CH 41

“I will never die alone!”

Possessed by evil, Bella suddenly rushed towards Rosalie with something tightly clenched in her hand. Rosalie tried to subdue Bella with a grim expression, but Nathan was faster.

Rosalie sighed as she saw Bella collapse after being slashed by Nathan’s sword. However, Nathan nonchalantly sheathed his sword.

“You were trying to kill the Duke, weren’t you? Rosalie, that thing in her hand is a poisonous plant. She probably planned to shove it into your mouth and make you lose your senses.”

Aaron turned pale as he heard those words and forcibly pried Bella’s tightly clenched fist open. As Nathan had said, there was a black, poisonous plant in her hand.

“This is… a highly toxic plant that can be lethal if taken in even in small amounts.”

Aaron’s complexion grew even paler as he looked at Bella’s hand, which was turning red and gradually decaying due to the plant’s venom. It was no exaggeration to say that this was an act of suicide.

“…We should have killed Bella. With this level of obsession, I’m sure she would target the Duchess even after being driven out of the duchy.”

Rosalie’s expression grew heavy as Aaron continued his explanation. There was only one person who could deliver the poisonous plant to her in the underground prison.

“Find Callie.”

“Yes, understood.”

Dolan, who was sweating profusely, quickly responded. Callie, who had not directly participated in this matter, was banished first from the Duchy’s mansion thanks to Rosalie’s mercy. However, Callie’s loyalty to Bella was so great that she managed to sneak back into the mansion unnoticed.

“And send Callie’s personal information to other noble families and have her declared a fugitive. As a servant who committed a crime, she must be reported immediately upon sight.”

“Yes.”

“Just to be sure, inspect all the belongings of the servants in the duchy today.”

At Rosalie’s command, Dolan hastily left the office. Rosalie sighed as she looked intently at Bella. Sending her away from the duchy was the best mercy she could offer.

But it was both foolish and regrettable that Bella wasted that opportunity. Nathan blocked her view of Bella with a smile on his face.

“Rosalie, let’s leave the office for now.”

Rosalie nodded her head as she couldn’t work here for a while anyway, and they both left the office. While walking down the corridor of the mansion, Nathan asked as he walked behind her.

“Where are we going?”

“…I’m going to the library. You can go wherever you want.”

“I’ll go where Rosalie goes.”

Seeing that it would be futile to stop him from following, Rosalie simply walked ahead. While walking down the corridor, they happened to see Erudit carrying a stack of documents.

“Erudit, this is perfect timing. I was looking for you.”

At Rosaliei’s words, Erudit’s eyes twinkled from behind his glasses.

“You were looking for me?”

Rosalie nodded. She’d been trying to find him because she needed his help with some paperwork, and he’d saved her the trouble.

“Yes. I can’t work in the office, so let’s go to the library.”

“Ah… Sure, let’s go.”

Erudit seemed disappointed for some reason. Rosalie couldn’t figure out why, but Nathan, who was behind them, let out a small laugh as if he had figured it out.

The sound of his laughter caused Erudit to glare at him, but Nathan seemed to be enjoying himself. Irritated by his mocking attitude, Erudit spoke in a cold tone.

“Can we let someone with an uncertain identity see the territory’s documents?”

Rosalie looked at Nathan in response to Erudit’s objection. Nathan just raised his eyebrows at her with a smile.

“Well, I’m pretty sure Rosalie knows my identity.”

“It doesn’t seem that way.”

“Are your eyes not very good at judging people?”

For a moment, an inexplicable current seemed to flow between the two as they looked at each other. Rosalie looked at the both of them with a puzzled expression.

‘I’ve never seen them talk to each other properly before…maybe they don’t get along.’

However, Rosalie continued walking without paying any further attention. She had no intention of forcing them to be friends if they didn’t like each other.

Erudit jerked his head and followed Rosalie, while Nathan followed them with an obnoxious expression, as if he had discovered a new toy.

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The library of the mansion had a faint smell of dust and the scent of old books crammed into the shelves. Rosalie was satisfied with the cozy scent that gave her a sense of stability and walked inside.

“Let’s sit over there. There’s a feather pen on the table.”

She pulled out a chair from the table near the window, and Erudit sat across from her. Nathan smoothly pulled out a chair on Rosalie’s left side, moving closer to her.

Erudit’s eyes narrowed sharply at his actions, but Nathan remained unfazed and just smiled brightly.

“If you sit so close, it will make the Duchess uncomfortable while working.”

“Hmm~ Is Rosalie uncomfortable?”

If she were left-handed, it might have been inconvenient, but as a right-handed person, Nathan’s presence next to her didn’t bother her much.

“No, not really. I’ll look through the documents first.”

Erudit handed over a document with a displeased expression. As Rosalie shifted her focus to the documents and concentrated, Nathan turned his body and stared at her intently. Then, sensing Erudit’s disapproving glance, he looked at him.

