"……."
"I've only been by His Grace's side for a mere month, so I couldn't possibly compare to Sir Matthias."
Rather than disregarding Matthias while riding on His Grace's favor, she had gone so far as to elevate his efforts and position.
Matthias's lips twitched.
…I really shouldn't let this happen. I need to stay sharp and keep suspecting her.
'…Pass!'
She had almost shouted it out loud without realizing.
**
Rose thought to herself.
'He's still such an easy person to read.'
A nitpicking tone paired with a surly expression—a man whose entire body screamed "I don't like you."
Matthias had always been like that.
But while in her past life he had simply disliked her because she was one of Dane's wives, now he seemed to be desperately searching for her flaws with fire in his eyes.
'He's really like a hunting dog.'
Like a loyal hound, he was judging whether this woman would benefit or harm Dane Schmaichel—and biting accordingly.
She didn't dislike that version of Matthias. Because she knew what kind of heart drove those actions.
'This kind of person is actually easier to deal with.'
The socialite women who hid knives in their eyes and poison on their lips were far more troublesome.
So Rose had chosen to win with honesty. And she realized the strategy had been effective.
"Hmm……."
Matthias now only observed Rose in silence.
His mouth twitched as if in displeasure, yet his eyes had subtly softened—the contrast creating a dissonance.
If he had a tail, it would have been wagging slowly right about now.
'Looks like I roughly passed.'
Rose now even had the luxury to observe him in return.
That was how she noticed him repeatedly glancing behind her.
'…Aha.'
She could feel Matthias's gaze swaying as it followed Helena.
She glanced back and found Helena wearing a composed expression. She wasn't just ignoring Matthias's furtive glances—she was enjoying them.
'Ah, Helena already knows.'
In truth, Matthias wasn't the only one looking at Helena. To be precise, Rose and Helena were monopolizing the attention of everyone in the vicinity.
Knowing the two women's status, no one dared approach them or strike up casual conversation.
But people couldn't help but trail with their eyes the vibrant flowers that had graced the dreary, monochrome mine for the first time in a long while.
"……."
Despite the countless gazes pouring in, Helena's face remained relaxed—unlike Rose herself, who was barely maintaining a facade of composure.
"May we wrap up our walk now?"
Rose spoke to Matthias as though it were nothing.
"My legs are starting to ache."
"…I apologize. If it's because of me, then I offer my sincere apologies."
Matthias seemed as though he would let Rose go just like that—
*Step.*
He suddenly closed the distance to Rose.
"I'm relieved that you seem to know your place well, Madam."
"……."
"His Grace casts aside the incompetent without hesitation. If not for your talent in magical scholarship, you never would have caught his eye, Madam."
Her heart, which had weathered Matthias's attacks without faltering,
"You must maintain the boundary as you are now. The moment you cross that line, my sword will move."
— those last words had squeezed it tight.
'…My place.'
She and he were in a contract marriage, and what he wanted was a competent wife—one who didn't cling and demand love.
"…The Commander is right."
But the moment she uttered the next words,
"I should know my place."
Rose felt as though her heart was being pressed flat.
*Thump.*
A dizzying pain washed over her. At the same time, a surge of indignation rose within her.
'…You don't need to say it like that. I know.'
She knew that she had only been able to catch Dane's eye because she had lived a previous life and returned, and because she was an outstanding magical scholar.
In fact, Rose had produced a fair number of results. She had uncovered Joel's suspicious activities and discovered the possibility of Dane's addiction.
'Even so… it's as if he wants to say, "Don't leave."'
So Dane's words must all be to keep from losing a capable magical scholar like her.
But… he had been truly strange lately.
A smile as sweet as if coated in honey, a tone as soft as melting ice, always keeping her by his side and doting on her.
He behaved that way even when no one else was watching. That was what made it all so confusing.
'Why are you so good to me?'
Barely swallowing back the question that had risen to her throat, she responded to his actions—unable to tell whether they were an act or genuine.
Because the way he treated her when they were alone made her so happy. Because it felt like she had become a truly loved wife.
She hadn't wanted to become the fool who shattered her own happiness.
'Because… His Grace could never like me.'
The idea that someone could be attracted to her and treat her well was beyond the realm of imagination for Rose.
In all her life, not a single man had ever approached her expressing sincere interest. At best, there had been Professor Albert or Andersen, who had approached her upon seeing her talent.
So any kindness anyone showed her was inevitably an act with an ulterior motive.
'Right, it doesn't make sense otherwise. The other person is Dane Schmaichel, after all.'
The scarred memories of the past cried out through tear-filled eyes.
However…
'But he's so tender. Have you ever seen His Grace treat anyone else that way? Besides, he called me pretty!'
The soft, tender memories of the present cried out, wrapping her flushed cheeks.
'I'm… I'm holding back too.'
Lately, Rose had felt the urge to confess her feelings to Dane, time and time again.
Every time his gaze fell on her, her heart had swelled like soap bubbles, growing bigger and bigger.
