Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Experiment (4)
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It was worth enduring the hardship.
Now Rose would seriously ponder those numbers. And she would realize that her prediction had been wrong from the start.
"Can I take this off now?"
"Ah, wait a moment. Let me undo it for you."
Rose took off her glasses and approached. She pressed a few buttons, and
Clunk.
The device binding my wrists came loose. My freed wrists twitched oddly, as if they were novel sensations.
To know what was coming and still allow it.
It was something my past self never would have done—something impossible without fully trusting Rose.
"……."
I didn't stand right away. Instead, I kept my eyes closed and stayed still.
I'd probably stagger if I tried to get up now. I couldn't let her see me in such an unsightly state.
"Your Excellency, are you feeling really unwell?"
Rose asked worriedly. I waved my hand dismissively as if to say I was fine, and
"Shall I bring some honey water?"
Rose's signature sweet scent wafted over strongly.
"They say honey water's good for hangovers."
"It's not that bad."
Even with my eyes closed, I could tell she was very close.
"Your Excellency, next time—"
The moment Rose opened her mouth,
Creak.
The lab door swung open.
Grab.
At the same time, Rose suddenly clutched my collar.
'Hm?'
For a split second, I thought it was Helena in front of me.
But unlike that time when she'd gripped me hard, Rose's hold was extremely weak.
Suddenly,
Smack.
Something soft and plush touched my cheek.
"?"
When I opened my eyes, Rose's face was right there, pressed close. It was a position anyone would mistake for a kiss.
Our lips were a fingernail's width apart.
I could see every detail: her red-tinged eyelashes, the faint freckles on her nose bridge, even the fine veins on her cheeks.
"……."
Unlike me, who'd reflexively opened my eyes, Rose had hers squeezed shut.
She was trembling faintly but stubbornly holding the distance, desperately trying not to touch me.
'Too close.'
If I just turned my head a little sideways, our lips would meet.
The tempting option of pretending it was an accident and moving crossed my mind.
'Why pretend when I could just do it for real?'
The thought progressed that far, and before I could hit the brakes, my jaw moved.
Touch.
Our lips brushed lightly.
"Gasp…!"
The instant Rose jolted back in shock,
"Eg-moni!"
A maid screamed.
Crash!
A loud clatter followed, as if she'd dropped whatever she was holding.
"…Sonyani?"
Rose released my collar and stepped back. She quickly masked her fluster and
"I told you not to come in when I'm in the lab."
scolded the maid in a cold voice. It carried a dignified air befitting her station.
"I'm sorry……."
"Out with you. Leave the items there."
"Yes……."
Clunk.
The maid, presumably Sonya, shut the door and left.
"……."
Rose stared at the door with an icily cold expression I'd never seen before. It was oddly fascinating to see her make that face at her own maid.
Then I realized my hand had unconsciously touched my lips.
Swipe.
I quickly pulled it away and composed my expression.
"Madam."
"Ah."
The moment she turned to me, Rose's cheeks began to flush red.
"Y-Your Excellency. What was that just now…?"
"What do you mean?"
"No, that. Clearly?"
Rose flailed her hands frantically. Then, with a teary face, she mumbled,
"I definitely didn't move, but Your Excellency did……."
"Must be a misunderstanding."
Did she really have to look so repulsed?
Feeling surly, I spat out an excuse without much thought.
"Or maybe an accident."
"Pardon?"
Rose touched her lips with a dazed expression. Her fingers moved as gingerly as if they'd been burned.
"I could ask you the same."
I patted the crumpled front of my clothes.
"I never expected you'd tease me so boldly."
"T-Tease?!"
Rose yelped and hopped back on the spot, then
"—W-Well, that's how it turned out……. I'm sorry."
admitted it meekly. She covered her face with both hands, leaving only her teary eyes visible.
"I thought we needed a smokescreen so she wouldn't suspect what we were doing here. You must be displeased……."
I wasn't displeased.
Rose's lips had been too sweet in that brief graze. If it felt this good just brushing, I wondered what it would taste like to devour them.
If not for the dizziness, I would've reached out and grabbed the back of her head.
But instead of saying that, I focused on her words.
"Smokescreen?"
"Yes. Joel already raised suspicions about me, right? And yet the two of us doing… um……."
Her cheeks reddened further as she hesitated over the words.
"I thought showing us doing… that kind of thing would be best."
Such quick judgment in that short moment? Was she actually a strategic genius?
