Episode 32. Don't Trust That Guy
Rose saw the butler off. The sight of him leaving the mansion no longer felt so pathetic. The butler greeted Rose with a faint smile.
“Then take care, ma’am.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll contact you.”
Gwen nodded at Rose's words and climbed into the carriage. The carriage wheels rolled with a cheerful sound. Rose looked up at the sky, where the rain had finally stopped. It was still overcast, but it would soon clear. Rose shook the water off the umbrella she was holding and closed it with a snap. She stood there until Gwen's carriage was out of sight.
“Eh, eh- echwi!”
She looked down at her drenched dress. A chill had settled over her, perhaps from being exposed to so much rain.
“It seems a little cold.”
Cold in the middle of summer? It was ridiculous, but it wasn't unusual after a storm. Rose wrapped her arms around her and walked toward the mansion. On the second floor, someone was watching her. It was Eric, the man who had kicked out the butler. He had a very displeased expression on his face.
“Why are you making such a fuss just to say goodbye to the butler?”
He frowned at the sight of Rose, soaking wet. What on earth was she doing?
“She pretends to be nice all by herself.”
Doana giggled as she approached Eric.
“She looks like a wet rat.”
She smiled, smirking at the sight of Rose, drenched and unkempt. She wondered if she dared to defy Eric's orders and bring in a butler, but all she did was shake hands. She felt relieved, but at the same time, she found it amusing to see Rose unable to do anything.
'Yeah, what can you do?'
With the butler out, Doana had nothing left to fear. She glanced at Eric's face. Judging by his furrowed brow, Rose's behavior seemed quite irritating.
'Let's try teasing each other now.'
Doana was frustrated with Eric, who only said he was going to get a divorce, but never did anything about it.
'Once a man makes a decision, he should act on it immediately. Why is he so slow?'
She was already pregnant with Eric's child. A corner of her heart needed to be at ease, but strangely, a sense of unease persisted. Was it because of Rose, who seemed unpredictable, or because of Eric's inscrutable nature?
'I definitely have to make it mine.'
She leaned lightly next to Eric, who stood there indifferently. Then, seductively, she stroked his body. Her dizzying touch drew Eric, who had been staring out the window, toward Doana. Doana met Eric's eyes, and then she strangely closed them and spoke.
“Hug me.”
As Jane spoke, a maid knocked on Rose's door. Knock.
“Madam, I have prepared the bath water.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ll be there soon.”
Rose sniffled and answered immediately.
“I need to quickly soak myself in warm water. I keep feeling chilly.”
Rose, who was talking to herself with a bright expression, asked Jane a question.
“Oh, Jane. What were you going to say?”
“Ah... I’ll tell you later.”
"I can't keep my trembling Madam like this," Jane said quietly, shaking her head.
“Yes, I understand.”
Rose nodded to Jane's words and left the room.
“I will take you to the bathroom.”
The maid who greeted Rose at the door seemed uneasy. She wiggled her fingers, then pointed to the right.
“Um... I’m going to use the bathroom over there today...”
The maid trailed off, observing Rose's expression.
'I see there are multiple bathrooms?'
She didn't think much of it, seeing the maid pointing in a different direction than usual. She hadn't imagined there would be only one bathroom in this spacious mansion.
“Yeah, okay. Show me around.”
The maid nodded quietly at Rose's words. She guided Rose along at a brisk pace.
“Please come in.”
As they reached the bathroom, the door swung open with a bang. Rose's mouth dropped open in amazement at the sight of a bathroom far more spacious and luxurious than her usual one. Aside from the spaciousness, the scent of lavender filled the entire bathroom. From the petals floating in the bathtub to the scented candles scattered throughout. If a proposal were to take place in a bathroom, this would probably be the feeling. Rose was taken aback by the bathroom's somewhat over-the-top atmosphere.
“Then have a good time.”
With those words, the maid left the bathroom. Normally, she would have helped Rose with her bath, but she had left so suddenly. Left alone, Rose couldn't hide her discomfort.
“...It’s a good time. Are you telling me to enjoy some time alone?”
