Episode 98. A Week Is Enough
Gwen's back was already soaked with cold sweat.
He gently lifted his monocle with trembling hands.
"Yes, is there any question?"
Gwen's voice trembled as he answered.
"Then, please take care of me, Gwen."
The Grand Duke slowly rose from his seat and walked towards Gwen.
With each step he took, Gwen's heart pounded.
The Grand Duke, who had already walked in front of Gwen, extended his hand.
"You will stay at the mansion for the time being. Neither you nor your family can escape my watchful eye."
Gwen swallowed hard and took the Grand Duke's hand.
'Contrary to the rumors, I thought you were a gentle person...'
Not at all.
He possessed an eerie aura that made it impossible to relax.
Well, perhaps it was because he had so many suspicions that he had survived so far.
If he had been weak, he wouldn't have been able to withstand the pressure from the Emperor's faction.
Despite his young age, he was a strong man who protected himself.
Gwen, while feeling fearful, fully understood the Grand Duke's actions.
He had done nothing wrong, having changed to survive.
"Please take good care of me, Your Highness."
The corners of the Grand Duke's mouth quirked in satisfaction at Gwen's answer.
Meanwhile, Rose waited anxiously for the Grand Duke.
"Are you sure you're talking properly?"
The Grand Duke's expression was not very good, and she continued to worry.
Instead of returning to the villa, she wandered around.
After looking around for a while, Rose saw the dining room door open.
She hurried over.
She saw Gwen, pale and sweating, and the Grand Duke, expressionless, coming out.
"Your Highness."
At Rose's voice, the Grand Duke instinctively turned his head.
The moment he saw Rose approaching him, a smile he couldn't hide spread across his face.
“Did the conversation go well?”
Rose asked cautiously, looking back and forth between Gwen and the Grand Duke.
“Yes. Gwen has decided to stay with us.”
“Thank you for accepting Gwen without prejudice.”
“And Gwen and his family have also decided to stay at my mansion for the time being.”
“Yes? Really?”
Gwen flinched at the Grand Duke's voice.
Rose opened her eyes wide and looked at the Grand Duke.
‘The Grand Duke heard of Gwen’s plight and is helping him?’
She was surprised by the Grand Duke's unexpected consideration. Rose looked at the Grand Duke with admiration.
“So you heard that Gwen was being chased by Cedric?”
Rose’s voice made both the Grand Duke and Gwen flinch.
The Grand Duke slightly averted his eyes from Rose’s gaze, which was looking at him with a moved expression.
He stared at Rose for a moment before agreeing with her words.
“Yes.”
“As expected, the Grand Duke is truly kind.”
Rose’s sparkling eyes were burdensome. Rose's inability to portray him in a positive light, contrary to his intentions, prickled his conscience.
However, he didn't want to tell the truth here.
That would have disappointed Rose.
"Gwen, that's great."
Rose smiled at Gwen.
It was obvious that this place was safer than anywhere else.
As Rose's gaze turned to Gwen, the Grand Duke also looked at him.
However, unlike Rose, his gaze was remarkably chilling.
Gwen swallowed hard at the threatening look in his eyes, threatening that he wouldn't let him off easy if he told the truth.
Gwen's back was already soaked with cold sweat.
He gently lifted his monocle with trembling hands.
"Yes, is there any question?"
Gwen's voice trembled as he answered.
"Then, please take care of me, Gwen."
The Grand Duke slowly rose from his seat and walked towards Gwen.
With each step he took, Gwen's heart pounded.
The Grand Duke, who had already walked in front of Gwen, extended his hand.
"You will stay at the mansion for the time being. Neither you nor your family can escape my watchful eye."
Gwen swallowed hard and took the Grand Duke's hand.
'Contrary to the rumors, I thought you were a gentle person...'
Not at all.
He possessed an eerie aura that made it impossible to relax.
Well, perhaps it was because he had so many suspicions that he had survived so far.
If he had been weak, he wouldn't have been able to withstand the pressure from the Emperor's faction.
Despite his young age, he was a strong man who protected himself.
Gwen, while feeling fearful, fully understood the Grand Duke's actions.
He had done nothing wrong, having changed to survive.
"Please take good care of me, Your Highness."
The corners of the Grand Duke's mouth quirked in satisfaction at Gwen's answer.
***
Meanwhile, Rose waited anxiously for the Grand Duke.
"Are you sure you're talking properly?"
