Episode 33. Don't Touch Me With Hands That Used to Hug Another Woman
What the heck? Why on earth did Eric come in? Rose froze in place, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events.
“You were here first.”
First...you said? Rose's brow furrowed at Eric's voice.
"I knew you'd be waiting. You're probably tired of pretending not to care, of pretending to be bored. Because I'm not as anxious as you expected."
What kind of barking is this? Eric still dismissed his actions as "strategy," and he was no longer astonished. Eric smirked, as if he knew it without even looking, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
“You are not at all what I expected.”
Eric stood haughtily, looking down at Rose, then slowly walked over. With every step he took, Rose took a step back. She didn't like being in such a confined space with Eric. And right now, this situation...isn't it quite dangerous? Approaching her in nothing but a robe.
Eric gently stroked Rose's face. Despite his gentle voice, his gaze remained cold. It wasn't the gaze of a man who loved her. It was simply that of a beast consumed by lust.
“That’s funny.”
Rose let out a laugh, as if mocking Eric. Rose's cold voice echoed throughout the bathroom. Rose tightly gripped Eric's hand, which was stroking her face. A thick perfume drifted from Eric's hand. Carrying another woman's scent, he lied so casually, saying he loved her...! This was all just a lie, just to take Rose's body. It wasn't funny.
What the heck? Why on earth did Eric come in? Rose froze in place, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events.
“You were here first.”
First...you said? Rose's brow furrowed at Eric's voice.
"I knew you'd be waiting. You're probably tired of pretending not to care, of pretending to be bored. Because I'm not as anxious as you expected."
What kind of barking is this? Eric still dismissed his actions as "strategy," and he was no longer astonished. Eric smirked, as if he knew it without even looking, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
“You are not at all what I expected.”
Eric stood haughtily, looking down at Rose, then slowly walked over. With every step he took, Rose took a step back. She didn't like being in such a confined space with Eric. And right now, this situation...isn't it quite dangerous? Approaching her in nothing but a robe.
She swallowed hard at the sight of him, seemingly poised to pounce on her at any moment. Her experience so far had been enough to convince her that Eric wasn't the kind of person to be spoken to in a gentlemanly way.
‘Today, even the word ‘period’ can’t escape me...!’
Rose bit her lower lip and looked at Eric with anxious eyes. "I'm just taking a bath, so I don't think it's okay to call it a 'period'."
“I want to wash by myself.”
Rose looked at Eric with wide eyes. But Eric didn't even listen to Rose's words.
“I don’t know what the fuss is about since we’ve already come this far.”
He looked at Rose as if he was amazed, and made a 'ha' sound.
"I didn't drag you here. You came here of your own accord. You accepted my offer so politely. Why are you acting all snobby now?"
Only then did Rose understand what Eric meant. Perhaps coming to this bathroom was a secret signal from Rose and Eric.
'I've never read anything like this in a novel.'
Perhaps because she'd only read the first half, Rose didn't fully grasp the couple's detailed signals. If she'd known in advance what this bathroom meant to them, she never would've come here.
"I didn't accept your offer. I was out of my mind today... I just wanted to relax and unwind."
Rose continued to speak calmly, even in the midst of the anxiety.
“So, I don’t like it. Please just leave.”
Eric's frown deepened at the word "no." He couldn't understand Rose. She had always been so obedient, yet she kept trying to avoid his touch.
“I don’t know how long you’re going to keep saying things you don’t mean.”
Eric asked back, not taking Rose's words at face value.
"Rejecting me once or twice is refreshing, but not anymore. You'd better stop before I get sick of you any more."
He snarled at Rose as if warning her. "You don't fully accept 'no' as no. You're just like Eric, you idiot." No, why didn't he understand when she said she didn't like something? Rose's face darkened, feeling like nothing was working. Eric strode forward, slowly moving away from Rose. She backed away, trying to avoid Eric's advance, but...
“Oh, oh, oh!”
She ended up falling into the bathtub. Even though the water was shallow enough to cover her knees, she stumbled and landed on her butt, immersing her face in the water. The only sound that echoed through the bathroom was the splashing sound.
