Chapter 2

“Huh!”

When Rose opened her eyes, she was breathing heavily like someone who had been drowning. She couldn’t catch her breath at all. It was natural. After being beaten all day, she died from being strangled at the end.

She fumbled at her neck. What was this? She felt a perfectly normal neck.

Was this a dream after dying? When she touched her forehead, the sensation of hair flowing down was eerily vivid.

When she turned her head, she could see the dark night sky. Rose looked at the floating moon and stars and tears flowed down her cheeks. She didn’t know why.

‘Even hell’s moon and stars are this cold and beautiful.’

Just like when she saw them while she was alive.

Rose noticed something strange after 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, all sensations were still vivid. She pulled the bell cord. A maid came running. Since it was very rare for Rose to call at this late hour, the maid had a very tense expression.

Soon, the maid faced Rose, who had turned pale as if she’d seen a ghost, and was bewildered.

“M-my lady. What’s wrong? You don’t look well… Should I call for a physician?”

“No, no. No…”

The maid realized it. Something was wrong with the lady!

Usually, Rose was someone who spoke only what was necessary in master-servant relationships, and preferred those who answered quickly and neatly. Moreover, she was someone so elegant and dignified that even the Imperial Princess couldn’t compare. But now, to see her in such a soulless state…!

Not calling it a dazed look was the maid’s last consideration. That’s how much of a mess Rose’s current state was.

“…What date is it today?”

“P-pardon?”

“I asked what date it is today!”

Because of this, the maid ended up receiving Rose’s question twice. The pale-faced maid hurriedly answered.

“I-it’s September 3rd, Imperial Year 234…!”

Rose’s face turned white. It was a date long before the day she had died. What was this? Was God making her have a long dream?

Or was the future she remembered just a dream from last night?

But the pain she had felt in her neck was still vivid. Above all, the image of dead Maverick was too clear.

“…Maverick Phlox.”

“Yes?”

“Is he alive?”

The maid doubted her ears but answered obediently. The question took precedence over her curiosity about the fact that the lady had never once referred to her husband Maverick Phlox as affectionately¹T/N: ‘그이’ (he) is more personal or emotional.

“…Yes, there has been nothing unusual.”

Thus, she slowly reported that he was living well, not sick, and that he hadn’t missed a single meal today.

“Right now. What is he doing?”

The maid briefly suppressed her urge to look toward the window. It was nighttime. Deep into the night at that. The maid became confused again. What would a normal person be doing at night? Her master would be deep in sleep, just like she had just woken up. However, Maverick Phlox was in his office even at this hour.

“Master Maverick is currently in his office…”

Before the words could continue, Rose’s figure swept past. The maid’s eyes widened in surprise. Wait, just a moment. What did I just see? The shock followed a step behind.

“My lady, Miss! Your bare feet, your bare feet!”

Bare feet! Nightgown! At least wear an outer robe! None of the words reached Rose. When she came to her senses, Rose had run down the long corridor and was standing in one place. Her heart pounded when she saw the doorknob.

A place she had never come to on her own feet—Maverick’s office.

Her trembling was brief. Rose opened the door without hesitation. Her steps were bold.

The office was neither large nor small. Rose was briefly taken aback.

‘What’s this, why is the furniture so…’

A son-in-law who married into the family cannot demand any property beyond the given dignity maintenance fees and funds.

Still, Rose believed without doubt that her father and the butler would surely provide sufficient support. But the office she entered, while clearly luxurious, had only necessary items in each place. In this cold and empty space sat a man like a painting.

“…Wife?”

The man wore a surprised expression. Rose felt for a moment like she might cry.

The man who had shouted at her to live, yet selfishly died himself, was alive before her eyes. He was breathing.

“What brings you here?”

Even his cold and stern voice was welcome. Rose walked right up to the desk. Though she was breathing heavily from running, her nightgown was a mess, and her hair was disheveled, it didn’t matter.

