Episode 18. Throw Me Out Now!
'What if the Grand Duke kicks me out with a scary expression?'
Rose swallowed hard and vaguely imagined the Grand Duke of Arteum facing her.
Rose came to her senses after having a fantasy about him throwing wads of money over her face.
"Ha..."
Then, the ground gave out a sigh. Perhaps the sight of Rose, loitering in her shabby robes, seemed suspicious, and the knights guarding the entrance approached her threateningly.
“What have you been doing here all this time?”
Rose flinched as she saw the men approaching her.
“I have come to see the Grand Duke of Artaeum. My master has asked me to deliver a package.”
Rose, overwhelmed by the men's momentum, managed to utter the words she had practiced in a hoarse voice. Rose hid her identity and pretended to be a maid. The knights looked her up and down and spoke curtly.
“We will deliver the items to him.”
“Ah, there’s something I absolutely have to give you in person...”
The men's eyes took on a strange color as Rose trailed off.
“You’re saying you’re meeting him? Which family sent you?”
They stared at Rose, revealing a strange wariness they hadn't felt at first. It was understandable, for the Grand Duke of Artaeum was a man who wouldn't even allow visits from nobles. Yet, coming as a maid, she confidently faced him and delivered the goods... To them, Rose's appearance was utterly suspicious.
The Grand Duke's words, which left no room for even the slightest hesitation, left him with no choice but to hurriedly leave the reception room. Only after confirming the butler had left did Rose finally remove her robe. Removing the robe revealed short blonde hair, not her original light pink. The Grand Duke, facing Rose, gazed at her with interest. He hadn't realized she'd gone so thorough, even wearing a wig.
“Madam, you are quite thorough, despite her appearance.”
“You really came looking for me... Are you okay?”
Rose, wearing a robe turned inside out, paced anxiously in front of his mansion.
'You seem a little shaky.'
The Grand Duke had offered to lend her the money, but upon returning to the Count's residence and reflecting on it, she was troubled by the uneasy look on his face that day. Asking for money in exchange for his life might make her look like a philistine. Of course, she hadn't asked for it, but had asked for a loan.
Rose, wearing a robe turned inside out, paced anxiously in front of his mansion.
'You seem a little shaky.'
The Grand Duke had offered to lend her the money, but upon returning to the Count's residence and reflecting on it, she was troubled by the uneasy look on his face that day. Asking for money in exchange for his life might make her look like a philistine. Of course, she hadn't asked for it, but had asked for a loan.
'What if the Grand Duke kicks me out with a scary expression?'
Rose swallowed hard and vaguely imagined the Grand Duke of Arteum facing her.
"Why did you come here? Did you really listen to empty words and come here to beg?"
The Grand Duke in Rose's imagination looked her up and down with a very cold expression. Judging by the horns sprouting from his head, Rose's image of the Grand Duke seemed unsettling.
“Eat this and get the hell out.”
The Grand Duke in Rose's imagination looked her up and down with a very cold expression. Judging by the horns sprouting from his head, Rose's image of the Grand Duke seemed unsettling.
“Eat this and get the hell out.”
Rose came to her senses after having a fantasy about him throwing wads of money over her face.
"Ha..."
Then, the ground gave out a sigh. Perhaps the sight of Rose, loitering in her shabby robes, seemed suspicious, and the knights guarding the entrance approached her threateningly.
“What have you been doing here all this time?”
Rose flinched as she saw the men approaching her.
“I have come to see the Grand Duke of Artaeum. My master has asked me to deliver a package.”
Rose, overwhelmed by the men's momentum, managed to utter the words she had practiced in a hoarse voice. Rose hid her identity and pretended to be a maid. The knights looked her up and down and spoke curtly.
“We will deliver the items to him.”
“Ah, there’s something I absolutely have to give you in person...”
The men's eyes took on a strange color as Rose trailed off.
“You’re saying you’re meeting him? Which family sent you?”
They stared at Rose, revealing a strange wariness they hadn't felt at first. It was understandable, for the Grand Duke of Artaeum was a man who wouldn't even allow visits from nobles. Yet, coming as a maid, she confidently faced him and delivered the goods... To them, Rose's appearance was utterly suspicious.
