Episode 116. Even so, He's still an adulterer
Rose, who had been blankly staring at Eric, scrunched her face fiercely.
"You! What the hell have you done!"
Rose strode towards Eric with a face filled with indignation.
"How could you touch my parents!"
Rose's voice, filled with malice, rang out sharply.
It was an utterly horrifying reunion for Rose, but for Eric, this moment was a thrilling one.
The Rose of his dreams was right before his eyes. He gently suppressed Rose's hand that was about to grab his collar and hugged her tightly.
"Tch, let go of me!"
Of course, Rose didn't remain quietly held. She struggled in Eric's arms, but she couldn't easily escape.
Unable to move, Rose simply sank to the ground instead of pushing Eric away.
Eric's arm, which had been tying Rose, creaked in the air.
"Eric... how could you keep doing this?"
No gentle words came out.
"You, you're the worst!"
Rose sank to her knees, practically shouting at Eric.
"Stop sitting there and take my hand. Your legs hurt."
Eric, who had sent her a threatening letter and then pretended to be concerned, was disgusted by the sight.
Rose staggered to her feet. Of course, she didn't take his hand.
Rose met Eric's gaze with unfocused eyes. Then, she grabbed Eric by the collar.
"Where are my parents?"
"You..."
He looked down at Rose, still holding him by the collar. Unlike Rose's sharp gaze, his gaze was quite hazy.
"You've become quite ferocious since you've been with the Grand Duke."
Despite Rose's hostile demeanor, his voice was remarkably gentle. Eric's large hand cupped Rose's face.
Rose glared at Eric with cold, cold eyes. Then, she slowly released her grip on his collar.
“Just answer my question.”
She slapped Eric’s hand away so coldly it made a clank.
“...”
Rose’s cold gaze was still unfamiliar. Her aggressive tone and expression were devoid of any emotion. He’d prepared himself for this, but he couldn’t help but feel his heart ache.
Eric let out a low breath and stared intently at Rose.
“I didn’t do anything.”
Rose’s face contorted at Eric’s words.
“Don’t lie—”
“I’m not lying. I just wanted to call you out. If I had just gone to find you...”
Eric trailed off and stared at Rose. He stared at Rose silently for a moment before opening his mouth with a start.
“Because you wouldn’t have met me.”
His deep, hushed voice resonated with desperation.
“...”
Could Eric’s words be true?
Rose, still suspicious, glared at him warily.
Eric ignored Rose's hostile behavior.
"I missed you."
Eric's voice flowed lowly.
Rose furrowed her brow, seemingly uncomprehending.
"I thought I explained it clearly last time..."
She stabbed him with a dagger, saying she no longer loved him.
But this man, seemingly devoid of pride, had told Rose that he wanted to see her.
"I didn't want to see you."
Rose deliberately spoke sharply in a calm tone. To react ambiguously here might have raised unnecessary expectations in Eric.
As if he had anticipated what Rose would say, he seemed unfazed, unlike last time.
"I know."
"Then I'll be going. We shouldn't be facing each other like this, right?"
Rose turned coldly. She had to return to the mansion immediately and check on Count Serviat and his wife.
However, Eric didn't let Rose go easily. He grabbed her wrist as she tried to leave.
"Don't go."
Rose furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Eric.
“...You never intended to give it to me in the first place, and now you’re telling me this.”
Rose, who had been blankly staring at Eric, scrunched her face fiercely.
"You! What the hell have you done!"
Rose strode towards Eric with a face filled with indignation.
"How could you touch my parents!"
Rose's voice, filled with malice, rang out sharply.
It was an utterly horrifying reunion for Rose, but for Eric, this moment was a thrilling one.
The Rose of his dreams was right before his eyes. He gently suppressed Rose's hand that was about to grab his collar and hugged her tightly.
"Tch, let go of me!"
Of course, Rose didn't remain quietly held. She struggled in Eric's arms, but she couldn't easily escape.
Unable to move, Rose simply sank to the ground instead of pushing Eric away.
Eric's arm, which had been tying Rose, creaked in the air.
"Eric... how could you keep doing this?"
No gentle words came out.
"You, you're the worst!"
Rose sank to her knees, practically shouting at Eric.
"Stop sitting there and take my hand. Your legs hurt."
Eric, who had sent her a threatening letter and then pretended to be concerned, was disgusted by the sight.
Rose staggered to her feet. Of course, she didn't take his hand.
Rose met Eric's gaze with unfocused eyes. Then, she grabbed Eric by the collar.
"Where are my parents?"
"You..."
He looked down at Rose, still holding him by the collar. Unlike Rose's sharp gaze, his gaze was quite hazy.
"You've become quite ferocious since you've been with the Grand Duke."
Despite Rose's hostile demeanor, his voice was remarkably gentle. Eric's large hand cupped Rose's face.
