After dinner, Deon was walking down the grand corridor of the ducal estate when he let out a small chuckle.
In his hand was the flower Rosalyn had given him.
“You’re back, Young Lord. …May I ask, what is that flower?”
Bertha greeted him knowingly as he entered the study, only to falter upon spotting the unfamiliar object in Deon’s hand.
Without much thought, Deon tossed the flower onto the table in front of the sofa and spoke indifferently.
“It was a gift.”
“…Ah, you must’ve received it from Miss Rosalyn.”
Bertha glanced briefly at the table as he replied.
Deon hated all things impractical.
Especially flowers—fragrant, useless things that served no purpose.
His taste was so specific that even nobles would agonize over what to gift him.
Surely, that flower would be discarded soon.
At least, that’s what Bertha assumed.
“Put it in a vase or something.”
“…Excuse me?”
The unexpected order left Bertha visibly stunned.
“What’s the status on the investigation into Rosalyn?”
“I’m still looking into it. It’s from quite a while ago, and it seems even the orphanage director barely remembers anything. However…”
“However?”
“I found something rather suspicious.”
“What is it?”
Bertha hesitated to answer. The information wasn’t confirmed yet.
“Do you know of the House of Estrella, by any chance?”
“Estrella?”
“Yes. The ducal house that was destroyed three years ago.”
The Ducal House of Estrella.
Originally, the Setium Empire had been supported by five major ducal families.
Three years ago, that number dropped by one.
There was very little known about House Estrella.
The duke rarely appeared in public, and no one even knew what he looked like.
They were a mysterious house that had long protected the imperial family. Now, they were known as traitors who plotted rebellion and were wiped from history.
Estrella, the Guardians.
The name, practically banned from being spoken aloud, was now coming from Bertha’s lips.
“Coincidentally, it was around that time Miss Rosalyn was left at the orphanage.”
“Children were left at orphanages all the time back then.”
And there was no confirmation that House Estrella even had a child.
The imperial family had closed the case without releasing further details.
“…That’s exactly why I’m bringing this up. Did you know the Emperor has been secretly sending out knights?”
“What?”
“I only discovered it while investigating Miss Rosalyn’s past. The Emperor has been scouring the empire under the pretense of regular inspections. It’s been going on for three years now.”
Deon’s brow furrowed.
There was definitely something suspicious here.
But jumping to conclusions would do no good.
Especially when it involved the House of Estrella—a topic that must be approached with the utmost caution. It was the Emperor’s reverse scale.
“Look into it quietly.”
“Yes, sir.”
Of course, all this could very well be a coincidence.
The chance that someone from a fallen noble family—especially one destroyed for treason—had survived and been hiding their identity all this time was slim.
Yet, the clues found around Rosalyn were too significant to ignore.
Deon smiled, intrigued.
Rosalyn really was proving to be an interesting subject to unravel.
“Young Lord, also… A letter arrived earlier.”
“A letter?”
“Yes.”
Bertha nodded and handed it over.
It was a golden envelope, bearing the seal of House Arcas.
This was, in fact, the more urgent matter.
Had Deon not asked about Rosalyn, Bertha would’ve reported this first.
He swallowed dryly before delivering the news solemnly.
“The Duke will be arriving shortly.”
***
It had been three days since Rosalyn began staying at House Arcas.
Her daily routine was simple.
She woke up in the morning, had her meals, and spent some time walking around the estate…
“You did very well, Miss Rosalyn. Now, straighten your back a bit more, and hold the reins gently—just like that.”
“Yes!”
“The horse you’re riding, Ark, has a calm temperament, but it’s still important to build a connection before riding.”
“I-I see…”
…and took etiquette lessons.
The subjects rotated weekly.
Some days she learned horseback riding, some days etiquette, and on others, Setium Empire history.
Etiquette, however, was held without fail every week.
‘It’s so hard!’
Today’s lesson was horseback riding.
Dressed in her custom-made riding outfit, Rosalyn gently patted the horse.
