Episode 10. I Can't Give Up My Bad Habits
Rose tried to reach for the scattered documents on the floor. Eric strode toward her in one step and forcefully slapped her hand away. "Crack." Eric forcefully pushed her hand away.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I guess this is an important document.”
Rose spoke in surprise, clutching the back of her right hand. A tingling sensation rose from the back of her hand. Soon, her hand began to swell and turn red. Eric gathered the papers that had fallen to the floor and looked at Rose. He'd only lightly knocked it away, and it had swelled so red.
“Did you see it?”
But instead of saying it was okay, all he said was, "Have you seen the documents?"
“Documents?”
"Yes."
"Yes?"
Rose, who was thinking about the Grand Duke of Arteum, suddenly blinked at Eric, who was giving her an unpleasant look.
“What are you complaining about that makes you so upset?”
“I just don’t have an appetite.”
Rose wasn't pleased with the Count suddenly speaking to her. He should have just eaten like he always did and then gone.
‘It’s strange that food tastes good when an innocent person dies because of you...’
Rose, who didn't particularly want to talk to the Count, lowered her head and quickly took a bite of her fork. The Count saw the back of Rose's hand, swollen and red. The hand he'd struck earlier. It was much more swollen than he'd expected. Suddenly, Eric felt a pang of guilt at the sight of her hand. However, instead of offering a direct apology, he spoke indirectly.
“Let’s go on a trip together in a week.”
Rose couldn't believe her ears when she heard Eric's voice.
‘Right now... you’re talking to me, right?’
Rose stared at Eric with an expression of incomprehension.
“With me?”
"Yeah. That's where you went on your honeymoon. You wanted to go back, didn't you?"
'So... why with me? Go with your mistress.'
Rose blinked her eyes and spoke to Eric.
“I don’t think it’ll work out. I have a separate schedule.”
"Schedule?"
Eric frowned, not knowing Rose would refuse him. He'd thought suggesting they go on a trip would instantly resolve her listless, utterly helpless state.
“What’s the plan? Surely you don’t know what day it is, do you?”
Rose tilted her head at Eric's words. "Is there some important event happening that day?"
“What day is it?”
“...”
Eric was speechless at Rose's unexpected words, staring at her. It was his birthday. She always celebrated his birthday with such a fuss, so why was she suddenly pretending not to notice? Eric couldn't grasp her intentions, and his mind was in turmoil. Rose glanced at Eric, who remained silent, and then quietly continued speaking.
"I've been invited by the Grand Duke of Artaeum. The banquet will be held in ten days."
“The Grand Duke of Artaeum to you?”
“Why are you here?”
A flinch. Eric's nervous voice pierced Rose's ears. Cold sweat trickled down Rose's back. With her pounding heart, Rose turned her head toward Eric.
“Oh, you’re here?”
Rose tried to appear calm, hiding her embarrassment.
“What on earth were you doing here?”
Eric's voice was sharper than before. Rose closed the window with a 'thud' and smiled at Eric.
“It’s very windy. I think we should close it.”
She almost got caught. As soon as she heard the doorknob open, Rose scattered all the papers on the desk onto the floor and grabbed the window. She wanted to make it look like she was just looking at the scattered papers and closing the window, no matter who came in. Rose had never realized she had this kind of quick reflexes. She tried to calm her racing heart and looked at Eric with a blank expression. Seeing Eric frowning at her, Rose's lips went dry.
'It'll work, right?'
Her fingertips began to tremble. Rose clasped her hands together to hide her trembling, then smiled at him. Her legs were starting to feel weak, but she knew that if she showed any signs of panic, Eric would become suspicious. Rose forced herself to brace herself and spoke in a soft voice.
“You’ve run out of paperwork. I’ll help you.”
A flinch. Eric's nervous voice pierced Rose's ears. Cold sweat trickled down Rose's back. With her pounding heart, Rose turned her head toward Eric.
“Oh, you’re here?”
Rose tried to appear calm, hiding her embarrassment.
“What on earth were you doing here?”
Eric's voice was sharper than before. Rose closed the window with a 'thud' and smiled at Eric.
“It’s very windy. I think we should close it.”
She almost got caught. As soon as she heard the doorknob open, Rose scattered all the papers on the desk onto the floor and grabbed the window. She wanted to make it look like she was just looking at the scattered papers and closing the window, no matter who came in. Rose had never realized she had this kind of quick reflexes. She tried to calm her racing heart and looked at Eric with a blank expression. Seeing Eric frowning at her, Rose's lips went dry.
