Chapter 11 The Beginning of the Play
"I see. Are you saying that Young Lady's knight is dogmatic?"
"It's because of their high loyalty. It's stupid, but the master must make up for that mistake."
Arolne's fierce gaze turned to Pana. He had a miserable look on both the eyes of Shartus and Arolne.
"I had no intention of framing your confidant."
"Even if it was not intentional, Roan was insulted as a result."
Arolne, her face still pale, continued to tell lies. It was a lie that everyone present knew the full story behind.
Shartus was not Impatient. Instead of pursuing her, he ordered. It was the worst outcome for Arolne.
"To apologize for the insult."
"...Your Highness!"
"Or do you want me to blame you?"
Kartazen asked. At that, Arolne staggered. If it is a crime that the royal family asks, the punishment will not end lightly. In the end, the water that was so sticky that she toozes blood from the lips turned to Rosentine for Arolne. Rosentine looked at Arolne's fluttering hands.
Soon, the daughter of a noble family bowed down to the sorcerer's maid.
"I apologize for my rudeness... Please forgive me."
“I’ll accept it.”
"For the time being, I recommend confinement."
After Rosentine's brief response, Shartus followed up with his final decision. Combined with Rosentine's calm demeanor, it was her first truly crushing defeat.
Arolne stared at the pink 'Eternal Blessing' with blazing eyes. Pink and white, it was clear whose affections were directed at.
This can't be happening, the thought gripped Arolne, but all that remained were the maid's blue eyes.
"...Please forgive my rudeness as well."
Pana also apologized, keeping an eye on Shartus. Rosentine simply nodded in agreement. The guilt of following her around and performing tiresome acts was even worse.
It was a great insult to the knight who only cared about status, but it was clear who the culprit was at this point.
Pana supported Arolne and stepped aside. Arolne sharply shook off Pana's escort. Rosentine shook her head, watching her nervous back. Rumors of Shartus consorting with a maid would surely not circulate in high society. Defeat, humiliation, something no one would ever spread. "Because she was that kind of woman," she thought.
"I forgot to mention this, the necklace suits you."
Shartus had already approached Rosentine. Rosentine was momentarily speechless.
In fact, she wanted to say that it was strange that she looked like she was wearing a maid's uniform with such messy hair, but his eyes were telling the truth, so she stopped herself from refuting him.
Instead, Rosentine wanted to return the necklace to him.
Then, with a short shriek, Shartus's hand stopped her movement. His hand, still warm, was staring at her with slightly stern eyes. It was a sign that he wouldn't take it back. Rosentine blinked.
"Didn't you say it was a gift?"
"Are you serious?"
"I had a hard time finding that."
Shartus's lips curled loosely, as if he already knew what she was going to do. He took her hand and patted it playfully on the back. The jewel certainly radiated a dazzling color. It was no wonder Arolbe was jealous.
To obtain this color of "Eternal Blessing" at this time, simply spending a little money would be difficult. It would have certainly taken more time. In fact, it gave her a strange tingling sensation in her chest.
"Kartazen's play is quite large-scale."
"It won't be any greater than the activities of any sorcerer."
It was as if the effort alone was worth it. Rosentine, however much she believed it, felt the price was too high.
Although she was a Princess, if she were truly a wandering sorcerer, her mouth would have dropped open in surprise at this jewel. The shiny surface of the jewel was hard.
Rosentine fiddled with it, glancing at Shartus. Clearly, this man was too good for her. She wasn't the only one who would want to continue working under such a boss. Popularity isn't something you get for nothing.
Now, the only remaining mission was to raid the final location and definitively capture the culprit. Once the spy hiding in the palace was weeded out, the remaining tasks would fall to Prince Shartus. If that happened, she'd likely have no place here.
The thought made her mouth water. She'd achieved her goal, which she considered a gamble, and was returning home, but why was this feeling coming to her? She tried to picture Corte's face.
Around it, the faces of Hostang, Lucien, and Shartus were reflected like afterimages.
"I want to give you a blessing so that you can have it."
"Can't I just borrow it without having to use jewels?"
