The divorce never actually reached the imperial family, and Greta erased the records at her level.

What Rose had given Maverick was fake divorce papers.

Maverick wore a dumbfounded expression. Rose carefully watched his reaction and felt relieved. Good, at least he doesn’t look angry…!

“Let’s say I understand about the papers, but what were you planning to do about me believing it?”

“For that, I was trying to create… a reason you would have to come back.”

“A reason?”

Rose quietly placed her hand on her belly.

“I thought I could get pregnant…”

Tears welled up in Rose’s eyes. Rose cried as bitterly as she had cried on the first day she returned. Maverick panicked and put his hand on Rose’s cheek.

“No, why… we did it so much, huuung, why am I not getting pregnant…”

That’s right. All the plans went wrong because Rose didn’t get pregnant. Rose had been certain. With all that s*x and penetration, she would surely get pregnant. What she overlooked was her weak constitution. Her body wasn’t one that could easily conceive. It was the first time she resented her body this much.

‘No, why… It feels like this isn’t the first time though. Anyway.’

Being upset was being upset. Because there was no other way she could make Maverick come back. If she forced him back, with this man’s personality he surely wouldn’t stay quiet. Having already tasted his tenderness, Rose didn’t want to be hated anymore.

Maverick hugged Rose tightly. His love for her welled up in his chest. An unbearable joy pulsed through him.

“I’m sorry, wife.”

For not being honest. For resenting you all this time when you probably didn’t choose to forget me either.

“I wasn’t honest. I… love you too.”

For a long time. Since before those 10 years.

“From the moment I first saw you, I couldn’t help but love you.”

Maverick pulled Rose away and pressed his forehead to hers. He looked like a devout believer swearing before God. She had never seen a face so full of joy before.

No. Was it really the first time?

Another conversation with the Duke came to Rose’s mind.

‘Do you remember now?’

‘Remember what?’

When Rose said she would go to the mountain villa, Duke Clematis asked her something strange.

‘About your husband.’

And an old report she came across while reviewing documents related to the Crown Prince. The name of the only person who helped her during her kidnapping incident, which she only knew from documents but couldn’t remember.

Rick.

Rose’s lips trembled.

Maverick. Are you… that Rick?

Did you resent and hate and detest me so much because I forgot you?

But Rose couldn’t ask the man who was full of joy. Yes, she could ask gradually from now on.

Meanwhile, Maverick realized. That whether Rose remembered him now or never remembered him, either would be truly fine.

Rose already had memories of him inside her.

That was enough for Maverick.

‘Ah, well. When I hear gunshots, it makes me feel more stable. It gives me a nostalgic feeling.’

Rose. The name of the lovely girl I saved.

And the name I will love from now on.

“I will love you forever.”

Maverick was fine with everything now, because he would be with her from now on.

Because there would be more days to love ahead.

“Rose.”

‘Yes. And you look like a prince. Later, call my name elegantly.’

“I love you, Rose.”

‘Your name, and that you like me too.’

“If it’s alright next time, please call me Rick.”

The moment she heard those words, Rose burst into tears. Though she didn’t understand why, it was okay. Because now, rather than regretting the memories she could not remember, an even greater fullness would fill them.

“I love you too… Rick.”

Rose buried her face in his chest while sobbing. It was the chest of someone alive.

“Live with me forever.”

“That won’t do.”

Maverick smiled and kissed the crown of Rose’s head.

“Because I decided I would make the next proposal. I’ll ask. Will you marry me?”

The answer went without saying.

Their lips met right there. They fell into a swamp of desire that blazed up like wildfire and bloomed the flower of lovemaking.

Epilogue

Recently, I’ve noticed that Maverick was more elegant and noble than most aristocrats.

Yet the more one knew him, the more rough aspects he had. His remarkable skill with guns, his knight-like solid physique, and though faint, he had many scars all over.

When Rose would stroke his scars with concern, Maverick would smile mysteriously.

