Chapter 105

Rose decided to relieve her stress by hosting a tea party with close noblewomen. For once, neither Patzraelli nor the Empress showed up that day.

<Lady Ileina, did you mention an underground auction house?> 

<Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. Various rare items are put up for auction there.> 

Lady Sharpoza, sitting nearby, chimed in.  

<This time, a painting by the artist Shardik is said to be featured at the underground auction!>

As a fervent admirer of Shardik’s works, Rose immediately expressed her intention to participate in the underground auction.  

On the designated day and time, she left the imperial palace. Wearing a mask, Rose entered the VIP room of the auction house.  

She observed the items from a distance using a telescope, bidding on items and enjoying her time. The stress caused by the Empress and the Crown Prince seemed to dissipate instantly.  

Then, the stage lights began to dim.  

“Your Majesty, it seems the main event is about to begin.”  

The center of the stage lit up brightly, accompanied by a popping sound, as the host made a grand entrance.  

Rose smiled with satisfaction at the sight.  

“This is quite entertaining, hoho.”  

Amplifying his voice with a magic stone, the host began speaking in a captivating tone.  

“From here on, we will present some very precious items! The first is a painting by the artist Shardik.”  

The crowd began murmuring. Whether genuine or counterfeit, it was rare to encounter a piece by such a famous artist.  

“Some of you may suspect that it could be a forgery. However, we have verified its authenticity. Should it turn out to be counterfeit, we guarantee compensation at 100 times the bid amount.”  

The bold statement caused even more excitement among the attendees. Whether genuine or fake, the painting had now become a lucrative auction item.  

“It seems to be authentic, Your Majesty.”  

“It appears so. I must win this bid!”  

The moment Rose had been waiting for had arrived.  

Determined to purchase the painting regardless of the cost, she examined it through her telescope as it was unveiled.  

As she studied the painting, Rose’s face grew pale.  

“That painting!”  

The noblewomen beside her asked with concern, 

“Your Majesty, what is the matter?”  

Rose picked up the telescope again to take another look. People had started placing their bids one by one.  

“300,000 gold.”  

“700,000 gold.”  

To secure the painting, Rose immediately offered a large sum.  

“Two million gold.”  

The auction house fell silent in an instant.  

“The VIP room has bid two million gold. Any other bids? Five, four, three, two, one. Sold! The first painting by Shardik goes to the VIP room for two million gold!”  

*Bang, bang, bang.*  

The host’s gavel struck energetically, and the crowd applauded the VIP room for the high bid.  

Rose remarked, 

“If by any chance this is a forgery, I will claim 100 times the two million gold.”  

“Your Majesty, what is so special about that painting?”  

Two million gold was three times the usual market price.  

“For that painting to be here… It’s utterly absurd.”  

While the noblewomen laughed it off, assuming it was simply a cherished piece Rose had always wanted, she couldn’t take it lightly.  

That painting was a gift she had given to Meia.  

Returning to the imperial palace, Rose couldn’t take her eyes off the painting she had won at the auction.  

Shardik was an artist who painted emotions. His works allowed viewers to feel every sentiment he experienced while creating them. This was why Rose loved his art.  

The painting before her depicted Shardik’s resentment toward a woman who had betrayed him. No matter how she examined it, the painting was undoubtedly authentic. It was indeed the same piece she had given to Meia.  

“Meia is not in the Carpen Empire right now… Who dared to do this?”  

As someone who adored Shardik’s works, Rose had collected all of them. With a cold voice, she addressed her head maid, Garsian.  

“Garsian, what did the auction house say?”  

In truth, Rose was already furious, suspecting why Shardik’s painting had ended up at the auction house.  

“Well, Your Majesty…”  

Garsian, fully aware of Rose’s anger and her effort to suppress it, hesitated to speak. Nonetheless, she had to answer.  

“I inquired with the auction house, but they claimed they couldn’t disclose information due to anonymity.”  

Rose turned away from the painting and looked coldly at Garsian.  

“Garsian, what do I always say about things that can’t be done openly?”  

“You’ve said to handle them discreetly.”  

“Garsian, plant someone inside the Duke Hatzbellua estate. Focus on Duke Luman and Lady Meryl.”  

“Understood, Your Majesty.”  

“I must find out who laid hands on Meia’s belongings.”  

Shardik’s “Resentment.”  

A painting that should have been safely in the Duke Hatzbellua estate had appeared in an anonymous auction. Rose was understandably furious. She needed to uncover why a gift meant for Meia had ended up in such a place.  

If it had been part of a charity auction, she might have understood. In that case, she could simply buy it back and return it to Meia.  

Meia was also known for putting items she received as gifts in charity auctions, showcasing them as a way to display her status.  

However, this was an anonymous auction, which changed everything.  

Rose was both angry and bewildered by the situation.  

Even if Meia had decided to sever ties with her and sell the gift out of spite, she wouldn’t have done so anonymously. Moreover, Meia wasn’t someone who would need to sell her possessions for money.  

If Meia truly wanted to cut ties, she wouldn’t sell the gift, let alone anonymously. This led Rose to conclude that someone else had tampered with Meia’s belongings.  

