Chapter : 03
Rattle!
Startled by the sudden jolt, Rosetta opened her eyes. Across from her, Sol Rique was looking over some documents.
It was a dream.
Was it because they met again after so long? She’d dreamt of old memories.
Rubbing her eyelids, Rosetta looked out the window.
The carriage they were riding in was passing through a large iron gate. They were entering the estate of House Iglesea.
I remember getting on the train after the reception…
But she couldn’t recall switching to the carriage again.
I must’ve been more tired than I thought.
Rosetta glanced at Sol Rique.
His lowered gaze made his reddish-gold eyelashes flutter softly like a butterfly’s wings.
Even the way he sat—one leg crossed, documents resting neatly on top—was elegant, dressed in a tidy charcoal suit.
When she lifted her eyes again, she saw his beautiful face.
Still gorgeous, I see.
She stared without realizing, and then her gaze met his light blue eyes.
Ack.
Her heart thumped loudly. She quickly looked away, only to have her eyes caught by the smooth, unblemished skin of his neck.
Rosetta felt relieved.
It healed…
If he’d been left with a scar, she wouldn’t have been able to face him.
“Thank you.”
“…?”
Sol Rique lifted an eyebrow as he looked up from his documents.
His habits haven’t changed.
Rosetta smiled gently and continued.
“That time… I couldn’t thank you properly because everything was so chaotic. Thanks to you, I’m safe again. Thank you for keeping your promise.”
“Promise?”
Sol Rique closed the file.
“I may have proposed to you, but today is the first time I’ve actually seen you. So what promise are you talking about?”
“…Excuse me?”
The first time?
“So you didn’t propose… because you were trying to keep a promise?”
“I proposed because I needed a woman who could become my Valerie as soon as possible.”
Valerie—the title for the partner of a National Guardian like Rique. Selecting someone whose status rivaled the imperial family normally required extensive vetting.
But Sol Rique needed a wife immediately—and that implied he wouldn’t have chosen her if any other bride had been available without conditions.
“I don’t expect anything from you.”
Sol Rique smiled as he looked into her trembling amber eyes.
“Just be in that position.”
“…”
Her first love—the one she reunited with after 13 years—
Doesn’t… remember me?
He had forgotten her.
When the carriage stopped and the door opened, the servants lined up in the lobby bowed deeply.
A middle-aged woman with neatly combed-back hair greeted her master with impeccable formality.
“Welcome home, Rique. We have awaited your return.”
“Nothing happened at the Solarium?”
“No, sir. A few petitions arrived while you were away—I placed them in your office.”
“Mm.”
While Sol Rique and the woman exchanged words, Rosetta surveyed the mansion to gauge its size.
So this is the Iglesea estate…
The Solarium mansion of Atheras City, in the Guardian Province.
As befitting a great house that owned manastone mines, the outer elevators powered by mana crystals rose and fell at each cardinal direction.
“Rosetta.”
“…?”
Still marveling at the sheer scale, Rosetta looked up when a gentle hand rested on her shoulder.
Sol Rique motioned toward the middle-aged woman.
“Kiril. This is Rosetta, who has become my Valerie. Rosetta, this is Lady Kirilos, the head housekeeper of the Solarium. Ask her if you need anything.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Lady Kirilos bowed her head politely.
“Henrita Kirilos. I serve as housekeeper of the Solarium.”
Saying she would show her around, Lady Kirilos turned her back. Seeing it, Rosetta felt a strange twinge.
How odd.
Somehow, she felt the woman was drawing a line with her.
Her behavior was polite, yet her gaze had been less than warm. As Rosetta blinked in puzzlement, Sol Rique released her shoulder and said,
“Go on.”
“What about you?”
“I have mouths to feed.”
What a grand way to say he was going to work.
“We’ll have dinner together.”
He kissed the back of her hand and turned away.
Rosetta, unable to hide the heat flooding her face, heard Lady Kirilos prompt her.
“This way.”
Rosetta tore her gaze from Sol Rique’s broad back and followed.
“Was it truly unavoidable?”
Having returned to his office, Sol Rique tilted his head at the words that greeted him the moment he sat down.
The speaker was Juan Machi, his chief aide—the same man who had accompanied him to the Fabinyu bridal waiting room.
The other aides exchanged uneasy glances. Sol Rique flicked his fingers.
“Out.”
Once they were alone, Juan Machi began.
“I know, I know. It’s rude of me to say this.”
“If you know, why say it?”
“Because I simply can’t understand! How could you marry that woman? Even the Empire’s flawless diamond wouldn’t feel like enough for you!”
“Do I owe you an explanation?”
“Of course not. But Rique, listen—when you told me to prepare the Maryrose Collection, I thought you meant to go to the Imperial City. Rique, who are you? Iglesea is older than the imperial family itself. Even a princess wouldn’t be too grand to make mistress of this house!”
That the mistress of the Solarium would be a mere count’s daughter—one whose engagement to another man had already fallen apart—was unbelievable.
Saying it was too much of a waste, the chief aide puffed up indignantly.
Sol Rique let out a short laugh.
“You’re going to die early because you can’t control your tongue.”
“To marry a woman with no credentials whatsoever—”
“Juan.”
The blade-sharp tone cut him off.
Juan Machi, who had been grumbling, shut his mouth instantly.
The light blue eyes framed by the setting sun turned cold.
“Did you forget that the Valerie stands on equal footing with me?”
“…My apologies.”
“Remember it. There won’t be a second time.”
“Yes, Rique.”
“If you understand, bring the others back in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Juan Machi opened the door. The moment he stepped into the hall, the other aides rushed toward him.
“How did it go?”
“What did Rique say?”
Juan wasn’t the only one thrown off by Rique’s sudden marriage.
The aides in charge of Rique’s administrative duties were already worrying about the flood of petitions—and the increase in paperwork—that would inevitably follow.
Juan sighed.
“…He said we may enter.”
Realizing he didn’t get his way, the aides drooped.
Lady Kirilos led Rosetta to a rear garden full of hydrangeas.
She said she’d show me the mansion… so why bring me here?
Lady Kirilos gestured proudly as Rosetta looked around in confusion.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? This is one of the gardens our Solarium gardeners tend day and night.”
The hydrangeas were planted in careful gradients from pale to deep hues, tended so meticulously that the entire garden looked like a painting.
“Hmm.”
But hydrangeas were not flowers suitable for a noble daughter’s garden.
To cultivate a garden of flowers symbolizing ‘change of heart’?
There was only one meaning behind bringing her here.
A subtle declaration that she would not acknowledge Rosetta as Rique’s Valerie.
But so what?
This sort of elegant rejection doesn’t even tickle. Sol said I only need to keep the seat warm anyway…
Rosetta chuckled softly and nodded.
“It’s a lovely place. But Lady Kirilos.”
“Yes, miss?”
“If we don’t start preparing now, won’t we be late for dinner?”
“…”
Lady Kirilos said nothing. Rosetta turned her back to the garden and headed toward the arcade walkway.
I wonder what the appetizer will be?
Her golden eyes sparkled with anticipation for the upcoming dinner.
