Episode 12. Can You Leave Me Alone?
Rose placed one hand on her chest and bowed her head toward the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum glanced at Eric, who was standing alone in the distance, and then reached out to Rose.
"Here."
He seemed to have sensed that Eric wouldn't be escorting Rose. Rose stared blankly down at the Grand Duke of Arteum's hand. Eric, watching them from afar, furrowed his eyebrows uncomfortably. He was taken aback by the sight of the Grand Duke of Arteum touching what was his. How dare he touch what was his...He stepped forward, blocked the Grand Duke's path, and grabbed Rose's left wrist.
“Ugh.”
A pain radiated from her wrist. The wrist, injured by Eric, throbbed. Rose bit her lower lip and frowned.
“I see you are very interested in my woman, Your Highness.”
Eric's voice sounded polite yet prickly. But when the Grand Duke's cold eyes, his thoughts incomprehensible, fixed on him, Eric flinched involuntarily. Grand Duke Artaeum, who had been watching Eric, shifted his gaze to Rose. To be precise, to her wrist.
'You're hurt.'
Rose's hands were trembling as she trembled.
“I think you’re too uninterested.”
The Grand Duke snatched Eric's hand away in a dry voice. Eric, who had been holding onto Rose, lost control of her wrist. Rose, relieved of the pain, stroked her wrist and caught her breath.
“What are you doing? Let go.”
Why was the strength so strong? She tried to force her arm free, but it wouldn't come off easily. Then, the Grand Duke and Rose's eyes met. For some reason, it seemed as if he was staring intently down at her wrist.
'Surely not, did you do it on purpose, knowing I was hurt?'
Not wanting to draw attention, she deliberately endured the pain without making a single sound. But Rose shook her head.
'No, I guess not.'
In the book, he wasn't a particularly thoughtful person. Rather, he was a vicious and vicious man. Rose didn't believe someone like that would notice her injury, and even if they did, she wouldn't step forward to help.
“Thank you for inviting me. I hope you and your wife have a wonderful time.”
Eric, barely able to ward off the Grand Duke's hand, growled, unable to conceal his hostility. Grand Duke Artaeum raised the corners of his mouth mysteriously and took a step toward Eric.
"Count. People, you see, sometimes have to hide their claws to achieve their goals."
The Grand Duke muttered in Eric's ear and stared at him with cold eyes.
“You are still just a child.”
Eric's eyes momentarily lost focus and wavered. The Grand Duke's mocking words filled him with anger, but he couldn't say anything in front of Grand Duke Artaeum, who was overwhelmed by the atmosphere alone. He simply swallowed dryly. Grand Duke Artaeum tapped Eric's shoulder and gripped it tightly. The grip was so strong that Eric almost let out a squeak.
"Be careful."
The Grand Duke, with one corner of his mouth slightly raised, muttered to Eric with an eerie expression.
“If you ever look at me like that again, I’ll tear out both your eyes without anyone knowing.”
Eric's ears perked up at the Grand Duke's cold voice. It wasn't just empty words, but something that felt like it would blind him. Eric froze, speechless. With those words, the Grand Duke of Artaeum turned his back on Eric. Eric, who had been silent in front of the Grand Duke of Artaeum, finally let out a complaint as the Grand Duke's figure faded away.
“That’s not even funny.”
Eric's expression remained rigid, even as he uttered a soft curse. Even though the Grand Duke had removed his hand, his shoulder still felt painful. Eric, who had been rubbing his shoulder, clenched his fist and trembled.
“He’s going to die soon... I’ll let him off the hook.”
In fact, Eric didn't particularly harbor ill feelings toward the Grand Duke. All he cared about was women and power. But he longed to be properly acknowledged by his parents. Just as his parents had killed the former Emperor and Empress, Eric was now carrying on their will and attempting to kill their son, the Grand Duke. Although he had become a Count, Eric had yet to receive recognition for his abilities. However, if he succeeded in this undertaking, he would be able to stand on his own as a true Count, not to mention his parents. After standing for a while, Eric suddenly snapped and glared at Rose.
“I'll get out.”
Was he taking his anger out on Rose? He shouted for no reason and then, grumbling, left the banquet hall.
“Yes, yes. Please do so.”