What infuriated Rose even more than the theft was the thought of the painting ending up in someone else’s hands if she hadn’t attended the auction.  

“If I hadn’t gone to that auction, someone else would have bought this painting. That thought enrages me.”  

“Find out everything from start to finish and report back to me.”  

“Yes, Your Majesty.”  

If, by any chance, Duke Luman had sold Meia’s belongings due to financial troubles, it would be a grave matter.  

Could the powerful Hatzbellua family be so impoverished that they had to sell a young lady’s gift?  

If Duke Luman wasn’t responsible, could it have been Meryl?  

As a Hatzbellua lady, Meryl received substantial allowances to maintain her dignity. If she still needed more money, Rose needed to know why.  

Allowing someone unfit into the imperial family would be a disaster. This was not something she could overlook.  

Rose sighed and looked back at the painting.  

Today, she missed David and Violet more than ever. No, she resented them.  

***

From early morning, Meryl was irritated after being scolded by Luman.  

<Please, just stay home and stop causing trouble!>

Meryl, who had a date planned with Thomas, refused, and the argument escalated into a heated exchange between father and daughter.  

<As the Crown Princess, there are things you must study, Meryl.>

Study, study, study!  

“So annoying.”  

She told herself to endure it until Meia returned. Once Meia—who desired to become Empress more than anyone else—came back, everything would change!  

The suffocating education for the Crown Princess.  

The prying eyes of others.  

The hostility of the social circles.  

She would finally be free from all of it.  

And then, she could marry Thomas.  

Determined to behave until Meia’s return, Meryl stormed back to her room and vented her frustration on the maids who admired Meia.  

Unable to endure her abuse, the maids, injured by her violence, resigned.  

This allowed Garsian, acting under Rose’s orders, to easily plant people among the maids who frequently left the Duke’s estate. Although they too soon expressed a desire to quit, they managed to obtain the necessary information.  

They discovered Meryl frequently entering and leaving Meia’s room.  

When Garsian reported this to Rose, she said, 

“Your Majesty, it was Lady Meryl.”  

Rose’s anger was beyond words. She wanted to march straight to the Emperor and demand that Meryl not be made Crown Princess. However, to quell the recent scandal, accepting Meryl was unavoidable.  

Deep in thought, Rose sighed, contemplating her next steps.  

***

Theodore lay on his bed, staring at the familiar ceiling.  

Paintings of beautiful angels and a sparkling diamond chandelier came into view.  

Though the ceiling was no different from usual, today it looked different.  

The cherubs painted on the ceiling seemed to be blowing trumpets, enthusiastically flying around as if saying, “Congratulations on your successful proposal!”  

Theodore placed a hand on his chest.  

He inhaled deeply, exhaled, and calmed himself.  

“I feel good.”  

For him, proposing had been a nerve-wracking ordeal. How many times had he practiced?  

<Your Grace, is proposing really that difficult?> 

<Yes.> 

Marriage.  

A wife.  

And a family.  

Even the thought of these words made his heart race and swell with emotion.  

The mere idea of becoming a family with her made him feel shy and overwhelmed.  

<Your Grace, stay strong! You can propose!>

Before proposing, countless thoughts had crossed his mind.  

Even though the engagement contract had been signed, if Meia didn’t want it, it would be nothing more than a torn piece of paper. With each passing day, his anxiety grew.  

<A proposal using candlelight… shaped like a heart… A proposal must be sincere and heartfelt…>  

Theodore consulted romance novels about proposals and underlined the parts he deemed important. The male protagonists in the books had various methods for proposing to their female counterparts.  

Based on what he read, he held meetings with his aides.  

The design of the ring to be gifted, the location of the proposal, the lines and actions to be taken during the proposal—all were meticulously planned. All that remained was practice.  

Should I take out the ring from a magical subspace and kneel?  

Or should I kneel first and then take out the ring? When should I slip the ring onto her finger?  

What if I fumbled my lines or made a mistake?  

Despite his nervousness, his body remembered the sequence of the proposal.  

The effort he put into practicing paid off.  

And during the proposal, he impulsively said the word “dare.” Was it too dramatic?  

He didn’t know. It had come out as raw, unfiltered sincerity.  

Meia accepted his proposal.  

When he slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand, his hands trembled uncontrollably.  

Even though he had shown such an awkward side of himself, Meia was overjoyed.  

<This ring is so beautiful.>  

Overwhelmed by emotions he had never felt before, tears welled up in his eyes.  

Her smile, as she looked at the ring with satisfaction, made his heart ache but also filled him with sweet contentment.  

“Haah.”  

What might she be doing right now? Was she lying in bed like me?  

As he stared at the ceiling, Theodore’s thoughts drifted to her.  

Theodore, who had been staring at the ceiling, lay down on his side, calming his excited heart.

He hugged his pillow while thinking of Meia.

As he closed his eyes and thought of Meia lovingly embracing him, the corners of his mouth naturally went up.

He closed his eyes, recalling the feeling of her slightly reddened cheeks.