Episode 118. Final Farewell
Rose, who had been dozing off, fell forward. The Grand Duke gently held her head with one hand.
Suddenly, Rose blinked, lifting her eyelids as if she had just woken up.
“Ah...”
Through her blurred vision, the Grand Duke appeared.
“Grand Duke?”
When did you come in?
Rose rubbed her eyes and looked up at the Grand Duke.
“You could sleep more.”
“No. I dozed off for a moment.”
Was it her imagination that made her mouth feel wet? Rose hurriedly wiped her mouth and smiled awkwardly.
“I drooled... I fell asleep.”
Embarrassment washed over her, feeling like she had made a fool of herself.
“You saw it, right?”
Rose glanced at the Grand Duke, who met Rose’s eyes and simply closed his eyes with a smile, saying nothing.
'You must have seen it so close...'
Why did he come in at a time like this?
The Grand Duke, perhaps aware of Rose’s embarrassment, affectionately ruffled her hair.
Loud, clattering footsteps could be heard outside the door.
Neruan, who had gone out with Finn a moment ago, had returned. He was holding a small demon beast in one hand.
“Grand Duke, I’ve captured it.”
The demon beast caught by Neruan whined with its round eyes.
“Oh my, what is that? How cute.”
The small demon beast caught Rose’s eye. It had a round, plump body and small, pointy ears. It was a very cute creature at first glance.
As Rose tried to approach, the Grand Duke blocked her path.
“Don’t come near. Even if it looks like that, it’s still a demon beast.”
“A demon beast?”
“Yes. There’s a high chance... that Cedric is involved.”
Rose flinched at the sound of Cedric's name. She couldn't approach the beast as the Grand Duke had instructed; instead quietly observed it.
The creature, struggling on its short legs, met Rose's eyes. It gave Rose a pitiful gaze, as if begging for help.
-Woof! Woof!
Finn paced around the beast, barking repeatedly in amusement. Hunting was nothing but play to the creature.
At Finn's bark, the small beast trembled in fear.
"Poor thing..."
What crime could that small, cute thing have committed?
"Did Cedric really send you?"
Rose asked the Grand Duke, her voice lacking conviction.
"I'm not sure, but perhaps."
The Grand Duke's voice lacked conviction.
"Does it possess incredible fighting prowess, despite its cute appearance?"
"No. All it can do is flick its enormous tongue."
"..."
At the Grand Duke's words, Rose gazed at him with a mysterious gaze.
"Could Cedric really have sent such an incompetent demonic beast?"
Rose expressed her regret to Julius, who was preparing to leave.
"It's such a shame... We've only just become close."
Rose, who had been dozing off, fell forward. The Grand Duke gently held her head with one hand.
Suddenly, Rose blinked, lifting her eyelids as if she had just woken up.
“Ah...”
Through her blurred vision, the Grand Duke appeared.
“Grand Duke?”
When did you come in?
Rose rubbed her eyes and looked up at the Grand Duke.
“You could sleep more.”
“No. I dozed off for a moment.”
Was it her imagination that made her mouth feel wet? Rose hurriedly wiped her mouth and smiled awkwardly.
“I drooled... I fell asleep.”
Embarrassment washed over her, feeling like she had made a fool of herself.
“You saw it, right?”
Rose glanced at the Grand Duke, who met Rose’s eyes and simply closed his eyes with a smile, saying nothing.
'You must have seen it so close...'
Why did he come in at a time like this?
The Grand Duke, perhaps aware of Rose’s embarrassment, affectionately ruffled her hair.
Loud, clattering footsteps could be heard outside the door.
Neruan, who had gone out with Finn a moment ago, had returned. He was holding a small demon beast in one hand.
“Grand Duke, I’ve captured it.”
The demon beast caught by Neruan whined with its round eyes.
“Oh my, what is that? How cute.”
The small demon beast caught Rose’s eye. It had a round, plump body and small, pointy ears. It was a very cute creature at first glance.
As Rose tried to approach, the Grand Duke blocked her path.
“Don’t come near. Even if it looks like that, it’s still a demon beast.”
“A demon beast?”
“Yes. There’s a high chance... that Cedric is involved.”
Rose flinched at the sound of Cedric's name. She couldn't approach the beast as the Grand Duke had instructed; instead quietly observed it.
