Episode 81. On the topic of divorce
“If you don’t mind, could you spare me a moment? I have something to tell you.”
A sharp barb lurked beneath the friendly tone. Rose couldn’t be mistaken for the hostility lurking behind Neruan’s smiling face.
“You’re always like that... but you’re strangely hostile today.”
Rose stared at Neruan’s face and nodded.
“Yes. I’ll get ready and go.”
As Rose continued to answer, Neruan bowed politely as usual and left the room.
Rose muttered to herself, watching Neruan.
“What a surprise...”
Neruan had been the one to initiate the conversation.
Neruan and Rose hadn’t really had much to say.
As the butler of the Grand Duke of Artaeum, he treated Rose, a guest, with respect.
He meticulously asked if she was experiencing any inconveniences in her life and if she needed anything else, but beyond that, there was no personal communication at all.
All Rose knew about Neruan was that he was a nobleman from a foreign land and that he disliked her.
“What are you going to say?”
Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like he had come for anything particularly good.
She knew he disliked her, but that didn’t mean she had to avoid him.
Rose changed into her dress with the help of the maids.
The gorgeous dress she had worn to the palace was good for formality, but it was too cumbersome to wear inside the mansion.
It was so heavy that it almost made her shoulders stiff.
“The Grand Duke seemed to want me to wear those dresses often, but they’re so uncomfortable.”
Rose thought of the Grand Duke beaming at her.
He seemed incredibly proud as he lavished compliments on her beauty.
“Hmm. It’s uncomfortable, but I’ll have to wear it more often when I go out.” Still, I cannot ignore the Grand Duke's sincerity.'
She removed her dazzling accessories and dressed much more comfortably.
As she left the room, a servant was waiting for Rose. He bowed to her and said,
"The butler is waiting in the garden."
"Yes, please show me."
Rose followed the servant's lead and walked toward the garden where Neruan was waiting.
As she walked along the long hallway, the garden caught Rose's eye.
She could see the once vibrant green leaves changing color one by one.
'It's autumn.'
The weather had grown quite cold.
The once pleasant breeze was now quite chilly.
'Am I dressed too cold?'
Rose rubbed her arm. Despite her long-sleeved dress, a chill rose in her.
'It's definitely colder than when I was in the capital.'
She hadn't yet become accustomed to the cool weather, but she knew she would soon.
Rose walked across the garden. She saw Neruan sitting in the distance.
He was seated at a table in the center of the garden.
Rose's usual favorite refreshments were laid out on the table.
Seeing Rose approach, Neruan rose from his seat. Then, naturally, he pulled out Rose's chair.
"Please have a seat."
He called out with a solemn expression, his politeness intact.
Rose paused at Neruan's actions and stared blankly at him.
He was a man of two faces.
Especially that defiant gaze that contrasted his polite demeanor.
She wished he'd just openly disliked her. It'd be easier to deal with that way.
Rose slowly responded to his invitation to sit.
"Thank you. Did I keep you waiting long?"
"No."
Neruan pushed her chair back in the same moment Rose sat down. He then sat down across from Rose.
Neruan dismissed the servants around him. It was just Rose and Neruan in the garden.
"Anyway, that's surprising."
Rose was the first to speak.
"You called me all this time."
“If you don’t mind, could you spare me a moment? I have something to tell you.”
A sharp barb lurked beneath the friendly tone. Rose couldn’t be mistaken for the hostility lurking behind Neruan’s smiling face.
“You’re always like that... but you’re strangely hostile today.”
Rose stared at Neruan’s face and nodded.
“Yes. I’ll get ready and go.”
As Rose continued to answer, Neruan bowed politely as usual and left the room.
Rose muttered to herself, watching Neruan.
“What a surprise...”
Neruan had been the one to initiate the conversation.
Neruan and Rose hadn’t really had much to say.
As the butler of the Grand Duke of Artaeum, he treated Rose, a guest, with respect.
He meticulously asked if she was experiencing any inconveniences in her life and if she needed anything else, but beyond that, there was no personal communication at all.
All Rose knew about Neruan was that he was a nobleman from a foreign land and that he disliked her.
“What are you going to say?”
Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like he had come for anything particularly good.
She knew he disliked her, but that didn’t mean she had to avoid him.
Rose changed into her dress with the help of the maids.
The gorgeous dress she had worn to the palace was good for formality, but it was too cumbersome to wear inside the mansion.
It was so heavy that it almost made her shoulders stiff.
“The Grand Duke seemed to want me to wear those dresses often, but they’re so uncomfortable.”
Rose thought of the Grand Duke beaming at her.
He seemed incredibly proud as he lavished compliments on her beauty.
