Episode 122. Madame Anaod
Daemon and Rivera readily accepted Rose's offer.
Since it was money from the Count Wence, there was no need to refuse.
Rivera, who had accepted Rose's offer, had also said,
"The Count Wence' money is as good as our family's!"
Some of the confiscated assets of the Serviat family had been taken by the Count Wences.
"But that's fortunate. My parents have decided to leave the capital.'
If she got busy with business, she might not be able to pay as much attention to the Serviats as she did now.
If anything bad happened to the Serviats, Rose wouldn't be able to bear the guilt.
To prepare for any eventuality, she hired knights first. They guarded the Serviats day and night.
While busy preparing for the move of Count Serviat and his wife, a long-awaited reply arrived from Madame Anaod. She gladly accepted the offer to meet. And today was the day she had arranged to meet.
Rose fixed her clothes in the mirror. For such an important day, she dressed neatly.
Through the open window, the clatter of wheels and the clatter of horseshoes could be heard.
"They're here."
It was the sound of a carriage approaching.
Rose checked her mirror one last time and quickly headed downstairs.
"I'll be back!"
She waved brightly, then flung open the door.
As soon as she opened it, the carriage of the Artaeum family came into view. Seeing the parked carriage, Rose's heart pounded.
"Grand Duke... Where are you?"
The Grand Duke of Artaeum, she longed to see him.
Perhaps it was the raging heat of the season, but even the mere few days of not seeing him had left her heart pounding.
With a flushed face, she waited for the Grand Duke to disembark.
The door of the enormous carriage, so imposing it felt, creaked open.
He appeared.
“Rose.”
The Grand Duke called Rose’s name. A pleasant, low voice resonated.
Just as on the day she realized she liked the Grand Duke, the Grand Duke's surroundings turned a hazy white.
Rose’s vision was filled with the Grand Duke, and only him.
“Grand Duke, thank you for your hardships on your long journey.”
If only he hadn’t been watching, she would have wanted to embrace him right away.
Rose forced her boiling heart to calm down and smiled shyly.
Neruan followed the Grand Duke down. He greeted Rose cheerfully and then lowered his head.
However, Rose, who was watching the Grand Duke, didn’t notice Neruan giving her a nod.
“Greetings... you’re not accepting them.”
She thought he would greet her brightly as always.
Even though they hadn't exchanged even a simple greeting, his mood somehow sank.
Neruan took a step back, staring at the Grand Duke and Rose.
They were a truly well-matched couple.
To the point of being unpleasant...
A thought suddenly occurred to him.
If he hadn't forcibly chased Rose away then, she might not have realized her feelings for the Grand Duke.
If he had treated Rose without prejudice, someone other than the Grand Duke might have been standing next to her...
Neruan stared blankly at Rose.
The sight of her smiling at the Grand Duke was more beautiful than ever.
She smiled at him, of course, but it was a stark contrast to the way she smiled at the Archduke.
'If only I had been the one to face that smile...'
He unconsciously drew his own image onto the Grand Duke's face.
'...Damn it.'
He tried to erase his own delusions.
Why did he have such blasphemous thoughts? He felt so pathetic.
Rose, who had been talking to the Grand Duke, belatedly discovered Neruan. He had been standing silently behind the Grand Duke, not knowing when he had arrived.
“Good morning, Neruan.”
Rose greeted Neruan in a bright voice. Normally, he would have responded brightly, but not today.
“Yes.”
Neruan lowered his head, seemingly ignoring Rose.
“Didn’t you sleep well?”
Rose felt a pang of confusion at Neruan’s somewhat different appearance, but she didn’t pay much attention.
The Grand Duke was right before her eyes. Rose, so in love, had no time to care about any other man besides the Grand Duke.
'Is it because it’s been so long since I’ve seen you?'
Rose glanced at the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke's beauty shone brighter with each passing day. At first, he hadn't seemed this handsome, but somehow, as time passed, he grew more handsome.
Rose smiled bashfully, oblivious to the scrutiny in her eyes.
The Grand Duke was no different.
From the moment he saw Rose standing at the door, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
He found her chattering so lovable. He listened silently to Rose and then, without realizing it, embraced her.
"Ah...!?"
Rose gasped at the sudden embrace.
Many people were watching the Grand Duke and herself. Neruan, who was right in front of them, the knights, and... Count Serviat and his wife.
The thought that her parents might be watching sent chills down Rose's spine.
"Uh, Your Highness?"
"..."
Grand Duke Artaeum gently let Rose go. Rose, who had been at a loss for words, was momentarily stunned by the sight of the Grand Duke's face.
The man who had so casually embraced her in front of so many people was blushing with embarrassment.
The Grand Duke's breathing was low, his hair ruffled. It felt like a spring breeze was gently blowing into his embrace, a tickling sensation.
