Jansen, who was sorting through documents, looked up at Freddy.

Freddy had been pacing around the room for a while.

“It’s dizzying. Please sit still.”

Although Jansen scolded him, Freddy didn’t seem to hear it.

“There’s no need to be so concerned.”

“How can I not be concerned? His Majesty will surely be furious if he finds out.”

“Then we’ll just deal with it then.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”

“Who do you think the head maid is? She’s someone Lady Katriona personally installed after driving out the maid who had worked here for over a decade. There’s nothing we can do about it right now.”

“Are you saying you anticipated this? Then you should have told me sooner. I never imagined they would give her that room.”

“No need to get so worked up. If we interfere, it’ll only make her awkward.”

“What do you mean?”

“Since His Majesty acknowledged her as his future wife, we should trust her to handle it. If she’s wise, she’ll overcome this herself.”

Jansen looked intrigued as if already anticipating a power struggle between Lady Katriona and Rosé.

On the other hand, Freddy was worried sick that another storm was about to break over the castle.

He couldn’t understand how Jansen could be so relaxed and indifferent.

Even though His Majesty had taken that Stern lady as his future wife, Freddy still couldn’t believe it.

The thought of that delicate young Stern lady, raised with tender care like a flower in the garden, facing off against the frostily severe Lady Katriona was unfathomable. This wasn’t a fair fight.

To Freddy, it looked like a helpless sparrow facing an owl ready to pounce on its prey.

“I give up. I just don’t know anymore.”

He muttered, exhausted by the endless worrying and the headache it caused as if resigning himself to fate.

***

Rosé skipped lunch and fell asleep in her newly assigned room.

She had barely slept the night before, anxious about moving from the annex to the main castle, and now she had fallen into a deep sleep, oblivious to the world.

No one was in the hallway when she stepped out of her room looking for Natalie.

“Since I’m already out, why not stroll around the castle?”

Just as she was about to return to her room, Rosé turned and began strolling toward the hallway with the central staircase.

She tried to recall how she had come earlier while following Freddy and slowly explored the vast castle interior.

As she turned a corner of the long hallway, she saw someone walking straight toward her without hesitation.

“You’re out and about!”

A young man greeted her cheerfully.

“I was just on my way to see you.”

“Me? Who are you?”

Rosé, startled, lightly grabbed the hem of her dress and asked.

“I’m Administrator Jansen.”

The man introduced himself as an administrator, but he looked familiar.

‘Ah… this man!’

Upon closer inspection, he was the same young man she had briefly glimpsed in the garden earlier—the one a maid had been secretly watching.

Seeing her startle at the sight of him, Jansen tilted his head curiously.

“Is something wrong?”

Rosé quickly shook her head.

“It’s nothing. You just remind me of someone I know.”

“Haha. Yes, I have one of those common faces.”

Jansen laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

With his intellectual features and fresh smile, his laughter freshened the air around them.

‘Common-looking face? He’s got a face that could make women cry.’

After dealing with Maxim, who growled at her every time they met, and the knights who glared at her with daggers, she assumed all the men in this castle were like that.

Finding someone normal like this was a relief.

“Were you headed somewhere?”

“I wanted to look around the castle because staying in my room all the time was getting boring.”

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but this castle has some dangerous wolves prowling around. It’s risky for you to wander alone—whether the wolves are human or beast.”

Rosé smiled faintly at the mention of humans and beasts.

“In that case, may I escort you? There are a few things I’d like to tell you as well, so this is perfect timing.”

Jansen asked politely, waiting for her response.

“I’d be grateful if you did.”

Rosé followed him with a cheerful heart.

****

Jansen led her to a quiet rear garden where few people passed by.

“The wedding is to be prepared quickly and kept simple, with the ceremony held in the castle’s chapel.”

“That’s what I want as well.”

Jansen hesitated when Rosé agreed so readily.

“I’m glad to hear that. Honestly, I was worried you’d be disappointed. Weddings in Stern are usually grand celebrations. It’s supposed to be the bride’s one unforgettable day.”

“I’m not in a position to care about such things now. I don’t want to be bound by formalities or procedures—unless it violates Hellevant customs, of course.”