The words sounded strange. Rose tilted her head and took off her gown. Only a thin slip was barely visible. Just as she was about to take off the rest of her clothes, the bathroom door burst open. Rose hurriedly lowered the robe she'd been holding and turned her head. Her face, staring at the door, immediately turned cold.
“...Eric?”
There was Eric, who came in wearing only a gown.
Rose saw the butler off. The sight of him leaving the mansion no longer felt so pathetic. The butler greeted Rose with a faint smile.
“Then take care, ma’am.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll contact you.”
Gwen nodded at Rose's words and climbed into the carriage. The carriage wheels rolled with a cheerful sound. Rose looked up at the sky, where the rain had finally stopped. It was still overcast, but it would soon clear. Rose shook the water off the umbrella she was holding and closed it with a snap. She stood there until Gwen's carriage was out of sight.
“Eh, eh- echwi!”
She looked down at her drenched dress. A chill had settled over her, perhaps from being exposed to so much rain.
“It seems a little cold.”
Cold in the middle of summer? It was ridiculous, but it wasn't unusual after a storm. Rose wrapped her arms around her and walked toward the mansion. On the second floor, someone was watching her. It was Eric, the man who had kicked out the butler. He had a very displeased expression on his face.
“Why are you making such a fuss just to say goodbye to the butler?”
He frowned at the sight of Rose, soaking wet. What on earth was she doing?
“She pretends to be nice all by herself.”
Doana giggled as she approached Eric.
“She looks like a wet rat.”
She smiled, smirking at the sight of Rose, drenched and unkempt. She wondered if she dared to defy Eric's orders and bring in a butler, but all she did was shake hands. She felt relieved, but at the same time, she found it amusing to see Rose unable to do anything.
'Yeah, what can you do?'
With the butler out, Doana had nothing left to fear. She glanced at Eric's face. Judging by his furrowed brow, Rose's behavior seemed quite irritating.
'Let's try teasing each other now.'
Doana was frustrated with Eric, who only said he was going to get a divorce, but never did anything about it.
'Once a man makes a decision, he should act on it immediately. Why is he so slow?'
She was already pregnant with Eric's child. A corner of her heart needed to be at ease, but strangely, a sense of unease persisted. Was it because of Rose, who seemed unpredictable, or because of Eric's inscrutable nature?
'I definitely have to make it mine.'
She leaned lightly next to Eric, who stood there indifferently. Then, seductively, she stroked his body. Her dizzying touch drew Eric, who had been staring out the window, toward Doana. Doana met Eric's eyes, and then she strangely closed them and spoke.
“Hug me.”
***
"Ma'am."
“It’s cold. Come here.”
Entering the mansion, bloodshot-eyed maids greeted her. They held fluffy towels in their hands. Their eyes were filled with sadness. They seemed to feel guilty for not having seen Gwen off. The maids draped a large towel over Rose's trembling shoulders. Jane came over to Rose and quietly shook the water from her hair.
“You’re all wet.”
Jane's, as well as the maids', faces were shadowed. In this situation, mentioning the decision to take the butler away would have instantly changed the mood, but Rose didn't.
'I'm sorry to the maids, but it's not the time to talk yet.'
If it gets to Eric's ears, she might be in for a rough time.
'He's a petty person, so he might try to sabotage my business.'
It would be better to proceed quietly until the day the department store opens.
“I saw him off well. As I was shaking hands with the butler, the sky cleared up as if it were a lie.”
Rose spoke in a bright voice, trying to lighten the mood.
“Isn’t it amazing? It felt as if the heavens were praying for the butler’s future.”
As the clear voice resonated softly, several maids bowed their heads and wiped away their tears.
"The butler's face looked so peaceful as he boarded the carriage. We'll just have to wish him the best of luck."
"You're not at fault," Rose's words resonated with them. Rose flashed a bright smile to the tearful maids and walked back to her room. Jane hurried after her.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Jane hadn't expected Rose to brave the wind and rain to reach Gwen. She was incredibly grateful for Rose's gesture. Gwen, who had almost left the mansion alone without any farewell, was now being seen off by the master he had been serving.
