Chapter 20

Rosie burst out laughing at Theo’s shrug. The smell of roasting meat made her mouth water.

He put food on two plates and came over to her, naturally wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close.

“Time to eat.”

Theo took the cookie from her hand and set it aside, then lifted her by supporting her bottom.

“Whoa! Scary.”

Rosie instinctively wrapped her legs tightly around Theo’s waist, afraid she’d fall.

“I’ll never drop you, don’t worry.”

Theo smiled as he spoke.

This was unfair. His smile, looking down at her, was so attractive it made her dizzy.

Rosie reached up and stroked his cheek. He closed his eyes and rubbed his face into her palm.

Her heart started racing again. She just wanted to kiss him right then.

A red warning light flashed in her mind. Danger.

If she did, dinner would be ruined, and she didn’t want to use that to distract from her unsettled feelings.

‘Besides, it’s the first meal Theo has cooked for me.’

She hugged him tightly and buried her face in his neck.

“I’m hungry.”

Theo chuckled and sighed softly, turning around.

“Okay, let’s eat before it gets cold.”

She was carried like a child to the table. The table was right in front of them, but somehow the trip felt very long.

Theo gently set her in the chair, then sat across from her.

As always, he took her plate and cut the meat into small pieces for her.

“Eat up. I can’t guarantee the taste, though.”

Rosie stared quietly at the plate.

Theo always prepared food for her. More than that, he always seemed to know exactly what she needed—he’d have water ready before she got thirsty, and if she wanted something sweet, he’d bring it right away.

“It’s not that bad, so you don’t have to be too careful.”

Theo’s voice, filled with a smile, snapped Rosie back to attention. She shook her head and picked up her fork.

“It’s delicious!”

She put a piece of meat in her mouth and her eyes widened. The perfectly cooked meat melted away in her mouth.

“It’s so good, Theo!”

“I’m glad.”

He stroked his neck and got up, walking away. Rosie’s lips curled up at his shy expression.

‘He’s cute when he’s like that.’

He returned with a bottle of wine in his hand.

He opened it skillfully and filled her glass.

“Ruth will probably bring news soon. Isn’t it inconvenient without servants?”

Rosie shook her head and sipped her wine.

She felt more regret than wanting to go home. She thought it wouldn’t be bad to live here with Theo, just the two of them.

‘What am I thinking…… I must be crazy.’

Surprised, she drained the rest of her wine in one go.

“Don’t push yourself. You’re not good with alcohol.”

“What do you mean I’m not good with alcohol?”

Theo looked at her with narrowed brows and laughed quietly.

“You have your quirks. Anyway, don’t drink too much.”

“Tch. If you bring it up, finish your story.”

His low laughter and deep voice, mixed with Rosie’s grumbling, blended softly.

Through the open window, the rustle of leaves and the fresh scent of grass drifted in.

Seeing his smiling face, Rosie made up her mind. It was time to settle everything.

‘I need to finish things with Calvin. I can’t keep going like this.’

Yes. Then she’d confess to Theo—how she felt, how wildly her heart raced now.

Rosie sipped her wine, imagining happy things.

* * *

Early the next morning, a knight from the Earldom knocked on the mansion’s door.

“The Earl requests your presence.”

“Has the culprit been found?”

Theo asked, and the knight lowered his eyes.

“I don’t know. You’ll need to hear directly from the Earl. Please get ready.”

Theo sent Rosie ahead, looking puzzled.

“Go get ready. I’ll get ready and come out soon.”

“Okay.”

It was strange. There hadn’t been any word from Ruth. If the culprit had been found, Ruth would have contacted them first, not the Earl.

‘Why hasn’t Ruth sent any news?’

Theo found the answer when they arrived at the Earldom. Earl Deacon looked at Theo with a furious expression.

“I want you to explain.”

He laid out evidence on the table. All of it pointed to Theo as the culprit.

“This……”

Rosie’s face twisted as she saw the documents filled with information collected to find the culprit. Her hand trembled as she held them.

“I am not the culprit.”

Earl Deacon’s eyebrows furrowed dangerously.

“Then why does the evidence point to you?”

Rosie couldn’t understand. But all the evidence accused Theo.

Even while Rosie was away from the mansion, the letters kept arriving.

A servant who carried her information from the Earldom was caught meeting a worker from the ducal residence, and he confessed he’d been hired by the Young Master. The servant, who had worked under Theo for years, immediately confessed it was all ordered by the Young Master.

‘Why Theo?’

There was no reason. But if Theo was the culprit, it explained how he knew everything about her actions.

“Do I have any reason to do this? I get along well with Rosie without any threatening letters. And as the one who knows best that Rosie is away from the mansion, why would I keep sending letters?”

“You might have done it to clear suspicion from yourself.”

Theo and the Earl’s sharp gazes clashed.

“Theo, surely……”

Rosie rubbed her forehead and looked at him.

If it was to make her break up with Calvin?

Theo would have known Rosie would come to him first if something happened.

If it was to marry her?

“No, right?”

Surely not. Even aside from their relationship, Theo was her oldest friend.

“No, I just……”

Theo, who had kept his composure until then, suddenly looked grim.

“You’re doubting me?”

Theo caught the hint of doubt in Rosie’s eyes. His face grew cold, and Rosie put down the documents.

“It’s not that…… The letters were all about you and me. Things only you and I would know……”

Theo’s jaw clenched. His twisted gaze stabbed at Rosie’s heart. She shook her head and spoke.

“I’m not doubting you, Theo. I……”

“I must not have given you enough trust. Got it.”

Theo stood up.

“Theo!”

Earl Deacon spoke coldly as Theo turned to leave.

“I’ll need to investigate more, but for now, it’s best you don’t see each other.”

“Dad, Theo……”

“Understood.”

Theo nodded and left without hesitation.

“Theo, wait!”

Rosie hurried after him. She couldn’t let him leave like this. She barely caught his arm, panting.

“Listen to me……”

But she couldn’t say anything more. Rosie realized she’d hurt him again when she saw his cold gray eyes.

“Rosie, I never thought you’d doubt me. I……”

He stopped, raising his gaze. His throat moved as if he was holding back emotion.

“So I mean nothing to you. All those years together mean nothing.”

His cold voice pierced her heart. She wanted to explain, but couldn’t find the words. She just opened and closed her mouth.

“I understand your feelings. So I’ll stop now.”

His short, hollow laugh tore at her heart. He gently removed her hand from his arm.

“Forget about being partners or anything. There’s no need anymore. Take care.”

His gaze lingered on Rosie for a moment, then he left her standing there, stunned.

* * *

Outside the Earldom, Ruth was waiting for Theo.

“Thank you for your hard work. Was it difficult at the villa?”

Theo climbed into the carriage without a word to Ruth.

Ruth, who knew some of what had happened, didn’t press further and quietly sat across from him.

Theo rested his arm on the window frame, staring outside so fiercely it seemed he could burn a hole through the glass. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“How did it end up like this?”

His cold voice made Ruth swallow hard.

“One of the stable hands was caught delivering letters to the Earldom. Earl Deacon was there at the scene. We tracked it to the Earldom too, but Earl Deacon stopped us from interrogating him.”

“So we were a step behind?”

With that flat remark, the carriage felt as cold as ice.