Episode 136. Two days before the incident was revealed
Two days before Cedric's body was discovered, in the mansion of the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
Rose and Neruan faced the Grand Duke, frozen stiff. The Grand Duke walked toward them with a menacing expression.
With each step the Grand Duke took, Neruan felt a surge of fear, like a grim reaper approaching.
'That's the expression of someone truly angry.'
Cold sweat soaked his back. Neruan faced the Grand Duke with trembling eyes.
Their eyes met. The Grand Duke, his eyes wide, cursed with his eyes, not his mouth.
The Grand Duke's hand, stained with rage, reached into the air. To be precise, his fingertips were aimed at Neruan.
'How dare you, hug my woman?'
He absolutely could not let this happen. At first, he thought of Rose and Neruan as sweet peers, but today's events couldn't be overlooked.
The Grand Duke twirled his fingers. Neruan's arms, holding Rose, naturally relaxed.
Rose's body slid to the floor. She planted her feet on the floor and looked at the Grand Duke.
It was a little disconcerting that the Grand Duke had appeared while she was still with Neruan, but she was still glad to see him.
However, Rose couldn't easily speak to the Grand Duke.
'The Grand Duke's expression...'
It wasn't good.
The Grand Duke's expression was as cold as the first time she'd been scared. Rose flinched and took a step back.
The Grand Duke, oblivious to Rose's surprise, continued to glare at Neruan.
His fingers moved busily. Neruan's body moved on its own, like a toy soldier.
He creaked, grabbed Finn's leash, and spun around. He then ran out of the mansion at breakneck speed.
'Two hours, Neruan.'
He cast a spell on his feet. Neruan wouldn't be able to stop even if he was out of breath. Until the spell wore off, Neruan had to keep running at this speed.
He looked at Neruan's back with a wicked expression.
To a normal person, the spell would be torture, but to Neruan, the Grand Duke spell was just that: arduous training.
Rose, unaware that Neruan was under a spell, stared at Neruan, who was running away without looking back, with a resentful gaze.
'Cowardly... Are you running away now?'
You should at least make an excuse, you little punk, running away.
'Neruan... As expected of Neruan!'
She tried to look at him with a kind gaze, but couldn't.
It would have been nice if he had at least explained himself. Left alone, Rose creaked and looked at the Grand Duke.
"No... If you run away like that, the Grand Duke will think it's even stranger."
In truth, it wasn't a big deal. Finn, unable to control his massive body, was dragged away, and Neruan caught Rose.
"Your Highness."
Rose looked at the Grand Duke with an even more exaggerated smile than usual. Her expression was incredibly awkward. The corners of her lips trembled slightly, and her half-closed eyes also looked somewhat uncomfortable.
"Are you perhaps angry?"
Rose cautiously opened her mouth and studied the Grand Duke's face. A dark aura seemed to be slowly blooming behind his face... Could it be an illusion?
"It's been a long time since I've seen such a scary face."
Tears prickled her eyes, but she couldn't leave. If she did, the Grand Duke's misunderstanding would deepen.
The Grand Duke creaked and turned his head at Rose's question.
"Angry, me?"
He forced a smile, as if to show he wasn't angry. But,
'Eek... You've become even scarier!'
The Grand Duke's expression, reflected in Rose's eyes, only seemed more vicious than before. A dark and evil aura spread, so dark that it seemed to wither and shrivel the lush, green buds.
Her mouth tightened against its own will. Shr wanted to speak, but the tension made her face harden like stone.
The Grand Duke walked slowly, slowly. He approached Rose, his fierce features unwavering.
Rose, seeing the Grand Duke reaching out with a shadowy expression, unconsciously squeezed her eyes shut.
It wasn't fear, but instinct that took over. Like a fragile animal feeling endlessly threatened by a ferocious predator.
However, the Grand Duke liked her more than Rose had realized. He would never harm her.
His reaching out was merely an act of jealousy, a desperate attempt to embrace Rose.
He embraced her with a loving hand, as if to confirm that she was his. One hand wrapped around her waist, the other around Rose's head.
It wasn't a rough, forced hug.