The knights exchanged glances and then surrounded Rose, approaching. Seeing these men approaching her with menacing expressions, beads of sweat formed on Rose's forehead. The corners of her lips trembled as she forced an awkward smile. She addressed them once more.
"Please tell the Grand Duke that I'm here. He'll let me in."
After two long hours in the carriage... I wasn't going to be kicked out like this, was I?
"Please tell the Grand Duke that I'm here. He'll let me in."
After two long hours in the carriage... I wasn't going to be kicked out like this, was I?
She was afraid of meeting the Grand Duke, but she hated being kicked out without meeting him even more. Just then, someone intervened between Rose and the knight.
Rose looked at the man standing in front of her, his red hair fluttering.
'Who is this person?'
Judging by his neat uniform, he was clearly an employee of this house. His hair, which reached down to his back, was tied loosely, and his gaze was filled with curiosity as he gazed at Rose.
“Are you a guest?”
The knights couldn't hide their surprise at Neruan's words. For over a decade, it was the Grand Duke of Artaeum who had issued orders not to let anyone in.
'As expected, I'm not the only one surprised.'
The butler felt a sense of kinship as he watched them, their eyes wide and expressions of surprise barely concealed. Anyone who had worked in this mansion for a long time would be surprised.
'Who the hell is this woman?'
Neruan was quite curious about Rose's identity. She was a woman in shabby robes, seemingly unremarkable. She looked like she might be representing a noble family.
“The Grand Duke is waiting. Please come this way.”
Rose, who had been gloomy the whole time, worried that she might be kicked out and let out a sigh at the butler's words.
“This is the Grand Duke's guest. Please step aside.”
'Who is this person?'
Judging by his neat uniform, he was clearly an employee of this house. His hair, which reached down to his back, was tied loosely, and his gaze was filled with curiosity as he gazed at Rose.
“Are you a guest?”
The knights couldn't hide their surprise at Neruan's words. For over a decade, it was the Grand Duke of Artaeum who had issued orders not to let anyone in.
'As expected, I'm not the only one surprised.'
The butler felt a sense of kinship as he watched them, their eyes wide and expressions of surprise barely concealed. Anyone who had worked in this mansion for a long time would be surprised.
'Who the hell is this woman?'
Neruan was quite curious about Rose's identity. She was a woman in shabby robes, seemingly unremarkable. She looked like she might be representing a noble family.
“The Grand Duke is waiting. Please come this way.”
Rose, who had been gloomy the whole time, worried that she might be kicked out and let out a sigh at the butler's words.
'Thank goodness I wasn't treated coldly.'
Rose gave a slight bow to Neruan and followed him to the reception room.
"I'll bring the Grand Duke over soon. Would you like me to prepare some tea while you wait?"
“Oh, yes.”
Rose, whose throat had been parched from tension, smiled brightly at his kindness.
“What kind of tea would you like?”
“Do you have any dazzling?”
“Of course.”
Neruan's eyes widened. His demeanor was remarkably gentle. He called over one of the maids nearby and ordered her to bring him some tea.
“Bring out the dazzling.”
“Yes, butler.”
'...butler?'
Rose momentarily doubted her ears when the maid called the red-haired man "butler."
At first glance, he was a man of Rose's age. Unlike Neruan, the butler at the Count's residence was an old man with gray hair, which made him feel a new sense of familiarity.
“Do you need anything?”
He must have noticed the curious gaze, so he met her eyes and looked at Rose.
'Oh, I guess I was staring too hard.'
Rose shook her head, studying his expression, wondering if she might have been rude for a moment.
"It's okay."
Despite Rose's harsh reply, Neruan was quite kind.
“Then I will bring the Grand Duke.”
Not long after Neruan left, a maid brought out tea. Grabbing the handle, a warm sensation spread through her fingertips. Rose lifted her cup and sipped the dazzling tea, savoring the faint aroma.
"...It's good."
Rose's body, frozen with tension, felt like it was melting away. She glanced around the reception room and emptied her teacup. The tightly shut door to the reception room opened, and a familiar voice rang out.
“Long time no see.”