The creature, struggling on its short legs, met Rose's eyes. It gave Rose a pitiful gaze, as if begging for help.
-Woof! Woof!
Finn paced around the beast, barking repeatedly in amusement. Hunting was nothing but play to the creature.
At Finn's bark, the small beast trembled in fear.
"Poor thing..."
What crime could that small, cute thing have committed?
"Did Cedric really send you?"
Rose asked the Grand Duke, her voice lacking conviction.
"I'm not sure, but perhaps."
The Grand Duke's voice lacked conviction.
"Does it possess incredible fighting prowess, despite its cute appearance?"
"No. All it can do is flick its enormous tongue."
"..."
At the Grand Duke's words, Rose gazed at him with a mysterious gaze.
"Could Cedric really have sent such an incompetent demonic beast?"
As soon as Rose finished saying it lacked power, the demonic beast's body sagged. It seemed to understand Rose's words.
"I don't think that's true."
This time, it wasn't the Grand Duke, but Neruan who answered. Rose and the Grand Duke simultaneously turned their gazes to Neruan.
"This one hasn't even reached adulthood yet. It seems to have gotten lost and ended up here."
Grand Duke Artaeum quirked an eyebrow at Neruan's words and grabbed the creature by the scruff of its neck. The demonic beast flailed its feet, making a strange noise.
Grand Duke Artaeum stared blankly at the noisy demonic beast. Perhaps sensing the murderous aura emanating from the Grand Duke's gaze, the demonic beast's body trembled pitifully.
The Grand Duke studied the demonic beast for a moment before speaking nonchalantly,
"Let it go."
He had no interest in tormenting helpless creatures. If it had been a life-threatening creature, he would have killed it immediately, but up close, it looked nothing special.
The Grand Duke tossed the demon beast aside as if throwing it. The demon beast spun in the air before settling on the floor.
It immediately fled from the room. Finn tried to chase the demon beast with his sparkling eyes, but Neruan stopped him. As the demon beast completely disappeared, Rose muttered regretfully,
“...I just wanted to hug it once.”
“The demon beast is not a pet. So don’t think of such dangerous thoughts.”
The Grand Duke threw a warning at Rose as soon as she finished speaking.
“Yes.”
Rose, who knew nothing about demon beasts, nodded to the Grand Duke.
Meanwhile, Beliana was still reeling from the shock of the cat’s death.
She looked haggard, barely able to eat or drink. The nanny couldn't stand it any longer and scolded her.
"Are you doing this because a mere cat died? Our Lady Beliana isn't weak like you."
It was not only the death of the cat she cherished, but she was also being pointed at for killing the cat, which was unfair.
And now even the nanny was coming out to criticize her like this. Beliana trembled and bit her lower lip.
"Like a fool, not being able to control a single government and being dragged around here and there? Tsk tsk. If the Marquis of Dikar knew, he would be very angry."
The nanny still didn't trust Beliana. She had thought it was absurd since the slave took the place of the Marquis of Dikar.
Recently, she thought Beliana had been correcting Doana's bad habits, but it was Beliana who had been the one who had been hurt.
“You don’t even think about paying me back, and you’re just lying there like this, stupid. Where did you even bring such an idiot...”
The nanny cursed Beliana as if showing off and kept clicking her tongue.
Beliana felt a pang in her heart at the nanny’s words, but she tried to suppress her anger. She staggered out and knelt in front of the nanny.
“...Please don’t let the Marquis of Dikar hear about this incident.”
She lowered her head and trembled.
‘I...have to kneel like this to a mere nanny.’
Her pride was hurt. Having taken the place of the Marquis’s daughter, she had become so absorbed in the role-playing that she felt as if she were her.
‘Just a little more... Just a little more. I could kneel a hundred times, a thousand times just to see my little sister.’
"I don't think that's true."
This time, it wasn't the Grand Duke, but Neruan who answered. Rose and the Grand Duke simultaneously turned their gazes to Neruan.
"This one hasn't even reached adulthood yet. It seems to have gotten lost and ended up here."
Grand Duke Artaeum quirked an eyebrow at Neruan's words and grabbed the creature by the scruff of its neck. The demonic beast flailed its feet, making a strange noise.
