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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: A Gamble for Life
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After Cedric slapped him, Eric felt an urge to grab his father by the collar. He had thought that becoming a Count would free him from his father's grip, but Cedric always treated him like a child and never truly relinquished full authority. He had endured and endured, believing that once he inherited the title, he could live as he pleased. Yet, the complete independence he desired never materialized. He forced himself to hide his trembling arm and muttered,
“I will take responsibility for this matter and see it through.”
“See it through? What on earth can you do? All you’re good for is chasing women.”
Cedric glared at Eric with disdain. In his eyes, Eric was nothing more than a child. When Eric was young, he had been frail. A prophet had declared that he was destined for a short life unless he gained power immediately upon marriage. Following the prophet’s words that he absolutely must marry before turning twenty, Cedric had hastily married off his son and even transferred the title. If only his son hadn’t stubbornly insisted on marrying Roje, if it weren’t for that damn prophecy, he wouldn’t have had to take Roje as a daughter-in-law.
“Damn those Serviat bastards.”
Cedric cursed Roje’s family, then spoke to Eric again.
“Why did you marry such a useless girl, tsk. I’ll give you a month. Settle things with that girl immediately. I already know you never truly cared for her anyway.”
“……Alright.”
A spark of rebellion, like a coiled snake, slowly crept from a corner of Eric's chest. Contrary to his obedient reply, Eric’s eyes gleamed with madness.
***
That moment, at Grand Duke Arteum’s mansion.
“The Countess is quite thorough, more than she appears.”
Roje, not only wearing a wig but also dressed in a maid’s uniform, was enough to surprise him.
“Yes. I figured it wouldn’t be good if I were caught coming and going here.”
Roje smoothed her bob-length hair, which swayed to her shoulders, and replied.
“Is it not uncomfortable?”
“A little. But it’s fine. This way, I feel much more at ease.”
Grand Duke Arteum stared intently at Roje. He had thought they resembled each other, but not this much.
‘Perhaps it’s because of the wig, but she’s a spitting image.’
It was enough to make him think of his pet, ‘Pin,’ with its luxurious golden fur. The Grand Duke superimposed Pin’s image onto Roje’s face. Following the Grand Duke’s train of thought, he slowly reached out and caressed her hair. Roje was considerably flustered by the Grand Duke’s sudden action of stroking her hair. Unlike Pin’s fluffy fur, his fingertips felt the smooth texture of the wig. Grand Duke Arteum realized his mistake and quickly lowered his hand.
“That was rude of me. I apologize.”
How impolite. To suddenly stroke her hair. In fact, calling it “stroking” was embarrassing. He had absentmindedly run his hand through Roje’s hair as if petting his own dog.
“She resembles my pet.”
Yes… I know without you saying it. That your touch was like you were dealing with a dog. It was the first time in her life. To be treated like a ‘pet.’
‘How much can a person and a dog possibly resemble each other…?’
Roje grumbled inwardly, but couldn’t show it outwardly. She tidied her disheveled hair and forced a smile.
“It’s fine.”
Roje’s awkward laughter, unable to hide her discomfort, could be heard. Roje rummaged through her robe, searching for something.
“Ah, found it.”
A small gift box placed in her palm. It was meticulously wrapped.
“Oh, I meant to give it to you at the last banquet, but I couldn’t.”
It was a small gift Roje had prepared for Grand Duke Arteum, who had invited her, a social outcast, for the first time.
“That day must have been quite chaotic. To have forgotten to give you something so important.”
That was understandable. Not only had she faced the Grand Duke covered in blood, but she had also witnessed Marquis Bled’s death. Grand Duke Arteum seemed quite surprised that Roje had prepared a gift for him.
“So… this is a gift you prepared for me?”
“Yes, it’s not expensive, so please don’t feel burdened and accept it.”
Grand Duke Arteum wore a rather bewildered expression. In truth, he had sent Roje an invitation because he was curious how she knew Luna’s Tear was fake; that was the sole reason for inviting her to the banquet.
‘I didn’t even invite her with particularly good intentions, yet she brought a gift as a thank you.’
“I don’t need something like this.”
The Grand Duke, feeling somewhat apologetic, muttered under his breath. The Grand Duke, slowly blinking his long eyelashes and lowering his eyes, was truly touched by Roje’s thoughtfulness as he gazed at her hand, but to Roje, it didn’t appear that way. It only seemed as if he was glaring at the gift in her palm with a murderous gaze. This was enough to make Roje, sitting directly opposite him, feel fear.
‘Does he not like it?’
