“Weren’t you the one who wanted to get down? How long are you planning to cling on? Well, I don’t mind,” Jade teased, attempting to lighten the mood.  

Rosana let out a weak laugh. “Just a moment. Please wait a little. My face… looks terrible.”  

Jade could feel her tears soaking through his collar. The thought of them making her cry filled him with the urge to storm back in there, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave her alone. Like comforting a child who had burst into tears, he silently patted her back.  

When Celine had rushed to him earlier, her hair and clothes disheveled, his heart had dropped. 

He’d feared something terrible had happened to Rosana and immediately blamed himself for letting her go. He had allowed her to relive the nightmare she had worked so hard to escape.  

Jade glanced up at the unrelentingly blue sky, frustration simmering within him. “Well, I guess I have no choice. You’re the one who won’t come down,” he said, his tone soft but firm.  

Instead of letting her go, he held her tightly, silently declaring he wouldn’t.  

Rosana couldn’t stop the storm of emotions swirling inside her. 

She felt heartbroken that her resolve and determination hadn’t reached them, wronged and furious that she had been forced to kneel before them once again, and guilty toward Jade and the others who had stood by her. 

And then there was the faintest flicker of hope—now shattered.  

The warm, affectionate woman she remembered from her childhood was gone. Neither she nor they had changed. Her despair hadn’t touched their hearts.  

But above all, she felt anger. They say tears come when emotions run too high to contain. That was exactly how she felt.  

Rosana buried her face into Jade’s shoulder, letting her tears flow freely. She stayed there, crying until her tears dried and her mind began to clear. For a long time, she found solace in his embrace.  

Suddenly, she felt herself being set down, the soft sensation beneath her startling her. Looking around, she realized she was back in her room. Somehow, they had walked all the way here.  

“I-I’m sorry! Wasn’t I heavy?” she asked, flustered.  

“Heavy?” Jade replied, his lips curving into a faint smile. “I was more worried you were too light. So, do you feel better now?”  

He reached out and gently brushed his hand against her cheek as she finally lifted her tear-streaked face. Rosana hugged her knees, her expression clouded with gloom. Seeing her like this, Jade’s smile faded, replaced by concern.  

“I showed you such a pathetic side… and I was the one who invited them,” Rosana murmured, her voice heavy with regret.  

Jade crouched down and met her gaze, his voice warm and reassuring. “Didn’t you see how dumbfounded they looked?” 

But even his attempts to comfort her didn’t work. Rosana buried her head deeply between her knees, her drooping shoulders void of any strength.  

“I’m sorry. I want to be alone right now. Please come tomorrow. By tomorrow…”  

“Leave you here feeling this way? That won’t do,” Jade interrupted.  

He sat down beside her, making the bed dip under his weight, clearly showing no intention of leaving.  

“I refuse. I want you to be happy tomorrow in tomorrow’s way, and happy today in today’s way. So, I’m going to comfort today’s you. Tomorrow’s me will take care of you tomorrow.”  

Jade rested his chin on his arm, looking at Rosana with warm, affectionate eyes. She swallowed hard, her heart stirring. 

What is that? she thought, before an unexpected laugh escaped her lips, even as she remained curled up like a caterpillar.  

Then, with a sigh, she began to speak.  

“Mother was always like that,” she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of memories she had buried deep.  

“She was always so clear about what she wanted from Amy and me. And if we strayed from her expectations, she’d never forgive us. Mother wanted me to play a role—the role of ‘Rosana,’ the one she had created in her mind. And that ‘Rosana’ was a character everyone hated. On the other hand, Amy’s role was the one everyone loved.”  

It was like everyone had stepped onto a stage, with the game rigged from the start. They all turned their backs on me together. I lived under the weight of that bone-chilling isolation.  

“Years passed like that… then ten years. Amy shone brilliantly, but I remained in the shadows. To put it dramatically, I was lucky not to be stoned while walking down the street. Every word I spoke twisted people’s faces in disgust. They hated even speaking to me. That was the power Mother held.”  

Jade thought back to the maids who had fiercely defended the Duchess. He found himself nodding, understanding Rosana’s words.  

As though she could sense his thoughts, Rosana let out a dry, bitter laugh.  

“It’s strange, isn’t it? I think so too. Why do they believe Mother’s words so easily? She called it the ‘original story.’ Even after more than ten years, I still don’t understand what that means.”  

“Original story?” Jade asked, his brow furrowing.  

“A story. A story in a book,” Rosana replied, her voice tinged with disbelief.  

Is she delusional? Jade wondered, his forehead creasing further. He couldn’t comprehend how the Duchess could apply a story from a book to real life.  

“She’s insane,” he muttered. 

Rosana, who had been burying her face in her knees for a while, chuckled at Jade’s muttering. 

Having only ever seen people constantly praising the Duchess, hearing such direct criticism felt unfamiliar yet left a distinct impression.  

“Yes. I think so too. She’s absolutely insane.”  

Letting out the feelings she had buried deep inside made her feel lighter. Rosana lifted her head to look at Jade, who was still watching her with that affectionate gaze. His warm eyes seemed to soothe her.  

“Do you feel better now?”  

Rosana felt her eyes sting again.  

“…Yes. Thank you. For always being by my side.”  

“You don’t need to thank me for something so natural. You have no idea how shocked I was when the maid came to my office. I broke a sweat running because of it.”  