“Hmm. It’s uncomfortable, but I’ll have to wear it more often when I go out.” Still, I cannot ignore the Grand Duke's sincerity.'
She removed her dazzling accessories and dressed much more comfortably.
As she left the room, a servant was waiting for Rose. He bowed to her and said,
"The butler is waiting in the garden."
"Yes, please show me."
Rose followed the servant's lead and walked toward the garden where Neruan was waiting.
As she walked along the long hallway, the garden caught Rose's eye.
She could see the once vibrant green leaves changing color one by one.
'It's autumn.'
The weather had grown quite cold.
The once pleasant breeze was now quite chilly.
'Am I dressed too cold?'
Rose rubbed her arm. Despite her long-sleeved dress, a chill rose in her.
'It's definitely colder than when I was in the capital.'
She hadn't yet become accustomed to the cool weather, but she knew she would soon.
Rose walked across the garden. She saw Neruan sitting in the distance.
He was seated at a table in the center of the garden.
Rose's usual favorite refreshments were laid out on the table.
Seeing Rose approach, Neruan rose from his seat. Then, naturally, he pulled out Rose's chair.
"Please have a seat."
He called out with a solemn expression, his politeness intact.
Rose paused at Neruan's actions and stared blankly at him.
He was a man of two faces.
Especially that defiant gaze that contrasted his polite demeanor.
She wished he'd just openly disliked her. It'd be easier to deal with that way.
Rose slowly responded to his invitation to sit.
"Thank you. Did I keep you waiting long?"
"No."
Neruan pushed her chair back in the same moment Rose sat down. He then sat down across from Rose.
Neruan dismissed the servants around him. It was just Rose and Neruan in the garden.
"Anyway, that's surprising."
Rose was the first to speak.
"You called me all this time."
It was a warning to stop beating around the bush and get to the point.
She didn't seem intimidated in front of Neruan. In fact, she was incredibly brash.
Neruan raised an eyebrow at Rose's attitude and took a sip of tea. Then, calmly, he spoke.
"How's business going? You seem busy."
"The Grand Duke has been helping me in many ways... It's going well."
When Rose mentioned the 'Grand Duke,' his face hardened.
“It’s going well...”
Neruan trailed off meaningfully and looked at Rose.
“It seems to me that you’re focused on something other than the department store business.”
The sharp words flew at Rose.
Rose thought about Neruan’s words.
“What other business are you talking about?”
She had never been involved in any business other than the department store.
“I don’t really know what you’re talking about.”
Neruan gave Rose a shallow smile, as if he had expected that answer.
“I knew you’d say that.”
Neruan’s faint smile hardened his expression. Then he spoke aggressively.
“You’re really shameless, Rose.”
“Huh?”
“Not the department store business... You’re in the ‘men’s business’, aren’t you?”
What kind of nonsense was that?
Rose frowned at Neruan’s words.
It was difficult to understand what he was talking about.
Did he sense Rose’s feelings? Neruan sighed softly and spoke aggressively.
“Didn’t you use business as an excuse to lure His Highness the Grand Duke? You must have used that absurd scheme of a department store business to attract His Highness’s attention and seize the position of Grand Duchess.”
Neruan continued his sharp words at Rose, who blinked in bewilderment.
“You, from a fallen family, and His Highness the Grand Duke, a member of the royal family, are not a good match, and should not be.”
He spoke clearly, emphasizing each word.
Rose was dumbfounded by his words.
'No way... l... this guy. Did you misunderstand all this time that I had feelings for the Grand Duke? Is that why you hated me?'
She didn't seem intimidated in front of Neruan. In fact, she was incredibly brash.
Neruan raised an eyebrow at Rose's attitude and took a sip of tea. Then, calmly, he spoke.
"How's business going? You seem busy."
"The Grand Duke has been helping me in many ways... It's going well."
When Rose mentioned the 'Grand Duke,' his face hardened.
“It’s going well...”
Neruan trailed off meaningfully and looked at Rose.
“It seems to me that you’re focused on something other than the department store business.”
The sharp words flew at Rose.
Rose thought about Neruan’s words.
“What other business are you talking about?”
She had never been involved in any business other than the department store.
“I don’t really know what you’re talking about.”
Neruan gave Rose a shallow smile, as if he had expected that answer.
“I knew you’d say that.”
Neruan’s faint smile hardened his expression. Then he spoke aggressively.
“You’re really shameless, Rose.”
“Huh?”
“Not the department store business... You’re in the ‘men’s business’, aren’t you?”
What kind of nonsense was that?
Rose frowned at Neruan’s words.
It was difficult to understand what he was talking about.
Did he sense Rose’s feelings? Neruan sighed softly and spoke aggressively.