The Grand Duke's expression was not very good, and she continued to worry.
Instead of returning to the villa, she wandered around.
After looking around for a while, Rose saw the dining room door open.
She hurried over.
She saw Gwen, pale and sweating, and the Grand Duke, expressionless, coming out.
"Your Highness."
At Rose's voice, the Grand Duke instinctively turned his head.
The moment he saw Rose approaching him, a smile he couldn't hide spread across his face.
“Did the conversation go well?”
Rose asked cautiously, looking back and forth between Gwen and the Grand Duke.
“Yes. Gwen has decided to stay with us.”
“Thank you for accepting Gwen without prejudice.”
“And Gwen and his family have also decided to stay at my mansion for the time being.”
“Yes? Really?”
Gwen flinched at the Grand Duke's voice.
Rose opened her eyes wide and looked at the Grand Duke.
‘The Grand Duke heard of Gwen’s plight and is helping him?’
She was surprised by the Grand Duke's unexpected consideration. Rose looked at the Grand Duke with admiration.
“So you heard that Gwen was being chased by Cedric?”
Rose’s voice made both the Grand Duke and Gwen flinch.
The Grand Duke slightly averted his eyes from Rose’s gaze, which was looking at him with a moved expression.
He stared at Rose for a moment before agreeing with her words.
“Yes.”
“As expected, the Grand Duke is truly kind.”
Rose’s sparkling eyes were burdensome. Rose's inability to portray him in a positive light, contrary to his intentions, prickled his conscience.
However, he didn't want to tell the truth here.
That would have disappointed Rose.
"Gwen, that's great."
Rose smiled at Gwen.
It was obvious that this place was safer than anywhere else.
As Rose's gaze turned to Gwen, the Grand Duke also looked at him.
However, unlike Rose, his gaze was remarkably chilling.
Gwen swallowed hard at the threatening look in his eyes, threatening that he wouldn't let him off easy if he told the truth.
"Yes, I am grateful."
Gwen forced a smile at the Grand Duke's trembling gaze.
"Then I must go see my family."
With these words, Gwen hurried away. The Grand Duke watched Gwen's back in silence before turning to Rose.
"Gwen seems to be very positive about your business."
Rose nodded sheepishly.
"Thank goodness. Actually, we initially disagreed about purchasing the department store site. But Gwen ultimately agreed with me. That's why I feel a little bit of a burden on my shoulders."
Gwen, the greatest expert of his time, and the 10 billion in capital borrowed from the Grand Duke of Artaeum. It was a combination that was unlikely to fail.
If the business failed, it would be entirely Rose's fault.
He placed his hand on Rose's head; her expression filled with worry.
He gently stroked her hair.
"I trust your choice."
The Grand Duke's words felt incredibly warm.
Rose nodded with a shy smile.
"And Gwen is quite confident, too."
He continued, as if trying to bolster Rose's confidence.
"You asked me how long it would take to repay the 10 billion res you borrowed from me, so he said a year. But..."
"T-a year?"
The Grand Duke's answer felt like a weight had lifted from her shoulders.
The next reply shocked Rose even more.
"Gwen said a week would be enough."
"T-a week!?"
Rose let out a scream without realizing it.
10 billion res in a week...!
She was confident she could succeed in business, but she wasn't confident she could repay the money in a week.
Beads of sweat began to form on Rose's forehead.
'Gwen...What on earth were you talking about!'
For some reason, it seemed Gwen had taken a desperate measure, unwilling to leave this business.
Rose looked at the Grand Duke before her.
Seeing him bubbling with anticipation, her heart grew even heavier.
'This is so burdensome.'
Just as she was struggling to find words,
"You're here?"
Julius appeared.
"I couldn't drink properly earlier because the seats were uncomfortable, but let's have a drink together."
He approached, waving a red wine bottle from some unknown source.
"Here, this wine I specially brought for you."
"I'm not drinking it, so put it away... No, put it away."
The Grand Duke lightly pushed the wine Julius offered him away.
However, Julius didn't back down easily.
The sight of the two of them, who had feelings for each other but were constantly struggling, was so frustrating.
With the help of alcohol, they could fully reveal their hidden feelings.
He looked at the Grand Duke with a sharp gaze and thought,
'What an idiot. He doesn't even realize that this older brother is trying to help him.'
He decided to make a special effort for his close friend, who was a romantic failure.
"Lucas, who asked you to drink? I'm going to drink with Lady Serviat."
