Episode 86. The Grand Duke's Fiancée Has Visited
"You're here."
Neruan approached her as if he had been waiting for her. He then greeted her very politely.
On the surface, it seemed similar to how he treated Rose, but it was clearly different.
His expression was remarkably lively.
He greeted the woman who appeared to be the Grand Duke's fiancée, then looked at Rose.
Then he smiled with a mysteriously meaningful smile.
It was as if he was saying, "Look, this is His Highness the Grand Duke's fiancée."
Rose snorted at Neruan, who was looking at her with such arrogance.
'I told you I don't like the Grand Duke.'
Perhaps he was behaving like that because he thought she liked him.
As she was arguing with Neruan, she felt a sharp gaze right in front of her.
A beautiful woman with blue hair was staring at her intently.
When their eyes met, Rose's mind became complicated.
There was no way she would look kindly on a woman staying at her fiancée's house.
Rose considered running away, then shook her head.
'No, I think it'd be worse if I just ran away.'
She didn't want to create a situation where anyone would misunderstand her, even though she hadn't done anything.
Rose was clearly there as the Grand Duke's co-businessman.
So there was no need to be discouraged.
"Hello. My name is Rose de Serviat."
Rose summoned up her courage and greeted him first.
The woman, who had been studying Rose with a mysterious gaze, nodded and asked her.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Julia, the Princess of the Kingdom of Mederion."
A husky voice rang out, contrasting her delicate appearance.
'Wow, you're a Princess.'
She was a woman who had grown up beautifully.
Although she was a bit tall, her pale skin, as if it had never been exposed to sunlight, was not only pale but also freckle-free.
“Greetings again to Princess Mederion.”
Rose greeted her again politely.
She looked at Rose with half-moon eyes and asked bluntly.
“What is your relationship with Lucas?”
Lucas was the name of the Grand Duke of Artaeum. How could she call him by his name without hesitation?
This woman was clearly the Grand Duke’s fiancée.
Julia looked at Rose with curious eyes.
There was no particular malice in her gaze.
Rose explained her situation in a calm voice.
“The Grand Duke is an investor in my business. I'm staying at the Artaeum mansion on business.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. Then I will go now.”
Rose turned toward the annex where she was staying and walked quickly.
Shr didn't want to get involved with her.
It could have been a misunderstanding. Then, yank!
Julia, who had been chasing me for some time, grabbed Rose's wrist.
Rose looked at her with a puzzled look.
"Shall we have tea?"
"Tea?"
This is difficult... I don't want to get involved with you.
Rose cast her gaze at Neruan, who was next to Yulia.
"Princess, I will take care of you. Rose is busy with business."
"No. I want to be with the Serviat Princess."
She wanted to sneak her hand away, but the grip on her wrist was tremendous.
Rose wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at her.
"I'm sorry, Princess."
"No. Don't be sorry. Come with me. It's too scary being alone with that sinister man. Yes? Stay with me."
At Julia's words, Neruan's expression suddenly contorted into a grimace, like someone who'd just swallowed shit.
Julia clung to Rose's arm, whining and nagging, not quite whining.
It was an awkward moment.
Rose looked at her with an awkward laugh. Then, an instinctive realization struck her.
'Ah... this woman has no intention of letting me go.'
Seeing her acting like this, she must be curious about the woman staying at her fiancé's mansion, right?
'No way... has the news of my public confession already spread to the Kingdom of Mederion?'
In that case, it would be right to clear up the misunderstanding.
'I should explain that my confession to the Grand Duke was a way to get rid of my ex-husband, who clung to me after our divorce.'
As a fiancée, it must have been extremely unpleasant. Rose, steeling herself, nodded.
"Yes, that's fine. Have a cup of tea."
Rose sat down across from Princess Julia.
The table was overflowing with a dazzling array of refreshments, but it was hard to tell if they were going into her nose or mouth.
Rose felt quite uncomfortable with Julia.
It was because of her gaze, which was so unreadable.
Julia didn't really initiate the conversation.
She simply glanced at Rose with a curious gaze. It didn't seem malicious, but it was still uncomfortable.
'I should have told you we're not related.'
Why didn't you ask?
It was funny that she spoke without even asking.
It was like she was confessing because she was hurt.
Rose sipped her tea, hoping Julia would say something.
Julia's blue eyes were fixed on Rose.
She reached for the teacup in front of her.