Because he liked Rose, because she liked him. It was an action that she didn't know what to do.
The maids who had been watching Rose and the Grand Duke from behind the garden let out a 'gosh' and made a fuss.
"Oh my. I thought something big was going to happen."
"I was getting anxious for no reason."
"His Highness embracing her so preciously. What's going on!"
They gurgled in embarrassment, enjoying the situation.
Rose's face was buried in his large chest. Rose peeked out and raised her head. Over the Grand Duke's shoulder, she saw a group of maids gathered in the garden.
Rose and the maids' eyes met in mid-air.
"Oh my, our eyes met."
"Oh my, I don't know. Let's run away!"
The maids left with a lively laugh like a group of girls.
It was embarrassing enough to be held in the Grand Duke's arms, but to think that someone was watching.
Rose's already flushed face turned a deep crimson.
"How long have you been watching?"
Today, she felt firsthand that the Artaeum family's employees were closely monitoring her and the Grand Duke's relationship.
"Don't be in another man's arms."
The Grand Duke's soft voice rang in Rose's ear, who was at a loss for words.
"Ah, uh, that..."
Rose stuttered. Neruan caught Rose as she floated around like a balloon for a ceremony, but she hadn't expected the Grand Duke, who didn't know the situation, to take it so seriously.
"I'm sorry if I offended you. I wanted to go for a walk with Finn because you said I could control monsters, but strangely, my powers didn't work today."
Rose explained in detail, saying that Neruan had caught her while she was being dragged away by Finn.
The Grand Duke didn't respond, whether he heard her or not. He simply hugged Rose's waist tighter and stroked her hair.
"...No."
Her voice muttered lowly.
"No matter the reason, I'm the only one who can hold you."
Jealousy drove him crazy.
Neruan's hand, which had been holding Rose, kept flashing before his eyes.
"Ouch!"
Rose's cry suddenly rang out.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum had lifted her body as if on purpose. Cradled in the Grand Duke's embrace, Rose looked at him with a bewildered expression.
"Are you sorry for me?"
Rose nodded her head up and down at the Grand Duke's question.
"I'm sorry for bothering you."
‘It feels... strange.’
Her body trembled more than usual, as if she were enjoying the strange situation.
Rose’s eyes were already half-open, breathing heavily.
“I love you, Rose.”
Rose was intoxicated by the Grand Duke's sweet voice.
It was a different day.
Rose and the Grand Duke, having finished their business, were still on the bed. They were embracing each other, sharing warmth.
“I almost forgot. I was just going to tell you that.”
“Did something bad happen at work?”
Rose, who had been calm in the Grand Duke's arms, immediately changed her expression and gave him a serious look.
The Grand Duke shook his head, brushing back her hair as if to tell her not to worry.
“No, business is going smoothly. Gwen is handling the lawsuit well. You’ve probably already heard that Gwen filed an objection in court, delaying the construction of the department store in the capital.”
“Yes. That’s true, but... I can’t relax even for a moment.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll guarantee your business.”
Those warm words calmed her anxious heart.
“So, what were you going to say?”
“Diana invited us to a banquet.”
“Oh, we definitely have to go this time. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been able to show my face. When is it?”
He had been too busy to attend the tea party Diana had hosted.
“In two days. I heard that dignitaries from the Kingdom of Mederion will be there.”
“If it’s the Kingdom of Mederion... Princess Julia!”
Oh no, he wasn’t a Princess.
“No, I guess I’ll be able to see Prince Julius again.”
Rose’s face filled with anticipation at the thought of seeing a familiar face again.
Rose was excited, unaware of the storm that would unfold two days later.
And then, time flew by, and the day of the banquet arrived.
Two days before Cedric's body was discovered, in the mansion of the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
Rose and Neruan faced the Grand Duke, frozen stiff. The Grand Duke walked toward them with a menacing expression.
With each step the Grand Duke took, Neruan felt a surge of fear, like a grim reaper approaching.
'That's the expression of someone truly angry.'
Cold sweat soaked his back. Neruan faced the Grand Duke with trembling eyes.
Their eyes met. The Grand Duke, his eyes wide, cursed with his eyes, not his mouth.
