Episode 129. I'm in favor of this marriage
"Rose."
Rose visited the mansion of Count Serviat and his wife.
As Rose arrived, Rivera ran towards her from afar, arms outstretched. Judging by her bright smile, she seemed quite content with her life here.
"I have to leave the capital..."
Rivera, who had been unable to hide her gloomy expression until her last day away from the capital, said.
"Welcome."
"Rose."
Rose visited the mansion of Count Serviat and his wife.
As Rose arrived, Rivera ran towards her from afar, arms outstretched. Judging by her bright smile, she seemed quite content with her life here.
"I have to leave the capital..."
Rivera, who had been unable to hide her gloomy expression until her last day away from the capital, said.
"Welcome."
Her face brightened enough that it was hard to believe she had been reluctant to leave.
Rivera, her skirt fluttering, ran towards her and hugged Rose tightly. Daemon walked over politely, looking at Rose and Rivera with a pleased expression.
"What's the big deal? You just saw her."
Daemon gave Rivera a half-hearted rebuke for her enthusiastic greeting. In truth, he, too, wanted to welcome Rose like Rivera.
"You've come, Your Highness."
Daemon bowed politely to the Grand Duke of Artaeum, who stood beside Rose. Rivera, in turn, bowed politely to the Grand Duke.
“Thank you so much for seeing Rose off until the very end. We’ve been so indebted to you.”
Rivera spoke as if Rose’s return to Count Serviat’s mansion was a foregone conclusion, driving a stake into the ground.
“But, Rose. Why are you empty-handed? Didn’t you have anything else to pack?”
Rivera tilted her head at Rose.
“I wonder if the maids are bringing it all at once because your luggage has increased?”
“Mother. That—”
“Come inside first. I’ll take the Grand Duke with you.”
Rivera cut Rose off and led her into the mansion. The sound of cheerful laughter was incredibly pleasant.
“I didn’t bring anything in the first place.”
Rose looked up at Grand Duke Artaeum with an embarrassed expression.
Her coming to the Serviat mansion today wasn’t entirely intended to return. He had come to say he would stay at the Grand Duke's mansion.
"Let's sit down and talk slowly."
She had no intention of simply stating her opinion and leaving immediately. Rose intended to chat casually and then, when the time was right, bring up a topic.
Led by the Serviat couple, they entered the reception room. The Grand Duke and Rose sat shoulder to shoulder, with Count Serviat and his wife seated in front of them.
Just seeing Daemon and Rivera sitting in front of Rose made her smile.
It had only been a few days since they had been huddled around a narrow table in the shabby mansion.
The sight of them living in that moldy, leaky mansion seemed to overlap. Even as a child, it was a source of great joy for Count Serviat and his wife, who had suffered from the confiscation of all their property, to find their place again.
"How is life on the estate? Are you feeling a bit uncomfortable, being so different from the capital?"
The Grand Duke asked Count Serviat and his wife.
“It’s not as harsh as rumored. Everywhere people live is similar, so I don’t know why I was so scared.”
Rivera closed her eyes halfway, satisfied with her current life.
“That’s fortunate.”
“I haven’t ventured outside the mansion much yet, but I’m still so excited for the future.”
Rivera covered her mouth with one hand and smiled, then placed her hand on the cup on the table.
Picking up the teacup with a clinking sound, Rivera fixed her gaze on the Grand Duke and said,
“It’s like a dream to be living in this mansion with our Rose.”
Judging by the excited tone and the upturned corners of her lips, he thinks Rivera was in a very happy mood.
However, Rivera’s smile seemed artificial. The gaze Rivera gave the Grand Duke was intense. It was more than intense; it was a blazing fire.
“Rose, aren’t you excited?”
Rivera blinked at Rose, as if forcing a response.
Rose met the Grand Duke's gaze for a moment and nodded. It was time to get to the point.
