“Celine, don’t I need to learn imperial etiquette separately? I realized while talking that I don’t know any of Diovaha’s imperial etiquette. I haven’t really learned it since coming here either.”

“Did Veronica say that?”

“It came up as we were exchanging conversation.”

Rosana was resting comfortably inside the palace. All she did was read. The weather was cold, so she didn’t go out. Occasionally eating refreshments, drinking tea, and watching the snow fall outside was all she did.

“Lady Rosana.”

“Yes?”

Celine spoke with a stiff expression.

“Veronica’s words just now should be considered problematic. Even if her intentions were good, she shouldn’t criticize what you do, Lady Rosana. To discuss imperial etiquette, no less. Your words and conduct themselves should be the standard for etiquette—that wouldn’t be excessive.”

“Isn’t that going too far?”

“It’s a natural judgment. You’re the one who will become Her Majesty the Empress, Lady Rosana.”

“Right, I see. That could be true.”

Rosana felt embarrassed but smiled broadly, expressing her not-unpleasant feelings. At that sight, a small smile also appeared on Celine’s lips. She was such a different person. 

Though she didn’t show her emotions well, her pure side was fully revealed. That’s why Celine worried more.

‘I’ve been seeing her wrong all this time.’

Once she abandoned her prejudice, she could accept Rosana as she was. Celine worried about Rosana’s strangely soft side. She couldn’t tell her to stay away from Veronica when there was no concrete evidence yet. 

Moreover, she didn’t want to make a definitive judgment.

“Lady Rosana, people’s insides are difficult to know. People’s outsides and insides are different. You must distinguish that well. That’s solely your responsibility, Lady Rosana.”

Rosana found it strange that Celine was suddenly having a serious conversation, but she thought Celine wasn’t someone who would speak without reason.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

* * *

Attending to Rosana wasn’t solely the personal maids’ role. Rosana received service surrounded by several maids, and Veronica was among them. 

She was in the middle of removing Rosana’s dress and changing her into comfortable nightwear. Veronica spoke while removing Rosana’s accessories.

“His Majesty must really like you, Lady Rosana.”

She often heard flattering words, and now other maids following Veronica also chimed in saying they looked close.

“Veronica.”

At Celine’s firm words, Veronica smiled sweetly, showing no hesitation while handling the accessories. Then she placed the accessories she was holding into the jewelry box. Celine’s eyes followed Veronica but soon moved her hands busily.

Rosana looked at Yuna instead. She’d thought Yuna would talk more actively with her friend nearby, but contrary to expectations, she was quiet. Usually Yuna chattered away. It was stranger seeing her quiet like a mute who’d eaten honey.

‘Veronica called Yuna her friend, but I’ve never heard anything from Yuna about her.’

If they were both maids, they’d often run into or encounter each other, yet she’d never seen them act friendly. Yuna’s gaze was strangely directed toward Veronica.

Rosana lightly tapped the vanity with her finger. The other maids withdrew, and lastly Celine and Yuna were about to turn and leave. She watched Yuna’s retreating figure intently.

“Yuna, do you have any worries?”

At those words, Yuna’s body flinched and she turned around.

“What worries would I have? Please rest comfortably. Tomorrow you absolutely must leave earlier than His Majesty.”

Yuna clenched her fist and spoke with a smile. Rosana watched Yuna leave.

* * *

Mealtime. In the quiet dining room, the clinking of utensils and tapping sounds that fully expressed displeasure echoed.

Jade looked at Rosana with a frown. After staring this intently, she should have glanced at him at least once, but Rosana didn’t raise her head. She was silently stabbing vegetables on her plate with her fork and eating them.

“Do you have worries?”

“What?”

Rosana was startled by the sudden voice and raised her head. Only then did she realize she’d been lost in thought.

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. Your face is full of concern.”

Rosana gently raised her hand to rub her cheek. Then she averted her gaze. She did have worries. However, they weren’t significant enough to tell him. 

Rosana smiled and changed the subject.

“I’ve been thinking carefully. About the wedding.”

Jade’s eyes sparkled. So her worries were related to the wedding. Just moments ago he’d been extremely displeased, but now he felt pleased.

“I was upset thinking I was the only one looking forward to it, but I guess that’s not the case.”

“What?”

“Just joking. Go ahead and tell me. I’ll actively consider your opinion.”

“Spring would be good.”

“You’re talking about the season.”

Jade turned his head toward the window. The cold that had just begun showed no signs of abating. In fact, snow was endlessly falling from the sky right now. Jade glanced at Rosana. 

Just days ago, she’d been shivering in the suddenly cold weather.

“True, holding a wedding in this weather would easily lead to catching a cold. You sniffled just from being in the snow briefly.”

“Th-that was……”

“I took you too lightly. Even if the clothes are warm, the person can’t endure it.”

She couldn’t argue. She’d gone out thinking she wanted to touch the snow with her hands briefly. She’d bundled up before going out, but she’d taken the harsh cold too lightly. 

Perhaps she’d overdone it—she coughed frequently the next day. When she met him and sniffled, intensive care began.

“How’s the palace?”

“It’s warm.”

That was why he’d ordered more firewood burned. The palace physician had rushed over to examine her. Thanks to the medicine prescribed that day and devoted care, she’d returned to her normal state in one day.

“Anyway, spring implies the meaning of a new beginning. That’s why I thought spring would be good. Many flowers bloom, so an outdoor wedding wouldn’t be bad either. Like you said, it’s a wedding we’re having together. We should show off how happy we are.”

“I’ll make it so.”

Rosana’s wish to create a happy life starting with marriage was included. Seeing Jade look pleased made her feel proud.