The Grand Duke's hand, stained with rage, reached into the air. To be precise, his fingertips were aimed at Neruan.
'How dare you, hug my woman?'
He absolutely could not let this happen. At first, he thought of Rose and Neruan as sweet peers, but today's events couldn't be overlooked.
The Grand Duke twirled his fingers. Neruan's arms, holding Rose, naturally relaxed.
Rose's body slid to the floor. She planted her feet on the floor and looked at the Grand Duke.
It was a little disconcerting that the Grand Duke had appeared while she was still with Neruan, but she was still glad to see him.
However, Rose couldn't easily speak to the Grand Duke.
'The Grand Duke's expression...'
It wasn't good.
The Grand Duke's expression was as cold as the first time she'd been scared. Rose flinched and took a step back.
The Grand Duke, oblivious to Rose's surprise, continued to glare at Neruan.
His fingers moved busily. Neruan's body moved on its own, like a toy soldier.
He creaked, grabbed Finn's leash, and spun around. He then ran out of the mansion at breakneck speed.
'Two hours, Neruan.'
He cast a spell on his feet. Neruan wouldn't be able to stop even if he was out of breath. Until the spell wore off, Neruan had to keep running at this speed.
He looked at Neruan's back with a wicked expression.
To a normal person, the spell would be torture, but to Neruan, the Grand Duke spell was just that: arduous training.
Rose, unaware that Neruan was under a spell, stared at Neruan, who was running away without looking back, with a resentful gaze.
'Cowardly... Are you running away now?'
You should at least make an excuse, you little punk, running away.
'Neruan... As expected of Neruan!'
She tried to look at him with a kind gaze, but couldn't.
It would have been nice if he had at least explained himself. Left alone, Rose creaked and looked at the Grand Duke.
"No... If you run away like that, the Grand Duke will think it's even stranger."
In truth, it wasn't a big deal. Finn, unable to control his massive body, was dragged away, and Neruan caught Rose.
"Your Highness."
Rose looked at the Grand Duke with an even more exaggerated smile than usual. Her expression was incredibly awkward. The corners of her lips trembled slightly, and her half-closed eyes also looked somewhat uncomfortable.
"Are you perhaps angry?"
Rose cautiously opened her mouth and studied the Grand Duke's face. A dark aura seemed to be slowly blooming behind his face... Could it be an illusion?
"It's been a long time since I've seen such a scary face."
Tears prickled her eyes, but she couldn't leave. If she did, the Grand Duke's misunderstanding would deepen.
The Grand Duke creaked and turned his head at Rose's question.
"Angry, me?"
He forced a smile, as if to show he wasn't angry. But,
'Eek... You've become even scarier!'
The Grand Duke's expression, reflected in Rose's eyes, only seemed more vicious than before. A dark and evil aura spread, so dark that it seemed to wither and shrivel the lush, green buds.
Her mouth tightened against its own will. Shr wanted to speak, but the tension made her face harden like stone.
The Grand Duke walked slowly, slowly. He approached Rose, his fierce features unwavering.
Rose, seeing the Grand Duke reaching out with a shadowy expression, unconsciously squeezed her eyes shut.
It wasn't fear, but instinct that took over. Like a fragile animal feeling endlessly threatened by a ferocious predator.
However, the Grand Duke liked her more than Rose had realized. He would never harm her.
His reaching out was merely an act of jealousy, a desperate attempt to embrace Rose.
He embraced her with a loving hand, as if to confirm that she was his. One hand wrapped around her waist, the other around Rose's head.
It wasn't a rough, forced hug.
Because he liked Rose, because she liked him. It was an action that she didn't know what to do.
The maids who had been watching Rose and the Grand Duke from behind the garden let out a 'gosh' and made a fuss.
"Oh my. I thought something big was going to happen."
"I was getting anxious for no reason."
"His Highness embracing her so preciously. What's going on!"
They gurgled in embarrassment, enjoying the situation.
Rose's face was buried in his large chest. Rose peeked out and raised her head. Over the Grand Duke's shoulder, she saw a group of maids gathered in the garden.
