Episode 19. A Gamble for Life
Eric, slapped in the face by Cedric, felt an urge to grab his father by the collar. He had thought becoming a Count would free him from his father's clutches, but he had always treated Eric like a child and refused to hand over full power. He had endured it, believing that inheriting the title would allow him to live as he pleased. However, the complete independence he longed for was not there. He forced his arms, trembling with anger, to hide them and muttered.
“I will take responsibility for this matter and see it through to the end.”
"What's the point? What the hell do you know how to do? You just do nothing but womanize."
Cedric glared at Eric with pity. In his eyes, Eric was nothing more than a child. As a child, Eric had been rather weak. The soothsayer had said that he would not die young unless he seized power immediately after marriage. Cedric, having been told that he must marry before he turned twenty, quickly arranged for his son's marriage and even handed over his title. If his son hadn't insisted on marrying Rosie, if it hadn't been for that prophecy, he wouldn't have taken Rosie as his daughter-in-law.
“Those damn Serbs.”
Cedric hurled insults at the Rose family and then turned to Eric again.
"Why on earth would you marry such a worthless child? Tsk. I'll give you a month to end it, so break up with her immediately. I already know you've never truly embraced her."
“...Right.”
A spark of rebellion crawled from Eric's chest like a coiled snake. Contrary to his usual composed response, Eric's eyes flashed with madness.
“I’m sorry. I’ll give it to you later, not today.”
“Why?”
At Rose's words, Grand Duke Arteum's brow furrowed. He couldn't understand why Rose, who had just moments ago been holding out a gift to him with such a perplexed expression, had suddenly changed her tune.
“Now that I think about it, I think what I brought wasn’t very good.”
Rose fiddled with her fingers, trying to put the gift back inside her robe. However, the Grand Duke snatched the gift from Rose's palm and answered nonchalantly.
“No, I like this.”
His tone was firm, even though he didn't know what was inside. Before Rose could say anything, the Grand Duke of Artaeum untied the knot that bound the box. He then peeled back the wrapping paper, revealing a red box. The Grand Duke opened the box with a click. Inside was a simple brooch set with a blue topaz.
“It’s a brooch.”
The Grand Duke played with the brooch that glowed blue, a smile playing on his lips. It looked rustic, but it was a gift that suited him perfectly, as he wasn't the type to dress up extravagantly.
Eric, slapped in the face by Cedric, felt an urge to grab his father by the collar. He had thought becoming a Count would free him from his father's clutches, but he had always treated Eric like a child and refused to hand over full power. He had endured it, believing that inheriting the title would allow him to live as he pleased. However, the complete independence he longed for was not there. He forced his arms, trembling with anger, to hide them and muttered.
“I will take responsibility for this matter and see it through to the end.”
"What's the point? What the hell do you know how to do? You just do nothing but womanize."
Cedric glared at Eric with pity. In his eyes, Eric was nothing more than a child. As a child, Eric had been rather weak. The soothsayer had said that he would not die young unless he seized power immediately after marriage. Cedric, having been told that he must marry before he turned twenty, quickly arranged for his son's marriage and even handed over his title. If his son hadn't insisted on marrying Rosie, if it hadn't been for that prophecy, he wouldn't have taken Rosie as his daughter-in-law.
“Those damn Serbs.”
Cedric hurled insults at the Rose family and then turned to Eric again.
"Why on earth would you marry such a worthless child? Tsk. I'll give you a month to end it, so break up with her immediately. I already know you've never truly embraced her."
“...Right.”
A spark of rebellion crawled from Eric's chest like a coiled snake. Contrary to his usual composed response, Eric's eyes flashed with madness.
***
At that time, the mansion of the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
“Madam, you are quite thorough, despite your appearance.”
The sight of Rose, dressed not only in a wig but also in a maid's outfit, was enough to surprise him.
“Yes. I don’t think it would be beneficial if they caught me coming and going here.”
Rose answered, sweeping her shoulder-length short hair down.
“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
“A little. But it’s okay. I feel much more comfortable this way.”
Grand Duke Artaeum stared blankly at Rose. He'd thought they resembled each other, but never thought they'd be this similar.
'It's because you're wearing a wig, you look exactly like that.'
