"You don't need my help at all... either in this or in proving yourself."
Rosentine frowned briefly. Her expression was one of incomprehension. More than anything, she was concerned about the way his hand, as before, seemed to reach out and envelop her entire face.
She saw eyes that were so warm, so passionate, that they looked only at her. Eyes that made her want to jump into them.
"Do you need me to prove my worth?"
But instead of worrying about whether her ears were burning, Rosentine replied, "Just like when Lucien had worried before, I can do it on my own without any help."
Blinking slowly, Shartus smiled a little more pleasantly. His expression was one of unbearable joy. Rosentine, with a faltering sense of reason, managed to remember that she'd been seeing this face more often than she'd expected.
A quick glance revealed that Arolne was also flushed with anger, embarrassment, and an instinctive palpitation. Only then did Rosentine realize how Arolne must have seen herself and Shartus. So, it was as if...
"Yeah, you don't have to. You're more than that. But I wish you wouldn't stop me from doing things on my own because I want to."
"Yes?"
"I just felt like doing that."
The hand that had left Rosentine's face entered Shartus's own embrace. Soon, a radiant gem appeared within his hand. It was a light-diffusing gem, the "Blessing of Eternity."
The catalyst she had once discovered was a brilliant, multi-rayed gem. Rosentine then noticed a platinum string dangling from the gem.
In fact, the jewels were properly crafted and finished as ornaments. It was a necklace with the most brilliant cut.
"The clerk recommended this."
"What are you talking about?" The thought crossed her mind, followed by the question, "Could it be?" The shocked expression on Arolbe's face perfectly captured the situation.
"It's useless unless the discoverer has it."
“Um, Your Highness?”
Arolne's sharp voice flowed. Rosentine, on the other hand, remained speechless. Shartus took her hand and opened it. A pink "Eternal Blessing" was placed on her soft hand.
Pink is the most precious of the "Eternal Blessings," currently developed in various colors. It is a gem that emits a ray of light that is one shade more intense than the original. The world interpreted this single ray of light as the emotion between lovers. In other words, it was a gift between lovers.
Rosentine looked up at Shartus. Her eyes were filled with the question, "What is this?" Shartus let out a low chuckle. He raised his hand leisurely, playfully shaking it up and down.
"If you want me to put a necklace on you, you have to hold your head to one side."
“What is this...?”
A rich voice sent a shiver down her spine. Aside from that, Rosentine still looked at Shartus with a puzzled expression. Shartus, after looking at her for a moment, placed a hand on Rosentine's head.
He took a step closer and carefully grabbed her hair. Rosentine, trapped in his arms, gasped for breath.
“Didn’t I say I was going to give you a gift?”
Every time a hot hand touched her neck, it felt like a mark was left.
A gift, he had clearly said so before sending Arolne the "Blessing of Eternity." This meant he was going to use her to get Arolne away.
Though she thought so, Rosentine remained frozen, unable to utter a word. The voice was too close, and the breath falling from above, accompanied by laughter, tickled her head. Heat rushed to her face in real time. All she could see before her eyes was Shartus's chest.
“Hold on.”
As Shartus placed her gathered hair next to her face, Rosentine absentmindedly grabbed the strand of hair that had been thrust out. He moved a little closer and took the necklace from her hand.
The cold platinum string and the warmth of his hand alternately touched the skin on her neck. Every time Rosentine flinched slightly, a laughing breath poured from above her head. Rosentine's expression had become pouty. She couldn't move.
It was the only pose one could take while in a state of confusion.
'There must be other people, but why me?'
Right now, Arolne Muld's face was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Pana's. Instead of making a popping sound, Arolne remained silent. Or perhaps she wasn't listening.
In fact, it was difficult to calm down the sound of her nervous heart, so it must have been difficult to hear other sounds.
'Is that what you sow, you reap?'
Rosentine muttered to herself, trying to think straight. Being stuck in this situation, and quietly accepting the necklace in Shartus's arms, was nothing short of revenge.
Revenge for using his name to lure Arolne. Yes, that's right. That's right. A play to get her off in front of Arolne.
Having reached that conclusion, Rosentine exhaled slowly. Even after reaching her conclusion, she still wasn't immune to the voices ringing in her ears. She flinched again at the low, murmuring, "That's enough."
"I can see what that little head is thinking, but little lady. Why not just think of it as a gift?"
