“There was a skirmish at the border. Of all days, it had to happen on your wedding night,” Jansen explained with a regretful expression. He seemed sympathetic about her spending her first night alone.

But Rosé, unfazed, asked calmly, “Does this kind of thing happen often? Sudden attacks like this?”

“It’s rare for His Majesty to personally step in, so things must be quite serious this time. It seems they knew it was your wedding day and planned it.”

The mention of the situation being serious made Rosé feel anxious.

Feeling embarrassed to show her concern for Maxim, she asked in passing, “Will… he be all right?”

Jansen responded with a relaxed smile.

“Of course, he’ll be fine. It would be best for you to adapt to life here while His Majesty is away.”

Rosé nodded and was about to continue walking when a loud noise came from a nearby room in the hallway.

A man and a woman were arguing—or rather, the man was trying to calm down an enraged woman.

“This is all because of that Stern woman!”

“Darling! Watch your tongue!”

“If His Majesty had married our Aila, none of this would have happened! Instead of uniting the tribes, he’s turned everyone into enemies. Now we’re surrounded!”

The hateful words disparaging Rosé were loud enough to be heard outside the room. Jansen was about to intervene and stop them.

“Wait.”

Rosé held Jansen back and listened closely to their conversation.

“The ministers and elders should never have approved this in the first place.”

“Ha! What could they have done? Anyone who objected would have been labeled a traitor.”

“We missed a golden opportunity to unite the tribes because of one useless Stern woman! Pathetic! Truly pathetic!”

“It’s too late now. What’s done is done.”

“Then we’ll have to make sure she leaves on her own two feet.”

Hearing the malicious words, Jansen was stunned.

Only one person in the castle could be so brazen as to spew such disrespectful remarks in the hallway: Lady Katriona. But even this was going too far. Despite Rosé’s attempt to stop him, Jansen was about to storm into the room.

“Let’s just go.”

Rosé lifted her head and walked calmly down the hallway.

Reluctantly, Jansen followed after her.

Seeing no emotion on Rosé’s face despite hearing such offensive words, Jansen couldn’t gauge her thoughts.

“Are you alright? Lady Katriona is just throwing a tantrum because she couldn’t marry her niece to His Majesty. Please try to understand.”

“From what I heard, it’s not just that. If Hellevant has enemies on all sides, it’s a serious issue.”

“What?” Jansen looked at Rosé.

She seemed lost in deep thought, her expression genuinely worried.

It was as if she hadn’t even registered the curses or threats directed at her earlier.

***

[To my dearest brother Hans,

I received your letter safely. Everything’s fine at home, right?

Like you said, I know what a huge decision I made. I feel guilty knowing our family is distressed because of me.

But if you keep being sad for my sake, it only makes it harder for me. Please pass along my request for everyone not to worry.

Fortunately, I had a safe wedding here.

This place isn’t as barbaric as Solstern imagines, so you no longer have to worry about me.

I can handle the difficulties here, so trust me. After all, I’m part of the Etoile family.

Your little sister isn’t that weak.

It’s not the right time yet, but I’ll think of a way for us to meet again when the time is right.

And about the Mondo family that you mentioned in your letter.

You said they’ve been visiting the palace frequently?

It may be connected to Marchioness Trisha, so discreetly look into that. Make sure no one notices.

You know how she has the emperor wrapped around her finger.

She has probably already planted her people near Kasiax.

It seems like she’s using the Mondo family to push our family out of the emperor’s favor slowly, so we need to stay sharp.

Promise me you’ll never ignore my warnings.

We don’t know what kind of schemes Kasiax might use against our family out of spite for me.

Always be vigilant and take care of yourself. Got it?

Don’t worry about the dowry.

Maxim Lankert doesn’t seem to care about that kind of thing anyway.

Soon, there will be a time when I’ll need the family’s help here.

When that time comes, just support me.

I’ll pray every day for us to meet again.

I love you. I love you all. Please tell everyone I love them too.

—Rosé

P.S.: Be kind to Helen. To me, she’s already like family. If you make her cry, you’ll answer to me!]

After finishing her letter, Rosé melted red wax and dropped it onto the envelope. She gently kissed the ring she wore and pressed it firmly onto the wax, leaving the intricate scales symbol of the Etoile family imprinted.

