Episode 171. You Hate Me Now?
Rose, having checked the sales report, froze in place, dumbfounded.
“Haha. What did I say, Rose?”
Gwen smiled contentedly at Rose, who was speechless in shock.
“Didn’t I tell you that the 10 billion Res you borrowed from His Majesty could be repaid within a week?”
Rose turned to Gwen and began to speak. Judging by her face, she was still in a daze.
“I thought you were just saying...”
Rose had thought he was trying to persuade Arteum to work with her.
She had never imagined he would be so sincere.
“Haha. No way. I don’t mess around with money.”
Gwen lifted his monocle with a serious look in his eyes.
Rose turned back to the sales report.
No matter how much she looked at it, the amount was unbelievable.
'5.6 billion res.'
In just one day, she earned a whopping 5.6 billion res.
Rose checked the receipt countless times, wondering if it was 560, or rather 560 million.
However, it was definitely 5.6 billion res.
'I think I can pay off 10 billion res in a week.'
"Congratulations, Rose. Your performance has been pretty good since day one."
Rose's blank expression finally broke into a smile.
"Thank you, Gwen."
"Young Lady Serviat, are you finished yet?"
At that moment, Julius knocked on the door twice and peeked his head.
"Everyone is waiting for the Young Lady. Let's come out and have a toast together."
"Let's go, Rose."
Gwen joined in at Julius's urging.
"Yes, I understand."
Rose slowly got up from her seat and hurried towards the dining area where everyone was waiting.
Since business hours were over, there were no employees or customers, and it was quiet. Only Rose and her group remained in the department store.
A commotion could be heard, as if people were celebrating.
As Rose entered, Beliana burst out.
“Oh, Sister!”
She was holding a bottle of wine. Then, with a remarkable naturalness, she blew on the bottle.
“Come here quickly.”
Beliana, still feeling fine despite downing a considerable amount in one gulp, grabbed Rose’s hand and pulled her along.
“By the way, is His Majesty already gone?”
Rose looked around, searching for Arteum.
Belliard smirked and whispered softly in Rose’s ear,
“His Majesty can’t really hold his liquor.”
Rose turned her head to where Beliana's gaze was.
There, Arteum was slumped on the table. Judging by his flushed face, he seemed to have had quite a bit to drink.
“So, you play with me, Sister. Since His Majesty has already collapsed.”
Beliana clung to Rose’s shoulder and spoke cheerfully.
“Later. I think we should check on His Majesty first.”
Rose gave Beliana a gentle push and approached Artaeum.
He was collapsed with an arrogant frown.
“Why did you drink so much?”
“He seemed to be holding on to his drink, perhaps because he had something to worry about.”
At that moment, Julius came to Rose’s side and quietly spoke.
“How are things with Lucas these days?”
“His Majesty? Not much has changed since before... We’re getting along well.”
“Hmm. Really? Lucas doesn’t seem to be...”
“Yes?”
Rose was startled by Julius’ words and raised her voice.
‘Not like before... What is this...?’
Rose couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
‘Could it be...? After ascending to the throne, did your feelings for me change? Did you drink so much because you were worried about whether or not to break up with me...?
Julius shook his head, looking at Rose, who was wearing a shocked expression.
“That’s not it.”
“Yes?”
“It’s not like Lucas changed his mind or anything.”
“I... I didn’t say anything.”
Rose slightly pulled back, as if warily, and looked at Julius.
“I told you. It’s written all over your face, Young Lady.”
Julius chuckled and continued.
“Lucas has been worried a lot lately. Did Young Lady know?”
“What is he worried about?”
Julius approached Rose. Then he whispered in her ear,
“Young Lady has been...”
The moment he was about to say something important,
“Julius!”
Diana came and pulled Julius towards her. She came with a grim expression, looking back and forth between Rose and Julius.
“I’m sorry we’re talking. I need to talk to Julius for a moment, so I’ll take you.”
Julius smiled faintly at Diana’s expression, as if he were so happy about something.
She dragged Julius away.
“What, Diana? Jealousy?”
“!”
Diana bit her lower lip and spoke in a sharp voice.
“Jealousy, what? I brought you out because you were being rude to Rose. You’re my brother’s close friend, and you want to live like that?”
“Hmm. I’ve never paid any attention to Young Lady Serviat.”
“Don’t lie. I saw you smile faintly.”
Julius chuckled as he watched Diana lead the way, taking his hand. He gently let go of Diana’s hand and walked in front of her.
“Diana. Why are you so angry? Yes?”
Julius met Diana’s eyes.
