“So you’re saying the dissatisfaction aimed at the Ales delegation is now splashing onto me.”

“That’s correct.”

The servants who initially cursed the Ales delegation were now turning their arrows toward Rosana for failing to resolve the situation.

The delegation changed their bedding late at night, claiming the sheets were different and they couldn’t sleep, or mobilized all the servants to search for supposedly very important missing items. They didn’t directly provoke Rosana. However, they knowingly and unknowingly harassed the servants below her.

“It’s a petty method, but it’s certainly effective.”

“I don’t know whether to call them clever….”

“They insist they must meet with Lady Rosana in person to discuss their business. If this continues, our relationship with the Ales Kingdom could deteriorate drastically.”

“That’s not a path we want either.”

Duke Helpe nodded silently. If they had wanted war, they would have started one long ago. 

They had permitted the delegation’s visit precisely because they didn’t want to maintain a bad relationship with them. Yet all those efforts were on the verge of becoming worthless.

“Has Jade still not returned?”

A full week had already passed since the delegation stubbornly insisted they wouldn’t leave until they met him.

“How long does it usually take?”

“It depends on where the monsters appeared…. I heard it was a nearby mountain range. If we include subduing them, cleaning up, and stabilizing the villagers, I expect it will take some time.”

Rosana fell into thought. Should she wait until Jade returned, or deal with them herself?

“I just hope it’s not another stupid move. Fine. Call them in.”

“Are you sure?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to handle this before any gossip starts? So there’s no talk afterward. That’s what I was taught.”

After a moment of consideration, the duke bowed silently.

“I’ll bring them.”

Before long, an envoy entered with a triumphant air, opening the door. He was an envoy whose face had registered in Rosana’s mind.

The person who had thrown a fit at Rosana’s words. Generally, when threatened, people can be divided into two types: those who submit, and those who lash out.

‘This one’s the latter.’

He showed he still hadn’t been cowed. You could tell from his aggressive eyes. Rosana looked at the envoy coldly and dismissed him.

“What kind of person dares to be so bold?”

“I formally greet you. I am Margrave Melanie.”

Rosana’s brow furrowed.

“…Margrave?”

A margrave is someone who holds military authority to guard the border. A margrave in the delegation. Rosana fell into thought for a moment. Then his build caught her eye. He was quite large and clearly showed signs of martial training.

Rosana glanced at Baron, who was guarding the door like an iron wall. He too had been watching the envoy’s attitude closely since he claimed to be a margrave. He was positioned to subdue him at the slightest wrong move.

“So, Margrave Melanie. I heard you insisted on seeing me. What exactly is this about? Are you aware that you’ve caused a disturbance throughout the imperial palace?”

Rosana shouted loudly. Her tone said know your place. She also irritably tapped the desk with her fingers. His eyes followed Rosana’s fingers. But it felt like he was scanning the desktop rather than looking precisely at her fingers.

Rosana tilted her head. What is he looking at?

Seeing how he was making unreasonable demands, he was clearly someone accustomed to looking down from above and wielding that power freely. Even when pretending to lower his tail, he couldn’t manage his expression—his glaring stare was piercing.

“If you have something to say, don’t waste time.”

“I’d like to make a proposal.”

Just as expected. She felt contempt for the foolish Margrave Melanie, who failed to grasp the hint despite multiple opportunities. Rosana waved her hand dismissively, looking annoyed.

“The agreement is already concluded. I firmly rejected your proposals.”

“If you hear what I have to say, you’ll change your mind. And since this is something I want to tell only you, my lady, I’d like the others to leave.”

Seemingly oblivious to the cold atmosphere and incredulous expressions, Melanie continued. 

Rosana gauged the others’ reactions. Malek shook his head, his demeanor suggesting she refuse. Duke Helpe felt the same.

“Just the two of us?”

“Just the two of us.”

“Not satisfied with me granting your audience request, you continue making demands. You’re no longer worth dealing with.”

Rosana paused in thought. Whichever choice she made would be a headache. Taking a small breath, Rosana reached her conclusion.

“No, let’s hear it once.”

“But….”

“Are you showing me that you don’t trust me?”

When Rosana snapped back fiercely, Malek stepped back.

“Then at least keep a guard by your side. If Baron remains nearby, I’ll withdraw.”

“One knight is fine.”

He knew he couldn’t force everyone to leave. After Malek and the duke departed, he attempted to move closer to Rosana, but Baron’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. Rosana, too, refused to let him approach any further.

“Speak from there. I hope what you have to say is worth the time you’ve stolen from me.”

He nodded confidently.

“Of course. My lady, how much do you know about the Diovaha Emperor’s attitude?”

“….”

“You’re being deceived, my lady.”

Rosana stared at him blankly, forgetting even to snap back sharply.

