Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Contract (5)
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"Anyway, got it, Master. You'll tell me what my job is when the time comes, right?"
"Yes."
At least she was calling him "Master" consistently, which was reassuring for now.
"Then."
With business concluded, she turned to leave without lingering. Then, with an "Ah," she spun back toward the woman.
"What's your name?"
"You're asking that now? I'm gonna feel hurt, Master."
The woman pouted her lips. Then, in a cheeky voice, she finally said,
"Helena."
"Helena, was it."
In truth, he already knew her name. It had come up in conversation with Rose back in the prison. But he'd pretended not to know, making her say it herself.
"See you later, Helena."
As he turned away, Helena's giggling laughter echoed behind him.
"I'll definitely pass the test. You can look forward to it, Master."
He wasn't looking forward to it. He was simply curious what method she would use.
The gaze Helena had stuck to his back like glue,
thud.
finally detached once he ascended the underground stairs.
"Hoo."
Night was already approaching. It was time to head to the bedroom.
**
The maid Sonya carefully brushed out her hair with devoted strokes. Beside her, another maid meticulously trimmed her nails.
Her hair, slathered in fragrant oil, gave off a pleasant scent. Her skin, washed with high-quality soap and moisturized, was smooth to the touch.
"······."
Rose gazed at her sparkling reflection in the mirror.
It looked like she was dressing up to go out. But the place Rose was headed to wasn't outside—it was the bedroom.
'This is so embarrassing...'
Rose couldn't bring herself to voice her inner turmoil and simply sat there obediently.
On the first night heading to the bedroom, she'd naturally assumed she'd sleep alone. The maids had attended to her accordingly, providing only standard care.
But things were different now. The maids were going all out with their preparations. In some ways, it even felt combative.
"Madam, what color nightgown would you like? Please choose the fabric as well."
"Here, let me apply the oil all the way inside too."
The maids already assumed Rose had consummated her marriage with Dane on the first night and were serving her accordingly. Just that thought alone made Rose's face burn with mortification.
'I can't even tell them the truth.'
She'd read and signed the contract. Now it truly hit her that she had to put on the perfect act of a married couple.
So she had to endure this as well. She needed to play the part of a confident wife heading to her husband's loving embrace(?) in the bedroom.
"Madam. It's time for you to go."
Sonya whispered softly.
At first, Sonya had often been awkward around Rose. That was only natural for servants from the Vicander household.
But this was Schmichael Castle. Living among the castle maids who treated Rose with utmost respect, Sonya seemed to have learned how to conduct herself properly.
'Her attitude flipped just like that.'
Rose found it quite amusing.
She had no intention of letting Sonya off easily. Someone who calculated gains and losses so meticulously would switch sides the moment the situation changed.
"Madam."
As she exited the room, Head Maid Selma awaited her in the corridor.
"I'll escort you to the bedroom. Please follow me."
She was familiar with the path to the marital bedroom from her previous life. But having so many servants trailing behind her was not.
Tonight, the short walk to the marital bedroom felt even shorter. It seemed like only a few steps before they arrived.
"His Excellency is already in the bedroom."
"······Ah, I see."
Rose nearly flustered for a moment but barely composed herself, feigning calm as she stepped through the opening doors.
"Then, have a pleasant night."
With the servants' exceedingly polite voices, the door closed silently behind her.
"······."
Rose paused at the doorway for a moment, taking a deep breath.
Clink.
She spotted Dane sitting on the edge of the bed, fiddling with something.
'Ahh.'
Seeing him from afar at the Academy had hurt her heart. Now, just a few steps away, the pain was sharper, almost numbing.
Just looking at him made her heart sink. And then it pounded wildly, setting her entire body racing.
How could she guard her heart in front of him?
'I can't...'
That was why she'd fled. Even knowing it would look strange, she'd bolted from the room.
'No matter what choice you make, I will respect my wife's will.'
From him, who had said it so matter-of-factly,
'Insulting my wife is the same as insulting me.'
From him, who bolstered her courage,
'Do you intend to turn me into a man who flips his words like a pancake?'
She had fled from him, who gently clasped her hand.
No—truthfully, she had fled from her own chaotic heart, which was utterly swayed by him. Any longer, and she might have pathetically confessed her feelings.