Grand Duke Artaeum stared blankly at the noisy demonic beast. Perhaps sensing the murderous aura emanating from the Grand Duke's gaze, the demonic beast's body trembled pitifully.
The Grand Duke studied the demonic beast for a moment before speaking nonchalantly,
"Let it go."
He had no interest in tormenting helpless creatures. If it had been a life-threatening creature, he would have killed it immediately, but up close, it looked nothing special.
The Grand Duke tossed the demon beast aside as if throwing it. The demon beast spun in the air before settling on the floor.
It immediately fled from the room. Finn tried to chase the demon beast with his sparkling eyes, but Neruan stopped him. As the demon beast completely disappeared, Rose muttered regretfully,
“...I just wanted to hug it once.”
“The demon beast is not a pet. So don’t think of such dangerous thoughts.”
The Grand Duke threw a warning at Rose as soon as she finished speaking.
“Yes.”
Rose, who knew nothing about demon beasts, nodded to the Grand Duke.
***
Meanwhile, Beliana was still reeling from the shock of the cat’s death.
She looked haggard, barely able to eat or drink. The nanny couldn't stand it any longer and scolded her.
"Are you doing this because a mere cat died? Our Lady Beliana isn't weak like you."
It was not only the death of the cat she cherished, but she was also being pointed at for killing the cat, which was unfair.
And now even the nanny was coming out to criticize her like this. Beliana trembled and bit her lower lip.
"Like a fool, not being able to control a single government and being dragged around here and there? Tsk tsk. If the Marquis of Dikar knew, he would be very angry."
The nanny still didn't trust Beliana. She had thought it was absurd since the slave took the place of the Marquis of Dikar.
Recently, she thought Beliana had been correcting Doana's bad habits, but it was Beliana who had been the one who had been hurt.
“You don’t even think about paying me back, and you’re just lying there like this, stupid. Where did you even bring such an idiot...”
The nanny cursed Beliana as if showing off and kept clicking her tongue.
Beliana felt a pang in her heart at the nanny’s words, but she tried to suppress her anger. She staggered out and knelt in front of the nanny.
“...Please don’t let the Marquis of Dikar hear about this incident.”
She lowered her head and trembled.
‘I...have to kneel like this to a mere nanny.’
Her pride was hurt. Having taken the place of the Marquis’s daughter, she had become so absorbed in the role-playing that she felt as if she were her.
‘Just a little more... Just a little more. I could kneel a hundred times, a thousand times just to see my little sister.’
If it were not for her precious little sister, this was nothing.
She just had to endure it once until she could see her little sister. After confirming her fate and whereabouts, there would be no need to bow down to the nanny any longer.
She would provide a separate place for her sister. She believed that her days of servility would be numbered.
“Just this once, just this once. How long are you going to keep saying that? Just do it properly, tsk.”
“Please, let me ask this of you.”
Beliana grabbed the hem of her skirt and pleaded.
“No. This way, you’ll come to your senses and do it properly.”
The nanny kicked Beliana from under her feet as she pleaded. She glanced at Beliana as if she were looking at a bug and tried to leave.
In that moment, the thread of reason Beliana had been desperately clinging to snapped. She lunged at the nanny, who had her back turned to her.
With a dull thud, the nanny fell helplessly. Soon, the floor was soaked with crimson streams of blood.
It took less than a day for rumors about Beliana to spread throughout the mansion.
“Did you hear that? Well, the Countess...”
“The rumors were already everywhere.”
“What happened? How could someone do that to the nanny who raised them?”
“I heard she was seriously injured and collapsed...”
“They said she could have lost her life if she had been careful. Fortunately, she didn’t die.”
“That’s what I mean. I think... the Countess is the one responsible for the White incident.”
“I think so too. Actually, I’ve been wondering for a while...”
Beliana struck the old nanny with a blunt object.
Those who had been saying that Beliana killed the cat gradually solidified their thoughts.
They were saying that it was definitely Beliana who killed the cat.
Doana’s mouth dropped in disbelief as Beliana glaringly fell into her trap.
“What’s with that woman? She really was a violent woman, wasn’t she?”
Doana hadn’t expected her to act this way.
“As expected... God is on my side, I tell you!”
It was incredibly joyful that things were going according to plan. Now, all she had to do was focus on her business with peace of mind.
