~ Chapter : 4 ~
It was a dazzling, wonderful night where we whispered to each other that we were beautiful.
Only after everything was over and I tore my gaze away from his face did regret suddenly hit me again. Whenever I looked at him, I couldn’t think rationally.
“What have I done…? No, I’ll think about it in the morning and forget it for now. Forget it. I’ll leave the cleanup to the morning me.”
After all, it was an emotion I’d have to face in the morning anyway, so to escape the present realization, I drank a whole bottle of the high-proof wine I’d hidden in my drawer. This time, even a hangover remedy wouldn’t work.
It was only then that my memory went blank. All five years of pretending not to notice were rendered meaningless.
Back to the present. Honestly, it was ridiculous that I even asked why he was in my room after I brought him here.
“Rosio… you really haven’t had any experience, right?”
“Yes. How could I dare embrace Lady Esmeralda with anything less than purity…”
“Y-you don’t have to say that!”
I hurriedly cut him off before I got any more embarrassed. Then, trying to keep my composure, I spoke carefully.
“Rosio.”
“Yes?”
I averted his slightly mischievous gaze and pointed to the clothes folded on the chair.
“First… could you help with that?”
I still couldn’t get up properly because I was only wearing a slip that didn’t really cover me.
Rosio brought me an indoor dress and turned his back. Even though we had seen each other enough, his consideration felt somehow endearing. Yesterday, he had been so bold and aggressive…
‘Gentle yet assertive. No “legendary lover” keywords were needed. Truly a genius in last night’s… well, you know.’
Recalling last night again made heat rush to my face instantly.
As I began dressing, Rosio changed back into his party outfit from yesterday. I couldn’t help but glance at the movement of his muscles from the corner of my eyes.
Was I noticing his body? But was it a crime to notice? Last night wasn’t just about looking!
I went through countless thoughts like this.
“Stop thinking about it! Pull yourself together and fix this situation now.”
Soon, I cleared my throat and announced that I was fully dressed. Around the same time, Rosio had buttoned his shirt completely.
I roughly tied my hair in front of the mirror, and he tidied his own outfit nearby.
“Were you looking for clothes earlier?”
“Ah, headache medicine. I’m fine now, though…”
“Did you take it often before going to bed, if it was on the nightstand?”
His gentle voice and careful gaze made me slightly flustered. He cautiously reached out, asking if he could check my temperature.
But I felt it was time to set boundaries, so I gently withdrew.
“Duke Agnis should also begin his schedule soon. I’ll go out and instruct the maid to prepare meals and a carriage to the duke’s residence.”
It was a cautious way of saying he would be fed and sent off quickly—an implicit “don’t expect anything afterward.”
“Doesn’t Lady Saint join him for meals?”
His eyes revealed lingering hope. Even his sulky face looked pure, but I couldn’t give him any room. Better late than never—I had to correct my mistake.
“If the duke feels lonely eating alone, I can place a teddy bear opposite him.”
“…That’s fine. But Esmeralda, even if not with me, make sure you eat.”
His voice was gentle and kind, and it hit me hard.
Noticing my attempt to avoid him, his gaze dropped. I decided to drive my point home.
“I… I only did it yesterday… I think I just wanted to check once.”
Of course, in my mind, I had shouted dozens of times, “And the result was amazing.”
Rosio’s lips parted slightly and closed, then he forced a smile and said:
“Yes, it’s fine even if last night meant nothing to you.”
It didn’t look fine at all!
He was usually excellent at managing his expression.
Rosio’s lonely expression and trembling voice seemed like proof that his words were not heartfelt.
Feeling like I had done something terrible, I repeatedly clenched and unclenched my fists carefully. I felt like a villainess.
‘But there’s a difference between me and a villainess.’
I wasn’t planning to separate the male and female leads.
“Rosio, did you see a blonde-haired, turquoise-eyed female part-timer at the party?”
“Are you looking for her, Lady Esmeralda? I don’t think I saw her.”
Curiosity glimmered in his violet eyes.
I double-checked but, as expected, he still didn’t even know about Camilla’s existence.
“Ah, no, that’s not it… Anyway, I’ll take full responsibility… Please forgive me for not seeing Duke Agnis off properly.”