Erudit met Nathan’s cat-like eyes and flinched slightly. Nathan winked at him with a mischievous expression. At that wink, Erudit frowned in disbelief.

“What are you doing?”

“Hmm? What did I do? Why are you suddenly angry?”

As Nathan spoke with a sly smile, Erudit spat out a hollow laugh in disbelief. Rosalie frowned, her concentration broken by their bickering.

“Will you both shut up?”

“That man is very distracting while I’m working!”

“Rosalie~ He’s saying something to me~.”

Erudit adjusted his glasses with an irritated gesture, while Nathan continued to smile playfully.

“Ugh… Nathan, get out.”

Nathan pouted at Rosalie’s low-pitched warning. However, Rosalie was adamant.

“Erudit has to work with me. Leave.”

“It’s boring being alone…”

“Then go read a book by yourself over there.”

Rosalie said to Nathan, who whined in his seat and didn’t stand up. Realizing Rosalie’s intentions to expel him by force if he continued whining, Nathan closed his mouth and got up, heading towards the bookshelf.

Once Nathan was out of sight, Erudit put on a satisfied expression. Rosalie, who was reviewing the documents again, murmured.

“Hmm… If we receive compensation from the Imperial family for the territorial war, I’d like to use it to improve the welfare of the people in the duchy and the residents of the territory.”

“I’ll come up with a plan.”

“I’ll be counting on you.”

Rosalie’s answer was filled with trust, making Erudit flinch slightly.

“Yes. I’ll work hard.”

Rosalie lifted her head and met Erudit’s eyes. When Rosalie smiled faintly at his very serious appearance, Erudit flushed and fiddled with the chain of his glasses. 

“It’s nice seeing you smile, Your Grace.”

“Hmm, really?”

When Rosalie murmured softly, Erudit nodded his head.

“Seeing Erudit work hard is also nice,” Rosalie said.

In response to her compliment, Erudit cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. Nathan watched from a distance, covering his mouth with a book.

‘Ah, he’s going to have a heart attack.’ 

Feeling uncomfortable in the warm atmosphere surrounding the two, Nathan returned to his seat beside Rosalie and finally gave in to his irritation, provoking Erudit and causing Rosalie to scold him.

From then on,  they would bicker at every opportunity whenever they were in Rosalie’s presence, and it became common for them to get scolded by her.

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After finishing their morning training, Rosalie returned to her room and found Emma tidying up the room while packing her belongings.

“Your Grace, is there anything you need me to pack in particular?” Emma asked.

“No, you can pack whatever you think is necessary.” 

Emma nodded and headed straight for the dressing room. Watching Emma enthusiastically prepare her dresses, Rosalie suddenly remembered the numerous social gatherings and events in the capital during winter.

Bianca often sent letters expressing her excitement for the upcoming winter events, but Rosalie preferred to avoid them if possible.

‘Because it’s a bother…’

However, Emma, unaware of her thoughts, was excitedly planning to dress her up.

Time passed quickly, and it was time to depart for the capital. Unlike last time, Rosalie didn’t bother to bring her escort knights under the pretext of Nathan, who never left her side.

Having witnessed his abilities firsthand during the territorial war, Aaron could only nod in understanding. Excited, Nathan clung to Rosalie in front of Erudit as if showing off.

“You… again.”

Erudit scowled, frowning. They were constantly tearing each other apart at every opportunity. It was obvious that Nathan kept provoking Erudit and enjoyed his reactions.

“We should get going.”

At Rosalie’s words, Erudit withdrew his sharp eyes and cleared his throat. His behavior was incredibly polite and gentle, unlike just a moment ago.

“Please be careful.”

“Thank you. Please take care of the mansion. I’m sure that Erudit will do well.”

Erudit’s eyes became red, and he adjusted his glasses. Meanwhile, Rosalie boarded the carriage that would take them to the capital as the people of the duchy saw them off.

Once the carriage had passed through the portal, Emma asked with a joyful expression.

“Will His Highness the Crown Prince visit the mansion again this time?”

Rosalie, who was resting her chin on her hand, flinched slightly at the question.

“Well…”

Rosalie’s gaze, which seemed a little unnatural, made Emma put on a puzzled expression. 

Emma’s prediction was spot-on.

“I’m not even surprised anymore.”

Rosalie made an absurd face as she looked at Derivis, who was standing casually in front of the Judeheart mansion. However, Derivis ignored her and held out his hand to Rosalie, who was about to get out of the carriage.

“What are you waiting for?”

Rosalie obediently took his hand and got off the carriage. Then, Derivis’s eyes, which had been shining with anticipation, lost their luster at Nathan’s sudden voice.

“Rosalie was going to play with me.”

It was the first time Rosalie had heard such words. However, Nathan shamelessly didn’t change his expression and instead stuck close to her side. Rosalie let out a small sigh as she felt Derivis’ hand stiffen in hers.

“Neither of you can. I have an appointment.”