Chapter 3

Rosie, her brows furrowed, spoke as if she couldn’t understand.

“You two spend so much time together, it’s not strange that people pair you up.”

“Because we’re friends.”

Mia shook her head vigorously.

“My Lady, I doubt there’s a friendship like yours and Sir Theo’s anywhere in the Lapil Empire.”

“We’re just, how should I put it……. Yeah, we’re like siblings.”

Though now, it was hard to call them siblings anymore.

At Rosie’s words, Mia made a face.

“My Lady. I haven’t sat down for tea with my younger brother since I was five years old. If I did, his face wouldn’t be pretty. I’d have thrown tea in his face.”

‘Is that so.’

Rosie pursed her lips tightly.

“All done. Please win.”

“I’m not going to fight or anything.”

“Still.”

Mia urgently grabbed Rosie, who was about to leave, and added one last thing.

“And you must come home. All right?”

“All right, all right.”

Mia watched Rosie ride away in the carriage with anxious eyes.

“I really don’t think you should go…….”

A sense of foreboding swept over Mia, as if she would have to lie to the Earl again today.

* * *

Rosie entered the Baron’s banquet hall. She felt the stares from all around, piercing her.

She almost never attended parties alone. There was always someone by her side, usually Theo.

Because of that, many eyes followed her. Rosie nodded with an awkward smile.

In truth, everyone was glancing at Rosie’s radiant beauty, but she, knowing nothing, was sure the rumor of being dumped five times in a row was spreading. She let out a subtle sigh. Anyway, she wanted to find Calvin quickly and resolve this situation.

She spotted Calvin among the crowd. As she moved toward him with a bright face, someone else caught her eye.

Even in a sea of people, the man who stood out was Theo.

He watched her with eyes that seemed to burn. He must have noticed her from the moment she entered. Theo, having spotted her, started walking toward her.

‘Not yet.’

She looked back and forth between Theo and Calvin, then finally turned away.

Theo was here.

It felt like he was glaring at her so hard her scalp would burn, and he was probably still staring.

She hadn’t expected this. Normally, they would know each other’s schedules, but it had been days since Theo had come to see Rosie.

‘He hasn’t shown his face for days.’

This was Theo’s fault too. He was the one who didn’t come to see her.

But Theo wasn’t the problem right now. At least, she absolutely didn’t want the title of a woman dumped five times in a row.

Rosie ignored the burning stares and walked quickly to Calvin. Grabbing his arm, she smiled as brightly as she could.

“Calvin.”

Calvin frowned as she greeted him.

“How have you been?”

Calvin looked away with a sullen face.

“Can we talk for a moment? Please?”

But despite his sullen look, he followed Rosie without resistance.

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

Once they moved to a quieter spot, he spoke curtly. He still wouldn’t look at her.

“So, Calvin. It’s all a misunderstanding. I really only care about you. Theo is just a friend.”

He crossed his arms and continued to avoid her gaze.

Rosie pleaded, clinging to him. She rubbed her face against his arm and tilted her head.

She fluttered her long eyelashes and acted cute.

“I mean it. Really, really. Calvin.”

Calvin’s ears turned red as he glanced down at her. When their eyes met, Rosie smiled brightly. Calvin always liked her smile. Clearing his throat, he finally spoke.

“Really…….”

“What are you doing?”

A low, dark voice sounded behind Rosie. It was Theo. Rosie gave him an awkward smile and signaled with her eyes.

‘Later, let’s talk later.’

After all their years together, Theo could easily understand her meaning. But the more she tried to signal him to go away, the colder Theo’s face became.

“What are you doing.”

Failing to get through, Rosie let go of Calvin’s arm and stood up straight.

“What else? I’m acting cute for my boyfriend.”

Rosie smiled at Calvin, her eyes crescent-shaped. Since Calvin didn’t push her away, he probably wasn’t fully set on breaking up. Thank goodness. She’d avoided being dumped five times in a row.

Now, if only Theo would leave, but unfortunately, he seemed to have no intention of doing so. His gaze at Rosie and Calvin was fierce.

“Let go.”

