“Cough.”
Cerden, who had been listening to the report from his aide, covered his mouth and let out a laugh. He couldn't hide the laughter that bubbled up from within.
Cerden spoke with a voice full of mirth.
“So, Lady Rozalina has been diligently playing hide and seek and has returned, has she?”
Mortega replied with an uncomfortable expression. This was an insult to Rozalina. Wasn't she someone who came to help Cerden?
“...Your Highness, the Crown Prince, this is something that cannot be overlooked. No matter how much Your Highness, the Crown Princess, may be, how could you... Have you perhaps forgotten who Lady Rozalina's father is...?”
“Now, you.”
The aide, who had been fervently defending Rozalina, clamped his mouth shut and clenched his fists. The expression on his face clearly showed he had made a mistake.
“It seems you are not my aide but rather the spokesperson for Rozalina. Moreover, it seems you fear Count Carma, Lady Rozalina's father, more than you do me. How amusing. A count who stands higher than the Crown Prince.”
“Th-that was not my intention, Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”
“Hey, Mortega.”
Cerden called Mortega in a cold voice.
Mortega swallowed hard and raised his head. His eyes, as cold as ice, were fixed on him. Mortega's lips trembled.
“If you’re that worried, why don’t you send Lady Rozalina to her side?”
“N-no! I’m just... worried that His Highness hit Lady Rozalina...”
“It was just a game, wasn’t it? A game that children would enjoy.”
Cerden smiled brightly. Mortega swallowed nervously, keeping his lips tightly sealed as he scrutinized Cerden.
“The Count Carma I know is not someone who would make an issue out of such things. Nor would Lady Rozalina.”
He would hide his true intentions and wait for the right moment, just as he had done until now, pretending to be a good person.
Even while laughing, it was hard to tell if he felt good or bad. Cerden's lips twitched.
“Is she pretending to be a child, or is she really one?”
“...What?”
“Which do you think it is?”
Mortega thought of Evelyn.
Evelyn, who drooled on Cerden's hand, Evelyn, who ate candy like a child, Evelyn, who couldn’t do anything but made life difficult for the maids, and now, Evelyn, who was making things difficult for Rozalina too!
‘Are you suspecting that foolish woman?’
There was no reason to think that way.
Mortega swallowed again.
“I don’t know, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Cerden raised his lips. His wife was indeed an intriguing presence.
“Keep a close watch. See what she does and who she meets.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Rosie and Cherryna sighed heavily as they rubbed their swollen foreheads with eggs. It was after work hours.
Roaming around at such a late hour was bound to lead to misunderstandings.
“Phew. At this rate, what will we do? The Duke must be waiting.”
Cherryna muttered with a pout.
“We have to do something. I can’t let that wretched Evelyn ruin everything. If this continues, we’re both dead.”
Rosie said through gritted teeth. She was filled with frustration after being beaten so much.
“I’ll go out, so you stay here.”
“What are you going to do?”
“There’s a small side door that the servants use if you go down to the kitchen. You can use that door.”
Despite being tormented by Evelyn, she had kept a close watch on the castle. It was to sneak out even at this late hour.
Since she couldn’t avoid the guards at the main gate, she planned to use the small side door, which had little surveillance.
“If you go out now, it’ll be hard to get back in!”
“I’ll hide outside and come back in time for when the servants arrive for work.”
Rosie said with a determined look. She needed time to meet her accomplice, find out the guard change times, and even hide in the garden.
“...Are you sure it’ll be okay?”
“Yeah. You just keep an eye on that woman here. I’ll come back without any trouble.”
Rosie took a deep breath and pressed her bonnet down firmly. There weren’t many servants on duty, so as long as she avoided their eyes, she would be fine.
After all, there were both Spelman’s watchers and the Crown Prince’s watchers in the castle.
Rosie tightly held and then released Cherryna’s hand.
“I’ll be back.”
Cherryna reluctantly nodded.
Count Carma.
Rozalina was swallowing her anger. She had been caught off guard yesterday, but she would never let that happen again. It was truly humiliating to have been bested by such a child.
She had struggled all night to soothe her swollen forehead.
‘Just wait. I’ll show you how well I fit as the next Crown Princess.’
Countess Carma looked at her daughter with a worried gaze. She sighed as she saw the redness still lingering on her forehead.
“Dear, are you really going to let this go? Are you going to leave our daughter with that crazy woman? Your Highness, the Crown Prince, this is too much. Not only did you break off the engagement in this manner, but you also insulted Rozalina like this.”
“Quiet. Do you really think that was His Highness’s intention? You know better than to keep saying such infuriating things.”
Count Carma clicked his tongue disapprovingly. The Countess pouted her lips. Count Carma cast a stern glance at his daughter.
She was beautiful like her mother and smart like him. He had raised her with care to make her the most noble woman.
He had taught her things that other daughters did not learn and provided her with only the best. Count Carma opened his lips.
“Do you want me to do something? Go and condemn Your Highness, the Crown Prince, and demand compensation?”
“No, Father.”
Rozalina smiled brightly.
