---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our ‌‌‌‌official ‌‌‌site: valirscans.org
---------------

07.

"Did you enjoy standing me up, Rose?"
Cassian greeted me with a smile as I returned from the First Empress's Palace.
"Thanks to you, I had no choice but to become a lonely wallflower for the evening."
"Surely there were many young ladies hoping you would ask them to dance?"
"I'm quite devoted, you see."
Though truthfully, I simply despised the tedium of it all.
Unlike the First Prince, who scattered gossip and scandal with every noble lady in sight, Cassian was remarkably pristine in that regard.
Even before I arrived in the Capital City, he was famous for never dancing at balls.
So naturally I ‌‌assumed today would be no different—yet he danced the opening waltz with me without hesitation.
"So, do you need a bonus for the overtime ‌‌‌‌work?"
Cassian extended his hand toward me.
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded and took his hand.
I wanted to erase that sickeningly sweet taste—the one that made my tongue recoil despite his claim of reducing the sugar. ‌‌

*

I cut into the perfectly seared beef and placed a generous piece in my mouth.
The fragrant aroma of expertly grilled asparagus followed, succeeded by a deep, rich wine that cleansed my palate.
Even as I devoured half the steak, Cassian quietly sipped his wine without pressing me to hurry.
Instead.
"I was prepared ‌‌not to ‌‌‌‌resent you even if you succumbed to temptation."
He made a remark that wounded my pride ‌somewhat.
What kind of person did he take me for!
"That's too much, Your Highness. I never ‌‌‌‌thought you saw me as such an easy mark."
I earn my money honestly—that's the only thing easy about me!
Cassian extended his arm at my casual retort, unchanged as always.
With ‌‌‌‌a ‌‌sharp clink, he carelessly clinked his glass against mine.
"On the contrary, Rose is quite difficult. Extraordinarily so."
Yet he knew far too well how to move me.
I set down my cutlery, which had been moving with combative intensity, and began my report to Cassian.
"It seemed the First Empress wished to remove me from your side. She said that if I simply informed her of your activities in advance for the next three months, she would pay off all the debts of ‌‌‌‌my Estate."
It would have been better if she'd simply asked me ‌‌to uncover your weaknesses.
The fact that her only goal was to remove me left me feeling unsettled and irritated.
"Don't be so upset about it, Rose. It just means the ‌‌‌First Empress isn't a fool." ‌‌‌
"...What?"
"Since you arrived, His Majesty has entrusted me with considerably more responsibilities."
I paused to consider his words.
It was true—the volume of ‌work had increased dramatically compared to those early days working with Cassian.
"The First Empress has ‌‌consistently schemed to prevent me from having a proper aide."
"Yet the First Prince maintains five advisors, Your Highness."
"Indeed, all of them carefully selected from among the most brilliant young nobles in the Capital City."
Cassian laughed with a sinister edge.
"Yet she made no such moves against you."
Of course she wouldn't—what threat was a noblewoman from some remote estate buried in the empire's periphery?
With no ‌‌‌track record to speak of, there was hardly reason to be cautious.
"But that was merely an oversight on her part. She never anticipated you would perform so exceptionally, nor that you would work such extended hours."
For some reason, I thought I heard Cassian murmur, "Though I did."
"Since your arrival, the number of important matters delegated to the First Prince has diminished considerably."
Cassian moistened his throat with wine before continuing.
"The Emperor is ‌‌‌‌somewhat narrow-minded, but he is no fool of a ruler."
I agreed silently to myself.
Speaking it aloud would constitute treason against the ‌‌‌Imperial Family.
"So the First Empress wishes to ‌‌remove you. If my workload decreases, she can elevate the First Prince's standing while diminishing mine."
Cassian shrugged, then posed another question.
"So why did you refuse her offer, Roselita?"
His expression was one of ‌‌absolute certainty ‌that I would decline.
So I deliberately ‌chose the most absurd reason from among many.
"Because she offered me the Second Son of Marquis Irenol as a husband—the one notorious for his terrible temperament and hideous appearance."
The Marchioness Irenol, who had once served as the First Empress's attendant, had worn such a wounded expression.
I had rejected such ‌‌‌refuse outright.
I had expected Cassian to burst ‌‌‌into mocking ‌laughter at my words.
"...So she presented you with such filth."
Instead, his eyes grew disturbingly dark and profound.