Theo’s sharp voice sounded like a warning. Rosie let out a deep sigh. If she didn’t calm Theo down and send him away, Calvin might get angry again.

“Let’s talk later, Theo. I’m talking with Calvin right now.”

Rosie turned her body completely toward Calvin. She pressed herself close to him. Rosie’s round, full chest pressed against Calvin’s arm.

At the same time, Theo’s eyebrows twisted in anger.

“Calvin. So, let’s……”

Smiling again, Rosie started to speak, but Calvin interrupted.

“Rosie. Don’t you think you should deal with your friend first? He’s the biggest problem between us.”

He too glared at Theo with great displeasure.

“You already said you wanted to break up, so why so many words?”

Theo took a step toward Calvin.

Calvin, who was rather short, didn’t even reach Theo’s nose.

Standing in front of Theo, Calvin looked even shorter than usual. Rosie closed her eyes and shook her head.

Sometimes she wondered if the gods had poured too much into Theo when they made him.

Theo lowered his gaze and looked down at Calvin, who was smaller than him. But Calvin didn’t back down, glaring right back. Though, being forced to look up, it wasn’t much of a threat.

“What is this? Is your friend really so clueless, Rosie? We never had a reason to break up. If it weren’t for him.”

At Calvin’s words, Theo let out a bitter laugh.

“If you were going to break up just because of me, then you never really loved her.”

Theo raised one corner of his mouth, glaring at Calvin’s angry face. The looks exchanged between them were fierce. But the most uncomfortable person in this situation was Rosie. Even the attention of others was starting to gather.

“Let’s not do this. Talk to me, okay? Calvin.”

She grabbed Calvin’s arm, trying to draw his gaze down to her. But Calvin sharply knocked her hand away.

“I think it’s best if I go now.”

He was speaking to Rosie, but his gaze remained fixed on Theo. Adjusting his jacket, he turned and walked away.

“Calvin!”

Rosie tried to chase after him, but Theo grabbed her arm. She frowned deeply and turned to Theo.

“Theo, what are you doing?”

“What about you.”

“He was about to forgive me, why did you interfere and ruin everything!”

Rosie stomped her feet in anger. Watching her, Theo asked quietly,

“What did you think I meant?”

“What?”

She shouted back, then closed her mouth as if she realized something.

“Did you think I was joking?”

Theo frowned in disbelief. Rosie, avoiding his gaze, nodded slightly.

A sigh mixed with incredulous laughter followed. Theo roughly ran his hand through his hair and pulled Rosie’s arm, almost dragging her.

“Why, why are you doing this!”

Rosie struggled to get free, but Theo didn’t budge. It was the first time the always gentlemanly Theo had acted this way toward Rosie.

‘Monster. Why is he so strong.’

He picked her up like a straw doll and put her in the carriage.

After saying something to the coachman, he sat next to her. It seemed he wanted to make sure she couldn’t escape.

“No! Why are you doing this!”

He didn’t answer, instead knocking on the wall to start the carriage.

“You really shouldn’t be doing this.”

As the carriage started, Rosie crossed her arms, her face full of anger.

“Do you know how many years we’ve been friends?”

Theo turned his head to look out the window, giving no answer.

“If our mothers found out, they’d be shocked. We can’t get married. You shouldn’t decide something like that so easily.”

Rosie kept rambling, unaware of Theo’s clenched fists on his knees.

“Let’s just treat that night as a mistake. It was just one night. Okay?”

“If you say one more word, I’ll strip you right here.”

Theo, unable to hold back, spat out the words. Rosie’s mouth snapped shut in surprise. Her big eyes, filled with blue, blinked. In all their years, it was the first time Theo had spoken to her so harshly. Heavy silence filled the carriage.

Overwhelmed, she muttered to herself and fidgeted with her fingers.

‘Why is he acting like this, really.’

Rosie couldn’t understand Theo.

Wasn’t it just one night?

In noble society, where secret affairs and one-night rendezvous were common, why was this such a big deal? It was rare these days for someone’s first night to actually be their first. Just as she was thinking this, the carriage stopped.

She looked out the window, eyes wide.

“This place…….”

“You don’t seem to remember. So I’ll remind you again.”