Chapter 6
The man’s name was Clidren Diero.
He was indeed an imperial citizen. The reason Lily hadn’t recognized him was simple—someone of her status, the daughter of Count Kikern, would never have had the chance to meet a noble of his rank.
There were countless noble families in the Bianke Empire, but two stood at the very top.
The Diero Duchy of the West, and the Portre Marquisate of the East.
Clidren was the sole heir of the illustrious Diero family, and he was already considered more talented than any of his predecessors—both in civil governance and military prowess.
What’s more, Clidren possessed not only exceptional swordsmanship but also strong aptitude as a mage, which had once earned him the title of the Empire’s only Magic Swordsman.
But Clidren didn’t want to explain any of this to Rosie. If she knew his true identity, she—being a former maid—would likely withdraw from him.
“I’m Clidren.”
Smiling faintly as he said so, the man left it at that. Rosie decided not to pry further. She fidgeted with her teacup before speaking again.
“I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but what Lady Lily said earlier wasn’t true. About how I supposedly like every nobleman I see, or… things like that.”
“…I don’t pay it any mind.”
Clidren recalled Lily, who had stormed in like a whirlwind and vanished just as quickly.
Her burning desire to slander Rosie, the subtle tremor of someone lying, her exaggerated gestures…
She had plenty to say, but believing her every word was another matter entirely.
“A woman who throws herself at any nobleman she sees…”
Clidren let out a small scoff and shook his head.
He knew plenty of women like that.
They didn’t care about age or social standing; they would seize every opportunity to flaunt their charms, gazing at him with glossy, desperate eyes.
But…
“This woman is different.”
Born with a naturally sharp sensitivity for mana, Clidren didn’t even need to try—he could simply tell.
Her mana felt nothing like the greedy nobles or women who wanted to cling to him. She felt like…
“A timid herbivore.”
That was why.
Why he hadn’t refused her dinner invitation even though he easily could have, and why he had stepped in when Lily appeared and harassed her.
He liked people like her—simple, straightforward, and without hidden malice.
Still, that didn’t mean he could let his guard down around a woman entirely.
From the moment he stepped into the terrace, something sinister had brushed against his senses. That was why he approached Rosie in the first place.
After some hesitation, Clidren asked her:
“Miss Rosie. Have you experienced anything… unusual lately?”
The question was so abrupt that Rosie froze. Today had been unusually full of mishaps, but something far worse had recently happened in her life.
“Well… I quit the job I’ve had for ten years today.”
She took a short breath and continued impulsively:
“I’m… dying soon.”
From the strange fate of meeting this man, to the feeling that she’d never meet him again, to the desire to confide in someone, just once in her life—
Everything collided inside her.
And his expression only made it harder. He looked at her with such seriousness that she felt on the verge of tears.
“What I’m about to tell you… you don’t have to listen too closely. It’s not a pleasant story.”
“All right. I won’t.”
Clidren nodded softly.
And Rosie slowly, carefully, told him the story of her life.
When she finished, she took a sip of her tea. It had gone cold. What once felt fragrant now tasted bitter on her tongue.
“…I guess it wasn’t very interesting, was it?”
She smiled faintly at Clidren, who had listened with unwavering seriousness without interrupting her once.
“So in the end, you’re…”
“Yes. They say I have three months left.”
“…”
Oddly, after saying everything, she felt lighter. Light enough to even joke a little.
“I’m sorry I made someone I just met today wear that expression. People might think we’re close, you know.”
“…You can still laugh?”
Clidren couldn’t understand.
Even he, who had no relation to her, felt no urge to laugh. How could she smile?
Because of that confusion, his words came out sharper than he intended.
Yet Rosie only smiled more brightly, as if she were genuinely pleased.
“But you’re sad for me, aren’t you?”
“…”
“And honestly, it’s not such a sad story.”
How is it not sad?
Clidren frowned at her.
Rosie chuckled mischievously.
“I mean, I wasn’t exactly living a joyful life anyway.”
She wasn’t wrong.
“If I didn’t know I was terminally ill, I’d still be cleaning the mansion today, attending to Lady Lily, and doing all sorts of chores until late at night. …But I didn’t, right?”
“…”
“Today, I threw my resignation letter at the head maid. I lied boldly to Lady Lily—and it worked flawlessly, as you saw. And this… this is the first time I’ve ever been inside a place like this. Having a meal with someone like you, too.”
“…”
“I’ve decided to live like this from now on. Eating delicious food, going to nice places, saying what I want. Just like today.”
Clidren felt strangely heavy as he listened.
The brighter she spoke, the sadder it sounded.
He sighed quietly, cooling his emotions.
It was unfortunate, but there was nothing he could do for her.
“…Then why does she have that ominous aura? It’s definitely the trace of black magic.”
There was something foreign mixed within Rosie’s otherwise clear mana.
Anyone but a mage of Clidren’s caliber would have missed it entirely, but he felt it without doubt.
Black magic was strictly forbidden across the Empire, and Clidren had been hunting it for years. He had approached her planning to detain her if she was connected.
But no matter how he examined her, Rosie lacked the characteristic malice of black magicians.
And in her entire story, nothing hinted at black magic at all.
Letting out another faint sigh, Clidren decided to set his suspicions aside. His conversation with Rosie—honest, lively, and warm—had been unexpectedly enjoyable.
Before they knew it, the sun had climbed high, and their shadows had grown short.
Clidren rose from his seat.
“I should be going now. It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Rosie.”
“Already?… I see. Then please stay healthy.”
Rosie smiled brightly as she saw him off, though there was a faint ache in her chest.
Under normal circumstances, a maid like her and a high noble like Clidren would never cross paths. Even speaking to him like this had been an extraordinary coincidence.
She stared blankly at his retreating figure as he left the café.
Alone again, a hollow feeling crept in—but she couldn’t allow herself to dwell on it.
“All right, then… I need to decide where to go first.”
She needed a direction before she could take the next step.
With renewed determination, Rosie started listing nearby towns with good reputations. She thought she’d start with the closest one.
Just then, a server approached her.
“Excuse me. The gentleman who just left asked me to give this to you.”
The gentleman? Clidren?
Rosie blinked in confusion as she accepted the item. It was an envelope.
She opened it and peeked inside.
There was a single sheet of paper and a silver key.
What…?
Rosie tilted her head, curious as she read the writing.
The letter was short.
“Bring this key to the Vine Rose Hotel in Beidos.
I hope you enjoy a brilliant final chapter of your life…”
