Episode 94. I Found Out Thanks to You
Had the Grand Duke and she been diligently digging around for a while? Did the Grand Duke not only have feelings for her but also treat her as a marriage partner?
Wait...
He even considered marriage without even asking her out?
Something made her dizzy.
“Haa.”
Rose’s legs gave out, and she slumped to the ground.
Rose covered her face with both hands.
Between her fingers, her flushed face was visible here and there.
“What the hell is this?”
Rose lowered her head and let her flushed face cool.
If she had accepted the Grand Duke's proposal without even realizing it herself...
She probably would have rejected the Grand Duke's confession.
If that had happened, her relationship with the Grand Duke would have been over for good.
“It’s better that you know my feelings now...”
Rose felt relieved that she had finally realized her own feelings.
She had no intention of distancing herself from him over a minor misunderstanding.
Just as she had declared war on Neruan, she now intended to reveal her feelings.
Hiding her feelings was impossible for Rose.
She was the type to express them clearly on her face, whether she liked them or disliked them.
If it weren't for Neruan, it would have taken her a long time to realize this.
She had always assumed the Grand Duke wasn't a romantic interest.
Neruan, as repulsive as he was, was the one who had helped Rose realize her feelings.
In trying to drive her away, he had instead become the Cupid of love.
Rose thought of the Grand Duke's kind face.
For some reason, her emotions were rising again.
She lowered her head and muttered to herself,
"It's not even certain yet. I should check with the Grand Duke first."
Rose slowly stood up. Then she walked toward her villa.
She wanted to freshen up a bit before meeting the Grand Duke.
There were so many things she wanted to ask him right away, but his appearance was absurd. His usually familiar face looked dull today. And why was his hair so disheveled? It seemed he'd been standing in the windy garden for quite some time.
"Whew- whew- whew."
"Huh?"
She thought she heard a whistle, but was it her imagination?
Rose looked around. But there wasn't even a breeze, let alone a whistle.
She tilted her head, and when she resumed walking, the whistle came again.
"Whew- whew- whew."
The whistle sounded like a signal.
It felt somehow familiar.
Hadn't this happened before?
'It seems similar to the signal I gave to Sir Serun on my way back from meeting the Grand Duke of Artaeum.'
Three whistles rang out in time with the music.
"Could it be... Sir Serun?"
Rose turned her head toward the massive castle wall. It seemed like Serun was the one giving the signal from outside.
She peered out through a small hole in the wall.
Through the tiny opening, barely big enough to fit a finger, she saw a familiar face.
It wasn't Serun.
"G-Gwen?!"
Gwen looked around nervously. Beside him stood an elderly woman and a man about Rose's age.
It was clearly his wife and son.
Judging by their appearance, it was absurd.
Their appearance was utterly disheveled, and their clothes were filthy.
Not only had they not washed, but they hadn't changed for days.
They had clearly fled from someone.
A name flashed through Rose's mind: Cedric.
He must have been planning something to do to Gwen.
Rose shouted at him.
"Gwen! Wait a minute!"
“That’s because Rose is such an upright person. Good people tend to attract good people.”
“Thank you for saying that, Gwen.”
Gwen’s compliment made her feel a bit embarrassed.
“Gwen, I know you must be very busy, but may I ask you a favor?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“The Grand Duke of Artaeum wants to meet Gwen.”
“His Highness the Grand Duke?”
“Yes. I think the Grand Duke is investing heavily in business. He seemed a little uneasy about entrusting the investment to a stranger.”
Gwen’s expression didn’t look very pleased at Rose’s words.
“I hope you don’t feel too pressured. Just think of it as a casual meal.”
“But...”
Gwen trailed off and looked at his son and wife beside him.
“I’m being chased, so I really don’t feel like leaving them behind.”
It seemed he was worried about leaving them behind.
“Please bring them along. I’ll make sure to explain it to the Grand Duke.”
“But... is that okay?”
Gwen's eyes fluttered at Rose's unexpected words.
"Of course. The Grand Duke isn't that mean, so don't worry. He may not look like it, but he's actually a very kind person."
At Rose's words, the Grand Duke's vicious face flashed through Gwen's mind.
"He doesn't seem like a warm person..."
He couldn't hide his nervousness and lowered his voice.