Rose muttered to herself, gazing pitifully at his back. Then she stepped into the banquet hall. Entering the hall, Rose's eyes widened. She had always thought the Count's residence was splendid, but the Grand Duke's mansion was incomparably more extravagant. Countless nobles were already gathered in small groups, chatting away. As Rose entered the banquet hall, the nobles glanced at her. The Count, paying Rose no attention, was flirting with the noble ladies. No one approached her. They simply whispered to Rose.
“How did you get here?”
“I must have followed the Count like a chick.”
“Poor thing. Do you want to live like that?”
“I can’t live like that. I guess you have no self-respect.”
Rose, standing alone, looked around the banquet hall, wondering who to talk to. But not only did they not even glance at her, but even when their eyes met, they quickly turned away, as if they'd seen something they shouldn't have.
'It's not as easy to talk to someone as you might think, is it?'
Rose, who had tried to approach them first, felt with her whole body that the social world was not so easy.
'I feel embarrassed just standing there, so I'll have something to eat first.'
Rose walked over to the table where finger foods and drinks were set out and grabbed a cocktail and some food. Since today was practically her debutante, Rose was quite nervous and hadn't had a proper meal until then.
'It's delicious.'
She munched on the food in her mouth, a satisfied smile on her face. Perhaps because she'd been tense and stressed all day, she felt a craving for sweets. Rather than stand still, Rose decided to explore her surroundings while eating naturally. She nibbled on a few more of the desserts in front of her. Then, to quench her thirst, she lifted the glass she'd just been drinking from.
“You drank it all.”
The glass was empty, as if it had been emptied. Rose set the empty glass down on the table and reached out to pick up a cocktail glass. Just as she was about to pick it up, someone offered her a cocktail glass.
"Thank you."
Rose, who had raised her head after greeting the man who had done her a favor, couldn't help but stiffen when she saw the man's face. She tried to slyly strike up a conversation while expressing her gratitude, but...
'Why is this person here again?'
Because the person who offered her the glass was the Grand Duke of Artaeum. Rose felt quite uncomfortable around the Grand Duke. It was scary, and she simply didn't want to get involved. The Grand Duke, seemingly oblivious to Rose's feelings, didn't even consider leaving.
“Whose taste is that?”
“Huh? Oh, you mean this cocktail?”
Rose shook the cocktail in her hand and looked at the Grand Duke.
“No. Not the glass.”
The Grand Duke spoke, tapping Rose's left wrist. At a glance, Rose's wrist was clearly swollen. The Grand Duke stared blankly at Rose's hand.
'Did you know I was hurt?'
So, did he really help me earlier? Rose put down her cocktail glass and touched her wrist. It had been a long, uncertain situation, but it was truly his help. Rose looked bewildered by the Grand Duke's unexpected kindness and expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you for earlier. You even caught me when I fell from the carriage...”
He also helped her escape from her husband's clutches. Rose trailed off and looked at the Grand Duke. She felt no need to reveal her family history in such detail. The Grand Duke didn't hear Rose's remaining words, but he seemed to know what she wanted to say. He didn't ask any further questions and let the conversation flow naturally.
“How did you know Luna’s tears were fake?”
Hook- Rose was momentarily taken aback by the Duke's words. She only knew this from reading the novel. Rolling her eyes, she blurted out the words as they came to her.
“Um... Luna’s tears really do shimmer red when they reflect light. I, I couldn’t see that very well.”
What on earth are you talking about? Rose glanced at the Grand Duke, wondering why she was rambling so much.
“Red?”
He stared at Rose in disbelief. Rose's heart pounded uncontrollably at the Grand Duke's meaningful gaze. She'd only blurted out a vague phrase, but he was looking at her like that.
'I hope I didn't say something wrong?'
Rose's heart felt like it was about to burst. Her eyelashes fluttered as she smiled awkwardly. The Grand Duke stared at her with a sullen gaze. She desperately wanted to leave this place. The lie she'd told to escape a momentary crisis felt like it had a rather large ripple effect.
‘...I want to be alone.’
Please. She wished the Grand Duke would leave, but for some reason, he wouldn't. Rose fluttered like a baby bird, waiting for a chance to get away from him. Then, just as the music signaling a waltz began to play, Rose, seizing the moment, bowed politely to the Grand Duke.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Rose, who had thought she could finally escape the Grand Duke, realized upon seeing the Grand Duke's grasp on the world. The world doesn't always go as planned.