As she held the letter to her chest, missing her family terribly…

Tap!

She turned her head at the sound of something falling nearby.

The embroidery hoop had slipped from under Natalie’s hand, possibly because she had fallen asleep in the warmth of the sunlight.

“I told her not to come. Why doesn’t she ever listen?”

Rosé picked up the fallen embroidery hoop and looked down at the exhausted Natalie with pity. Though her family wasn’t by her side, Natalie’s presence had always been her lifeline.

Just then, loud noises erupted from outside.

The sudden shouts, loud enough to shake the walls, startled Natalie out of her sleep.

“What’s going on?”

Rosé’s brows knitted in frustration as the peaceful atmosphere shattered.

When she stepped into the corridor to investigate, a group of maids gathered around the central staircase, murmuring anxiously.

Rosé straightened her posture and walked toward them briskly.

“What’s happening?”

The maids immediately stepped aside at the sound of her voice, creating a clear path.

“Oh no!”

The scene that greeted Rosé was appalling.

The head maid was beating a maid with disheveled hair. Her hands, lashed with such force, were crisscrossed with bleeding welts.

Head Maid Miriam, trying to compose herself, greeted Rosé with the proper etiquette.

“It’s nothing, Your Majesty. I was just disciplining this maid’s insolence.”

Though her words were calm, Miriam’s trembling tone betrayed her agitation. Her chest heaved with each breath, evidence of how enraged she had been while delivering the blows.

Rosé approached the sobbing maid and examined her condition closely.

‘This child!’

It clicked. The young maid was the same innocent-looking girl who had tripped in the garden recently.

The maid tried to hide her injured hands under the hem of her skirt.

“Insolence? What did she do?”

Rosé fixed a sharp gaze on Miriam as she asked.

“There’s no need for Your Majesty to concern yourself with such trifles. It’s a minor issue,” Miriam answered stiffly as if it were not worth Rosé’s attention.

Rosé’s eyes landed on something lying on the floor.

“What’s that?”

A lace hair ribbon, torn and trampled beyond recognition.

“This maid forgot her place and adorned herself improperly. I was merely correcting her.”

“Hah!”

Rosé let out a disbelieving chuckle.

“Forgot her place? Are you telling me you caused this uproar over a mere strip of lace?”

“She’s new here. It’s better to teach the rules now to avoid such mistakes in the future.”

‘New maid. Strict discipline.’

Hearing Miriam’s words, Rosé felt a prick of irritation. Knowing Miriam’s usual demeanor, her explanation sounded like a veiled critique aimed at Rosé herself.

“The whole castle was in an uproar. Was this some kind of show for me to hear?”

Perhaps it was the sharpness of Rosé’s voice or the fact she had struck a nerve, but Miriam’s expression froze.

“No, Your Majesty! That wasn’t my intention.”

Rosé turned away from Miriam and swept her gaze across the gathered maids.

Now she understood why they had seemed like soldiers following orders when she first arrived.

The thick, black fabric of their uniforms—fit for soldiers or funerals—seemed to suffocate any brightness in the air. Even the entire castle felt bleak because of it.

Wearing such stifling uniforms, the maids’ faces were perpetually tense with unease.

It was a stark contrast to the lively, laughter-filled halls of the Etoile estate, where maids and servants often burst into giggles. Even the Solstern Imperial Palace didn’t impose such restrictions.

“They’re dressed like prisoners, and you’re making a fuss over a hair ribbon?”

“Even so, rules are rules, Your Majesty. I hope you understand.”

“Since when?”

“Pardon?”

Rosé shot Miriam an irritated glare as if the question should be obvious.

“I asked, since when have these rules been in place?”

“Since Queen Olivia’s passing. By order of Lady Katriona.”

Rosé smirked as if she had expected this.

“Is that so? Then you’ve been dressing them in mourning clothes all this time. Now that I’m the new mistress, I’ll set the rules from now on.”

“But Lady Katriona already—”

Rosé stepped forward slowly until she stood right before Miriam, looking her straight in the eye.

“Let me ask you just one question.”

“…”

“Who is your master? Lady Katriona or me? Answer me here and now.”