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“It was very realistic. I didn't mean I disliked it. It was interesting.”
“Of course it's realistic. No matter how fictional a story is, it can't be completely detached from reality.”
“That may be true, but...”
She felt that Orturan novels paid an unusual amount of attention to realism. At the end of the book, the author had even included a note stating that there were no issues with the surgical scenes because he had personally interviewed doctors.
It wasn't as if it mattered how accurately every scene mirrored reality.
Beth explained that the author seemed to have received objections while the story was being serialized in the newspaper.
“Even if the plot is full of far-fetched and provocative settings, there are things that can only be felt within that framework.”
Ray chuckled and offered her a cigarette.
With the sound of a lighter, the tip of the cigarette glowed red. As she took a puff, she had the illusion that her slight headache was fading.
The cigarette certainly helped her feel more comfortable dealing with the man in front of her.
“The book you were reading in that photo. I heard it's about a wife who kills her husband and covers it up.”
“Ah, that's right... it was.”
Only after hearing his words did Rose remember what book she had been reading at the cafe. It surprised her that a man like Ray knew about its contents.
“I wonder what one can feel from such anti-social content.”
He asked in a tone devoid of any laughter.
By now, she realized that these words were not so much mockery as they were his own way of joking. He was a man who joked in a very strange manner.
“Why, are you worried that I might have envied that woman?”
Since she had a general grasp of his attitude, Rose was able to deliver such words wrapped as a joke.
Joking with Ray Crawford. Until recently, it was something she had never even imagined.
When he spoke with others, even his jokes were merely polite, but the jokes he directed at her were often caustic.
Being a Boltonian, Rose preferred that kind of humor.
Like most Boltonians, she believed that jokes should serve as the seasoning of a conversation.
Ray let out a short laugh, as if he found it absurd. It wasn't a hearty laugh, but he often let out such hollow chuckles when talking to her.
“Don't be scared. It would take three strong men to handle a big man like you.”
Rose muttered, habitually flicking away the ash.
“It sounds as if you've definitely given it some thought.”
“Oh, you caught me. I suppose my bed won't feel as comfortable as it used to.”
“Well, it was never particularly comfortable.”
Rose, who had been responding nonchalantly, stopped mid-sentence at the unexpected answer.
As he had once said, no matter if the room was named the Duchess's bedroom, every space in this mansion belonged to Ray Crawford.
Just as he had boldly claimed, she thought he always slept well in her bed as if it were his own—was that not the case?
The man who had given such an answer closed his book with his usual expressionless face and placed it on the nightstand.
“The youngest prince's birthday party will be held at the Royal Palace next week. I believe you should attend.”
He announced the schedule, putting a cigarette in his mouth instead of the book.
It had been a very long time since he told her she had to attend something, and she naturally felt uncomfortable. Rose had already grown accustomed to her secluded life in this mansion.
She had become complacent in a state where she was granted only about one cigarette's worth of freedom per week.
She still lacked the confidence to leave this place and face the hostility of people.
“...Is that man, Archibald Avery, coming too?”
“Naturally.”
The man replied as if wondering why she would even ask, then glanced at Rose and frowned. Because he was a man who rarely showed negative facial expressions, it was all the more noticeable.
“I didn't think you'd be afraid of someone like him.”
How could she not be afraid? Only after coming to Orturan did Rose realize how terrifying newspapers could be.
“He's a sinister person.”
“Sinister, huh...”
Repeating her words, Ray took a deep drag of his cigarette with a faint smile.
“The way he blindly advocates for starting a war is the same. If he had actually been to war, he would know how terrible it is.”
“Lord Avery has never participated in a war.”
“What?”
Rose unintentionally raised her voice slightly.
“Why? His limbs seem perfectly fine.”
“According to his primary physician, his back is not in good condition.”
“You believe that?”
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
Ray didn't give a particular answer, merely flicking the ash with his long fingers, but for some reason, that felt like an answer. He didn't believe it either.
He was a terrible human being in many ways.
“That man really is something else...”
Having heard the curse she muttered to herself, a breathy laugh escaped Ray.
He extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray between them and looked at Rose.
“Well, someone I know once said that he's a bastard...”
Rose lost her words for a moment, looking into the blue eyes gazing at her.