“If you do that, I won’t be able to rise any higher. I haven’t given up yet. If I keep watching from the side, I’m sure I can bring that woman down. For that moment, I can endure for as long as it takes.”
Count Carma smiled with satisfaction.
“That’s my daughter.”
“I’ll do as you taught me, Father. Please trust me and wait.”
Count Carma nodded.
Brushing off the worried gaze of the Countess, Rozalina stood up.
“I should head to the palace now. I am the maid of His Highness.”
This time, she would not be caught off guard like yesterday. Absolutely not. She would teach that thunderous child to move according to her will.
Rozalina gritted her teeth and headed to the Crown Princess’s palace.
However, Rozalina’s resolve did not last even a few hours.
“Oh, are you going for a walk today?”
Cherryna, Rosie, and even Rozalina stared at me with pale faces.
I nodded. At this point, I should take a quick look around. Since I had decided to be Cerden’s hidden accomplice, I intended to do it properly.
No, think about it.
Cerden was responsible for my food and shelter, so shouldn’t I show myself well? Moreover, in terms of Korea, he was the head of the household that took me in. My one and only husband.
In that sense, Cerden’s peace was also my own peace.
Every time Cerden’s position wavered in the novel, Evelyn also became a target of blame. Moreover, there were rumors that Cerden’s illness was due to me being by his side.
That was just nonsense, of course.
In any case, Cerden had great value as my shield.
“Where are you going for a walk... Are you going to play hide and seek again today?”
Rozalina asked elegantly.
She looked perfectly fine despite having run around so much yesterday. Moreover, the forehead that had been slapped by me yesterday was also fine. I could see what kind of character Rozalina was. She seemed to have a tendency to pursue perfection.
Still, it felt like she might fall off soon.
Let’s run a bit harder, Rozalina.
In any case, I was planning to engage in some productive play activities today.
“N-no, I’m not playing hide and seek today. I want to play something else today!”
“What kind of thing...?”
“Treasure hunt!”
“T-treasure hunt?”
Cherryna muttered.
As far as I knew, there were markings left by assassins scattered throughout the imperial palace. Assassins or spies who had infiltrated the palace had left their own marks.
I knew that those markings were hidden in the garden. I didn’t know where, so I would have to search for them.
At least there would be information leading to Spelman within my garden.
The novel had mentioned that Spelman had used me, and there had been scenes staged as if something was hidden in the garden.
Whatever it was, it would be harmful to Cerden, so I planned to remove it.
This was my own treasure hunt.
It was a beautiful sunny day.
Cerden, who had been listening to the report from his aide, covered his mouth and let out a laugh. He couldn't hide the laughter that bubbled up from within.
Cerden spoke with a voice full of mirth.
“So, Lady Rozalina has been diligently playing hide and seek and has returned, has she?”
Mortega replied with an uncomfortable expression. This was an insult to Rozalina. Wasn't she someone who came to help Cerden?
“...Your Highness, the Crown Prince, this is something that cannot be overlooked. No matter how much Your Highness, the Crown Princess, may be, how could you... Have you perhaps forgotten who Lady Rozalina's father is...?”
“Now, you.”
The aide, who had been fervently defending Rozalina, clamped his mouth shut and clenched his fists. The expression on his face clearly showed he had made a mistake.
“It seems you are not my aide but rather the spokesperson for Rozalina. Moreover, it seems you fear Count Carma, Lady Rozalina's father, more than you do me. How amusing. A count who stands higher than the Crown Prince.”
“Th-that was not my intention, Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”
“Hey, Mortega.”
Cerden called Mortega in a cold voice.
Mortega swallowed hard and raised his head. His eyes, as cold as ice, were fixed on him. Mortega's lips trembled.
“If you’re that worried, why don’t you send Lady Rozalina to her side?”
“N-no! I’m just... worried that His Highness hit Lady Rozalina...”
“It was just a game, wasn’t it? A game that children would enjoy.”
Cerden smiled brightly. Mortega swallowed nervously, keeping his lips tightly sealed as he scrutinized Cerden.
“The Count Carma I know is not someone who would make an issue out of such things. Nor would Lady Rozalina.”
He would hide his true intentions and wait for the right moment, just as he had done until now, pretending to be a good person.
Even while laughing, it was hard to tell if he felt good or bad. Cerden's lips twitched.
“Is she pretending to be a child, or is she really one?”
“...What?”
“Which do you think it is?”
Mortega thought of Evelyn.
Evelyn, who drooled on Cerden's hand, Evelyn, who ate candy like a child, Evelyn, who couldn’t do anything but made life difficult for the maids, and now, Evelyn, who was making things difficult for Rozalina too!
‘Are you suspecting that foolish woman?’
There was no reason to think that way.
Mortega swallowed again.
“I don’t know, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Cerden raised his lips. His wife was indeed an intriguing presence.
“Keep a close watch. See what she does and who she meets.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Rosie and Cherryna sighed heavily as they rubbed their swollen foreheads with eggs. It was after work hours.
