Episode 17. I Don't Want to Disappoint You
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
She didn't know he would be so proactive in helping, but Rose bowed her head to the Grand Duke and expressed her gratitude.
"What about gratitude? Is that all? Don't you want anything more?"
Rose nodded at the Grand Duke's words.
"I guess the Grand Duke truly thinks I'm your savior. All I've ever done is tell a plausible lie."
She thought it was shameless to just ask for a loan, but now she wants more? It couldn't have been worse. Excessive greed can lead to trouble, right?
“I will contact you first, Your Highness.”
She bowed to the Grand Duke of Arteum and hurriedly left. The Grand Duke, watching Rose swiftly scurry away, quickly turned in the opposite direction and left.
'Then... could you lend me some money?'
Suddenly, Rose's voice asking to borrow money flashed through his mind.
“Really... she is an unpredictable woman.”
It was quite surprising that she said she wanted a divorce, but it felt quite sly that Rose didn't ask for money but instead asked to borrow it.
“Are you trying to somehow continue our relationship?”
The moment she paid the compensation, her ties with the Grand Duke of Artaeum would be severed, but if she were to become entangled in a debt relationship, it would likely last a little longer. The Grand Duke mistakenly believed he had correctly discerned Rose's intentions in asking for a loan.
“Just asking to be my friend would have been enough.”
Who would want to be your friend so easily, seeing you covered in blood? The Grand Duke of Artaeum seemed completely unaware of how objectively terrifying his own appearance was. Far from offering to be his friend, she seemed to be begging for her life.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
She didn't know he would be so proactive in helping, but Rose bowed her head to the Grand Duke and expressed her gratitude.
"What about gratitude? Is that all? Don't you want anything more?"
Rose nodded at the Grand Duke's words.
"I guess the Grand Duke truly thinks I'm your savior. All I've ever done is tell a plausible lie."
She thought it was shameless to just ask for a loan, but now she wants more? It couldn't have been worse. Excessive greed can lead to trouble, right?
"No. I'm so grateful that you're willing to grant me such a seemingly unreasonable request."
Rose shook her head with wide eyes.
“Yes, how much do you need?”
The Grand Duke responded positively, as if he would give money to Rose immediately.
'It's quite a lot of money...'
It was a sum so large that it was hard to swallow. It was so large that Rose felt the Grand Duke might change his tune the moment she spoke sincerely. As Rose pondered how to effectively convey her plan, a familiar male voice rang in her ear.
“Damn it! What the hell are you doing!”
Eric's voice was laced with anger. He was searching for Rose, his eyes wide and glaring like a predator searching for prey. Rose turned her head toward the sound of Eric's voice. Rose frowned involuntarily at the sight of Eric searching for her.
Rose shook her head with wide eyes.
“Yes, how much do you need?”
The Grand Duke responded positively, as if he would give money to Rose immediately.
'It's quite a lot of money...'
It was a sum so large that it was hard to swallow. It was so large that Rose felt the Grand Duke might change his tune the moment she spoke sincerely. As Rose pondered how to effectively convey her plan, a familiar male voice rang in her ear.
“Damn it! What the hell are you doing!”
Eric's voice was laced with anger. He was searching for Rose, his eyes wide and glaring like a predator searching for prey. Rose turned her head toward the sound of Eric's voice. Rose frowned involuntarily at the sight of Eric searching for her.
Something had happened, and he looked drastically disheveled, unlike before. The buttons on his shirt were crooked, as if he'd buttoned them incorrectly, and his once neatly slicked-back hair was disheveled.
'What happened?'
Had Eric, too, been startled by something like her, fallen over, and rolled around? Rose frowned at Eric, then turned to the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
"I think I'll have to leave for today, Your Highness. Can we discuss the money you promised to lend me later?"
Grand Duke Artaeum nodded, glancing around at Eric as he approached. He didn't like Eric's uninvited appearance, but he couldn't keep Rose in his hands.
“Yes. I’ll send someone to Count Wence’s house.”
Rose was startled by the Grand Duke's words and shook her head.
“No, you don’t have to do that.”
She didn't want Eric to see her interactions with the Grand Duke. In the novel, Eric was a very possessive man. He wasn't even interested in Rose, but he always treated her like his own. He had relationships with many women, but he was resentful if his wife even made eye contact with another man. To Eric, the Grand Duke of Artaeum was clearly an annoyance, someone who would touch what was his.
'If he knew I was in contact with the Grand Duke... He'd harass me with ridiculous excuses.'
