CH 18

“We’ve been friends since we were young.”

Even as Rosalie answered, she was engulfed in a strange feeling. While Sonia’s friendly behavior was cute, they weren’t close yet, as friends.

‘She was very close to the original Rosalie, to be exact.’

In the first place, the memories of the original Rosalie’s childhood with Sonia didn’t resonate with Yoon-ah, the current Rosalie. Strangely enough, her memories of the original Rosalie were fragmented. 

She had no problem recalling memories related to practical skills, but memories related to human relationships were extremely fragmented. The only memories that could remember were those that started from when Sonia came to the mansion.

Bianca, who was next to her, seemed to be seriously considering something and finally opened her mouth.

“We’ll never be close, but I’ll stop threatening the Young Lady of Count Amins.”

“Yes. It’s not good to be mean to others.”

“Yes! Now, I like my sister better than the Crown Prince!”

Rosalie felt burdened and glanced away from Bianca’s enthusiastic gaze. It would take some time to get used to that look.

“Ah, but that wasn’t the only reason I didn’t like the Young Lady of Count Amins…”

“Still, I hope you won’t do it anymore.”

“I’m not going to threaten her anymore!”

Bianca nodded vigorously and continued to speak, as if she had made up her mind while staring intently at Rosalie’s face.

“If my sister wants me to, I’ll even apologize to the Young Lady of Count Amins.  Of course, we still won’t be close friends afterward… But if the person who saved my life wants it…!”

Rosalie’s mouth finally twitched into a faint smile at Bianca’s ambitious demeanor.

“Good.”

Bianca’s face brightened at Rosalie’s short response.

Afterward, Rosalie sent Bianca away after calming her down, saying that she was about to eat dinner. Bianca, who was surprisingly talkative and attached to Rosalie, called her sister repeatedly. Strangely, Rosalie found the behavior annoying, but not repulsive.

After dinner, Rosalie retired to her office to review the reports that had come from the Judeheart mansion.

‘Oh, right. Nathan’s chocolate.’

Rosalie put down the report in her hand and pulled the rope to ring the bell. Martin, who heard the bell, quickly opened the door to her study.

“Did you call for me, Your Grace?”

“I need you to pack up some chocolates from the Judeheart mansion.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare it.”

Martin bowed politely and left the office. Rosalie thought about sending a letter to Bianca so she could prepare some candy.

Rosalie returned her gaze to the reports. As always, she was pleased with how efficiently Erudit had handled his work. She took out a small card from her drawer.

On it, she scribbled a short line of praise for him and slipped it into the briefcase with the report.

‘I think it’s going to be a habit.’

Rosalie knew that when Erudit received compliments, he put on a cold, indifferent face and pretended not to be embarrassed. She found it amusing, so she sometimes slipped in a compliment card like this.

Late in the afternoon, Rosalie prepared to go out. She put on a dark navy robe over comfortable clothes and received the small white handbag that Emma handed her, completing her preparations to leave.

When Rosalie opened the door of her room, Toronto and Whitney were standing there, their knightly attire covered by similarly colored robes.

“Did you get the exact location?”

“Yes. However,  you’ll need to take a carriage to the main road, and then walk a little bit from there. There are too many people today, so it seems difficult to drive the carriage through the small alleys.”

Rosalie nodded slightly at Whitney’s words and started walking. Their destination was the Information Guild. Whitney had already located the position of the Information Guild in the Capital under Rosalie’s orders.

A plain brown carriage was waiting in front of the mansion. Rosalie immediately climbed into the carriage, followed by Toronto and Whitney. The carriage traveled at a brisk pace, but it didn’t last long before it slowed down.

“There are a lot of people on the street, so the carriage is blocked.”

“Let’s just get off and walk.”

Rosalie said, hearing the coachman’s voice from outside the carriage. Toronto slid open the door, stuck his head out, and shouted at the coachman to stop the carriage.

Rosalie stepped out of the carriage, threw on the hood of her robe, and started walking. Today, the stalls were open as usual, and the streets were bustling with activity.

As Rosalie walked slowly down the street in the direction Whitney had indicated, she suddenly stopped and looked around at the stalls filled with sparkling trinkets. Toronto, who was following her, asked. 

“Are you buying any trinkets?

Rosalie, who was browsing the trinkets, turned and walked into the alley without even answering Toronto’s question. Toronto, who was ignored, frowned.

Walking down the alley, Rosalie looked at the fruits this time.

“Look at this apple.”

As Rosalie pointed to the red apple, the two of them approached her. Then Rosalie whispered, still looking at the apple.

“Listen to me carefully from now on. We’re being tailed.”

Toronto and Whitney’s bodies stiffened as they heard her whisper.

