Chapter 09 –
Being in the same space with someone uncomfortable made it hard to breathe.
Rosebel found herself wishing the Duke of Efrian were here.
That gaze—one that made no effort to hide its scrutiny—scratched at her nerves.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince?”
“Oh, I was lost in thought for a moment.”
“…Pardon?”
She didn’t want to know what he was thinking, but his red eyes made her uneasy.
Jet-black hair, and red eyes like rose petals fallen on pure white snow.
Anyone would find that appearance charming at first glance.
She thought it was the kind of setup every male lead in a romance fantasy would have.
But she felt nothing of the sort.
“By the way, do you usually dress like that?”
“Yes. There’s nothing more comfortable to work in.”
As Rosebel replied, she felt suspicious. So many people had disappeared as if they’d hidden like crabs—Maria was nowhere to be seen either.
“I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but whenever I come, the ducal residence seems to become very quiet.”
“It must be a coincidence.”
Rosebel smiled softly, but inside she was boiling.
Who would like someone who barges in without notice?!
“Is that so? It happens every time, so I wondered if they were ordered to avoid me.”
Rosebel also thought it was possible the Duke had warned them in advance.
Then, at last, the person she had been waiting for appeared.
“Your Highness, you’ve arrived.”
“Duke Efrian as well… you’re dressed quite comfortably too.”
At the Crown Prince’s words, both of them pressed their lips together.
Even so, they could tell from each other’s eyes that they were thinking the same thing.
“This is why I was granted the ducal title. I was inspecting the apples to be sent to the palace, so please forgive my lack of proper attire.”
Rosebel realized the Duke was better at subtle sarcasm than she’d expected.
She had thought he would simply bow and yield, but that had been her mistake.
Choosing his words carefully when he had something to say made him feel reliable.
“Not at all. It’s already time to deliver the apples.”
“Time really does fly.”
“Indeed. By the way, I heard the young lady plans to take over the family business. Has that already been decided?”
At the Crown Prince’s question, the Duke looked at Rosebel.
She shrugged.
It seemed to mean, We’ve already talked about it, so handle it yourself.
The Duke smiled and answered.
“Yes. Rosebel said she wants to inherit the family business, so I intend to teach her properly.”
“I see. If the Duke has approved it, I have nothing to add. It’s a relief that we’ll continue to enjoy the apples of the Efrian duchy.”
Rosebel clenched her teeth.
The word relief sounded strangely sarcastic to her.
Still, the Duke responded calmly.
“I will teach her well. Above all, Rosebel’s will is strong, so I believe she’ll do well even after I step back.”
At the Duke’s unexpectedly firm words, Arcangelos smiled.
The Duke who always took a step back was nowhere to be seen.
“If you say so, Duke, I’ll trust you. It seems the relationship between the imperial family and House Efrian will remain close.”
“Of course.”
“I came suddenly, but may I take a look around the orchard?”
“Certainly. I’ll guide you myself today.”
The Duke stepped forward, determined to prevent Rosebel from becoming further entangled with the imperial family.
Arcangelos did not refuse.
He had hoped that, after the previous incident, she would feel uncomfortable moving around with him.
“Oh, there’s something I’m curious about.”
“Please, go ahead.”
At the Crown Prince’s words, the Duke swallowed nervously.
“If His Majesty the Emperor were to recommend the young lady as my partner, what would you do?”
“Ah… I hadn’t thought that far.”
The Duke was flustered by the sudden question.
“You may not be aware, Duke, but the young lady and I once wrote a pledge together.”
“…What? A pledge…?”
Rosebel’s face went pale in shock.
Is that crazy bastard really about to say that?!
She had never imagined the Crown Prince would bring up that ridiculous scrap of paper.
At that moment, Rosebel realized she could no longer avoid this situation.
“Your Highness, wasn’t that something written when we were immature? It’s more than enough to treat it as if it never existed.”
In her urgency, Rosebel revealed her true feelings without restraint.
The Duke could not hide his confusion at his daughter’s words.
“Rosebel, what do you mean? Immature?”
“Ah… well… this is driving me crazy.”