I waved my hand to signal it was fine. From now on, I would protect the original story of the male lead being a peerless beauty and capable man, and the female lead being a peerless beauty and capable woman. Before rambling further, I left him in the room and went out first.
“First, let’s get ready to go. I have to find Camilla.”
Why wasn’t the female lead present when the male and female leads were supposed to meet?
What if she couldn’t come due to an accident?
The thought that something might have gone wrong made me nervous.
I had to quickly bring her to the path Rosio was waiting on.
Even if I walked a few steps ahead…
Rosio ate in the dining room. The milk from the count’s estate farm was rich and flavorful, and the bread, bacon, and eggs were simple yet clean in taste.
Afterward, Esmeralda’s servants guided him efficiently and prepared a carriage to take him to the duke’s estate.
As the carriage passed through the count’s garden, pink flowers resembling her hair color were in bloom. Rosio admired the flowers somewhat sentimentally. Last night felt like a dream.
Esmeralda Saint.
Even if she avoided him at the academy, her presence always caught his eye. In contrast to his diligence, the count’s daughter had little interest in academics and mostly mediocre grades.
At first, he had wanted to encourage her to join the Magic Society in case she failed. But each time…
She would slip away before he could even say, “Esmeralda…” Sometimes she even used teleportation magic, disappearing too quickly for him to follow.
Her refusal of academy balls and social clubs, her boldness in skipping unwanted assignments—all of it seemed free rather than irresponsible.
He had always wanted to have a long conversation with her.
Even after sobering up at the count’s mansion, she wanted him. Just thinking about last night made Rosio’s heart swell. It felt as if he had called all the names he would ever say in his life.
Though by morning, she seemed to be putting distance again. Sneaking out of bed at dawn to drink the strong wine from the drawer…
After waking, she seemed to have briefly forgotten what happened with him.
Had she been dissatisfied? When she said last night didn’t matter to her, Rosio felt as if his heart were tearing apart.
Even a duke who had faced countless challenges had never faced anything as difficult.
Yet Esmeralda’s next words required interpretation:
“Anyway, I’ll take full responsibility…”
“Responsibility…”
The word lingered in Rosio’s mind. Since he was superior in wealth and title compared to the count’s household, it probably wasn’t material responsibility.
If she meant he would take responsibility for the first night as a couple who weren’t dating, it could mean at minimum a romance, at maximum marriage.
With Esmeralda?
Rosio covered his mouth with his delicate but firm hand.
After sending Rosio to the duke’s estate,
I took the carriage to the capital in the simplest attire possible.
I had to fix things—though I had caused the incident, the original story couldn’t be altered. It already seemed significantly twisted, though.
Still, before things got worse, I decided to find her.
Camilla lived in a poor district in a hidden alley of the capital, so I instructed the coachman to wait nearby.
I had hidden my staff in my clothes in case of trouble, so I didn’t need extra protection.
The foul stench that started at the slum entrance grew worse the deeper I went. Seeing streets littered with garbage and filth made me queasy.
The narrow, winding streets felt like an anthill.
Even now, when the living conditions have improved, it’s still unfit for humans.
I walked, unable to imagine how it had been before. I visited a few shops where Camilla had worked, but she wasn’t there.
Then… the house with green-painted walls, right?
At the suspected door of Camilla’s house stood four burly men. Their torn clothes revealed scars, giving them a menacing appearance.
Camilla hadn’t even entered the academy yet. Those who might oppose her magical abilities hadn’t met Rosio, so they couldn’t be forces sent by a villainess.
Just some random thugs?
The slums weren’t very safe. In the novel, gangs sometimes came to harass Camilla.
They would knock on the door until she came out, or take the money or food she had saved.
“Miss, when will you pay the toll?”
“We saw you go in. Hey! If you don’t come out, we’ll break the door!”
Typical dialogue from extra thugs. I fiddled with my staff in case things got out of hand.
If necessary, I could set fire to their mustaches or long hair.
The thugs exchanged glances and began counting loudly:
“One!”
“Two!”
Then the door rattled open from inside. When Camilla’s golden hair appeared, even this dreary street seemed a little brighter. But she held a long wooden plank in her hand.