"There's no need to make things so tiring," Rose said softly, smiling faintly at the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
'What happened?'
Had Eric, too, been startled by something like her, fallen over, and rolled around? Rose frowned at Eric, then turned to the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
"I think I'll have to leave for today, Your Highness. Can we discuss the money you promised to lend me later?"
Grand Duke Artaeum nodded, glancing around at Eric as he approached. He didn't like Eric's uninvited appearance, but he couldn't keep Rose in his hands.
“Yes. I’ll send someone to Count Wence’s house.”
Rose was startled by the Grand Duke's words and shook her head.
“No, you don’t have to do that.”
She didn't want Eric to see her interactions with the Grand Duke. In the novel, Eric was a very possessive man. He wasn't even interested in Rose, but he always treated her like his own. He had relationships with many women, but he was resentful if his wife even made eye contact with another man. To Eric, the Grand Duke of Artaeum was clearly an annoyance, someone who would touch what was his.
'If he knew I was in contact with the Grand Duke... He'd harass me with ridiculous excuses.'
"There's no need to make things so tiring," Rose said softly, smiling faintly at the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
“I will contact you first, Your Highness.”
She bowed to the Grand Duke of Arteum and hurriedly left. The Grand Duke, watching Rose swiftly scurry away, quickly turned in the opposite direction and left.
***
'Then... could you lend me some money?'
Suddenly, Rose's voice asking to borrow money flashed through his mind.
“Really... she is an unpredictable woman.”
It was quite surprising that she said she wanted a divorce, but it felt quite sly that Rose didn't ask for money but instead asked to borrow it.
“Are you trying to somehow continue our relationship?”
The moment she paid the compensation, her ties with the Grand Duke of Artaeum would be severed, but if she were to become entangled in a debt relationship, it would likely last a little longer. The Grand Duke mistakenly believed he had correctly discerned Rose's intentions in asking for a loan.
“Just asking to be my friend would have been enough.”
Who would want to be your friend so easily, seeing you covered in blood? The Grand Duke of Artaeum seemed completely unaware of how objectively terrifying his own appearance was. Far from offering to be his friend, she seemed to be begging for her life.
Arriving at a corner of the garden, the Grand Duke of Artaeum sat down on an unidentifiable object that rose to his knees. Shortly after his arrival, someone emerged from the darkness. His eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he walked toward her, clutching a blood-soaked sword in one hand.
The Grand Duke stared sharply at the man walking toward him. The masked man had already reached the Grand Duke's nose. He swiftly moved his arm, gripping the hilt of his sword, and then lowered his head toward the Grand Duke.
“It has been taken care of.”
The Grand Duke, who had been sitting blankly, slowly rose from his seat at the sound of the man's low voice. He then kicked away the spot where he had just sat. Something that had formed a low hill crumbled under the Grand Duke's footsteps. Five corpses. The Grand Duke's eyes, staring at the limp bodies, became cold and sank.
“Were you a subordinate of Duke Flice?”
“Yes. I’ve dealt with every last one of them, so you can rest assured.”
The masked man hurled the object he had been dragging at the Grand Duke's feet. It hit the floor with a dull thud, a corpse. He hadn't been able to deal with it before Rose appeared. The Grand Duke of Artaeum found the situation, which was not far from his expectations, amusing. He had been sending him a sly glance from the banquet hall.
“You’ve become quite a laughing stock, Duke Flice.”
The moment Rose spoke, Duke Flice's dumbfounded expression was so comical. He knew he must have lost control of his temper by now and was venting his anger on someone so needlessly harsh.
The Grand Duke stared sharply at the man walking toward him. The masked man had already reached the Grand Duke's nose. He swiftly moved his arm, gripping the hilt of his sword, and then lowered his head toward the Grand Duke.
“It has been taken care of.”
The Grand Duke, who had been sitting blankly, slowly rose from his seat at the sound of the man's low voice. He then kicked away the spot where he had just sat. Something that had formed a low hill crumbled under the Grand Duke's footsteps. Five corpses. The Grand Duke's eyes, staring at the limp bodies, became cold and sank.
“Were you a subordinate of Duke Flice?”
“Yes. I’ve dealt with every last one of them, so you can rest assured.”
The masked man hurled the object he had been dragging at the Grand Duke's feet. It hit the floor with a dull thud, a corpse. He hadn't been able to deal with it before Rose appeared. The Grand Duke of Artaeum found the situation, which was not far from his expectations, amusing. He had been sending him a sly glance from the banquet hall.
