Rosana wanted to escape this place quickly. The murmuring nobles began recognizing her one by one.

“Don’t tell me… Lady Arcadi?!”

“What? Really?”

“Golden hair and blue eyes… It does seem to be Lady Arcadi. Otherwise, what lady would be at His Majesty’s side? Though Lady Arcadi is unexpected too…”

The noble ladies whispered while covering their mouths with fans. Rosana glanced around and tugged at his collar.

“Your, Your Majesty. I’ve enjoyed myself enough. Now let’s…”

“I’m far from done. I told you not to worry about your surroundings. They’re just jealous of us.”

He laughed heartily and led Rosana by the hand. Even if she wanted to pull away, it was impossible because he gripped her hand so tightly she couldn’t budge. To make matters worse, her feet got tangled. Rosana’s body lurched forward and she fell right into Jade’s arms.

He caught Rosana with a mischievous smile.

“Honey, you need to be careful. You’re about to trip because you keep looking around. Look straight ahead.”

“That’s because you…!”

Rosana raised her voice indignantly, then pressed her lips shut because of the surrounding gazes. Jade shrugged.

“Even the nobles can’t take their eyes off you because they know how beautiful you are.”

Beyond being cheeky, Jade naturally pulled Rosana’s waist with his hand. They suddenly found themselves in an embrace on the street. The nobles’ eyes widened beyond sparkling.

“That is His Majesty, right?”

“I heard rumors that he mistreated Lady Arcadi?”

Some nobles even denied reality.

“Could that be His Majesty? Must be a noble who resembles him.”

The nobles glanced and watched them closely. Jade whispered in Rosana’s ear.

“How long do you plan to cower?”

Rosana looked up at him blankly.

‘Right. I decided to change.’

Only then did Rosana lightly push against his chest.

“Please let go. I can walk by myself.”

Jade chuckled.

“That’s more like you.”

A small smile bloomed on Rosana’s lips. She naturally linked arms with Jade. Rosana firmly withstood the nobles’ gazes. Nothing new about it. These were gazes she’d always received.

Then and now, she simply ignored them calmly. The nobles stole glances at Rosana walking confidently while maintaining a certain distance.

“Actually, there’s a place I want to go with you.”

“A place?”

Jade grinned. The surrounding area erupted at his warm smile directed at Rosana.

“A boutique. There’s a gift I want to give you.”

Attending the banquet required a dress. Currently, none of the dresses Rosana owned were suitable.

It might be mere greed. But he wanted to show at the banquet that Rosana Arcadi wasn’t who they thought she was, that the woman becoming his wife was this beautiful and confident.

‘Shedding the frame of “Rosana Arcadi” is good. But she mustn’t be swallowed up in the process of shedding it. They need to know the essence.’

Rosana’s head nodded slowly. Jade guided Rosana.

* * *

“Welcome. Are you looking for something specific?”

When Rosana’s party entered, an employee greeted them. Inside were nobles who had claimed their spots first. The noble ladies and madams in the boutique each had their own business, so no one paid attention.

However, attention focused when the employee, startled by the imperial emblem Jade presented, shouted loudly.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Is Venice here?”

“Of course. I’ll inform her immediately.”

She bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, markedly different from before.

“Do that. Ah, my legs hurt from walking so long.”

“Yes! I’ll guide you to a private room!”

“No, that’s unnecessary.”

They were in perfect sync. The employee quickly guided them to the remaining seats. Thanks to this, the eyes of the ladies and madams examining catalogs and dresses widened.

“Your Majesty. Do your knees hurt?”

Rosana felt sorry that they’d walked around so much to show her the capital. However, Jade laughed, saying that was absurd.

“I’m not worried about my legs, but yours. My legs wouldn’t falter even walking all day, so no need to worry. But why have you been calling me ‘Your Majesty’ since earlier?”

“But the other gazes…”

“Weren’t you trying to get accustomed even in front of those gazes?”

Jade, who plopped onto the sofa, pulled Rosana’s hand. She suddenly found herself sitting slightly on his lap, and Rosana blushed, quickly repositioning herself properly beside him and clearing her throat. Rosana glared slightly at Jade.

Jade showed both palms, indicating he wouldn’t touch her anymore.

“Didn’t you say you had a gift for me?”

Rosana decided to quickly receive his gift and leave.

“I’ll tell you when Venice comes.”

It was the name mentioned earlier. Just when curiosity arose, an irritating sound reached her ears.

“I heard rumors that His Majesty was bewitched by Lady Arcadi, and it seems to be true.”

“I heard he called a designer to the palace and had dozens of dresses made?”

“Must not have been enough.”

‘Again…’

She tried to hide her trembling, but Rosana’s face gradually turned pale.

“Hmm, I said it. If anyone gossips, I’ll deal with them. Wait here.”

Jade, who had been pondering while stroking his chin, stood up abruptly. He walked toward the ladies who had just been whispering.

The ladies were talking so closely they didn’t notice the shadow falling over them. One lady belatedly discovered Jade and gasped. The madams clicked their tongues, saying they should have watched their words.

“I dislike those with loose lips. Especially when it concerns my person.”

‘I can’t forgive anyone who slanders Rosana. She’s already deflated and shrinking.’ The ladies nodded blankly.

“Good.”

The ladies, who had relaxed at his gentle appearance, immediately witnessed Jade’s attitude change. The voice that had been affectionate turned cold like ice. His chilling gaze was a bonus.

“There won’t be a second time.”

