Rosana blinked at the bright sunlight streaming through the curtains. Before long, yesterday’s events came flooding back. Feeling her drowsiness flee, Rosana sat up abruptly.

“Was I drunk on the night air…?”

Yesterday’s version of herself had been a bit different from usual. But the throbbing pain she felt in her shoulder told her it was too real to be a dream. 

When she turned her head, she saw white bandages on her left shoulder. Though the wound wasn’t very deep, the palace physician had wrapped it in bandages, saying he’d been given strict orders. She gently stroked the bandage.

“…I’m glad I took that night walk.”

If she hadn’t gone out yesterday, she wouldn’t have met Jade, and she wouldn’t have learned his secret. Furthermore, he wouldn’t have said that his public image… was a lie.

The afterimage of Mari that had come to mind yesterday was soon replaced and filled by Jade. They’d burst into laughter and exchanged words. 

She remembered his worried expression and words. Rosana’s heart whispered. She didn’t even know why her chest felt so full. When she lightly placed her hand on her chest, she could feel her heart beating vigorously.

‘This is definitely because he saw me.’

Rosana curled up with her hand still on her heart.

Knock knock.

The knocking straightened her back. Then Emma entered to help with her morning wash. Normally, seeing Emma’s face from morning would have annoyed her, but not at all today. 

Furthermore, Emma’s chattering voice didn’t grate on her nerves. It was a rare, peaceful morning. Emma noticed Rosana’s mood too.

“Miss, are you in a good mood today?”

“…Yeah. I enjoyed the walk yesterday.”

“But next time, you must take me with you! You even got hurt on your shoulder… What on earth happened?”

Rosana said nothing about yesterday’s events. She could more than imagine the aftermath if she opened her mouth. The moment it reached Emma’s ears, it would only be a matter of time before everyone knew about Jade’s other form.

“This is why I need to be by your side, Miss. Yesterday when I suggested we release the knights to thoroughly search the palace, you refused, remember? The head maid said something… Because of that, you got injured!”

Emma examined the bandaged shoulder with deeply worried eyes.

“Next time, you must take me with you!”

Emma’s constraining voice made Rosana uncomfortable. It was the same worried voice and expression, but the feeling was completely different. 

She recalled Jade’s voice telling her it was dangerous to wander around at night. A small smile was blooming on Rosana’s lips when—crash!—a loud sound came through the door.

“I’ll go see what happened.”

Emma opened the door.

“Wh-what do I do…”

A sobbing maid’s voice could be heard. Rosana got up and approached the door. It seemed a porcelain piece had broken, making the sound. 

One maid sat in front of the broken porcelain, unable to do this or that, her face tearful. Seeing the porcelain fragments rolling on the floor, Emma shouted in shock.

“What have you done!”

The maid shrank at Emma’s scolding. The maid was fully exposed to Emma’s verbal *buse.

‘Good things happen, then bad things come right after.’

Rosana swallowed a deep sigh. Emma’s shrill voice struck Rosana’s ears. The maid trembled with fear. She’d even cut herself while trying to clean up the porcelain fragments—blood came from her palm. Seeing that, Emma scolded her more for dirtying the floor with blood.

Rosana’s expression crumpled. Someone’s image came to mind. An afterimage she’d thought had disappeared was vaguely surfacing. Rosana stared quietly at the broken porcelain pieces.

“Do you know how much this costs? It’s worth ten times, no, a hundred times your monthly salary!”

Emma spat out her words in fury. At words that went beyond reproach to near insult, Rosana tried to stop Emma.

“Emma.”

“Miss, I’m sorry. I should have made sure no one came near your room… It’s my fault. Please make an example of that maid! Shall I bring a whip? Or should we just kick her out?”

Derision rose at Emma’s tone, which mistook this place for still being the Arcadi ducal household. The maid’s eyes filled with despair also made Rosana uncomfortable. 

The maid couldn’t dare talk back since it was her own mistake that caused this. Teardrops that seemed ready to fall any moment hung precariously on the tips of her eyelashes.

Other maids who heard the commotion began gathering and peeking. From far away, a familiar figure approached.

“What’s going on?”

Celine appeared before Rosana and Emma. Emma sneered and said:

“Oh my, long time no see. Where have you been? Right now, that maid broke this porcelain. I’m at a loss for what to do about this.”

Her words carried the conviction that the maid would naturally be punished since it was her fault. Then Rosana and Celine’s eyes met. Celine let Emma’s words go in one ear and out the other.

“Are you listening to me?”

Emma shouted shrilly.

“Lady Rosana, what should we do?”

“…You’re asking me?”

Celine quietly nodded. Emma shouted about what nonsense this was and why she was bothering the young lady. 

However, Celine just waited silently for Rosana’s answer with a serious expression. Rosana’s fingers twitched.

‘I couldn’t do it then… but now is different.’

It was Rosana who had always told Emma that this was the imperial palace, different from the Arcadi ducal household. 

Normally, she would have closed her eyes and looked away from this situation. Just now she’d tried to stop it but was blocked, and Emma wasn’t someone who would listen even if she spoke.

But the maid’s terrified appearance reminded her of Mari. It was an identical situation, like fate. It might be an illusion born from the greed to undo her mistake. Is that why it appeared in a dream? 