“You’ve become quite a laughing stock, Duke Flice.”
The moment Rose spoke, Duke Flice's dumbfounded expression was so comical. He knew he must have lost control of his temper by now and was venting his anger on someone so needlessly harsh.
He stared blankly at Duke Flice's men rolling around at his feet. His blue eyes, visible through his long eyelashes, were chillingly terrifying. Grand Duke Artaeum slowly raised his eyelids, his eyes filled with an indescribable rage. With the former Emperor and Empress gone, he fled the palace as if on the run. He settled in the north, where he had no connections. Barely surviving at the cost of the lives of countless nobles who had followed him... He was only thirteen years old. He was woefully inadequate to stand against his uncle, who had seized power.
“How dare you point a knife at me?”
In their eyes, the Grand Duke still appears to be a helpless child. A mere powerless, ruthless wretch who only commits evil deeds. The Grand Duke of Artaeum's gaze was fixed on the cold, frozen body.
“The rest will take care of itself.”
As a dry command, devoid of even a shred of emotion, resounded, the masked man nodded silently. The Grand Duke left the matter to his subordinate and departed. He then walked slowly toward the lake behind the mansion. The Grand Duke's shadow rippled and reflected on the calm waters. He plunged his blood-stained hand into the water. He felt a chill through his hand. The crimson blood spread out like smoke. His hand, once covered in murky water, was suddenly revealed as pure white. Grand Duke Artaeum, wiping his hand, paused when he saw his reflection in the lake. The lapping waves calmed down.
“...It’s a sight that could be misunderstood.”
The sight of his blood-stained body across the lake was eerily murderous.
'I'm so sorry for the misunderstanding at first. I didn't even realize it was because you were saving Marquis Blade...'
Grand Duke Artaeum thought of Rose, who had been with him just a moment ago. Her face, flushed with peach-red cheeks, stared at him with a helpless expression. The Grand Duke, his mouth tightly shut, stared at his reflection in the lake. Dark red blood clung to him, as if shackled. His empty eyes held a peculiar starvation, like those of a starved animal.
“How dare you point a knife at me?”
In their eyes, the Grand Duke still appears to be a helpless child. A mere powerless, ruthless wretch who only commits evil deeds. The Grand Duke of Artaeum's gaze was fixed on the cold, frozen body.
“The rest will take care of itself.”
As a dry command, devoid of even a shred of emotion, resounded, the masked man nodded silently. The Grand Duke left the matter to his subordinate and departed. He then walked slowly toward the lake behind the mansion. The Grand Duke's shadow rippled and reflected on the calm waters. He plunged his blood-stained hand into the water. He felt a chill through his hand. The crimson blood spread out like smoke. His hand, once covered in murky water, was suddenly revealed as pure white. Grand Duke Artaeum, wiping his hand, paused when he saw his reflection in the lake. The lapping waves calmed down.
“...It’s a sight that could be misunderstood.”
The sight of his blood-stained body across the lake was eerily murderous.
'I'm so sorry for the misunderstanding at first. I didn't even realize it was because you were saving Marquis Blade...'
Grand Duke Artaeum thought of Rose, who had been with him just a moment ago. Her face, flushed with peach-red cheeks, stared at him with a helpless expression. The Grand Duke, his mouth tightly shut, stared at his reflection in the lake. Dark red blood clung to him, as if shackled. His empty eyes held a peculiar starvation, like those of a starved animal.
He lied to Rose. He said he had smeared it while examining the body of the Marquis of Blade. In truth, it was the blood of Duke Flice's men, who had tried to frame him... He hadn't killed the Marquis of Blade, but it wasn't as if he didn't have a drop of blood on his hands. Even if it was to protect his own life.
'That's what the rumors say... but I think you're a kinder person than I thought.'
Gentle... The Grand Duke was truly far from gentle. Rather, he was a man riddled with a murderous desire for revenge. If Rose knew his true self, she would never show him that smile today. The Grand Duke thought of Rose's face, which had been gazing at him with a gentle smile, as if it were bathed in warm sunlight. Her gently curved eyes and sunken dimples were quite clear. It was not pleasant to see her gaze once again filled with fear, as it had been before.
“What should I do? I don’t want to disappoint you.”
A husky voice echoed softly. A faint smile played on his face as he uttered strange words, his intentions unclear.
'That's what the rumors say... but I think you're a kinder person than I thought.'
