Llewellyn gave an absurd answer to the old man’s question:

“This is the person I’ll be marrying.”

“What?”

“What?”

Both Rosenia and the old man gasped in unison. The old man looked at her in embarrassment as if he too was caught by surprise by their unexpected synchronicity.

‘No, even if you look at me like that… I don’t know what this man is thinking either…’

As she blinked at the old man, she heard Llewellyn’s calm voice reverberate from above her head.

“First of all, we’ll have to get engaged. Oh, before that, I should officially propose.”

“Duke…”

‘Are you serious?’ Llewellyn saw the question flashing on her forehead and raised his eyebrows and posed a question in return,

“So, Rosenia has no intention to marry me?”

Panicking, Rosenia puckered her lips a bit and answered.

“No, our relationship isn’t at the stage where we can discuss crucial things like marriage…”

‘Haven’t we only been together for a short time?’ she added inwardly. Llewellyn looked at her quietly and smiled.

‘What, What is it? Why are you smiling?’

‘For some reason, I get frightened when he smiles like this …” 

She again took a subconscious glance at Llewellyn. He whispered in a cordial tone.

“You know, Rosenia.”

“…?”

“How big is my obsession for you?”

He bent his head and peered at her from such a close distance that their lips almost touched. His bright emerald eyes sparkled with such intense longing that they couldn’t be hidden anymore.

” And do you think I can let you go?”

“…”

Rosenia was at a loss for words and could only blink. How on earth was she supposed to answer such a question?

‘This guy … really doesn’t get what the word “pace” means.’ 

Argh! She sighed and shook her head. She didn’t know how he interpreted her reaction, but Llewellyn’s arms that hugged her became firmer.

Flinching, she directed an apprehensive glance his way, and unsurprisingly, a terrifying smile spread across his lips.

‘… Are you really the male lead? Why do you look more and more like a villain?’

“I see. Rose thinks that I’d let her go.”

… Somehow, it seemed he had misunderstood, so she shook her head. Just as she opened her mouth to correct him, Alex’s annoying voice came from behind.

“Urg, how long will you guys be doing this?”

‘This guy’s timing really …’

Having lost the opportunity to speak, she had to watch Llewellyn stride into the main building of the Ducal Castle holding her in his arms.

Yeah, after all, there were too many eyes here. This wasn’t a suitable place to discuss private matters.

‘Let’s clear this misunderstanding when it’s just the two of us.’

She thought so and waited for the opportunity to come …

***

‘What’s all this?’

Llewellyn was led by an aide to tend to some awaiting matters at hand, and poor Rosenia was left in the hand of the maids of the Ducal Castle.

“Oh my goodness, how is your skin so good?”

“It’s so silky.”

“I’ve never seen a hair color like this before. It looks like the color of a rose.”

“It’s similar to the color of the roses that the Duke ordered to plant in the garden …”

“Ah, you’re right.”

By now, the rumors must have spread around the Ducal Castle, and even though they weren’t aware that she was Rosenia Hill, the maids all treated her very nicely.

She thought that she would get sharp gazes and hear bad gossips about her, but what the hell was going on…? She was so embarrassed.

“My lady, have you seen the roses in the castle’s garden? It’s the same color as your hair.”

“…?”

“Oh, come to think of it, the color of your eyes is dark pink just like that of a rose flower. It’s really mysterious and pretty.”

Rosenia was already distracted by the seemingly endless compliments coming from the maids, and now she was even more confused by what she had just heard.

‘Llewellyn ordered to plant roses in the Duchy of Rasiane? And, the color of the rose is the same as my hair?’

‘No wonder the scent in the garden felt so familiar …’

She smiled faintly and leaned against the rim of the tub. As she raised her head, a hazy view of the ceiling concealed by clouds of steam came into view.

‘This never happened in the original story.’

Lilac was the summer flower of the Duchy of Rasiane. The original story definitely stated that. And the heroine Sierra’s favorite flower also happened to be lilac.

‘That’s why Llewellyn planted more lilac trees in his garden.’

The greenhouse in the garden was greatly renovated, such that even when it wasn’t the summer, one could still see lilacs. Indeed what a squandering final boss! He was truly a very desirable male lead who’d do anything for the woman he loved!

Yes, the Llewellyn she knew was a kindhearted man who lived only for the heroine Sierra.

‘What the hell is going on?’

Suddenly, everything felt like a dream. The fact that Llewellyn confessed that he has had a crush on her for a long time, that he risked his life to meet her, how she eventually ended up falling for him and did something big like eloping with him…

‘This doesn’t seem real. But I’m sure it is real.’

Well, if she was really dreaming, then her five senses wouldn’t be so clear. She sighed while stirring the hot bath water with her hands. The faint scent of lilacs filled the bathroom.

‘Anyway … I’ll have to contact Adrian soon.’

By now, he might be planning to return to the Mage Tower and attack the Duke of Rasiane. So she needed to hurry up and contact Adrian before he got to work …

She got out of the bathtub and asked the maids.

“I don’t think I can take a bath, so could you prepare something for me to change into? As soon as possible please.”

“Oh, sure.”

The maids smiled softly and prepared everything quickly, starting with her undergarments. They were indeed the well-trained maids of the Ducal Castle.