Amazed, I stared, and Rose stammered an explanation.
"I had a feeling Sonya might come, so I didn't lock the door."
So she'd anticipated this from when she called me to the lab. The whole scene had been deliberately staged.
"It's better to hide what we're really doing in the lab. This way, she'll think we're just… you know, playing lovers."
It was sound logic. Rose's decision was highly rational and strategic.
Yet.
'What is this? This feeling.'
Something squirmed in my chest.
"I'm sorry. Why would I do that to you? There was a reason."
So, if there wasn't a reason like that, she'd never touch me?
"I really tried not to touch you, but Your Excellency moved……."
Was it that disgusting? If she hated it so much, she shouldn't have approached. No, she was the one who grabbed my collar first, wasn't she?
I wanted to nitpick her words, but it felt petty, so I held back. I hadn't realized I could be so small-minded.
"I'm sorry……."
As I just stared, Rose grew even more flustered.
"You must be really upset. I won't do it again……."
"You can."
"Pardon?"
"…No. Forget what I said."
Damn, why was I fumbling too?
Feeling pathetic, I rubbed my dry face. I didn't notice Rose's face fall even more as she watched me.
"Anyway, I understand your intent. Let's forget this incident."
"Th-Thank you."
Rose sighed openly in relief. Seeing that made me the frustrated one.
'So pure and innocent—what will she do in the future?'
She wilted at the slightest scolding, even though she clearly knew I'd moved.
Or couldn't she demand payback for when I groped her butt last time, calling it even?
Using something as leverage to demand compensation was something my previous wives did often.
'I hated it back then.'
Seeing Rose so brutally honest and naive made me wish she'd shrewdly ask for something instead.
At this rate, I worried if she'd survive the jaded ladies of high society.
"……."
As I swallowed a sigh, I realized Rose was gauging my mood.
"…Anyway, what were the results?"
I stood from the chair and approached her.
"Ah, yes. First, about the poisonous plants."
Rose pointed to a gauge and explained.
"I tested three kinds, and trace amounts showed up. It's more like an immune response than poisoning at this level."
"Hm."
"The weird part is this mana graph in your body……."
Rose's delicate brows furrowed.
"It's strange. No other mana injection should produce a graph like this. I'll need more research to say for sure."
"I see. Understood."
"And……."
Rose hesitated a moment, then spoke resolutely.
"I could only test three herbs today, so… could you come every day for a while?"
"Every day?"
I'd expected it, but hearing it still didn't sit well.
"Feel this hangover again?"
"Until I find the cause, probably?"
Rose tilted her head with sparkling eyes.
"Is it too hard……?"
…It was impossible to refuse those eyes.
"…Understood."
I could only nod, holding back a sigh ready to burst.
"I'll come again tomorrow at this time."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
Rose replied energetically, clenching her fist.
"I'll work hard! I'll finish the analysis as fast as possible!"
"Good. Time for me to go."
I stepped back, and
Pop, pop.
undid a few buttons on my front. Then I grabbed the lapel and twisted it to rumple the fabric.
"What are you doing?"
I answered Rose's wide-eyed surprise with nonchalance.
"What else? Cooperating with your act."
"……."
"Can't have my clothes pristine after 'that kind of thing' with you, Madam."
"……Ah."
Rose's face turned tomato-red, on the verge of bursting.
Seeing it oddly felt like payback, lifting my mood. I hadn't known I could be so childish, but oh well.
"Oh, and this."
While disheveling my clothes, I pulled out the bundle of invitations from my pocket.
"What's this? Letters?"
"Desperate pleas for our noble selves to grace their humble tea parties."
I handed the bundle to Rose.
"Bill already confirmed no poison or explosives."
Rose's hand froze mid-reach.
"…Does that happen often?"
"Occasionally. Anyway, it's verified safe, so open freely."
Ruffle, ruffle.
I went ahead and tousled my hair wildly too. Anyone seeing me would think we'd had a vigorous romp(?).
"Y-You don't have to go that far……."
As Rose mumbled in exasperation,
"Just doing what's necessary."
I replied innocently.
It was true. There were no personal feelings in my actions.
"…Yes."
"Anyway, pick one from the senders, and we'll attend together."
"Yes……! I'll choose quickly and let you know!"
Rose gripped the bundle tightly, brimming with enthusiasm.
'I should call that person.'
I thought, watching her check the list. It would surely help Rose a lot.