“Wow, it’s really a woman?”

Before her stood a man reeking of filth. He was quite large, holding a bottle in one hand, and his flushed face clearly showed he was drunk. He looked like quite the troublemaker.

“Heheh, and a young, proper woman at that.”

Rose quietly looked at her captured wrist. Now what… Though she had come wearing a robe pulled low, her hat had come off when the man roughly grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.

The man’s eyes widened at seeing such a stunningly beautiful woman. He instinctively recognized that she was a noble completely out of place in this alley. She even had a pleasant scent.

For a moment, he thought he shouldn’t touch her, but looking around, there were no guards in sight.

What a perfectly served meal this was.

The hiccupping man reeked of sewage and rotting food. Despite such smells, Rose calmly gazed at him without even furrowing her brow.

‘What’s this, she’s not even frowning?’

The man found this somewhat strange but thought she must be a noble who acted high and mighty just because of her pride.

As all sorts of filthy thoughts about violating Rose flooded the man’s mind, he pulled on her wrist. That’s when it happened.

“Hic, if you came alone to a place like this–ARGHHHH!”

The man clutched his wrist and collapsed. Where his wrist had been was now empty.

Rose slowly shifted her gaze, not even blinking at the man’s scream.

“…Are you mad?”

Though strong hands gripped her shoulders again, unlike before, it wasn’t unpleasant at all.

Even the pain felt welcome.

“Go back right now.”

Rose, completely ignoring the man rolling on the ground, fixed her sparkling gaze on one spot.

After all, standing before her was Maverick, whom she had been searching for these past four days.

Rose’s lips curved into a beautiful smile.

“Maverick.”

When Rose’s delicate hand gripped his, Maverick flinched ever so slightly.

“What are you doing coming to a place like this! You…”

“I missed you.”

Maverick stood there for a moment with his mouth hanging open. Seeing this reaction, Rose realized that coming here wasn’t a bad choice.

“I missed you, but you wouldn’t show your face all this time.”

It’s your fault I came here, not mine. As Rose’s whispered words ended, Maverick’s eyes remained fixed on her red tongue. Though Rose didn’t realize this fully, she noticed that his blue eyes were locked onto her, unmoving.

So, perhaps the longing hadn’t been one-sided.

“I heard you go into that tavern every day and don’t come out until evening. Is there good alcohol there? Let’s drink together.”

“……”

“Thanks to you that night, I learned the taste of alcohol for the first time.”

Rose’s seductive smile rendered Maverick motionless. Rose traced the veins on the back of his hand with her fingers before removing his hand.

“I came wanting to drink together, and to see your precious face.”

“Did you have me followed?”

“Yes. Not me, but Father.”

“……”

Rose noticed something in Maverick’s face that instantly turned cold.

Though there had clearly been an inexplicable warmth faintly present when he first saw her, it vanished the moment the word ‘Father’ was uttered.

Rose felt a little dejected. It felt like she had unwillingly confronted a fragment of his grudge that he had tried so hard to hide.

Well, it doesn’t matter. After all, she hadn’t come all the way to this back alley for nothing.

“Would you show me around? I’m curious about your regular establishment.”

“There’s no establishment I can show you.”

Maverick said this despite the tavern clearly visible before them.

Rose was about to reply but unconsciously turned to look at the ground.

‘What’s this?’

At some point, the man who had been rolling on the ground had vanished without a trace. She hadn’t heard the sound of him running away or sensed anyone approaching.

Only the pool of blood left by the man seemed to prove that what had happened wasn’t a dream.

“I told you to go back.”

When that frost-like cold voice pierced her ears, rather than complying, Rose felt a contrary impulse like a tree frog¹청개구리 refers to a rebellious or contrary person. Of course, she didn’t come here just to leave so easily.

“I guess I’m not very welcome.”

“Yes, you’ve understood correctly.”

“I see. How disappointing. I guess I was the only one who was happy to see you. The only one who missed you, the only one who wanted to see you?”

Rose maintained her smile.

“Then I’ll just keep being the only one who wants to see you.”

“……”

Even though you look at me so suspiciously, I’m being sincere.

“Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t say anything even though you f*cked me and ran away.”

Maverick’s face drained of color, which she didn’t like. Her impulsive words brought a reaction to his face.

“…How can you say such things?”

“Then how do you think I feel?”

“Are you the type of person to feel such things?”

“Unfortunately, yes. For your information, it’s my first time.”

“……”

Rose had intended to remain brazen regardless of what Maverick said or what face he made, but somehow, at this moment, she couldn’t look at his face.

“I, who had never felt wanting for any person or thing, felt wanting for the first time that morning when you weren’t there. It felt strangely vivid.”

Is this not enough? Rose knew she was being brazen, but she couldn’t stop.

“I know what you think of me in your head, how promiscuous you think I am, but that’s what I’m telling you. At least I know how to feel and express sincerity.”

“……”

“Of course, I might feel a bit sad if you think of me like other men in society do — as a shameless, pleasure-seeking notorious villainess who hurts people without a care. Ah, no. Or perhaps you’re going to curse me as someone who’s only elegant on the outside but lewd and loose on the inside?”

“Wife.”

Rose felt his hand grabbing hers. Maverick bent down to face her. Being this close again made her feel nervous. The outside air, the stench rising from below, and the smell of blood seemed to intensify the tension.

As Rose’s back straightened, Maverick’s face came even closer.

“What man has said such things to you?”

“What?”

“After hearing such words, did you let them be?”

She saw herself reflected in those deep blue eyes. It was fascinating. Was what Maverick was feeling now jealousy, or was it possessiveness and obsession over a woman he’d spent one night with? Or was it desire to sleep with her again? Either way was fine.

It didn’t matter what it was called as long as she could hold onto Maverick.

Above all, Maverick couldn’t not know how she had punished men who had been disrespectful to her.

Rose was the protagonist of infamous stories known to everyone in high society.

It’s a fact everyone knew, but Maverick was pretending not to know.

“I’ll tell you. But in that tavern.”

“……”

Rose held Maverick’s cheeks with both hands and whispered seductively.

“And I could teach you other good things too.”

Just as Rose’s hands moved down to stroke the nape of his neck, her body staggered as it was swept up by a powerful force.

Her vision swayed chaotically. Rose couldn’t tell if she was walking on her own feet or being dragged. The place she ended up was none other than the tavern she had pointed to earlier.

“Master Ma…, no. What can I do for you, customer?”

Rose narrowed her eyes while breathing heavily. The tavern was quiet. Was it not business hours yet? There was only one man inside. Judging by his position at the bar, he seemed to be the owner.

Master Maverick?’

That man had definitely used an honorific. However, Rose had no time to think further. Maverick pulled her away before she could spend even ten seconds there. This time he lifted her up and carried her away.

“The usual room, not buying.”

“Huh? Ah, yes. YES! Ha-have a good time!”

‘A good time?’

What does he mean by a good time? Surely he hasn’t brought other women here? And had good times in the room we’re entering now? Rose was so consumed by this single thought that she completely failed to notice how shocked and stunned the tavern owner looked at Maverick’s behavior.

The place Maverick brought her to was a small office. The familiar furniture and layout made it seem like a miniature version of Maverick’s office in the Clematis mansion. Rose felt anger rising at the fact that there was even a bed.

She was practically thrown onto that very bed. Soon she felt breath on her lips. Rose instinctively kept her lips tightly closed. Maverick, regardless, explored her lips like a beast in heat. When her lips still wouldn’t part, he finally pulled away.

“Who is she?”

“Hah, what are you suddenly talking about?”