She smiled, imagining how bright her future would be, a blissful fantasy that would never materialize.
She had no idea that, just as she had brought tears to others' eyes, she too would shed tears of blood.
"Are you really leaving so suddenly?"
"Don't be sad. It's not like we're parting forever."
She just had to endure it once until she could see her little sister. After confirming her fate and whereabouts, there would be no need to bow down to the nanny any longer.
She would provide a separate place for her sister. She believed that her days of servility would be numbered.
“Just this once, just this once. How long are you going to keep saying that? Just do it properly, tsk.”
“Please, let me ask this of you.”
Beliana grabbed the hem of her skirt and pleaded.
“No. This way, you’ll come to your senses and do it properly.”
The nanny kicked Beliana from under her feet as she pleaded. She glanced at Beliana as if she were looking at a bug and tried to leave.
In that moment, the thread of reason Beliana had been desperately clinging to snapped. She lunged at the nanny, who had her back turned to her.
With a dull thud, the nanny fell helplessly. Soon, the floor was soaked with crimson streams of blood.
It took less than a day for rumors about Beliana to spread throughout the mansion.
“Did you hear that? Well, the Countess...”
“The rumors were already everywhere.”
“What happened? How could someone do that to the nanny who raised them?”
“I heard she was seriously injured and collapsed...”
“They said she could have lost her life if she had been careful. Fortunately, she didn’t die.”
“That’s what I mean. I think... the Countess is the one responsible for the White incident.”
“I think so too. Actually, I’ve been wondering for a while...”
Beliana struck the old nanny with a blunt object.
Those who had been saying that Beliana killed the cat gradually solidified their thoughts.
They were saying that it was definitely Beliana who killed the cat.
Doana’s mouth dropped in disbelief as Beliana glaringly fell into her trap.
“What’s with that woman? She really was a violent woman, wasn’t she?”
Doana hadn’t expected her to act this way.
“As expected... God is on my side, I tell you!”
It was incredibly joyful that things were going according to plan. Now, all she had to do was focus on her business with peace of mind.
She smiled, imagining how bright her future would be, a blissful fantasy that would never materialize.
She had no idea that, just as she had brought tears to others' eyes, she too would shed tears of blood.
***
"Are you really leaving so suddenly?"
"Don't be sad. It's not like we're parting forever."
Rose expressed her regret to Julius, who was preparing to leave.
"It's such a shame... We've only just become close."
"Don't be sad. It's not like we're breaking up forever."
The news of Julius's departure was unexpected. The date of his return had been set in advance, but he hadn't told Rose.
He didn't want to unnecessarily burden her with her business preparations.
Watching the conference, he could sense how serious she was about her business. He didn't want to take up Rose's time, which was about to become a major event.
Rose nodded at Julius's answer.
"Your invitation to the department store opening still holds true, right?"
"Of course. Of course."
"Let's catch up then. I'll make sure to clear my schedule."
Rose replied vigorously to Julius's words.
"Yes. Please wait a moment. I'll make it so amazing that your jaw will drop."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
The news of Julius's departure was unexpected. The date of his return had been set in advance, but he hadn't told Rose.
He didn't want to unnecessarily burden her with her business preparations.
Watching the conference, he could sense how serious she was about her business. He didn't want to take up Rose's time, which was about to become a major event.
Rose nodded at Julius's answer.
"Your invitation to the department store opening still holds true, right?"
"Of course. Of course."
"Let's catch up then. I'll make sure to clear my schedule."
Rose replied vigorously to Julius's words.
"Yes. Please wait a moment. I'll make it so amazing that your jaw will drop."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
"If you're done saying goodbye, then go quickly, Juli."
The Grand Duke of Artaeum stepped between Julius and Rose. He seemed displeased with the lengthy farewell.
"Get out of here quickly."
The Duke glared at Julius with a scowl.
"That ungrateful bastard."
Julius met the Duke's gaze. He couldn't help but feel regretful that his long-lost friend was leaving, but instead, he pushed him away.
A needless sullenness welled up in his heart. Julius looked back and forth between the Grand Duke and Rose.
As if a good idea had suddenly struck him, he smiled sinisterly, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
“Then I will really go,”
Julius said softly to Rose.
“Yes, be careful. I will send a letter.”
“Yes. Young Lady, I will borrow Lucas just this once.”