The ladies, who had turned paler than Rosana, apologized and hurriedly opened the boutique door and left. Jade rubbed his brow.

“Won’t do. It won’t.”

His quietly nodding appearance overlapped with Rosana’s. In the ensuing silence, Jade spoke casually.

“If you’re confident you won’t run your mouth carelessly, you may remain. My wife is quite shy, you see.”

The remaining customers who understood his meaning all stood up at once. When Baron, standing by the door, personally opened it, they began filing out of the boutique. The employee was restless. In a situation where she needed to sell more, all the customers had left.

“Your Majesty, if you drive away my customers, what am I supposed to live on?”

The woman grumbling in dissatisfaction was someone beautifully adorned in a fancy dress.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll raise your sales more than they would have, so no need to worry. Rather, thank you for accommodating my sudden request.”

“What could be heavier than a debt of life?”

Rosana watched them intently. The woman who appeared to be the boutique owner seemed acquainted with Jade, conversing without hesitation.

“You’ve maintained it quite well. Worth leaving the knights.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Your manner of speech has changed considerably too.”

Venice looked around the boutique interior that had emptied in an instant. She sighed softly. She regretted the money that had departed.

“If you’d given me advance notice, I would have cleared it out.”

Venice looked at Rosana sitting on the sofa.

‘That person…’

Venice approached Rosana with a gentle smile. Then she lifted her dress slightly with both hands and bowed her head toward Rosana.

“I apologize for the late greeting. I am Venice Cheka.”

Rosana simply nodded calmly. Venice examined Rosana with sparkling eyes.

‘Rosana Arcadi. The one who will become Her Majesty the Empress.’

The nobles said Jade and Rosana detested each other, certainly not on good terms. So when she heard Lady Rosana Arcadi would come with His Majesty, she wondered if the message had been delivered incorrectly.

No, it had been strange even before that, from when she received the order for clothes for her.

“It suits you well. Did you like the cardigan?”

“Pardon?”

Rosana examined the cardigan she wore.

“It was specially custom-made for you here.”

Venice’s eyes sparkled. The scene unfolding before her eyes was very different from her imagination.

‘Everyone would be surprised to know.’

She didn’t know why, but they seemed to be on good terms. Undeniably so.

“Jade. You didn’t need to chase away all the customers.”

Rosana scolded him for doing something unnecessary, while Jade avoided her gaze, not understanding why he should be scolded. The atmosphere of lovers permeated.

“I’m sorry for causing a disturbance. What is it that Jade requested?”

Pretending not to grasp Rosana’s true intention of wanting to take the gift and leave quickly, Venice clapped her hands.

“Since you’ve come all this way, at least look around. There’s surely a dress that will please you, my lady. Please, sit on the sofa. Bring tea for the lady and His Majesty.”

When even Venice stopped her, Rosana had no choice but to sit on the sofa. The employee carefully served tea.

Rosana slowly looked around. It was obvious these were dresses made by high-level designers. The colors, embroidery, and preservation state of the fabrics—everything was perfect.

A smile formed on Jade’s lips at her appearance carefully observing the dresses, seeming to have forgotten when she wanted to leave.

While walking around the capital, Jade had observed Rosana’s reactions. Rosana had looked at various things in the shopping district, including pretty accessories and beautiful dresses. But she never said she wanted to buy something or asked him to buy it.

However, if she truly had no interest, she wouldn’t look around. Interest drew her gaze. Rather, trying to detach herself, she would look for only ten seconds before turning her head.

Regret lingered at the end of that gaze. Jade was certain. Rosana was intentionally avoiding it.

“What’s so fascinating?”

“It’s my first time coming to a boutique in person.”

“…First time?”

Jade looked surprised at Rosana’s words. If you asked nobles to count on one hand the places noble ladies frequently visited, you couldn’t leave out boutiques.

Yet this was her first time?

Jade’s eyebrow rose crookedly.

To be precise, there was no need to go out. Everything was prepared before Rosana wanted it. 

The Duchess would bring even the busiest designer, even designers complaining about having too many dresses to make, forcibly before her. All packaged as Rosana’s orders. 

So there was no need to go out.

Jade watched Rosana examining the dresses with slow steps and asked:

“Rosana. Aren’t the displayed dresses beautiful?”

She turned her gaze back to Jade. The dresses were certainly beautiful. There was no reason to say beautiful things weren’t beautiful.

“They’re beautiful.”

“Then, that’s settled.”

He spoke in a casual voice.

“Those are my gifts. Venice.”

At Jade’s words, several employees moved swiftly. Fancy dresses hanging on racks rolled in. 

Rosana’s mouth fell open blankly. Before she could even step forward, the surroundings filled with dresses.

“I heard from Jane. You disposed of most of your dresses and accessories. That’s your decision, so I won’t say anything. You can dispose of them. Things that person Emma bought on her own whim.”

“Jade, what are you…?”

“If you want to wear them, wear them; if you want to buy them, buy them. All the dresses here are yours. When I, the emperor of the empire, want to give my wife a gift, when the person who will be empress wants to wear a dress she likes—if anyone has something to say about it, tell them to come see me.”

Jade stared directly at Rosana’s blue eyes growing larger.

“I never told you to hide.”

A strange sense of déjà vu enveloped her. Rosana’s eyes trembled finely.

Since there had been no particular mention, Rosana thought her actions were correct. She had even felt proud, thinking she’d shed ‘Rosana’s’ mask. 

But listening to Jade’s words, something seemed wrong.