Entering the mansion, bloodshot-eyed maids greeted her. They held fluffy towels in their hands. Their eyes were filled with sadness. They seemed to feel guilty for not having seen Gwen off. The maids draped a large towel over Rose's trembling shoulders. Jane came over to Rose and quietly shook the water from her hair.
“You’re all wet.”
Jane's, as well as the maids', faces were shadowed. In this situation, mentioning the decision to take the butler away would have instantly changed the mood, but Rose didn't.
'I'm sorry to the maids, but it's not the time to talk yet.'
If it gets to Eric's ears, she might be in for a rough time.
'He's a petty person, so he might try to sabotage my business.'
It would be better to proceed quietly until the day the department store opens.
“I saw him off well. As I was shaking hands with the butler, the sky cleared up as if it were a lie.”
Rose spoke in a bright voice, trying to lighten the mood.
“Isn’t it amazing? It felt as if the heavens were praying for the butler’s future.”
As the clear voice resonated softly, several maids bowed their heads and wiped away their tears.
"The butler's face looked so peaceful as he boarded the carriage. We'll just have to wish him the best of luck."
"You're not at fault," Rose's words resonated with them. Rose flashed a bright smile to the tearful maids and walked back to her room. Jane hurried after her.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Jane hadn't expected Rose to brave the wind and rain to reach Gwen. She was incredibly grateful for Rose's gesture. Gwen, who had almost left the mansion alone without any farewell, was now being seen off by the master he had been serving.
Rose, who had reached the door, hesitated and froze in place. She held the doorknob, but without opening it, she turned around and looked at Jane. Rose, who had been looking at Jane with a playful expression, gestured towards her. Jane tilted her head at Rose's gesture and took a step closer. Rose brought her mouth to Jane's ear and whispered softly.
“I’ll take the butler with me. So don’t worry too much.”
Jane's eyes widened at her whispered words.
“Yes, yes?”
At Jane's voice, Rose said 'shhh' and put her finger to her lips.
“I’m only telling Jane. So now, clear your head.”
Jane blinked blankly at Rose's words. The tears that threatened to spill over at any moment had already disappeared.
“Oh, why are you taking the butler here?”
"Hmm. That's still a secret. I'll tell you when it becomes more concrete."
If the old Rose had said something like that, she might have immediately been met with suspicion. She wondered if it was even possible for Rose, who couldn't even take care of herself, to take on the responsibility of a butler. But not anymore. The Rose before her was no longer helpless.
'Yes. I guess Madam is thinking about it all.'
Let's trust the Madam.
"Ma'am!"
Jane hugged Rose with a moved face.
“Oh, Jane. Get off me! You’ll get wet too.”
Rose tried to push Jane away, but Jane only hugged her tighter.
Jane's eyes widened at her whispered words.
“Yes, yes?”
At Jane's voice, Rose said 'shhh' and put her finger to her lips.
“I’m only telling Jane. So now, clear your head.”
Jane blinked blankly at Rose's words. The tears that threatened to spill over at any moment had already disappeared.
“Oh, why are you taking the butler here?”
"Hmm. That's still a secret. I'll tell you when it becomes more concrete."
If the old Rose had said something like that, she might have immediately been met with suspicion. She wondered if it was even possible for Rose, who couldn't even take care of herself, to take on the responsibility of a butler. But not anymore. The Rose before her was no longer helpless.
'Yes. I guess Madam is thinking about it all.'
Let's trust the Madam.
"Ma'am!"
Jane hugged Rose with a moved face.
“Oh, Jane. Get off me! You’ll get wet too.”
Rose tried to push Jane away, but Jane only hugged her tighter.
“As expected, there is no one but Madam.”
Rose smiled as she watched Jane dig into the product.
“I can’t stop you, really.”
She gave up pushing Jane away and patted her on the back. Just as Jane had done, Rose comforted her.
“Eh, eh- echwi!”
Rose, who had been patting Jane, sniffled and sneezed. Only then did Jane come to her senses, and she suddenly raised her head.
