The corners of his lips curved slowly, captivating everyone around him. It was a complete change from just a moment ago.
Rosentine covered her mouth, taken aback by the change. As it became clear that they had recognized each other, a languid smile joined Shartus's gaze. It was a laugh too indulgent for the sunlight.
It must smell like wine, Rosentine thought. Wine from well-polished metal? Isn't that too much of a change? She thought, and perhaps it would have been better if it had been Arolne and Sir Pana who had come to torment her instead.
"I see. There's Sir Pana and Your High Maid, Roan."
And Arolne, too, sensed the subtle change. An unpleasant confusion flashed through her mind. But she merely lifted her chin a little more, lowering her ample chest to better display the brooch. A flick of her hair wafted the strong scent of Arolne's perfume. For a moment, Pana's expression was one of rapture.
"Young Lady Arolne, you have come this way."
"Haha. You said you were going to rest, but you went to see the maid? No way... Are you two in a relationship like that?"
Arolne, elegantly holding a fan, covered her mouth. She waved her hand frantically, as if to say, "No, it's not Pana." But she pressed on once more. "If not," she said, "what reason would there be for you to meet a maid during your break?"
Shartus shifted his gaze diagonally from Pana to Rosentine. His slow-moving gaze seemed to trace every spot he touched. He held Rosentine in his gaze and nodded, asking the same question.
'What are you doing here?'
The corners of his lips, once drawn seductively upward, seemed to have hardened slightly. He looked at Pana once more, then fixed his gaze on Rosentine. It was a gaze so intense that it could be said to have been fixed.
"Your Highness maid and my vassal have become lovers. I guess such relationships exist."
"No, Young Lady Arolne. That's not me..."
"It's okay. You don't have to be so embarrassed."
The word "embarrassed" had a strange connotation. Arolne looked at Rosentine with a look of contempt, a gaze that clearly conveyed the meaning of her own words. Rosentine thought, "So, that means I'm going back to being this way and that with that knight." It seemed Arolne's plans had changed without warning.
Pana was so flustered that his face flushed red with embarrassment, and frankly, even Rosentine found it suspicious. Furthermore, since she herself was silent, she had even less to say in defense.
"Is this all there is?" Rosentine thought. After all, Shartus would surely not hear of the absurd accusations that she was having an affair with Sor Pana. Even if they were actually lovers, he wouldn't care.
However, Arolne's true intentions were obvious, and Rosentine was at a loss as to how to respond. It wasn't in her nature to fall for such obvious tricks, so it was then that Shartus asked her a question in a dangerous tone.
“What if not?”
"Yes?"
"If not, what is it? Why do you seem so flustered? Didn't you say you... Sir Pana?"
Shartus was clearly smiling, but he had a dangerous air about him. Rosentine looked puzzled at the insistence on ignoring his words. "Is there something to see here?" She wondered.
The quick-witted Arolne covered her mouth with her fan and smiled. She seemed to think things were going her way. Rosentine, too, couldn't understand the situation, so she simply stared blankly at Shartus. Unusually, he wasn't looking at her. His gaze lingered on Pana, as if waiting for a response.
"That is..."
Pana stared blankly at Shartus's slanted lips. His face certainly caught the eye. But he quickly shook his head, trying to regain his composure.
A faint goosebump rose on the back of his neck, but he couldn't quite place why. Instead, he wanted to talk about their original plan, something Arolne hadn't given him the chance to discuss.
In the first place, the harassment of the maid named Roan was also perpetrated by his mistress, the young lady he admired. He had done it countless times before, so he felt no hesitation. All he had to do was catch her eye.
A loyal servant and a dependable knight. That was exactly what Pana wanted. But that didn't mean Arolne could doubt his sincerity. For Pana, that was his top priority.
"It's not like that. It's just that this maid often causes trouble..."
“Trouble?”
"Could it be that the troublesome maid you were talking about all this time was Roan?"
Shartus arched an eyebrow. Rosentine barely managed to suppress a laugh. Before Pana could say anything else, Arolne, who had been looking displeased, seized the opportunity to speak.
At first glance, it sounded like the perfect phrase to brand someone who'd been causing trouble. It was as if Pana had been expressing his pain all along, and there were no signs of improvement. Pana quickly grasped the meaning and nodded with a serious expression.
“Yes, Young Lady. That..."