“Poohap!”
Rose pulled her damp, dripping hair out and exhaled. Eric didn't help her up, but simply stared at her as if he were lusting after her. Rose's appearance, drenched in water, was utterly captivating. The water droplets falling on her beautiful skin were strangely provocative.
‘Today, even the word ‘period’ can’t escape me...!’
Rose bit her lower lip and looked at Eric with anxious eyes. "I'm just taking a bath, so I don't think it's okay to call it a 'period'."
“I want to wash by myself.”
Rose looked at Eric with wide eyes. But Eric didn't even listen to Rose's words.
“I don’t know what the fuss is about since we’ve already come this far.”
He looked at Rose as if he was amazed, and made a 'ha' sound.
"I didn't drag you here. You came here of your own accord. You accepted my offer so politely. Why are you acting all snobby now?"
Only then did Rose understand what Eric meant. Perhaps coming to this bathroom was a secret signal from Rose and Eric.
'I've never read anything like this in a novel.'
Perhaps because she'd only read the first half, Rose didn't fully grasp the couple's detailed signals. If she'd known in advance what this bathroom meant to them, she never would've come here.
"I didn't accept your offer. I was out of my mind today... I just wanted to relax and unwind."
Rose continued to speak calmly, even in the midst of the anxiety.
“So, I don’t like it. Please just leave.”
Eric's frown deepened at the word "no." He couldn't understand Rose. She had always been so obedient, yet she kept trying to avoid his touch.
“I don’t know how long you’re going to keep saying things you don’t mean.”
Eric asked back, not taking Rose's words at face value.
"Rejecting me once or twice is refreshing, but not anymore. You'd better stop before I get sick of you any more."
He snarled at Rose as if warning her. "You don't fully accept 'no' as no. You're just like Eric, you idiot." No, why didn't he understand when she said she didn't like something? Rose's face darkened, feeling like nothing was working. Eric strode forward, slowly moving away from Rose. She backed away, trying to avoid Eric's advance, but...
“Oh, oh, oh!”
She ended up falling into the bathtub. Even though the water was shallow enough to cover her knees, she stumbled and landed on her butt, immersing her face in the water. The only sound that echoed through the bathroom was the splashing sound.
“Poohap!”
Rose pulled her damp, dripping hair out and exhaled. Eric didn't help her up, but simply stared at her as if he were lusting after her. Rose's appearance, drenched in water, was utterly captivating. The water droplets falling on her beautiful skin were strangely provocative.
When he saw Rose drenched in the rain, he had only felt displeased, but up close, she didn't look so bad. In fact, it provoked Eric even more. The water droplets on the tips of her long eyelashes fell with a popping sound every time Rose blinked. Rose's eyes were so beautiful that he felt the urge to immediately kiss her.
'I guess it's because it's been a while.'
Eric grabbed Rose's wrist as she lay in the bathtub. He then lifted her to her feet.
“I’ve been neglectful all this time, so today I’ll definitely relieve you of your frustration.”
If he gets a divorce, he won't be able to hold Rose for a while. So today, he has to love her wholeheartedly. Eric had no doubt that Rose would cling to him even after the divorce. It must have been because the Rose in the original had clung to him so much for three years that it was tiresome.
'I guess it's because it's been a while.'
Eric grabbed Rose's wrist as she lay in the bathtub. He then lifted her to her feet.
“I’ve been neglectful all this time, so today I’ll definitely relieve you of your frustration.”
If he gets a divorce, he won't be able to hold Rose for a while. So today, he has to love her wholeheartedly. Eric had no doubt that Rose would cling to him even after the divorce. It must have been because the Rose in the original had clung to him so much for three years that it was tiresome.
She said to Eric out of habit, "I can't live a single day without you." So Eric couldn't help but think this way. After the divorce, Eric was busy satisfying his own desires, completely oblivious to Rose's hurt feelings. To him, Rose was nothing more than his possession, so he couldn't fathom her feelings.
Eric approached Rose as if he were about to kiss her at any moment.
"I'll make it so you don't think about anything. Just surrender to your instincts. You love me, don't you?"