The image of his pet dog, Finn, with its splendid golden fur, came to mind. The Grand Duke superimposed Finn's image on Rose's face. Following his stream of consciousness, he slowly reached out and stroked her hair. Rose was quite taken aback by the Grand Duke's sudden action of stroking her hair. Unlike Finn's fluffy fur, his fingertips felt the smooth texture of her wig. The Grand Duke Artaeum, with a resounding "Oh no!", quickly lowered his hand.
“I was rude. I apologize.”
How rude of him to suddenly brush her hair away. Honestly, he felt embarrassed even saying he brushed it away. He was caressing Rose's hair so frantically, like he was petting his own dog.
“Because it resembles the guy I raised.”
Yes... She knew, even without him saying it. His touch felt like a puppy. It was the first time in her life that she had ever been treated like a "pet."
‘How similar are humans and dogs...’
Rose grumbled inwardly, but couldn't show it. She forced a smile, straightening her messy hair.
"It's okay."
Rose's awkward laugh, unable to hide her discomfort, was heard. Rose began to rummage through her robes, searching for something.
“Ah, I found it.”
A small gift box resting on the palm of her hand. It was carefully wrapped.
“Oh, I was going to give it to you at the last banquet, but I couldn’t.”
It was the Grand Duke of Artaeum, the first person to invite her, a social outcast. It was a small gift Rose had prepared for him.
"I guess I wasn't in my right mind that day. I can't believe I forgot to give you something so important."
It was understandable. Not only had he witnessed the Grand Duke covered in blood before her eyes, but she had also witnessed the death of Marquis Bled. The Grand Duke of Artaeum seemed quite surprised that Rose had prepared a gift for him.
“So... this is a gift you prepared for me?”
“Yes, it’s not expensive, so please accept it without any burden.”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum looked quite bewildered. In fact, he had sent Rose the invitation simply because he was curious about how she knew Luna's tears were fake.
'I didn't invite you with the best of intentions, but you brought me a gift as a token of your appreciation.'
“I don’t need this.”
The Grand Duke, feeling a pang of guilt, muttered under his breath. His long eyelashes fluttered lazily, his eyes downcast. He gazed intently at Rose's hand, genuinely touched by her kindness. However, Rose didn't see it that way. He simply seemed to be glaring at the gift in her palm with a murderous gaze. This was enough to instill fear in Rose, who sat before him.
'Do you not like it?'
Rose's fingers, holding the gift, twitched under the sharp gaze. Rose looked back and forth between the gift in her hand and the Grand Duke. The reception room, a grandeur far surpassing that of the Count's residence, was the owner of this mansion, the Grand Duke of Artaeum. The simple gift, incomparable to the grand mansion, felt somehow shabby. She thought that someone like the Grand Duke would not welcome a mid-priced brand.
“Madam, you are quite thorough, despite your appearance.”
The sight of Rose, dressed not only in a wig but also in a maid's outfit, was enough to surprise him.
“Yes. I don’t think it would be beneficial if they caught me coming and going here.”
Rose answered, sweeping her shoulder-length short hair down.
“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
“A little. But it’s okay. I feel much more comfortable this way.”
Grand Duke Artaeum stared blankly at Rose. He'd thought they resembled each other, but never thought they'd be this similar.
'It's because you're wearing a wig, you look exactly like that.'
The image of his pet dog, Finn, with its splendid golden fur, came to mind. The Grand Duke superimposed Finn's image on Rose's face. Following his stream of consciousness, he slowly reached out and stroked her hair. Rose was quite taken aback by the Grand Duke's sudden action of stroking her hair. Unlike Finn's fluffy fur, his fingertips felt the smooth texture of her wig. The Grand Duke Artaeum, with a resounding "Oh no!", quickly lowered his hand.
“I was rude. I apologize.”
How rude of him to suddenly brush her hair away. Honestly, he felt embarrassed even saying he brushed it away. He was caressing Rose's hair so frantically, like he was petting his own dog.
“Because it resembles the guy I raised.”
Yes... She knew, even without him saying it. His touch felt like a puppy. It was the first time in her life that she had ever been treated like a "pet."
‘How similar are humans and dogs...’
Rose grumbled inwardly, but couldn't show it. She forced a smile, straightening her messy hair.
"It's okay."
Rose's awkward laugh, unable to hide her discomfort, was heard. Rose began to rummage through her robes, searching for something.
“Ah, I found it.”
A small gift box resting on the palm of her hand. It was carefully wrapped.