Roaming around at such a late hour was bound to lead to misunderstandings.
“Phew. At this rate, what will we do? The Duke must be waiting.”
Cherryna muttered with a pout.
“We have to do something. I can’t let that wretched Evelyn ruin everything. If this continues, we’re both dead.”
Rosie said through gritted teeth. She was filled with frustration after being beaten so much.
“I’ll go out, so you stay here.”
“What are you going to do?”
“There’s a small side door that the servants use if you go down to the kitchen. You can use that door.”
Despite being tormented by Evelyn, she had kept a close watch on the castle. It was to sneak out even at this late hour.
Since she couldn’t avoid the guards at the main gate, she planned to use the small side door, which had little surveillance.
“If you go out now, it’ll be hard to get back in!”
“I’ll hide outside and come back in time for when the servants arrive for work.”
Rosie said with a determined look. She needed time to meet her accomplice, find out the guard change times, and even hide in the garden.
“...Are you sure it’ll be okay?”
“Yeah. You just keep an eye on that woman here. I’ll come back without any trouble.”
Rosie took a deep breath and pressed her bonnet down firmly. There weren’t many servants on duty, so as long as she avoided their eyes, she would be fine.
After all, there were both Spelman’s watchers and the Crown Prince’s watchers in the castle.
Rosie tightly held and then released Cherryna’s hand.
“I’ll be back.”
Cherryna reluctantly nodded.
Count Carma.
Rozalina was swallowing her anger. She had been caught off guard yesterday, but she would never let that happen again. It was truly humiliating to have been bested by such a child.
She had struggled all night to soothe her swollen forehead.
‘Just wait. I’ll show you how well I fit as the next Crown Princess.’
Countess Carma looked at her daughter with a worried gaze. She sighed as she saw the redness still lingering on her forehead.
“Dear, are you really going to let this go? Are you going to leave our daughter with that crazy woman? Your Highness, the Crown Prince, this is too much. Not only did you break off the engagement in this manner, but you also insulted Rozalina like this.”
“Quiet. Do you really think that was His Highness’s intention? You know better than to keep saying such infuriating things.”
Count Carma clicked his tongue disapprovingly. The Countess pouted her lips. Count Carma cast a stern glance at his daughter.
She was beautiful like her mother and smart like him. He had raised her with care to make her the most noble woman.
He had taught her things that other daughters did not learn and provided her with only the best. Count Carma opened his lips.
“Do you want me to do something? Go and condemn Your Highness, the Crown Prince, and demand compensation?”
“No, Father.”
Rozalina smiled brightly.
“If you do that, I won’t be able to rise any higher. I haven’t given up yet. If I keep watching from the side, I’m sure I can bring that woman down. For that moment, I can endure for as long as it takes.”
Count Carma smiled with satisfaction.
“That’s my daughter.”
“I’ll do as you taught me, Father. Please trust me and wait.”
Count Carma nodded.
Brushing off the worried gaze of the Countess, Rozalina stood up.
“I should head to the palace now. I am the maid of His Highness.”
This time, she would not be caught off guard like yesterday. Absolutely not. She would teach that thunderous child to move according to her will.
Rozalina gritted her teeth and headed to the Crown Princess’s palace.
However, Rozalina’s resolve did not last even a few hours.
“Oh, are you going for a walk today?”
Cherryna, Rosie, and even Rozalina stared at me with pale faces.
I nodded. At this point, I should take a quick look around. Since I had decided to be Cerden’s hidden accomplice, I intended to do it properly.
No, think about it.
Cerden was responsible for my food and shelter, so shouldn’t I show myself well? Moreover, in terms of Korea, he was the head of the household that took me in. My one and only husband.
In that sense, Cerden’s peace was also my own peace.
Every time Cerden’s position wavered in the novel, Evelyn also became a target of blame. Moreover, there were rumors that Cerden’s illness was due to me being by his side.
That was just nonsense, of course.
In any case, Cerden had great value as my shield.
“Where are you going for a walk... Are you going to play hide and seek again today?”
Rozalina asked elegantly.
She looked perfectly fine despite having run around so much yesterday. Moreover, the forehead that had been slapped by me yesterday was also fine. I could see what kind of character Rozalina was. She seemed to have a tendency to pursue perfection.
Still, it felt like she might fall off soon.
Let’s run a bit harder, Rozalina.
In any case, I was planning to engage in some productive play activities today.
“N-no, I’m not playing hide and seek today. I want to play something else today!”
“What kind of thing...?”
“Treasure hunt!”
“T-treasure hunt?”
Cherryna muttered.
As far as I knew, there were markings left by assassins scattered throughout the imperial palace. Assassins or spies who had infiltrated the palace had left their own marks.
I knew that those markings were hidden in the garden. I didn’t know where, so I would have to search for them.
At least there would be information leading to Spelman within my garden.
The novel had mentioned that Spelman had used me, and there had been scenes staged as if something was hidden in the garden.
Whatever it was, it would be harmful to Cerden, so I planned to remove it.
This was my own treasure hunt.
It was a beautiful sunny day.
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