Diana, who had been grumbling at Julius, began to tear up.
Since the deposed Emperor died, Diana had been hiding her hardships. All of her sorrow poured out at once, as if exploding.
“It’s already complicated enough, so why are you annoying me?”
A sad voice flowed out weakly.
“Why do you keep acting so annoying?”
“Don’t cry, Diana.”
Julius wiped away his playful expression and carefully wiped her tears.
“I keep crying. You keep irritating me.”
Diana burst into tears without even telling him what had upset her.
“I’m sorry.”
Julius quietly soothed Diana, who was sobbing like a child.
He knew that her father’s sudden death couldn’t be okay. No matter how bad a father he wasn’t, he was still a father.
Even with Julius and Diana gone, the party continued.
Rose pondered Julius’s words again.
“His Majesty has been worrying a lot lately?”
Rose looked at Artaeum, who was slumped over at the table.
What had Julius been trying to say?
Diana had dragged him away, so she couldn’t hear a word.
Rose leaned back against the table and stared intently at Artaeum’s face.
Artaeum’s hair was tangled in a mess. Rose gently stroked his hair with a gentle hand.
At that moment, Artaeum opened his eyes and grabbed Rose’s hand.
Arteum, who had been scanning his surroundings with wary eyes, softened his stance when he realized the person before him was Rose.
“Rose.”
He called Rose’s name with a low breath.
Rose’s face flushed slightly at the sight of Artaeum staring at her disheveled. His half-closed eyes were fixed on her. The long eyelashes covering them blinked slowly.
Artaeum looked at Rose and closed his eyes with a smile.
Rose gasped for a moment, swallowing her breath.
The sight of Artaeum facing her felt strangely sensual.
'A drunk person... was this sexy?'
In her past life, she had been a good drinker, so taking care of drunk people was always her job.
Rose was quite embarrassed by the emotion she had never felt when she saw those drunken men frolicking around.
“Why are you so late?”
Artaeum teased, gently caressing Rose’s cheek.
“I missed you so much.”
Perhaps because he was drunk, Artaeum was unusually honest in expressing his feelings.
Caressing her cheek, Artaeum quickly grabbed Rose’s hand. He pulled her hand towards him and kissed it with a peck.
Rose’s face flushed as his clean lips touched her fingers.
Unable to hide her flushed face, Rose scrambled to her feet.
“Your Majesty, you seem quite drunk! Let’s go get some fresh air.”
It was hot, hot.
It wasn’t even midsummer yet, but Rose was at a loss in the sweltering heat.
Artaeum followed Rose. Rose glanced back to see if he was following her and quickly left.
They left the department store building and walked toward the garden.
“Let’s go together.”
Artaeum gently hugged Rose, who was walking ahead.
A pale nape was revealed next to his gently lowered head. His irregular breath tickled Rose’s nape.
Startled by the mysterious stimulation, Rose gently pushed him away. Then, she turned around and faced Artaeum.
Rose froze the moment she saw Artaeum’s face.
It was because Artaeum had a deeply hurt expression.
“Your Majesty...?”
“You, do you hate me now?”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
“I’m liking you more and more, but you don’t seem to.”
He looked at Rose with a hurt expression. For a moment, Rose was stunned, as if hit in the back of the head.
‘Did I... do something that would make this person uneasy?’
No matter how much she thought about it, there was nothing like that.
Rose rolled her eyes and spoke loudly.
“No, Your Majesty, I really like you!”
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't figure it out, so she thought she at least had to convey my sincerity.
Artaeum's eyes widened slightly at Rose's blunt words.
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"But why don't you want to marry me?"
She never said she didn't want to get married.
'Ah... Is it because of that incident back then?'
Rose remembered the day she'd been asked to marry him, when she'd asked him to wait a little.
Artaeum could have taken her answer as a rejection.
Rose stared intently at Artaeum.
'So that's why you sometimes lose your temper.'
Of course, he had never lost his temper with her; the arrows of anger were solely the responsibility of his subjects.
Every time she saw Artaeum, she'd wondered why he acted like that, but now she understood.
"Ugh."
Rose let out a laugh without realizing it.
"Why are you laughing?"
Arteum stared at Rose, unable to hide his anxious gaze.
Rose took a step forward toward Artaeum and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then, standing on tiptoe, she kissed him on the lips.
Leaving behind a brief kiss, Rose smiled faintly.
"I like Your Majesty. So don't worry too much."
Judging by the sales report, it seemed like she would be ready to propose soon.
Rose had planned to propose on the day she paid off her 10 billion res debt.