"Then I'll bring my wife and son and see you again."
He was reluctant, but since he had no other choice, he accepted Rose's offer.
"Fine. I'll tell him you'll be attending the dinner."
Gwen left with her family, leaving Rose behind for a brief reunion.
Rose watched Gwen's back before quickly walking back into the mansion.
Meanwhile, Neruan, left alone in the garden, still had his head down.
Rose's words kept ringing in his ears.
'How despicable.'
Neruan ruffled his hair with a complex expression.
"Ha..."
Despicable.
It was the first time he'd ever heard that word.
He seemed unable to recover from the shock.
'Did I really misunderstand her?'
Had the Grand Duke and she been diligently digging around for a while? Did the Grand Duke not only have feelings for her but also treat her as a marriage partner?
Wait...
He even considered marriage without even asking her out?
Something made her dizzy.
“Haa.”
Rose’s legs gave out, and she slumped to the ground.
Rose covered her face with both hands.
Between her fingers, her flushed face was visible here and there.
“What the hell is this?”
Rose lowered her head and let her flushed face cool.
If she had accepted the Grand Duke's proposal without even realizing it herself...
She probably would have rejected the Grand Duke's confession.
If that had happened, her relationship with the Grand Duke would have been over for good.
“It’s better that you know my feelings now...”
Rose felt relieved that she had finally realized her own feelings.
She had no intention of distancing herself from him over a minor misunderstanding.
Just as she had declared war on Neruan, she now intended to reveal her feelings.
Hiding her feelings was impossible for Rose.
She was the type to express them clearly on her face, whether she liked them or disliked them.
If it weren't for Neruan, it would have taken her a long time to realize this.
She had always assumed the Grand Duke wasn't a romantic interest.
Neruan, as repulsive as he was, was the one who had helped Rose realize her feelings.
In trying to drive her away, he had instead become the Cupid of love.
Rose thought of the Grand Duke's kind face.
For some reason, her emotions were rising again.
She lowered her head and muttered to herself,
"It's not even certain yet. I should check with the Grand Duke first."
Rose slowly stood up. Then she walked toward her villa.
She wanted to freshen up a bit before meeting the Grand Duke.
There were so many things she wanted to ask him right away, but his appearance was absurd. His usually familiar face looked dull today. And why was his hair so disheveled? It seemed he'd been standing in the windy garden for quite some time.
"Whew- whew- whew."
"Huh?"
She thought she heard a whistle, but was it her imagination?
Rose looked around. But there wasn't even a breeze, let alone a whistle.
She tilted her head, and when she resumed walking, the whistle came again.
"Whew- whew- whew."
The whistle sounded like a signal.
It felt somehow familiar.
Hadn't this happened before?
'It seems similar to the signal I gave to Sir Serun on my way back from meeting the Grand Duke of Artaeum.'
Three whistles rang out in time with the music.
"Could it be... Sir Serun?"
Rose turned her head toward the massive castle wall. It seemed like Serun was the one giving the signal from outside.
She peered out through a small hole in the wall.
Through the tiny opening, barely big enough to fit a finger, she saw a familiar face.
It wasn't Serun.
"G-Gwen?!"
Gwen looked around nervously. Beside him stood an elderly woman and a man about Rose's age.
It was clearly his wife and son.
Judging by their appearance, it was absurd.
Their appearance was utterly disheveled, and their clothes were filthy.
Not only had they not washed, but they hadn't changed for days.
They had clearly fled from someone.
A name flashed through Rose's mind: Cedric.
He must have been planning something to do to Gwen.
Rose shouted at him.
"Gwen! Wait a minute!"
Gwen and her companions' faces brightened at the sound of Rose's voice.
Rose hurried out to the main gate.
The knights tried to follow Rose's unguarded departure, but she spoke firmly.
"It's okay, I'll be back in five minutes."
Rose left those words behind and ran towards where Gwen and the others had just been.
However, no one was there.
"Huh... Why is no one here?"
Gwen had definitely been there just a moment ago.
Rose looked around, searching for any trace of him.
Then, out of nowhere, out of nowhere, Gwen and his companions appeared.
“Ugh!”
Rose, startled, let out a scream without realizing it.
She calmed down and looked at Gwen.