Once they washed her body and applied some perfume, they dried her hair well and helped her change her clothes. During the process, for some reason, the women’s faces turned red. At first, she was puzzled, but only later realized the reason. It was because of the marks Llewellyn left on her body.

‘This really …’

‘I should ask him not to leave any marks next time. Hah, even if I do, I don’t know if he’d listen.’

She sat down on the dressing table, carefully grasping the hem of the blue dress. Then the maids came quickly to her side and began to brush her hair with silver brushes.

“Lady, your hair is really soft.”

“It’s like cotton candy.”

As she listened to the words of the maids who were laughing and praising her one after another, she tapped her fingertips on the surface of the mirror that was reflecting her appearance.

Then, the surface of the mirror shook, and a gentle ripple spread out. She focused her mind and injected mana into the mirror. It was not long before that she could see someone other than herself. It was none other than Adrian.

“Ah…!”

“Hey, what’s this?”

Adrian turned sharply at the surprised voices of the maids. The moment their eyes met, Rosenia reflexively put on a smile on her face. It was the result of the training over the past decade. Which somehow had turned into a habit.

She first looked at the maids and calmed them down in a soothing voice.

“It’s not dangerous, so don’t worry.”

The maids became quiet as if a little reassured by her calm attitude, but they still glanced at the mirror warily.

Well, this was the only way.

Adrian’s expression reflected in the mirror could only be called ‘confused’.

She greeted Adrian with an awkward smile.

“Hi, brother.”

… you …

His voice seemed stifled even whilst uttering that one word. His crimson eyes were deeply sunken and seemed as if they were on fire.

Besides, his eyes had reddened a little which made Rosenia think if he might’ve cried a little. The peerless Adrian Hill that she knew would never do something like that.

You’re at the Rasiane’s Ducal Castle?

“Yes.”

Are you out of your mind?

“Brother, I think it’s you who’s out of your mind, so let’s calm down and talk it over, okay?”

Rosenia thought she had put it amiably, but Adrian gnashed his teeth. It seemed he was really very angry. ‘I should probably yield to him a little more.’

Adrian stepped forward in front of the mirror as if he was going to come over right away. As he got closer, the maids swallowed their breath.

But Adrian never came over here. It was because he couldn’t do that unless Rosenia allowed it. It was that kind of magic.

Rosenia Hill.

“Yes, brother.”

Explain what’s your relationship with Llewellyn Rasiane.

Adrian said in a voice that shadowed all the repressed anger he was withholding. It was more of an order than a request.

But Adrian’s attitude was more rational than what she had anticipated. She thought he’d be mad and explode like a bomb. Perhaps after being left alone, he seemed to have thought about it a lot.

‘Well, my words must have been very shocking.’

Rosenia sighed. She closed her eyes for a moment and then slowly opened them. After organizing her thoughts in a short time, she calmly said,

“He’s going to marry me.”

What?

“So, umm, we’re about to get married.”

Adrian was stiff and his mouth hung wide open as if he was speechless. It was the first time Rosenia had ever seen him appear so astonished, so she was quite surprised.

After about a minute or so later, Adrian mumbled, moving his mouth slowly.

…that crazy bastard …

“…”

…I’m gonna kill him.

Adrian’s eyes were blazing with clear murderous intent. If Llewellyn was here in front of him, his gaze would have burned Llewellyn down right away. Rosenia said as calmly as she could to calm down Adrian.

“Hitting the Duke of Rasiane is not a good choice, brother.”

I don’t care. 

“If a war breaks out, the damage our family will suffer will be too big. You know it.”

No matter how much damage we take, I will return the favor by ten folds, no- a hundred folds.

“…”

Rosenia thought it wouldn’t work if she tried to persuade him gently. She tried to avoid using the shock therapy, but she couldn’t help it. So, she decided to take it the hard way.

“Brother, if the Hills attack the Rasianes.”

She spoke each and every letter clearly.

”

“

“I’m not going back to the Mage Tower for the rest of my life.”

….. What?

After hearing her declaration, Adrian opened his eyes wide and asked again. Rosenia took a deep breath to throw the final bombshell. She needed to let Adrian know her feelings clearly.

‘That’s the only way you’ll understand that I’m serious.’

Looking straight at Adrian in the mirror, she slowly exhaled and opened her mouth.

“I like him.”

What did you just say…

“I want to be with him more, and I want to get to know him better. I don’t want to break up because of my brother’s coercion. I sincerely …”

“…”

“Llewellyn Rasiane, I really like him.”

It was her first confession made for a person who was not even present.

Behind her back, Rosenia could hear the maids crying. She didn’t know whether they were cheering or sighing. Somehow, she felt embarrassed and couldn’t look back, so she clenched her fists tightly.

In the mirror, Adrian’s expression hardened as if he was deeply shocked. After staring at her with an uncharacteristically blank expression for some time, Adrian opened his mouth.

… back in the villa.

“…”

What happened to that bastard?

Rosenia lowered her eyes, thinking of an appropriate answer to the question. After a while, she came up with an okay answer and raised her head. Just at that moment, the door snapped open and someone came inside.

“…!”

“Rosenia?”

A fluttering spring breeze-like voice called out to her. Llewellyn, who found her standing in front of the mirror, smiled broadly and quickly approached her.