"I don't deserve to be called a lady."
Nearby, a face that seemed to be about to come down for a moment gradually opened. Shartus's eyebrows were raised, a look of interest on his face.
To be more specific, it was closer to a look of helplessness than one of interest. Even that expression was so overly handsome that Rosentine felt a little wronged.
The weight of the necklace now rested on the neck, still touched by Shartus's hand. It was an ornate jewel, too exquisite to fit the ordinary ceremonial attire.
The slightly pinkish gem reflected brilliant light. Looking at it, Shartus smiled with an almost overly satisfied smile.
His fingertips gently tickled the area near her cheek. It was a movement that tickled even her heart. It was then that Arolne, unable to bear it any longer, cried out.
"That's right! You're giving the jewels you gave me to your maid, too! I'm truly disappointed. And you're such a lazy and wicked woman!"
Shartus looked at Arolne with slow movements. As if nothing had happened, his hand removed from Rosentine's shoulder, leaving a warm mark.
Rosentine barely exhaled and looked at Arolne. If it had been before, she would have been grateful, but now.
She didn't feel that way at all. It was funny, but she had now become a lazy and even vicious person.
It was clearly a pretty good title for a sorcerer. Yes, that's what a witch should be like. She thought so, but Shartus seemed to think otherwise.
"Lazy and wicked."
A voice that sounded angry fell like frost. It was no different from the gaze he had given Arolne just moments ago. Hearing that voice, Arolne flinched. The situation was clear.
However, Arolne herself couldn't accept it. The gesture of handing over the precious necklace was like that of a lover swearing eternity. Arolne Mulde had never seen Shartus treat someone like that.
She could swear she never heard of it. Not only did he give his maid a gift, but he also personally filled her with the ornaments. It was ridiculous.
Because he was Shartus Kartazen.
But the words coming out of the man's mouth were completely different from her own conviction. Even though she was right in front of him.
"As you can see, I've been seeing her so often that I've been conscious of my dedicated maid's every move, and it's been difficult for me to keep up with her."
"Your Highness! That, that..."
Pana jumped forward, one step ahead of Arolne. His mistress was now filled with anger and crushed pride.
Because of this, he was unable to make a proper judgment.
Pana grabbed his stomach, which was clenched from tension.
'I touched the wrong thing.'
That was the only thought that came to mind. Touching the royal family, especially someone the Prince cherished, was something he couldn't do unless he had two lives to spare. He quickly bowed before Shartus.
"Do you know what the punishment is for lying to the royal family?"
"I have committed a mortal sin! Your Highness!"
"Yeah, I guess it's a mortal sin."
Pana's face turned pale. His large body looked as if it would collapse at any moment.
It was clear what that meant. He looked at Arolne. The rosy-faced mistress was as pale as he was.
Arolne stumbled, biting her lip as if she couldn't stand it. She looked at the necklace around Rosentine's neck. A large, pale pink gem. Certainly, it wasn't an ordinary object.
"It is a knight's duty to obey his master's words, so can your rudeness be considered your master's?"
"No! Your Highness, this is simply my own decision..."
Pana bowed his head again. A plea for forgiveness poured from his lips. He couldn't say anything.
The apology that kept coming out on behalf of the person who was doing the Arolne thing was too late.
Shartus turned his head briefly to look at Rosentine. Arolne and Pana didn't notice.
He looked at Rosentine with a relaxed, relaxed expression.
"There's no need for it, obviously."
Her heart was pounding. It was rare for her to receive help from others when she always handled things on her own. Certainly, he wouldn't tolerate those who disrespected his vassals. The unnecessary protection kept making her laugh.
Yeah, that was fun. She was persistently pestering Arolne, and it was true that she avoided Arolne, even if it was for her own good.
Shartus immediately returned to his cold expression from a moment ago. This time, it was toward Arolne who remained silent.
“Is it dogmatic?”
"Yes, Your Highness, it is my opinion."
"I didn't ask you. Sir Pana."
"...Please forgive my extreme rudeness."
The sight of cold sweat running down his face would have been pitiful if nothing had happened before.
Arolne bit her lip several times. Her pale face tried to gather her shattered pride.
It seemed like she was trying hard for it.
"...I must have misunderstood, Your Highness."
Previous Next
Comments
Post a Comment