Episode 173. One misunderstanding leads to another
Artaeum was finally able to escape his subjects the next day.
He summoned Rose to the palace.
Artaeum's legs trembled nervously as he faced Rose. He forced a smile, trying to appear nonchalant.
"Rose."
"Yes, why did you call?"
Artaeum looked at Rose with an awkward expression. Then, with difficulty, he opened his mouth.
"You..."
Rose perked up her ears.
'He's the type of person who rarely calls me when he's busy...'
Today was a little strange.
Even though Rose said she had something to do, she insisted on coming to the palace.
"...What did you do yesterday?"
Artaeum swallowed hard and looked at Rose.
He didn't trust Julius, his longtime friend.
The Julius he knew was a man he hardly trusted. He was the kind of man who wouldn't stop a woman who came or take a woman who left.
Julius had publicly proposed to Diana, but he knew he wasn't sincere.
'He proposed to Diana at my request...'
He had asked Julius to prevent her marriage to the old Emperor. That's why Julius couldn't have feelings for Diana.
'Julie, he definitely has feelings for Rose.'
Artaeum's eyes narrowed sharply, and he thought of Julius. He not only looked at Rose with kind eyes, but also chattered with Rose constantly.
'I don't like it.'
Artaeum, who had been quirking one eyebrow and wearing a sharp expression, melted at Rose's single word.
"Yesterday? I thought of Your Majesty."
Rose closed her eyes halfway and smiled bashfully.
Artaeum's heart pounded wildly at Rose's flirtatious tone.
'I've been thinking about how to propose all day, so it's not a lie.'
She had also met Julius and asked for advice on how to propose.
Artaeum's ears turned red at Rose's straightforward words. Rose watched him clear his throat a couple of times and smiled faintly.
'So cute.'
He, who had once been so intimidating, now seemed adorable.
"Ahem, of course you've been thinking about me all day, but I wonder where you were, who you were with, and what you did yesterday."
It was understandable that Artaeum would question her every move, but Rose rolled her eyes and answered one by one.
"Yesterday... I went to the department store. I looked around with Gwen."
"And?"
"Hmm? And then... I met Jane. She seemed quite attractive, perhaps because the job suited her."
Rose smiled gently, lifting the corners of her lips.
“Again.”
“Again... nothing?”
Rose tilted her head in confusion at Artaeum's words. Artaeum's expression hardened for a moment at Rose’s answer.
“No... nothing?”
“Yes, I went into the Artaeum mansion to rest.”
Rose’s words brought Artaeum's mind to Julius.
"I’m going to see Rose."
Julius had clearly said that, winking as if teasing him.
Artaeum was finally able to escape his subjects the next day.
He summoned Rose to the palace.
Artaeum's legs trembled nervously as he faced Rose. He forced a smile, trying to appear nonchalant.
"Rose."
"Yes, why did you call?"
Artaeum looked at Rose with an awkward expression. Then, with difficulty, he opened his mouth.
"You..."
Rose perked up her ears.
'He's the type of person who rarely calls me when he's busy...'
Today was a little strange.
Even though Rose said she had something to do, she insisted on coming to the palace.
"...What did you do yesterday?"
Artaeum swallowed hard and looked at Rose.
He didn't trust Julius, his longtime friend.
The Julius he knew was a man he hardly trusted. He was the kind of man who wouldn't stop a woman who came or take a woman who left.
Julius had publicly proposed to Diana, but he knew he wasn't sincere.
'He proposed to Diana at my request...'
He had asked Julius to prevent her marriage to the old Emperor. That's why Julius couldn't have feelings for Diana.
'Julie, he definitely has feelings for Rose.'
Artaeum's eyes narrowed sharply, and he thought of Julius. He not only looked at Rose with kind eyes, but also chattered with Rose constantly.
'I don't like it.'
Artaeum, who had been quirking one eyebrow and wearing a sharp expression, melted at Rose's single word.
"Yesterday? I thought of Your Majesty."
Rose closed her eyes halfway and smiled bashfully.
Artaeum's heart pounded wildly at Rose's flirtatious tone.
'I've been thinking about how to propose all day, so it's not a lie.'
She had also met Julius and asked for advice on how to propose.
Artaeum's ears turned red at Rose's straightforward words. Rose watched him clear his throat a couple of times and smiled faintly.
'So cute.'
He, who had once been so intimidating, now seemed adorable.
"Ahem, of course you've been thinking about me all day, but I wonder where you were, who you were with, and what you did yesterday."
It was understandable that Artaeum would question her every move, but Rose rolled her eyes and answered one by one.
"Yesterday... I went to the department store. I looked around with Gwen."
"And?"
"Hmm? And then... I met Jane. She seemed quite attractive, perhaps because the job suited her."