Rose placed one hand on her chest and bowed her head toward the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum glanced at Eric, who was standing alone in the distance, and then reached out to Rose.
"Here."
He seemed to have sensed that Eric wouldn't be escorting Rose. Rose stared blankly down at the Grand Duke of Arteum's hand. Eric, watching them from afar, furrowed his eyebrows uncomfortably. He was taken aback by the sight of the Grand Duke of Arteum touching what was his. How dare he touch what was his...He stepped forward, blocked the Grand Duke's path, and grabbed Rose's left wrist.
“Ugh.”
A pain radiated from her wrist. The wrist, injured by Eric, throbbed. Rose bit her lower lip and frowned.
“I see you are very interested in my woman, Your Highness.”
Eric's voice sounded polite yet prickly. But when the Grand Duke's cold eyes, his thoughts incomprehensible, fixed on him, Eric flinched involuntarily. Grand Duke Artaeum, who had been watching Eric, shifted his gaze to Rose. To be precise, to her wrist.
'You're hurt.'
Rose's hands were trembling as she trembled.
“I think you’re too uninterested.”
The Grand Duke snatched Eric's hand away in a dry voice. Eric, who had been holding onto Rose, lost control of her wrist. Rose, relieved of the pain, stroked her wrist and caught her breath.
“What are you doing? Let go.”
Why was the strength so strong? She tried to force her arm free, but it wouldn't come off easily. Then, the Grand Duke and Rose's eyes met. For some reason, it seemed as if he was staring intently down at her wrist.
'Surely not, did you do it on purpose, knowing I was hurt?'
Not wanting to draw attention, she deliberately endured the pain without making a single sound. But Rose shook her head.
'No, I guess not.'
In the book, he wasn't a particularly thoughtful person. Rather, he was a vicious and vicious man. Rose didn't believe someone like that would notice her injury, and even if they did, she wouldn't step forward to help.
“Thank you for inviting me. I hope you and your wife have a wonderful time.”
Eric, barely able to ward off the Grand Duke's hand, growled, unable to conceal his hostility. Grand Duke Artaeum raised the corners of his mouth mysteriously and took a step toward Eric.
"Count. People, you see, sometimes have to hide their claws to achieve their goals."
The Grand Duke muttered in Eric's ear and stared at him with cold eyes.
“You are still just a child.”
Eric's eyes momentarily lost focus and wavered. The Grand Duke's mocking words filled him with anger, but he couldn't say anything in front of Grand Duke Artaeum, who was overwhelmed by the atmosphere alone. He simply swallowed dryly. Grand Duke Artaeum tapped Eric's shoulder and gripped it tightly. The grip was so strong that Eric almost let out a squeak.
"Be careful."
The Grand Duke, with one corner of his mouth slightly raised, muttered to Eric with an eerie expression.
“If you ever look at me like that again, I’ll tear out both your eyes without anyone knowing.”
Eric's ears perked up at the Grand Duke's cold voice. It wasn't just empty words, but something that felt like it would blind him. Eric froze, speechless. With those words, the Grand Duke of Artaeum turned his back on Eric. Eric, who had been silent in front of the Grand Duke of Artaeum, finally let out a complaint as the Grand Duke's figure faded away.
“That’s not even funny.”
Eric's expression remained rigid, even as he uttered a soft curse. Even though the Grand Duke had removed his hand, his shoulder still felt painful. Eric, who had been rubbing his shoulder, clenched his fist and trembled.
“He’s going to die soon... I’ll let him off the hook.”
In fact, Eric didn't particularly harbor ill feelings toward the Grand Duke. All he cared about was women and power. But he longed to be properly acknowledged by his parents. Just as his parents had killed the former Emperor and Empress, Eric was now carrying on their will and attempting to kill their son, the Grand Duke. Although he had become a Count, Eric had yet to receive recognition for his abilities. However, if he succeeded in this undertaking, he would be able to stand on his own as a true Count, not to mention his parents. After standing for a while, Eric suddenly snapped and glared at Rose.
“I'll get out.”
Was he taking his anger out on Rose? He shouted for no reason and then, grumbling, left the banquet hall.
“Yes, yes. Please do so.”