Gentle... The Grand Duke was truly far from gentle. Rather, he was a man riddled with a murderous desire for revenge. If Rose knew his true self, she would never show him that smile today. The Grand Duke thought of Rose's face, which had been gazing at him with a gentle smile, as if it were bathed in warm sunlight. Her gently curved eyes and sunken dimples were quite clear. It was not pleasant to see her gaze once again filled with fear, as it had been before.
“What should I do? I don’t want to disappoint you.”
A husky voice echoed softly. A faint smile played on his face as he uttered strange words, his intentions unclear.
***
Three days had already passed since the banquet. From that day on, the Grand Duke began to behave strangely.
"Neran, is there any letter for me?"
At the Grand Duke's words, Butler Neran flinched and stared at him.
‘Why on earth is this happening...’
He stared at the Grand Duke of Artaeum with a bewildered expression. Starting the day after the banquet, he demanded daily correspondence, as if he were waiting for someone. And every hour, at that. With so much to do, having to bother him with this one question all day was incredibly inconvenient for a butler. Still, he had to answer the Grand Duke's question, so Neran began to fumble around and check the correspondence.
"Yes. A letter from the imperial family..."
"Not that."
At the mention of the imperial family, Grand Duke Artaeum frowned and cut off Neran.
"Otherwise, there's nothing."
“...Who is the guest who came to see me?”
"Didn't the Grand Duke tell me to kick out anyone who comes?"
Grand Duke Artaeum, who had been tapping his hands anxiously on the desk, stopped and glared at Neran with chilling eyes.
"When did I ever kick them out?"
His dark eyes held a blue venom. They were fierce, as if they could devour the butler at any moment.
“No, not even a single ant is around.”
'And when... You always told me to kick them out.'
Neran, who wanted to say something, was unable to say anything because of the Grand Duke's glaring expression.
'You said you'd contact me first, but it's been three days and there's been no word.'
The Grand Duke of Artaeum was on edge, waiting for Rose's call. Of course, he seemed completely unaware of it. Could it be that something was wrong with her? He frowned, remembering Eric's rough treatment of Rose, as if she were an object. Neran questioned the Grand Duke's somewhat anxious demeanor.
'Why are you suddenly doing something you've never done before? As if you're waiting for someone to contact you... '
The Grand Duke had ordered the expulsion of all his friends and even his cousins, so his current appearance felt quite unfamiliar. At that time,
“You’re here.”
Grand Duke Artaeum, who had been gazing out the window, suddenly jumped to his feet. Perhaps the person he had been waiting for had arrived, and his expression seemed strangely excited.
"Neran, is there any letter for me?"
At the Grand Duke's words, Butler Neran flinched and stared at him.
‘Why on earth is this happening...’
He stared at the Grand Duke of Artaeum with a bewildered expression. Starting the day after the banquet, he demanded daily correspondence, as if he were waiting for someone. And every hour, at that. With so much to do, having to bother him with this one question all day was incredibly inconvenient for a butler. Still, he had to answer the Grand Duke's question, so Neran began to fumble around and check the correspondence.
"Yes. A letter from the imperial family..."
"Not that."
At the mention of the imperial family, Grand Duke Artaeum frowned and cut off Neran.
"Otherwise, there's nothing."
“...Who is the guest who came to see me?”
"Didn't the Grand Duke tell me to kick out anyone who comes?"
Grand Duke Artaeum, who had been tapping his hands anxiously on the desk, stopped and glared at Neran with chilling eyes.
"When did I ever kick them out?"
His dark eyes held a blue venom. They were fierce, as if they could devour the butler at any moment.
“No, not even a single ant is around.”
'And when... You always told me to kick them out.'
Neran, who wanted to say something, was unable to say anything because of the Grand Duke's glaring expression.
'You said you'd contact me first, but it's been three days and there's been no word.'
The Grand Duke of Artaeum was on edge, waiting for Rose's call. Of course, he seemed completely unaware of it. Could it be that something was wrong with her? He frowned, remembering Eric's rough treatment of Rose, as if she were an object. Neran questioned the Grand Duke's somewhat anxious demeanor.
'Why are you suddenly doing something you've never done before? As if you're waiting for someone to contact you... '
The Grand Duke had ordered the expulsion of all his friends and even his cousins, so his current appearance felt quite unfamiliar. At that time,
“You’re here.”
Grand Duke Artaeum, who had been gazing out the window, suddenly jumped to his feet. Perhaps the person he had been waiting for had arrived, and his expression seemed strangely excited.
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