Rose and the maids' eyes met in mid-air.
"Oh my, our eyes met."
"Oh my, I don't know. Let's run away!"
The maids left with a lively laugh like a group of girls.
It was embarrassing enough to be held in the Grand Duke's arms, but to think that someone was watching.
Rose's already flushed face turned a deep crimson.
"How long have you been watching?"
Today, she felt firsthand that the Artaeum family's employees were closely monitoring her and the Grand Duke's relationship.
"Don't be in another man's arms."
The Grand Duke's soft voice rang in Rose's ear, who was at a loss for words.
"Ah, uh, that..."
Rose stuttered. Neruan caught Rose as she floated around like a balloon for a ceremony, but she hadn't expected the Grand Duke, who didn't know the situation, to take it so seriously.
"I'm sorry if I offended you. I wanted to go for a walk with Finn because you said I could control monsters, but strangely, my powers didn't work today."
Rose explained in detail, saying that Neruan had caught her while she was being dragged away by Finn.
The Grand Duke didn't respond, whether he heard her or not. He simply hugged Rose's waist tighter and stroked her hair.
"...No."
Her voice muttered lowly.
"No matter the reason, I'm the only one who can hold you."
Jealousy drove him crazy.
Neruan's hand, which had been holding Rose, kept flashing before his eyes.
"Ouch!"
Rose's cry suddenly rang out.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum had lifted her body as if on purpose. Cradled in the Grand Duke's embrace, Rose looked at him with a bewildered expression.
"Are you sorry for me?"
Rose nodded her head up and down at the Grand Duke's question.
"I'm sorry for bothering you."
She hated being misunderstood.
She had personally experienced moments of self-doubt and anxiety. She knew better than anyone how draining that pain can be. She had vowed to herself when she began her new relationship: never to repeat the pain she had felt to the other person.
Even if it was a misunderstanding, she wanted to make sure her lover never felt the same way.
Cradled in his arms, meeting the Grand Duke's eyes, Rose suddenly felt less scared.
"I thought you were angry... Looking back, it was just a pang of disappointment.'
Those piercing eyes were nothing more than desperate eyes, desperate for confirmation of their love.
Yeah. There's no way this person would be so scary to me.
Rose gave a faint smile and caressed the Grand Duke's cheek. Then, she kissed his cheek so hard it made a 'peck' sound.
The Grand Duke's eyes, which had been filled with anger, wavered. He must not have expected Rose to surprise him with a kiss.
The corners of the Grand Duke's mouth twitched. He felt like bursting into laughter at any moment.
"I'll make sure you don't mind me next time."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Was Rose's answer quite satisfactory? The Grand Duke looked at Rose with a softer expression than before. And then, with brisk steps, he entered the mansion.
"Wait, where are you going?"
The maids' blushing expressions as they stared at her and the Grand Duke were more concerning than the direction the Grand Duke was heading.
'If you go this way... The Grand Duke's bedroom is visible?'
As if to prove Rose's thoughts, he stopped walking only after entering his own bedroom.
The huge door slammed shut with a loud noise.
Rose's bewildered eyes met the Grand Duke's meaningful ones.
Rose rolled her eyes and gave him an ambiguous smile. Without taking his eyes off Rose, he walked to the bed and lay her down.
"What... what are you doing in broad daylight?"
She had personally experienced moments of self-doubt and anxiety. She knew better than anyone how draining that pain can be. She had vowed to herself when she began her new relationship: never to repeat the pain she had felt to the other person.
Even if it was a misunderstanding, she wanted to make sure her lover never felt the same way.
Cradled in his arms, meeting the Grand Duke's eyes, Rose suddenly felt less scared.
"I thought you were angry... Looking back, it was just a pang of disappointment.'
Those piercing eyes were nothing more than desperate eyes, desperate for confirmation of their love.
Yeah. There's no way this person would be so scary to me.
Rose gave a faint smile and caressed the Grand Duke's cheek. Then, she kissed his cheek so hard it made a 'peck' sound.
The Grand Duke's eyes, which had been filled with anger, wavered. He must not have expected Rose to surprise him with a kiss.
