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IGF 27
“Ah, hello.”
“Wow. I almost didn’t recognize you dressed up like this.”
Roselyn, half-hidden behind Jeffrey, wore a faint smile. Aiden rose from his seat and strode toward the door. Standing menacingly close to Jeffrey, Aiden swung the door wide open and gave a slight tilt of his head.
“Didn’t I say I was busy?”
“Ah. Yes. Then, I shall take my leave.”
With a bewildered look, Jeffrey gave Roselyn a brief nod and vanished in a hurry. Aiden looked down to find Roselyn standing there, her eyes equally perplexed. She’s properly dressed this time. After staring for a moment at the hollow look of her neckline, Aiden spoke in a casual tone.
“What brings you here?”
“Ah, there is something I wish to tell you.”
Roselyn pressed her lips together, trying not to show her nervousness. Moisture had gathered on her clasped palms. She followed Aiden into the office as he held the door open for her. Roselyn paused in admiration of the view, which offered a panoramic sight of the garden and the forest and lake beyond. She had heard from Bertha that this was the Prince's private residence, and as expected of royalty, the office was as dignified and opulent as the Marquis Russell's estate.
“Sit.”
Aiden sat on a sofa arranged to one side and crossed his legs. The man, looking as if he had been sculpted by a god, felt like a masterpiece of a painting, causing Roselyn to unconsciously swallow hard. Steeling herself, she sat opposite him and managed to speak.
“Before that, there is something I want to ask. What happened with the events at the Marquess's estate? Count Bluebell... seemed to be badly injured.”
“Are you worrying about him because he’s your ex-husband?”
“Not at all! I was worried about you, Your Highness... because injuring a noble could lead to a trial.”
Aiden clicked his tongue. Looking at those innocent blue eyes, it truly seemed as if she were concerned for him. How could she worry about someone else when she couldn't even look after herself?
“You are a noble too, the one he was trying to lay hands on. Besides, do you really think there is an idiot out there who would dare to bring a member of the Imperial family to trial?”
“...No.”
The tension vanished instantly. Had the things she suffered under Isaac and her stepmother made them seem so powerful? To dare worry about a member of the Imperial family. There was no more useless worry in the world than this. It was a relief, yet at the same time, it felt empty. To him, everything seemed simple. Even the act of pulling her out of the Marquess's estate.
“I heard two days have passed. Regarding my whereabouts...”
She remembered the Prince lifting her up as she collapsed. If she had been brought here in that state, Violet would have certainly heard about it. Thinking of Violet, who had lost her reason and screamed at the mere mention of a brief meeting with the Prince, Roselyn felt uneasy. However, Aiden only let out a hollow laugh, as if he had heard something ridiculous.
“Do you think there is anyone who would argue about your whereabouts when I say I am taking you?”
Roselyn’s mouth snapped shut at his arrogant tone. A gaze that seemed to realize the reality of the situation met his. How naive. He wondered if she could even pull off the act of being lovers at this rate. Had he chosen the wrong person? Fidgeting with his chin in agitation, Aiden leaned toward her.
“Now that your curiosities are settled, shall we discuss our deal?”
“...Yes.”
It weighed on her a bit that she hadn't said goodbye to the chef, Ashley, and Cesare, but she felt far more at peace here than at the Marquess's estate. At least while acting as his partner, she wouldn't be in a position of merely receiving the Prince's charity.
Perhaps because her tension had eased slightly, the sweat on her palms had mostly dried. Meanwhile, Aiden, who had been tapping the table with his long fingers, spoke slowly.
“As I mentioned before, you will stay here and act as my partner. The term is until winter arrives. Since I chose you because of your rumors, you must always do your best.”
“What kind of 'best' do you mean?”
“A beautiful and foolish temptress. I mean you should act in a manner befitting the scandals that follow you. So that rumors spread throughout the Empire that a foolish Prince has lost his mind over a temptress.”
“...A beautiful and foolish temptress, you say.”
She felt as if the blood were draining from her entire body. She had only ever heard people whispering it in low voices; this was the first time she had heard it clearly. So this is my reputation in the world. Unaware of Roselyn repeating the words blankly with a pale face, Aiden continued in an utterly calm tone.