It might be a self-serving interpretation. But she remembered that day’s events. It gave her an opportunity to act a bit differently.

“Emma. Stop it.”

Rosana grabbed Emma’s shoulder. To stop her. But Emma wouldn’t listen to Rosana’s words, and even shook off Rosana’s hand on her shoulder. A slapping sound rang out.

“Miss. I’ll handle everything.”

The hand struck away forcefully, telling her not to interfere, ached. Everyone around was shocked by Emma’s attitude. Only Rosana and Emma remained calm.

“Do you think the young lady will let this pass easily?”

Emma was confident.

“I said stop…”

“I’ll resolve this immediately!”

Rosana and Emma spoke simultaneously. Emma tried to rush out. But that action stopped at the voice that came.

“Certainly so.”

Everyone turned their heads at the voice carrying cold chill. Jade stood there, eyes gleaming sharply, having approached without a sound. When Jane gestured, the maids around helped up the maid who’d been sitting.

“Your Majesty?”

Rosana called out to Jade softly.

Jade was glaring fiercely at Emma. Emma hesitated and slipped toward Rosana’s side.

“Your Majesty, what brings you here…”

“Is it strange for me to visit the person who will be my wife? By the way, the corridor is noisy.”

At Jade’s question, Emma, thinking this was her chance, tried to speak carefully.

“That’s because…”

“No one asked you. Who told you to open your mouth on your own?”

He blocked Emma’s mouth with a flat, calm tone. It was a composed tone but intimidating. Emma trembled at Jade’s aura pressing down on her raw.

“Rosana. Can you tell me what happened?”

In contrast, his voice toward Rosana was affectionate. Rosana’s eyes widened at Jade’s voice speaking gently. More than anything, it was the first time he’d called her by name. In such a caring tone, too.

“A maid accidentally broke a porcelain piece.”

“And?”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t you have more to tell me? There seems to be one maid who can’t read the room and doesn’t obey her master’s orders. Isn’t there?”

His gaze directed entirely at Emma made it clear who he meant.

“Me? That can’t be.”

At Emma’s calm denial, Jade chuckled. Emma’s face turned deathly pale at his cold derision. 

Even if she had no fear, there were limits—she’d basically opened her eyes wide and contradicted the Emperor to his face.

“Sure, you can insist you didn’t, that’s fine. But everyone clearly saw you shake off her hand.”

Jade reached out and took Rosana’s hand that Emma had pushed away. The back of the hand that had been struck away forcefully was turning red.

“Of all things, the left arm…”

Jade’s eyebrows furrowed. He carefully stroked the back of her hand. He clicked his tongue in a small voice, saying her skin was delicate. 

He straightened his waist that he’d bent slightly to examine the back of her hand. Then he wedged himself between Emma and Rosana, blocking them. Emma stepped back at Jade’s imposing figure approaching.

“If you speak to the Empire’s Emperor like this, there’s no way you wouldn’t do it to her.”

He jerked his chin, telling them to remove Emma immediately. Then the maids who’d been still grabbed both of Emma’s arms and dragged her away like they were escorting a criminal. Emma resisted, telling them to let go, but it didn’t work at all.

“We’ll need a cold compress. Prepare ice.”

Many maids were flustered by Jade’s sudden appearance and his protective stance toward Rosana. At Jade’s cold voice asking what they were doing, the maids who came to their senses moved busily.

“Tsk. Every single one of them has lost their minds.”

Rosana opened her mouth blankly at the series of situations that suddenly occurred. He casually took Rosana’s uninjured right hand and led her to her room. The door closed with a thud. Rosana couldn’t get her bearings from what had happened in an instant.

He’d driven Emma away.

Why did he protect her? 

Even though yesterday’s events happened… Rosana raised her gaze to examine Jade. He was staring intently at Rosana with his brow deeply furrowed, seemingly displeased about something.

“Does this happen often?”

“…What do you mean?”

“People ignoring your will.”

“…”

He watched Rosana with a calm expression.

Often… Yes, often. It couldn’t not be often. She was so used to it now that she had no strength to resist.

“…”

“I see.”

He frowned more, saying he was displeased. Then he rubbed his chin, seemingly pondering something.

“But what brings you here…”

“Didn’t I say I’d visit?”

Jade grinned. At his words, Rosana quietly looked out the window. Dawn had just broken. It wasn’t an appropriate time for a visit.

“I have things to apologize for.”

Rosana’s eyes widened at those brief words. Jade coughed awkwardly, seemingly embarrassed. A slight redness tinged his ears.

“It’s a bit late to say this, but… I’ll say it one by one. First, you were right about everything.”

“Pardon?”

“You didn’t do anything. I called all the merchants and confirmed it.”

“Ah…”

Rosana blinked slowly.

“The actions in the petition were just things the maid did that were pinned on you. It’s shameful that such idiots are capital merchants. And I was one of those idiots too.”

The targets of his scathing criticism included himself. 

Something surprising happened. Jade bowed his head. Rosana’s eyes became as round as they could possibly get.

Rosana floundered.

“…Please raise your head. This isn’t something Your Majesty should bow for.”

Jade’s eyebrows twitched.

“No, that’s wrong. Have you forgotten that I got angry at you, bringing up wrongs you didn’t commit?”

“It’s fine. I’ve already forgotten.”