“I read in novels that people change when they fall in love, and it's really true. Dane must truly treasure you, Rose.”
Even though it was a sincere exclamation of admiration, Rose only smiled faintly.
“He is just treating me as his wife.”
“No, what are you talking about! I thought you were smart, but I guess not?”
Beatrice set down her quill pen roughly as if frustrated.
“Didn't you see earlier? The way he was twisting his body so no one else could look at you?”
“…….”
“He was making such a fuss because he didn't want to be separated from you even for a moment! If this isn't love, what is!”
Everyone said it.
That Dane Schmaichel had fallen in love. That he was so smitten with the Duchess that he couldn't think straight.
Not only people who had only seen him briefly, but even Princess Beatrice, who was his close friend, said this much—so his love seemed absolute.
But…….
‘Because Your Grace knows I returned.’
Rose swallowed a sip of water and hid her bitter smile.
The first time she felt suspicion was when she heard the candle story from a servant.
It was too coincidental to be a mere coincidence. Most people wouldn't pay attention to everyday, trivial things like candles.
Then, a thought suddenly occurred to her.
‘Could it be... does he know I returned?’
Once she harbored a doubt, it began to multiply endlessly.
When they met in Joel's room, even when she raised her suspicions about Joel, he accepted the fact without any resistance.
He naturally introduced Andersen to her, and used Helena to bring her various clues.
As if he knew exactly how Rose would act.
‘Yeah, normally one would naturally suspect.’
And the Magical Device to examine his body.
Without hesitation, he sat in that chair, endured the pain, and waited until Rose could be certain. This was despite the fact that he would be the most sensitive person about his own body's well-being.
Finally, the decisive factor was,
‘As you know, we don't have much time.’
It was when she tested the waters slightly by saying that.
At that time, he accepted her words without asking any questions.
That implied the trigger was his own birthday, meaning he knew the future that was coming to Dane.
That nailed Rose's suspicions.
‘Your Grace treats me well because I know the future.’
Rose's heart, which should have been dyed pink and soft, was stiff as if submerged in ice water.
Everyone couldn't believe that Dane had changed like that. They said it was impossible for him to truly love someone and treat them preciously.
‘If I hadn't returned? There's no way he would have looked twice at someone like me.’
Rose thought so too.
Dane doesn't keep unnecessary people by his side. There was only one reason why he kept her by his side.
‘Because he needs me.’
A regressor who knows about the future and struggles to save him from death using that knowledge.
So he offered a contract marriage to Rose and showed her sincerity.
‘It's an investment so I don't run away.’
From the very first day she came to this castle, a lot was different. Why couldn't she suspect it then?
Dane's eyes looking at her were indifferent, his voice discussing the contract was emotionless and merely flat, so she didn't know.
But she realized it at some point.
‘Even so... I want to say it. Don't leave.’
‘I did well to marry you.’
Dane's attitude changing as he realized the value of the information Rose had, and the power of the Magical Devices she created.
His current sweet words and affectionate actions were probably all schemes to keep Rose here.
‘Acting like he likes my body is also all because of that.’
She heard men were weak to physical pleasure, so they could share a body even without love.
Dane is also a man, and since she is his wife, he probably thinks he can use her however he pleases.
‘Then why did he tell me not to touch him......’
Rose often looked back on the past.
Things that once passed without much thought now looked so different, which made her feel a bit sad.
Even so... even so, she didn't want to leave his side.
‘If I can just be by his side like this.’
Knowing why he kept her by his side, even after resolving not to repeat her past mistakes.
Cruel fate placed Rose back on an unreasonable scale once again.
‘I tried not to love him this time......’
Even if she became someone who clung to his every word and touch, gasping for breath.
Rose wanted to stay by Dane's side. It was such a desperate and earnest feeling.
‘The remaining contract period is one year... no, less than that.’
On the day they wrote the contract, he said the contract could be extended.
That probably meant she should stay in Schmaichel and produce useful Magical Devices. She wouldn't even dream of being treated like a wife as she is now.
‘He might take a new wife.’
An elegant, high-born, and beautiful woman fitting of Schmaichel.
When that time came, Rose would probably be locked up in a small room, making Magical Devices.
“Wow, but then who am I going to marry?”
Beatrice crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair just in time.
“My father kept nagging me to get married, so I bluffed that I'd marry a man who could defeat me in swordsmanship.”
“…Is that so.”
Rose snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Beatrice.
“Royal marriages are obvious, right? Most of them are political marriages to solidify the royal family's power.”
Beatrice tilted her champagne glass to her lips.
“But I don't want to marry some lacking guy who doesn't catch my eye. I thought Dane wouldn't be so bad, that's what I thought.”
“…You were going to marry His Grace?”
“My father's influence was there too. A union with Schmaichel, isn't it too good?”
Beatrice chuckled and downed her champagne.
“That's why that Tatiana threw a fit earlier. She thought she was going to marry Dane. Delusions are free, though.”
“…….”
