Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Secret Pact
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After finishing dinner, I headed up to my room first and waited for the right moment.
Logically speaking, there was no way I could suddenly meet Alexandra without any set time or place.
"Hmm..."
I sat alone by the window, quietly watching the outside.
The sun had already set, and only moonlight and the glow from the buildings illuminated the night.
"Now it should be about time..."
No matter the method, wouldn't something happen soon?
I didn't think she'd forgotten.
If anything, I was more worried that she might be plotting something related to me learning about Rozalin's background.
All her actions in front of me could have been an act, after all.
I couldn't completely erase my suspicions.
*Knock knock!*
"...?"
While waiting like that, something suddenly knocked on the window.
"Huh."
Outside the window was a tiny bird.
A yellow one, no bigger than my fist—adorably small.
I didn't quite understand what was happening, but I opened the window anyway.
The little bird flew inside.
"...What is this."
Seriously.
*Tweet tweet!*
"...Huh?"
*Tweet tweet!*
The bird perched on the windowsill and bobbed its head up and down, chirping away.
It was cute and all, but I had no idea what it was saying...
*Cheep!!*
"Oh, you meant for me to look down here?"
*Cheep!*
I wasn't sure what was going on, but its beak pointed to a tiny scrap of paper.
If it hadn't been folded so neatly, it would have been as big as the bird's body.
Judging by the bird's reaction, it wanted me to see this.
"Oh..."
A tiny bird flying in was surprising at first, but it turned out to be nothing much.
'Come down.'
That's what was written on it.
This had to be from Alexandra Rose.
There was no other reason for her to summon me at this hour.
I threw on a cardigan and headed outside.
I told the servants I was going for a short walk and to inform Mother I was turning in early.
The guest building was large, and since Rozalin was in her room, I managed to slip out without her noticing.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"Not really."
"It's the first time coming out of the building at night like this. What are your plans?"
"Follow me."
"Yes."
As soon as I stepped out the door, I ran into Alexandra standing by the entrance, and we set off.
She didn't seem keen on being seen either, sticking to the darkest paths.
"Hmm..."
We were walking, but I had no clue where to.
It wasn't toward the Rose Family's guest quarters, and we were heading away from the mansion buildings.
I followed quietly, wondering our destination.
"There it is."
"Hmm...?"
We arrived at a small house.
It stood quite a distance from the Rose Mansion's structures.
A cottage-sized place.
"Rather modest, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"May I ask what it's used for?"
"Just a spot to spend time alone."
"Hmm... Even if the family's fallen on hard times, it seems too shabby for a countess's daughter."
"It is."
"...You're not getting mad?"
I was surprised in several ways.
Even if her attitude had softened a bit, reacting so casually after I mentioned their outright fall from grace.
"Well, it's not the same family it used to be."
"Hmm..."
Not wrong, but hearing it from her felt different.
When Rozalin talked like that, it had a self-deprecating tone, but Alexandra sounded more like she was objectively assessing the situation—as if it wasn't her problem.
It was a stark contrast to my first impression of her.
"Sit down. I'll brew some tea."
"You're more..."
"Sweet than expected? I know."
"No, I was going to say you seem even stranger."
"...Tch."
She felt maskless in every way.
Not just her—I was dropping pretenses too.
No more facades; just honest answers.
But this felt like the most normal conversation we'd had since meeting.
"So. Why bring me out here? You don't strike me as the type to kidnap a fragile girl and do something weird."
"Anyone hearing that would think I'm not a countess's daughter but some criminal."
"Hmm... Isn't that the situation right now? Luring a young girl out into the quiet night and bringing her to a house no one visits."
"Sigh."
"Hehe, just kidding."
Anyway, I was getting impatient for the main point.
She'd gone this far, so it had to be something secretive.
"It's basically an extension of what I mentioned earlier today."
"About Christina Rose being the real power in the Rose Family?"
"Yeah. Just continuing from there."
"Hmm..."
What more could there be?
It felt like I was a sharp detective unraveling a case—kind of exciting.
Though the topic itself wasn't exactly thrilling.
"The Rose Family started truly declining before the current family head... before our father."
"Wasn't it gradually waning even before that?"
"Separate issue. It really tanked under the previous head. He did serve as a central bureaucrat at times, luckily... but unlike his predecessors, he never got close to the emperor. Basically a low-level clerk, just a step up."