“Ah… Yes, then I’ll proceed quickly and without worry.”

“What’s more important to me than the wedding is adjusting to life here as quickly as possible. Now that I’ve decided to make this my home, I don’t want to be treated like a stranger forever.”

Surprised, Jansen stopped in his tracks and looked at Rosé in silence. There was even a hint of reverence on his face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Rosé touched her cheeks nervously, wondering if something was on her face.

“Haha, it’s nothing. I was just a little surprised.”

Jansen gave her a bright smile and started walking again.

“What do you mean?”

“Honestly, I assumed you’d be similar to the former lady of the house. You’re both from Stern and had similar upbringings.”

Hearing Olivia Lankert’s name come up made Rosé curious.

She recalled hearing about Olivia from her mother, Audrey.

After Olivia, once the flower of Stern’s social circles, left for the North, no more news about her was heard in Solstern.

It was as if she had never existed.

The members of Olivia’s family also withdrew from social life, keeping their distance from Solstern’s imperial family and high society.

Because of that, grim rumors spread—claims that Olivia’s married life had been miserable, that she was being abused by her husband in Hellevant, or even that she had died a meaningless death.

For Solstern’s noble daughters, the thought of going to the North became terrifying.

Now Rosé had the opportunity to find out which rumors were true.

She wanted to know, as someone who had been in a similar position to hers, what Olivia’s life in this place had been like.

Because it might also be her future.

“What… kind of person was she?”

Jansen’s expression turned cautious at Rosé’s question. It was a complex topic for him to talk about.

“To be honest, I don’t know much. I was still a child and hadn’t arrived at the castle yet.”

“I see.”

“I heard she wasn’t pleased here.”

“That’s not surprising. She didn’t come here by choice.”

“Yes. She longed for Stern even after much time had passed, and I heard she kept her distance from people. She must have been very lonely.”

Rosé nodded silently, feeling as though she could understand Olivia’s feelings.

“The North tends to be very hostile toward outsiders. It differs from Stern, where open trade and foreign visitors are common. But I don’t believe she isolated herself entirely of her own accord.”

Rosé’s head snapped up.

“Are you saying there was another reason?”

Jansen nodded with a meaningful expression.

“The reason I wanted to meet you today wasn’t just to talk about wedding preparations. The real matter starts now.”

Rosé looked at Jansen with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Then, resolutely, she signaled that she was ready to hear what he had to say.

“Please, go on.”

“You may have already met her, but there’s someone here who’s been acting as the lady of the house.”

“What… What do you mean? Acting as the lady of the house?”

“Lady Katriona. She’s the wife of Chancellor Pieri and His Majesty’s aunt.”

“I didn’t know. So, there’s such a person.”

“Yes. Even the former queen must have suffered greatly because of Lady Katriona’s influence. That’s likely why… Well, it led to some extreme outcomes. Anyway, I want to emphasize that you must take full control from her.”

Hearing this, Rosé realized the seriousness of the situation.

She had thought that there wouldn’t be much more to worry about once the wedding with Maxim was over.

But it was clear now that she didn’t understand much about the dynamics inside the castle.

Complicated situations were unfolding here as well, something she had overlooked.

On the other hand, it was a little curious.

“Why are you giving me such advice? To Administrator Jansen, I’m a foreigner from a hostile country.”

When Rosé asked with a suspicious expression, Jansen grinned.

“You saw how Freddy the butler’s hair turned white, right? It’s from the stress he endured back then. I don’t want that to happen to me.”

“What?”

Rosé, caught off guard, asked again, unsure if he was joking or being serious.

“Haha. Just kidding. I’m only trying to help you, even if just a little. I’m firmly on King Maxim’s side. If His Majesty is happy, I’m happy. Something like that.”

“……”

“Don’t think too much of it. I just hope the true lady of the house will lead our Hellevant well now.”

Jansen erased the playful smile from earlier and looked at Rosé seriously.

“This is the best advice I can offer. The rest is up to Her Majesty, the new queen.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

Rosé nodded.

Jansen looked at her with satisfaction as if he had decided to trust her.

It felt like she had gained a small ally in this unfamiliar place where everyone seemed hostile.

That alone gave Rosé a bit of strength.