Rose flinched involuntarily the moment Julia grabbed the cup.
'You're not planning to splash steaming tea on me, are you?'
Doana had once tried to splash water on Rose.
Rose looked at Julia, her tension rising as memories of that time flooded back to her.
“How strange. Lucas is having guests in the house.”
Julia brewed hot tea and sipped.
“I’m surprised.”
Well, there probably aren’t many people as abnormal as Doana.
Rose breathed a sigh of relief at Julia’s normal behavior.
'Oh, this isn’t the time.'
Rose, who had relaxed at the thought that the crisis had passed, quickly came to her senses and stared at Julia.
“We’re not related, but my father and the Grand Duke have a connection. Thanks to him, he’s helped me in many ways with my business. I plan to leave in a few months.”
Rose spoke calmly, emphasizing that she and the Grand Duke had no relationship.
“What kind of connection?”
“My father was the Grand Duke’s teacher when he was young.”
Julia muttered once more with a mysterious expression.
“The daughter of the Serviat...”
She smiled incomprehensibly and slowly got up from her seat.
‘I guess you’re going to get up. This uncomfortable situation will end now.’
However, that was Rose’s mistake.
“Can you show me around the mansion in place of the Grand Duke?”
“Huh?”
Rose, who was getting up after Julia, asked back in surprise.
“I don’t know when the Grand Duke will come, and it’s a bit boring to just sit here.”
“In that case, Neruan...”
She tried to tell her to ask her butler, Neruan, but Julia cut her off.
“The sinister man is scary."
She clenched her fists and brought them to her face, whining.
"I like women."
Then she winked with a refreshing smile.
Somehow, goosebumps appeared. Rose smiled awkwardly and thought,
'If you're her fiancée, why are you asking me to show you around the mansion? Is this your first time here?'
"You're here."
Neruan approached her as if he had been waiting for her. He then greeted her very politely.
On the surface, it seemed similar to how he treated Rose, but it was clearly different.
His expression was remarkably lively.
He greeted the woman who appeared to be the Grand Duke's fiancée, then looked at Rose.
Then he smiled with a mysteriously meaningful smile.
It was as if he was saying, "Look, this is His Highness the Grand Duke's fiancée."
Rose snorted at Neruan, who was looking at her with such arrogance.
'I told you I don't like the Grand Duke.'
Perhaps he was behaving like that because he thought she liked him.
As she was arguing with Neruan, she felt a sharp gaze right in front of her.
A beautiful woman with blue hair was staring at her intently.
When their eyes met, Rose's mind became complicated.
There was no way she would look kindly on a woman staying at her fiancée's house.
Rose considered running away, then shook her head.
'No, I think it'd be worse if I just ran away.'
She didn't want to create a situation where anyone would misunderstand her, even though she hadn't done anything.
Rose was clearly there as the Grand Duke's co-businessman.
So there was no need to be discouraged.
"Hello. My name is Rose de Serviat."
Rose summoned up her courage and greeted him first.
The woman, who had been studying Rose with a mysterious gaze, nodded and asked her.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Julia, the Princess of the Kingdom of Mederion."
A husky voice rang out, contrasting her delicate appearance.
'Wow, you're a Princess.'
She was a woman who had grown up beautifully.
Although she was a bit tall, her pale skin, as if it had never been exposed to sunlight, was not only pale but also freckle-free.
“Greetings again to Princess Mederion.”
Rose greeted her again politely.
She looked at Rose with half-moon eyes and asked bluntly.
“What is your relationship with Lucas?”
Lucas was the name of the Grand Duke of Artaeum. How could she call him by his name without hesitation?
This woman was clearly the Grand Duke’s fiancée.
Julia looked at Rose with curious eyes.
There was no particular malice in her gaze.
Rose explained her situation in a calm voice.
“The Grand Duke is an investor in my business. I'm staying at the Artaeum mansion on business.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. Then I will go now.”
Rose turned toward the annex where she was staying and walked quickly.
Shr didn't want to get involved with her.
It could have been a misunderstanding. Then, yank!
Julia, who had been chasing me for some time, grabbed Rose's wrist.
Rose looked at her with a puzzled look.
"Shall we have tea?"
"Tea?"
This is difficult... I don't want to get involved with you.
Rose cast her gaze at Neruan, who was next to Yulia.
"Princess, I will take care of you. Rose is busy with business."