Rose smiled gently, lifting the corners of her lips.
“Again.”
“Again... nothing?”
Rose tilted her head in confusion at Artaeum's words. Artaeum's expression hardened for a moment at Rose’s answer.
“No... nothing?”
“Yes, I went into the Artaeum mansion to rest.”
Rose’s words brought Artaeum's mind to Julius.
"I’m going to see Rose."
Julius had clearly said that, winking as if teasing him.
"I’m going to see Rose.”
“You haven’t met Julius?”
Artaeum asked cautiously, half-doubting.
“You didn’t invite anyone to the mansion or anything?”
Rose’s lips twitched at Artaeum's words. But that was only for a moment, as Rose shook her head as if nothing had happened.
“Yes, nothing.”
With those words, Rose reached for the teacup on the table.
Rose was elegantly drinking tea. Artaeum stared at her with a rather complicated expression.
Rose, who had been sipping tea, put down her cup with a clatter. Then she smiled faintly at Artaeum.
“It’s a bit sad that we’re apart after living together like this.”
“It would be nice if you came to the palace.”
“Your Majesty. How will I be doing in the palace?”
“You can just marry me.”
Artaeum slyly proposed marriage, not really a proposal. Rose burst out laughing at Artaeum's grumbling.
'I told you not to worry last time, but you really have a short temper.'
Rose realized that making a surprise proposal was not as easy as she thought.
'Surely, asking what I did yesterday isn’t just prying into the possibility of a proposal?'
Rose didn’t realize that Artaeum was too drunk to remember anything.
Artaeum had been drunk that day, but his tongue wasn’t tangled, and he was walking around fine. He didn’t look like a drunk.
'This won’t do. We need to be more thorough with security.'
Rose steeled herself as she watched Artaeum's reaction.
Clenching one fist, she made a firm resolve, and suddenly realized that quite a bit of time had passed.
“Ah! I’m going to be late.”
Rose jumped up, startled.
“Your Majesty, I’ll excuse myself for today.”
“Leaving already?”
“Yes. I have important business to wrap up.”
“Meeting someone?”
“No. I’ll just... go to the mansion.”
Rose answered with a mysterious expression. Artaeum suddenly felt a pang of relief upon seeing her expression.
“Then I’ll excuse myself.”
Rose flung herself into the Artaeum's arms and lightly kissed his cheek.
Despite the sweet physical contact, Artaeum's heart pounded with anxiety.
"...Yes. That's right."
Rose left the drawing room. Artaeum, who had been absentmindedly watching, slowly rose from his seat.
He moved to the window and watched Rose through it.
Rose walked briskly to board the carriage.
Her back looked extremely excited.
Just then, someone knocked on the drawing room door.
"Your Majesty, you must go to your office now."
Artaeum asked cautiously, half-doubting.
“You didn’t invite anyone to the mansion or anything?”
Rose’s lips twitched at Artaeum's words. But that was only for a moment, as Rose shook her head as if nothing had happened.
“Yes, nothing.”
With those words, Rose reached for the teacup on the table.
Rose was elegantly drinking tea. Artaeum stared at her with a rather complicated expression.
Rose, who had been sipping tea, put down her cup with a clatter. Then she smiled faintly at Artaeum.
“It’s a bit sad that we’re apart after living together like this.”
“It would be nice if you came to the palace.”
“Your Majesty. How will I be doing in the palace?”
“You can just marry me.”
Artaeum slyly proposed marriage, not really a proposal. Rose burst out laughing at Artaeum's grumbling.
'I told you not to worry last time, but you really have a short temper.'
Rose realized that making a surprise proposal was not as easy as she thought.
'Surely, asking what I did yesterday isn’t just prying into the possibility of a proposal?'
Rose didn’t realize that Artaeum was too drunk to remember anything.
Artaeum had been drunk that day, but his tongue wasn’t tangled, and he was walking around fine. He didn’t look like a drunk.
'This won’t do. We need to be more thorough with security.'
Rose steeled herself as she watched Artaeum's reaction.
Clenching one fist, she made a firm resolve, and suddenly realized that quite a bit of time had passed.
“Ah! I’m going to be late.”
Rose jumped up, startled.
“Your Majesty, I’ll excuse myself for today.”
“Leaving already?”
“Yes. I have important business to wrap up.”
“Meeting someone?”
“No. I’ll just... go to the mansion.”
Rose answered with a mysterious expression. Artaeum suddenly felt a pang of relief upon seeing her expression.
“Then I’ll excuse myself.”
Rose flung herself into the Artaeum's arms and lightly kissed his cheek.
Despite the sweet physical contact, Artaeum's heart pounded with anxiety.
"...Yes. That's right."
Rose left the drawing room. Artaeum, who had been absentmindedly watching, slowly rose from his seat.
