Chapter 6

Rosie furrowed her brow and pursed her lips.

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

At Theo’s firm answer, Rosie nodded, still unsure.

“Officially, I haven’t spent my first night with anyone. But in reality, I spent it with you.”

Theo, I really don’t understand what’s so important about a first night.

She wanted to say that, but seeing Theo’s serious expression, Rosie chose to keep her mouth shut.

“You think I’m just swept up in the moment, mixing bodies with you, and wanting to get married right away?”

“Yeah, that’s what I mean. You’re just confused for now. If you get married like this, you’ll definitely regret it.”

Even as she was held in Theo’s firm arms, Rosie fervently tried to dissuade him from his decision. It was unbelievable, but Theo swallowed a sigh and tightened his embrace.

“Fine, I get it. So how about we become partners for the time being?”

“Yeah, okay. So…… huh? What did you say?”

Rosie, who had been nodding, looked up at him with wide eyes. Her blue eyes sparkled beautifully at moments like this.

He glanced down at her, then turned his gaze and continued.

“Partners. If you haven’t tried it, you wouldn’t know, but now that we’ve experienced it, we’ll both want to do it again. Meanwhile, I’ll think about it more. Whether I want to get married just because we spent the night together.”

Rosie fell into thought.

Was this really okay?

“I’m not completely over with Calvin yet……”

Theo barely managed to swallow his rising anger.

But he knew Rosie all too well.

He admitted he’d pushed her too hard last time. He’d been angry at how she’d changed overnight.

The problem was, whenever Rosie felt pressured, she always ran away. He couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t lose Rosie so easily after finally getting her.

“Fine, meet Calvin. But meet me too. Like you said, you need to find burning love, right?”

Calvin, really. Tsk.

But his name wasn’t the issue right now.

Maybe after a few times, Theo would realize it himself. He was too good for Rosie to marry just like this. Didn’t that princess from the neighboring kingdom send him gifts after falling for him last time?

Yes, after a few encounters, he’d surely realize it.

“Alright, fine.”

They were childhood friends, so this much was possible. Rosie was sure that after this, they could laugh and say goodbye, returning to being friends.

* * *

Despite his bold suggestion, Theo was nowhere to be found for several days.

She’d always known he was busy, but with everything happening at once, she couldn’t help but have mixed feelings.

‘But what exactly does “partner” mean?’

Was it just being friends who also slept together?

Rosie rolled around in bed, pondering Theo’s proposal again.

Some nobles kept lovers even after marriage, but Rosie and Theo’s situation was a bit different.

“Hm.”

Knock knock.

“My Lady, you have a visitor.”

‘A visitor? It must be Theo!’

Rosie quickly rolled out of bed and rushed to the dressing table. She hurriedly fixed her hair and checked her face for any marks.

“Why not just come in, visitor…”

The thought of seeing him after days made Rosie’s lips curl up on their own. She adjusted her clothes one last time and left her room.

She wondered why he was waiting in the drawing room. Maybe it was because they weren’t just friends anymore.

With such thoughts, Rosie’s steps toward the drawing room were light. She hummed to herself.

“The……”

Rosie entered with a bright smile, but it froze instantly. Waiting for her wasn’t Theo, but Calvin.

“Ah, Calvin.”

Rosie forced her lips higher, even though they wanted to drop. If it had been Theo, he wouldn’t have waited in the drawing room. He would have come straight to her room.

“What brings you here?”

“Rosie.”

Calvin stood up and smiled brightly when he saw her.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, of course.”

She nodded awkwardly at his greeting and took a seat. She couldn’t understand why she felt disappointed.

She should have been happy Calvin had come all the way here. She was the one who’d asked to meet again.

“You look well.”

Calvin said with a wide smile.

But maybe because she’d accepted Theo’s proposal, Rosie found it hard to look Calvin in the eye today. Theo said it was fine, but was it really okay?

Should she tell Calvin about it too?

Rosie’s mind grew complicated, and she furrowed her brow slightly. Calvin, unaware of her thoughts, set down his teacup and smiled.

“Rosie, I’ve been thinking.”

