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Chapter 57
Rose instinctively covered the front of her body with both arms and plunged into the water.
“I came back from hunting, and my body felt stuffy. I thought I was the only one who knew about this place, but it seems that the rumors have already spread.”
When he took off his clothes so naturally and tried to enter the bath, Rose shouted in embarrassment.
“Wait! No! Don’t come in!”
“But I think it’s large enough for the two of us?”
‘That’s not what I meant!’ Rose said urgently, shouting inwardly.
“I am just about to leave! Come in when I go out.”
Rose frantically looked around and found the clothes she had taken off earlier.
“Are you looking for this?” He raised Rose’s pajamas and robes.
Rose swallowed and calmly spoke as if commanding him.
“Leave it there and just turn around.”
The corner of Maxim’s lips went up as he saw how embarrassed Rose was.
“There’s something to be shy about between a couple?”
“Turn around quickly. Or I’ll call someone!”
As she bluffed as if to threaten him, an unwilling smile spread on Maxim’s lips.
‘I’m a king, so who the hell are you going to call?’
It was absurd, but she was so serious that he thought she was cute. He shrugged and followed her steadily. Tossing Rose’s clothes close to her, he turned around and started to take off his clothes.
“It’s not even funny to pretend to be naive when you’ve seen everything.”
While mumbling sarcastically, Rose came out of the water like a swift squirrel.
It was too baggy, so she put on the white pajamas as if she were putting her body inside a big pocket, and forced a robe over it. Maxim took off his last piece of clothing without caring about her presence at all and walked into the bath without hesitation.
‘Sigh. You really do as you please.’ Rose looked with a tired expression at him jumping into the bath.
‘Ugh…’
Her teeth were chattering. She put on her pajamas without wiping off the water with a towel, and her damp hair became as heavy and cold as her whole body. It felt like the cold was penetrating into her heart.
Rose tightened the robe and stared at Maxim in the bath. Whether he knew about her resentful glare or not, Maxim lifted his arms above his head and leisurely looked up at the sky.
‘Why would he appear and give me a heart attack when I was enjoying my time alone after such a long time?’ Of course, he didn’t kick her out, but wasn’t entering the bath together the same thing?
‘Uggh, I hate you!’
Rose trembled and spat out at him.
“Then have a good time!”
He opened his eyes slightly and saw Rose huffing and walking heavily. He smiled bitterly.
He tilted his head to look at the sky, seeing the snow falling as if dancing. After she left, all she left behind was pitch black silence.
His body was hot, but his heart was cold, as if it was freezing. He was used to being alone all the time since he was young, so he felt perplexed when such a strange feeling struck him once in a while. This unfamiliar feeling began when that woman, Rose Etoile, entered his life.
“Damn it.” A low curse escaped from his mouth.
Rose, who returned to the barracks, could not sleep easily that night. Hearing Natalie’s sleep talk and Hannah’s even breathing, Rose kept tossing and turning.
No matter how hard she tried to deny it, she had to admit.
These days, she had become more conscious of Maxim. It would have been natural to go out like nothing had happened, but she overreacted earlier.
A shallow sigh of regret escaped from Rose’s lips.
After surviving the arduous journey in the barracks for a while, they came out of the seemingly endless Guagimolia forest. As they drew near the border, they started seeing people who weren’t part of the party. As it was a road connecting not only Solstern but also other kingdoms, people with unfamiliar features were easily spotted.
“There are not enough places to stay nearby. So we plan to stay here for the day.”
At Jansen’s words, Rose pulled her head out of the carriage and looked at the inn in front of her. It was mainly used by merchants, bureaucrats, and foreigners crossing the border. At the request of the owner, the people who were staying there seemed to leave the inn busily.
“Even after we emptied the whole inn, there aren’t enough rooms, so some soldiers will have to set up some barracks.”
“Then I should be grateful for having a roof.”
When she said that, Jansen felt at ease. As she was going upstairs, someone passing by called her name.
“Miss? Miss Rose?!”
Rose was startled because she could not have imagined that her name would be called in a place like this. But when she saw the owner of the voice, her eyes widened in surprise.
“Andreas? Goodness, what brings you here?”
He came back up the stairs and naturally kissed the back of her hand. The two of them did not even think of letting go of the hand they held with joy.
“I went to Kopolli Kingdom and ran away. Ah, no, I’m on my way back home.”
“Kopolli? Why that place?”
Kopolli was a small kingdom located somewhere between the great Solstern and Helevant.
“I was commissioned to be a painting teacher for the youngest princess there. After staying there for a while, the food didn’t suit my taste and I got homesick.”