The corners of the Grand Duke's mouth twitched. He felt like bursting into laughter at any moment.
"I'll make sure you don't mind me next time."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Was Rose's answer quite satisfactory? The Grand Duke looked at Rose with a softer expression than before. And then, with brisk steps, he entered the mansion.
"Wait, where are you going?"
The maids' blushing expressions as they stared at her and the Grand Duke were more concerning than the direction the Grand Duke was heading.
'If you go this way... The Grand Duke's bedroom is visible?'
As if to prove Rose's thoughts, he stopped walking only after entering his own bedroom.
The huge door slammed shut with a loud noise.
Rose's bewildered eyes met the Grand Duke's meaningful ones.
Rose rolled her eyes and gave him an ambiguous smile. Without taking his eyes off Rose, he walked to the bed and lay her down.
"What... what are you doing in broad daylight?"
In fact, Rose, who had always held him regardless of day or night, felt a little flustered today. It wasn't like he'd set the mood.
The Grand Duke began roughly unbuttoning the shirt he was wearing, her gaze wandering at the sight of his toned muscles.
The Grand Duke, having already taken off his shirt and put it back on, tossed it on the floor and pressed his body against Rose's.
"If you're sorry..."
He trailed off and grabbed both of Rose's wrists. Then, he lifted her arms above her head.
"Don't put these hands down."
He left Rose's hands untouched and placed both hands on the bed.
As soon as he finished speaking, Rose's eyes fluttered.
No, wait... What do you mean, don't put your hands down?
Before she could even think about it, the Grand Duke's lips were tickling her neck.
"Ugh... Wait a minute."
The Grand Duke began roughly unbuttoning the shirt he was wearing, her gaze wandering at the sight of his toned muscles.
The Grand Duke, having already taken off his shirt and put it back on, tossed it on the floor and pressed his body against Rose's.
"If you're sorry..."
He trailed off and grabbed both of Rose's wrists. Then, he lifted her arms above her head.
"Don't put these hands down."
He left Rose's hands untouched and placed both hands on the bed.
As soon as he finished speaking, Rose's eyes fluttered.
No, wait... What do you mean, don't put your hands down?
Before she could even think about it, the Grand Duke's lips were tickling her neck.
"Ugh... Wait a minute."
Rose flinched and bent her arms, and the Grand Duke reminded her again.
“Are you getting off?”
At his voice, her arms rose strangely on their own. Even though she wasn’t being forced.
“Are you getting off?”
At his voice, her arms rose strangely on their own. Even though she wasn’t being forced.
‘It feels... strange.’
Her body trembled more than usual, as if she were enjoying the strange situation.
Rose’s eyes were already half-open, breathing heavily.
“I love you, Rose.”
Rose was intoxicated by the Grand Duke's sweet voice.
It was a different day.
***
Rose and the Grand Duke, having finished their business, were still on the bed. They were embracing each other, sharing warmth.
“I almost forgot. I was just going to tell you that.”
“Did something bad happen at work?”
Rose, who had been calm in the Grand Duke's arms, immediately changed her expression and gave him a serious look.
The Grand Duke shook his head, brushing back her hair as if to tell her not to worry.
“No, business is going smoothly. Gwen is handling the lawsuit well. You’ve probably already heard that Gwen filed an objection in court, delaying the construction of the department store in the capital.”
“Yes. That’s true, but... I can’t relax even for a moment.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll guarantee your business.”
Those warm words calmed her anxious heart.
“So, what were you going to say?”
“Diana invited us to a banquet.”
“Oh, we definitely have to go this time. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been able to show my face. When is it?”
He had been too busy to attend the tea party Diana had hosted.
“In two days. I heard that dignitaries from the Kingdom of Mederion will be there.”
“If it’s the Kingdom of Mederion... Princess Julia!”
Oh no, he wasn’t a Princess.
“No, I guess I’ll be able to see Prince Julius again.”
Rose’s face filled with anticipation at the thought of seeing a familiar face again.
Rose was excited, unaware of the storm that would unfold two days later.
And then, time flew by, and the day of the banquet arrived.
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