Chapter 3.2

“Rosalyn, my goodness… What were you doing just now?”

“Elian, what is…”

The man and woman staring in shock at Rosalyn and Elian were none other than the Earl and Countess, who had returned from their outing earlier than expected.

No matter how you looked at it, the sight of Rosalyn in a see-through negligee and Elian lying on the bed after being pushed by her was enough to cause a misunderstanding.

“Ah, Mother, Father…”

Rosalyn, who had instigated things but hadn’t wanted this outcome, was quite flustered to be caught in this situation.

“I know what you must be thinking… but it’s not like that.”

Elian, still on the bed, tried to straighten his clothes and explain.

“Elian, how could it not be…”

“I’ll talk with my daughter, so please leave for today.”

But it was no use. Elian was promptly sent away from the Earldom, almost as if he’d been thrown out.

Rosalyn, left behind, changed into her regular clothes and had to head to the drawing room, where her parents awaited her.

“Rosalyn, what in the world was that?”

“To think you’d try to *ssault Elian…”

As soon as she entered, the Earl and Countess took turns scolding her. Neither of them even considered the possibility that Elian had assaulted Rosalyn.

“Why am I the only one being suspected?”

It was true, but Rosalyn felt a bit wronged. When she complained, the Earl and Countess looked at each other, then turned their gaze back to her.

“Of course. Why would someone as upright as Elian…”

“Exactly, that’s right.”

The Countess put a hand to her cheek as if it were obvious, and the Earl nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“What are you talking about?”

Rosalyn, angry, shot up from her seat. Just days ago, they’d wanted to send her to the convent, and now they were taking Elian’s side—she couldn’t tell whose parents they were.

“Are you really my parents? And this is so unfair. I didn’t *ssault him, we were fighting!”

“We saw you push him onto the bed, and you still lie…”

Rosalyn felt truly wronged. Her intentions in inviting him may have been impure, but at that moment, they really had been fighting. Still, her parents were convinced it was her fault.

“No, I pushed him because I was angry…”

“You show no sign of remorse.”

But the Countess shook her head, cutting off Rosalyn’s words. With her parents knowing her so well, there was no way to talk her way out of it. Rosalyn realized painfully why reputation mattered.

“You’re grounded for a week.”

“What?!”

Earl and Countess Aimond stood up as if the conversation was over. Rosalyn, seeing her parents about to leave, grew anxious and hurried after them.

“W-wait a minute! A week is too long!”

Rosalyn’s attempt to block their way made the Countess let out a deep sigh.

“Rosalyn, there isn’t much time left before you go to the convent. Please try to live quietly until then.”

The Earl, as if he understood everything, placed his hand on the Countess’s shoulder and turned his gaze back to Rosalyn.

“There will be no change. Just reflect and behave yourself.”

He spoke firmly, and then left the drawing room with the Countess.

“What did I do that was so wrong! You’re being too harsh!”

Rosalyn shouted after them, but neither looked back. Only her lonely voice echoed in the large drawing room.

***

“Rosalyn… I wonder if she’s alright.”

After leaving the Aimond Earldom, Elian wandered the garden, worried about her, before reluctantly taking the carriage back to his own mansion.

“She must’ve gotten a good scolding. Of all times, why did they have to walk in at that moment…?”

Elian scratched his head, thinking about that ill-timed situation. Himself collapsed on the bed, Rosalyn coming toward him. If the butler and Earl and Countess hadn’t arrived, things might have gone differently.

“…Rosalyn…”

Sitting alone on his bed in his room, Elian murmured Rosalyn’s name. The image of her in her bedroom lingered in his mind.

Her slightly tousled, ash-pink hair on the pillow, her flushed cheeks, and those red eyes sparkling like rubies as she looked at him.

He recalled her soft skin visible through the thin negligee, her full chest, slender waist, and smooth legs.

“Ugh…”

Elian brushed his heated cheek with the back of his hand. He hadn’t checked, but he was sure his face was bright red.

“What am I thinking… I must be out of my mind.”

He shook his head, trying to forget the scene that was messing with his thoughts, and collapsed onto his bed. As he lay there, he couldn’t help but picture Rosalyn climbing on top of him in that thin negligee.

“…Maybe it’s for the best. Since things have come to this…”

Staring at the ceiling, Elian muttered to himself.

“Ah, whatever.”

He turned over, talking to himself in words no one else could understand, and soon fell asleep with his tangled thoughts.

***

After that, Rosalyn was quiet again. For three days, in fact. On the third day after Elian had visited the Aimond Earldom, a letter arrived from Rosalyn. Elian was enjoying his tea time when a servant brought it to him.

“She never goes more than three days…”

Elian checked the familiar sender’s name and let out a chuckle. He half-expected some new nonsense and opened the letter. The opening read:

‘Elian. It’s an emergency!!’

“Rosalyn’s always having an emergency.”

He’d thought she’d be sulking after her scolding, but he was relieved. Smiling at her familiar introduction, Elian read on.

‘I got grounded for a week. It’s only been three days and I’m so bored!! It’s your fault. Come and clear my name. Hurry up and testify that we were just fighting!!’

“She never learns, does she, always asking me to testify,”

Elian clicked his tongue at her letter. She’d been hooked on courtroom novels lately, and now every little injustice had her asking him to be a witness. But he had no intention of going to testify for her, as she asked.

After all, she’d brought it on herself. Elian immediately picked up paper and pen and wrote his reply.

‘If you still haven’t reflected, you should be grounded for another week.’

Finishing his simple reply, he handed it to the servant to send to Rosalyn. He figured her answer would come by tomorrow.

Elian sipped his tea, expecting Rosalyn’s dramatic reaction when she got his reply. But, unexpectedly, her answer arrived before he even finished his tea.

“What’s this?”

Elian took the card from the servant with a bewildered look. This time, it wasn’t a letter but a small card. She must have wanted to send it quickly. On it, just two words were written:

‘You bastard!!’

Elian laughed and tore the card in half right in front of him.

“Rosalyn sure has a foul mouth.”

He sipped his tea as if nothing had happened. He figured she’d come find him as soon as her grounding was lifted, and wondered how she’d bring up her original suggestion again. Staring into his teacup, Elian finished the rest.