“Fortunately, it seems the scandal has been amplified due to the incident at the Marquess's estate. Just keep it up.”
“Amplified? What do you mean?”
Roselyn’s slender chin trembled slightly. Her deep blue eyes, looking as if she had fallen into a mire, followed his gaze. Aiden looked at Roselyn's face as if entranced. When she had that look in her eyes for another man, it had been utterly irritating, but seeing her look at him that way felt strangely satisfying. He wondered if he had developed a twisted taste.
Her wounded expression was a bit pitiful, but it couldn't be helped. He was the one who had reached out to her to do this. He was letting her live luxuriously in the mansion and promising to grant her wishes; there was nothing for her to lose. He slowly recited the rumors he had heard from his aide earlier.
“Roselyn Bluebell played the Second Prince and Count Bluebell against each other. Count Bluebell found out and tried to persuade Roselyn. However, the Second Prince witnessed them together, and Roselyn staged a scene of being violated by the Count. The Second Prince, crazed by women, fell for the temptress's scheme and assaulted Count Bluebell. In short, that is the summary.”
“That’s impossible. I didn’t even know Count Bluebell was there. I simply went where Violet told me to...!”
Roselyn stammered, turning pale. How could such an absurd, malicious rumor exist? How much despair she had felt that day, what a predicament she had been in. How could...
“The facts aren't important. I have no intention of explaining them. The more the scandal grows, the more advantageous it is for me.”
Aiden shrugged as if it were inevitable and tapped the table. By becoming a foolish Prince enchanted by a world-class temptress, he would have a justification to reject marriage proposals, and his standing would naturally diminish. The fewer options he had, the more Deimos's position would be solidified.
Furthermore, if they entered society with these rampant rumors, all eyes would be on them, which was perfect. While everyone was distracted by a Prince who had become utterly promiscuous and obsessed with Roselyn, his plans would be proceeding silently in the background.
Roselyn clenched her hands so tightly that her nails dug deep into her tender palms. The Prince's words felt as cold as a shard of midwinter ice piercing her heart.
On the day she followed Bertha into the garden, she finally realized exactly what he meant by using her as a lightning rod. Had he said he would grant her one wish in exchange for becoming his partner? Roselyn couldn't hide a hollow laugh. To get what she wanted, she had to fall this far.
However, since she had already decided to take his hand and step forward, she had no choice. Roselyn looked straight into Aiden's golden eyes and spoke with determination.
“I have a condition. Please help me hold a noble's trial.”
“A noble's trial?”
Interest flickered across Aiden's face. He quirked an eyebrow as if telling her to elaborate, and Roselyn continued.
“The Marchioness brought Isaac in as an adopted son without my consent. Because of that, he was able to inherit the title of Count even after the divorce.”
Whenever she recalled the day she was miserably driven out, a deep resentment always boiled up. What on earth was Selena thinking when she brought him in as an adopted son? It was too malicious to have been done simply because she hated her, and if it were for her own standing, it would have been a useless concern since she already held the Count's estate in her palm.
Whatever the reason, she wanted a trial. Even if it was like throwing an egg at a rock, she could at least leave a stain on the rock.
“If it's simply about holding a trial, that's possible at any time.”
Contrary to her fears, the answer was crisp. For the Prince before her, a noble's trial would be a trivial matter. Unlike herself, who had spent every day in frustration, clinging to the faint hope that an opportunity for a trial might arise while staying at the Marquess's estate. Roselyn bit her lip for a moment, feeling a poignant sense of sorrow.
“There is one more condition.”
“Tell me.”
“Please help me find my mother's belongings. Selena—no, the Marchioness—refuses to return them.”
“I will find a way once the deal is over.”
“...Yes.”
“Are those all the conditions?”
Roselyn nodded silently. This was all she could think of right now. These were conditions that she could never achieve with her own strength alone.
“Starting tomorrow, I will call the dressmakers and jewelers to the mansion. I have no intention of reclaiming the things I gift you, so choose with all your heart.”
It meant he would turn a blind eye if she sold the dresses and jewelry to raise funds once the contract ended. At that, Roselyn's downcast eyes widened in surprise. He began to find her expression, which revealed her inner thoughts so clearly, increasingly interesting.
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