“What is it?”

“No, I was just… thinking I worried for nothing.”

After that, whenever Rose touched his scars, Maverick would take her hand and kiss her fingertips.

Meanwhile, he remained a tyrant in bed.

Actually, their lovemaking at the tavern was meant to shame her to keep her from coming back. But as they continued, he said it became his preference. Rose had a habit of trying to take the lead subtly or obviously, and whenever that showed, he unconsciously became stern and prickly to torment her.

Of course, Rose was fine with everything since Maverick had helped her discover new preferences.

Even now, for instance, being blindfolded and tied up again.

“Mmm… ah, quickly, hic, put it in…”

“You’re not begging enough, wife.”

Rose was writhing with desperation.

“Ah, really… you’re so mean…”

“What can I do when you love such a pervert. Please embrace me, wife.”

Rose let out an unrestrained moan at the rough entry of his gl*ns. Her already slick entrance easily accepted his massive gl*ns. Moreover, after how persistently he had touched and sucked, her cl*t still tingled sensitively even after his hands and tongue had left.

“This time you must get pregnant.”

“Mmm, our baby… ahh, I hope, ah! it looks– like– you…”

“Oh dear. I want it to look like you though.”

Rose’s body shook violently. She loved this position where not just her arms but her whole body was held down helplessly by Maverick as he thrust into her. As much as Maverick possessed all of her, she felt she completely owned him too.

Sometimes when looking at Maverick, she felt anxious as if she had lost something for a very long time. Now she knew why. That they had spent time together, including the regression.

“I love you…”

When Maverick finally cl*maxed inside her, Rose confessed as if she had been waiting. His soft laugh came with his descending lips. It was a gentle kiss, as if he had never been rough.

“Sleep now. You must be tired.”

Maverick’s calm voice rather drove away the approaching sleep. Rose blinked slowly and recalled a memory.

It was when Rose had finally succeeded in keeping Maverick and returned to the Clematis mansion. Rose thought that her father, Duke Clematis, would oppose in some way. Though her father adored her dearly, he tried to control many things because of that love. Of course, Rose never meekly accepted that control.

But in his office alone with Rose, the Duke just stared at her silently without saying anything.

‘Since you won, I should tell you.’

‘…Tell me what?’

‘What you wanted to know. Didn’t you want to know about what happened between Maverick Phlox and me?’

‘……’

That day, after their conversation, Rose agreed to receive something. And just yesterday, she received that ‘something’ from the Duke.

It was an address.

The address of a picturesque house located in a quiet countryside far from the capital.

The Duke had been supporting the person living there to ensure they didn’t lack anything. It was unlike him. After investigating further, she learned who lived there.

The person living there was named ‘Martha’.

Who lived day by day having lost someone like a son.

Rose slowly opened her eyes.

“Mmm, Maverick…”

“I can’t hear you.”

That person ‘Martha’ who you thought of as family is alive. Though she thinks you’re dead, now she’ll know you’re alive.

Rose pressed her head against Maverick’s shoulder and nuzzled him affectionately. His shoulder tensed at her cat-like gentle touch.

My father didn’t kill your only family.

…You can’t imagine how happy I was after hearing that.

Rose swallowed her secretly flowing tears. Though one tear fell, Maverick would think it was from the afterglow.

“Husband.”

Maverick flinched at the unfamiliar title. Though he tried to hide it, he was aroused by Rose’s begging during lovemaking.

“Just one last time…”

A deep resonance came from Maverick’s direction at those words. Perhaps this time it was her beloved’s laugh that Rose would remember forever.

“Don’t regret it, wife.”

Soon both their laughter carried the same resonance.

It was the resonance of happiness.

Rose imagined their peaceful future together. Now there was nothing to hold them back. When dawn breaks, she would whisper to Maverick.

That she had a gift for him.

Rose laughed out loud as she pictured their happiness.

fin.