“This isn’t the time! Ma’am, are you cold?”
Rose said, sniffling.
“I think there’s a bit of a chill in the air.”
“Oh my gosh! If you catch a cold, you’ll be in big trouble!”
Jane's voice was very loud, as if she had regained her spirits.
“Let’s go inside, ma’am. I think you should take off your wet clothes first.”
Jane shoved Rose into the room, then grabbed her dress with a desperate grip.
“Oh, right, let’s just talk to Sir Serun.”
Jane's spirits lifted, and Rose, feeling better, spoke kindly.
'Jane and Sir Serun. They didn't tell me, but the pink exchange between them is unusual.'
The gazes they exchanged were incredibly passionate. They never officially said, "We're dating," but it was so obvious. It was a subtle act of caring and the occasional natural touch. They say office romances always show, even if you hide them.
‘...Now that I think about it, I had the same reaction when I revealed that I was dating Lee Do-hyun.’
'I don't think there's anyone who doesn't know you two are dating?'
'That's right. Those two are just dripping with honey, you know.'
Rose smiled as she watched Jane dig into the product.
“I can’t stop you, really.”
She gave up pushing Jane away and patted her on the back. Just as Jane had done, Rose comforted her.
“Eh, eh- echwi!”
Rose, who had been patting Jane, sniffled and sneezed. Only then did Jane come to her senses, and she suddenly raised her head.
“This isn’t the time! Ma’am, are you cold?”
Rose said, sniffling.
“I think there’s a bit of a chill in the air.”
“Oh my gosh! If you catch a cold, you’ll be in big trouble!”
Jane's voice was very loud, as if she had regained her spirits.
“Let’s go inside, ma’am. I think you should take off your wet clothes first.”
Jane shoved Rose into the room, then grabbed her dress with a desperate grip.
“Oh, right, let’s just talk to Sir Serun.”
Jane's spirits lifted, and Rose, feeling better, spoke kindly.
'Jane and Sir Serun. They didn't tell me, but the pink exchange between them is unusual.'
The gazes they exchanged were incredibly passionate. They never officially said, "We're dating," but it was so obvious. It was a subtle act of caring and the occasional natural touch. They say office romances always show, even if you hide them.
‘...Now that I think about it, I had the same reaction when I revealed that I was dating Lee Do-hyun.’
'I don't think there's anyone who doesn't know you two are dating?'
'That's right. Those two are just dripping with honey, you know.'
When she finally mustered up the courage to reveal her true feelings at a college drinking party, people reacted with a lukewarm response, saying things like, "It's already too obvious that you're close," or something like that. It was a secret that everyone knew, but only the two of them. Recalling those memories wasn't particularly pleasant, but thanks to it, Rose was able to sense her classmates' feelings. Jane, who usually smiled brightly at the mention of Serun, her face hardened, unlike her usual self.
“...No. Don’t tell Serun.”
“Uh, yeah?”
"Why is she like this today?" Rose looked at Jane, her eyes wide, at her unusual attitude. "Oh, I should tell Serun," she muttered.
“...No. Don’t tell Serun.”
“Uh, yeah?”
"Why is she like this today?" Rose looked at Jane, her eyes wide, at her unusual attitude. "Oh, I should tell Serun," she muttered.
‘...That’s strange. Did they fight?’
Rose glanced at Jane. Jane's eyes were burning like flames. Rose couldn't hide her embarrassment at her blazing gaze.
Rose glanced at Jane. Jane's eyes were burning like flames. Rose couldn't hide her embarrassment at her blazing gaze.
'Wh, I'm scared...'
She could feel the unspoken anger that would not leave Serun alone.
“Madam, from now on, don’t let that kid, no, that guy, near you.”
Hmm? A kid? Jane can make such a fierce expression... Rose always had an angelic smile on her face, so she never thought she would have such a human side.
'It looks like Sir Serun has done something very wrong.'
Rose quickly glanced at Jane with a puzzled look.
‘...There’s no couple ring?’