He smiled leisurely, emphasizing that he would drink with Rose.
"Young Lady, will you drink wine with me? We agreed to be friends, didn't we?"
Julius approached Rose, who was standing still. Then, as if to show off, he linked arms with Rose.
For an instant, the Grand Duke's expression twisted terribly.
"You...!"
He even told him she was the woman he would spend his future with, and yet he seemed determined to engage in a mud fight.
The Grand Duke's eyes were suddenly filled with murderous intent.
If it weren't for Rose, he would have hurled unspeakable curses at Julius. He didn't want to show Rose a scary side. He tried to suppress his boiling anger and glared at Julius.
He pulled Rose toward him.
He couldn't bear to watch them affectionately linking arms any longer.
"What should I do? Rose says she's tired and wants to rest."
He placed a hand on Rose's shoulder and gave her a cold gaze.
Rose, too, didn't want to spend time with Julius today. She had so many questions she wanted to ask the Archduke.
"I'm sorry to Princess Mederion, but..."
Rose slightly averted her eyes from Julius.
Julius stared blankly at Rose, then the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Young Lady, are you tired? I have so many things I want to talk to you about. For example... about Lucas's first love?"
First love?
Rose's eyes, which had been blankly staring, flashed with life.
"Can't you... Shut up?"
He had been trying to speak politely in front of Rose, but he ended up cursing. He was exuding an incredible murderous aura.
"If you say one more word, I'll rip your fucking mouth off."
To bring up the memory he wanted to erase the most in his life, like this?
And on top of that, he wanted to bring it up in front of Rose?
He wanted to tie Julius's mouth tightly and throw him across the room, despite his playful attitude.
Rose, oblivious to the Grand Duke's feelings, looked at Julius with curious eyes.
Julius threw down the gauntlet to Rose.
“Come on, let’s have a drink. This will be a chance to speak your heart out, all the things you’ve been struggling with and couldn’t say.”
He winked at Rose as if signaling.
'Is the Princess trying to help me?'
Rose finally realized Julius’s intention.
She cautiously grabbed the Grand Duke's arm.
“Grand Duke, why don’t we have a drink instead?”
Rose’s voice made the Grand Duke flinch.
He nodded without hesitation, seeing Rose looking up at him.
“Of course.”
In stark contrast to his usual snarl at Julius, he was gentle.
“That old friend!”
He resented the Grand Duke for listening to Rose rather than him, his longtime friend, but Julius decided to be generous and let it slide.
He shook his wine with a sinister expression and linked arms with Rose and the Grand Duke.
“Well then. Shall we go?”
Rose whispered softly to Julius next to her.
“Thank you, Princess.”
Julius winked in response.
“What are you two whispering about?”
Grand Duke Artaeum glared at Julius with a displeased expression.
He chuckled at the Grand Duke.
“I was just saying that thanks to you, I won’t be lonely tonight.”
Gwen forced a smile at the Grand Duke's trembling gaze.
"Then I must go see my family."
With these words, Gwen hurried away. The Grand Duke watched Gwen's back in silence before turning to Rose.
"Gwen seems to be very positive about your business."
Rose nodded sheepishly.
"Thank goodness. Actually, we initially disagreed about purchasing the department store site. But Gwen ultimately agreed with me. That's why I feel a little bit of a burden on my shoulders."
Gwen, the greatest expert of his time, and the 10 billion in capital borrowed from the Grand Duke of Artaeum. It was a combination that was unlikely to fail.
If the business failed, it would be entirely Rose's fault.
He placed his hand on Rose's head; her expression filled with worry.
He gently stroked her hair.
"I trust your choice."
The Grand Duke's words felt incredibly warm.
Rose nodded with a shy smile.
"And Gwen is quite confident, too."
He continued, as if trying to bolster Rose's confidence.
"You asked me how long it would take to repay the 10 billion res you borrowed from me, so he said a year. But..."
"T-a year?"
The Grand Duke's answer felt like a weight had lifted from her shoulders.
The next reply shocked Rose even more.
"Gwen said a week would be enough."
"T-a week!?"
Rose let out a scream without realizing it.
10 billion res in a week...!
She was confident she could succeed in business, but she wasn't confident she could repay the money in a week.
Beads of sweat began to form on Rose's forehead.
'Gwen...What on earth were you talking about!'
For some reason, it seemed Gwen had taken a desperate measure, unwilling to leave this business.