Her fingers, holding the gift, twitched under his sharp gaze. Roje looked from the gift in her hand to the Grand Duke. The reception room, grand beyond comparison to the Count’s household, belonged to him, Grand Duke Arteum. The modest gift seemed rather shabby compared to the magnificent mansion. She thought someone like the Grand Duke wouldn’t appreciate a mid-range brand item. Roje, who had been extending her hand towards Grand Duke Arteum, made an embarrassed expression and slowly lowered her hand. Of course, what Roje bought wasn’t a cheap item from a market stall. Despite being an object the size of her palm, it cost a whopping 8 million Les. It was a gasp-inducing amount, but it might not be suitable for a royal like Grand Duke Arteum.
‘I should have prepared something from a more luxurious brand…’
She had chosen something she thought was appropriate, fearing that something too extravagant might burden him.
“I’m sorry. I’ll give it to you again some other time, not today.”
“Why?”
Roje’s words made Grand Duke Arteum’s brow furrow. He couldn’t understand why Roje, who had just offered him the gift with an excited face, suddenly changed her mind.
“Thinking about it again, what I brought doesn’t seem very good.”
Roje fiddled with her fingers and tried to put the gift back into her robe. However, the Grand Duke snatched the gift from Roje’s palm and replied indifferently.
“No, I like this.”
He spoke with a resolute tone, not even knowing what was inside. Before Roje could say anything, Grand Duke Arteum untied the knot on the box. As he peeled off the wrapping paper, a red box was revealed. The Grand Duke opened the box with a click. Inside was a simple brooch with a blue topaz stone embedded in it.
“It’s a brooch.”
The Grand Duke fiddled with the blue-glowing brooch, a smile playing on his lips. It looked plain, but it was a gift that suited him well, as he wasn't someone who enjoyed ostentatious adornments. Although the Grand Duke showed a satisfied smile, Roje was still fidgeting. She was more busy observing his clothes than his expression. Roje’s eyes darted frantically, scanning the Grand Duke’s attire. Today, unlike his shirt, which was unbuttoned down to his chest, his outer garment was very neat. It didn’t even have common decorations.
‘Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen the Grand Duke wear a brooch…’
This was their third meeting. Though she hadn’t seen him many times, she had never seen the Grand Duke wear a brooch. No matter how good the intention behind a gift, if the recipient doesn’t use it, it becomes useless.
“Grand Duke, do you usually wear brooches?”
“……I enjoy wearing them.”
In truth, the Grand Duke, who disliked ostentatious decorations, didn’t wear brooches. But if he told the truth now, Roje’s large eyes would undoubtedly fill with disappointment. For Roje’s sake, he replied with a white lie and pinned the brooch diagonally above his shirt. Roje stared intently at the crooked brooch, then took a step closer to the Grand Duke.
“Let me fix it for you.”
The Grand Duke flinched slightly as Roje’s hand touched him. It was strange. When the maids touched him, he felt nothing, but when Roje’s hand touched him, he felt inexplicably conscious.
‘Is it… the scent?’
A faint, sweet fragrance wafted from Roje’s fingertips as she held his shirt. The Grand Duke unconsciously swallowed as the fruity scent reached his nose. Unaware that the Grand Duke was stiff, Roje carefully removed the brooch, making sure not to prick him with the pin. Then she lightly grasped the Grand Duke’s shirt and re-pinned the brooch so it wasn’t askew.
“There.”
With a satisfied smile, Roje’s eyes curved like bows. She spoke to the Grand Duke in a lively voice.
“Thank you for accepting the gift.”
“I should be the one thanking you.”
Roje, who had been feeling deflated, finally gained confidence from the Grand Duke’s positive reply. Her large eyes blinked as she glanced at the Grand Duke, a faint smile gracing her lips.
‘Should I subtly broach the subject?’
Since he seemed to like the gift, Roje subtly began before getting to the main point.
“Grand Duke, do you happen to know what meaning the topaz stone holds?”
“I didn’t know gemstones had meanings too.”
The Grand Duke stared intently at the brooch on his shirt and replied.
‘Meaning… could it be some obvious meaning like courtship, love, something like that?’
The Grand Duke, mistakenly believing Roje had feelings for him, was quite surprised by her directness in revealing her emotions. Of course, the meaning of topaz was not love or courtship. Roje looked at the Grand Duke, who was inflating with baseless hopes, and parted her lips. As she was about to speak, her lips trembled with nervousness. Tick-tock. In the silent reception room, only the heavy sound of the clock’s hands echoed. Why did the clock’s ticking suddenly sound so loud? Roje couldn’t shake the feeling that all her nerves were on edge. Her lips felt parched, and a constricting pressure squeezed her heart. She had to speak, but her lips wouldn’t part easily. The reason Roje hesitated so long over the meaning of topaz was not because she feared him. The moment she opened her mouth, she would be fated to share a boat with a Duke who might soon die. Roje stood at a crossroads of fate. She hesitated for a long time in the swirling vortex. This was a gamble for life.
