“Really? How strange. Usually when a man and woman are alone in a room in the dead of night, shouldn’t there be that kind of rumor?”

Running in wearing nightclothes and coming out all disheveled… Why should she hear unpleasant things about divorce? Rose’s beautiful brow furrowed slightly.

“That might be the case for ordinary couples or men and women.”

“What’s wrong with us?”

Kathleen’s expression seemed to ask, ‘Are you serious?’

“You’ve been married for over two years. You’ve never once shared a room with Lord Maverick, so it’s natural that everyone assumes yesterday would be no different.”

Her lady had always pursued pretty things, good things, beautiful things.

While Maverick Phlox was an exceptionally handsome man even among nobles, Rose was the one who treated such a handsome man like a worthless statue that’s not worth looking at.

“Ah, how unpleasant. To think you know so much about my s*x life.”

“……”

Kathleen momentarily showed a disgusted expression. What are you saying, my lady who played around as she pleased? As it had been her role to resolve her scandals before marriage, it was natural that she knew everything. Besides, it was information the lady herself had shared. It was absurd.

Rose Clematis was an attractive woman. In the words of many men, she was also a terrible woman. Whether intentionally or not, she made men fall for her and then refused to take responsibility, earning much resentment.

Considering that over 90% of the men making such claims were ones Rose had no intention of seducing in the first place, it was merely the assertion of fools.

Well, anyway, it was very well known in the capital that her lady liked to play around.

It wasn’t uncommon in this world for poor people to achieve social advancement through outstanding appearances. Not just that, in an era where beautiful people often fell to become mistresses or lovers, Rose was born and raised as the only daughter of the Clematis family.

Moreover, she showed sufficient qualities as an heir and secured her position through her abilities alone. It was also famous how she had silenced those who occasionally disparaged her as ‘pretty but empty-headed.’

As a result, her surroundings were always full of men trying to spend just one night with her, men trying to catch even a glance, and men dreaming of social advancement.

They always crossed boundaries just because Rose enjoyed playing around, and Rose repeatedly got caught up in new scandals regardless of her intentions.

Rose was unaffected by all these rumors.

Rather than being stressed, she even seemed to find it entertaining. While the Duke seemed tired of his daughter’s playful behavior, after clearly seeing with his own eyes the scandals his daughter was unwillingly caught up in, he changed his approach to finding her a marriage partner.

He didn’t seek an alliance with another family. The ‘Clematis’ family lacked nothing to begin with. So, he decided to bring in a man who would give up everything and enter the family with just himself.

And thus, the man the Duke brought was Maverick Phlox.

From the Phlox count family. The son of this relatively unknown count family suddenly appeared in social circles.

‘At the time, there was an explosive reaction wondering why such a face hadn’t been known before.’

Kathleen had long harbored a question.

Rose Clematis, whom everyone thought would be willful and arrogant, was actually quite a cold and calculating woman. She knew how to clearly distinguish between profit and loss.

The numerous rumors that added to her image of being a ‘playful rich woman’ — looking closely, there were many instances where she chose not to explain because she judged it better for her merchant group to maintain that image.

She was particularly greedy for talent. Kathleen herself was such talent. Rose had personally recruited her, who had survived in the academy solely through her intelligence and social skills, fearing someone else might snatch her away.

As someone who had observed her since Rose’s coming-of-age ceremony at sixteen until now, Kathleen knew well her nature of not wanting to be forced or oppressed.

Yet strangely, just this once…

Two years ago, she agreed to a marriage without protesting when the Duke brought Maverick.

At the time, Rose answered that ‘he just seemed comfortable to be around.’ But considering her personality, it was extremely unusual.

So Kathleen had thought that perhaps Maverick Phlox had entered Rose’s fence, but that thought had long since disappeared after two years.

Whether out of respect for her married husband, Rose had never once taken a lover or acted in ways that might cause scandals after marriage. All scandals that occurred were entirely due to the other party’s schemes, which Kathleen had resolved.

But while she respected him, she showed no interest in her husband.