The envoy nodded smugly at Rosana’s reaction. He thought it proved his thinking was correct. But on the contrary, Rosana was dumbfounded. What does a proposal have to do with Jade?

She asked in a voice genuinely mixed with irritation.

“I’m being deceived by him?”

It was absurd enough to make her earlier tension feel pointless. A short laugh escaped between her lips. Even her sharply raised eyebrows lost their will and sank down. The thought of examining what scheme he had was already thrown far away.

The margrave’s face crumpled slightly at Rosana’s indifferent reaction.

“I don’t know what the Diovaha Emperor told you, my lady, but you must listen carefully to what I say.”

“….”

“I heard it. You sent back all the knights and maids to the Astrot Empire, didn’t you? He clearly drove out the Arcadi ducal household’s servants because he feared Diovaha’s secrets would leak. Moreover, from his suddenly changed attitude, you can tell he’s plotting something!”

She wondered how to respond to thoughts that were nothing short of delusion. Even Baron, who had been maintaining an expressionless face, contorted his expression, seemingly thinking, What the hell is this guy doing? That said it all.

Since there was nothing to grab onto, he couldn’t ignore passing absurd words and believed them to be true. He spouted off passionately, even spitting. When he failed to get the reaction he expected from Rosana, he became more anxious and spoke frivolously.

“Don’t you want to maintain a good relationship with us and get your hands on many jewels? Above all, you have the emperor’s seal in your hands. Where else would you find such a golden opportunity?”

So to sum it up, this was it. You’re being deceived, so don’t fall for his kindness, and let’s establish an agreement between us again—that was his point. With just the seal, any agreement could be overturned.

‘So that’s why he was making such a fuss… it was because of the seal….’

There was a time when seals were considered important. Looking at history, there were countless cases where those who possessed the seal wielded true power. It’s not for nothing that every nation has a seal. They have unique crests and designs.

It’s an object that announces the emperor’s will. But is it more important than the emperor’s own intentions?

Rosana casually pushed the seal on the desk aside. His eyes followed it.

“To place such great value on something that merely serves as a stamp.”

“What?”

At Rosana’s cynical remark, Margrave Melanie was taken aback. Those blue eyes looking at him with pity even stung.

Rosana stood up abruptly. She walked toward him with a smile tinged with cold frost. He stepped back with each step Rosana took forward.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll tell you it’s your delusion.”

“My, my lady, do you truly want to marry the Diovaha Emperor? Isn’t it an unwanted marriage? Don’t you have someone you love? I mean His Highness the Crown Prince!”

‘Ah. Right.’

It had only been a month, but Rosana had almost forgotten her life in Astrot. Could she say she liked someone whose appearance wavered hazily like smoke and whom she couldn’t even remember? 

Especially after realizing what the feeling of liking someone actually meant.

Seeing hope in Rosana’s momentary hesitation, he ended up saying something he shouldn’t have.

“So join hands with the Ales Kingdom and the Diovaha Empire…!”

“I hope what comes out of your impudent mouth isn’t the absurd story of joining hands with you and betraying the empire.”

“…Why? Are you refusing? Aren’t you Lady Arcadi!”

“I don’t know why my name comes up. Or maybe I know too well…. Why exactly are you all like this? You babble on like you know me so well when I don’t even know myself. I say I’m not, but you insist I am. On what grounds exactly?”

“….”

The eyes she had thought cold moments ago now held massive lava as they watched Margrave Melanie. He could feel her intense anger.

“It’s strange, so strange. You make me feel like I’ve been dropped into some bizarre country.”

Rosana slowly lowered her eyes and muttered. Rosana was getting closer and closer to the margrave. The margrave stepped back from Rosana, seemingly frightened, which made his large build seem wasted.

Rosana firmly imprinted it with unwavering eyes and gaze.

“Neither I nor she is like that.”

It was Rosana wearing ‘Rosana’s’ mask who had thoroughly crushed the envoys’ spirits during the banquet preparations and at the banquet itself.

Even wearing a mask, the face beneath it, the person, was Rosana. ‘Rosana’ was also her. 

Rosana distinguished between the two, but ultimately it was herself. ‘Rosana’ was also a part that made up herself.

It wasn’t about finding her true self, but accepting her current self. The attitude, gestures, words and actions of ‘Rosana’ that the duchess had taught her. She realized too late that all of it made up who she was. Rosana smiled faintly.

‘I wanted to tell him first.’

He was unexpectedly petty and had a childish side that threw tantrums. The margrave, who naturally didn’t understand Rosana’s words, frowned.

“What are you saying? I don’t want to play word games.”

“Word games? Me? I’m clearing up the misunderstanding you have.”

Rosana stopped searching for her true self. The true self that no one knew, that even she didn’t know, was just a phantom that didn’t exist. Her current self was who she was.

“More than that, don’t you have something else to worry about?”

“What…?”