The knight snapped to attention at Rosana’s words. Then he dragged Emma away, who had no intention of walking. Rosana never looked back while Emma’s voice, continuing to deny everything, grew distant.

“It’s really over… It was this easy…”

Rosana walked forward without looking back even once.

* * *

Malek had been getting headaches lately. It was none other than because of the master he served.

‘Did I recommend that book for nothing…?’

No. It’s a good thing if they get along. Wasn’t that what he’d hoped for?

Even if the person who had no interest in clothes adjusted his outfit like a peacock over and over, even if he suddenly ordered bouquets prepared every day, even if he commanded him to find out the lady’s favorite meals—it was all good. 

It was like the worries about an heir for Diovaha’s peace had completely vanished.

Just…

“Your Majesty, it’s time for official duties now.”

“Mm, just a little longer.”

The problem was that he’d started living with his nose in books. Though he’d allowed it under the pretext of studying, the time kept increasing. He always asked about anything he was curious about while reading.

If he consistently said he didn’t know, he’d always click his tongue. Malek, who sighed, glanced at Jade. His personality of becoming absorbed when fixated on something was fully revealed. 

Whether he acknowledged it or not, he clearly had feelings for Rosana.

Would someone who didn’t even see women as romantic interests invest time and effort for her? 

It was truly lamentable that he didn’t know who normally used such embarrassing words like wanting her to smile.

Today’s report was about the wedding. Currently, preparations were almost complete, but…

Malek stared intently at the documents he held. Though they were documents recording only simple procedures according to Jade’s orders, there was a 100% possibility he’d tell him to proceed again. His intuition whispered.

“What’s this?”

“It’s about the wedding ceremony order.”

Only then did he close the book and pick up the paper. Jade’s eyebrows twitched as he read through it.

“Malek.”

“Yes.”

“I hear weddings are important to women.”

Malek’s eyes trembled at the corners. He couldn’t shake the sense of déjà vu. What Jade was saying was exactly what he’d said. 

Originally, Malek had proposed proceeding with the wedding ceremony properly. Though his only crime was preparing a simple wedding following Jade’s orders, the situation had changed.

The wedding Malek had prepared was a format that ended with just having an officiant present and making vows before God. There wasn’t even a reception after the wedding. It truly had only the bare minimum arrangements.

“She must be lonely since she came from far away and doesn’t know anyone.”

He didn’t want her, who’d been thoroughly isolated in Astrot, to be isolated in Diovaha too.

“Rosana will become Empress, so it doesn’t make sense for her not to see the vassals, so let’s make the wedding splendid. So we can introduce Rosana to the nobles then too.”

“But will that be all right?”

Many nobles already thought poorly of Rosana. But Jade was carefree.

“What does it matter when I’m by her side?”

Didn’t the person speaking so decisively show his displeasure openly at the last noble council meeting? 

Malek swallowed the words that rose to his throat. Though a hollow laugh escaped, seeing Jade exuding a gentle atmosphere, complaints quietly disappeared—he couldn’t help it.

Jade didn’t even have the typical fiancée. When asked if he had no thoughts of marriage, he’d once revealed his inner thoughts, saying who would want to welcome as a husband someone with monster blood who could transform into a monster if things went wrong?

Though Malek shook his head saying it couldn’t be helped, a smile lingered on his lips. The master he’d served and protected by his side had finally found a nest to lean on.

In the end, Malek said he’d scrap the plan he’d painstakingly prepared and set the wedding date and ceremony again.

* * *

The day after having a sincere conversation with Jade and Emma’s disappearance. Rosana, who’d made a new resolution, decided to take the first step.

Since Emma had disappeared, the person who came to wake Rosana today was Jane. Jane said she’d selected a personal maid to replace Emma’s position.

“I’ll need a maid to replace Emma. You can’t stay by my side all day.”

“I apologize.”

“No, you have your own work, so it’s fine.”

“If it’s all right with you, I’d like to introduce her today. I’ve selected a girl who will be helpful to Lady Rosana. Of course, if you don’t like her, you may dismiss her.”

Rosana hesitated before opening her mouth. She decided to reclaim matters she’d let go of while making various excuses.

“But Jane, I haven’t seen Celine much. Where is she?”

Jane raised her head, seemingly somewhat surprised at her mentioning Celine. Celine had disappeared at some point. And Jane had stayed by Rosana’s side.

“Wasn’t Celine originally designated as the personal maid?”

“…”

Rosana smiled faintly. Jane answered calmly.

“Celine has other duties to perform, so she was removed.”

It wasn’t other duties to perform—clearly she’d been prevented from serving Rosana because of the previous incident. They couldn’t have kept a maid who’d made a mistake by her side.

“What if I say I want to keep Celine by my side?”

“Celine… you say…”

Jane recalled Jade’s orders. At first, she’d selected someone who would control Rosana and not yield to threats. But now she’d received orders to attach the complete opposite type of person.

Someone whose natural kindness would warm the surrounding atmosphere. She’d received orders to attach a girl of similar age as personal maid so they could communicate well. 

However, if Rosana wanted to keep Celine by her side, it was right to carry out that order first. Just…

“…Will that be all right?”

“What do you mean?”