The two were like people just sharing a mansion. How was this any different from roommates sharing a dormitory?

‘For such a person to suddenly run to Maverick’s room last night.’

Barefoot, no less, when she was someone who took care of her body saying it was a walking commodity.

“Yes, Kathleen, who knows my s*x life well.”

“Yes.”

“Always diligent.”

Rose smiled deeply. It was a beautiful smile like a flower in full bloom.

“Though you pout, your work is perfect. It made me feel that the high wages I give you are the best investment.”

“I’m honored. I’ll work like a dog, so please continue to work me hard in the future.”

“Ah, didn’t you say you bought a townhouse recently?”

She had. Kathleen had recently become a homeowner, achieving her dream. Though she had achieved her dream of owning her own home, she was left with countless debts. Debts that would take about ten years of hard work to repay.

“You said it was your dream, and you finally got it. Congratulations. How fun. Now you can meet lovers there too, right?”

“Yes.”

Kathleen sometimes showed an exhausted expression while looking at her lady who thought of everything in terms of interest and fun, but this too was a reaction she could show because her lady allowed it.

“By the way, my lady, are you ready now?”

What made Kathleen certain that Maverick held no meaning for Rose was the documents she had instructed her to prepare three months ago.

Rose had requested documents related to property division from Kathleen. These were documents essential for filing for divorce. This was an area she knew well, having studied law to become a lawyer that specialized for the nobility.

‘Though I was surprised by how much property was to be distributed.’

In other words, Rose had been thinking about divorcing Maverick. She even intended to distribute an enormous amount of property in the divorce. Though the reason was unknown, as an aide, it wasn’t something she needed to know, so she assumed there must be some cause.

Though she hadn’t told Maverick, she had been preparing slowly.

The culmination of that was now in Rose’s hands.

“This…”

“No. This is no longer needed.”

Kathleen was dumbfounded.

Riiip! The fruit of her three months of labor was being torn in half in Rose’s hands.

“Hmm, parchment doesn’t tear easily, they say.”

“Of course high-quality parchment doesn’t… But what’s the meaning of this?”

Rather than being flustered, Kathleen quickly regained her composure and asked.

“I no longer want to do it. That’s all.”

…It seemed that what happened last night wasn’t just a happening.

Kathleen felt the need to respond sensitively to this change.

“I can give property but divorce is not possible.”

“…If I may be bold, you’re speaking lines that would suit the male protagonist in currently popular romance novels.”

“Really?”

Rose chuckled.

“To think there are others besides me, how foolish. Does that guy regret it too?”

“Yes. Regret is a basic premise in those stories, I hear.”

Soon, a casual giggling sound flowed from Rose.

“Yes. Even if you regret as early as possible, it’s always too late.”

It would have been better not to do something you’d regret from the start.

Rose decided to think about future matters first. Ways to continue a peaceful and happy married life with Maverick.

“By the way, did you sleep together?”

It was an important matter. Since couples typically don’t use contraception, Rose’s potential pregnancy would be treated as the most important matter in this ducal family.

Rose’s beautiful face darkened.

She suddenly felt regret washing over her.

“Kathleen, I think my body is quite pretty.”

“Ah, yes…”

Kathleen quietly agreed, but it was true. Rose not only had a beautiful face but also a decent height and elegant figure. Especially her ample bosom. It always accentuated the curves of her dresses so well, making it one of the reasons why the capital’s designers eagerly awaited her contact.

‘Why didn’t it work?’

Should the nightgown have been more see-through? Or perhaps Maverick had different preferences? Or maybe he didn’t like large br*asts?

Next time, should she try lying in his bed only wearing bridal lingerie?

Rose wet her lips. She felt thirsty. She had felt this way since the moment she opened her eyes. She wanted to see Maverick.

“If we had slept together, I would at least be happy today.”

“……”

She felt her burning chest and smiled bitterly. Though she sensed Kathleen’s startled reaction, she ignored it and stood up.

“Where are you going?”

Rose elegantly wiped her lips with a handkerchief.

“To Father.”

* * *