Then Rosana felt a prickling gaze that stung her skin and turned her head. There stood a servant quietly with head bowed.

Why is that? At Jade’s words, Rosana shook her head, saying it was nothing. She didn’t want to make him worry. The gaze was directed only at her.

‘As expected……’

Rosana needlessly stirred her salad with her fork. There were still servants who viewed her unfavorably. They treated Rosana like a monster and pointed fingers saying she’d bewitched His Majesty.

Many servants looked at Rosana, who was hated in the ducal family and the imperial palace, with eyes of malice, contempt, and reproach. However, now even they seemed to sense the flow of the situation and tried to restrain themselves as much as possible.

Just now there had been hostility she’d almost overlooked.

‘I can’t worry about every servant’s gaze.’

Thinking she could receive recognition and love from everyone was arrogance in the first place. Rosana knew well she wasn’t that kind of person.

‘I’m different from Amy.’

She held and fiddled with her fork. Many maids appeared who spouted pleasant words with smiling faces and honeyed tongues. People whose outsides and insides were different……

She’d seen such people many times. Suddenly she remembered Celine’s words. How many people had tried to torment Rosana with roundabout speech.

Clang—

“Rosana?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I dropped it by accident.”

Watching Rosana apologize saying she was sorry, Jade frowned. He could see she’d dropped the utensil deliberately.

“Could you bring a new one?”

Rosana spoke to the waiting maid. The maid treated Rosana with a kindly smiling face from start to finish. Without frowning, she bent down to take the utensil and handed over a new one.

“Thank you.”

The maid gave a light bow. Then returned to her place. Rosana watched the maid’s retreating figure. Feeling Jade’s gaze, Rosana smiled lightly. Then asked out of the blue.

“Jade, what was your reason for believing in me?”

“My reason for believing in you?”

“Yes. Everyone curses me.”

At her words, the people around them stirred. Jade also glanced around. She’d never directly mentioned it when servants were nearby. Jade raised the corners of his mouth. It was simple.

“Because I saw it myself, and I wanted to believe.”

“Right? Thank you.”

For what? For believing in her? 

Jade watched her. After that, there were no more strange actions from Rosana. 

A peaceful mealtime passed.

* * *

“Yuna, you don’t need to help with dressing me up anymore.”

“What? D-did I do something wrong?”

“No. It’s not that. To be precise, leave the jewelry box to Celine from now on.”

Yuna asked flustered. There were others who didn’t understand Rosana’s order. However, Celine didn’t object to her command.

“Understood. Yuna, you take care of the dress.”

“B-but……”

“If we divide and manage, we can finish faster.”

Yuna nodded reluctantly. Rosana looked carefully inside the jewelry box.

“Yuna, don’t you have anything to tell me?”

“What? Yes……”

“Really? I see.”

Rosana replied calmly. As soon as Yuna came outside, she made a tearful face and asked Celine.

“Celine, have you heard something from Lady Rosana? That I’m annoying or bothersome. Until now there were no particular comments, but suddenly she’s like this…… She keeps asking if I have something to say.”

“Yuna, calm down.”

“Could it be that she saw when I spilled a little tea on the carpet last time?”

“……You made another mistake?”

“Yes……”

Watching Yuna stamp her feet anxiously, Celine spoke.

“Yuna, someone once said this.”

“What?”

“That if you don’t speak, they won’t know. I was of the mind to do my own work myself. I thought it was a virtue to notice and prepare in advance before being mentioned. But that wasn’t right.”

“What are you suddenly……”

“Didn’t Lady Rosana ask you?”

Celine’s gaze was directed toward her wrist. Yuna stopped breathing for a moment. Then she needlessly pulled at her sleeve. She didn’t want to show it.

“I’ll speak to the head maid.”

“No. Please don’t tell her.”

“Are you worried about being scolded?”

“No. I just…… I’m not feeling well about it.”

Veronica’s group picked fights every time they met, finding Yuna strutting confidently down the corridor bothersome. 

They always snatched Yuna’s wrist as she walked busily somewhere, leaving finger marks, and when she held books in her arms, they deliberately tripped her to make her fall. The bruise on her wrist was also from a thick book falling on it.

“Do you think Lady Rosana noticed?”

Still, she was confident Rosana wouldn’t know about matters related to Veronica. Celine looked at Yuna’s troubled face and said.

“Yuna, goodwill doesn’t necessarily return as goodwill.”

“……”

Yuna raised her trembling lips and said.

“It’s okay! I can handle it well myself.”

“You’re stubborn. If you can resolve it yourself, I won’t say more. But never doubt that my ears are always open.”

At Celine’s comfort, a smile spread across Yuna’s face.

“Celine, you weren’t originally like this, were you?”

“What kind of person was I?”

“Strict and someone who shouldn’t make weak sounds…… that kind of person?”

Celine’s expression soured. At that expression, Yuna let out a small laugh.

“I must have changed too.”

“But Celine, who was the person who said you won’t know if you don’t speak?”

“Are you curious?”

Yuna nodded.

“It was Lady Rosana.”

“What? Lady Rosana?”

Yuna recalled Rosana’s appearance. At first she’d been terrified by her cold impression, but there were many things different from appearances. She hadn’t been offended by Yuna’s chattering either.

That’s why she didn’t want to embroil her in controversy even more. There were still many rumors circulating about Rosana. Every time she heard them, she said it wasn’t true, but there were plenty who thought she was making insincere sounds to look good.

Veronica’s actions were problematic, but the power and honor coming from the Liberi family couldn’t be ignored. She wanted to prevent unnecessary words about Rosana from spreading among the nobles.

“I’ll go with you too!”