Rose, having checked the sales report, froze in place, dumbfounded.
“Haha. What did I say, Rose?”
Gwen smiled contentedly at Rose, who was speechless in shock.
“Didn’t I tell you that the 10 billion Res you borrowed from His Majesty could be repaid within a week?”
Rose turned to Gwen and began to speak. Judging by her face, she was still in a daze.
“I thought you were just saying...”
Rose had thought he was trying to persuade Arteum to work with her.
She had never imagined he would be so sincere.
“Haha. No way. I don’t mess around with money.”
Gwen lifted his monocle with a serious look in his eyes.
Rose turned back to the sales report.
No matter how much she looked at it, the amount was unbelievable.
'5.6 billion res.'
In just one day, she earned a whopping 5.6 billion res.
Rose checked the receipt countless times, wondering if it was 560, or rather 560 million.
However, it was definitely 5.6 billion res.
'I think I can pay off 10 billion res in a week.'
"Congratulations, Rose. Your performance has been pretty good since day one."
Rose's blank expression finally broke into a smile.
"Thank you, Gwen."
"Young Lady Serviat, are you finished yet?"
At that moment, Julius knocked on the door twice and peeked his head.
"Everyone is waiting for the Young Lady. Let's come out and have a toast together."
"Let's go, Rose."
Gwen joined in at Julius's urging.
"Yes, I understand."
Rose slowly got up from her seat and hurried towards the dining area where everyone was waiting.
Since business hours were over, there were no employees or customers, and it was quiet. Only Rose and her group remained in the department store.
A commotion could be heard, as if people were celebrating.
As Rose entered, Beliana burst out.
“Oh, Sister!”
She was holding a bottle of wine. Then, with a remarkable naturalness, she blew on the bottle.
“Come here quickly.”
Beliana, still feeling fine despite downing a considerable amount in one gulp, grabbed Rose’s hand and pulled her along.
“By the way, is His Majesty already gone?”
Rose looked around, searching for Arteum.
Belliard smirked and whispered softly in Rose’s ear,
“His Majesty can’t really hold his liquor.”
Rose turned her head to where Beliana's gaze was.
There, Arteum was slumped on the table. Judging by his flushed face, he seemed to have had quite a bit to drink.
“So, you play with me, Sister. Since His Majesty has already collapsed.”
Beliana clung to Rose’s shoulder and spoke cheerfully.
“Later. I think we should check on His Majesty first.”
Rose gave Beliana a gentle push and approached Artaeum.
He was collapsed with an arrogant frown.
“Why did you drink so much?”
“He seemed to be holding on to his drink, perhaps because he had something to worry about.”
At that moment, Julius came to Rose’s side and quietly spoke.
“How are things with Lucas these days?”
“His Majesty? Not much has changed since before... We’re getting along well.”
“Hmm. Really? Lucas doesn’t seem to be...”
“Yes?”
Rose was startled by Julius’ words and raised her voice.
‘Not like before... What is this...?’
Rose couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
‘Could it be...? After ascending to the throne, did your feelings for me change? Did you drink so much because you were worried about whether or not to break up with me...?
Julius shook his head, looking at Rose, who was wearing a shocked expression.
“That’s not it.”
“Yes?”
“It’s not like Lucas changed his mind or anything.”
“I... I didn’t say anything.”
Rose slightly pulled back, as if warily, and looked at Julius.
“I told you. It’s written all over your face, Young Lady.”
Julius chuckled and continued.
“Lucas has been worried a lot lately. Did Young Lady know?”
“What is he worried about?”
Julius approached Rose. Then he whispered in her ear,
“Young Lady has been...”
The moment he was about to say something important,
“Julius!”
Diana came and pulled Julius towards her. She came with a grim expression, looking back and forth between Rose and Julius.
“I’m sorry we’re talking. I need to talk to Julius for a moment, so I’ll take you.”
Julius smiled faintly at Diana’s expression, as if he were so happy about something.
She dragged Julius away.
“What, Diana? Jealousy?”
“!”
Diana bit her lower lip and spoke in a sharp voice.
“Jealousy, what? I brought you out because you were being rude to Rose. You’re my brother’s close friend, and you want to live like that?”
“Hmm. I’ve never paid any attention to Young Lady Serviat.”
“Don’t lie. I saw you smile faintly.”
Julius chuckled as he watched Diana lead the way, taking his hand. He gently let go of Diana’s hand and walked in front of her.
“Diana. Why are you so angry? Yes?”
Julius met Diana’s eyes.