Rose’s eyes scrutinized Maverick almost as if he was stripping him bare. From his hair neatly pulled back without a single strand out of place despite the late hour, to his dark eyebrows of the same color. Deep blue eyes showing questioning followed by displeasure. Clean lips and thick neck. Broad shoulders. When she saw the upper garment tightly fastened in an ascetic manner, Rose felt breathless.

Thump thump thump. Her heart pounded.

Her mouth went dry. She stood still and moistened her lips.

“…What are you doing here at such a late hour?”

Even his displeased voice sounded welcome. No, that her heart was about to burst with excitement. Usually, she would have admitted she was crazy. But the current Rose was different.

Chest.

Rose had been held against that chest.

“Wife, what are you…”

Tap, Rose’s hand touched his chest. Maverick flinched. Even his flinch was welcome — was it because he was alive? No, it didn’t matter.

Rose’s hands frantically undid his buttons. Hands that had played around plenty in their day undid the buttons at an amazing speed despite the confusion. After removing the stuffy brooch, somehow, his cravat was in her hands. Through the opened collar, a firm chest was visible.

She felt his skin flinching when her hand touched it. Under her hand, his heart pounded. Ah, he’s alive. He really is alive. When Rose’s fingertips slid down wickedly, she felt a sensation that was both soft yet firm. Her mind snapped to attention.

‘What is… this.’

Maverick died horribly at the end. She didn’t want to count or remember how many swords had pierced the body that had held her tightly. She only wanted to see if the chest where swords had pierced him was whole.

‘This feeling… is killing me!’

Her intention was distorted, and she had already forgotten it. Though she could pride herself on having seen and touched men’s chests countless times before, she had never felt something like this…!

It felt soft yet had the firmness characteristic of those who exercise a lot. But it wasn’t the hard feeling typical of imperial knights whose brains seemed full of muscle.

This was, truly, the perfect chest!

‘What’s this, did I have a chest f*tish?’

She didn’t. She didn’t, but it felt like she might develop one now. And because of Maverick Phlox! This wasn’t something she wanted. Rose had never particularly been interested in men’s chests in her whole life, nor did she think she would be. But today was different. It seemed like things would change from today.

‘I wonder what’s below. I want to know.’

The moment Rose’s hand moved lower, her hand was strongly stopped from the side. When she looked up, she saw a face fierce with anger.

“Won’t you explain what you’re doing!”

Why? Though he was so fiercely angry, Rose felt no desire to resist or explain. She just felt good. She couldn’t express it, but it just felt good.

She wanted him to speak more.

She just wanted to strip him bare and confirm he wasn’t hurt anywhere.

She tried to open her mouth to ask permission. But before her tongue could move, her tear ducts acted first.

Drip.

“…W-wife?”

Maverick was bewildered to see Rose suddenly start crying. Though he had lived a life without ever being bewildered, even he couldn’t handle what was happening before his eyes.

Rose Clematis is crying? This iron-blooded lady?

Except for being excessively fond of socializing and playing around, she was said to be the perfect lady who took after her father. In fact, even on their first wedding night, the face that told him to go ahead and have his fun showed no emotion, no different from that of an impassive ruler.

But…

“……”

In other words, Maverick Phlox never thought he would see such an expression on Rose Clematis.

Rose, who was just dropping large tears, seemed like a lost child. Whatever was making her so sad, her narrowed eyes and trembling body created a poignant beauty that seemed impossible to see normally from someone called the Empire’s greatest beauty.

And what was with this attire? One strap had completely fallen while the other shoulder strap was barely hanging on. It seemed her ample br*asts would spill out at any moment.

His wife was beautiful. That was a known fact. Though he thought he didn’t care about that fact, Maverick didn’t reject it when Rose reached out her hand.

“Maverick.”

Rose tried that name on her lips. It was so sweet she wondered why she hadn’t used it until now. So this was what it felt like to have thirst grow stronger the more you called something. A different thirst from when she was in prison.

She knew Maverick was looking down at her with eyes of disgust. It didn’t matter. She decided to accept that this was her second life given to her.