She had been suppressing it with all her might, struggling desperately to maintain the boundary. She had been waging a lonely battle that no one acknowledged.
Yet Matthias—this man—was pushing her to do even better than this.
She knew this was his final warning. If she stayed silent, it would end here.
But even knowing that, she couldn't hold back.
'What does he even know about me?'
'When he knows absolutely nothing!'
As something burst inside Rose—
"You're the one who should be faithful to your role, Commander."
Her mouth had opened of its own accord.
"Aren't you in a position to speak frankly to His Grace, Commander? The fact that you don't must mean you're afraid of incurring his wrath."
"……."
Apparently hitting the bullseye, Matthias couldn't offer a single word in reply.
"If you truly care about His Grace, rather than doing this to me, you should go tell him directly. Wouldn't that be far better?"
"……."
"Above all,"
Rose took a deep breath and poured out the fury that had been boiling in her chest.
"His Grace won't leave me alone, so what am I supposed to do? I can't exactly commit the presumptuous act of refusing him, can I?"
*I never tried to seduce His Grace. If anything, he's the one who seduced me.*
—She had blurted out such an outrageous statement in the heat of the moment.
"……."
But seeing Matthias's dumbfounded face gave her a small measure of satisfaction. She felt like she wouldn't have been able to sleep from sheer frustration if she hadn't landed at least one blow.
"…Wait, just now—"
Matthias stammered in disbelief, then—
*Shuffle.*
He froze upon sensing Helena's presence.
She, who had been walking silently behind them all this time, had made a sound for the first time. It was clearly deliberate.
"How did that maid make her presence… No, never mind."
*Shuffle, shuffle.*
The transformation of Matthias's expression as Helena drew closer was quite a sight.
At the sight of him subtly glancing around as if wanting to flee, Rose nearly burst out laughing.
"Commander."
Helena's voice felt unusually sharp.
"Stop harassing our Madam. You'll answer to me."
"…Pardon?"
"Hmph."
Helena, wearing a sulky expression, snatched Rose's arm.
"Let's go, Madam."
"…All right."
Rose feigned reluctance as she pulled herself away from Matthias. Matthias was too flustered to even grab hold of her.
*Swish!*
Rose turned away from him without a second thought. Feeling Matthias's gaze trailing after her, she strode forward with long steps.
"I don't like that man."
Once they had put enough distance between them, Helena muttered in a whisper.
"Who does he think he is, judging our Madam?"
"It's not like he was wrong, though."
"Does being right mean you can do whatever you want?"
Helena huffed furiously and began rolling up her sleeves.
"Well then, since I'm saying the right thing, I guess it's perfectly fine if he gets a beating from me, hmm?"
"Ah, no. Don't do that."
"So being the Knight Commander makes him some big deal? Sneaking up on someone while they're sleeping, like this—"
*Whoosh!*
Helena's punch split the air with a threatening crack.
"I'll punch him square on the bridge of his nose. You're allowed to hit bad dogs."
"Helena, please don't."
Having Helena get angry on her behalf had eased her frustration a little. But the tightness in her chest remained all the same.
*"If not for your talent in magical scholarship, you never would have caught his eye, Madam."*
Her heart, clawed by Matthias's words, still stung.
It throbbed with pain even when she returned to the office to study Wisp Velvet, even when she inspected Magical Devices.
It was so… painful.
**
*Splash.*
The sound of water being poured.
*Swish, swish.*
The sound of something being stroked—skin, or perhaps hair.
"……."
*Step, step.*
I paced the room helplessly.
A small room attached to the office had been converted into a makeshift bathroom. The wooden building's walls were thin—painfully thin—and offered no soundproofing whatsoever.
In other words, the sounds of Helena washing Rose came through vividly.
"Huu."
All I could hear were sounds—so why did I keep picturing the scene inside that bathroom?
Some people took pleasure in peeping at others' private lives. The thought that I had become such a shameless voyeur made my skin crawl.
'Get a grip.'
I shook my head vigorously and sat back down at the desk.
I tried to chase away the intrusive thoughts by processing documents—miner wages, support for the mining village, magic stone distribution, and the like.
Then, suddenly—
"Madam! Ma-daam!"
The sound of Helena calling out in a hushed voice brushed past my ears.
'Did something happen?'
I reflexively shot to my feet—then,
'…No. If something happened, she'll call for me.'
I scolded myself and sat back down.
But I couldn't hold out, and eventually stood up again. I was worried something might have happened to Rose.
'Right—just in case.'
It was purely wholesome concern for her wellbeing, without a single improper motive.
That was right. That was all it was.
*Knock, knock.*
I knocked on the bathroom door and asked quietly.
"Is something the matter?"
After a moment, Helena cracked the door open and poked her head out. Her face and hair were drenched in sweat.
"Madam fell asleep."
"Can't you simply wake her?"
"I keep shaking her, but she won't wake up."
Helena blinked at me with an innocent expression.
"If I slap her awake, she'll be mad, right?"