Rosebel finally let her inner thoughts slip out in rough words, startling both men.
“As I said, it was written when we were young and foolish. I thought Your Highness had already forgotten it. And since it was written when we knew nothing, I didn’t think there was any need to carry it out.”
Before she realized it, Rosebel was speaking rapidly, as if making excuses.
The Crown Prince, however, replied slowly, looking troubled.
“As a member of the imperial family, one must take responsibility even for small matters…”
“Do you think His Majesty the Emperor would acknowledge it as well?”
Rosebel’s voice dropped, her expression hardening.
Arcangelos smiled faintly.
He thought this was exactly the answer she had been waiting for.
Of course, he had no intention of honoring that document.
But seeing her react like this made him want to put her in an awkward position.
“Do you believe we wouldn’t be granted permission for our relationship?”
Rosebel immediately retorted at his absurd words.
“I understand that His Majesty makes clear decisions when he proceeds with matters.”
“That is true.”
“Whether permission is granted or not is a secondary issue. I believe Your Highness hasn’t told anyone about that pledge we wrote.”
At Rosebel’s firm words, the smile disappeared from the Crown Prince’s face.
He, too, had no desire to be bound by such a worthless piece of paper.
“You’re not wrong, young lady… but isn’t there a proper procedure to everything?”
Rosebel bit the inside of her cheek.
Imperial and noble families were obsessed with justification and procedure.
And those things often served as convenient excuses for them to escape responsibility.
“If you haven’t spoken about that pledge, then I don’t think there’s any need to stir up trouble by bringing it up now.”
Since the Crown Prince had mentioned it, Rosebel had to nullify that political marriage pledge right here.
The Crown Prince wore an expression that seemed to say, I don’t know anything, but I’ll take responsibility.
“I thought it was something we could discuss gradually. I believed it would be fine to proceed slowly after the young lady’s debutante ball… It seems I was short-sighted.”
At his words, Rosebel’s mind went blank.
They said sudden changes could kill a person—what was going on?
Does he know about my contract with the spirit?
She could feel the situation heading in a direction completely unrelated to her plans.
“Even if I become the heir, the relationship between the imperial family and the duchy will not change.”
“If you say so much, then I suppose I’ll have to work harder from now on.”
His red eyes curved gently as they disappeared behind lowered lids.
Rosebel thought he was far more dangerous than she had imagined.
“Do you like me?”
The words sent chills down her own spine.
But when dealing with someone like him, pretending to be clueless was the best approach.
“I don’t dislike you. What kind of answer are you hoping for?”
Caught off guard by her unexpected question, Arcangelos simply lifted the corners of his lips in a smile and asked back.
Rosebel knew well the traits of people who moved purely for their own benefit.
“I want to marry someone who likes me—and someone I love. Like my parents.”
Arcangelos thought Rosebel was surprisingly naive.
It was almost strange how she was no longer forcing the issue like before.
Did injuring her head really change her heart?
“Duke Efrian.”
“…Yes.”
“It seems the young lady loves you very much. She’s more pure than I expected.”
“Thank you for thinking so kindly of her.”
Sensing the Crown Prince subtly looking down on Rosebel, the Duke cut him off with polite thanks.
Still, being human, he clenched his fist to suppress his irritation.
That man might one day be his sovereign.
But right now, he was simply a father with a daughter.
“Ah… you married for love, didn’t you, Duke? I can understand why the young lady places such importance on love. Among nobles, political marriages for mutual benefit are far more common.”
The Duke felt the Crown Prince was different from usual today.
Given his position, he should have viewed political marriages as natural.
Yet there was a complex, subtle emotion in his tone.
Though he had no right to pity him easily, today the Crown Prince seemed a little pitiable.
“Your Highness, you will someday meet your destined partner as well. And I believe that person will love you with all their heart—just as I loved my wife.”
The Duke smiled as if recalling old memories, but made it clear, indirectly, that the person he meant was not his daughter.
“I, too, would like to marry someone I can remember and cherish for a long, long time—just like you, Duke.”
At Arcangelos’s words, the Duke quietly added,
“I’m sure that will happen.”