The Grand Duke's strangely provocative appearance made her swallow dryly.
"Let's go. We'll be late at this rate,"
Neruan suddenly interjected between them.
His face visibly aggrieved, he pulled the Grand Duke closer.
"You're right. This isn't the time."
She could have enjoyed her reunion with the Grand Duke even if it wasn't now. In a more passionate, intense way.
"Yes, let's go. We'll talk later..."
Of course, he didn't mean just talking.
Rose and her party arrived 15 minutes early. The venue was a private, upscale restaurant.
Since Rose had called Madame Anaod first, they planned to make sure she was treated with respect.
As they chatted, thirty minutes passed by.
However, Madame Anaod still hadn't shown up.
Rose glanced at the clock opposite her.
"You seem a little late..."
Rose muttered softly. The appointed time was noon.
"They said she just came from the countryside, so I guess she might be unfamiliar with the area and getting lost."
Rose nodded in agreement at Neruan's words.
"Hmm. Right. Just wait a little longer."
Rose was never one to be late. Especially when it came to important matters.
She couldn't understand it, but not everyone was like her. Rose forced herself to brush aside her unease and smiled.
"Would you like to order?"
The polite-looking manager spoke cautiously. He seemed to recognize the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
The manager was on edge, worried that he might offend the Grand Duke.
“We’ll take your order later. The guests haven’t arrived yet.”
“Yes. Please ring this bell whenever it’s convenient for you.”
The manager bowed deeply, placed a golden bell in the center of the table, and left.
“Shall we look over the menu first?”
“I was thinking of ordering the special course.”
The Grand Duke unfolded the menu in front of Rose.
“Your favorite dish is the main course.”
“Oh, this is my favorite. How did you know?”
“I remembered because you mentioned it last time.”
“Did I mention that?”
Rose tilted her head at the Grand Duke's question. They had never really discussed favorite foods.
In fact, it was more likely that the Grand Duke remembered something Rose had blurted out during their meal than that Rose had said it.
Time had flown by. Two hours had already passed since they arrived at the restaurant.
A shadow had fallen over the three people's once cheerful faces.
'Two hours late...? ...?'
So much time had passed that the excuse of not knowing the way no longer worked.
“This... feels like I've been given the cold shoulder, doesn't it?”
Rose cautiously spoke.
“How dare you. Deceive me?”
The Grand Duke's eyes froze coldly. Rose flinched involuntarily at the fierce look she hadn't seen in a long time.
"I'm sorry. I'll try to find out."
Neruan jumped to his feet.
The three of them had never imagined Madame Anaod would stand in their way. Madame Anaod had reacted very positively to the letter Neruan sent.
Knock.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“I’m a little late.”
A woman’s voice said from outside.
The Grand Duke, Rose, and Neruan’s gaze turned to her. Neruan strode briskly to the door and opened it, which had been firmly shut.
Upon opening it, a woman with a large hat obscured her face was seen. As soon as she entered, Rose’s eyes fluttered slightly.
She walked with unusually slow steps, unusual for someone who arrived late.
“I’m a little heavy, so I’m a little late.”
She walked with one hand on her waist and the other on her belly.
Madame Anaod was pregnant. Her knight accompanied her.
She clutched her protruding belly and took her seat opposite Rose and his party.
As she sat down, she pulled her large hat down even further. As if she were someone who shouldn't show her face.
She glanced at the menu, then closed it without even looking at it properly.
"Can I order the most expensive dish in this restaurant?"
Two hours late, and instead of apologizing, she shamelessly demanded the most expensive dish.
Rose studied Madame Anaod with narrowed eyes.
Her six-month-old belly and haughty demeanor reminded her of someone else.
'That... isn't she Doana?'
She changed her voice and covered her face, but there were things she couldn't hide.
Her figure, her attitude, her speech.
The Madame Anaod before her was Doana herself.
Instead of answering, Rose stared blankly at her. Under Rose's gaze, Madame Anaod pulled her hat down even lower.
"...Madame Anaod, you say? Nice to meet you. My name is Ro#3 de Serviat."
Rose stood and extended a hand to Doana.
Madame Anaod glanced at Rose, then replied nervously.
“I’ll sit down and say hello. As you can see, I’m pregnant.”
Unlike Rose, she didn’t rise. She only offered a hand, saying that her body was too heavy to sit up.
Rose closed her eyes without answering. Of course, her gaze was utterly cold.
She reached out to grab Madame Anaod’s hand, but instead snatched her hat.
The blonde hair hidden inside the hat tumbled out.
“Oh my!! What are you doing, so rude!”
“What are you doing?”
Rose, seeing Madame Anaod’s face, let out a hollow laugh.
“Doana. You’re Madame Anaod?”
Rose, who had been smiling as if she found it a joke, now hardened her face.