'It'll work, right?'
Her fingertips began to tremble. Rose clasped her hands together to hide her trembling, then smiled at him. Her legs were starting to feel weak, but she knew that if she showed any signs of panic, Eric would become suspicious. Rose forced herself to brace herself and spoke in a soft voice.
“You’ve run out of paperwork. I’ll help you.”
Rose tried to reach for the scattered documents on the floor. Eric strode toward her in one step and forcefully slapped her hand away. "Crack." Eric forcefully pushed her hand away.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I guess this is an important document.”
Rose spoke in surprise, clutching the back of her right hand. A tingling sensation rose from the back of her hand. Soon, her hand began to swell and turn red. Eric gathered the papers that had fallen to the floor and looked at Rose. He'd only lightly knocked it away, and it had swelled so red.
“Did you see it?”
But instead of saying it was okay, all he said was, "Have you seen the documents?"
“Documents?”
"Yes."
“No, I was about to close the window first because I ran out of papers as soon as I came in.”
"Why are you coming into the study without permission? Why would you come into the study?"
It was a suspicious situation, but to Eric, Rose was nothing more or less than a dull woman. Eric dismissed his suspicions and reprimanded Rose, who had entered the study.
“I didn’t know I needed permission. The butler told me to come in and use it whenever I wanted.”
“You told me?”
"Yes."
Eric frowned at Rose's words and asked back.
"The butler said so? I don't understand why he let you come and go here without permission. Without even asking my permission. It's absurd."
“Oh, I give private lessons here. Did you know?”
Eric furrowed his brow at Rose's words. Private lessons? Since when...? Searching his memory, Eric vaguely recalled a conversation with his butler.
'The Countess would like to receive private lessons.'
'Let her do whatever she wants.'
'So, what kind of teacher should I call her? I've roughly chosen some...'
'Do as you wish. Don't ask me anything.'
The butler came several more times after that, but Eric raised his voice at him each time.
'You don't know what it means to be told to do it yourself, do you?'
'Sorry.'
'It doesn't matter what Rose does; you decide and handle it.'
Eric, recalling the conversation, sighed as if his head was aching. He'd assumed no one else would be here, so he'd left it there for a moment and gone. Eric couldn't help but think that if he'd been careful, Rose might have seen the documents. They contained matters not only concerning the late Emperor, the late Empress, and the Grand Duke, but also Rose's own family, the Serviats.
'Even if she's a stupid woman, I can't let her see this.'
“Don’t come near the study from now on.”
He spoke coldly to Rose. Rose's heart grew anxious. If she didn't get the chance to come here, wouldn't she have no chance to sneak a peek at those documents? Rose spoke with wide, tearful eyes.
“I... Count. Then, where should I receive my training from now on?”
Eric frowned at Rose's fake tears. He was quite sensitive to tears. Even when he was mean to Rose, if she burst into tears, he would eventually give in and listen to her. Of course, the effect was only temporary. Rose forced herself to cry. She thought Eric would react to her tears, as the novels say.
‘Ah... Why aren’t my tears flowing?’
It wasn't as easy as she thought to shed tears like the tragic heroine.
"You..."
Was the plan working? Eric slowly approached Rose, who was wiping away tears. He then grabbed her face and stared intently at her.
"Did you eat something wrong? Why are you suddenly calling me Count? Call me Eric, as usual."
Rose flinched at Eric's unexpected words. Come to think of it, the female protagonist had affectionately called the nemesis, the Count, "Eric." On the other hand, Rose, reading the book, had always cursed him as "the nemesis, the Count," so calling him "Eric" felt quite unfamiliar.
“Uh, Eric...”
Rose, tears of embarrassment drying from her eyes, awkwardly called Eric's name. The Count looked at Rose, who blinked, with a strange look.
“...You seem a bit strange today. Well, I'll see you later. You should rest a bit before dinner.”
“Oh, then the study is...!”
“Didn’t you hear? Don’t even think about coming in.”
Boom. Eric shoved Rose out the door, then slammed the door shut. Left alone in the hallway, Rose sighed deeply and muttered.
“Then what about Grand Duke Artaeum...”
Rose was consumed by the worry that she might be powerless to face his imminent death.
"Why are you coming into the study without permission? Why would you come into the study?"
It was a suspicious situation, but to Eric, Rose was nothing more or less than a dull woman. Eric dismissed his suspicions and reprimanded Rose, who had entered the study.
