~Chapter 28~
“Shade.”
<…Yes.>
Normally, if Caspar called his name, it would be followed by something scary like, “Shut your mouth if you want to live.”
But this time, Caspar only spoke quietly.
That could only mean something big was about to happen.
Shade blamed himself for speaking out without thinking. He sat up straight, tense, waiting for Caspar’s words.
Caspar practically held his life in his hands.
“I need to know about the corruption in the temple.”
The words were completely unexpected.
Shade’s eyes went wide.
<What? Didn’t you say you were purposely ignoring that, Caspar?>
“I have a new goal now.”
Caspar turned his eyes toward the door. Just a moment ago they had been sharp, but now they softened.
***
Caspar clearly had nothing better to do. Or more likely, he had piles of work but decided to ignore it.
‘Definitely the latter.’
A duke of the empire couldn’t possibly be this free.
Besides, lately he hadn’t even brought knights with him when visiting the temple.
Early that morning, Floria found another letter stuck in her door.
—Floria. Today I’ll be going to the garden with His Highness the Prince. Keep that girl free for dinner.
It was short and to the point, as always, and made her frown.
‘The garden? You mean the one right next to the cemetery? Really?’
Of course, unless you went all the way inside, no one would even realize the cemetery was behind it.
The garden was so large, with flowers taller than a person.
Still, what annoyed her most was the perfectly neat handwriting. She didn’t even know why.
‘Maybe he rushed it since today is my last day off.’
Usually, he told her days in advance if something was planned. Maybe he had written it right after Aster agreed.
Thinking back to how she had run away after Caspar’s half-confession a few days ago, she knew she couldn’t refuse this time.
‘Well… as long as I don’t let Rose near the cemetery, it’s fine.’
The cemetery itself wasn’t bad—it even felt sacred since it was on temple grounds.
But Rose was still young. Floria didn’t want her to face death so soon.
She checked the clock. There were still thirty minutes before Rose’s guardian priest would arrive to take her to lessons.
“Big sis, today I want to wear the bunny hairpin!”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
Floria smiled warmly.
Rose now spoke her mind clearly and wasn’t shy anymore. With proper meals, her thin body had filled out and her cheeks were plump and rosy.
If she ate a little more, she’d finally look her age. She was still cuter than anyone else though.
Floria dressed Rose in a pink one-piece dress.
To make the bunny hairpin stand out, she braided Rose’s silver hair into two pigtails and clipped it neatly.
“All done! Rose, look in the mirror.”
She turned the full-length mirror so Rose could see. Her eyes widened.
“Wow, it’s so pretty!”
She even clapped her hands.
Floria didn’t know if Rose was admiring the hairpin or herself—but either way, she looked adorable.
Her round face, braided silver hair, and bright eyes made her look like she could hop through the forest like a bunny.
Floria bent down, wanting to pat her head, but stopped.
‘If I touch it, the braids might loosen.’
The hairpin was placed perfectly. If she messed it up, she’d have to redo everything.
So she held her hands behind her back. There were still ten minutes left.
“Rose, do you want to see His Highness the Prince again?”
“The prince?”
“Yes.”
Rose, still staring into the mirror, flinched and rolled her eyes nervously.
From her reaction that day, Floria thought she probably liked him. But she didn’t want to force her.
Her “matchmaking project” wasn’t worth pushing.
‘I’m just trying not to die like in the original story. Rose doesn’t have to live the same way.’
Rose’s feelings came first.
‘Even if they don’t end up together, it’s not like I’ll die because of it.’
Rose hesitated for a long time. Then she lowered her head.
“…Yes, I want to see him.”
Her voice was soft, her toes fidgeting, and her cheeks turned red like steam rising from her head.
Floria covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
“Then how about having dinner with him tonight?”
“R-really?”
Rose’s silver eyes sparkled brightly.
“Yes. His Highness said he wanted to see you too.”
“…”
For once, Rose was speechless. Then she broke into a huge smile.
Floria was relieved. ‘Good. They really are the story’s main couple.’
She smiled with her.
***
At exactly 5:30, Rose’s priest guardian brought her back. Floria thanked him and then took Rose into the garden.
“You’re here.”
“You came.”
The moment they opened the door, the two men spoke at the same time—pretending not to care, though it was obvious they had been waiting.
Floria almost laughed.
The tea table in the garden—she was used to that now.
But the problem was the two men sitting there.
Aster wasn’t even trying to hide his identity anymore—his golden hair and golden eyes shone plainly. He held his head high, almost like he wanted to show off.
‘And that outfit…’
Last time, he wore plain black clothes to stay low-profile.
But today? His black uniform was covered in golden ornaments.
Then there was Caspar.
He usually wore plain black uniforms with gloves. But today, his uniform was deep navy blue, covered with decorations—almost competing with Aster.
‘Did they bet on who could look flashier?’
Wearing that much gold in front of a cemetery felt almost disrespectful.
Still, before her stood the Empire’s prince, the original story’s hero, and the Duke.
“Greetings to His Highness the Prince and the Duke.”
She curtsied politely.
Rose, startled, quickly copied her.
Unlike Floria, who was skeptical, Rose already seemed enchanted.
“Come, sit.”
Aster ordered arrogantly.
But every time Rose came closer, his golden eyes shook and his lips twitched, unable to hide his excitement.
Floria sat across from them with Rose at her side.
And once again, she was shocked.
“….”
The entire table was crammed with food.
And in the middle—
‘…Is that a parasol?’
Yes. A big pink parasol was stuck in the center of the table, shading it.
It looked completely out of place between these serious men.