Diana, who had been grumbling at Julius, began to tear up.
Since the deposed Emperor died, Diana had been hiding her hardships. All of her sorrow poured out at once, as if exploding.
“It’s already complicated enough, so why are you annoying me?”
A sad voice flowed out weakly.
“Why do you keep acting so annoying?”
“Don’t cry, Diana.”
Julius wiped away his playful expression and carefully wiped her tears.
“I keep crying. You keep irritating me.”
Diana burst into tears without even telling him what had upset her.
“I’m sorry.”
Julius quietly soothed Diana, who was sobbing like a child.
He knew that her father’s sudden death couldn’t be okay. No matter how bad a father he wasn’t, he was still a father.
Even with Julius and Diana gone, the party continued.
Rose pondered Julius’s words again.
“His Majesty has been worrying a lot lately?”
Rose looked at Artaeum, who was slumped over at the table.
What had Julius been trying to say?
Diana had dragged him away, so she couldn’t hear a word.
Rose leaned back against the table and stared intently at Artaeum’s face.
Artaeum’s hair was tangled in a mess. Rose gently stroked his hair with a gentle hand.
At that moment, Artaeum opened his eyes and grabbed Rose’s hand.
Arteum, who had been scanning his surroundings with wary eyes, softened his stance when he realized the person before him was Rose.
“Rose.”
He called Rose’s name with a low breath.
Rose’s face flushed slightly at the sight of Artaeum staring at her disheveled. His half-closed eyes were fixed on her. The long eyelashes covering them blinked slowly.
Artaeum looked at Rose and closed his eyes with a smile.
Rose gasped for a moment, swallowing her breath.
The sight of Artaeum facing her felt strangely sensual.
'A drunk person... was this sexy?'
In her past life, she had been a good drinker, so taking care of drunk people was always her job.
Rose was quite embarrassed by the emotion she had never felt when she saw those drunken men frolicking around.
“Why are you so late?”
Artaeum teased, gently caressing Rose’s cheek.
“I missed you so much.”
Perhaps because he was drunk, Artaeum was unusually honest in expressing his feelings.
Caressing her cheek, Artaeum quickly grabbed Rose’s hand. He pulled her hand towards him and kissed it with a peck.
Rose’s face flushed as his clean lips touched her fingers.
Unable to hide her flushed face, Rose scrambled to her feet.
“Your Majesty, you seem quite drunk! Let’s go get some fresh air.”
It was hot, hot.
It wasn’t even midsummer yet, but Rose was at a loss in the sweltering heat.
Artaeum followed Rose. Rose glanced back to see if he was following her and quickly left.
They left the department store building and walked toward the garden.
“Let’s go together.”
Artaeum gently hugged Rose, who was walking ahead.
A pale nape was revealed next to his gently lowered head. His irregular breath tickled Rose’s nape.
Startled by the mysterious stimulation, Rose gently pushed him away. Then, she turned around and faced Artaeum.
Rose froze the moment she saw Artaeum’s face.
It was because Artaeum had a deeply hurt expression.
“Your Majesty...?”
“You, do you hate me now?”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
“I’m liking you more and more, but you don’t seem to.”
He looked at Rose with a hurt expression. For a moment, Rose was stunned, as if hit in the back of the head.
‘Did I... do something that would make this person uneasy?’
No matter how much she thought about it, there was nothing like that.
Rose rolled her eyes and spoke loudly.
“No, Your Majesty, I really like you!”
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't figure it out, so she thought she at least had to convey my sincerity.
Artaeum's eyes widened slightly at Rose's blunt words.
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"But why don't you want to marry me?"
She never said she didn't want to get married.
'Ah... Is it because of that incident back then?'
Rose remembered the day she'd been asked to marry him, when she'd asked him to wait a little.
Artaeum could have taken her answer as a rejection.
Rose stared intently at Artaeum.
'So that's why you sometimes lose your temper.'
Of course, he had never lost his temper with her; the arrows of anger were solely the responsibility of his subjects.
Every time she saw Artaeum, she'd wondered why he acted like that, but now she understood.
"Ugh."
Rose let out a laugh without realizing it.
"Why are you laughing?"
Arteum stared at Rose, unable to hide his anxious gaze.
Rose took a step forward toward Artaeum and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then, standing on tiptoe, she kissed him on the lips.
Leaving behind a brief kiss, Rose smiled faintly.
"I like Your Majesty. So don't worry too much."
Judging by the sales report, it seemed like she would be ready to propose soon.
Rose had planned to propose on the day she paid off her 10 billion res debt.
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