Chapter 9
Roseline asked quietly.
She already understood that, one way or another, she was being calculated and traded off. Even so, that didn’t mean she welcomed a marriage arrangement that could be overturned so easily.
“We have sent a proposal to Prince Gerard, the commander of the Caldrov occupying forces, and received a favorable reply. If you conduct yourself well, the annulment and new engagement will proceed simultaneously.”
Having finished speaking, the duke cast a glance at his sister, Miriam.
As if waiting for her turn, Miriam immediately began speaking, her words of persuasion flowing as though they had been rehearsed in advance.
“This is truly a blessing for us. Can you imagine what might have happened otherwise? If the wedding had been rushed before the war ended, you would have ended up like a kite with its string cut—just like that Edwin boy.”
That “cut kite” was precisely the match Miriam herself had once fervently supported, praising Edwin as “a prince” and “a crown prince” and insisting he must be wed to Roseline.
Yet now, she acted as though she remembered none of it.
“In the end, it all worked out thanks to your uncle, didn’t it?”
“Ahem, yes. Nothing is finalized yet, but it might as well be.”
“He must have gone through so much trouble arranging this. We should be grateful.”
Miriam spoke with emphasis, glancing at the duke for approval.
When her mother’s urging gaze reached her as well, Roseline slowly bent her knees in a formal gesture of respect.
“…Thank you, Uncle.”
“Hahaha! Yes, yes! You’ve grown up now—truly ready for marriage!”
As everything unfolded exactly as he wished, the duke’s grin stretched wide. Only then did Miriam’s previously shadowed expression brighten completely, her voice rising with feigned cheer.
The anxiety and unease that had clung to her well-maintained, ageless face faded away, revealing her noble elegance. Though not quite as radiant as her daughter Roseline—celebrated for her beauty—she still looked more than capable of remarrying.
The duke’s gaze upon his sister held both greed and regret.
Looking at her now, Miriam could still be of use… but she stubbornly rejected every proposal, insisting on remaining faithful to that dead Grand Duke.
Still, once Roseline—whom Miriam clung to—married and left, her mind might change.
Setting aside his greed for the future, the duke quickly praised Miriam, who looked at him expectantly.
“A mother who acts swiftly in securing her daughter’s marriage is a virtuous one. I’m not saying this just because you’re my sister—everyone will recognize your wisdom, Miriam.”
“You give me too much credit, brother.”
Though she said so, Miriam straightened proudly, smiling with confidence.
Watching her obedient daughter sit quietly, listening without protest and agreeing to comply, filled her with pride and satisfaction.
Roseline. You are the only treasure I have left.
While the two before her basked in their shared satisfaction, Roseline quietly thought of her fiancé, Edwin.
The man who had always been meant to stand beside her.
They had been betrothed since childhood—so long that she could scarcely remember a time without him. And yet, with a single word from her uncle, their engagement was now being dissolved.
It’s fine. He was never truly faithful to me anyway.
Edwin had treated her as a childhood friend, and later, as a proper lady.
But she also knew he had continued seeing other women behind her back. Because of that, the broken engagement stirred little emotion within her.
Still, he did at least say he loved me…
Perhaps it was due to their long history.
At the very least, he understood how to show respect to the woman who would have been his lawful wife.
It wouldn’t have been a faithful marriage, but they knew each other’s families and dispositions so well that she had believed she could turn a blind eye to such affairs and fulfill her duties as his wife.
Marriage was something I had to do at least once anyway. And no matter who it was with, it would have ended eventually.
That had been Roseline’s plan.
And it was a plan she intended to begin only after her mother completely lost her sanity—or passed away.
When that time came—too guilt-laden to wish for quickly, yet too near to ignore—she would cast off her heavy shackles and finally become free.
That’s why the position of queen had been quite appealing.
But now that Verita had been reduced to an occupied territory, everything had fallen apart.
If she didn’t adapt to the present, everything might come to nothing.
She needed to abandon lingering attachments and stay alert to new opportunities.
Yes… perhaps it’s better to be the wife of the commander ruling this land than the queen of a subordinate state. Though in that case, I can’t ignore their laws… I’ll need to reconsider the terms of divorce.
While she calmly planned her future, showing little reaction to the change in her prospective husband, the Duke of Devonshire seemed to notice and issued a warning.
“We have not yet received a final confirmation from Prince Gerard. However, as far as I know, you are his first choice. You should consider it an honor and conduct yourself accordingly.”
At those words, Roseline finally raised her head. Something about this felt strange.
“Are you saying… this match was requested from their side?”
Why would someone she had never even met—especially someone who was meant to become a queen—be chosen?