“Ah.”
Rose nodded, as if saying ‘Is that so?’
Thanks to his outstanding appearance, charisma, and artistic skills, his students often fell in love with him and caused controversy. To be more precise, innocent aristocratic young ladies who knew nothing of the world fell in love with him, and he would run away after creating some troubles.
Among them, there were even rumors that it wasn’t only the young ladies, but also the mother of those children. If there was only one noble young lady that did not fall for him, that was Rose Etoile. She followed purely because she was fond of his painting and nothing more.
“You left Solstern after being my painting teacher, right? Then I think it’s already been a few years. You deserve to be homesick.”
“I left Solstern exactly after working for the Marquis.”
“If it’s a Marquis… you mean Marchioness Trisha?”
“Yes, that person.”
“I didn’t know. I didn’t know Andreas worked for Marchioness Trisha.”
He gave a subtle smile and quickly changed the subject.
“The news that Prince Solstern is getting married has also spread to Kopolli. It’s the Young Lady, right?”
He signaled congratulations with a subtle look.
‘If he hasn’t read that I had already left for the north, that means there must be a great wall impeding the news from spreading…’
Rose spoke, conscious that Hannah was near.
“Hannah, would you load the luggage first? Natalie must be upstairs. I want to chat with an old friend for a while.”
“Yes.”
She spoke politely and went up. Andreas looked closely at Hannah, trying to remember if there was such a maid in the Etoile residence. Rose looked around and returned to the main subject.
“You don’t know yet. I’m already married to someone else.”
“Pa-pardon?!”
He was genuinely surprised and greatly embarrassed. Even when he was her painting teacher, there were rumors that Rose Etoile would become the Crown Princess eventually. It was surprising that she was not the Crown Princess, and was already married on top of that.
“The Lady got married?”
Rose was at loss as to how to explain it, so she smiled awkwardly. Andreas shook his head in disbelief and rubbed his forehead.
“No matter how much time I stayed in Kopolli, if there was news about the Lady— No, if there was any news about the Etoile family, there’s no way I wouldn’t have heard. Who the hell is that lucky guy?”
“It’s me.”
Andreas looked back at the low, firm voice that replied. A tall, black-clad young man was coming up the stairs. Andreas was overwhelmed by his gaze and the sense of intimidation, and he stepped back without realizing it.
Maxim’s gaze turned to Andreas, who had not yet released Rose’s hand. He quickly let go of her hand, as if he had been scorched by fire.
“Oh, and this person is…”
“…”
Rose hesitated for a moment as to how and where to begin. First of all, let’s introduce Andreas to Maxim.
“This is Andreas, when I was a kid, he used to be a painting teacher while staying at my house. My father liked artists, so he sponsored him.”
Maxim looked at Andreas with a suspicious look on his face.
“Um… And this is my husband, Maxim Lancert.”
“I see. Pleased to meet you. But if it’s the Lancert family…”
Andreas, who was about to greet, dropped the bag he was holding in one hand.
“Just what— What?!”
He doubted his ears and looked back at Maxim with a puzzled look. Rose said with a bitter smile, as if she had expected such a reaction.
“Maxim Lancert, King of Helevant.”
“Ah…! Ah! That’s right. I didn’t know.”
Andreas bowed his head politely and greeted him once again.
Maxim looked down at him as if he was pathetic, wondering how he could be such a lousy excuse of a man.
“I-I’m going to get a carriage, so I’ll have to go now. People are waiting for me outside.”
He, who had just been relaxed until recently, hurriedly picked up his bag and tried to leave the place, as if he was running away.
“Okay. When you go to the capital, stop by.”
“Aha! Of course. I was planning to go say hello to both the Count and his wife. I’ll be sure to visit.”
He stepped back and continued to greet Rose and Maxim. Rose waved at him with puzzled eyes.
“You’re pathetic.”
Maxim spat out bluntly and strode up the stairs.
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Mrs. Trisha looked at the Emperor’s bed with a worried look. He, who should have woken up by now and went to the morning council, couldn’t get up on time today. Even while the Emperor’s exclusive physician came and examined him, he spouted out a cough mixed with phlegm.
“Your Majesty doesn’t have a special medical condition, but Your Majesty’s mind and body have weakened. Your heart has weakened, so you should always relax, avoid getting too excited, and sleep well at night, Your Majesty.”
“I haven’t been able to sleep lately, so I’ve been waking up several times in the morning. Coughing hard and then waking up.”
As the Emperor struggled to speak, the physician took a transparent glass bottle out of the medical bag. The pink liquid gleamed inside it.
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