"Mother, I came to visit you today with the Grand Duke of Artaeum—"
"Wait a minute, Rose. Your teacup is empty."
Rivera interrupted Rose mid-sentence once again. Then, naturally, she filled her cup.
"You won't be able to see the Grand Duke every day anymore? What can I do if you miss him? Would you like another drink, Grand Duke?"
Rivera slid a pot of hot water over to the Grand Duke.
"You'd probably miss him more in the early stages of a relationship. But since we're right here, come visit often. You're always welcome to visit, Grand Duke."
Rivera, her skirt fluttering, ran towards her and hugged Rose tightly. Daemon walked over politely, looking at Rose and Rivera with a pleased expression.
"What's the big deal? You just saw her."
Daemon gave Rivera a half-hearted rebuke for her enthusiastic greeting. In truth, he, too, wanted to welcome Rose like Rivera.
"You've come, Your Highness."
Daemon bowed politely to the Grand Duke of Artaeum, who stood beside Rose. Rivera, in turn, bowed politely to the Grand Duke.
“Thank you so much for seeing Rose off until the very end. We’ve been so indebted to you.”
Rivera spoke as if Rose’s return to Count Serviat’s mansion was a foregone conclusion, driving a stake into the ground.
“But, Rose. Why are you empty-handed? Didn’t you have anything else to pack?”
Rivera tilted her head at Rose.
“I wonder if the maids are bringing it all at once because your luggage has increased?”
“Mother. That—”
“Come inside first. I’ll take the Grand Duke with you.”
Rivera cut Rose off and led her into the mansion. The sound of cheerful laughter was incredibly pleasant.
“I didn’t bring anything in the first place.”
Rose looked up at Grand Duke Artaeum with an embarrassed expression.
Her coming to the Serviat mansion today wasn’t entirely intended to return. He had come to say he would stay at the Grand Duke's mansion.
"Let's sit down and talk slowly."
She had no intention of simply stating her opinion and leaving immediately. Rose intended to chat casually and then, when the time was right, bring up a topic.
Led by the Serviat couple, they entered the reception room. The Grand Duke and Rose sat shoulder to shoulder, with Count Serviat and his wife seated in front of them.
Just seeing Daemon and Rivera sitting in front of Rose made her smile.
It had only been a few days since they had been huddled around a narrow table in the shabby mansion.
The sight of them living in that moldy, leaky mansion seemed to overlap. Even as a child, it was a source of great joy for Count Serviat and his wife, who had suffered from the confiscation of all their property, to find their place again.
"How is life on the estate? Are you feeling a bit uncomfortable, being so different from the capital?"
The Grand Duke asked Count Serviat and his wife.
“It’s not as harsh as rumored. Everywhere people live is similar, so I don’t know why I was so scared.”
Rivera closed her eyes halfway, satisfied with her current life.
“That’s fortunate.”
“I haven’t ventured outside the mansion much yet, but I’m still so excited for the future.”
Rivera covered her mouth with one hand and smiled, then placed her hand on the cup on the table.
Picking up the teacup with a clinking sound, Rivera fixed her gaze on the Grand Duke and said,
“It’s like a dream to be living in this mansion with our Rose.”
Judging by the excited tone and the upturned corners of her lips, he thinks Rivera was in a very happy mood.
However, Rivera’s smile seemed artificial. The gaze Rivera gave the Grand Duke was intense. It was more than intense; it was a blazing fire.
“Rose, aren’t you excited?”
Rivera blinked at Rose, as if forcing a response.
Rose met the Grand Duke's gaze for a moment and nodded. It was time to get to the point.
"Mother, I came to visit you today with the Grand Duke of Artaeum—"
"Wait a minute, Rose. Your teacup is empty."
Rivera interrupted Rose mid-sentence once again. Then, naturally, she filled her cup.
"You won't be able to see the Grand Duke every day anymore? What can I do if you miss him? Would you like another drink, Grand Duke?"