"No. I want to be with the Serviat Princess."
She wanted to sneak her hand away, but the grip on her wrist was tremendous.
Rose wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at her.
"I'm sorry, Princess."
"No. Don't be sorry. Come with me. It's too scary being alone with that sinister man. Yes? Stay with me."
At Julia's words, Neruan's expression suddenly contorted into a grimace, like someone who'd just swallowed shit.
Julia clung to Rose's arm, whining and nagging, not quite whining.
It was an awkward moment.
Rose looked at her with an awkward laugh. Then, an instinctive realization struck her.
'Ah... this woman has no intention of letting me go.'
Seeing her acting like this, she must be curious about the woman staying at her fiancé's mansion, right?
'No way... has the news of my public confession already spread to the Kingdom of Mederion?'
In that case, it would be right to clear up the misunderstanding.
'I should explain that my confession to the Grand Duke was a way to get rid of my ex-husband, who clung to me after our divorce.'
As a fiancée, it must have been extremely unpleasant. Rose, steeling herself, nodded.
"Yes, that's fine. Have a cup of tea."
***
Rose sat down across from Princess Julia.
The table was overflowing with a dazzling array of refreshments, but it was hard to tell if they were going into her nose or mouth.
Rose felt quite uncomfortable with Julia.
It was because of her gaze, which was so unreadable.
Julia didn't really initiate the conversation.
She simply glanced at Rose with a curious gaze. It didn't seem malicious, but it was still uncomfortable.
'I should have told you we're not related.'
Why didn't you ask?
It was funny that she spoke without even asking.
It was like she was confessing because she was hurt.
Rose sipped her tea, hoping Julia would say something.
Julia's blue eyes were fixed on Rose.
She reached for the teacup in front of her.
Rose flinched involuntarily the moment Julia grabbed the cup.
'You're not planning to splash steaming tea on me, are you?'
Doana had once tried to splash water on Rose.
Rose looked at Julia, her tension rising as memories of that time flooded back to her.
“How strange. Lucas is having guests in the house.”
Julia brewed hot tea and sipped.
“I’m surprised.”
Well, there probably aren’t many people as abnormal as Doana.
Rose breathed a sigh of relief at Julia’s normal behavior.
'Oh, this isn’t the time.'
Rose, who had relaxed at the thought that the crisis had passed, quickly came to her senses and stared at Julia.
“We’re not related, but my father and the Grand Duke have a connection. Thanks to him, he’s helped me in many ways with my business. I plan to leave in a few months.”
Rose spoke calmly, emphasizing that she and the Grand Duke had no relationship.
“What kind of connection?”
“My father was the Grand Duke’s teacher when he was young.”
“Oh, right. You introduced me to the Serviat family earlier, didn't you? What was I thinking?”
“The daughter of the Serviat...”
She smiled incomprehensibly and slowly got up from her seat.
‘I guess you’re going to get up. This uncomfortable situation will end now.’
However, that was Rose’s mistake.
“Can you show me around the mansion in place of the Grand Duke?”
“Huh?”
Rose, who was getting up after Julia, asked back in surprise.
“I don’t know when the Grand Duke will come, and it’s a bit boring to just sit here.”
“In that case, Neruan...”
She tried to tell her to ask her butler, Neruan, but Julia cut her off.
“The sinister man is scary."
She clenched her fists and brought them to her face, whining.
"I like women."
Then she winked with a refreshing smile.
Somehow, goosebumps appeared. Rose smiled awkwardly and thought,
'If you're her fiancée, why are you asking me to show you around the mansion? Is this your first time here?'
Perhaps she could tell what Rose was thinking. Julia answered as if she could read her mind.
"I often went to the palace to see Lucas when I was little, but this is my first time coming to this mansion."
Rose finally nodded at Julia's words.
"You won't refuse, right?"
She grabbed Rose's arm again, blinking her cat-like, clear eyes.
Rose thought that it might be better to quickly show her the mansion and then part ways rather than waste time arguing over whether or not she should go.
However, that was seriously the wrong decision.
"Lucas was really funny back then, wasn't he?"
Four hours had already passed since she had been with Julia.
Unlike Rose, who was exhausted, Julia was still energetic.
'The Princess doesn't seem tired. She keeps talking nonstop.'