He moved to the window and watched Rose through it.
Rose walked briskly to board the carriage.
Her back looked extremely excited.
Just then, someone knocked on the drawing room door.
"Your Majesty, you must go to your office now."
The knocker was none other than a courtier.
Artaeum furrowed his eyebrows, looking at the courtier with soulless eyes.
'...If I say I'll just step out for a moment, you'll be clutching at my trouser leg like yesterday.'
He wouldn't let that happen today.
Artaeum's lips curled, a dark aura radiating from them.
"Your Majesty?"
The subject desperately wiped the sweat from his forehead at the sight of Artaeum, who seemed to overwhelm him.
Artaeum strode toward the door, his steps catching his attention. Then, the subject stumbled backwards, keeping pace with Artaeum's footsteps.
A thud.
With a dull thud, the subject's back slammed into the massive door.
With nowhere else to run, the subject wiped away the sweat that flowed like rain and blinked pitifully.
Artaeum looked at him with a cold gaze, then smiled soullessly.
Artaeum's smile was sharp enough to induce fear.
"Ugh...You'd better get angry!"
Artaeum furrowed his eyebrows, looking at the courtier with soulless eyes.
'...If I say I'll just step out for a moment, you'll be clutching at my trouser leg like yesterday.'
He wouldn't let that happen today.
Artaeum's lips curled, a dark aura radiating from them.
"Your Majesty?"
The subject desperately wiped the sweat from his forehead at the sight of Artaeum, who seemed to overwhelm him.
Artaeum strode toward the door, his steps catching his attention. Then, the subject stumbled backwards, keeping pace with Artaeum's footsteps.
A thud.
With a dull thud, the subject's back slammed into the massive door.
With nowhere else to run, the subject wiped away the sweat that flowed like rain and blinked pitifully.
Artaeum looked at him with a cold gaze, then smiled soullessly.
Artaeum's smile was sharp enough to induce fear.
"Ugh...You'd better get angry!"
He refused such a smile. The subject blinked his trembling eyelashes helplessly.
"Of course."
"Oh, no! Even if you don't want to, you still have to do your job... Yes?"
He had expected him to say no like yesterday, but his answer was so pure that the subject lost his mind and stared at Artaeum.
"Why? You don't want to?"
“No! How could that be! I will serve you, Your Majesty.”
The servant quickly pulled Artaeum away, as if to prevent him from changing his mind.
“Before that, I’ll wash my hands.”
An inexplicable madness flashed through Artaeum's eyes as he closed them halfway.
“Yes, please go.”
Artaeum headed straight to the bathroom.
He turned on the water in the sink and looked at himself in the mirror.
“...I finished all the important work yesterday, so I’ll have to leave for a moment.”
As he spoke, Artaeum waved his hand in the air. A field mouse appeared from nowhere. The field mouse was eating cheese in a comfortable position when it was struck by trouble.
Thanks to being summoned from the air, the cheese fell into the sink. It was swept away by the current and disappeared.
- Clang... Clang!
The field mouse’s face broke into a sullen expression, as if his world had collapsed. Arteum, oblivious to the field mouse’s feelings, simply said what he had to say.
“It’s been a while, so please take my place.”
Artaeum immediately transformed the field mouse into his own form. As soon as the field mouse transformed into a human, he started to scratch at the poor sink.
“That’s not how you do it. You have to press here to turn off the water.”
Arteum turned off the light and shook his hands, not even noticing that the field mouse was trying to get the cheese.
“Now, go.”
He forcefully pushed the field mouse onto his back and teleported.
The field mouse’s eyes filled with tears, and he clenched his fists.
Artaeum followed after Rose.
Since he had expected her to return to Artaeum territory, he found her without much difficulty.
‘Are we going back to the mansion?’
...It didn’t seem like it.
He recalled Rose’s face as she stood up.
‘She looked like she had to meet someone.’
The Grand Duke, who had been secretly chasing Rose, suddenly felt pathetic about his own actions.
‘...Haa. What the heck am I doing?’
Chasing after the woman he loves.
However, that didn’t mean he wanted to stop.
‘Just... I’m just going to see if Rose enters the mansion safely for today.’
He didn’t want to cross the line any further.
Rose’s carriage entered the Artaeum territory. Artaeum's expression, which had been calm until then, hardened.
‘...This isn’t the way to the mansion?’
Surely... she told me she was going back to the mansion. Arteum’s mind went cold.
Where on earth was she headed when she said she was going back to the mansion?
Artaeum anxiously chased after Rose. The carriage, which had been speeding along, slowly came to a halt.
Artaeum's expression softened as he confirmed the carriage's destination.
"It seems she's stopping by the department store."
He worried for nothing.
Rose wouldn't lie to him.