The way she glanced at Shartus and watched him closely was exquisite. She briefly wondered what would have happened if Ranon had been there. It was a delightful thought, and Rosentine decided to watch to see how far this farce would go. Yes, how desperately Arolne was trying to embarrass her.
"Tell me. His Highness must know."
Arolne Mulde blinked between her fan and urged him on. They were a pair that matched well. Arolne's gorgeous eyelashes fluttered, her expression filled with infinite pity. The way she looked at Rosentine with her pitiful eyes even revealed a sorrowful sadness. Rosentine was the one in the middle of those eyes.
She could see a flash of meanness and pettiness.
"I, uh, I'm sorry to Your Highness... In truth, she's neglected her duties many times, relying on Lady Arolne's favor."
"I believed Roan had been a faithful maid all this time, but is this really the case? Did she lie even on days when I wasn't there? Did she keep sneaking out into the city?"
"Yes, that's right. Even while working, I witnessed her calling soldiers and making a fuss... I was taking measures to stop her, thinking that she might be a burden to Lady Arolne."
"Oh, that's the way it is." Rosentine pressed her hand against her burning scalp. Apparently, Pana had already devised a scheme to frame her for having a lover, but without actually being the target. Rosentine, who had used the nobles' trust to abandon her work and become the target of the soldiers' squabbles, pursed her lips.
She's tried to brush it off, but now, seeing her being forced to confront her employer in front of her, she was more shocked than scared. Pana glared at Rosentine. If that were true, she could be punished, not just fired.
'You can write articles instead of just being a knight.'
Perhaps it would be perfectly appropriate to become a reporter for a low-level newspaper that spreads false reports. Still, the way he looked at Shartus and gave Arolne a serious expression was utterly disgusting. The thought of how someone of that size could do such a cowardly thing made the pity for his unattainable love vanish completely.
Rosentine sighed, then looked up at Arolne. Arolne, who had been looking at her with a pleading gaze, instantly changed her expression. It was one of utter sympathy.
'That makes me even more angry.'
And Arolne would know that too. She would think that a mere maid would have no way of resisting such a trick. So Rosentine slowly turned her gaze and gave her a shameless smile.
It was the face of a drunken sorcerer instead of the maid she had shown her until now.
Arolne's eyes widened at the sight of her confident gaze. Her expression was one of unexpected shock. Her expression faltered for a moment, and she rudely grabbed Shartus's collar.
"I know you must be very shocked, but please say something!"
For a moment, a cold gaze fell on Arolne Mulde. Arolne flinched at the sight, realizing her mistake. She'd been mistaken, but she wasn't the kind of person to be so dependent on Shartus. A realistic realization washed over her like a wave. Arolne gritted her teeth.
Her expression was ungraceful, but she couldn't be happy about the illusions she'd held so dear being shattered. She pulled away and fanned herself. A sense of unfounded anxiety was creeping in.
But first, it was time to get rid of that insolent maid. At least she was more charming than that woman named Roan or something. That's what Arolne thought.
"Why are you cleaning more here?"
Until Shartus brought this up.
The man's gaze, seemingly sculpted, was fixed on the hallway. The hallway, immaculately clean and dustless, was undoubtedly the work of the maids. Shartus's gaze lingered on Rosentine's maid's attire, then returned to the basin beside her.
Pana and Arolne were out of sight. He took a step toward Rosentine. Arolne's eyes widened in surprise.
"What are you talking about? That's what a maid does."
It was certain. A maid's job was to tidy up the palace. Even if she was Shartus's dedicated maid, it was no different. However, Arolne's flustered voice didn't reach Shartus.
As if to prove he'd been quietly observing the situation, he raised his hand and lifted Rosentine's chin. It was an unthinkable gesture for someone whose face had been cold just moments before, having touched his collar.
Arolne froze as the realization struck her like lightning.
The blue-eyed woman in his hand raised her eyes and looked at the Prince with utmost confidence.
With eyes that sparkle like jewels.
"It's quiet here."
Shartus laughed at the casual remark. The air of danger had completely vanished. Instead, he wore a face Arolne had never seen before. It was a magical smile that took the breath away from anyone who saw it.
A low laugh flowed, seemingly pooling at his feet. He slowly brushed the tip of Rosentine's chin with his thumb, a gesture that suggested he was touching something precious.
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