We sat facing each other across the table as the conversation began.
One cup of tea each on the table.
Not rose tea, not overly sweet—just pleasantly bitter.
"Anyway... Father became head, but he flunked out of the academy and ended up in a bad spot politically with other families."
She painted the current head as incompetent and lacking, detailing his failures.
Just as I knew—he'd barely accomplished anything as a bureaucrat.
Essentially, the Roses began isolating themselves politically.
"Hmm... What does that have to do with Christina Rose?"
"Surprisingly, his eldest daughter Christina was extremely capable. Especially politically."
"...?"
"That's why she was hugely popular at the academy. Her looks are averagely pretty, right?"
"Yeah."
The Rose Family members weren't objectively ugly.
Of course, Rozalin was the prettiest and nicest.
"Because of that, she flirted hard with the young nobles entering the academy, and it paid off more than expected..."
"What difference does academy romance make?"
"It wasn't just boy-girl stuff; it was noble-to-noble networking. Of course it matters."
"Hmm... Not sure I get it."
I wasn't interested in that scene.
And I hadn't attended the academy yet...
"The Roses were politically isolated. But Christina sister mingled with heirs from other noble houses, breaking that isolation."
"How'd she manage that?"
"...The first-year newbies sent third-year Christina gifts and courted her almost daily."
"...Whoa. That much?"
"Yeah, that's why I say it ended the isolation."
"...Her face isn't that pretty, though."
Above average, sure... but not on par with Rozalin, Ella, or Karen.
Age difference aside...
My maid Lize seemed prettier, even.
Whatever her tricks were, it was intriguing.
"Before Leonhardt's support funds, the Roses literally survived on money from Christina's suitors."
"What a bizarre family."
"Yeah."
"Okay, I get why Christina Rose is the real power."
Unlike the inept head, she was competent.
She'd solved the family's chronic political woes.
But she didn't call me here just for this.
"Bluntly put... I don't like Christina Rose."
"Hmm...?"
"Rozalin probably hates her most, but I'm not far behind."
"So?"
"You seem to dislike Christina Rose—no, the whole Rose Family too."
"Oh..."
"I'll make you a firm offer."
"What kind?"
I wasn't dumb enough to not guess.
I'd never pegged Alexandra Rose for this type.
It was disorienting, and I didn't know the full details.
But we shared a common goal now.
"Want to topple the Rose Family?"
"Bold proposal."
"Yeah."
"And a bit premature to pitch to a twelve-year-old."
"True."
Smarter than expected.
She knew it wasn't a clean, sensible offer.
It wasn't.
"It's not the Roses I hate—it's the ones messing with me and Mother."
"That... sorry. Christina Rose's orders."
"...Really?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm..."
I probed more into Christina's misdeeds.
Rozalin's contract marriage, the Roses' antics against us.
What I learned was absurd on multiple levels.
The state of the building was one thing, but the Rose head and wife badmouthing Leonhardt constantly.
Even after I returned to the guest quarters, their conversations revealed what they said about Rozalin... I heard it all.
"...Ha."
"Yeah, that's how it went."
"Unbelievable."
Seriously.
No need to hate Rozalin this much just for being illegitimate.
Christina's loathing ran deeper than I'd thought.
Truly...
"I'll accept your proposal. I know you don't fully trust me either. It's for Mother."
No choice.
"But remember: I accept, but no moves on the Roses right now."
Absolutely not yet.
We had money, and Leonhardt was stronger lately, but they were still a count family.
Even with an insider traitor.
For now...
"We need more power."
"..."
"Act now, and you'll get disowned, while Leonhardt-Rose relations sour fast."
"True..."
"If we're doing this, wait until I'm an adult—no, after I graduate the academy."
"...Got it."
Sudden talk, sudden proposal.
But I accepted.
She'd done more to Rozalin than I'd imagined.
I disliked the Roses before, but now... my target was clear.
My purpose too.
"...Shall we call it here for tonight?"
We wrapped up and stood.
Alexandra eyed me rising.
"What? There's more to discuss."
"I'm sleepy."
"Huh?"
I knew I had more to say.
I wasn't an idiot; accepting then bailing wasn't an option.
But...
"It's past eleven already. Bedtime."
"........"
"What? Why stare?"
What could I do about my kid body?
My eyes were drooping; I just wanted to lie down anywhere comfy.
Plus, early breakfast with Rozalin tomorrow.