Chapter 68 …
I woke with a start to the clear song of birds.
The blanket warmed by sunlight looked unusually white. That pure, pristine whiteness—symbolic of innocence—brought me a sense of calm, and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew. Thank goodness. Yesterday was just a dream.”
“I thought you’d sleep in until the afternoon, but you’re up earlier than I expected.”
I had no idea how long he’d been there, but Rosinante spoke casually from near the door.
Because I’d felt relieved when he wasn’t in the bed, the shock hit me twice as hard, slamming through my entire body. With trembling hands, I pointed at him.
“W-Why are you here?”
“This is the shared bedroom for a married couple.”
Watching him stride toward me, I felt like screaming.
“That look says you don’t remember. If you go through the same thing one more time, your brain will start working properly.”
“I’ll politely decline!”
When I refused flatly, he let out a light laugh. I hadn’t noticed from afar, but seeing his defined muscles and catching the clean scent on him, it seemed he’d already finished morning training and even showered while I slept.
“I’m joking. If I did that, you wouldn’t be able to get out of bed for a while. You really think I’d do something like that?”
“Or are you already satisfied because you did?”
“Again, you’re forcing me into one of your misunderstandings.”
“That’s not me—it’s Shadow’s fault—”
As if to prove his own existence, his eyes glowed red.
Among the Dragon Authorities that only imperial royalty could awaken, this was said to be the most powerful of all: the ability of Absolute Dominion.
Think of the princes who left the imperial family of their own accord and were confined to monasteries.
If he truly wanted to, he could send me to a convent—or force me to stay by his side.
‘That’s completely overpowered!’
When I thought of it as a tool for seizing power, something distant that had nothing to do with me, I hadn’t felt it so keenly.
But now that my fate was directly tied to his, his ability was truly the worst—one I had no way to oppose and no way to escape.
‘How unfair. This is ridiculous. I’m never reading stories where the male lead is an overpowered cheat again…’
It was hard not to feel intimidated standing before someone who could control me at will, but what reached my tense ears was patient persuasion.
“I’m not Shadow. I’m Rosinante.”
“…I know.”
And that was the most hopeless part of my situation.
“I also know you sometimes use Shadow as a stand-in for me.”
“Shadow’s analysis of you is pretty accurate.”
“How did he analyze me?”
“He said you’re perceptive, but your responses are the worst.”
“……”
Sadly, I had no rebuttal.
“What else did Shadow say?”
“Well…”
“Come on, tell me.”
“Are you that curious?”
I stopped mid-word—curious—with a bad feeling.
But it was already too late.
“In our marital space, you keep boldly talking about another man. I was going to let it slide, but it looks like you’re already gearing up for extra rounds.”
“You… I’m telling Uncle Gilbert.”
“Are you sure? If an angry Sir Gilbert puts me through stamina training and I end up even stronger, how are you going to handle that?”
His smiling face was infuriating, so I pinched his cheek and the bridge of his nose, pestering him. He let me, looking amused.
It was quite similar to the expression puppies or kittens make when you mess with them. Just how lightly does he take me…?
“Now that you’re up, come with me. There’s something I want to show you.”
“What is it that I have to see too?”
As far as I knew, there were no special official engagements. There was no need to drag me along for personal business.
“Well, if it’s a prince’s order, I have to follow.”
“It’s not an order. I’m taking you because there’s something you need to check.”
When I spoke sarcastically, he gently scolded me like an adult.
Moments like this made my belief grow stronger—Rosinante will never subdue me by force.
Because he didn’t need to.
“If you behave, I’ll pretend I didn’t see the divorce papers you hid in your arms.”
“……”
So in the middle of all that chaos, he’d seen everything. Or was I the only one who’d been flustered?
I’d expected things to blow up the moment divorce came up, but his reaction was surprisingly calm.
Like the universe, the deep sea, or fiction itself, the word divorce coming from his mouth felt like something very far removed from us.
As if it wasn’t worth discussing at length, Rosinante changed the subject.
“And I’ll treat you to the chocolate cake you like.”
“Chocolate cake—as in the one we had before…?”
“The one we had before.”
I eat everything with gusto, but I don’t find everything delicious. I’m not a refrigerator.
Once, during a meal with Rosinante, I’d had some cake that I liked enough to remember, thinking I’d have it again someday.
But I never actually followed through and had buried the thought in the back of my mind. Yet not only had he remembered it—he’d even noticed that I liked it.
‘And bringing it up at this timing means I can’t refuse.’
It felt like his skill at handling me was improving by the day. I needed to be careful.
“Fine. I’ll go.”
…First, I’ll take the cake. It really is delicious.
After getting dressed, the place where I met him again was a large multipurpose room in the prince’s palace, often used for official business.
He hadn’t mentioned going outside, so I’d chosen light, comfortable clothes—but Rosinante was dressed in formal ceremonial attire.
A white suit with a golden sash… He looked impressive, but he also looked like he was about to attend something important.
Not bothering to hide my suspicion, I asked Rosinante, who was already there waiting.
“Where are you going?”
“Yes.”
“Yes? You should at least tell me where. Dressed like that… Are you going to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor or something?”
Rosinante just chuckled at my questioning. He didn’t seem eager to answer.
I was about to press him further when he snapped his fingers as a signal. Suddenly the door flew open and people poured inside.
Women—more precisely, carefully selected maids with well-trained bodies.
Given the timing, their presence clearly had a purpose.
When I shot him a sharp look, Rosinante kindly explained.
“They’re the maids who’ll be attending to your needs from now on. I’ve kept Stellyna’s position secure, so don’t worry about that.”
When I pressed closer to him, I could hear him more clearly.
“You said it was annoying how strange maids kept attaching themselves to you. This way, no one will be able to approach you so easily.”
Their trained physiques radiated dignity and spirit. It was as if incarnations of battle had descended—powerful muscles bulging beneath their clothes, loudly asserting themselves.
Veteran warriors you’d be lucky to see even one of—yet here were several at once. Where on earth had he recruited people like this?
And why did Rosinante want to assign such strong maids to me?
I ignored the excuse about fending off random maids.
“What are you plotting?”
“For your safety.”
Saying that while standing before a mage who could summon pillars of fire at will was…
I stared at him in disbelief, and he added lightly with a faint smile.
“The imperial palace will become a dangerous place. It’s not exactly safe even now, but that tendency will grow stronger for a while. I know you’re a powerful mage, but that also means there are many who will target you. As your husband, I have a duty to protect you.”
Upon his return, the male lead brings a storm of bloodshed to the imperial family.
And now that all doubts had been stripped away, I knew the truth: the 13th Prince, Rosinante, was the real male lead—not a stand-in.
The implication was simple.
‘The succession to the throne is coming soon…!’
What he’d said was the signal announcing the opening of war.
“But… there’s still someone left.”
I deliberately left the subject vague, but Rosinante understood perfectly that I meant Diego remains.
Smiling, he caressed my cheek. As always, his touch was gentle.
His blue eyes met mine—steady, unwavering, like a deep and tranquil lake.
“Are you worried about me?”
Not about you, but about the fate of the world that depends on you, the savior…
Unable to voice what was in my heart, I opened my mouth and hesitated. Perceptive, but terrible at responding—that was my strength and my flaw.
Shadow’s analysis of me seemed spot-on.
I took hold of Rosinante’s hand.
“I’m worried.”
“……”
“Don’t go. Stay with me.”
Ripples spread across the lake-like eyes.