“Act naturally. (1)Eight o’clock, a man who appears to be close to six feet tall, covered in a black robe.”

Focusing on Rosalie’s words, Toronto and Whitney reflexively tried to move their heads.

“Don’t turn your heads.” 

However, they didn’t turn their heads at her immediate order. 

“We’re heading into the alley now. I will handle the tail, so you two just follow me from behind. Got it? If you understand, cough and click your tongue.”

Toronto weakly clicked his tongue while Whitney coughed a little. Rosalie looked away from the apple and continued walking naturally, as if nothing had happened.

It was so natural that Toronto and Whitney, who were walking behind her, became stiff.

Rosalie quickly turned into an alley without warning. The two who were watching her also turned and entered the alley. Rosalie made several more sharp turns into the alleyways.

‘They’re following me so well. It’s impossible to shake them off.’

Rosalie clucked her tongue at the suspicious figure who did not lose sight of her and quickly turned into another alley. Then she gestured to Toronto and Whitney, who drew their swords from their waist.

“He’s coming.”

Toronto’s jaw shook greatly from the tension. Soon after, the figure of a tall man in a black robe appeared along the alley, and the two swung their swords at the same time.

The black-robed man quickly dodged Whitney’s sword and kicked him. Toronto rushed forward, and he was also kicked back.

“Ugh!”

They immediately got up and rushed toward him again. However, their swords missed him, and they were hit by the man’s attack, causing them to stagger and faint.

The man who had knocked down Whitney and Toronto slowly walked toward Rosalie. Rosalie showed no signs of tension despite the urgent situation because she had guessed the man’s identity from the earlier fight.

“What are you doing, Nathan?”

The man laughed lightly and pushed back the hood of his robe, revealing crimson hair and golden eyes.

“Hello, Rosalie.”

Nathan replied, his catlike eyes twinkling.

“How did you know it was me?”

“Your movements. But more importantly, why were you following me?”

Seeing Rosalie’s fierce eyes, Nathan motioned for her to calm down.

“I noticed you by chance while taking a walk. Then I was attracted by the sweet smell from Rosalie’s bag.”

Nathan looked at her white handbag, and Rosalie opened it. In one corner of the bag was chocolate wrapped in a thin cloth pouch. Emma had put it there, thinking she was going to give it to him.

Rosalie picked up the wrapped chocolate and tossed it to Nathan. He caught it, opened the pouch, and began to eat the chocolate.

As she passed him, Rosalie checked on the unconscious Toronto and Whitney. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to be hurt badly.

“If I had known it was you from the beginning, I wouldn’t have tried to shake you off.”

Rosalie had tried to shake him off, thinking that he was someone who had been sent by Bella. However, if she had known that it was Nathan, she wouldn’t have even tried. 

It was almost impossible for her to escape his senses, especially with the scent of the wrapped chocolates in her handbag.

“By the way, where were you going?”

Nathan asked, shoveling chocolate into his mouth as Rosalie checked the two knights. Nathan grinned, noticing by the sound of her heart and breathing that she was contemplating whether or not to answer his question.

“Rosalie, it’s going to take a while for the knights to wake up. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Rosalie was annoyed by Nathan, who knocked them out and spoke calmly as if it was not his business. 

But as Nathan said, Toronto and Whitney showed no signs of waking up. Unable to leave them behind, Rosalie eventually spoke up.

“I’m on my way to the Information Guild. I need someone.”

“It’s probably not an ordinary person that you’re looking for at the Information Guild… Are you looking for someone to do something a little special?”

Rosalie fell silent at his spot-on question. She was trying to find a handsome actor who could keep an eye on Bella for her at the Information Guild. 

After Duke Judeheart died, Bella secretly started having lovers, and everyone in the Duchy knew about it. They had just turned a blind eye to it because she had been so influential.

“That’s right. I need someone to do something special for me.”

Nathan finished the chocolate in his pocket, licking the chocolate off his fingers as if he was disappointed that it was gone now.

Even his expression was mesmerizing and fascinating.

“What is it?”

“Would you do it if you knew?”

Rosalie said lightly, not thinking much of it. She’d expected Nathan to say no. But the question made Nathan’s eyes sparkle for a moment.

“If it looks like fun, I’ll do it.”

“Are you serious?”

When Rosalie asked back, Nathan smiled and passed her. He picked up the two collapsed knights and slung them over his shoulder as if he was carrying luggage.

“Let’s move to a different place to talk about it in detail.”

[Collection of Footnotes]

1) “Eight o’ clock” 

– These are terms often used in the US military, a clock dial analogy for pointing directions — you’re at the center and each number between 1 and 12 is a direction. 12 is forward, and 6 is at your back.