“Gwen, what happened? Why did you appear out of thin air?”
“I was using this to hide myself,”
Gwen said, holding out a shabby blanket.
“It’s a magical item. It’s a blanket that conceals you when you cover yourself.”
He said he had used it when he left the capital and when he waited for Rose beneath the walls.
“It’s so good to see you again, Rose.”
Gwen’s eyes were moist as she looked at Rose.
A myriad of emotions swirled around his words.
Rose’s heart also felt uneasy at the sight of Gwen’s shabby appearance.
“This is my wife and son.”
Rose and they exchanged light greetings.
“Gwen, are you alright? How long have you been here?”
Gwen, who had looked young for his age, had aged a lot from all the hardships he had endured.
“I arrived early this morning.”
“You’re being chased by Cedric, right?”
“...Yes.”
Gwen’s eyes flickered sadly as he lowered his head weakly.
“I’ll help you.”
“Huh? No. I didn’t come here shamelessly to ask for help.”
He waved his hand at Rose’s words.
“I just came to tell you about me. I have enough money to secure temporary accommodation.”
Rose hurried out to the main gate.
The knights tried to follow Rose's unguarded departure, but she spoke firmly.
"It's okay, I'll be back in five minutes."
Rose left those words behind and ran towards where Gwen and the others had just been.
However, no one was there.
"Huh... Why is no one here?"
Gwen had definitely been there just a moment ago.
Rose looked around, searching for any trace of him.
Then, out of nowhere, out of nowhere, Gwen and his companions appeared.
“Ugh!”
Rose, startled, let out a scream without realizing it.
She calmed down and looked at Gwen.
“Gwen, what happened? Why did you appear out of thin air?”
“I was using this to hide myself,”
Gwen said, holding out a shabby blanket.
“It’s a magical item. It’s a blanket that conceals you when you cover yourself.”
He said he had used it when he left the capital and when he waited for Rose beneath the walls.
“It’s so good to see you again, Rose.”
Gwen’s eyes were moist as she looked at Rose.
A myriad of emotions swirled around his words.
Rose’s heart also felt uneasy at the sight of Gwen’s shabby appearance.
“This is my wife and son.”
Rose and they exchanged light greetings.
“Gwen, are you alright? How long have you been here?”
Gwen, who had looked young for his age, had aged a lot from all the hardships he had endured.
“I arrived early this morning.”
“You’re being chased by Cedric, right?”
“...Yes.”
Gwen’s eyes flickered sadly as he lowered his head weakly.
“I’ll help you.”
“Huh? No. I didn’t come here shamelessly to ask for help.”
He waved his hand at Rose’s words.
“I just came to tell you about me. I have enough money to secure temporary accommodation.”
Even though he said that, Gwen, who had been waiting for her for over half a day, seemed to need help.
Rose looked at Gwen silently and thought,
‘Since the Grand Duke wanted to see Gwen, let’s let him in for now. The Grand Duke will be able to find a place for them to stay safely.’
Rather than explaining this and that, it would be more effective to let them meet in person.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum was very curious about Gwen, Rose's business partner.
He had personally requested an invitation for Gwen, so it would be no problem for her to enter the Grand Duke's mansion.
"But I can't bring him in this state."
Rose looked at Gwen silently and thought,
‘Since the Grand Duke wanted to see Gwen, let’s let him in for now. The Grand Duke will be able to find a place for them to stay safely.’
Rather than explaining this and that, it would be more effective to let them meet in person.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum was very curious about Gwen, Rose's business partner.
He had personally requested an invitation for Gwen, so it would be no problem for her to enter the Grand Duke's mansion.
"But I can't bring him in this state."
He looked awkward enough to introduce him as a business partner.
Rose slowly spoke to Gwen.
"No remnants of Cedric followed you, did they?"
"Lord Serun said that Cedric hasn't had time to worry about me lately, so don't worry."
Rose slowly spoke to Gwen.
"No remnants of Cedric followed you, did they?"
"Lord Serun said that Cedric hasn't had time to worry about me lately, so don't worry."
"!"
Rose wondered how Serun knew about the secret signal, but it turned out he had helped Gwen.
"Lord Serun helped you?"
"That's right."
He had been so caring for Gwen without asking for anything, and he was incredibly trustworthy.