Rose covered Eric's mouth with one hand as he approached her and said.
“Do you love me?”
Rose stared at Eric with cold, cold eyes. It wasn't a question of ignorance. She could tell just from his eyes that Eric didn't love her. He treated her like nothing more than a possession. Eric gently pushed away Rose's hand covering his mouth and opened his eyes narrowly. Fatigue washed over him. He felt like a foolish woman who always wanted confirmation of his love. But if he said, "I don't love you," he felt like he wouldn't be able to embrace her. He hadn't shown any submissive behavior in the past few days. For the first time in three years, Eric had said, "I love you," out loud.
“I want to hug you because I love you.”
"I'll make it so you don't think about anything. Just surrender to your instincts. You love me, don't you?"
Rose covered Eric's mouth with one hand as he approached her and said.
“Do you love me?”
Rose stared at Eric with cold, cold eyes. It wasn't a question of ignorance. She could tell just from his eyes that Eric didn't love her. He treated her like nothing more than a possession. Eric gently pushed away Rose's hand covering his mouth and opened his eyes narrowly. Fatigue washed over him. He felt like a foolish woman who always wanted confirmation of his love. But if he said, "I don't love you," he felt like he wouldn't be able to embrace her. He hadn't shown any submissive behavior in the past few days. For the first time in three years, Eric had said, "I love you," out loud.
“I want to hug you because I love you.”
Eric gently stroked Rose's face. Despite his gentle voice, his gaze remained cold. It wasn't the gaze of a man who loved her. It was simply that of a beast consumed by lust.
“That’s funny.”
Rose let out a laugh, as if mocking Eric. Rose's cold voice echoed throughout the bathroom. Rose tightly gripped Eric's hand, which was stroking her face. A thick perfume drifted from Eric's hand. Carrying another woman's scent, he lied so casually, saying he loved her...! This was all just a lie, just to take Rose's body. It wasn't funny.
A feeling of nausea suddenly washed over her. The person entangled with Eric must have been Doana. He was trying to touch her with the same hand that had caressed Doana, and kiss her with the lips that had whispered love to Doana. It was awkward and dirty. Eric's nonchalant deception was exactly like someone in her past life.
‘Lee Do-hyun... You probably came to me every time without any problem.’
All day, you rolled around in bed with Gyeo-ru. With that dirty body, you whispered your love to me without getting tired...!
‘Lee Do-hyun... You probably came to me every time without any problem.’
All day, you rolled around in bed with Gyeo-ru. With that dirty body, you whispered your love to me without getting tired...!
Rose had a hard time escaping the trauma of the past. The betrayal was as great as the trust I had placed in him, and the situation was exactly the same as it was now!
Rose's eyes were filled with sorrow, filled with resentment. She brushed her wet hair back and passed Eric. Then, without even drying herself, she tried to leave the bathroom.
“What are you doing now?”
Was he angry that she'd left him behind? Eric strode over to Rose and grabbed her wrist. He'd thought she'd be touched. For the first time, he'd said he loved her, but instead of shedding tears of emotion, she'd glared at him, as if she were looking at an insect. Rose stared at Eric, who had grabbed her body and forced her back, with emotionless eyes.
“Answer me, I’m asking you what you’re doing.”
“Eric, if you’re going to cheat, why don’t you get caught?”
Rose, who had been staring intently at Eric, let out a voice devoid of humor. Eric flinched at Rose's words, then replied arrogantly.
"...Phew. Are you feeling suspicious again? We'll talk about that later. For now, calm down and come into my arms. You must fulfill your duties as a couple."
What's with the suspiciousness? You've caught it right in front of me, yet you're so shameless. He sighed, as if fed up with Rose, treating her like she was suffering from hypochondria. Rose remained even colder to Eric's shameless attitude.
"You just hugged another woman. Don't even think about hugging me with those dirty hands."
"...What?"
That... how did you know? Eric flinched involuntarily at Rose's words. It was true that he had hugged Doana before coming here.
"Honestly, that's not polite as a couple, is it? I think it would be better to stick to your duty before discussing marital duties."
Rose added a word to Eric, who was now dumbfounded.