Jane asked Rosana in return. At her expression showing difficulty saying it herself, Rosana smiled, saying it was fine.

“Ah, it’s fine. I made mistakes too.”

She hadn’t reached out to the departing back, hadn’t spoken to her.

“That’s not so. It’s our fault for not grasping your intentions.”

At Jane’s firm statement, Rosana covered her mouth with her hand and laughed softly.

“Yes, that’s right. We both made mistakes. It’s nothing more than a problem arising from misunderstanding. Like you and me. But we’re getting along well, aren’t we?”

Their gazes met briefly. Then Jane conceded.

“…I understand.”

“If you’re uneasy, it’s fine to attach both.”

Since there are cases of having multiple personal maids. Jane quietly withdrew. A little later, Celine and a girl Rosana was meeting for the first time entered. 

The girl’s expression was different enough to be called the complete opposite of Celine. She greeted Rosana with a beaming face. In contrast, Celine’s face was stiffly frozen, perhaps from tension.

“Lady Rosana, hello! I’m Yuna Milliana. Everyone wanted to become Lady Rosana’s personal maid, and I’m so happy I was chosen!”

The smile never left the face of the brightly smiling brown-haired girl. She bowed, saying she considered it an honor.

Rosana thought she wouldn’t be welcomed. But she was happy that she liked her this much.

“Yes, I look forward to working with you.”

“Yes! Actually, Veronica insisted on becoming the personal maid…”

“Yuna. You’re talking too much.”

Celine stopped Yuna, who’d been rattling on happily. Only then, thinking she’d gone too far, she bowed apologetically. Rosana said it was fine.

“Lady Rosana. Why did you summon me?”

“…Hm?”

Celine asked with a serious expression. Yuna sensed the strange atmosphere flowing between Rosana and Celine. 

Everyone knew that Celine had been serving as her personal maid before being demoted. Yuna looked back and forth between Celine and Rosana, not knowing what to do.

“Yuna.”

“Yes!”

“Please step out for a moment.”

Yuna hurriedly opened the door and left. Only Celine and Rosana remained in the room.

“Are you dissatisfied?”

Rosana calmly waited for Celine to open her mouth. Celine smacked her lips several times before speaking.

“I committed a wrong. I insulted Lady Rosana. So I have no qualification to serve you.”

It was an utterly resolute voice. Not a sarcastic voice, but one stating facts. How should she express this… Should she call it inflexible, or clear?

“Did you hear from Jane? The reason I permitted you as personal maid.”

“No. She said to ask you directly if I was curious.”

“I see…”

At the short answer, Celine’s eyes darkened.

“You said you insulted me? It could be seen that way. Then what about me? I also judged you arbitrarily.”

“Lady Rosana and I are different cases.”

“We’re not different. We both made mistakes. Just as you sought forgiveness from yourself, I wanted to do the same.”

Celine raised her head in surprise.

“Actually, you couldn’t help but blame me for those incidents. Because it’s true I didn’t stop it. And I… don’t really know. What’s right and what’s wrong.”

She’d always lived a life controlled like a doll. Celine stared at Rosana with a dazed face.

“In that sense, I hope you’ll keep me in check. I need you.”

If she hadn’t just let Emma run wild, there would have been no reason for the rift with Celine to deepen. Celine’s ill feelings grew through friction with Emma. She’d only tried to protect the palace in her own way.

“Of course, if you really hate it, I can’t force you. It’s up to your will. But… I hope you’ll stay by my side.”

Rosana scratched her cheek awkwardly and smiled. It was the face of a girl embarrassed and not knowing what to do.

“It would have been good if we’d done this sooner. Right?”

Look. It’s not a big deal, is it? His voice seemed to echo in her ears. There are people who listen, who believe when you explain calmly like this. Jade had been that way.

Of course, she didn’t know about the future. Like other maids at the ducal family, she might eventually turn away. But she’d said she’d try hard. Celine, who’d been swallowing dry saliva, bowed politely.

“I look forward to working with you.”

Hearing Celine’s positive answer, Rosana’s face brightened instantly.

“Yes, you may go.”

Rosana’s joyful voice rang in Celine’s ears. Celine quietly bowed her head and left the room. Outside the door, Yuna was stamping her feet restlessly.

“Yuna, what are you doing?”

“Well, I was a bit worried… The atmosphere wasn’t good. Getting another chance would be nice!”

“Weren’t you unhappy about becoming personal maid together with Veronica?”

“Ah! Did you hear?”

Yuna smiled sheepishly. When Emma was expelled, everyone was curious who would fill the vacant personal maid position.

“Rather, I was more worried about myself than Celine… It’s not really a position that suits me. Though the head maid designated me…”

Though Yuna’s family was a noble house, it wasn’t in good shape. With only the lineage remaining, it was walking the path of decline with the flow of time. Though they had a surname making them nobles, they lived lives no different from commoners, and the reason she applied for maid recruitment was for her family’s livelihood.

The palace was a small political arena. People without power had difficulty surviving. Since Yuna suddenly took on the personal maid role, there were many maids whose stomachs hurt. 

Though many maids entered with good intentions, there were also many who didn’t.

“Yuna, remember this. We just need to do our jobs.”