"I'm surprised Lord Serun is also serving Rose."
"I guess I'm lucky. I have so many good people around me. And Gwen is one of them."
Rose wondered how Serun knew about the secret signal, but it turned out he had helped Gwen.
"Lord Serun helped you?"
"That's right."
He had been so caring for Gwen without asking for anything, and he was incredibly trustworthy.
"I'm surprised Lord Serun is also serving Rose."
"I guess I'm lucky. I have so many good people around me. And Gwen is one of them."
“That’s because Rose is such an upright person. Good people tend to attract good people.”
“Thank you for saying that, Gwen.”
Gwen’s compliment made her feel a bit embarrassed.
“Gwen, I know you must be very busy, but may I ask you a favor?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“The Grand Duke of Artaeum wants to meet Gwen.”
“His Highness the Grand Duke?”
“Yes. I think the Grand Duke is investing heavily in business. He seemed a little uneasy about entrusting the investment to a stranger.”
Gwen’s expression didn’t look very pleased at Rose’s words.
“I hope you don’t feel too pressured. Just think of it as a casual meal.”
“But...”
Gwen trailed off and looked at his son and wife beside him.
“I’m being chased, so I really don’t feel like leaving them behind.”
It seemed he was worried about leaving them behind.
“Please bring them along. I’ll make sure to explain it to the Grand Duke.”
“But... is that okay?”
Gwen's eyes fluttered at Rose's unexpected words.
"Of course. The Grand Duke isn't that mean, so don't worry. He may not look like it, but he's actually a very kind person."
At Rose's words, the Grand Duke's vicious face flashed through Gwen's mind.
"He doesn't seem like a warm person..."
He couldn't hide his nervousness and lowered his voice.
"Then I'll bring my wife and son and see you again."
He was reluctant, but since he had no other choice, he accepted Rose's offer.
"Fine. I'll tell him you'll be attending the dinner."
Gwen left with her family, leaving Rose behind for a brief reunion.
Rose watched Gwen's back before quickly walking back into the mansion.
***
Meanwhile, Neruan, left alone in the garden, still had his head down.
Rose's words kept ringing in his ears.
'How despicable.'
Neruan ruffled his hair with a complex expression.
"Ha..."
Despicable.
It was the first time he'd ever heard that word.
He seemed unable to recover from the shock.
'Did I really misunderstand her?'
He had confidence in Rose. He had thought she was a person who wasted her life chasing after a love that wouldn't work out.
He had thought business was nothing more than an excuse.
But was it really true that his thoughts were wrong?
Rose's gaze, facing him, was utterly confident. It was definitely not the dull image Neruan had envisioned.
He couldn't hide his confusion. Perhaps... he had misunderstood Rose.
He had thought business was nothing more than an excuse.
But was it really true that his thoughts were wrong?
Rose's gaze, facing him, was utterly confident. It was definitely not the dull image Neruan had envisioned.
He couldn't hide his confusion. Perhaps... he had misunderstood Rose.
"..."
Clap, clap, clap. At that moment, a cheerful applause came from somewhere.
"I wondered how things had gone wrong, and it was because of you, Neruan."
The voice belonged to Julius. He sat up from where he had been hiding in the bushes.
"Thanks to you, I had a good time."
"...Your Highness, Crown Prince?"
Why was Julius there? He had been hiding in the bushes, his hair and clothes covered in leaves.
"Shh, you should call me Princess here. What would you do if someone heard you?"
He winked at Neruan and laughed heartily. Then he hopped over the bushes and approached Neruan.
"This was really fun."
Rose, who seemed so fragile, was actually a woman of strong character.
'She's so confident... She's so brash.'
Rose, who declared that she would no longer hide her feelings, liked her attitude. Moreover, she had invited Neruan to the conference, as if declaring war.
'You seem quite confident in your business.'
It hadn't sounded like much of a project at first glance. A place filled with all sorts of luxuries. And she'd built it not even in the capital, in the Artaeum territory. A place practically abandoned? It seemed so reckless that it worried the Grand Duke, who wholeheartedly supported this project. However, her confident demeanor made him want to attend Rose's conference as well.
Neruan suddenly turned to Julius and asked.
"How long have you been hiding here?"
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