When Helena had confidently asserted this before, I had been half in doubt.
'She completely turned the tea party upside down, you see.'
'She was absolutely running wild, I tell you.'
I had wondered how such a tiny squirrel had survived among those she-wolves.
But seeing people's words and actions now, I was convinced that Rose had truly done well even without me.
"I told you. I did well, as befitting Your Grace's knight."
Rose raised the corners of her lips slightly in a smile. With her straightened back and elegant smile, she was dazzlingly radiant.
'It couldn't have been easy to do this well here.'
This was no small tea party—it was an event hosted by the royal family, attended by the most distinguished nobles in the land.
In this battlefield where even the slightest misstep could be seized upon as a flaw, having a trusted comrade by my side felt incredibly reassuring.
"……."
Catching myself with a satisfied smile, I noticed—a strand of Rose's hair had come slightly loose, brushing against her cheek.
Ssuk.
I reached out and swept Rose's fallen hair back into place.
In that instant, the surrounding air went as quiet as if time itself had stopped.
"Oh my……."
"Good heavens……."
Eventually, sighs of admiration escaped from the noble ladies. Other nobles also looked our way with warm smiles.
"-!"
Rose, who had maintained a calm expression throughout, finally BLUSHED.
"Your Grace…!"
"What."
I silenced Rose's quiet protest with a smile.
"We're 'husband and wife,' aren't we?"
Surely Rose would understand by now.
Declaring before all these people that she was mine, boldly keeping her by my side for all to see—
Surely she would sense my will to cross that line, to no longer be merely a married couple in name only.
"……."
Rose bit her lip firmly and slightly lowered her head.
Umchil.
Just as I was about to reach out instinctively, worried her lips might swell from biting so hard—
Jeobeok.
The surrounding air shifted with the sound of heavy footsteps.
"Well, well. Who do we have here."
A smooth, calm baritone bored into my eardrums.
"Our 'nephew' and his lovely Duchess."
Henrik Schmaichel approached me, leading his subordinate nobles. He looked like an alpha hyena leading its pack.
"……."
Olsen and Marcus's gazes were particularly menacing. It seemed the gifts I had sent them were quite well received.
"Have you been well?"
Henrik truly resembled his father. But within those deep, dark blue eyes, there was nothing but cold hatred and contempt instead of affection.
"Uncle."
I stood at an angle, blocking Rose from Henrik's line of sight. Then I stared at Henrik with an expressionless face.
"……."
I could feel Rose's fingertips subtly tightening, and her worried gaze landing on the side of my face.
Ssuk.
Count Hollande and other nobles surrounded us as if providing cover, leaving only a narrow gap so that Henrik and I could converse alone.
"Thanks to your 'concern,' Uncle, I've managed fine. Have you been well yourself?"
"I've been well, of course. But it truly has been a long time."
Henrik bared his teeth in a smile. It was the kind of smile that said he wanted to tear me apart.
"Is being the family head not too difficult for you? Wouldn't it be better for both of us if you handed it over to me now?"
"Do you truly think so?"
I replied with a cold, humorless face.
"It seems your health is failing, Uncle."
"Me?"
"You spoke as though you were unable to greet His Majesty the King during the tribute ceremony earlier."
At the implication that even His Majesty had not acknowledged him, the smile vanished from Henrik's face.
The nobles around Henrik, who had been grinning, also stiffened.
"…I see. So that's how it is."
Eventually, Henrik smiled again. A sharp edge gathered above his deeply etched mouth.
"You've grown so much already. My brother would be truly overjoyed to see you."
A murderous urge to run my sword across that face boiled up in an instant.
How dare he speak of my father to my face.
It was blatant mockery and a clear provocation—masquerading as a well-wishing remark to his nephew.
"I wonder about that."
Suppressing the fury that blazed up like wildfire, I took a step toward Henrik.
"He would be far more eager to reunite with you, Uncle."
"…What did you say?"
"Since he left without even a proper goodbye, he must have so much to say to the brother he left behind."
I used to have to look up at my uncle Henrik, but not anymore.
Looking down at Henrik from a hand span higher, I wore an icy smile utterly at odds with the fire raging in my chest.
"Especially why that carriage wheel broke so futilely that day—he must be quite curious."
"…!"
I did not miss the moment Henrik's eyes wavered.
"So… take care of yourself as well, Uncle."
I added in a voice completely devoid of humor.
"My father's wait may not be as long as you think."
"You dare!"
Henrik thrust his arm forward, his face alternating between red and blue. He was aiming precisely for my left arm, trying to grab and twist it.
Before that hand could even touch my arm—
Teop.
I seized Henrik's hand as if snatching it midair. Making it look like a handshake to onlookers.
