Chapter 74
She had guessed that something was going on, but “love” was the last thing she expected to hear.
Could it really be possible, Roze wondered, for Christina—who had feelings for Noah until just recently—to suddenly fall in love with Jonathan?
‘She’s serious!’
The look in Christina’s eyes, gazing dreamily into the distance as she thought of Jonathan, was pure sincerity—one hundred percent genuine.
That night, when they returned from the forest and were riding back in the carriage, Jonathan must have tried hard to comfort her. But it seemed that one of the things he said to console her had struck deep.
“He told me to give my heart to a man who truly loves and cherishes me… and my heart started pounding.”
Knowing Jonathan, that was probably just a simple piece of advice…
‘Ha… Jonathan Wales. You sinful man.’
But that simple remark had pierced Christina’s heart like an arrow.
As the daughter of Duke Raymond, Christina had probably never been allowed to choose her marriage based on love. Would she have been able to accept that reality?
Probably not.
Maybe she’d already known that Noah had no real interest in her. But even knowing her feelings were one-sided, she might have comforted herself by thinking, Even if I love alone, that’s still better than a loveless marriage.
Christina, unlike her father, was an emotional person.
And then—a handsome man who had once knelt before her and washed her feet spoke about love right in front of her.
“So I thought—when Jonathan loves a woman, does he love and cherish her that deeply?”
How could a tender-hearted girl resist something like that?
“I see.”
Maybe Roze ought to congratulate her—Christina had overcome her heartbreak from Noah and fallen in love again.
‘But why does she always fall for men who’ll break her heart?’
Still, more than Christina’s wistful eyes, what bothered Roze most was that Jonathan obviously had no romantic feelings for her.
‘Ugh, I already feel guilty enough about getting her mixed up with Noah and hurting her before…’
Now she was going to feel sorry again—for nothing this time.
Well, not nothing.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have left her alone with Jonathan. But seriously, where did he learn those romantic lines? From a romance novel?’
Roze had told him to observe—not to spout lines like that or wash anyone’s feet!
“So… you’re telling me this because you want my help?”
“Yes…”
At first, Roze had thought Christina was only useful for keeping Noah’s position secure.
But somehow, despite herself, she’d grown fond of the girl’s bright, innocent nature.
“I’ll do my best!”
She just couldn’t bring herself to ignore her.
‘It’s obvious without asking, but… first I need to figure out what Jonathan feels.’
Maybe helping wouldn’t change the outcome—but at least she could try to keep Christina from getting hurt too badly.
* * *
Whether they’d met at the hunting ground again or separately later, it seemed the Marquis of Percy—who had lost out on hosting the hunt—had complained to Melissa.
During dinner, when Noah spotted Melissa already seated in the dining hall and tried to avoid her, she called out to him:
“If we travel just an hour from here, we can reach Montesán. Wouldn’t it be nice to visit after dinner, Your Majesty? The Marquis of Percy would appreciate it.”
Normally, Noah would have ignored her completely. But he was still angry over the several times Melissa had disrespected Roze in the past couple of days.
He hadn’t been interested in the night hunt to begin with. And even if he had been, the fact that Melissa was the one suggesting it made him want to refuse all the more.
Unfortunately, with Duke Raymond sitting there, it wasn’t easy to reject her outright.
“Why don’t you go, Your Majesty? You didn’t really get to enjoy the hunt earlier because of that incident.”
Roze had gently nudged him to agree.
He’d wanted to stay—if only to have tea with her after dinner—but then he thought, If I go with Melissa and the others, Roze can rest peacefully alone.
So he left for the hunt.
“Isn’t it nice and light, moving just among men?”
“Very nice indeed, Duke Raymond.”
Ironically, Melissa—who had suggested the trip—wasn’t even among the party.
Only Duke Raymond, the chatty Marquis of Dwellie, and the Marquis of Percy accompanied Noah for the night hunt.
“Your Majesty, your aide is nowhere to be seen. Where is he?”