“Didn’t you use business as an excuse to lure His Highness the Grand Duke? You must have used that absurd scheme of a department store business to attract His Highness’s attention and seize the position of Grand Duchess.”
Neruan continued his sharp words at Rose, who blinked in bewilderment.
“You, from a fallen family, and His Highness the Grand Duke, a member of the royal family, are not a good match, and should not be.”
He spoke clearly, emphasizing each word.
Rose was dumbfounded by his words.
'No way... l... this guy. Did you misunderstand all this time that I had feelings for the Grand Duke? Is that why you hated me?'
Only then did she understand what he had said about “parasite” earlier.
Seeing that her business was merely a pretext to be with the Grand Duke, he must have been deeply misunderstood.
She didn’t know exactly what had caused the misunderstanding.
She didn’t remember being particularly kind to the Grand Duke.
They never met except to discuss business, and beyond that, they only met for meals.
Rose had never even taken a walk with the Grand Duke.
So, what on earth had she done to cause such a misunderstanding?
'If he'd stayed quiet all this time and come to see me like this today... He'd likely heard about what happened at the palace.'
She'd told the Grand Duke in front of so many people that she liked him.
She suspected Neruan must have heard about it.
The Grand Duke's knights were present at the palace banquet.
Rose opened her mouth, determined to clear up the misunderstanding.
Since she and Neruan would be seeing each other face-to-face throughout the palace, it was better to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
But Neruan added before Rose could even open her mouth.
"You should understand that you were abandoned by a man and even divorced."
Rose, who had been trying to lighten the mood, was struck dumb by Neruan's words.
The words that came out of his mouth were so absurd and unbelievable.
Rose slowly closed her mouth with sunken eyes. Then she stared at Neruan in silence.
Neruan thought as Rose's gaze sharpened.
'Is he about to reveal his true colors?'
He thought Rose would now show her true colors by arrogating and showing her true colors.
'The Grand Duke is now hers, so don't worry about it.'
However, Rose's attitude defied Neruan's expectations.
"Is it wrong to divorce because you weren't loved? Is it right to live a life of silence, watching Eric's back like a fool?"
An agitated voice resonated through the garden. The servants nearby opened their eyes wide at the sudden sound of Rose's voice.
"Oh my, what could have gotten you so excited?"
"I don't know. I'm really curious to know what you're talking about."
Several servants slowly walked toward the garden. They listened intently, trying to eavesdrop on Rose and Neruan's conversation.
The voice that came through their perked ears wasn't Rose or Neruan's, but the head maid's.
"These."
She pulled at the servants' ears.
"Ah, ah! It hurts!"
Ignoring all the servants' groans, she strode forward, clutching their ears.
The head maid stopped only when she was far enough away to be out of earshot of Rose and Neruan.
"Ah, stop! I was wrong!"
She glared at the servants with a fierce gaze, then belatedly let go.
"You guys are full! Do you want to be cut off right now?"
"T-that's not it. I suddenly heard a loud noise, so I thought something might have happened."
"Tsk tsk, you'd better at least come up with a plausible excuse."
This was the Grand Duke's household, where even the most obedient servants were fired.
The Grand Duke was extremely suspicious, so he would change his servants without warning, except for a few he trusted. The one who suffered every time was the head maid.
She had to train new people every time. They would leave as soon as they were useful, and disappear as soon as they became familiar, so training new ones alone was exhausting.
The servants before her were also fresh from their training, and she couldn't afford to lose another one.
"Did you hear the butler and the young lady's conversation?"
"Oh, no! I didn't hear a thing. I just heard Lady Rose getting angry about 'divorce' or something."
The head maid breathed a sigh of relief at their words.
"So you didn't hear anything?"
"Yes..."
"Ugh!"
The head maid grabbed the servants' heads one by one.
"Ouch!"
"It hurts!"
She glared at the servants, her eyes narrowed.
“Don’t do something like that again! You’re so kind, I’ll let you off the hook just this once!”
The servants nodded and hurried back into the mansion.
She gazed toward the garden where Neruan and Rose were, muttering to herself,
“It probably wasn’t anything important, so it’ll be okay...”
Since he hadn’t overheard anyway, she wanted to overlook this.
She glanced at the garden as she returned to the mansion.
There, Rose and Neruan were still facing off.
The sunset, now tinged with a deep crimson, had fallen.
A chilling air swept between them as they sat beneath the blazing sun.
Rose’s voice, glaring at Neruan, was sharp.
“What is my subject?”
Rose’s gaze wavered for a moment.
Neruan didn’t miss her gaze.
However, her hurt expression was irritating.