Rivera slid a pot of hot water over to the Grand Duke.
"You'd probably miss him more in the early stages of a relationship. But since we're right here, come visit often. You're always welcome to visit, Grand Duke."
The smile carried a strange pressure.
At first, Rose was hesitant, but then conviction slowly began to set in.
'Mother knew exactly what I came to tell her today.'
It was clear that she'd noticed her presence, having arrived without much luggage.
Every time she tried to say that she planned to stay at the Arteum Mansion, Rivera subtly interrupted Rose.
As he became more certain, she realized Rivera's smile wasn't entirely bright.
"Mother, the Grand Duke might not be able to come often these days because of his busy schedule. With estate work, business, and new research, he must be feeling like he needs ten more people, right?"
"Oh, I see."
"Actually, I'm afraid things will get too hectic if I return to the Serviat Mansion. The department store is just about to open, so we need to get things done quickly, and it's inconvenient to constantly communicate—"
Rose rambled on and on about her situation. She felt sorry for Count and Countess Serviat, who expected her to be with them, but she didn't want to be separated from the Grand Duke. Of course, business was also a concern.
Rivera's expression, which had been trying to keep Rose's mouth shut, hardened.
She set down her teacup with a clang. In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to Rivera.
The smile on Rivera's face vanished. Her eyes gleamed fiercely, glancing back and forth between Rose and the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
"So, you're saying you'll continue to be indebted to the Grand Duke of Artaeum, Rose?"
A hint of resentment rose through her voice, which she tried to suppress.
"Don't think about being indebted to him anymore. Just come back now. This is where you belong."
Daemon echoed Rivera's words, adding his own opinion. Rivera shared his unwillingness to let her daughter go.
"I'm fine. I want to stay with Rose."
At the Grand Duke of Artaeum's words, Daemon and Rivera stared at him with wide eyes.
"Hohoho. Grand Duke. You really are good at joking."
Rivera forced a forced smile this time and addressed the Grand Duke.
“It’s not right for two unmarried people to live in the same mansion. Things have been going well for Rose, but it’s time to return.”
Rivera smiled at the Grand Duke and then turned sharply to Rose. Her gaze seemed to demand an immediate return.
“If you keep meeting like this and then part ways, your marriage path will be blocked. Anyway, this mother is against it.”
At Rivera’s words, Grand Duke Artaeum suddenly grabbed Rose’s hand.
“W-what?”
Rose gaped, startled by the Grand Duke holding her hand in front of her parents.
“Don’t worry about that. Rose is going to marry me anyway.”
“Your, your Highness?”
How could you possibly bring up such an uncertain matter like that?
Sweat trickled down Rose’s forehead at that moment.
Lovers are supposed to part ways even when they’re at their wits’ end, yet to bring up ‘marriage’ in front of her parents after only seeing each other for so long?
For Rose, who had been divorced twice—once in her past life and once through a possession—this was bound to be incredibly disconcerting.
Relationships were unpredictable, so Rose believed it was too early to make any definitive statements, no matter what.
“So you’re thinking of marrying Rose?”
“I’ve never even imagined marrying anyone other than Rose.”
Rivera narrowed her eyes at the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
“Do you smoke?”
“No.”
“You’re not on drugs, are you?”
At first, Rose was hesitant, but then conviction slowly began to set in.
'Mother knew exactly what I came to tell her today.'
It was clear that she'd noticed her presence, having arrived without much luggage.
Every time she tried to say that she planned to stay at the Arteum Mansion, Rivera subtly interrupted Rose.
As he became more certain, she realized Rivera's smile wasn't entirely bright.
"Mother, the Grand Duke might not be able to come often these days because of his busy schedule. With estate work, business, and new research, he must be feeling like he needs ten more people, right?"
"Oh, I see."