“About what?”

Her curt reply made Calvin pause for a moment. Rosie was surprised herself. Normally, she would act cute and flirt with him. Breaking the awkward silence, Rosie quickly changed her expression and raised her lips to ask,

“Sorry, Calvin. I was just distracted for a moment.”

Calvin stiffened his face and spoke firmly.

“Rosie. I’ve told you before, but that’s a very bad habit. Thinking about something else when someone is right in front of you.”

It always felt like meeting a teacher when he scolded her like this.

“Ah, yes……”

Rosie’s lips drooped. Satisfied with her answer, Calvin cleared his throat and continued.

“I was too harsh last time. It wasn’t your fault.”

Rosie stared blankly at Calvin.

Of course it wasn’t her fault.

She was always the same, and it was Calvin who didn’t like her surroundings. More precisely, he didn’t like Theo around her.

It wasn’t the first time she’d been close with Theo, but that day he’d especially gotten angry with her.

Thinking back, he hadn’t even tried to listen to her from the start.

She didn’t know what he’d heard, but if he’d trusted her, he shouldn’t have doubted her relationship with Theo.

If she thought about it, even that incident with Theo—that, whatever it was—was Calvin’s fault. If he hadn’t told her to break up, she wouldn’t have gotten so drunk.

“So I decided. I’ll date you again, Rosie.”

Rosie, lost in thought and barely listening to Calvin, absentmindedly mumbled,

“Yes, okay. Huh?”

“So you were waiting for me, too.”

Calvin smiled, stretching his lips almost to his ears, looking pleased.

“Ah, well……”

This wasn’t what she meant.

“Alright. But there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

Rosie thought his raised cheekbones made him look like a clown as she asked.

“Your parents are close, so it’s hard to cut ties completely, but I hope you’ll keep some distance from Young Master Durand.”

Calvin spoke as if it was a great act of generosity, raising his chin slightly.

Rosie simply couldn’t understand what he meant. Theo was her closest friend. They had never been apart since birth. Why was everyone making such a fuss about Theo?

Calvin saw Rosie’s furrowed brow and spoke in a gentle, soothing voice.

“No matter how close friends are, it’s too much for unmarried men and women. Isn’t it? Rosie, you’d be bothered if I had a female friend like that, wouldn’t you?”

Come to think of it, Mia had said something similar. Rosie’s brows furrowed.

“I knew you’d understand. You’re my Rosie, after all. Well, I have work, so I’ll get going.”

“Huh?”

While Rosie was lost in thought, Calvin talked to himself and reached his own conclusion, then stood up with a cheerful face.

“No, Calvin, I……”

As Rosie hurried to stand, Calvin smiled brightly at her.

“Of course, I’d like to spend more time with you, but it’s a shame. Next week, let’s go together to Count Keplan’s party as planned.”

“No, that’s not what I meant……”

As Rosie shook her head, he made an expression as if it couldn’t be helped and took her face in both hands.

“Really, my Rosie, you are such a little brat.”

“Huh?”

His words made her frown. Where did he even learn to say things like that?

“Calvin, my sto……”

But before Rosie could even start speaking, Calvin pressed his lips to hers. His thick lips rubbed against Rosie’s.

The scent revealed his lunch menu, which she hadn’t even wanted to know.

‘He had Karenne lasagna.’

Calvin kissed her with a loud smack, then let go and looked embarrassed.

“I don’t know if I should be kissing you like this before we’re even married, but today I just wanted to. Please understand, Rosie. Well then.”

“No, I……”

Calvin was full of strange words and actions today, saying he just wanted to do things. He waved at Rosie’s confused face and walked out of the drawing room.

“What’s so deep about that kiss.”

Rosie wiped her lips with the back of her hand.

A deep kiss? This didn’t even count as a real kiss anymore. The kisses she shared with Theo were……

“Ah!”

Rosie, lost in thought, hurried after Calvin.

What she’d wanted to say to him wasn’t this. She’d meant to suggest they think more carefully about meeting.

But unfortunately, Calvin was already in his carriage, moving quickly today.

“Calvin, wait a moment!”