*

The Imperial Palace ball had concluded, and with most of the guests departed, the night had grown quiet.
Cassian had arranged a carriage to escort me home. ‌‌‌
Whether he'd sensed my state of mind ‌‌‌or simply prepared strong wine, my consciousness had grown pleasantly hazy.
Still, I tried to keep my heavy eyelids open, mindful ‌that I was in the presence of my superior.
"It's fine, Rose. Sleep. I wouldn't dream of docking your precious wages for such a thing."
Cassian's words were far too sweet.
Despite the carriage ‌‌‌ride being merely ten minutes, I found myself drifting off before I knew it.
Perhaps ‌‌‌because the night had been so eventful, I fell into an odd dream.
A voice—young Cassian's voice—whispered to me so vividly that it echoed in my ears.

'You remain ‌‌‌the only one for me.'

What kind of ridiculous dream was this?
There ‌was no reason young Cassian would ever say such a thing to me.
The moment that thought crossed my mind, I suddenly wondered ‌‌‌if I was dreaming in my original world instead, and the shock jolted me awake.
Seeing my eyes snap open, Cassian let out a soft laugh.
"It seems the wine I so graciously provided has proven useless?"
I'd hoped it was real, somehow.
But hearing that playful, ‌‌‌familiar tone, I felt oddly reassured instead, and I couldn't help but laugh at myself.

*

Though ‌‌I'd lost eight hours of sleep, it was truly the sweetest rest I'd had in ages.
The generous wages and spoils of war warmed my heart with happiness.
I was filled with joy at the prospect of spending four entire ‌‌‌days without meeting anyone—wholly to myself.
Since arriving in the Capital City, this was the first time I'd properly rested for four days.
I rose from bed well past lunch.
Without even changing out of my nightclothes, I merely draped a shawl about my shoulders, filled my belly with the meal my maid had prepared, and leisurely reviewed the stack of letters that had accumulated.
I began with my parents' letters first.
Since it had been so ‌‌‌long, I wanted to put extra care into my reply.
I'd always been rushed by exhaustion and sleep, barely managing to write, and I felt guilty for it.
'They must be terribly worried.'
When I'd told them I was going to the Capital City to work, my parents—who had always supported whatever I decided to do—had tried to dissuade me.

'We can work harder instead. You don't have to suffer like this.'
'Yes, Roselita. If it truly doesn't work out, we can sell our title and Territory and move to another kingdom.'

Of course, it was my parents ‌‌who ultimately yielded to my stubbornness.
Yet every letter they sent me each month was brimming with affection.
And they always included words telling me I could return home whenever things grew difficult,

along with repeated pleas for me not to send them money.
'Surely... they haven't been using the money I sent them to pay off debts, have they?'
With parents so full of love, it seemed entirely possible, so I made a point of emphasizing once more that they absolutely must repay their debts.
I also added a carefully crafted account ‌of the debutante ball that had been weighing on my mind, packaging Cassian's actions like a fairy tale before sending it off.
Had they known his true nature, my tender-hearted parents might have rushed to the Capital City to retrieve me immediately.
I had no intention of creating such a situation.
After writing a reply to my ‌‌‌parents with reassurances and reminders, and reviewing the other letters, the afternoon slipped away entirely.
'I had originally planned to visit the ‌‌‌Bookstore today.'
I lay sprawled across the sofa, wiggling only my fingers as ‌‌‌‌‌I deliberated for a moment.
Despite having slept in this morning, I felt inexplicably drowsy again.
'I'll just go tomorrow.'
The thought of changing clothes, going out, bathing again, and preparing ‌‌for bed seemed tedious beyond measure.
Besides, I wouldn't have time to read ‍‌‌today anyway... but if I ‌‌‌bought books now, tomorrow I could stay in entirely and read all day long.
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of knocking came just as my mind was ‌‌‌‌‌occupied with such trivial deliberations.
And there were no servants in the house today.
Worse still, I ‌was in my nightclothes with my hair in complete disarray.
I considered ‌‌‌simply pretending not to be home, but instead I hastily tied my hair back and found a long robe to conceal my nightwear.
A distinctly ‌unpleasant premonition washed over me.
And then.
"My apologies for the sudden visit. You are ‌‌‌Miss Roselita of the Salice Marquis Household, are you not?"
By the third knock, I opened the door ‌‌‌and caught sight of the seal within the ‌‌‌letter the ‌‌‌visitor presented—and I had to suppress my irritation.
"This is an invitation from the Marchioness Irenol requesting your ‌‌‌attendance at a luncheon gathering of House of Irenol tomorrow."
I had refused quite firmly.

'Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty the First Empress. My parents taught me never to become someone who carelessly betrays their word.'

I had said it in a tone the First Empress would surely find presumptuous.
"Our Second Son will also be ‌‌‌‌in attendance. The Marchioness Irenol has asked me to convey that she has prepared a special dessert for you and earnestly requests your participation."
No, I'm not going.
It seemed tomorrow would be a day I'd have to go out regardless.

---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------