Rose was exhausted, beyond tired. She seemed to have already shown her the whole mansion, so why wouldn't she let go? Rose was strolling through the mansion with Julia, her eyes wide, when the Grand Duke of Artaeum entered her sight like a savior.
"Ah, I guess the Grand Duke has arrived!"
Rose found herself smiling, finally realizing that she could escape him.
"The Grand Duke!"
Rose called out loudly to the Grand Duke. Then she smiled gently at him.
The Grand Duke, who had been returning from his schedule, looking exhausted, glanced around as soon as he heard Rose's voice. The Grand Duke, who had been walking with a very serious expression, relaxed the moment he saw Rose's face.
He was completely oblivious to Julia beside her and was staring solely at Rose.
“...Lucas is smiling?”
Julia, who was looking at the Grand Duke, muttered to herself in shock.
Although she had known him for a long time, it was the first time in her life that she had seen him smile with such an expression.
He was always so icy.
Julia realized for the first time that the Grand Duke was capable of smiling.
Julia looked at Rose next to her. Then she looked back and forth between the Grand Duke and Rose.
A strange certainty came over her.
'It’s not like you’re not related?'
She raised the corners of her mouth meaningfully and stared at the Grand Duke of Artaeum, who was approaching her.
The Grand Duke, who was not seeing her for the first time in a long time, was only looking at Rose, as if he didn’t even see her.
Julia exhaled and waved at the Grand Duke.
“Lucas!”
Julia’s voice resonated widely.
The Grand Duke, who had been looking at Rose, finally turned his gaze to Julia.
The Grand Duke, who had been staring at Julia with bleary eyes, finally noticed her presence.
He muttered in disbelief,
"Princess Mederion? No, you...!"
His expression quickly shifted to one of bewilderment.
Just looking at the gaping mouth of the Grand Duke, one could tell how shocked he was.
Julia smiled brightly, as if enjoying the Grand Duke's gaze.
"It's been a while."
"I often went to the palace to see Lucas when I was little, but this is my first time coming to this mansion."
Rose finally nodded at Julia's words.
"You won't refuse, right?"
She grabbed Rose's arm again, blinking her cat-like, clear eyes.
Rose thought that it might be better to quickly show her the mansion and then part ways rather than waste time arguing over whether or not she should go.
However, that was seriously the wrong decision.
"Lucas was really funny back then, wasn't he?"
Four hours had already passed since she had been with Julia.
Unlike Rose, who was exhausted, Julia was still energetic.
'The Princess doesn't seem tired. She keeps talking nonstop.'
Rose was exhausted, beyond tired. She seemed to have already shown her the whole mansion, so why wouldn't she let go? Rose was strolling through the mansion with Julia, her eyes wide, when the Grand Duke of Artaeum entered her sight like a savior.
"Ah, I guess the Grand Duke has arrived!"
Rose found herself smiling, finally realizing that she could escape him.
"The Grand Duke!"
Rose called out loudly to the Grand Duke. Then she smiled gently at him.
The Grand Duke, who had been returning from his schedule, looking exhausted, glanced around as soon as he heard Rose's voice. The Grand Duke, who had been walking with a very serious expression, relaxed the moment he saw Rose's face.
He was completely oblivious to Julia beside her and was staring solely at Rose.
“...Lucas is smiling?”
Julia, who was looking at the Grand Duke, muttered to herself in shock.
Although she had known him for a long time, it was the first time in her life that she had seen him smile with such an expression.
He was always so icy.
Julia realized for the first time that the Grand Duke was capable of smiling.
Julia looked at Rose next to her. Then she looked back and forth between the Grand Duke and Rose.
A strange certainty came over her.
'It’s not like you’re not related?'
She raised the corners of her mouth meaningfully and stared at the Grand Duke of Artaeum, who was approaching her.
The Grand Duke, who was not seeing her for the first time in a long time, was only looking at Rose, as if he didn’t even see her.
Julia exhaled and waved at the Grand Duke.
“Lucas!”
Julia’s voice resonated widely.
The Grand Duke, who had been looking at Rose, finally turned his gaze to Julia.
The Grand Duke, who had been staring at Julia with bleary eyes, finally noticed her presence.
He muttered in disbelief,
"Princess Mederion? No, you...!"
His expression quickly shifted to one of bewilderment.
Just looking at the gaping mouth of the Grand Duke, one could tell how shocked he was.
Julia smiled brightly, as if enjoying the Grand Duke's gaze.
"It's been a while."
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