Rose glared at Eric with cold, cold eyes. Then, she slowly released her grip on his collar.
“Just answer my question.”
She slapped Eric’s hand away so coldly it made a clank.
“...”
Rose’s cold gaze was still unfamiliar. Her aggressive tone and expression were devoid of any emotion. He’d prepared himself for this, but he couldn’t help but feel his heart ache.
Eric let out a low breath and stared intently at Rose.
“I didn’t do anything.”
Rose’s face contorted at Eric’s words.
“Don’t lie—”
“I’m not lying. I just wanted to call you out. If I had just gone to find you...”
Eric trailed off and stared at Rose. He stared at Rose silently for a moment before opening his mouth with a start.
“Because you wouldn’t have met me.”
His deep, hushed voice resonated with desperation.
“...”
Could Eric’s words be true?
Rose, still suspicious, glared at him warily.
Eric ignored Rose's hostile behavior.
"I missed you."
Eric's voice flowed lowly.
Rose furrowed her brow, seemingly uncomprehending.
"I thought I explained it clearly last time..."
She stabbed him with a dagger, saying she no longer loved him.
But this man, seemingly devoid of pride, had told Rose that he wanted to see her.
"I didn't want to see you."
Rose deliberately spoke sharply in a calm tone. To react ambiguously here might have raised unnecessary expectations in Eric.
As if he had anticipated what Rose would say, he seemed unfazed, unlike last time.
"I know."
"Then I'll be going. We shouldn't be facing each other like this, right?"
Rose turned coldly. She had to return to the mansion immediately and check on Count Serviat and his wife.
However, Eric didn't let Rose go easily. He grabbed her wrist as she tried to leave.
"Don't go."
"Let go."
He forcibly turned her around.
"Don't go back to the Arteum Mansion."
It was a clear command. Eric held onto Rose with a more determined gaze than ever.
"Get out of that mansion right now."
"Why should I do as you say?"
"Whew. Why are you being so stubborn?"
"It's not me who's being stubborn, it's you. And... where would I go, leaving the person I love?"
Rose deliberately emphasized the word "I love." She felt like saying that would hurt him and send him flying, just like last time. She had to be harsh with someone like Eric. Even if she spoke kindly, he'd still delude himself into thinking she might turn back.
Eric's eyes flickered slightly. He roughly untied his neatly tied cravat.
His forehead was ablaze with swollen veins.
"Rose... you, you..."
Unable to control his boiling anger, he couldn't continue and hung his head helplessly.
Rose looked at Eric with cold eyes.
Eric, limp and helpless, didn't seem particularly pitiful. He was still an adulterer, after all. Perhaps his current clinging was just a fleeting whim.
"I don't think you... are sincere."
Human nature... doesn't change so easily.
Even if it did, there was no way Rose would accept him. She already had the Grand Duke.
Unlike the Grand Duke, this man only cared about himself. There was absolutely no need to ruin her life with such a man.
Eric, head down, muttered to himself,
"What are you saying?"
Rose frowned, watching Eric. Leaving him speechless, seemingly at a loss for words, Eric's low voice pierced through the chill.
"...Did you sleep together?"
Silence fell for a moment. Rose stared at Eric, doubting her ears. The only thing he managed to utter was "Did you sleep together?" Did she hear correctly? Did she mishear? Rose's jaw dropped in bewilderment.
"What are you saying?"
While Rose froze in place, Eric raised his lowered head slightly.
His eyes, once longing for Rose, had turned fierce. They were filled with neither love nor lingering affection, but only a distorted madness.
"Why aren't you answering? Did you sleep together?"
The voice, crushed by anger, spilled out again, piercing her lips.
“Ha, I’m really... dumbfounded.”
Without answering, Eric sighed and roughly grabbed her shoulder. Unable to control his anger, he finally shouted.
“Did you sleep with that bastard?!”
A thunderous shout rang out.
The voice pierced through with such intensity that she frowned involuntarily. Rose closed her eyes slightly and took a breath.
Then, unlike Eric, who was completely agitated, she looked at him with a calm look in her eyes.
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Rose, right? Yes? You weren’t that kind of woman.”
“What kind of woman is that?”
“Don’t change the subject, tell me.”
“Why should I answer such a rude question?”
“...”
Rose’s words instantly broke Eric’s sense of reason. Unable to control his anger, he shouted again.
“Why didn’t you just say no!”
“Why should I!!”
This time, Rose raised her voice. It was so loud that it drowned out Eric’s own.
Eric flinched, flustered, as Rose shouted.
Rose glared at Eric with unwavering eyes and coldly pushed his hand away from her shoulder. Eric's hand fell limply.
Rose continued in a clear voice.
