Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: First Night (2)
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"Your Excellency...?"
"Don't move."
With those two short words, I pinned Rose in place, then strode toward her. The thick carpet in the bedroom swallowed the sound of my footsteps completely.
In just a few steps, I reached her.
"Pardon me."
I scooped her up into my arms just like that.
"Gasp!"
Rose let out a choked sound and went rigid. Her eyes darted around, fixing on my face. She couldn't bring herself to speak, but her gaze was asking the question plainly.
'Why? Why are you doing this?'
She looked so utterly bewildered that it seemed she needed an answer.
"The floor."
"Ah."
Rose let out a soft exclamation and craned her neck to peer down. Shards from the shattered wine bottle and the damp carpet awaited her below.
"I'm sorry... This was my fault, after all."
Rose mumbled in a voice barely above a whisper.
'Only apologize when you've truly done wrong.'
Perhaps because of what I'd said earlier, she added that unnecessary bit.
"It's wine you cherish, isn't it...?"
"Not particularly."
If I cherished it, I wouldn't have left it sitting here. Who drinks something without knowing what's in it?
In any case, this wasn't the time for casual conversation. I could see Rose's ears turning redder by the second.
Still holding her in my arms, I started walking briskly.
"Y-Your Excellency."
It was only a short distance to the bed, but Rose squirmed as if even that was too much to bear.
"Please put me down. I must be heavy...?"
"Not at all."
I answered curtly.
"You're quite small, Madam. Lighter than my sword, even."
"Pardon? That's not true."
"Make sure you eat well and stay diligent about it."
I added, glancing at her gaunt cheeks.
"-Like earlier."
"-!"
Rose's cheeks flushed bright red. She must have finally recalled how eagerly she'd eaten at dinner.
Swish-
I set her down on the bed and pulled the cord by the table.
"Stay put."
Rose watched me with her entire face beet red.
Knock knock.
A knock came at the door.
"Pardon the intrusion."
A maid entered.
"Wine spilled. Clean it up."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
The maid carried out the order without a flicker of reaction. She calmly wiped the carpet and cleared the glass shards, acting as if she couldn't see Rose sitting on the bed or me standing beside her.
'She's a veteran who's worked in the castle for quite some time.'
Servants of the Schmichael family must possess three virtues.
Eyes, mouth, and hands. Eyes that turn a blind eye even after seeing, a mouth that stays shut, and hands that handle tasks swiftly.
Only those who uphold them can last in this castle. No—only they survive.
But.
The master, who had never once entered the marital bedchamber, had now gone so far as to seat his wife on the bed.
How could she keep that to herself? It was information all the servants needed to know, both for serving Rose and for serving me going forward.
'By tomorrow, the rumors will spread through the castle.'
Things like, They seemed quite close, Madam's face was flushed, they were even drinking wine together—
'Perfect.'
I'd deliberately called the maid to start those rumors. If Rose hadn't broken the bottle, I would have found another excuse.
"Is there anything else you need?"
The maid asked politely once the cleaning was done.
"Two wine glasses, and some snacks to go with it."
"Yes, understood."
The maid withdrew quietly, as if nothing had happened. But in that final moment as she closed the door, I caught her gaze flicking toward the bed. That confirmed it.
'By tonight, the rumors will be everywhere.'
The door closed soundlessly, just as it had opened.
"Put these on."
I handed Rose a spare pair of slippers.
"There might still be glass shards."
"Thank you."
"We'll replace the carpet tomorrow."
Rose slipped on the slippers and stood awkwardly. Standing before me, her body went stiff as a board.
"Ah."
The room's only light sources were the candle on the table and the faint moonlight seeping through the large window.
And there we stood before the bed, a man and a woman. Dressed in nothing but thin nightclothes—quite improper attire to be seen in by others.
Just the two of us, who had become husband and wife today... and were expected to act as such.
"......"
Rose's lips trembled faintly. She was finally realizing the situation she was in.
Watching her fear, I thought to myself.
'This is amusing.'
The squirrel who had been on guard, ready to claw at me moments ago, was now trembling.
'Not that I plan to touch her anyway.'
I didn't shy away from the act expected of a married couple. It simply wasn't the right time yet.
Swish.
I reached out, and Rose's gaze followed my hand automatically. She didn't flinch even as my large hand approached her.
My hand landed on her shoulder.
Slide.