Daemon and Rivera readily accepted Rose's offer.
Since it was money from the Count Wence, there was no need to refuse.
Rivera, who had accepted Rose's offer, had also said,
"The Count Wence' money is as good as our family's!"
Some of the confiscated assets of the Serviat family had been taken by the Count Wences.
"But that's fortunate. My parents have decided to leave the capital.'
If she got busy with business, she might not be able to pay as much attention to the Serviats as she did now.
If anything bad happened to the Serviats, Rose wouldn't be able to bear the guilt.
To prepare for any eventuality, she hired knights first. They guarded the Serviats day and night.
While busy preparing for the move of Count Serviat and his wife, a long-awaited reply arrived from Madame Anaod. She gladly accepted the offer to meet. And today was the day she had arranged to meet.
Rose fixed her clothes in the mirror. For such an important day, she dressed neatly.
Through the open window, the clatter of wheels and the clatter of horseshoes could be heard.
"They're here."
It was the sound of a carriage approaching.
Rose checked her mirror one last time and quickly headed downstairs.
"I'll be back!"
She waved brightly, then flung open the door.
As soon as she opened it, the carriage of the Artaeum family came into view. Seeing the parked carriage, Rose's heart pounded.
"Grand Duke... Where are you?"
The Grand Duke of Artaeum, she longed to see him.
Perhaps it was the raging heat of the season, but even the mere few days of not seeing him had left her heart pounding.
With a flushed face, she waited for the Grand Duke to disembark.
The door of the enormous carriage, so imposing it felt, creaked open.
He appeared.
“Rose.”
The Grand Duke called Rose’s name. A pleasant, low voice resonated.
Just as on the day she realized she liked the Grand Duke, the Grand Duke's surroundings turned a hazy white.
Rose’s vision was filled with the Grand Duke, and only him.
“Grand Duke, thank you for your hardships on your long journey.”
If only he hadn’t been watching, she would have wanted to embrace him right away.
Rose forced her boiling heart to calm down and smiled shyly.
Neruan followed the Grand Duke down. He greeted Rose cheerfully and then lowered his head.
However, Rose, who was watching the Grand Duke, didn’t notice Neruan giving her a nod.
“Greetings... you’re not accepting them.”
She thought he would greet her brightly as always.
Even though they hadn't exchanged even a simple greeting, his mood somehow sank.
Neruan took a step back, staring at the Grand Duke and Rose.
They were a truly well-matched couple.
To the point of being unpleasant...
A thought suddenly occurred to him.
If he hadn't forcibly chased Rose away then, she might not have realized her feelings for the Grand Duke.
If he had treated Rose without prejudice, someone other than the Grand Duke might have been standing next to her...
Neruan stared blankly at Rose.
The sight of her smiling at the Grand Duke was more beautiful than ever.
She smiled at him, of course, but it was a stark contrast to the way she smiled at the Archduke.
'If only I had been the one to face that smile...'
He unconsciously drew his own image onto the Grand Duke's face.
'...Damn it.'
He tried to erase his own delusions.
Why did he have such blasphemous thoughts? He felt so pathetic.
Rose, who had been talking to the Grand Duke, belatedly discovered Neruan. He had been standing silently behind the Grand Duke, not knowing when he had arrived.
“Good morning, Neruan.”
Rose greeted Neruan in a bright voice. Normally, he would have responded brightly, but not today.
“Yes.”
Neruan lowered his head, seemingly ignoring Rose.
“Didn’t you sleep well?”
Rose felt a pang of confusion at Neruan’s somewhat different appearance, but she didn’t pay much attention.
The Grand Duke was right before her eyes. Rose, so in love, had no time to care about any other man besides the Grand Duke.
'Is it because it’s been so long since I’ve seen you?'
Rose glanced at the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke's beauty shone brighter with each passing day. At first, he hadn't seemed this handsome, but somehow, as time passed, he grew more handsome.
Rose smiled bashfully, oblivious to the scrutiny in her eyes.
The Grand Duke was no different.
From the moment he saw Rose standing at the door, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
He found her chattering so lovable. He listened silently to Rose and then, without realizing it, embraced her.
"Ah...!?"
Rose gasped at the sudden embrace.
Many people were watching the Grand Duke and herself. Neruan, who was right in front of them, the knights, and... Count Serviat and his wife.
The thought that her parents might be watching sent chills down Rose's spine.
"Uh, Your Highness?"
"..."
Grand Duke Artaeum gently let Rose go. Rose, who had been at a loss for words, was momentarily stunned by the sight of the Grand Duke's face.
The man who had so casually embraced her in front of so many people was blushing with embarrassment.
The Grand Duke's breathing was low, his hair ruffled. It felt like a spring breeze was gently blowing into his embrace, a tickling sensation.