"Why do I have to tell you what you want to hear? Do I still feel like the Rose I used to be? Like that foolish woman who would wait when you told her to and approach you when you beckoned?"
"What are you talking about-"
"You came here to grab me, and all you said was 'You slept with him.' It's so low-level it's embarrassing to even listen to."
"...You're agitated right now. Calm down and listen to me."
"I'm not the one who got agitated. You were the one who started it, Eric. And shouldn't I be asking that question? You... not only met Doana, but you divorced me and remarried just three days later?"
"That wasn't my intention. You know what kind of person my mother was. She was already looking for a new wife before divorcing you."
"So, you didn't do anything with your current wife?"
An excited Rose questioned Eric roughly. The politeness she'd been trying so hard to maintain was no longer apparent.
"..."
Eric was rendered speechless by Rose's attack. Eric was truly the epitome of self-indulgence. He enjoyed everything he could while seemingly wishing for Rose to grow old and die alone.
Rose, seeing Eric's reaction, seemed to have anticipated it and let out a wry chuckle.
"As expected, you never disappoint me."
"What are you talking about?"
“What are you talking about? It’s just as I expected. I’m speechless. You did everything you could, and now you come to me to argue with me. It’s so ridiculous.”
“You, watch your words.”
“What do you want me to watch my words? Oh, you must be offended because I hit the nail on the head.”
He forcibly turned her around.
"Don't go back to the Arteum Mansion."
It was a clear command. Eric held onto Rose with a more determined gaze than ever.
"Get out of that mansion right now."
"Why should I do as you say?"
"Whew. Why are you being so stubborn?"
"It's not me who's being stubborn, it's you. And... where would I go, leaving the person I love?"
Rose deliberately emphasized the word "I love." She felt like saying that would hurt him and send him flying, just like last time. She had to be harsh with someone like Eric. Even if she spoke kindly, he'd still delude himself into thinking she might turn back.
Eric's eyes flickered slightly. He roughly untied his neatly tied cravat.
His forehead was ablaze with swollen veins.
"Rose... you, you..."
Unable to control his boiling anger, he couldn't continue and hung his head helplessly.
Rose looked at Eric with cold eyes.
Eric, limp and helpless, didn't seem particularly pitiful. He was still an adulterer, after all. Perhaps his current clinging was just a fleeting whim.
"I don't think you... are sincere."
Human nature... doesn't change so easily.
Even if it did, there was no way Rose would accept him. She already had the Grand Duke.
Unlike the Grand Duke, this man only cared about himself. There was absolutely no need to ruin her life with such a man.
Eric, head down, muttered to himself,
"What are you saying?"
Rose frowned, watching Eric. Leaving him speechless, seemingly at a loss for words, Eric's low voice pierced through the chill.
"...Did you sleep together?"
Silence fell for a moment. Rose stared at Eric, doubting her ears. The only thing he managed to utter was "Did you sleep together?" Did she hear correctly? Did she mishear? Rose's jaw dropped in bewilderment.
"What are you saying?"
While Rose froze in place, Eric raised his lowered head slightly.
His eyes, once longing for Rose, had turned fierce. They were filled with neither love nor lingering affection, but only a distorted madness.
"Why aren't you answering? Did you sleep together?"
The voice, crushed by anger, spilled out again, piercing her lips.
“Ha, I’m really... dumbfounded.”
Without answering, Eric sighed and roughly grabbed her shoulder. Unable to control his anger, he finally shouted.
“Did you sleep with that bastard?!”
A thunderous shout rang out.
The voice pierced through with such intensity that she frowned involuntarily. Rose closed her eyes slightly and took a breath.
Then, unlike Eric, who was completely agitated, she looked at him with a calm look in her eyes.
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Rose, right? Yes? You weren’t that kind of woman.”
“What kind of woman is that?”
“Don’t change the subject, tell me.”
“Why should I answer such a rude question?”
“...”
Rose’s words instantly broke Eric’s sense of reason. Unable to control his anger, he shouted again.
“Why didn’t you just say no!”
“Why should I!!”
This time, Rose raised her voice. It was so loud that it drowned out Eric’s own.
Eric flinched, flustered, as Rose shouted.
Rose glared at Eric with unwavering eyes and coldly pushed his hand away from her shoulder. Eric's hand fell limply.
Rose continued in a clear voice.
"Why do I have to tell you what you want to hear? Do I still feel like the Rose I used to be? Like that foolish woman who would wait when you told her to and approach you when you beckoned?"
"What are you talking about-"
"You came here to grab me, and all you said was 'You slept with him.' It's so low-level it's embarrassing to even listen to."
"...You're agitated right now. Calm down and listen to me."
"I'm not the one who got agitated. You were the one who started it, Eric. And shouldn't I be asking that question? You... not only met Doana, but you divorced me and remarried just three days later?"