I adjusted her slipped nightgown and spoke.
"Madam."
"......Yes."
"If you wanted wine, you should have said so. Fabry would have brought out at least ten kinds of snacks."
Rose blinked in a daze, then bristled indignantly.
"No, that's not it! Earlier, it wasn't...!"
"Or did you want the wine itself?"
"That's not it either!"
Rose glared with all her might, protesting her innocence. Oblivious to my consideration in trying to ease her tension.
Her slightly flushed cheeks from the excitement looked a bit cute—probably the magic of the moonlight.
"The reason I looked at the wine wasn't—"
"Yes, what was the reason?"
"......Ugh."
Rose clamped her mouth shut.
Of course. How could she admit she was checking for poison, wondering if it might be laced? Especially in front of the wine's owner.
In any case, I was pleased with her reaction.
The mere fact that she couldn't come up with an excuse proved her intentions. That she was acting to protect me.
'In the original story, she spread everything out on the floor to inspect it.'
Back then, Dane Schmichael hadn't come to the marital bedchamber at all. That allowed Rose to leisurely check every bottle.
But now, my intrusion had prevented that.
"I, well... Earlier...?"
As Rose stammered, trying to fabricate an excuse,
Knock knock.
The servant knocked, likely with what I'd ordered.
"One moment."
I left Rose and went to the door.
"Your Excellency. The wine glasses and snacks you requested—"
Thud.
I snatched the tray and slammed the door shut. I didn't want any interruptions to this precious time.
Turning, I placed the tray on the table at once.
"Come here."
I called to Rose, who stood rigid.
She glanced at me cautiously, then approached hesitantly. She looked like a squirrel wondering if she'd be devoured.
'Not an incorrect thought.'
I opened the wine cabinet door, thinking something that would horrify her if she knew.
"Wine? Care to drink?"
"Uh......"
I held up a bottle toward the hesitating Rose.
"This one's worth less than the one you broke earlier. Still, it has a fairly rich flavor."
"Your Excellency, please."
"Would you drink this one?"
Offering it again, Rose looked at me with wavering eyes. I could see the fierce internal conflict.
Should she tell the truth? Would he believe her? No, he wouldn't believe her anyway. Then what excuse to make?
-Such dilemmas.
The Dane Schmichael she knew wasn't the type to believe her words. That's why she agonized so intensely.
And I had to shatter that fixed notion. I wanted to erase the lingering shadow of the old Dane Schmichael, like a scar.
"Well, if you won't."
I casually uncorked the bottle and poured a glass.
"I'll drink alone, then."
I lifted the glass slowly to my lips. I savored the way Rose's gaze followed my hand, trembling wildly.
Just as the glass touched my lips—
"No!"
Rose hurriedly grabbed my arm. I could have dodged or struck back easily, but...
"......Now."
I deliberately waited patiently. Letting her come right up to my face.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Through the clear wine glass, Rose's face reflected. In that brief moment, her ragged breath brushed my cheek.
Our eyes met from extremely close range.
"No, Your Excellency."
Her small but firm voice wrapped around my ear.
"Didn't you refuse the glass, Madam?"
"That's not... it."
Rose swallowed dryly. Yet she didn't let go of my arm.
I was curious what excuse her little head would come up with. I kept my expression blank to urge her on.
"......This,"
Finally, her lips moved.
"This isn't like you, Your Excellency."
"Not like me?"
"Don't you usually never consume anything before bed?"
It was a valid point.
The reason for the double and triple layers of guards around my bedchamber. The reason I never drank alcohol.
Assassination attempts came all too frequently.
"How would you know that?"
The problem was, it wasn't an appropriate remark for someone who had just arrived at the castle today.
"......!"
Realizing her slip, Rose swallowed a gasp. Soon, a forced calm voice emerged.
"Some rumors reach you even if you plug your ears."
"About me?"
"So I have a rough idea of your situation, Your Excellency."
Cornered, Rose chose the unexpected path of direct confrontation.
"Yes, what rumors?"
I knew it would corner her further, but still.
"......I don't want to be rude by repeating them to your face."
"I won't reprimand you for rudeness. Speak."
Her lips tightened briefly at my persistent questioning, but
"It's just my own guess."
Rose managed to feign composure in her reply.
"That you don't partake in outside food carelessly."
But I, right up in her space, could feel it. The faint cold sweat beading on her palm.