"Actually, I'm afraid things will get too hectic if I return to the Serviat Mansion. The department store is just about to open, so we need to get things done quickly, and it's inconvenient to constantly communicate—"
Rose rambled on and on about her situation. She felt sorry for Count and Countess Serviat, who expected her to be with them, but she didn't want to be separated from the Grand Duke. Of course, business was also a concern.
Rivera's expression, which had been trying to keep Rose's mouth shut, hardened.
She set down her teacup with a clang. In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to Rivera.
The smile on Rivera's face vanished. Her eyes gleamed fiercely, glancing back and forth between Rose and the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
"So, you're saying you'll continue to be indebted to the Grand Duke of Artaeum, Rose?"
A hint of resentment rose through her voice, which she tried to suppress.
"Don't think about being indebted to him anymore. Just come back now. This is where you belong."
Daemon echoed Rivera's words, adding his own opinion. Rivera shared his unwillingness to let her daughter go.
"I'm fine. I want to stay with Rose."
At the Grand Duke of Artaeum's words, Daemon and Rivera stared at him with wide eyes.
"Hohoho. Grand Duke. You really are good at joking."
Rivera forced a forced smile this time and addressed the Grand Duke.
“It’s not right for two unmarried people to live in the same mansion. Things have been going well for Rose, but it’s time to return.”
Rivera smiled at the Grand Duke and then turned sharply to Rose. Her gaze seemed to demand an immediate return.
“If you keep meeting like this and then part ways, your marriage path will be blocked. Anyway, this mother is against it.”
At Rivera’s words, Grand Duke Artaeum suddenly grabbed Rose’s hand.
“W-what?”
Rose gaped, startled by the Grand Duke holding her hand in front of her parents.
“Don’t worry about that. Rose is going to marry me anyway.”
“Your, your Highness?”
How could you possibly bring up such an uncertain matter like that?
Sweat trickled down Rose’s forehead at that moment.
Lovers are supposed to part ways even when they’re at their wits’ end, yet to bring up ‘marriage’ in front of her parents after only seeing each other for so long?
For Rose, who had been divorced twice—once in her past life and once through a possession—this was bound to be incredibly disconcerting.
Relationships were unpredictable, so Rose believed it was too early to make any definitive statements, no matter what.
“So you’re thinking of marrying Rose?”
“I’ve never even imagined marrying anyone other than Rose.”
Rivera narrowed her eyes at the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
“Do you smoke?”
“No.”
“You’re not on drugs, are you?”
“I hate it.”
“Are you sick anywhere?”
“I’m always healthy.”
Rivera began to question the Grand Duke. Rose was simply bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
“Mother.”
Rose called out to Rivera with an urgent expression, but Rivera didn’t stop. Rivera, who had been asking various questions, finally turned to the Grand Duke and asked,
“How much do you love Rose?”
At Rivera's question, the Grand Duke turned to Rose. Locking eyes with the Grand Duke, Rose gaped, signaling,
"You don't have to say anything."
Rose knew full well that he was clumsy with expression. He'd never really expressed his love verbally.
She felt it through his expressions and eyes, even without words, so it was fine. But there were times when she felt a little... a little... sad.
It was different from how he usually expressed his feelings.
"Rose is a very precious person to me. I can't imagine a life without her. I love her. I love her more than my own life."
Rose's heart raced at this unfamiliar and eloquent confession.
"I'm confident I can make her happy."
The Grand Duke turned back to Rivera and spoke with conviction.
Rivera stared at the Grand Duke for a long moment before slowly speaking.
"Pass."
It was a short but powerful line.
“I didn’t know you liked our Rose this much.”
“You’re in favor of this marriage.”
Daemon nodded at Rivera’s words.
“I’m just grateful for your trust.”
A smile spread across the Grand Duke's face at the Serviat couple’s words. Daemon, who had been shyly holding the Grand Duke's hand, felt a strange sensation.
“Wait, why didn’t you ask my opinion?”
I’m still unsure about marriage, though.
A friendly laugh was exchanged.