“I didn’t know I needed permission. The butler told me to come in and use it whenever I wanted.”
“You told me?”
"Yes."
Eric frowned at Rose's words and asked back.
"The butler said so? I don't understand why he let you come and go here without permission. Without even asking my permission. It's absurd."
“Oh, I give private lessons here. Did you know?”
Eric furrowed his brow at Rose's words. Private lessons? Since when...? Searching his memory, Eric vaguely recalled a conversation with his butler.
'The Countess would like to receive private lessons.'
'Let her do whatever she wants.'
'So, what kind of teacher should I call her? I've roughly chosen some...'
'Do as you wish. Don't ask me anything.'
The butler came several more times after that, but Eric raised his voice at him each time.
'You don't know what it means to be told to do it yourself, do you?'
'Sorry.'
'It doesn't matter what Rose does; you decide and handle it.'
Eric, recalling the conversation, sighed as if his head was aching. He'd assumed no one else would be here, so he'd left it there for a moment and gone. Eric couldn't help but think that if he'd been careful, Rose might have seen the documents. They contained matters not only concerning the late Emperor, the late Empress, and the Grand Duke, but also Rose's own family, the Serviats.
'Even if she's a stupid woman, I can't let her see this.'
“Don’t come near the study from now on.”
He spoke coldly to Rose. Rose's heart grew anxious. If she didn't get the chance to come here, wouldn't she have no chance to sneak a peek at those documents? Rose spoke with wide, tearful eyes.
“I... Count. Then, where should I receive my training from now on?”
Eric frowned at Rose's fake tears. He was quite sensitive to tears. Even when he was mean to Rose, if she burst into tears, he would eventually give in and listen to her. Of course, the effect was only temporary. Rose forced herself to cry. She thought Eric would react to her tears, as the novels say.
‘Ah... Why aren’t my tears flowing?’
It wasn't as easy as she thought to shed tears like the tragic heroine.
"You..."
Was the plan working? Eric slowly approached Rose, who was wiping away tears. He then grabbed her face and stared intently at her.
"Did you eat something wrong? Why are you suddenly calling me Count? Call me Eric, as usual."
Rose flinched at Eric's unexpected words. Come to think of it, the female protagonist had affectionately called the nemesis, the Count, "Eric." On the other hand, Rose, reading the book, had always cursed him as "the nemesis, the Count," so calling him "Eric" felt quite unfamiliar.
“Uh, Eric...”
Rose, tears of embarrassment drying from her eyes, awkwardly called Eric's name. The Count looked at Rose, who blinked, with a strange look.
“...You seem a bit strange today. Well, I'll see you later. You should rest a bit before dinner.”
“Oh, then the study is...!”
“Didn’t you hear? Don’t even think about coming in.”
Boom. Eric shoved Rose out the door, then slammed the door shut. Left alone in the hallway, Rose sighed deeply and muttered.
“Then what about Grand Duke Artaeum...”
Rose was consumed by the worry that she might be powerless to face his imminent death.
***
It was already evening. Rose and Eric were eating, facing each other at the long table. Eric was annoyed by Rose's fidgeting. It was like a woman who usually ate well suddenly becoming depressed and unable to eat properly. Eric quietly put down his fork and spoke irritably to Rose.
“What on earth are you dissatisfied with?”
“What on earth are you dissatisfied with?”
"Yes?"
Rose, who was thinking about the Grand Duke of Arteum, suddenly blinked at Eric, who was giving her an unpleasant look.
“What are you complaining about that makes you so upset?”
“I just don’t have an appetite.”
Rose wasn't pleased with the Count suddenly speaking to her. He should have just eaten like he always did and then gone.
‘It’s strange that food tastes good when an innocent person dies because of you...’
Rose, who didn't particularly want to talk to the Count, lowered her head and quickly took a bite of her fork. The Count saw the back of Rose's hand, swollen and red. The hand he'd struck earlier. It was much more swollen than he'd expected. Suddenly, Eric felt a pang of guilt at the sight of her hand. However, instead of offering a direct apology, he spoke indirectly.
“Let’s go on a trip together in a week.”
Rose couldn't believe her ears when she heard Eric's voice.
‘Right now... you’re talking to me, right?’
Rose stared at Eric with an expression of incomprehension.
“With me?”
"Yeah. That's where you went on your honeymoon. You wanted to go back, didn't you?"
'So... why with me? Go with your mistress.'
Rose blinked her eyes and spoke to Eric.
“I don’t think it’ll work out. I have a separate schedule.”