But it was all within the castle walls. All Rose could do was flee to her room and soothe her aching heart.
She had barely escaped, only to end up returning to him after all.
"······."
Rose swallowed a rising sigh as she watched Dane's focused profile.
She resented his indifference. She feared being cast out the moment she crossed the line.
'I must never let him find out how I feel.'
She engraved the contract she'd made with him deep into her heart, over and over.
What Dane wanted was not a foolish woman clinging to him, pouring out her emotions.
She recalled the moments when he seemed satisfied, when his icy eyes softened.
When they appeared as a harmonious couple, when she understood and followed his words well.
'Get a grip, Rose.'
Rose whipped herself mentally, again and again. She didn't want to repeat the mistakes of her past self.
That was when it happened.
"Are you planning to stand there forever?"
Dane said without even looking up. He was tinkering with something on the bed headboard.
In truth, if she could, Rose wanted to do exactly as Dane said. Knowing she couldn't, she resigned herself.
"No."
She answered obediently and approached the bed where he lay.
Swish, swish.
The carpet under her slippers was plush and soft. The old one had been entirely removed and replaced, just in case any shards from the wine bottle remained.
'Will I be replaced just like this carpet someday?'
Rose stood by the bed, harboring such thoughts.
"What... are you doing?"
"Curious?"
"A little."
"If I told you, it would keep my wife up at night, so I won't."
"Pardon?"
For a moment, Rose couldn't tell if Dane was joking or serious.
"Let's sleep."
Having finished whatever secretive task he was doing, Dane looked up.
The instant their eyes met, Rose felt both relief and despair. His eyes, smooth as if embedded with ice, reflected no emotion whatsoever.
"······Yes."
She gave a restrained reply, careful not to sound too dejected.
That earlier conversation, which had stirred such turmoil in her, apparently meant nothing to Dane, as expected.
The one-sided scale of emotions weighed heavily on Rose, burdensome and painful. She could see a bleak future where she had to endure it tilted like this.
Swish, swish.
Rose climbed onto the bed with her head bowed, shuffling along. She didn't even notice Dane staring intently at her.
"······."
Dane's lips parted as if to speak. But he soon shook his head and pulled up the covers.
Swish.
Rose gripped the blanket pulled up to her chin.
The canopy bed in the marital bedroom was excessively large. Even with Dane lying beside her, no warmth reached her.
'Right, this is what a contract marriage is.'
Rose calmed her troubled heart with that thought.
'This isn't bad. No, it's actually amazing. I'm living a life of luxury I couldn't even dream of. The maids are kind, everyone treats me well. The food is delicious too.'
······Just,
'His Excellency treats me well too. I thought he'd ignore me like I didn't exist, but this is more than enough to be grateful for.'
Just, just······.
'I'll stop crying.'
His hand that had wiped her cheek had been larger than expected. And warmer.
That made her keep longing for what she shouldn't. It was her heart's fault for harboring vain hopes.
"Good night."
"Yeah."
Being able to hear Dane's voice this close, at this distance—it was enough.
Rose squeezed her eyes shut. Struggling to shake off futile desires, she tried to fall asleep.
"······."
Her body was exhausted, but her mind was wide awake. In that gap, as Rose drifted into a light sleep,
someone shook her shoulder, waking her.
"Mm······."
The moment Rose frowned and opened her eyes,
Thud.
Something large clamped over her mouth.
"-!"
She jolted in shock, trying to leap up, but another hand pinned her shoulder, stopping her.
Unable to move, Rose looked ahead and startled upon recognizing the figure.
'Your Excellency?'
It was Dane who covered her mouth and gripped her shoulder. He stared at her with an expressionless face.
Too shocked, Rose didn't even realize how closely their bodies were pressed together.
"······."
As Rose quieted, Dane released his grip on her shoulder. He raised a finger to his lips.
'Shh.'
It was a gesture to stay silent.
Rose nodded vigorously to show she understood, and the hand over her mouth finally withdrew.
'What's going on?'
Rose asked with her eyes. Dane wouldn't wake her for something trivial.
Swish.
Dane jerked his chin toward the window. He quietly rose from the bed and moved that way.
"······!"
Rose, tracking his movements with her eyes, was horrified.