As her instructor Seren had said, Ark was indeed very gentle.
He had even lowered his head upon meeting her for the first time.
Judging by his demeanor, it seemed Ark was used to noble children.
“Alright, we’ll end today’s lesson after one round of the training grounds.”
“Yes!”
It was impressive that such a grand riding arena existed on the estate…
And now she had to complete a full round.
Still, with Seren beside her, there was nothing to fear.
She tightened her grip on the reins and nudged the horse gently with her heel—
That’s when Rona came rushing over.
“Miss Rosalyn!”
“…Rona?”
“I-I’m sorry to interrupt your lesson… Something urgent has come up. Seren, I’m afraid today’s class will have to end here.”
“What’s going on?”
Seren frowned in disapproval.
Interrupting a lesson was one thing—but cutting it short entirely? That annoyed her.
However, the urgency on Rona’s face caused her to pause, confused.
“What is it, Rona?” Rosalyn asked.
Rona glanced warily at Seren before answering.
“The Duke has returned to the capital after completing his fief inspection, Miss Rosalyn.”
“…T-The Duke?”
“Yes. Everyone in the household is preparing to greet him… So today’s lesson must end here, Seren.”
“…If it’s for that reason, I understand. A fief inspection would’ve had him away from the estate for at least a week.”
Seren nodded in understanding.
‘The Duke… He’s finally coming back!’
Rosalyn quickly dismounted.
She had nearly greeted him looking like this—covered in dirt and dust.
“We’ll be taking our leave now. Please return safely, Seren.”
“Of course.”
Seren smiled, telling them not to worry.
Rosalyn bowed her head politely before leaving the riding grounds hand in hand with Rona.
“Goodbye, Teacher Seren. See you next time!”
“Yes, Miss Rosalyn. Until next time.”
Seren waved back with a gentle smile.
Rosalyn glanced back at Seren one last time before leaving the arena.
Watching the two disappear into the distance, Seren murmured to herself.
“How strange… I never imagined the Arcas family would have such a young lady.”
Even more surprising was that Bertha—known as the Young Lord’s closest aide—had personally come to ask for Seren’s help.
Seren had been shocked the moment she saw him.
After all, it was widely known that House Arcas had someone else in charge of their children’s education.
“You’ll come to understand as you teach Miss Rosalyn—she’s rather special. Please keep everything you see and hear at House Arcas confidential.”
“I’m not one to gossip. And for an instructor summoned to a noble family, that’s to be expected.”
“I know. But the Young Lord wishes even the smallest whispers to stay contained.”
…That day, Bertha had paid Seren a staggering amount of money.
She had taught noble children for years, but had never received such a sum.
‘He warned me never to speak a word about what happens in House Arcas, but…’
Seren tilted her head as she left the riding arena.
Realistically, the rumors must have already started spreading.
Because Seren, the renowned riding instructor, had suddenly begun frequenting the Arcas estate.
By now, the social circles were surely turning their eyes toward House Arcas.
***
‘I’m finally going to meet the Duke today.’
Rosalyn had bathed and finished dressing.
She was wearing a much more formal dress than usual.
“Since the Duke has arrived in the capital, word will soon reach the estate. Before then, we must be ready to greet him at the entrance, Miss Rosalyn.”
“Yes.”
“Nervous? It’s your first time meeting him.”
“…What if I make a mistake? What if he dislikes me…”
Rosalyn knew that the Duke still had no idea she existed.
That was why the retainers had been so secretive.
They never said anything directly in front of her, but she had heard them whispering behind her back.
Rosalyn could read the atmosphere well enough.
The anxious looks of the retainers—afraid the Duke might be enraged—kept coming to mind.
Once, while walking through the estate, she overheard someone whispering, unaware of her presence nearby:
“The Duke’s returning soon… What will become of the young lady, then?”
“Be dealt with,” they had said.
The word echoed coldly in her ears.
If she wasn’t acknowledged by the Duke, she would be cast out of the Arcas household.
Even if Deon was behind her, this estate still belonged to the Duke.