“Anyway, what can I do. The guy already has a woman who perfectly captured his heart. I'll have to look for someone else.”
Rose didn't quite hear Beatrice's last words and muttered blankly.
‘Marriage between His Grace and the Princess…….’
An image of Dane and Beatrice standing together came to Rose's mind.
The Duke of cold light and the passionate Princess of golden light. The harmony between the two was truly beautiful.
Moreover, a union between Schmaichel and the Rozerk royal family, nothing could be more perfect than this.
Herself standing in front of them was just a shabby hindrance.
“…….”
The color drained from Rose's face. Her fingertips lost strength, and her eyelids drooped without her realizing it.
“Rose?”
Seeing that, Beatrice set her champagne glass down on the table.
“It's all in the past, I told you. I don't have such thoughts either, so don't worry. Ugh, just imagining that guy saying cheesy things makes the alcohol come back up.”
“…….”
“Besides, if I told him to divorce his wife and marry me, do you think he'd listen? That stubborn bastard?”
Beatrice smiled and lightly tapped Rose's cheek.
“I don't know if I badmouthed him too much, but he's a good guy in that he's consistent.”
“I... see.”
“Once he gives his heart, he never turns back. So don't worry!”
Rose felt a little lighter from Beatrice's less-than-perfect comfort.
‘Right. I'm his wife until the contract period ends.’
Until then at least, Dane would listen to Rose well. Even if it was a somewhat unreasonable request.
Until then, she should enjoy the rights of a wife to the fullest. She would fully savor this happiness that she couldn't even dream of.
Right, so…….
“…I'll drink champagne too.”
Suddenly, Rose's lips moved impulsively.
“Huh? All of a sudden? I'm fine with it, though.”
Beatrice beamed and quickly brought over the glass she had put away earlier.
“Are you sure? You said Dane told you not to drink.”
“I'm fine.”
Rose glared at the champagne glass as if it were Dane's face.
‘If I disobey Your Grace... will he get angry?’
Until now, she had always obediently followed his words.
But she wasn't always going to be like that, she wanted to show that a squirrel's front teeth were quite strong.
As long as the contract period remained, he wouldn't be able to throw her away.
“I want to drink it. Please give it to me quickly.”
“Ooh! I thought you were a cute coward, but you had this side to you too? I like it even better!”
Beatrice handed Rose a glass brimming with golden champagne.
“To our cute Duchess, and to my friend's love! Cheers!”
“Cheers…!”
Clink!
Beatrice's and Rose's glasses clinked.
Not knowing what kind of aftermath this would bring.
**
“I'm sorry, Your Grace…….”
“Your Highness, please forgive us.”
The servants bowed their heads repeatedly, not knowing what to do.
“…….”
I looked at the scene inside the powder room with my arms crossed.
“Well, who do we have here, isn't it Duke Schmaichel! Ooh, you lover boy!”
Beatrice, her face flushed red, leaning comfortably in a chair.
“Uugh…….”
Rose sleeping soundly with her arms resting on the table.
Several champagne bottles were rolling on the floor. The smell of alcohol permeated the powder room.
“Wow, what an ugly sight.”
Arikx clicked his tongue from behind me.
“Ah, don't get me wrong, I said that about Betty. She's my sister, but I can't stand to look at her.”
“I feel the same way.”
When the servants with troubled faces begged for help, I came over to see what was going on.
“This is an absolute disaster.”
My head throbbed. At the same time, my stomach boiled.
‘That defenseless face…….’
Rose's flushed cheeks and prettily closed eyelids, that only I should have seen, were being shared with another person.
Of all people, it was Arikx, the person I wanted to show it to the least.
Swish.
I quietly shifted my body to block Rose from Arikx's view.
“I will take my wife.”
And without hesitation, I strode into the powder room.
“Rose.”
I placed my hand on Rose's shoulder and shook her slightly,
“Uugh... Your Grace?”
Rose slowly lifted her head.
“Why... are you here? You shouldn't... come in here……”
“That's right, that's right. Dane, this is a space for ladies. Get out right now!”
Even in that state, Beatrice adding fuel to the fire was infuriatingly annoying.
“Shut up.”
I gritted my teeth and reprimanded the drunkard—or rather, Beatrice.
“Wake up.”
I grabbed Rose, made her stand, and leaned her against me.
“Uugh.”
Rose's head tilted,
Thud.
She collapsed weakly onto my body.
“I'm dizzy…….”
“It's because you drank a lot.”
It was obvious Beatrice had pressured her into drinking. Since she kept making a fuss, Rose probably pretended to give in and accepted.
“Wake up.”
I kicked Beatrice's dress as she was snickering next to me.
“Whoa?! Wow, look at this. You tell your wife to wake up~ and act so sweet to the world, but you start with your foot with me.”
Beatrice frowned at the kick, fueled by personal feelings. Then she pfft-ed, sighed, and pointed her finger at me.
“Hey, you punk. You can do that to me. But don't do that to your wife. Huh?”
“I won't.”
“You won't, so why is Rose upset?”
“…What?”