“Oh, I was going to give it to you at the last banquet, but I couldn’t.”
It was the Grand Duke of Artaeum, the first person to invite her, a social outcast. It was a small gift Rose had prepared for him.
"I guess I wasn't in my right mind that day. I can't believe I forgot to give you something so important."
It was understandable. Not only had he witnessed the Grand Duke covered in blood before her eyes, but she had also witnessed the death of Marquis Bled. The Grand Duke of Artaeum seemed quite surprised that Rose had prepared a gift for him.
“So... this is a gift you prepared for me?”
“Yes, it’s not expensive, so please accept it without any burden.”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum looked quite bewildered. In fact, he had sent Rose the invitation simply because he was curious about how she knew Luna's tears were fake.
'I didn't invite you with the best of intentions, but you brought me a gift as a token of your appreciation.'
“I don’t need this.”
The Grand Duke, feeling a pang of guilt, muttered under his breath. His long eyelashes fluttered lazily, his eyes downcast. He gazed intently at Rose's hand, genuinely touched by her kindness. However, Rose didn't see it that way. He simply seemed to be glaring at the gift in her palm with a murderous gaze. This was enough to instill fear in Rose, who sat before him.
'Do you not like it?'
Rose's fingers, holding the gift, twitched under the sharp gaze. Rose looked back and forth between the gift in her hand and the Grand Duke. The reception room, a grandeur far surpassing that of the Count's residence, was the owner of this mansion, the Grand Duke of Artaeum. The simple gift, incomparable to the grand mansion, felt somehow shabby. She thought that someone like the Grand Duke would not welcome a mid-priced brand.
Rose, who had been reaching out toward the Grand Duke of Artaeum, made an embarrassed expression and slowly lowered her hand. Of course, what Rose had bought wasn't a cheap item bought at the market. Although it was only the size of a palm, the item she held in her hand had cost a whopping 8 million res. It was a price that made one gasp, but it might not have been appropriate for the Grand Duke of Artaeum, a member of the royal family.
‘I should have prepared something a little more high-end...’
She thought that if she gave him something too extravagant, he might feel burdened, so she chose something appropriate...
‘I should have prepared something a little more high-end...’
She thought that if she gave him something too extravagant, he might feel burdened, so she chose something appropriate...
“I’m sorry. I’ll give it to you later, not today.”
“Why?”
At Rose's words, Grand Duke Arteum's brow furrowed. He couldn't understand why Rose, who had just moments ago been holding out a gift to him with such a perplexed expression, had suddenly changed her tune.
“Now that I think about it, I think what I brought wasn’t very good.”
Rose fiddled with her fingers, trying to put the gift back inside her robe. However, the Grand Duke snatched the gift from Rose's palm and answered nonchalantly.
“No, I like this.”
His tone was firm, even though he didn't know what was inside. Before Rose could say anything, the Grand Duke of Artaeum untied the knot that bound the box. He then peeled back the wrapping paper, revealing a red box. The Grand Duke opened the box with a click. Inside was a simple brooch set with a blue topaz.
“It’s a brooch.”
The Grand Duke played with the brooch that glowed blue, a smile playing on his lips. It looked rustic, but it was a gift that suited him perfectly, as he wasn't the type to dress up extravagantly.
The Grand Duke smiled contentedly, but Rose remained restless. She was too busy observing his clothes to notice his expression. Rose's eyes flickered frantically over the Grand Duke's attire. Unlike his shirt, which was unbuttoned to his chest, his outerwear was remarkably neat. Not even the usual decorations.
'Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen the Grand Duke wear a brooch...'
They've met three times so far. She hasn't seen him many times, but she has never once seen the Grand Duke wear a brooch. No matter how well-intentioned a gift is, if the recipient doesn't use it, it's useless.
“Your Highness, do you usually wear a brooch?”
“...I enjoy it.”
The Grand Duke, who didn't like to be adorned with extravagant ornaments, didn't wear anything like a brooch. But if he told the truth, Rose's wide eyes would surely fill with disappointment. He answered with a white lie for Rose's sake and placed the brooch askew on the top of his shirt. Rose gazed at the slanted brooch before taking a step toward the Grand Duke.
“I’ll do it.”
The Grand Duke flinched slightly at Rose's touch. It was strange. He didn't mind when the maids touched him, but when Rose's hand touched him, he felt a strange tinge of anxiety.