It wouldn't be a lie, either. She'd clearly been stopping by the department store on business and then planning to return to the mansion.
"You've worked hard."
He thought he would be able to catch his breath once the department store opened, but that was not the case. Rose, insisting that the beginning of the business was crucial, was working tirelessly every day.
Artaeum, who had been looking at Rose with a gentle smile, hardened his expression when he saw a man approaching her carriage.
"What... hey?"
Julius.
He was on Artaeum territory.
Had he stumbled upon Rose's carriage? Was he trying to say hello to her?
Artaeum held his breath, looking at Rose and Julius.
Soon, Rose appeared in the carriage. As soon as Rose spotted Julius, she smiled brightly as if she had been waiting for him.
“Oh, Prince! You’re here early!”
"Of course."
"Oh, no! Even if you don't want to, you still have to do your job... Yes?"
He had expected him to say no like yesterday, but his answer was so pure that the subject lost his mind and stared at Artaeum.
"Why? You don't want to?"
“No! How could that be! I will serve you, Your Majesty.”
The servant quickly pulled Artaeum away, as if to prevent him from changing his mind.
“Before that, I’ll wash my hands.”
An inexplicable madness flashed through Artaeum's eyes as he closed them halfway.
“Yes, please go.”
Artaeum headed straight to the bathroom.
He turned on the water in the sink and looked at himself in the mirror.
“...I finished all the important work yesterday, so I’ll have to leave for a moment.”
As he spoke, Artaeum waved his hand in the air. A field mouse appeared from nowhere. The field mouse was eating cheese in a comfortable position when it was struck by trouble.
Thanks to being summoned from the air, the cheese fell into the sink. It was swept away by the current and disappeared.
- Clang... Clang!
The field mouse’s face broke into a sullen expression, as if his world had collapsed. Arteum, oblivious to the field mouse’s feelings, simply said what he had to say.
“It’s been a while, so please take my place.”
Artaeum immediately transformed the field mouse into his own form. As soon as the field mouse transformed into a human, he started to scratch at the poor sink.
“That’s not how you do it. You have to press here to turn off the water.”
Arteum turned off the light and shook his hands, not even noticing that the field mouse was trying to get the cheese.
“Now, go.”
He forcefully pushed the field mouse onto his back and teleported.
The field mouse’s eyes filled with tears, and he clenched his fists.
***
Artaeum followed after Rose.
Since he had expected her to return to Artaeum territory, he found her without much difficulty.
‘Are we going back to the mansion?’
...It didn’t seem like it.
He recalled Rose’s face as she stood up.
‘She looked like she had to meet someone.’
The Grand Duke, who had been secretly chasing Rose, suddenly felt pathetic about his own actions.
‘...Haa. What the heck am I doing?’
Chasing after the woman he loves.
However, that didn’t mean he wanted to stop.
‘Just... I’m just going to see if Rose enters the mansion safely for today.’
He didn’t want to cross the line any further.
Rose’s carriage entered the Artaeum territory. Artaeum's expression, which had been calm until then, hardened.
‘...This isn’t the way to the mansion?’
Surely... she told me she was going back to the mansion. Arteum’s mind went cold.
Where on earth was she headed when she said she was going back to the mansion?
Artaeum anxiously chased after Rose. The carriage, which had been speeding along, slowly came to a halt.
Artaeum's expression softened as he confirmed the carriage's destination.
"It seems she's stopping by the department store."
He worried for nothing.
Rose wouldn't lie to him.
It wouldn't be a lie, either. She'd clearly been stopping by the department store on business and then planning to return to the mansion.
"You've worked hard."
He thought he would be able to catch his breath once the department store opened, but that was not the case. Rose, insisting that the beginning of the business was crucial, was working tirelessly every day.
Artaeum, who had been looking at Rose with a gentle smile, hardened his expression when he saw a man approaching her carriage.
"What... hey?"
Julius.
He was on Artaeum territory.
Had he stumbled upon Rose's carriage? Was he trying to say hello to her?
Artaeum held his breath, looking at Rose and Julius.
Soon, Rose appeared in the carriage. As soon as Rose spotted Julius, she smiled brightly as if she had been waiting for him.
“Oh, Prince! You’re here early!”
“!”
In that moment, Artaeum knew.
That their meeting was no coincidence.
“...Why with Julius?”
“It’s not polite to keep a lady waiting.”
Julius naturally escorted Rose down the carriage steps.
Artaeum's heart sank as he saw Julius and Rose smiling at each other.
In that moment, Artaeum knew.
That their meeting was no coincidence.
“...Why with Julius?”
“It’s not polite to keep a lady waiting.”
Julius naturally escorted Rose down the carriage steps.
Artaeum's heart sank as he saw Julius and Rose smiling at each other.
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