Rose, who had been looking closely at Jane's hand, noticed at some point that the ring she had been wearing so preciously was gone.
'Oh... It looks like they fought harder than I thought.'
If you even take off your ring, it's not an ordinary thing.
'So that's why Sir Serun has been quiet these past few days.'
Serun, who used to get hia face painted every day, hadn't been seen since the day before yesterday. She thought he was simply busy, but it seems there was a problem with hia relationship with Jane. Jane licked her lips at Rose, who seemed clueless.
'I have to tell Madam. That bastard has been spying on us from the beginning.'
A pang of excitement filled Jane's heart as she thought of Serun.
'...bad boy!'
She could feel the unspoken anger that would not leave Serun alone.
“Madam, from now on, don’t let that kid, no, that guy, near you.”
Hmm? A kid? Jane can make such a fierce expression... Rose always had an angelic smile on her face, so she never thought she would have such a human side.
'It looks like Sir Serun has done something very wrong.'
Rose quickly glanced at Jane with a puzzled look.
‘...There’s no couple ring?’
Rose, who had been looking closely at Jane's hand, noticed at some point that the ring she had been wearing so preciously was gone.
'Oh... It looks like they fought harder than I thought.'
If you even take off your ring, it's not an ordinary thing.
'So that's why Sir Serun has been quiet these past few days.'
Serun, who used to get hia face painted every day, hadn't been seen since the day before yesterday. She thought he was simply busy, but it seems there was a problem with hia relationship with Jane. Jane licked her lips at Rose, who seemed clueless.
'I have to tell Madam. That bastard has been spying on us from the beginning.'
A pang of excitement filled Jane's heart as she thought of Serun.
'...bad boy!'
She was so depressed she couldn't tell Rose right away. It was hard to control her emotions. But now she had to tell her everything about him. Jane, her eyes sunken, finally opened her mouth.
“Excuse me, ma’am. Let me tell you something...”
“Excuse me, ma’am. Let me tell you something...”
As Jane spoke, a maid knocked on Rose's door. Knock.
“Madam, I have prepared the bath water.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ll be there soon.”
Rose sniffled and answered immediately.
“I need to quickly soak myself in warm water. I keep feeling chilly.”
Rose, who was talking to herself with a bright expression, asked Jane a question.
“Oh, Jane. What were you going to say?”
“Ah... I’ll tell you later.”
"I can't keep my trembling Madam like this," Jane said quietly, shaking her head.
“Yes, I understand.”
Rose nodded to Jane's words and left the room.
“I will take you to the bathroom.”
The maid who greeted Rose at the door seemed uneasy. She wiggled her fingers, then pointed to the right.
“Um... I’m going to use the bathroom over there today...”
The maid trailed off, observing Rose's expression.
'I see there are multiple bathrooms?'
She didn't think much of it, seeing the maid pointing in a different direction than usual. She hadn't imagined there would be only one bathroom in this spacious mansion.
“Yeah, okay. Show me around.”
The maid nodded quietly at Rose's words. She guided Rose along at a brisk pace.
“Please come in.”
As they reached the bathroom, the door swung open with a bang. Rose's mouth dropped open in amazement at the sight of a bathroom far more spacious and luxurious than her usual one. Aside from the spaciousness, the scent of lavender filled the entire bathroom. From the petals floating in the bathtub to the scented candles scattered throughout. If a proposal were to take place in a bathroom, this would probably be the feeling. Rose was taken aback by the bathroom's somewhat over-the-top atmosphere.
“Then have a good time.”
With those words, the maid left the bathroom. Normally, she would have helped Rose with her bath, but she had left so suddenly. Left alone, Rose couldn't hide her discomfort.
“...It’s a good time. Are you telling me to enjoy some time alone?”
The words sounded strange. Rose tilted her head and took off her gown. Only a thin slip was barely visible. Just as she was about to take off the rest of her clothes, the bathroom door burst open. Rose hurriedly lowered the robe she'd been holding and turned her head. Her face, staring at the door, immediately turned cold.
“...Eric?”
There was Eric, who came in wearing only a gown.
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