Daemon, who had been wearing an uncomfortable expression, Rivera, who seemed like a sharp interviewer, and even the Grand Duke of Artaeum, who had been uncharacteristically nervous, all smiled.
Everyone, except for Daemon, agreed to her marriage.
While Rose was enjoying happy days with the Grand Duke, Doana was surrounded by mountains of papers.
So many letters that it was hard to count them all.
All of them were lawsuits addressed to Doana.
“Huh? You’re suing me?”
That’s not even funny.
Doana scoffed at the dozens of lawsuits delivered to her.
“Is this all you could come up with? How trivial.”
“Are you sick anywhere?”
“I’m always healthy.”
Rivera began to question the Grand Duke. Rose was simply bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
“Mother.”
Rose called out to Rivera with an urgent expression, but Rivera didn’t stop. Rivera, who had been asking various questions, finally turned to the Grand Duke and asked,
“How much do you love Rose?”
At Rivera's question, the Grand Duke turned to Rose. Locking eyes with the Grand Duke, Rose gaped, signaling,
"You don't have to say anything."
Rose knew full well that he was clumsy with expression. He'd never really expressed his love verbally.
She felt it through his expressions and eyes, even without words, so it was fine. But there were times when she felt a little... a little... sad.
It was different from how he usually expressed his feelings.
"Rose is a very precious person to me. I can't imagine a life without her. I love her. I love her more than my own life."
Rose's heart raced at this unfamiliar and eloquent confession.
"I'm confident I can make her happy."
The Grand Duke turned back to Rivera and spoke with conviction.
Rivera stared at the Grand Duke for a long moment before slowly speaking.
"Pass."
It was a short but powerful line.
“I didn’t know you liked our Rose this much.”
“You’re in favor of this marriage.”
Daemon nodded at Rivera’s words.
“I’m just grateful for your trust.”
A smile spread across the Grand Duke's face at the Serviat couple’s words. Daemon, who had been shyly holding the Grand Duke's hand, felt a strange sensation.
“Wait, why didn’t you ask my opinion?”
I’m still unsure about marriage, though.
A friendly laugh was exchanged.
Daemon, who had been wearing an uncomfortable expression, Rivera, who seemed like a sharp interviewer, and even the Grand Duke of Artaeum, who had been uncharacteristically nervous, all smiled.
Everyone, except for Daemon, agreed to her marriage.
***
While Rose was enjoying happy days with the Grand Duke, Doana was surrounded by mountains of papers.
So many letters that it was hard to count them all.
All of them were lawsuits addressed to Doana.
“Huh? You’re suing me?”
That’s not even funny.
Doana scoffed at the dozens of lawsuits delivered to her.
“Is this all you could come up with? How trivial.”
She had been worried about how much she had prepared.
“Do you think I’d be afraid of the law?”
Not everyone is equal before the law.
The law was above people, and above the law were a few powerful figures.
This country was now an empire teetering on the edge of corruption.
“Whether it’s the judge or the prosecutor, there’s no place the Counts of Wence’s family can’t reach.”
They’ve been taking bribes from the Counts of Wence for a long time. And bribes weren’t the only thing they gave? The Counts even held their corruption as a weakness.
She lifted the wad of papers and tore them to shreds. Then, she scattered them on the floor.
Doana was confident she wouldn’t lose with the Counts of Wence.
“Do you think I’d be afraid of the law?”
Not everyone is equal before the law.
The law was above people, and above the law were a few powerful figures.
This country was now an empire teetering on the edge of corruption.
“Whether it’s the judge or the prosecutor, there’s no place the Counts of Wence’s family can’t reach.”
They’ve been taking bribes from the Counts of Wence for a long time. And bribes weren’t the only thing they gave? The Counts even held their corruption as a weakness.
She lifted the wad of papers and tore them to shreds. Then, she scattered them on the floor.
Doana was confident she wouldn’t lose with the Counts of Wence.
Comments
Post a Comment