#2

In her childhood, Rozenne’s daily routine involved running away to cry under a tree.

This was because she was ostracized by other noble children her age due to her ability.

That day too, she was hugging her knees and crying under a large tree as usual when an unfamiliar voice descended upon her head.

“Are you Rozenne?”

Rozenne raised her head at that gentle, beautiful voice.

Then she saw a boy with brilliant sunlight behind him.

The boy who came through the sunlight streaming down between the drooping branches wore a smile as brilliant as the sun itself.

“Did you…… cry?”

The boy took one step closer with a surprised expression at Rozenne’s face, which was drenched with tears.

At that moment, all sorts of negative words flashed through young Rozenne’s mind.

‘Like a monster.’

‘Scary.’

‘Witch.’

Words spoken while looking at her as if she were a monster or an insect.

Thoughts they had while slinking away from her as if she were smelly filth.

She thought the sun-like child before her would think the same.

But the moment she looked into the boy’s eyes, Rozenne dropped a tear.

“Ah……”

‘Why is she crying? She would look prettier if she didn’t cry.’

The thoughts in the child’s eyes were pure goodwill, curiosity, and…….

“Don’t cry.”

Because there was sincerity identical to the words he spoke.

It was the first kind voice she had heard from someone other than her parents.

It was the first time she met someone whose words matched their inner thoughts.

‘So bright……’

Whether it was because of the sunlight shining behind him, or because of his smile, she wasn’t sure.

The first thought young Rozenne had when she saw Harrieus was that.

So Rozenne had to narrow her cold eyes to see him.

That was her first meeting with Harrieus.

‘Harrieus……’

“Here, take my hand.”

Rozenne rubbed her eyes and got up to take the outstretched hand in front of her.

But the moment she removed her hands from her eyes, Harrieus had vanished without a trace.

The surroundings, which had been bright and sunny until just now, had grown dark all around.

“Harrieus! Where are you! Harrieus!”

Suddenly frightened, Rozenne cried out searching for Harrieus.

But as she ran frantically, she tripped over a tree root and fell with a thud.

At that moment, someone gently shook Rozenne’s body as she lay on the ground crying and searching for Harrieus.

“Lady Cynthia, Lady Cynthia? Please wake up.”

Rozenne opened her eyes with a start and looked at the person in front of her with surprise.

The one who woke her was not Harrieus but a woman she had never seen before.

“I knocked on the door repeatedly but received no answer, so I took the liberty of entering.”

“Who……”

“I am Karen, a maid of this castle. Our lord instructed me to bring you breakfast.”

“Breakfast?”

Only then did Rozenne look out the window.

Morning sunlight poured in through the window.

I must have fallen asleep without realizing it.

“Did you…… sleep like this all night?”

The woman spoke while looking over Rozenne, who was lying collapsed on her bag on the floor.

“Ah.”

Rozenne raised herself up with an embarrassed expression.

A groan escaped her as she lifted her stiff body after sleeping in an incorrect posture.

Rozenne stood up with the woman’s support and cracked her neck to loosen her stiff muscles.

“I’ll help you change your clothes.”

Rozenne nodded slightly as she watched the woman naturally organizing the luggage bag and moving around to prepare for the morning. However, Rozenne’s movement toward the trolley was abruptly halted by the maid’s next words.

“I prepared only a light breakfast since I thought it would be better for you. Our lord said he would prepare a formal lunch and invited you to dine together.”

What? Lunch?

The maid, not noticing Rozenne’s surprised reaction, continued speaking.

“Which dress would you like to wear? I think it would be best if you dressed properly.”

“How about this one?” the maid asked as she took out a dress from Rozenne’s bag and hung it on a hanger.

Rozenne, who didn’t care what she wore, nodded blankly.

“Then I’ll help you change into this.”

While the maid helped her change into the dress, Rozenne was almost in a daze.

Though a lunch invitation was certainly an acceptable proposal, the man she had seen didn’t seem like someone who would extend such kindness.

“Would you like me to stay and wait while you eat?”

The maid, who had already finished adjusting the dress, asked with an awkward expression toward Rozenne, who stood there absentmindedly.

Rozenne, suddenly coming to her senses, hastily shook her head.

“No, no. You may leave now.”

“Yes, Lady Cynthia.”

The maid curtseyed and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Only then did Rozenne go to the trolley to check her breakfast.

The menu consisted only of simple grain bread and cream.

What is this?

Rozenne picked up the bread and her expression turned serious.

The bread had lost all its moisture and was as hard as a rock. Even when she hit it with her fist, it wouldn’t crumple; only her hand hurt.