“...Why on earth are you cheating?”
A surge of emotion welled up in her. This situation kept recurring, like a flashback from the past... She couldn't control the emotions that were surging through her. Rose lowered her head helplessly. Then, clenching her fists, she spoke with difficulty.
“Is the country short on women?”
A tremor could be felt in his thin voice.
“I... just needed you, and that was all I wanted!”
Everything that had been suppressed exploded, screaming at Eric. Her eyes, staring at Eric, were a mixture of despair and devastation. Though she was shouting at him, Rose was actually projecting someone else through Eric. A faint image of Lee Do-hyun appeared before Rose's eyes. That man, so desperately resentful, had tormented Rose to the point of exhaustion.
“If only I had you... I would be happier than anyone else in the world...”
Rose trailed off, turning her back listlessly. Her slumped shoulders looked utterly pathetic. Eric didn't hold onto Rose as she turned her back to him and walked away. No, it would be more accurate to say he couldn't hold onto her. Tears flowed ceaselessly from Rose's eyes. He couldn't do anything as she cried so desperately. He was particularly vulnerable to Rose's tears. When she cried, Eric's mind would go blank. He'd never learned how to comfort a crying woman. He had neither the desire nor the need to comfort her.
'Like an idiot... why are tears flowing?'
Eric's appearance kept flashing back to her first love, Lee Do-hyun. She'd always thought Do-hyun was different from others. She'd always thought she had a special love for him. She'd never doubted she'd be with him her whole life. But then he betrayed her. With her friend of ten years. She'd thought the pain of betrayal had dulled, but a part of her heart still ached. Rose still couldn't escape their shadows.
“What are you doing now?”
Was he angry that she'd left him behind? Eric strode over to Rose and grabbed her wrist. He'd thought she'd be touched. For the first time, he'd said he loved her, but instead of shedding tears of emotion, she'd glared at him, as if she were looking at an insect. Rose stared at Eric, who had grabbed her body and forced her back, with emotionless eyes.
“Answer me, I’m asking you what you’re doing.”
“Eric, if you’re going to cheat, why don’t you get caught?”
Rose, who had been staring intently at Eric, let out a voice devoid of humor. Eric flinched at Rose's words, then replied arrogantly.
"...Phew. Are you feeling suspicious again? We'll talk about that later. For now, calm down and come into my arms. You must fulfill your duties as a couple."
What's with the suspiciousness? You've caught it right in front of me, yet you're so shameless. He sighed, as if fed up with Rose, treating her like she was suffering from hypochondria. Rose remained even colder to Eric's shameless attitude.
"You just hugged another woman. Don't even think about hugging me with those dirty hands."
"...What?"
That... how did you know? Eric flinched involuntarily at Rose's words. It was true that he had hugged Doana before coming here.
"Honestly, that's not polite as a couple, is it? I think it would be better to stick to your duty before discussing marital duties."
Rose added a word to Eric, who was now dumbfounded.
“...Why on earth are you cheating?”
A surge of emotion welled up in her. This situation kept recurring, like a flashback from the past... She couldn't control the emotions that were surging through her. Rose lowered her head helplessly. Then, clenching her fists, she spoke with difficulty.
“Is the country short on women?”
A tremor could be felt in his thin voice.
“I... just needed you, and that was all I wanted!”
Everything that had been suppressed exploded, screaming at Eric. Her eyes, staring at Eric, were a mixture of despair and devastation. Though she was shouting at him, Rose was actually projecting someone else through Eric. A faint image of Lee Do-hyun appeared before Rose's eyes. That man, so desperately resentful, had tormented Rose to the point of exhaustion.
“If only I had you... I would be happier than anyone else in the world...”
Rose trailed off, turning her back listlessly. Her slumped shoulders looked utterly pathetic. Eric didn't hold onto Rose as she turned her back to him and walked away. No, it would be more accurate to say he couldn't hold onto her. Tears flowed ceaselessly from Rose's eyes. He couldn't do anything as she cried so desperately. He was particularly vulnerable to Rose's tears. When she cried, Eric's mind would go blank. He'd never learned how to comfort a crying woman. He had neither the desire nor the need to comfort her.