Rose put down her teacup and stood up. Contrary to her fears, seeing the Grand Duke for the first time in three days didn't seem so frightening. He wore a pastel-colored sky blue shirt, still unbuttoned.
'It smells good...'
The freshly sprayed perfume, quite different from the bloody smell of the previous time, pleasantly tickled Rose's nose. The Grand Duke carefully examined Rose standing before him, checking for any wounds or injuries. Fortunately, none of the things he had worried about seemed to have occurred.
'I guess you snuck out.'
The Grand Duke, seeing Rose's face tightly hidden by her robes, guessed she didn't want to reveal her identity. The Grand Duke of Artaeum gestured lightly to Neruan, who stood behind him.
“I’m going to go now.”
"All right."
Neruan's voice trailed off, as if he were disappointed. He was deeply curious as to what purpose the woman before him had in coming here. The butler answered and walked away, as slow as a turtle. It seemed he wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation, even if it was just a single word.
“Get out quickly.”
Rose gave a slight bow to Neruan and followed him to the reception room.
"I'll bring the Grand Duke over soon. Would you like me to prepare some tea while you wait?"
“Oh, yes.”
Rose, whose throat had been parched from tension, smiled brightly at his kindness.
“What kind of tea would you like?”
“Do you have any dazzling?”
“Of course.”
Neruan's eyes widened. His demeanor was remarkably gentle. He called over one of the maids nearby and ordered her to bring him some tea.
“Bring out the dazzling.”
“Yes, butler.”
'...butler?'
Rose momentarily doubted her ears when the maid called the red-haired man "butler."
At first glance, he was a man of Rose's age. Unlike Neruan, the butler at the Count's residence was an old man with gray hair, which made him feel a new sense of familiarity.
“Do you need anything?”
He must have noticed the curious gaze, so he met her eyes and looked at Rose.
'Oh, I guess I was staring too hard.'
Rose shook her head, studying his expression, wondering if she might have been rude for a moment.
"It's okay."
Despite Rose's harsh reply, Neruan was quite kind.
“Then I will bring the Grand Duke.”
Not long after Neruan left, a maid brought out tea. Grabbing the handle, a warm sensation spread through her fingertips. Rose lifted her cup and sipped the dazzling tea, savoring the faint aroma.
"...It's good."
Rose's body, frozen with tension, felt like it was melting away. She glanced around the reception room and emptied her teacup. The tightly shut door to the reception room opened, and a familiar voice rang out.
“Long time no see.”
Rose put down her teacup and stood up. Contrary to her fears, seeing the Grand Duke for the first time in three days didn't seem so frightening. He wore a pastel-colored sky blue shirt, still unbuttoned.
'It smells good...'
The freshly sprayed perfume, quite different from the bloody smell of the previous time, pleasantly tickled Rose's nose. The Grand Duke carefully examined Rose standing before him, checking for any wounds or injuries. Fortunately, none of the things he had worried about seemed to have occurred.
'I guess you snuck out.'
The Grand Duke, seeing Rose's face tightly hidden by her robes, guessed she didn't want to reveal her identity. The Grand Duke of Artaeum gestured lightly to Neruan, who stood behind him.
“I’m going to go now.”
"All right."
Neruan's voice trailed off, as if he were disappointed. He was deeply curious as to what purpose the woman before him had in coming here. The butler answered and walked away, as slow as a turtle. It seemed he wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation, even if it was just a single word.
“Get out quickly.”
The Grand Duke's words, which left no room for even the slightest hesitation, left him with no choice but to hurriedly leave the reception room. Only after confirming the butler had left did Rose finally remove her robe. Removing the robe revealed short blonde hair, not her original light pink. The Grand Duke, facing Rose, gazed at her with interest. He hadn't realized she'd gone so thorough, even wearing a wig.
“Madam, you are quite thorough, despite her appearance.”
***
Meanwhile, Eric was with the imperialist nobles. Duke Flice, sitting at the head of the long table, was speaking to the nobles.
"It's a shame. If our plan had worked that day, we could have struck him sooner than we expected."