Did they expect her to eat this?

Rozenne stared at the door through which the maid had left with an incredulous expression.

⁕⁕⁕

By that afternoon, when it was time to head to the dining room, Rozenne was quite hungry.

This was because she hadn’t eaten the bread the maid had brought in the morning.

It was partly because she couldn’t trust the food, but she couldn’t even bring herself to attempt chewing it.

‘I was truly at a level that was impossible to eat.’

Was Wolfhard deliberately treating her poorly like this? To establish dominance from the beginning?

‘Then what’s with the lunch invitation?’

She began to feel confused about what Wolfhard’s true intentions were due to their unpredictable attitude.

Lost in thought as she walked, she suddenly found herself in front of the dining room.

Cynthia had arrived before Rozenne and was waiting in front of the door to the dining room.

Rozenne felt so relieved at safely meeting Cynthia that she almost called out her name.

“Cynth—!”

But realizing what she was about to do, Rozenne immediately closed her mouth with a “hup.” Instead, she quickened her pace and approached Cynthia.

Rozenne wanted to ask if anything had happened during the night, but before she could, Cynthia spoke first.

“You should be careful, Cynthia. Such careless behavior. Don’t forget, we came here as an envoy delegation.”

Cynthia spoke haughtily, as if she were a lady from a powerful family.

Rozenne’s face immediately turned red with embarrassment.

Of course, she understood that Cynthia was saying this because their identities might be exposed, but being reprimanded by Cynthia, who was of lower status than herself, added an inexplicable sense of shame.

So, unable to even ask about her well-being, Rozenne stood there with her mouth slightly open in bewilderment when the dining room door opened.

“Lady Rozenne, everything is ready. Please come in.”

The person who came out from inside bowed deeply to Cynthia as they spoke.

“Thank you.”

Cynthia entered the dining room with a pleasant smile.

Rozenne followed behind her.

The man was already seated at the far end of the long table placed in the middle of the dining room.

However, there was only one seat left at the table, at the opposite end from the man.

‘What? Was this meant to be a private lunch between just the two of them?’

Quickly hiding her flustered appearance, Rozenne stood behind Cynthia as she walked to the remaining seat.

The man sitting at the head of the table looked at Cynthia with a relaxed smile.

“Did you sleep well?”

Cynthia, who sat down in the chair pulled out by the servant, raised her head at the man’s voice.

“Yes. The room was very luxurious. It exceeded my expectations.”

Cynthia’s voice carried a somewhat excited tone.

“I’m glad this castle is to your satisfaction.”

Rozenne, standing behind Cynthia, watched their conversation with an anxious heart.

Fortunately, a servant soon brought in food covered with silver dome lids.

When the servant who placed the silver dishes in front of the man and Cynthia removed the lids, a beautiful appetizer the size of a baby’s fist was revealed.

Cynthia let out a small exclamation at the sight and picked up her knife and fork without hesitation.

Rozenne wanted to grab Cynthia’s arm to stop her if she could.

The man picked up his utensils after seeing Cynthia begin to eat.

“Yesterday was your wedding day with the King of Sohara.”

Just as Cynthia was about to pick up a scallop with her fork, the man calmly remarked.

At his voice, Cynthia’s movement stopped abruptly. And with it, Rozenne’s breath.

As if unconcerned by that brief silence, the man continued.

“I thought you would have many complaints about me since you had a fiancé…… But I’m glad you’re accepting this better than I expected.”

“Ah……”

Cynthia, who let out an awkward groan, opened her mouth with an uncomfortable smile.

“Not at all. This is all for peace and exchange between our two countries. Rather, I’m grateful for your hospitality.”

Cynthia answered in a clear tone as if she were a canary chirping.

Listening to that high and crisp voice, Rozenne clenched her fist tightly without the two of them noticing.

Hospitality, she said.

Then where were all the people who should have come together as part of the envoy delegation? Was it hospitality to bring her here as if kidnapped?

Not for a single moment had she considered all this treatment as hospitality. Nor was she pleased with the man’s words and actions that welcomed and cared for Cynthia disguised as herself.

But it was rather fortunate that Cynthia was saying these disgusting words that she herself could not bring herself to say.

Rozenne decided to just admire the back of Cynthia’s neatly braided head while suppressing the voice in her heart that was rising up her throat.

“I appreciate you thinking that way.”

The man added with a tone mixed with laughter.

“Though that woman doesn’t seem to feel the same.”

The man pointed at Rozenne with the tip of his knife.

At the words “that woman,” Rozenne raised her gaze and looked at the man, following the knife that was pointing at her.