'Like an idiot... why are tears flowing?'
Eric's appearance kept flashing back to her first love, Lee Do-hyun. She'd always thought Do-hyun was different from others. She'd always thought she had a special love for him. She'd never doubted she'd be with him her whole life. But then he betrayed her. With her friend of ten years. She'd thought the pain of betrayal had dulled, but a part of her heart still ached. Rose still couldn't escape their shadows.
That night, Rose had another nightmare. A horrible, cruel nightmare of that day.
***
The next morning, Rose sat there blankly, having skipped breakfast.
'I feel a bit dizzy.'
Perhaps it was because she couldn't sleep, or perhaps because she skipped breakfast. She sat at her desk with a blank look in her eyes, and then she tapped her cheek.
“Let’s get a grip. We have a lot to do.”
She wrote 'Serviat' in large letters on the parchment and tapped her pen.
'Rose wasn't on good terms with her parents even before she got married.'
She tried to recall the original story, but the story about Count Serviat and his wife just wouldn't come to mind.
"Ha..."
A sigh escaped her lips. After the divorce, she wanted to remain with the Serviat family until she could secure a proper place to live. After all, she was afraid of being a woman alone. You might wonder why she would be so worried, considering it was her parents' home, but Rose had cut ties with them. So, she couldn't help but feel a sense of security. However, there was very little information about them. The Grand Duke of Artaeum had said they were worried about Rose, but she hadn't personally confirmed it, so she couldn't feel at ease.
'I'll have to ask the Grand Duke in detail when I meet him.'
While she was lost in thought, Doana burst through the door and came in. Then, with a quizzical look in her eyes, she scattered Rose.
'Did something really happen between Rose and the Count yesterday?'
The image of Eric leaving her alone to take a bath flashed before Doana's eyes. The maid had said this to Doana.
'After all, a concubine can never replace the main wife.'
Doana was so moved by those words that she revealed she was pregnant. To show off that she was the one who needed to look good, not Rose.
"You don't know yet. I'm pregnant with the Count's child. So you'd better get in line now."
'If the Count and his wife have a child, Doana, what do you think will happen to your child?'
The maid, who would normally have just given her a sharp glare, was deeply emotional over Gwen's dismissal. She had been belittling Doana, hinting at something between Rose and Eric. Doana glanced at Rose, who was coughing, with an arrogant gaze.
'So, I have to kick Rose out before those two have a child.'
Doana walked slowly over and sat down at Rose's table.
“Rose, I have some exciting news to tell you.”
If Eric didn't do it, she'd kick Rose out herself. She picked up a snack from the table. Then, without permission, she took a bite of Rose's snack. Feeling weak, Rose didn't want to deal with Doana. She simply stared at her with a dull gaze, wondering whether she had drunk her tea or not.
“What kind of tea is this?”
Doana tapped the teacup in front of her.
“Green tea. Drink it if you want.”
Rose answered quietly without even looking at Doana.
“Green tea? I can’t drink that anymore.”
He usually drinks well, so what ulterior motive could she have for coming here? Rose slowly raised her head and looked at Doana.
“Rooibos tea, that’s all I’m going to drink now.”
Doana called Rose's maid over as if she were her own servant and insisted on having her bring out some rooibos tea.
“Are you very busy? I have something important to tell you.”
Doana's unusually confident demeanor made her feel a bit uneasy. Rose put down the pen she was holding. "If you have something to say, say it," she said, sending her a silent look.
“Come and sit here. It’s so far away I can’t even see your face clearly.”
'Should I just kick her out?'
Her body was heavy, and dealing with Doana was incredibly tiresome. Rose slowly walked over to Doana, intent on kicking her out, and sat down. Doana smiled contentedly as Rose sat across from her. Then she slowly lifted her teacup. Before Rose could even sip, Doana's voice rang in her ears.
“I’m pregnant.”
"Pregnant?"
Rose's eyes widened like a rabbit's as she clattered her teacup. Startled by Doana's unexpected words, she almost dropped the teacup. Hmm, no. This time, she'd expected it a little. Perhaps because she flinched, the hot tea in the cup overflowed. Rose hurriedly avoided her hand and checked the back of her hand. Fortunately, no tea had spilled on it.