Roseline was not yet the most noble woman in the land.
“And if I’m the first choice… what about Princess Anette?”
Edwin had a younger sister.
Ordinarily, the role of the commander’s wife should have gone to Anette, a royal princess.
Especially since the Duke of Devonshire had already annulled Anette’s engagement to Lucas the moment Verita’s defeat became apparent, leaving her as a flawless and most prestigious bride.
If the commander were to take royal blood as his wife, it would also provide legitimacy for their descendants to rule Verita.
So why choose her instead of the renowned beauty, Anette?
But the duke avoided answering, his expression uneasy.
No matter how she considered it, something about the arrangement felt like mismatched gears grinding together.
“It would be best not to mention that name anymore.”
“…Is she dead?”
“Enough. Didn’t I tell you not to ask!”
The duke, who had maintained a veneer of gentleness until now, flushed red and snapped angrily.
Even a child could tell something was terribly wrong.
A variable has appeared…
She might have to discard everything she had understood about the current situation.
Roseline lowered her gaze, rapidly calculating possibilities—but Miriam’s sharp voice cut through her thoughts.
“Roseline! There’s no time to waste—go upstairs and prepare yourself at once.”
“…Pardon?”
“Surely you don’t think this is enough?”
“For what?”
“His Highness Prince Gerard will arrive shortly. You must hurry.”
At this point, even Roseline—who had intended to comply quietly—was taken aback.
The moment she agreed, it was as if they had been waiting for it: an immediate meeting with a new man.
And the meaning behind Miriam’s piercing gaze was unmistakable.
You must be more beautiful. Because you are my daughter.
That obsession and pride were among the few things still sustaining Miriam.
In the end, Roseline swallowed a sigh and rose.
“Yes. I’ll add a few more jewels and come down.”
“Good.”
Beside Miriam, whose expression softened again, the duke added pointedly,
“You may take care with your appearance, but be on time, Roseline. No man welcomes a sluggish bride.”
“…Yes.”
“When you’re ready, come to the greenhouse.”
It felt as though she had become a piece of meat about to be put on display.
Though she had resolved to accept whatever marriage was arranged for her, something surged up inside her chest.
Just then, servants—nominally belonging to the Clifford Grand Ducal household but in truth loyal to the Duke of Devonshire—swarmed around her.
“….”
Gripping the hem of her dress so tightly that her knuckles turned white, Roseline slowly performed a formal bow and withdrew.
She had seen her uncle’s temper explode more than enough times.
It was better to walk on her own than be dragged by the hair.
Her mother and the other servants—who valued the Duke of Devonshire above her—would never stand by her side in such a situation. Experience had taught her that well.
After arriving in her room, Roseline dismissed everyone except a single maid to attend her.
“The rest of you may leave.”
“Pardon? My lady, but—”
With a dismissive wave of her hand, as if she lacked the energy to respond further, Roseline silenced them. The maids, their curiosity barely contained, swallowed their words and filed out like a receding tide.
Before the day was out, rumors of her broken engagement and new match would spread throughout the estate.
“My lady… are you truly going to accept this?”
The black-haired maid—who had silently followed her like a shadow—asked as she brushed Roseline’s hair.
Rescued by Roseline from the fire that had consumed the Raintz County, the girl had sworn her loyalty upon receiving a new name.
Now that most servants had been replaced with those loyal to Devonshire, she was one of the few people Roseline could trust.
At Mary’s dissatisfied tone, a faint trace of color returned to Roseline’s otherwise expressionless face.
“You’ve held it in for quite a while.”
“…Pardon?”
“You must have been dying of curiosity, but you held back, watching my mood.”
At her mistress’s rare teasing tone, shown only to her, Mary’s eyes filled with tears.
“Does this make any sense? The duke isn’t even your real father!”
“I appreciate you complaining on my behalf, but that’s enough. Focus on dressing me properly.”
Thanks to Mary’s quick and skillful hands, the preparations were finished in no time.
“Well?”
“You’re beautiful. Unfairly so.”
“Thank you.”
Roseline thought it fortunate that her appearance was at least of some use, but she swallowed her words when she saw the tears brimming in Mary’s eyes.
When Roseline, fully prepared, arrived at the greenhouse with Mary, no one was there yet.
“But why did they choose this place?” Mary asked.
“They likely wanted to establish dominance.”
Or perhaps… to impress him.
It was rare in noble society to receive a guest in a greenhouse from the outset.
But this excessively vast space was one of the estate’s prides—something the Duke of Devonshire would certainly make use of.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Roseline instinctively adjusted her posture and stood upright, facing the door.
But the man did not enter through the door.
He appeared from somewhere else.