The Grand Duke's strangely provocative appearance made her swallow dryly.
"Let's go. We'll be late at this rate,"
Neruan suddenly interjected between them.
His face visibly aggrieved, he pulled the Grand Duke closer.
"You're right. This isn't the time."
She could have enjoyed her reunion with the Grand Duke even if it wasn't now. In a more passionate, intense way.
"Yes, let's go. We'll talk later..."
Of course, he didn't mean just talking.
***
Rose and her party arrived 15 minutes early. The venue was a private, upscale restaurant.
Since Rose had called Madame Anaod first, they planned to make sure she was treated with respect.
As they chatted, thirty minutes passed by.
However, Madame Anaod still hadn't shown up.
Rose glanced at the clock opposite her.
"You seem a little late..."
Rose muttered softly. The appointed time was noon.
"They said she just came from the countryside, so I guess she might be unfamiliar with the area and getting lost."
Rose nodded in agreement at Neruan's words.
"Hmm. Right. Just wait a little longer."
Rose was never one to be late. Especially when it came to important matters.
She couldn't understand it, but not everyone was like her. Rose forced herself to brush aside her unease and smiled.
"Would you like to order?"
The polite-looking manager spoke cautiously. He seemed to recognize the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
The manager was on edge, worried that he might offend the Grand Duke.
“We’ll take your order later. The guests haven’t arrived yet.”
“Yes. Please ring this bell whenever it’s convenient for you.”
The manager bowed deeply, placed a golden bell in the center of the table, and left.
“Shall we look over the menu first?”
“I was thinking of ordering the special course.”
The Grand Duke unfolded the menu in front of Rose.
“Your favorite dish is the main course.”
“Oh, this is my favorite. How did you know?”
“I remembered because you mentioned it last time.”
“Did I mention that?”
Rose tilted her head at the Grand Duke's question. They had never really discussed favorite foods.
In fact, it was more likely that the Grand Duke remembered something Rose had blurted out during their meal than that Rose had said it.
Time had flown by. Two hours had already passed since they arrived at the restaurant.
A shadow had fallen over the three people's once cheerful faces.
'Two hours late...? ...?'
So much time had passed that the excuse of not knowing the way no longer worked.
“This... feels like I've been given the cold shoulder, doesn't it?”
Rose cautiously spoke.
“How dare you. Deceive me?”
The Grand Duke's eyes froze coldly. Rose flinched involuntarily at the fierce look she hadn't seen in a long time.
"I'm sorry. I'll try to find out."
Neruan jumped to his feet.
The three of them had never imagined Madame Anaod would stand in their way. Madame Anaod had reacted very positively to the letter Neruan sent.
Knock.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“I’m a little late.”
A woman’s voice said from outside.
The Grand Duke, Rose, and Neruan’s gaze turned to her. Neruan strode briskly to the door and opened it, which had been firmly shut.
Upon opening it, a woman with a large hat obscured her face was seen. As soon as she entered, Rose’s eyes fluttered slightly.
She walked with unusually slow steps, unusual for someone who arrived late.
“I’m a little heavy, so I’m a little late.”
She walked with one hand on her waist and the other on her belly.
Madame Anaod was pregnant. Her knight accompanied her.
She clutched her protruding belly and took her seat opposite Rose and his party.
As she sat down, she pulled her large hat down even further. As if she were someone who shouldn't show her face.
She glanced at the menu, then closed it without even looking at it properly.
"Can I order the most expensive dish in this restaurant?"
Two hours late, and instead of apologizing, she shamelessly demanded the most expensive dish.
Rose studied Madame Anaod with narrowed eyes.
Her six-month-old belly and haughty demeanor reminded her of someone else.
'That... isn't she Doana?'
She changed her voice and covered her face, but there were things she couldn't hide.
Her figure, her attitude, her speech.
The Madame Anaod before her was Doana herself.
Instead of answering, Rose stared blankly at her. Under Rose's gaze, Madame Anaod pulled her hat down even lower.
"...Madame Anaod, you say? Nice to meet you. My name is Ro#3 de Serviat."
Rose stood and extended a hand to Doana.
Madame Anaod glanced at Rose, then replied nervously.
“I’ll sit down and say hello. As you can see, I’m pregnant.”
Unlike Rose, she didn’t rise. She only offered a hand, saying that her body was too heavy to sit up.
Rose closed her eyes without answering. Of course, her gaze was utterly cold.
She reached out to grab Madame Anaod’s hand, but instead snatched her hat.
The blonde hair hidden inside the hat tumbled out.
“Oh my!! What are you doing, so rude!”
“What are you doing?”
Rose, seeing Madame Anaod’s face, let out a hollow laugh.
“Doana. You’re Madame Anaod?”
Rose, who had been smiling as if she found it a joke, now hardened her face.
Comments
Post a Comment