly watched this scene, a forgotten memory suddenly surfaced in her mind.

‘Duke Pelton is preparing something wonderful for you.’

The wonderful thing Francis had mentioned sometime ago was.

“So this is it……”

Melly breathed out as if sighing.

“This is why you postponed your decision for a whole year.”

“I wanted to show it to you after it was properly completed.”

“……”

“It’s my wedding anniversary gift.”

He warmly embraced Melly’s shoulders and asked.

“Do you like it?”

Do I like it? How dare he ask if I like this breathtaking scene where diverse people harmoniously enjoy themselves together under the beautiful evening sky.

At that moment when she was carefully choosing her answer to such an obvious question, Edric turned her around.

“Melly.”

The evening sky was mixed in his eyes as they faced each other.

“I really wanted to tell you this.”

Amidst the lively atmosphere of the square, filled with the children’s giggles as they fell for the magician’s trick and the cheerful folk song played by the musicians, Edric said in a low voice.

“The worlds we live in are not different at all. Not before, not now. And……”

Melly, knowing what he was about to say, quickly opened her mouth.

The two spoke simultaneously, creating a beautiful harmony.

“Not in the future.”