Chapter 31

She thought the discussion about Cahir would continue a little more. She had already thought about what appropriate details she could share with ladies their age.

“Ah, was that the wrong thing to say?” Lady Tauri asked carefully.

Rosaline shook her head and scooped up a small spoonful of the dessert, putting it in her mouth. She swallowed. “Of course, I like it too.”

The young ladies all reached out to get desserts of their own. The sweet and tangy taste completely captivated them.

“It’s really good.”

“There’s a lot of those, so feel free to tell me if you’re finished or want more.”

Mrs. Becky’s worries that the hardworking Rosaline wouldn’t be able to mingle with pampered aristocrats were all blown away. She was a natural at hosting, skillfully holding conversations as if she attended parties weekly.

The older woman smiled inwardly.

Rosaline’s attitude toward people was truly great. She did not discriminate according to rank and respected each attendee equally. Her poise had become more and more obvious as they had walked around, and she had the wonderful ability to ensure that no one was alienated in conversations.

Eventually, she didn’t even need Mrs. Becky’s guidance.

***

There was only one person who wasn’t having fun.

Ella bit her lips while watching Rosaline. She was obviously the protagonist, but somehow she was always ignored when the lavender-haired woman was around.

It made her unbearably furious.

“It’s okay. I’m the heroine anyway. She’s only getting attention because she’s next to His Majesty, not because she’s any good. Things would be different if I was the one next to him.”

Her eyes filled with jealousy. That was right. She needed to approach Cahir to be the center of the story again.

‘According to the original, I should have already spent a night of passion with him. However, he doesn’t even greet me now.’

Ella had to make him fall for her. While his gaze was always on Rosaline, she concluded that it was only because he had never met her properly.

‘If you meet me, you’ll be different.’

She looked around. Rosaline was immersed in the tea party, conversing with Lady Shokora, who was weird and implicitly bullied among the nobles. Judging from the atmosphere between the two, it seemed that their conversation would be prolonged.

“Now is the time to spend time alone with His Majesty.” Ella hurriedly left the tea party, where the other ladies gathered to exchange stories.

***

Cahir was on a break, walking through the garden, barely escaping the watchful eyes of Derek, James, and the guards and maids. The tea party would likely last longer than expected, and he had already been looking at documents for too long. It was not ideal to stop working in the middle, but his eyes needed rest.

“More than anything, I’m bored.”

He probed the inside of his cheek with his tongue. Usually, Rosaline would talk to Cahir as they worked, handling their refreshments tirelessly, but Derek was indifferent. He was good at doing things, but he was just too passive.

And Cahir had never been the type to initiate anything.

“Rosaline is…”

As he pondered over all the things she did for him, only then did he understand why she wanted to quit.

‘I think I made her work a little too much compared to her pay.’

So what did she want? Cahir could raise her salary as much as she wanted. He was willing to give up everything except for the emperor’s seat.

However, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t think of anything Rosaline wanted. She didn’t seem to be interested in dresses and accessories.

“Should I give her land?”

It seemed like a good idea. She liked stability, so giving her a suitably sized, profitable plot was perfect.

“Your Majesty? I give my greetings to the Sun of the Empire.”

Deeply in thought, Cahir heard a strange, ringing voice. He turned. A woman in a yellow dress was curtsying.

“Who…?” One eyebrow raised. He thought she seemed faintly familiar, but he couldn’t place her.

“Ah, I am Lady Ella, Secretary Rosaline’s friend from last tea time…”

He stared at her. It wasn’t surprising that he couldn’t remember everyone whom he passed by, but why did she look so disappointed?

“Rosaline is still at the hall.”

Why was she here alone?

Cahir grew suspicious of Ella. With Azela’s introduction, she appeared at the banquet. She claimed to be Rosaline’s friend, yet his secretary didn’t seem to acknowledge her as such.

‘What is Derek doing?’

It had been a while since he had had Ella investigated. The investigation on Rosaline was finished quickly, but why was this one delayed?

‘Is she hiding something big? Maybe she has a strong backer? Is it Azela?’