Rose looked at the Grand Duke before her.
Seeing him bubbling with anticipation, her heart grew even heavier.
'This is so burdensome.'
Just as she was struggling to find words,
"You're here?"
Julius appeared.
"I couldn't drink properly earlier because the seats were uncomfortable, but let's have a drink together."
He approached, waving a red wine bottle from some unknown source.
"Here, this wine I specially brought for you."
"I'm not drinking it, so put it away... No, put it away."
The Grand Duke lightly pushed the wine Julius offered him away.
However, Julius didn't back down easily.
The sight of the two of them, who had feelings for each other but were constantly struggling, was so frustrating.
With the help of alcohol, they could fully reveal their hidden feelings.
He looked at the Grand Duke with a sharp gaze and thought,
'What an idiot. He doesn't even realize that this older brother is trying to help him.'
He decided to make a special effort for his close friend, who was a romantic failure.
"Lucas, who asked you to drink? I'm going to drink with Lady Serviat."
He smiled leisurely, emphasizing that he would drink with Rose.
"Young Lady, will you drink wine with me? We agreed to be friends, didn't we?"
Julius approached Rose, who was standing still. Then, as if to show off, he linked arms with Rose.
For an instant, the Grand Duke's expression twisted terribly.
"You...!"
He clearly warned him to stop showing interest in Rose...!
The Grand Duke's eyes were suddenly filled with murderous intent.
If it weren't for Rose, he would have hurled unspeakable curses at Julius. He didn't want to show Rose a scary side. He tried to suppress his boiling anger and glared at Julius.
He pulled Rose toward him.
He couldn't bear to watch them affectionately linking arms any longer.
"What should I do? Rose says she's tired and wants to rest."
He placed a hand on Rose's shoulder and gave her a cold gaze.
Rose, too, didn't want to spend time with Julius today. She had so many questions she wanted to ask the Archduke.
"I'm sorry to Princess Mederion, but..."
Rose slightly averted her eyes from Julius.
Julius stared blankly at Rose, then the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Young Lady, are you tired? I have so many things I want to talk to you about. For example... about Lucas's first love?"
First love?
Rose's eyes, which had been blankly staring, flashed with life.
"Can't you... Shut up?"
He had been trying to speak politely in front of Rose, but he ended up cursing. He was exuding an incredible murderous aura.
"If you say one more word, I'll rip your fucking mouth off."
To bring up the memory he wanted to erase the most in his life, like this?
And on top of that, he wanted to bring it up in front of Rose?
He wanted to tie Julius's mouth tightly and throw him across the room, despite his playful attitude.
Rose, oblivious to the Grand Duke's feelings, looked at Julius with curious eyes.
Julius threw down the gauntlet to Rose.
“Come on, let’s have a drink. This will be a chance to speak your heart out, all the things you’ve been struggling with and couldn’t say.”
He winked at Rose as if signaling.
'Is the Princess trying to help me?'
Rose finally realized Julius’s intention.
She cautiously grabbed the Grand Duke's arm.
“Grand Duke, why don’t we have a drink instead?”
Rose’s voice made the Grand Duke flinch.
He nodded without hesitation, seeing Rose looking up at him.
“Of course.”
In stark contrast to his usual snarl at Julius, he was gentle.
“That old friend!”
He resented the Grand Duke for listening to Rose rather than him, his longtime friend, but Julius decided to be generous and let it slide.
He shook his wine with a sinister expression and linked arms with Rose and the Grand Duke.
“Well then. Shall we go?”
Rose whispered softly to Julius next to her.
“Thank you, Princess.”
Julius winked in response.
“What are you two whispering about?”
Grand Duke Artaeum glared at Julius with a displeased expression.
He chuckled at the Grand Duke.
“I was just saying that thanks to you, I won’t be lonely tonight.”
The Grand Duke's eyes fluttered.
Julius’s words sounded so obscene.
“What? You won’t be lonely tonight?!?”
Julius’s words sounded so obscene.
“What? You won’t be lonely tonight?!?”
Grand Duke's eyes blazed with fire at Julius’ deliberate words.
What were you going to do after you’d made Rose drink so much?
“You.”
He cursed with his eyes and pointed a finger at him.
“I’ll kill you.”
It was obvious what was about to spill from his gaping mouth.
Julius chuckled at the Grand Duke's warning and led the two toward the audience room.
Entering the reception room, various snacks and three wine glasses were prepared.