‘Is it because of the fragrance...?’
A faintly sweet scent wafted from Rose's fingertips, which held his shirt. The Grand Duke involuntarily swallowed a breath at the fruity scent that reached his nostrils. Unaware that the Grand Duke was frozen, Rose carefully removed the brooch, taking care not to prick him with the pin. Then, gently grasping the Grand Duke's shirt, she placed the brooch on the right side, making sure it wasn't tilted to one side.
“Yes.”
Rose's eyes widened with a satisfied smile. She spoke to the Archduke in a lively voice.
“Thank you for the gift.”
“I will be the one to thank you.”
Rose, who had been feeling down at the Grand Duke's positive response, finally gained confidence. Blinking wide-eyed, she glanced at the Grand Duke, a faint smile playing on her lips.
'Let's try to get lucky.'
"I bet you liked the gift too," Rose said lightly before getting into the main topic.
“Your Highness, do you know what the topaz gemstone means?”
“I didn’t know that jewels had meaning.”
The Grand Duke looked at the brooch on his shirt and answered.
'The meaning... is it something obvious like courtship, love, something like that?'
The Grand Duke, who had mistakenly believed Rose was attracted to him, was quite surprised by Rose's straightforward manner of revealing her feelings. Of course, the meaning of topaz wasn't love or courtship. Rose licked her lips, looking at the Grand Duke, who was alone, gasping for air.
'Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen the Grand Duke wear a brooch...'
They've met three times so far. She hasn't seen him many times, but she has never once seen the Grand Duke wear a brooch. No matter how well-intentioned a gift is, if the recipient doesn't use it, it's useless.
“Your Highness, do you usually wear a brooch?”
“...I enjoy it.”
The Grand Duke, who didn't like to be adorned with extravagant ornaments, didn't wear anything like a brooch. But if he told the truth, Rose's wide eyes would surely fill with disappointment. He answered with a white lie for Rose's sake and placed the brooch askew on the top of his shirt. Rose gazed at the slanted brooch before taking a step toward the Grand Duke.
“I’ll do it.”
The Grand Duke flinched slightly at Rose's touch. It was strange. He didn't mind when the maids touched him, but when Rose's hand touched him, he felt a strange tinge of anxiety.
‘Is it because of the fragrance...?’
A faintly sweet scent wafted from Rose's fingertips, which held his shirt. The Grand Duke involuntarily swallowed a breath at the fruity scent that reached his nostrils. Unaware that the Grand Duke was frozen, Rose carefully removed the brooch, taking care not to prick him with the pin. Then, gently grasping the Grand Duke's shirt, she placed the brooch on the right side, making sure it wasn't tilted to one side.
“Yes.”
Rose's eyes widened with a satisfied smile. She spoke to the Archduke in a lively voice.
“Thank you for the gift.”
“I will be the one to thank you.”
Rose, who had been feeling down at the Grand Duke's positive response, finally gained confidence. Blinking wide-eyed, she glanced at the Grand Duke, a faint smile playing on her lips.
'Let's try to get lucky.'
"I bet you liked the gift too," Rose said lightly before getting into the main topic.
“Your Highness, do you know what the topaz gemstone means?”
“I didn’t know that jewels had meaning.”
The Grand Duke looked at the brooch on his shirt and answered.
'The meaning... is it something obvious like courtship, love, something like that?'
The Grand Duke, who had mistakenly believed Rose was attracted to him, was quite surprised by Rose's straightforward manner of revealing her feelings. Of course, the meaning of topaz wasn't love or courtship. Rose licked her lips, looking at the Grand Duke, who was alone, gasping for air.
As she was about to speak, her lips trembled with nervousness. Tick-tock. The silence of the audience room was drowned out only by the heavy ticking of the clock. Why was the ticking of the clock suddenly so loud? Rose couldn't shake the feeling that her nerves were tense and on edge. Her lips burned, and a squeezing pressure gripped her heart. She needed to speak, but her lips wouldn't move easily.
Rose was taking so long to understand the meaning of topaz, not because she was afraid of him. The moment she opened her mouth, she would be destined to board the same boat with the Grand Duke, who would soon die. Rose stood at a crossroads. She hesitated for a moment amidst the swirling maelstrom. This was a life-or-death gamble.
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