"That wasn't my intention. You know what kind of person my mother was. She was already looking for a new wife before divorcing you."
"So, you didn't do anything with your current wife?"
An excited Rose questioned Eric roughly. The politeness she'd been trying so hard to maintain was no longer apparent.
"..."
Eric was rendered speechless by Rose's attack. Eric was truly the epitome of self-indulgence. He enjoyed everything he could while seemingly wishing for Rose to grow old and die alone.
Rose, seeing Eric's reaction, seemed to have anticipated it and let out a wry chuckle.
"As expected, you never disappoint me."
"What are you talking about?"
“What are you talking about? It’s just as I expected. I’m speechless. You did everything you could, and now you come to me to argue with me. It’s so ridiculous.”
“You, watch your words.”
“What do you want me to watch my words? Oh, you must be offended because I hit the nail on the head.”
“Don’t nitpick. I didn’t come here to argue with you like this.”
Eric touched his forehead and closed his eyes wearily.
“I know you depend on the Grand Duke for money. You left without receiving a single penny in alimony. You’re broke, so this must be the only way you can survive.”
He came to arrest her, but his words to Rose were truly bizarre. He continued without stopping.
“But.. Archduke Artaeum, that bastard is only using you for business. He’s using a worthless woman like you as a shield.”
He pleaded for a long time, saying that Rose was being used for the Grand Duke's business, using words that were not even convincing.
"Rose... I am the only man in this world who loves you. So please come back. I'm confident I can treat you better... for all the pain I've caused you. Don't make yourself suffer for money."
Rose, who had been listening quietly, slowly opened her mouth with a blank expression.
"... You seem to think I'm doing this for money."
Although her anger had subsided somewhat, she still wasn't as respectful to him as before.
"You went to the Grand Duke of Artaeum because you needed the money, right?"
"Didn't you hear that I loved the Grand Duke? I confessed in front of everyone."
"... You must be mistaken because you have no one to rely on. He's going to clothe you, give you a place to stay, and even make you the CEO in name only. You've done nothing your whole life, so it's understandable that you'd be tempted."
He continued, thinking that the business hadn't come from Rose's head, but had been orchestrated by the Grand Duke.
“Rose, you don’t love the Grand Duke of Artaeum. You love his abilities.”
Eric’s conviction glared at Rose’s cold eyes.
“Really? How can you be so sure of something you don’t even know? How fascinating.”
Despite her gentle voice, her eyes sparkled.
“Is it really because I don’t have any money? If I had... would things have been different?”
“Yes. Why did you leave without even taking alimony, like an idiot?”
Though he and Rose had fallen out terribly, he hoped only that Rose's claim to love the Grand Duke was a lie.
Eric touched his forehead and closed his eyes wearily.
“I know you depend on the Grand Duke for money. You left without receiving a single penny in alimony. You’re broke, so this must be the only way you can survive.”
He came to arrest her, but his words to Rose were truly bizarre. He continued without stopping.
“But.. Archduke Artaeum, that bastard is only using you for business. He’s using a worthless woman like you as a shield.”
He pleaded for a long time, saying that Rose was being used for the Grand Duke's business, using words that were not even convincing.
"Rose... I am the only man in this world who loves you. So please come back. I'm confident I can treat you better... for all the pain I've caused you. Don't make yourself suffer for money."
Rose, who had been listening quietly, slowly opened her mouth with a blank expression.
"... You seem to think I'm doing this for money."
Although her anger had subsided somewhat, she still wasn't as respectful to him as before.
"You went to the Grand Duke of Artaeum because you needed the money, right?"
"Didn't you hear that I loved the Grand Duke? I confessed in front of everyone."
"... You must be mistaken because you have no one to rely on. He's going to clothe you, give you a place to stay, and even make you the CEO in name only. You've done nothing your whole life, so it's understandable that you'd be tempted."
He continued, thinking that the business hadn't come from Rose's head, but had been orchestrated by the Grand Duke.
“Rose, you don’t love the Grand Duke of Artaeum. You love his abilities.”
Eric’s conviction glared at Rose’s cold eyes.
“Really? How can you be so sure of something you don’t even know? How fascinating.”
Despite her gentle voice, her eyes sparkled.
“Is it really because I don’t have any money? If I had... would things have been different?”
“Yes. Why did you leave without even taking alimony, like an idiot?”
Though he and Rose had fallen out terribly, he hoped only that Rose's claim to love the Grand Duke was a lie.
Rose furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Eric.
“...You never intended to give it to me in the first place, and now you’re telling me this.”
She hadn’t intended to accept it, as it was money she didn’t regret.
“Then give it to me. Alimony.”
If the at-fault party regrets not paying alimony, then it’s only right to accept it.
“Then give it to me. Alimony.”
If the at-fault party regrets not paying alimony, then it’s only right to accept it.
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