How could someone who only chased after men without any sense of shame make such an expression? It was more than just distasteful; it was unpleasant. Rose, however, was equally unpleasant.
"Do you know me so well? Who are you to judge my worth?"
Seeing that her business was merely a pretext to be with the Grand Duke, he must have been deeply misunderstood.
She didn’t know exactly what had caused the misunderstanding.
She didn’t remember being particularly kind to the Grand Duke.
They never met except to discuss business, and beyond that, they only met for meals.
Rose had never even taken a walk with the Grand Duke.
So, what on earth had she done to cause such a misunderstanding?
'If he'd stayed quiet all this time and come to see me like this today... He'd likely heard about what happened at the palace.'
She'd told the Grand Duke in front of so many people that she liked him.
She suspected Neruan must have heard about it.
The Grand Duke's knights were present at the palace banquet.
Rose opened her mouth, determined to clear up the misunderstanding.
Since she and Neruan would be seeing each other face-to-face throughout the palace, it was better to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
But Neruan added before Rose could even open her mouth.
"You should understand that you were abandoned by a man and even divorced."
Rose, who had been trying to lighten the mood, was struck dumb by Neruan's words.
The words that came out of his mouth were so absurd and unbelievable.
Rose slowly closed her mouth with sunken eyes. Then she stared at Neruan in silence.
Neruan thought as Rose's gaze sharpened.
'Is he about to reveal his true colors?'
He thought Rose would now show her true colors by arrogating and showing her true colors.
'The Grand Duke is now hers, so don't worry about it.'
However, Rose's attitude defied Neruan's expectations.
"Is it wrong to divorce because you weren't loved? Is it right to live a life of silence, watching Eric's back like a fool?"
An agitated voice resonated through the garden. The servants nearby opened their eyes wide at the sudden sound of Rose's voice.
"Oh my, what could have gotten you so excited?"
"I don't know. I'm really curious to know what you're talking about."
Several servants slowly walked toward the garden. They listened intently, trying to eavesdrop on Rose and Neruan's conversation.
The voice that came through their perked ears wasn't Rose or Neruan's, but the head maid's.
"These."
She pulled at the servants' ears.
"Ah, ah! It hurts!"
Ignoring all the servants' groans, she strode forward, clutching their ears.
The head maid stopped only when she was far enough away to be out of earshot of Rose and Neruan.
"Ah, stop! I was wrong!"
She glared at the servants with a fierce gaze, then belatedly let go.
"You guys are full! Do you want to be cut off right now?"
"T-that's not it. I suddenly heard a loud noise, so I thought something might have happened."
"Tsk tsk, you'd better at least come up with a plausible excuse."
This was the Grand Duke's household, where even the most obedient servants were fired.
The Grand Duke was extremely suspicious, so he would change his servants without warning, except for a few he trusted. The one who suffered every time was the head maid.
She had to train new people every time. They would leave as soon as they were useful, and disappear as soon as they became familiar, so training new ones alone was exhausting.
The servants before her were also fresh from their training, and she couldn't afford to lose another one.
"Did you hear the butler and the young lady's conversation?"
"Oh, no! I didn't hear a thing. I just heard Lady Rose getting angry about 'divorce' or something."
The head maid breathed a sigh of relief at their words.
"So you didn't hear anything?"
"Yes..."
"Ugh!"
The head maid grabbed the servants' heads one by one.
"Ouch!"
"It hurts!"
She glared at the servants, her eyes narrowed.
“Don’t do something like that again! You’re so kind, I’ll let you off the hook just this once!”
The servants nodded and hurried back into the mansion.
She gazed toward the garden where Neruan and Rose were, muttering to herself,
“It probably wasn’t anything important, so it’ll be okay...”
Since he hadn’t overheard anyway, she wanted to overlook this.
She glanced at the garden as she returned to the mansion.
There, Rose and Neruan were still facing off.
The sunset, now tinged with a deep crimson, had fallen.
A chilling air swept between them as they sat beneath the blazing sun.
Rose’s voice, glaring at Neruan, was sharp.
“What is my subject?”
Rose’s gaze wavered for a moment.
Neruan didn’t miss her gaze.
However, her hurt expression was irritating.
How could someone who only chased after men without any sense of shame make such an expression? It was more than just distasteful; it was unpleasant. Rose, however, was equally unpleasant.
"Do you know me so well? Who are you to judge my worth?"
How could someone who knew nothing about her belittle someone like this?
Since Neruan had been the first to attack, Rose had no need to be gentle with him.
Determined to shatter Neruan's prejudice, she opened her mouth.
Since Neruan had been the first to attack, Rose had no need to be gentle with him.
Determined to shatter Neruan's prejudice, she opened her mouth.
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