Then I closed the distance between us to a suffocating degree.
"Count Schmaichel."
I whispered the title Henrik despised most.
"Prepare yourself to apologize to my father."
No further courtesy was necessary.
Kkwak.
I gripped as if crushing through Henrik's glove.
Ujikkeun.
The sound of the family signet ring on his finger grinding into Henrik's finger bones rang out.
"……!"
The color drained from Henrik's face.
The sight of him unable to even scream, just helplessly opening and closing his mouth, was comical.
"Y-you bastard……."
He tried to wrench free with force, but I had him locked tight, unable to budge an inch.
And the more he twisted his hand, the more intense the pain would become.
"Wait, that—"
"My, my……."
The crowd couldn't easily step in between Henrik and me. They hesitated, wary of damaging either party's dignity.
That was when—
"Your Grace."
Rose's calm voice settled over the back of my hand, where veins were bulging.
That single word was enough.
"This should suffice for greetings, wouldn't you say?"
I released Henrik's hand and stepped back elegantly, as if nothing had happened.
"Is there anything else you'd like to say, 'Uncle'?"
"……."
Henrik tucked his trembling hand behind his back.
His face was contorted with humiliation, but curiously, his eyes still carried the arrogance of a victor.
"Enjoy yourself to your heart's content, nephew."
Henrik muttered in a voice tinged with a metallic edge before taking his leave. The nobles under his command who had been watching the situation hesitantly followed after him.
"……."
My eyes darkened as I watched Henrik's retreating figure.
Aiming precisely for my injured left arm, the remark about not having many days left to live—
Every one of them was utterly petty and sinister.
'If I hadn't known, I would have been completely helpless.'
The original Dane, who hadn't known that Joel was acting under Henrik's instigation,
'Hmph.'
Had brushed off Henrik's pseudo-advice with a light scoff. And then met a helpless death on his birthday, believing he had completely won.
But this time would be different.
"……."
I could feel the atmosphere around me had grown excessively heavy. Everyone was watching me with grave expressions.
Right at that moment—
"-!"
My eyes met with Arikx, who had been watching from across the crowd.
He handed his wine glass to an attendant and rose from his seat. He looked ready to come over at any moment.
'…This could be trouble.'
I immediately turned my gaze to Rose, who was watching me with a worried expression. I needed to get Rose out of here quickly.
"You must be tired from standing so long. Why don't you go rest for a bit?"
As I asked Rose and subtly signaled Countess Hollande—
"I actually had something I wanted to discuss among us ladies. I'll go rest a bit too. Is that alright, dear?"
Countess Hollande responded promptly, reading the situation. Count Hollande quickly nodded at her question.
"But I should stay by Your Grace's side……."
Yet Rose couldn't easily let go of my arm. She was scrutinizing my complexion closely.
'Who's supposed to be protecting whom here.'
Whenever this tiny squirrel worried about me instead, a strangely warm sensation would spread through my chest.
But there was no time to soothe Rose leisurely now. I could see Arikx's party approaching, parting the crowd.
"Your complexion doesn't look good. Go rest."
As I lightly brushed Rose's cheek with my hand, her pale face flushed slightly.
Only then did Rose nod shyly.
"If you say so… I'll be right back."
Having excused herself, Rose walked a few steps toward the lounge with Countess Hollande.
I watched her retreating figure without looking away.
Ssuk.
Helena, who had appeared at some point, began following behind her.
She was not in her usual maid uniform, but wore a neat dress in an inconspicuous dark gray.
At a glance, she looked like a young lady from a fallen noble house, but concealed within her bosom would be a cold dagger.
Kkeudeok.
Only after seeing Helena nod in my direction did I turn my gaze away.
And right after that—
"Duke Schmaichel!"
Arikx's booming yet dignified voice cut through the crowd.
"Your Highness."
The crowd hastily parted like a retreating tide to receive him.
"Your Highness."
As I bowed my head respectfully, Arikx waved his hand off and strode forward.
"Save the stiff formalities. Are we not close?"
"Your Highness, there are many eyes watching."
"Let them watch."
Arikx beamed and spread his arms wide, pulling me into an embrace. It was the utmost display of favor and an extraordinary gesture for a prince to show a subject.
"Heh……."
"For Prince Arikx to be so familiar……."
Just as low gasps of astonishment erupted from the surrounding nobles—
"……."
Piercing glares flew over from where Second Prince Cassian and Consort Lavenna stood.
'Honestly…….'
He always smiled and acted casually with me, but seeing him like this, I thought this fellow was unmistakably a royal through and through.
Showing off his bond with me in front of the Second Prince, as if to make a point.