Duke Flice trailed off slowly, then stared blankly at Eric. It wasn't a pleasant gaze. After all, Eric was Rose's husband, the one who had ruined all of her plans.
"You have a truly wonderful wife. Thanks to you, the noble Grand Duke of Artaeum has a long life."
The other nobles also joined in on the grumbling Duke of Flice's words.
“Tch, you can’t even look after your wife... What on earth were you doing at that time, Count?”
“What are you asking again? It’s obvious even without looking.”
“I guess you were having a good time somewhere.”
They taunted Eric with sneers. More than one person had seen the scarlet lipstick stain on Eric's shirt that day. Duke Plice, who had been listening to their accusations with a chuckle, intervened as if out of kindness.
“Everyone, stop it. At least the Count has some dignity.”
Duke Flice, though he had been the first to speak, cut him off, pretending to defend him. He then stared at his father, Cedric, whose face was flushed red and blue beside Eric. Cedric couldn't raise his face at his son's public humiliation, as if he himself had been shamed. Cedric glared at his son, Eric, with trembling hands clenched into fists.
"It's a shame. If our plan had worked that day, we could have struck him sooner than we expected."
Duke Flice trailed off slowly, then stared blankly at Eric. It wasn't a pleasant gaze. After all, Eric was Rose's husband, the one who had ruined all of her plans.
"You have a truly wonderful wife. Thanks to you, the noble Grand Duke of Artaeum has a long life."
The other nobles also joined in on the grumbling Duke of Flice's words.
“Tch, you can’t even look after your wife... What on earth were you doing at that time, Count?”
“What are you asking again? It’s obvious even without looking.”
“I guess you were having a good time somewhere.”
They taunted Eric with sneers. More than one person had seen the scarlet lipstick stain on Eric's shirt that day. Duke Plice, who had been listening to their accusations with a chuckle, intervened as if out of kindness.
“Everyone, stop it. At least the Count has some dignity.”
Duke Flice, though he had been the first to speak, cut him off, pretending to defend him. He then stared at his father, Cedric, whose face was flushed red and blue beside Eric. Cedric couldn't raise his face at his son's public humiliation, as if he himself had been shamed. Cedric glared at his son, Eric, with trembling hands clenched into fists.
He had worked like a dog for Duke Flice. With just a little more effort, he would have achieved what he wanted. But now, right before his very eyes, his tower had collapsed. His son, Eric. To be precise, his son wasn't at fault. It was all because of that damned Rose. If only she hadn't testified, the plan would never have gone awry.
"I guess she's a stupid kid; she didn't understand the situation and just got involved. I'll give her a good talk."
Cedric slyly shifted the blame heaped on his son onto Rose. It was the only excuse he could come up with. After the meeting, Cedric, unable to contain his anger, swung his fist at Eric's face. With a dull thud, his face turned mercilessly.
“What kind of embarrassment is this because of that girl!”
Eric caressed his own flushed cheek. His palm was stained with bright red blood. His lip appeared to be split.
"You're crazy about women. Look at how your family has become such a mess because of one woman you've taken in wrongly!"
Cedric's neck, bloodshot as he lashed out, glared at Eric with his glaring eyes.
“I can’t stand it anymore. Throw that kid out right now.”
Cedric's words stirred Eric's rebellion. Eric's gaze, gazing at his father, lost focus, flashing with a half-sweetened glimmer.
"I guess she's a stupid kid; she didn't understand the situation and just got involved. I'll give her a good talk."
Cedric slyly shifted the blame heaped on his son onto Rose. It was the only excuse he could come up with. After the meeting, Cedric, unable to contain his anger, swung his fist at Eric's face. With a dull thud, his face turned mercilessly.
“What kind of embarrassment is this because of that girl!”
Eric caressed his own flushed cheek. His palm was stained with bright red blood. His lip appeared to be split.
"You're crazy about women. Look at how your family has become such a mess because of one woman you've taken in wrongly!"
Cedric's neck, bloodshot as he lashed out, glared at Eric with his glaring eyes.
“I can’t stand it anymore. Throw that kid out right now.”
Cedric's words stirred Eric's rebellion. Eric's gaze, gazing at his father, lost focus, flashing with a half-sweetened glimmer.
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