Jade touched his bangs, which had been soaked with sweat earlier. Now dry, his hair brushed against his fingers, bringing back memories of the frantic rush. 

All sorts of thoughts had overwhelmed him as he sprinted to her side. Though there were faster ways to get there, he had relied on his own two legs, completely losing his composure.  

Rosana took him in.  

The person I love is this kind and wonderful. Someone who protects me. Does it matter if not everyone sees him the way I do?  

Conflicting emotions stirred within her—the desire to show him off to the world and the contradictory urge to keep him all to herself. 

She began to understand Jade’s feelings a little better, why he wanted to hold her close and never let go. Her fingers twitched.  

Did he feel this way back then too? I want to reach out…  

Slowly, carefully, she extended her hand toward Jade, her fingertips trembling.  

“Could you lower your head?”  

“Hm?”  

Rosana’s arms naturally wrapped around Jade’s neck as he bent down to meet her gaze. She slowly lifted her eyelids, locking eyes with him.  

Jade remained still, his golden eyes fixed on her, as though waiting for her to act on her own. 

After a brief hesitation, Rosana leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to his, like a baby bird pecking at food.  

She had felt it before—his lips were soft, his breath warm. Rosana lacked technique, and she didn’t have the courage to meet his eyes in this moment. 

When Jade reached out to cup her cheek, she flinched. His gentle touch encouraged her to open her eyes, and eventually, she did.  

Thick desire lingered in his brilliantly shining golden eyes. 

When her gaze met his, his eyes curved gently, yet there was an unmistakable warning in them—don’t provoke him further, or she’d be consumed.  

“That’s… that’s it,” Rosana stammered, awkwardly turning her head and fiddling with her hair.  

She heard quiet chuckling beside her, followed by a languid murmur.  

“Why? I’m not satisfied yet.”  

Jade’s gaze fixed on her flushed cheeks, his dissatisfaction barely concealed. You can’t run away. Not when I’ve finally caught this moment. Who are you teasing?  

She had approached him for just a fleeting moment, only to declare it over and pull away before his hands could even react.  

“If you started the fire, shouldn’t you take responsibility to the end?”  

“…”  

Jade, now holding Rosana tightly by her lower back, whispered softly into her ear. His deep, alluring voice seemed to cling to her senses.  

His fierce eyes curved lazily as he pulled her closer, murmuring that it wasn’t enough yet. Then, without hesitation, Jade captured her lips again. 

Rosana’s wide eyes watched his face approach, and when his tongue brushed against her lips, her trembling mouth parted slightly, granting him entry.  

Jade’s lips curled into a smile as he explored freely, his movements unrestrained.  

Their slightly uneven breaths mingled heavily in the air. The unfamiliar, tingling sensation made Rosana grip the bed sheet tightly. As the intensity grew, her breath faltered, and she turned her head away. When his hand reached out for her again, she shook her head.  

“J-Jade. Stop…”  

Rosana tried to hide her flushed face by turning away.  

“…Alright.”

Her body tensed at the sound of his low voice, breaking the silence after a long pause. It carried a precarious balance, with reason barely holding sway over desire. 

Jade exhaled deeply, trying to calm the intense emotions surging within him. As though soothing his lingering regret, he gently stroked Rosana’s hair.  

“Should we stop here? Today isn’t the only day,” he murmured with a mischievous smile, finally releasing Rosana, who had been squirming in his arms.  

“What? What do you mean…” she began, startled.  

“Why so surprised? Did you forget the wedding is coming soon? There’s still the wedding night. No need to rush.”  

Jade licked his lips slowly, savoring the taste left behind.  

“You were the one who provoked me first, after all.”  

“…!”  

Rosana stared at him, dumbfounded, her mouth slightly open. Jade simply shrugged, his expression calm.  

Though he had restrained himself with immense effort, they had already connected emotionally, and their wedding was just around the corner. Between them, what was a kiss?  

Rosana, who had been wriggling to escape his embrace, eventually relaxed and leaned against him as he murmured comforting words. Jade’s lips curved lazily, resembling a predator satisfied with its prey. 

Yet, despite his self-control, a trace of regret lingered. He buried his face in the curve of Rosana’s neck, inhaling her scent deeply.  

“Do you think you’ll be able to sleep without nightmares tonight? Ah, when will the wedding day finally come?”  

At his string of teasing remarks, Rosana opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words to respond. Jade’s eyes curved with satisfaction, clearly enjoying himself. Their hands, tightly intertwined, refused to part, as though bound by an unspoken promise.  

“Before that, there’s something I want to give you,” Jade said softly.  

He lifted Rosana’s hand and pressed his lips gently to her left ring finger. His thumb brushed over it lightly, and Rosana’s heart skipped a beat as realization dawned.  

Her head dropped in embarrassment.  

Who told him? I said it didn’t matter to me, that I wanted to keep it a secret…! 

With so many people involved, it was impossible to figure out who had let it slip.  

“It really… didn’t matter to me. Whether you did or didn’t…”  

“Haha, that won’t do. Are you trying to make me a criminal?” Jade teased, his tone light but affectionate.  

Somehow, he seemed more excited about that day than Rosana, who was supposed to be the one receiving it.  

Rosana slowly closed her eyes, letting herself relax. The sadness and anger that had weighed her down for so long melted away completely. In their place, a gentle warmth spread through her, wrapping her in comfort.  

It felt like floating on the ocean, drifting endlessly. The current wasn’t harsh but calm and steady. It was warm, tranquil, and utterly soothing.