Chapter 25
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25.
I was prepared to strike back at whatever words came my way.
But Duke Jamoti lacked even basic courtesy.
"Ahem, oh, surely Your Majesty remembers the purpose of my visit today!"
Instead of conceding defeat to me, he retreated toward Cassian Artez.
That man...
As I silently stewed in a flash of irritation,
"Ah, of course."
Cassian Artez nodded, openly mocking him.
"Since the Duke seems to have nothing more to say to my aide's inquiry, we may as well proceed to the main business of the day."
"Ahem, ahem...!"
The Duke merely coughed loudly at Cassian Artez's blow, nodding in agreement.
At those words, Cassian Artez deliberately escorted me with great care, leading the way into the Annex Building ahead of the Duke.
He tapped my hand resting upon his arm as if to apologize on my behalf.
Of course, I leaned slightly against Cassian Artez, my gaze conveying that all was well.
Like a truly affectionate fiancée.
"Ahem, heh...!"
The Duke's bewildered chuckle from behind me brought a small measure of satisfaction.
*
"Rose, are your feet hurting? Would you like me to carry you?"
Due to Duke Jamoti's scheduled visit, the Annex Building had already become indistinguishable from a preview exhibition hall.
"Look at that tiara, Rose. The princess mentioned that some of the artworks are available for purchase."
And my superior was.
"No matter what I display before my beloved Rose, everything else seems to pale in comparison."
Thoroughly enjoying the sight of Duke Jamoti's blood boiling.
Every time he spoke to me with such tenderness, the duke's complexion would shift through a kaleidoscope of colors—it was almost entertaining to witness.
"Ahem, ahem, Your Highness."
"Hmm? The duke must be observing carefully, I presume?"
Cassian Artez responded to being addressed with undisguised irritation.
"I find it rather unpleasant that you must share even this brief time I spend tenderly with Rose."
Of course, his words—sweet enough to have poured an entire jar of honey, so saccharine they made the tongue ache—were not merely an act to mock the duke.
"Your Imperial Highness, surely you understand how important this exhibition is?"
Duke Jamoti opened his mouth as if to reprimand Cassian Artez.
"If proper inspection is not conducted, it could lead to diplomatic issues with the Anden Kingdom. Yet here you are, leisurely enjoying the exhibition with Miss Salice."
The duke, as if catching his prey, made his point clear—displaying just how absurd the situation had become.
At that moment, Cassian Artez gently wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his embrace as he spoke.
"Are you suggesting there is something more important than viewing the exhibition with a visitor's appreciation?"
Cassian Artez responded as if he were entirely unfamiliar with such matters.
"That is precisely why I asked my beloved Rose to treat me as her fiancé rather than her aide today."
Cassian Artez deliberately brought his lips to my temple, speaking with unhurried leisure.
"How scrupulously my beloved conducts herself—so busy examining the condition of the exhibits rather than enjoying our date."
He clicked his tongue softly.
"I thought that with the one recommended by the First Empress accompanying us, I could enjoy a pleasant date with Rose. But it seems you are not entirely trustworthy in my Rose's eyes."
I opened my mouth, infusing my words with concern.
"Your Highness, how can you speak that way in front of someone? Though it is true that I have grown more anxious since reviewing the Ceremony Office documents last time...."
"Yes, yes, it was my fault for having Rose review not only the Second Ceremony documents but also Duke Jamoti's papers."
"That was simply my duty. You yourself said that I excel most at reviewing documents riddled with carelessness."
"Then there is no one quite like you for meticulous, attentive, and flawless work."
Cassian Artez gazed at me with a soft chuckle.
Deliberately creating an intimate atmosphere between lovers, as if Duke Jamoti did not exist in this place at all.
"Still, did not the First Empress recommend this? My honest desire is to free you from arduous work, even if only for today."
"As Your Highness well knows, I am someone who understands my duty thoroughly, so I cannot neglect the work entrusted to me."
I added a touch of playfulness to my words.
"How could I shirk my responsibilities and abandon my duties like your previous aides, who ran away claiming it was too difficult?"
Just as Cassian Artez was about to utter something cloying in response to my words, tinged with feigned sullenness.
"This is most uncomfortable to hear!"
Duke Jamoti opened his mouth, barely maintaining his dignity.