So, she didn't want to keep a jewel that would remind her of that time. After this time, he wouldn't know her anymore, so she, Rosentine Arzen, herself.
On the other hand, she would harbor a strange nostalgia for this palace. It was ironic, this place where she had used her powers, rushed into places she had shunned, and found recognition.
Shartus stared at her with indescribable eyes. Something flickered within his icy eyes. He seemed to be deep in thought, yet at other times, he seemed to be turning his back on her and ignoring her concerns.
Rosentine looked at him with puzzled eyes. As far as she knew, Chartus had nothing to worry about her. As I thought, the work is coming to an end, and he will preserve his life intact. Just like she is.
"I don't think you'll be welcome. There's a lot I want to do for you."
He took a step closer and muttered slowly. Rosentine, bewildered by the meaning, placed his hand on her face. As he had done so many times before, the man's fingertips lifted Rosentine's chin.
She made eye contact with Charthus. He raised the corners of his mouth slightly, as if he had been worried about it. His eyes were a little deeper, staring at her.
"I don't want to bear more curses."
The short gaze hides the words. Then Shartus took off the hand on her chin. Rosentine carefully rubbed his hand, which had touched her chin, in bewilderment.
Apparently, she wasn't the only one acting out of the ordinary. His eyes seemed to want to say something more, which was puzzling.
Perhaps it was because of that confusion. Rosentine grabbed Shartus's hand as it fell away. Shartus's eyes opened slightly wider.
But Rosentine calmly placed the necklace in his hand, looking at him more bewildered than she was.
A breathy laugh flowed from his lips. Shartus's expression was so gentle it was almost pathetic. It was a strange way to say he was sad while smiling, but that's what it was.
He rolled the cold jewel in his hand a few times, then grabbed the back of Rosentine's hand, which was still resting on his, and turned it the other way.
"I hope you keep it. After all, the last day is coming soon."
The firm hand fell cleanly from hers. With that movement, Shartus's eyes also retreated beneath their eyelids.
When he opened his eyes again, he was already back to his usual Shartus form. A god on a cliff, his eyes so gleaming with such perfection that it seemed like an illusion.
She hadn't even tried it, but her stomach felt a subtle, uneasy feeling. Life in Roan was definitely enjoyable.
Despite having been on the brink of death several times, she had no regrets.
All that remained was to return home. Yet, she couldn't figure out why she felt this way. "Corte," she could only mutter her sister's name quietly to herself.
***
The palace where Eswar stood felt like a foreign land to her. The air was different. The people were like ghosts.
A strange order was emerging within the palace, which was as chaotic as a street. Perhaps it was like this before. Before Eswar learned of his illness.
Even though just one person had found his place, a sense of majesty pervaded the place. Rosentine was left with nothing but admiration for this fact.
Comparing the faces of the nobles with those brimming with energy, you could tell who was the true Crown Prince even from your maid's seat.
There was no way she wouldn't know the names of the nobles in the capital.
However, those who knew the truth within simply cherished this moment. Who among the living within the palace could deny the influence of Eswar Kartazen?
- This generation's child is on fire.
- On fire? Did he die from the fire?
- You're so ignorant, you don't even know how to use metaphors? I'm saying you're going crazy.
The dead were usually indifferent to death. They all had a common environment after death.
Listening to their stories, Rosentine felt a strange sense of unease, but she pretended not to notice and just passed by them. Time was passing. Even with her eyes closed, she could almost sense the enemy scanning the net.
All they needed was time, and these days were probably the most peaceful she'd ever had in the palace. In truth, she needed to rest. She needed to make sure no one noticed anything different.
- Do you need any other information?
"There is?"
- I heard pirates are appearing in the southern port.
"That's completely unrelated."
The only things she heard were utterly baseless rumors. Perhaps, if she had been a minister within the palace, she could have used them, but she was about to return home.
Instead of the wandering Roan, she would become Rosentine Arzen. Of course, she shouldn't have gotten unnecessarily excited by these expectations. The final step, tying the knot, was always the most crucial. There was no time for boredom.
Even though it was supposed to be a break, every hair on her head stood on end. No information, no matter where, could leak out.
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