“I left him at the estate.”
“At the estate? Why not bring him along?”
He couldn’t very well cancel at the last minute in front of them all.
“Have a good time! If you’re late, I’ll probably be asleep already.”
Roze’s parting words about minding his manners stuck with him—it would’ve been rude to refuse.
“I don’t believe I owe you an explanation.”
“True enough… ahem.”
So Noah went hunting. Not because he wanted to bond with them—just out of courtesy.
The real reason he’d left Jonathan behind at the estate wasn’t complicated.
He was worried that someone might approach Roze while he was gone.
“Roze might be in danger, so stay by her side.”
“The knights are guarding the estate, Your Majesty. What danger could there be? I’m more worried about you among these wolves. Let me accompany you.”
“No. Stay with Roze.”
He couldn’t say outright that he was jealous, so he’d vaguely mentioned danger. But Jonathan surely understood what he meant.
Noah trusted that Jonathan would protect Roze—from expected and unexpected threats like Melissa alike.
So, feeling only slightly more at ease, he led the hunting party.
“There are deer tracks over there.”
“Shall we proceed, Your Majesty?”
“Lead the way.”
Even so, Noah couldn’t feel truly at peace leaving Roze with Jonathan.
He’d just have to catch something quickly, drop by Percy’s lodge for form’s sake, and return to her as soon as possible.
* * *
“How on earth are we supposed to roast an entire ox whole? Who gave that order?”
After much grumbling, the servants realized the command had originally come from Roze’s mouth. From then on, whenever she passed by, they glared daggers at her—until they discovered something.
“Miss! Please, have some more!”
“Ah… I’m not a miss. Anyway, I’m fine—I’m full. You all eat plenty.”
“Thanks to you!”
“We’ll eat well, Miss!”
Once they realized they got to keep most of the leftover meat, they started thanking Roze instead.
“Evelyn, do we have some food for the cats?”
“Of course! Here, take plenty. I even saved some fruit for the field mice.”
Human nature might be fickle, but the shift was dramatic. Still, Roze was glad things had turned around.
‘Good thing the misunderstanding cleared up—otherwise my image would’ve been ruined.’
If she’d said one more wrong word, Noah might’ve been branded the cruel emperor who made the servants cook some absurd feast.
(Well… technically he had asked for a sudden new dish, but still.)
Carrying some roast beef and cherries that Evelyn had packed for her, Roze returned to her room—
“Hey, guys! Dinner—”
—but all four cats were already fast asleep on the bed, cuddled together.
Even though the food smelled amazing, they didn’t stir an inch. They must have been exhausted.
“You can eat when you wake up.”
Roze decided not to wake them. If they were awake, they’d only demand attention, complain, or make a mess.
‘Feels like a parenting simulator.’
Babies are cutest when they’re asleep—she was starting to understand that sentiment.
“Just a little peace and quiet for me, please…”
“Where are you going?”
“Hmm? Just to the garden for a bit.”
Careful not to wake the cats, she slipped out and quietly closed the door—only to run into Jonathan in the hallway.
Even after she explained, he didn’t move aside.
Apparently, “Where are you going?” really meant “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Why? Am I not allowed to go?”
She could sense the tone but not the reason, so she asked. Jonathan answered plainly.
“His Majesty ordered me to keep you safe.”
“Safe? From what? What danger could there be here?”
“Who knows… what might happen.”
His ambiguous eyes suggested he did know. Jonathan always managed to sound so calm, yet somehow left a strange lingering tension.
‘Is that how he accidentally charms women?’
Christina’s face flashed through her mind, and she found herself staring at him for a moment.
“You really want to go outside that badly?”
He misunderstood, but Roze didn’t bother correcting him.
Since people kept appearing at the far end of the hallway, if she wanted a quiet conversation with Jonathan, she needed to move somewhere else.
“It’s fine if I go out with you, right?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“Of course it is! Let’s go.”
And so, to talk privately, Roze stepped out into the night garden—with Jonathan at her side.