Rose took her seat first. Then Julius took his seat next to her.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum squeezed himself between Julius and Rose with a stern look.
“Ugh, Lucas. It’s so crowded.”
Why did he insist on saying it was cramped when he could have just said it was cramped?
Julius squeaked in embarrassment and squirmed.
The Grand Duke, confronted by Julius’s strange remark, gave him a serious look and pushed him aside.
“There’s plenty of room next to you. Don’t squeeze yourself in, go away.”
Julius giggled and moved to the side.
He wanted to tease the Grand Duke further, but since this wasn’t the purpose of the space, he meekly stepped aside.
He dismissed the servants and expertly poured the wine. He then filled each glass in turn.
“Lucas and Lady Serviat, we’ve been so busy that we haven’t had time to gather together like this.”
He raised his glass and proposed a toast.
“Let’s have fun tonight. It’s not good to be too tense before something important.”
Three glasses of wine clinked cheerfully in the air.
Rose took a sip. As soon as she finished, her throat felt like it was burning.
'How long has it been since I last had this much alcohol?'
It was the first time since she’d been possessed.
She vomited everything at the palace, so this was the first time, to be precise.
“Delicious...”
The wine had never been this sweet. Rose’s mood was lifted by the first drink she’d had in a long time.
Rose emptied the wine into her mouth and refilled her glass.
Julius studied her with bleary eyes.
“You’re weak to alcohol.”
How could someone get so drunk after just one glass?
Rose’s flushed face and drowsy demeanor clearly showed someone who was visibly drunk.
As Rose was about to drink, the Grand Duke stopped her glass.
“You seem weak to alcohol. Stop drinking.”
Rose pushed away the Grand Duke's hand that had blocked hers and drank her wine.
"No, I won't. I'll drink."
Rose poured the wine on her head and exclaimed,
"It's delicious. I want more."
"Well, I'll bring more. You and Lucas are left alone."
Julius made room for Rose and the Grand Duke, not forgetting to signal her with a wink.
Rose and the Grand Duke drank alone.
What were you going to do after you’d made Rose drink so much?
“You.”
He cursed with his eyes and pointed a finger at him.
“I’ll kill you.”
It was obvious what was about to spill from his gaping mouth.
Julius chuckled at the Grand Duke's warning and led the two toward the audience room.
Entering the reception room, various snacks and three wine glasses were prepared.
Rose took her seat first. Then Julius took his seat next to her.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum squeezed himself between Julius and Rose with a stern look.
“Ugh, Lucas. It’s so crowded.”
Why did he insist on saying it was cramped when he could have just said it was cramped?
Julius squeaked in embarrassment and squirmed.
The Grand Duke, confronted by Julius’s strange remark, gave him a serious look and pushed him aside.
“There’s plenty of room next to you. Don’t squeeze yourself in, go away.”
Julius giggled and moved to the side.
He wanted to tease the Grand Duke further, but since this wasn’t the purpose of the space, he meekly stepped aside.
He dismissed the servants and expertly poured the wine. He then filled each glass in turn.
“Lucas and Lady Serviat, we’ve been so busy that we haven’t had time to gather together like this.”
He raised his glass and proposed a toast.
“Let’s have fun tonight. It’s not good to be too tense before something important.”
Three glasses of wine clinked cheerfully in the air.
Rose took a sip. As soon as she finished, her throat felt like it was burning.
'How long has it been since I last had this much alcohol?'
It was the first time since she’d been possessed.
She vomited everything at the palace, so this was the first time, to be precise.
“Delicious...”
The wine had never been this sweet. Rose’s mood was lifted by the first drink she’d had in a long time.
Rose emptied the wine into her mouth and refilled her glass.
Julius studied her with bleary eyes.
“You’re weak to alcohol.”
How could someone get so drunk after just one glass?
Rose’s flushed face and drowsy demeanor clearly showed someone who was visibly drunk.
As Rose was about to drink, the Grand Duke stopped her glass.
“You seem weak to alcohol. Stop drinking.”
Rose pushed away the Grand Duke's hand that had blocked hers and drank her wine.
"No, I won't. I'll drink."
Rose poured the wine on her head and exclaimed,
"It's delicious. I want more."
"Well, I'll bring more. You and Lucas are left alone."
Julius made room for Rose and the Grand Duke, not forgetting to signal her with a wink.
Rose and the Grand Duke drank alone.
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