'I feel a bit dizzy.'
Perhaps it was because she couldn't sleep, or perhaps because she skipped breakfast. She sat at her desk with a blank look in her eyes, and then she tapped her cheek.
“Let’s get a grip. We have a lot to do.”
She wrote 'Serviat' in large letters on the parchment and tapped her pen.
'Rose wasn't on good terms with her parents even before she got married.'
She tried to recall the original story, but the story about Count Serviat and his wife just wouldn't come to mind.
"Ha..."
A sigh escaped her lips. After the divorce, she wanted to remain with the Serviat family until she could secure a proper place to live. After all, she was afraid of being a woman alone. You might wonder why she would be so worried, considering it was her parents' home, but Rose had cut ties with them. So, she couldn't help but feel a sense of security. However, there was very little information about them. The Grand Duke of Artaeum had said they were worried about Rose, but she hadn't personally confirmed it, so she couldn't feel at ease.
'I'll have to ask the Grand Duke in detail when I meet him.'
While she was lost in thought, Doana burst through the door and came in. Then, with a quizzical look in her eyes, she scattered Rose.
'Did something really happen between Rose and the Count yesterday?'
The image of Eric leaving her alone to take a bath flashed before Doana's eyes. The maid had said this to Doana.
'After all, a concubine can never replace the main wife.'
Doana was so moved by those words that she revealed she was pregnant. To show off that she was the one who needed to look good, not Rose.
"You don't know yet. I'm pregnant with the Count's child. So you'd better get in line now."
'If the Count and his wife have a child, Doana, what do you think will happen to your child?'
The maid, who would normally have just given her a sharp glare, was deeply emotional over Gwen's dismissal. She had been belittling Doana, hinting at something between Rose and Eric. Doana glanced at Rose, who was coughing, with an arrogant gaze.
'So, I have to kick Rose out before those two have a child.'
Doana walked slowly over and sat down at Rose's table.
“Rose, I have some exciting news to tell you.”
If Eric didn't do it, she'd kick Rose out herself. She picked up a snack from the table. Then, without permission, she took a bite of Rose's snack. Feeling weak, Rose didn't want to deal with Doana. She simply stared at her with a dull gaze, wondering whether she had drunk her tea or not.
“What kind of tea is this?”
Doana tapped the teacup in front of her.
“Green tea. Drink it if you want.”
Rose answered quietly without even looking at Doana.
“Green tea? I can’t drink that anymore.”
He usually drinks well, so what ulterior motive could she have for coming here? Rose slowly raised her head and looked at Doana.
“Rooibos tea, that’s all I’m going to drink now.”
Doana called Rose's maid over as if she were her own servant and insisted on having her bring out some rooibos tea.
“Are you very busy? I have something important to tell you.”
Doana's unusually confident demeanor made her feel a bit uneasy. Rose put down the pen she was holding. "If you have something to say, say it," she said, sending her a silent look.
“Come and sit here. It’s so far away I can’t even see your face clearly.”
'Should I just kick her out?'
Her body was heavy, and dealing with Doana was incredibly tiresome. Rose slowly walked over to Doana, intent on kicking her out, and sat down. Doana smiled contentedly as Rose sat across from her. Then she slowly lifted her teacup. Before Rose could even sip, Doana's voice rang in her ears.
“I’m pregnant.”
"Pregnant?"
Rose's eyes widened like a rabbit's as she clattered her teacup. Startled by Doana's unexpected words, she almost dropped the teacup. Hmm, no. This time, she'd expected it a little. Perhaps because she flinched, the hot tea in the cup overflowed. Rose hurriedly avoided her hand and checked the back of her hand. Fortunately, no tea had spilled on it.
Unlike her previous life, when it had been bright red and swollen. It was a familiar situation. She had had this conversation with Doana before. No, it would be more accurate to say "competition." Rose rubbed the back of her pure white hand and looked at Doana. Unlike that miserable day when she had shed tears, she had a leisurely smile.
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