“I came out of the hall for a while and lost my way…” Her words faded near the end, expression desperate. Ella knew that the men in this world were weak for the women who evoked protective instincts.

No matter how violent Cahir was, she knew that he would not be so cruel to women. He had learned chivalry as a swordsman, and while he struggled to internalize it, such manners had definitely been ingrained in him.

If she played the role of a lost and embarrassed woman, he would still help her, albeit unkindly.

“I see. Then, excuse me.”

Her expectations shattered. He didn’t help, nor did he simply tell her to follow him.

Hurt, Ella vowed that she wouldn’t let him go like this. She clenched her fists.

Cahir wasn’t this kind of person. He fell in love with her at their first meeting. They were meant to be, a perfect fit in every way. She knew that, but love would not be achieved if she was the only one constantly putting in an effort.

He had to love her.

‘We’re destined for each other!’

It was hard to accept that he had changed, enough to push all her plans back.

‘Rosaline…’

She had stolen what was rightfully Ella’s.

Her anger soared to uncontrollable heights.

The ever-alert Cahir couldn’t have missed it. He turned around and put his sword to her neck.

“Kyaa!”

Knights rushed in, assessing the situation. Their emperor was aiming his sword at a shaking woman. They all followed suit.

“Y-y-your Majesty!” Ella trembled, shame and anger mixing in with the fear.

“What was that just now?” Cahir asked coldly.

“I didn’t do anything…”

“I’ll ask again. What was that murderous aura you were giving off?”

“No! I have never had anything terrible like that against Your Majesty!” Her big eyes were filled with tears.

Cahir’s eyebrow went up sharply. He couldn’t have imagined that. He had been on the battlefield for many years and lived with the threat of assassination all his life. Detecting malice was a matter of life and death for him.

‘I definitely felt it. That woman actually exuded such an evil aura.’

He frowned, thinking.

‘Should I kill her?’

It was his decision. While it bothered him that she was an unarmed woman, it could be considered a generosity that she would be given a quick private death instead of one where she would hang from a wall.

But Rosaline would disagree.

She had hesitated when he first asked that question, and even said not to.

‘I have to ask Rosaline.’

Deep inside, that’s the rule he followed. At some point, he had decided that he would ask her opinion on anything.

She had been particularly opposed to his penchant for personally executing those who displeased him. Rosaline always prevented him from drawing his sword, even when he was dangerously angry. Thanks to her, his image improved vastly from a merciless tyrant to a reasonable one.

To be honest, Cahir still wasn’t sure if he should be happy about it. But whenever he felt the urge to kill someone, Rosaline came to mind first.

It was the same today.

“Bring Rosaline,” he said, his sword still pointed at Ella, who was getting paler by the minute.

***

Laughter filled the hall.

Mrs. Becky no longer accompanied Rosaline as she went around.

“Secretary Rosaline, do you have plans for a banquet in the second half of the year?”

“Lady Rosaline, we have luxury goods that came from abroad. Can I send you an invitation for a tea party at my house?”

Everyone was anxious to talk to her. She flusteredly responded to calls from all over the place, which was why she realized late that Cahir had disappeared.

Actually, she only knew when a guard came running in.

“His Majesty was urgently calling for Miss Secretary.” His expression was very serious, completely out of place in the warm hall.

Rosaline had an ominous feeling. Trembling, she carefully set down the teacup in her hand, pretending to be calm. “Excuse me for a moment.” She bowed lightly and led the guard to a quiet place beneath the shade of a tree. “What’s going on?”

“His Majesty drew his sword in the garden and said…”

She didn’t listen to the rest. She picked up her hem and ran.

“Secretary Rosaline!”

‘He drew his sword? Isn’t he supposed to have guards?’

In the middle of the day, a sword was drawn in the palace. Why? Was Cahir in danger?

Rosaline felt like her blood was being drained.

“Mrs. Becky! Please host the tea party for now!” she said as she passed the older woman, too much in a rush to explain what was going on.

‘Your Majesty, please stay safe… I’ll do anything for you, just stay safe.’

Tears leaked out of her eyes.