"Schedule?"
Eric frowned, not knowing Rose would refuse him. He'd thought suggesting they go on a trip would instantly resolve her listless, utterly helpless state.
“What’s the plan? Surely you don’t know what day it is, do you?”
Rose tilted her head at Eric's words. "Is there some important event happening that day?"
“What day is it?”
“...”
Eric was speechless at Rose's unexpected words, staring at her. It was his birthday. She always celebrated his birthday with such a fuss, so why was she suddenly pretending not to notice? Eric couldn't grasp her intentions, and his mind was in turmoil. Rose glanced at Eric, who remained silent, and then quietly continued speaking.
"I've been invited by the Grand Duke of Artaeum. The banquet will be held in ten days."
“The Grand Duke of Artaeum to you?”
"Yes."
“You’ve never met the Grand Duke of Artaeum, have you? How do you know him?”
“I met him when I went to the auction house to buy a gift.”
"You didn't know what day it was, but you went to buy a birthday present?" Eric finally realized what Rose meant after hearing her incoherent words.
'I guess you're trying to get my attention by pretending not to care.'
There were more than a few women like Rose. They were obsessive, demanding love, only to suddenly disappear from contact one day. Eric thought they'd broken up, but they weren't. They said they wanted Eric to hold onto them and whisper sweet nothings about their love. Eric believed Rose, standing before him, was no different.
'Annoying.'
He absolutely hated the kind of relationship that relied on coaxing and comforting. Eric decided to ignore Rose's tactics. After all, Rose was the kind of woman who would cling to him without his having to coax her.
‘But the Grand Duke of Arteum...’
Invite the wife of the family that drove him out.
'What are you thinking?'
Eric couldn't fathom the Grand Duke of Artaeum's intentions. But he didn't think much of it. Whatever he was thinking, he was going to be executed anyway.
"Yes. Then let's go on a trip next time. I also want to attend the Grand Duke of Artaeum's banquet."
To a party that will decorate the final days of the Grand Duke with splendor.
'I didn't plan on going with you.'
Rose looked at Eric with displeasure, unable to hide her trembling expression.
“You’ve never met the Grand Duke of Artaeum, have you? How do you know him?”
“I met him when I went to the auction house to buy a gift.”
"You didn't know what day it was, but you went to buy a birthday present?" Eric finally realized what Rose meant after hearing her incoherent words.
'I guess you're trying to get my attention by pretending not to care.'
There were more than a few women like Rose. They were obsessive, demanding love, only to suddenly disappear from contact one day. Eric thought they'd broken up, but they weren't. They said they wanted Eric to hold onto them and whisper sweet nothings about their love. Eric believed Rose, standing before him, was no different.
'Annoying.'
He absolutely hated the kind of relationship that relied on coaxing and comforting. Eric decided to ignore Rose's tactics. After all, Rose was the kind of woman who would cling to him without his having to coax her.
‘But the Grand Duke of Arteum...’
Invite the wife of the family that drove him out.
'What are you thinking?'
Eric couldn't fathom the Grand Duke of Artaeum's intentions. But he didn't think much of it. Whatever he was thinking, he was going to be executed anyway.
"Yes. Then let's go on a trip next time. I also want to attend the Grand Duke of Artaeum's banquet."
To a party that will decorate the final days of the Grand Duke with splendor.
'I didn't plan on going with you.'
Rose looked at Eric with displeasure, unable to hide her trembling expression.
***
At that time, in the early evening before the sun had set, the voices of a man and a woman talking could be heard from a bed in a room.
“You spend every night with the Count, yet you still want me.”
Unlike the black-haired Count, the man with red hair licked his lips as he looked down at Doana. The red-haired man looked down with satisfaction at Doana, who was blushing at him. When Doana had told him she was in a relationship with the Count, he had spent a considerable amount of time drinking to soothe his bitterness. She, who had never succumbed to his temptations, was suddenly so aggressive.
“You spend every night with the Count, yet you still want me.”
Unlike the black-haired Count, the man with red hair licked his lips as he looked down at Doana. The red-haired man looked down with satisfaction at Doana, who was blushing at him. When Doana had told him she was in a relationship with the Count, he had spent a considerable amount of time drinking to soothe his bitterness. She, who had never succumbed to his temptations, was suddenly so aggressive.
He stroked Doana's face, as if he couldn't believe this moment. They say you can't break a habit. Even after being possessed, she hadn't been able to break her habit of seeing multiple men, and she was enjoying a debauched life.
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