In those eyes, which were always cold, there was a rare trace of laughter. That look was so unfamiliar that it felt as if she were looking at a different person.
Yet, on the other hand, it suited him better than she expected. The deep blue eyes and the unfamiliar warmth.
“...I don't know who it was, but that's a very accurate assessment.”
Only after that laughter vanished like a mirage could Rose speak again.
On Ray's face, there was now only the usual, polite, and constant smile.
“You'll be fine.”
He said as he straightened the creases in his gown, preparing to enter the bedroom. His tone was more arrogant than affectionate.
That she would be fine.
Rose quietly repeated his words.
He was a husband she had never felt was entirely on her side, but perhaps it was because of his changed attitude lately.
For some reason, she felt she could believe those words.
Yes, she should believe him.
Even if she didn't, what else could she possibly do?
Rose threw the cigarette, which had grown short long ago, into the ashtray and stared at the remains for a long time.
It was an extremely brief moment of freedom.
* * *
They were in the carriage heading to the Royal Palace.
“...What are you doing right now?”
At the quiet question from beside her, Rose froze with her mouth open in a strange shape.
Before entering the Royal Palace, she had been performing her own version of oral exercises.
Since she would have to smile so hard that the corners of her mouth would twitch upon meeting the Orturans, she was loosening her muscles in advance.
Since he was a man who just stared out the window in the carriage, she thought he wouldn't see, so she had been making a fuss, opening her mouth vertically and then horizontally, shielding it roughly with her hand. Had he seen all of that?
“No, I was just...”
Out of embarrassment, Rose couldn't even finish her sentence.
She didn't consider herself the type to be overly ashamed of her own actions, but her heart wasn't strong enough to remain composed after showing such a sight to a man like him.
Ray remained silent, which only made her more embarrassed. She felt as if he were clicking his tongue inwardly.
“Did you see the article in the Daily Oakley today?”
Rose asked cautiously. This was why she was more nervous than usual.
“I don't recall there being anything significant.”
The man, dressed in a well-tailored suit, replied in an indifferent tone. He simply looked comfortable.
Looking at him, one wouldn't think he was the person whose approval rating had dropped according to today's article.
The Daily Oakley review that arrived this morning contained the results of a reader survey.
It stated that the public's favorability toward him had dropped by more than 10 percent compared to before the marriage.
Anyone could see that Rose was the cause. Even if she had been quiet for a while, her very existence was unfavorable.
“I guess you aren't worried. You're always so composed.”
“I'm not sure exactly what I should be worried about.”
Suddenly, she recalled the image of him playing rugby with the military academy cadets and the words the Prince had whispered.
“...Are you going easy on Avery?”
“Rather than that, I'm simply not a person who can think in a manner as simple and clear as Lord Avery.”
Simple and clear.
Rose combined those words.
“You mean he's stupid?”
The carriage stopped along with her question.
“My dear, I am an Orturan.”
Ray replied with a professional smile and stepped out of the carriage.
As befitting the Foreign Minister, he left the crude words to her and stepped back with an elegant demeanor.
Stepping out of the carriage under his escort, Rose couldn't even glare at Ray and managed her expression.
This was no longer her bedroom balcony, and the words and expressions permitted to her were limited.
As she entered the Royal Palace, Rose took another deep breath due to tension and anxiety. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Ray's arm.
To Rose, the Prince's birthday party seemed incredibly lavish, but the nobles whispered that the scale had definitely decreased compared to before.
Contrary to her worries, there were familiar faces like The Greenwoods and Marcel Garnier, and people were generally kind.
It might have been because Agatha, who came along to the party, exchanged friendly greetings with Queen Catherine and the Prince as if she were in her own hometown.
Agatha, who was also the godmother of the youngest prince, spent far more time beside the King and Prince than Ray and Rose did.
When the time came for the Archbishop's formal consecration, the people gathered in the hall raised the silver chalices before them.
“May God's blessing be upon His Highness Prince Anthony, and upon this Orturan.”
As everyone present recited the final verse of the prayer together and the consecration ended, people began to gather in small groups and chatter again.
Rose nonchalantly took the Holy Water from the chalice and drank it.
It was at that moment.
The gazes of the people around her shifted toward Rose all at once.
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