Julius sent a bright smile and then, without a moment to speak, grabbed the Grand Duke by the collar and pulled him down. He brought his mouth to the Grand Duke's cheek.
A strong “peck” resonated.
Rose, frozen in place, looked back and forth between the Grand Duke and Julius. To think he was being intimate with another woman right in front of me...!
“T-what is this...!”
Rose covered her mouth with a horrified expression. Rose was not the only one who was shocked.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum, his expression even more shocked than Rose's.
“I’m sorry, Young Lady. Don’t misunderstand. It was just a casual greeting.”
Julius blew a kiss to Rose and ran away, climbing into the carriage.
The Grand Duke, whose cheek had been stolen by the man, stood there blankly for a long time. His face twisted with belated anger.
He shouted Julius’s name behind the carriage as it hurried away.
“Juli!!”
Julius chuckled, gazing at the Grand Duke through the window.
“You know, you shouldn’t treat your close friend like this.”
The carriage was filled with Julius’s laughter.
“That damned rascal!”
How could he bring those filthy lips to my cheek? He was furious. But there was nothing more he could do.
He glared fiercely at the carriage that had suddenly departed. The Grand Duke Artaeum, who had been grumbling, belatedly remembered Rose.
He quickly turned to face Rose.
“Your, Your Highness. What the hell just now...?”
Rose's eyes wavered endlessly. If she had misunderstood, she had misunderstood properly.
"Ah."
The Grand Duke of Artaeum ruffled his hair as if he were confused. If she had known that Julius was a man, she would have laughed it off, but Rose didn't know he was a man.
Hurt by Julius's prank, Rose ran away with teary eyes.
"Rose!"
The Grand Duke immediately chased after Rose.
"Julius, you son of a bitch!"
Next time we meet, I will never let you off the hook.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum stepped between Julius and Rose. He seemed displeased with the lengthy farewell.
"Get out of here quickly."
The Duke glared at Julius with a scowl.
"That ungrateful bastard."
Julius met the Duke's gaze. He couldn't help but feel regretful that his long-lost friend was leaving, but instead, he pushed him away.
A needless sullenness welled up in his heart. Julius looked back and forth between the Grand Duke and Rose.
As if a good idea had suddenly struck him, he smiled sinisterly, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
“Then I will really go,”
Julius said softly to Rose.
“Yes, be careful. I will send a letter.”
“Yes. Young Lady, I will borrow Lucas just this once.”
Julius sent a bright smile and then, without a moment to speak, grabbed the Grand Duke by the collar and pulled him down. He brought his mouth to the Grand Duke's cheek.
A strong “peck” resonated.
Rose, frozen in place, looked back and forth between the Grand Duke and Julius. To think he was being intimate with another woman right in front of me...!
“T-what is this...!”
Rose covered her mouth with a horrified expression. Rose was not the only one who was shocked.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum, his expression even more shocked than Rose's.
“I’m sorry, Young Lady. Don’t misunderstand. It was just a casual greeting.”
Julius blew a kiss to Rose and ran away, climbing into the carriage.
The Grand Duke, whose cheek had been stolen by the man, stood there blankly for a long time. His face twisted with belated anger.
He shouted Julius’s name behind the carriage as it hurried away.
“Juli!!”
Julius chuckled, gazing at the Grand Duke through the window.
“You know, you shouldn’t treat your close friend like this.”
The carriage was filled with Julius’s laughter.
“That damned rascal!”
How could he bring those filthy lips to my cheek? He was furious. But there was nothing more he could do.
He glared fiercely at the carriage that had suddenly departed. The Grand Duke Artaeum, who had been grumbling, belatedly remembered Rose.
He quickly turned to face Rose.
“Your, Your Highness. What the hell just now...?”
Rose's eyes wavered endlessly. If she had misunderstood, she had misunderstood properly.
"Ah."
The Grand Duke of Artaeum ruffled his hair as if he were confused. If she had known that Julius was a man, she would have laughed it off, but Rose didn't know he was a man.
Hurt by Julius's prank, Rose ran away with teary eyes.
"Rose!"
The Grand Duke immediately chased after Rose.
"Julius, you son of a bitch!"
Next time we meet, I will never let you off the hook.
Previous Next
Comments
Post a Comment