I opened my mouth with an oblivious expression, feigning ignorance.
"What do you mean, Duke? I merely reported to His Highness what actually occurred, without any exaggeration...."
I gripped Cassian Artez's hand firmly, speaking with a hint of reproach as though I hadn't noticed a thing.
"My, did you happen to overhear our entire private conversation, Your Highness Cassian Artez and I?"
Duke Jamoti looked at me as though I were spouting nonsense.
"Of course, eavesdropping is terribly unbecoming, but I couldn't help it—I simply forgot there were other people present."
As I uttered words that would normally set my blood ablaze with such casual indifference, Duke Jamoti regarded us both with an expression brimming with things left unsaid.
Under ordinary circumstances, he would have spewed garbage from that mouth of his long ago.
"...Enjoy your date, then! I shall conduct the exhibition inspection with absolute perfection."
"My, truly?"
You're capable of that?
As I fixed him with a gaze full of suspicion, I caught Duke Jamoti grinding his teeth slightly.
"Rose, I understand your reservations well. But trust me this once. Am I not someone the First Empress herself summoned to mind?"
"Yes, I suppose there's no helping it."
I exhaled deeply and nodded in acquiescence.
Duke Jamoti, unable to conceal his frustration at the sight of us both, turned away, retrieved his spectacles, and donned his gloves.
He was the very picture of a man about to scrutinize these exhibits with meticulous care.
Cassian Artez watched his retreating figure with cold eyes, yet did not refrain from delivering a barb that would surely grate upon him.
"I do hope you examine it properly, Duke Jamoti. And I would ask that you prepare clean documentation as well, so that Rose need not labor twice."
Duke Jamoti's shoulders trembled once more.
Whether it was rage or the flinch of one who had seized an opportunity, I could not say.
*
For the next couple of hours, Cassian Artez and I pretended to enjoy a leisurely outing while repeatedly approaching Duke Jamoti.
By observing the Duke's reactions, we managed to achieve our objectives quite effectively.
How we would use the information we'd gathered was another matter entirely.
By the time we finished our inspection and exited the Annex Building, Duke Jamoti couldn't hide his exhaustion, his gait becoming noticeably undignified.
"Well then, make your report."
"...I beg your pardon?"
The moment we stepped outside the Annex Building, Cassian Artez dropped the affectionate pretense entirely, and Duke Jamoti responded like a fool to his sudden shift.
"If you discovered any irregularities during the inspection, shouldn't you report them immediately?"
Duke Jamoti bristled at those words.
"Your Highness, surely you must grant me time to organize my thoughts. No one could possibly—"
"Rose."
Cassian Artez cut him off at once and called to me.
Of course, since I hadn't merely been enjoying myself during our outing, I promptly retrieved my notebook and began speaking.
"Most of the ancient treasures from the Anden Kingdom showed no particular irregularities. There were no significant discrepancies from the condition report provided by Princess Alexis Periander. However,"
I proceeded to list several points of concern and matters requiring attention before Cassian Artez.
Since both Cassian Artez and I were intermittently but reasonably conscientious individuals, we had naturally shared the condition documents that Princess Alexis Periander had provided with Duke Jamoti as well.
"Based on what we've examined thus far, that concludes my report. However, to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, I shall conduct one more thorough inspection and prepare documentation to be shared with the Anden Kingdom."
The moment my brief report concluded, Cassian Artez fixed Duke Jamoti with a cold gaze.
"The First Empress said you would understand this far better than Rose or myself. Are there any gaps in what was said?"
"That is to say..."
"My beloved fiancée and advisor managed to conduct a thorough examination even while enjoying themselves."
"I, I simply didn't have the opportunity to examine things beforehand, did I, Miss Salice!"
His excuses were absurd—he'd been distracted and hadn't paid proper attention at all.
When I regarded him with disbelief at his ridiculous claim, Duke Jamoti, perhaps misinterpreting my expression, raised his voice further.
"You employ nothing but dirty tricks, Miss Salice! How dare you bring such shame upon the Imperial Family—"
"Future Imperial Consort."
At that moment, Cassian Artez cut Duke Jamoti off sharply.
"...Pardon?"
"Isn't that the proper form of address according to protocol, Duke Jamoti?"
His tone was as biting as a winter's north wind.
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