Rose muttered to herself, gazing pitifully at his back. Then she stepped into the banquet hall. Entering the hall, Rose's eyes widened. She had always thought the Count's residence was splendid, but the Grand Duke's mansion was incomparably more extravagant. Countless nobles were already gathered in small groups, chatting away. As Rose entered the banquet hall, the nobles glanced at her. The Count, paying Rose no attention, was flirting with the noble ladies. No one approached her. They simply whispered to Rose.
“How did you get here?”
“I must have followed the Count like a chick.”
“Poor thing. Do you want to live like that?”
“I can’t live like that. I guess you have no self-respect.”
Rose, standing alone, looked around the banquet hall, wondering who to talk to. But not only did they not even glance at her, but even when their eyes met, they quickly turned away, as if they'd seen something they shouldn't have.
'It's not as easy to talk to someone as you might think, is it?'
Rose, who had tried to approach them first, felt with her whole body that the social world was not so easy.
'I feel embarrassed just standing there, so I'll have something to eat first.'
Rose walked over to the table where finger foods and drinks were set out and grabbed a cocktail and some food. Since today was practically her debutante, Rose was quite nervous and hadn't had a proper meal until then.
'It's delicious.'
She munched on the food in her mouth, a satisfied smile on her face. Perhaps because she'd been tense and stressed all day, she felt a craving for sweets. Rather than stand still, Rose decided to explore her surroundings while eating naturally. She nibbled on a few more of the desserts in front of her. Then, to quench her thirst, she lifted the glass she'd just been drinking from.
“You drank it all.”
The glass was empty, as if it had been emptied. Rose set the empty glass down on the table and reached out to pick up a cocktail glass. Just as she was about to pick it up, someone offered her a cocktail glass.
"Thank you."
Rose, who had raised her head after greeting the man who had done her a favor, couldn't help but stiffen when she saw the man's face. She tried to slyly strike up a conversation while expressing her gratitude, but...
'Why is this person here again?'
Because the person who offered her the glass was the Grand Duke of Artaeum. Rose felt quite uncomfortable around the Grand Duke. It was scary, and she simply didn't want to get involved. The Grand Duke, seemingly oblivious to Rose's feelings, didn't even consider leaving.
“Whose taste is that?”
“Huh? Oh, you mean this cocktail?”
Rose shook the cocktail in her hand and looked at the Grand Duke.
“No. Not the glass.”
The Grand Duke spoke, tapping Rose's left wrist. At a glance, Rose's wrist was clearly swollen. The Grand Duke stared blankly at Rose's hand.
'Did you know I was hurt?'
So, did he really help me earlier? Rose put down her cocktail glass and touched her wrist. It had been a long, uncertain situation, but it was truly his help. Rose looked bewildered by the Grand Duke's unexpected kindness and expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you for earlier. You even caught me when I fell from the carriage...”
He also helped her escape from her husband's clutches. Rose trailed off and looked at the Grand Duke. She felt no need to reveal her family history in such detail. The Grand Duke didn't hear Rose's remaining words, but he seemed to know what she wanted to say. He didn't ask any further questions and let the conversation flow naturally.
“How did you know Luna’s tears were fake?”
Hook- Rose was momentarily taken aback by the Duke's words. She only knew this from reading the novel. Rolling her eyes, she blurted out the words as they came to her.
“Um... Luna’s tears really do shimmer red when they reflect light. I, I couldn’t see that very well.”
What on earth are you talking about? Rose glanced at the Grand Duke, wondering why she was rambling so much.
“Red?”
He stared at Rose in disbelief. Rose's heart pounded uncontrollably at the Grand Duke's meaningful gaze. She'd only blurted out a vague phrase, but he was looking at her like that.
'I hope I didn't say something wrong?'
Rose's heart felt like it was about to burst. Her eyelashes fluttered as she smiled awkwardly. The Grand Duke stared at her with a sullen gaze. She desperately wanted to leave this place. The lie she'd told to escape a momentary crisis felt like it had a rather large ripple effect.
‘...I want to be alone.’
Please. She wished the Grand Duke would leave, but for some reason, he wouldn't. Rose fluttered like a baby bird, waiting for a chance to get away from him. Then, just as the music signaling a waltz began to play, Rose, seizing the moment, bowed politely to the Grand Duke.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Rose, who had thought she could finally escape the Grand Duke, realized upon seeing the Grand Duke's grasp on the world. The world doesn't always go as planned.
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