“Do you two know each other?”
But it seemed Estelia was equally puzzled.
“……That’s what I’d like to ask. Do you two know each other?”
Asking this, Estelia looked at me with gleaming eyes.
Chapter 7. Hello, I’m the Head of Black Rose
My first thought was that I was doomed. But I soon regained my composure.
They say you shouldn’t trust people easily, but at least the Crown Princess I knew wasn’t the type to spread rumors around.
Of course, that was just wishful thinking.
‘……Because I have no other choice.’
Gathering my thoughts, I looked at the Duke and opened my mouth.
“I’ve met Her Highness at the trading company before.”
“Did she come as a customer?”
“Yes. Though I’m not sure if the result was satisfactory……”
Because I was traveling, and then collapsed after returning.
I had spent over a month without any contact with the trading company. Because of that, I had no idea what had become of the dress the Crown Princess had commissioned then.
As I trailed off, Estelia’s expression was strange. She looked pleased yet also puzzled, as if something didn’t make sense.
Soon, a somewhat playful voice flowed from her lips,
“Judging by the atmosphere, you two are surely no ordinary acquaintances.”
She seemed to have already figured it out. Well, at this point, it would be stranger not to notice.
When I gave her an awkward smile, her lips soon curved.
“Ah, to deceive me so perfectly.”
“……”
“Could it be that the Lady Ophelia who married Duke Esteban, who detests women, was you all along?”
The Crown Princess asked while looking at me, and I lowered my head.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to deceive you, but there were circumstances……”
It was at that moment. The cold voice of the man who grabbed my hand spread throughout the room.
“Why are you apologizing?”
It was the coldest voice I had ever heard from him. Surprised, I raised my head to find Assel staring intently at Estelia.
But there was not a trace of affection or softness in that gaze. His wary eyes almost seemed like he was facing an enemy. At first, I was puzzled, but soon a fact crossed my mind, making it all make sense.
‘Ah, House Esteban and the imperial family aren’t on good terms.’
Just moments ago, worry about this had occupied my thoughts. Estelia had been my customer, which may have influenced the feeling. She seemed like such a good person that even the fact that she was the crown princess made her feel separate from the imperial family.
Even at this very moment.
‘I might have been insensitive.’
Just as I was starting to worry, Assel’s voice echoed,
“I clearly conveyed to His Majesty not to interfere in my family affairs, but it seems that warning didn’t reach Your Highness.”
This was the first I’d heard of it. That Assel had said such things to the imperial family…?
But there was no time to be surprised by that.
Because Assel’s red pupils darkened and emitted a fierce light.
That gaze was so intimidating that an ordinary person would have already collapsed, and even I flinched a little.
But it seemed this approach didn’t work on Estelia. Her calm face showed not the slightest impact.
She merely looked surprised for a moment before smiling as if amused.
“Ah, I heard that instruction well.”
Even the voice flowing from her lips was impeccably smooth.
“You’re the only nobleman who would dare give orders to the imperial family.”
“……Why are you dragging out your words when you have something to say?”
The voice that flowed from Assel’s lips had a somewhat crooked edge, as if he was displeased with Estelia’s attitude.
Estelia smiled at him and replied,
“I was going to say that you’re so wrapped up in your wariness of the imperial family that you’re missing one thing.”
Assel glared at Estelia with sharp eyes as if asking what she meant, and soon she continued,
“Don’t misunderstand.”
“……”
“I’m not interested in your wife, Levedi Esteban; I was just greeting Black Rose’s trading company head, Rose, because I was glad to see her.”
“You’re spouting sophistry.”
Assel’s tone remained cold. Somehow, I felt frightened. I worried that a fight might break out between them because of me.
“I’m fine with it……”
I spoke softly, but they didn’t seem to hear me. Both their gazes were suddenly fixed on something behind me.
Surprised, I turned around and saw a familiar-looking man.
‘It’s His Majesty the Emperor.’
As a child, I had gone to the imperial palace a few times with my father, the minister. I roughly remembered the Emperor’s appearance from then.
‘It’s definitely His Majesty.’
Seeing him approach with a limp made it almost certain. The fact that the Emperor had a limp in his left leg was famous enough for the entire nation to know. And if it weren’t him, these two wouldn’t be so tense.
As certainty crossed my mind, Estelia’s soft voice echoed,
“Sophistry, you say. That’s a bit unfair.”
“……”
“I firmly believed Levedi Esteban was trading company head Rose, and ultimately, it was your side that concealed her identity, wasn’t it?”
“……”
“It seems there were some unavoidable circumstances.”
At that moment, Estelia’s gaze turned toward me, and my heart dropped to the floor. I thought she wasn’t the type to pressure someone over something like this, but was I mistaken?
Well, she’s a woman at the peak of power. She wouldn’t let a big fish slip away for mere personal feelings.
“Whatever those circumstances are, they don’t seem particularly good, and if my father knew……”
It was at that moment. Assel’s sharp voice echoed,
“What exactly do you want?”
His expression was distorted as if angry. Looking at him, Estelia chuckled and answered,
“The Duke is so quick-witted, which is good. I wish you had been my father instead.”
‘Father……?’
It seemed like an odd thing to say, but thinking about it, Assel was Estelia’s uncle. It didn’t feel real because the age difference was only one year.
“Stop changing the subject and speak quickly.”
Assel’s expression was beyond distorted, approaching what one might call a rotten face.
That’s because the Emperor’s footsteps were gradually getting closer to us. The pressure might have shown on his face.
The Crown Princess also saw the approaching man and said with a smirk,
“I want to be formally introduced to Levedi Esteban, the wife of Duke Esteban.”
“That doesn’t make sense……”
As soon as he heard the proposal, Assel frowned, but just then, the Emperor’s voice was heard,
“So everyone was gathered here.”
Realizing there were no other options, Assel’s expression contorted, and I, who had been watching nervously, blurted out,
“……I’m fine with it.”
At that moment, contrasting emotions crossed the two faces. Anger appeared on Assel’s face, and joy on the Crown Princess’s.
❀❀❀
“I just wanted to see her.”
The Emperor’s voice boomed throughout the spacious reception room. Befitting someone accustomed to speaking out, his voice was deep and flowed with charisma capable of overwhelming everyone.
His gaze was directed at me. And he was smiling broadly, to a burdensome degree.
“I couldn’t contain my curiosity about my favorite minister’s daughter marrying my younger brother.”
Is this what they call sitting on pins and needles? Due to the Crown Princess’s not-quite-blackmail, I had ultimately canceled my plans to go to the trading company and found myself in an awkward three-way meeting, unable to move in any direction.
Like a shrimp caught between whales.
“But have you changed your mind since then? You so earnestly insisted that family matters not be touched.”
The elderly Emperor in his fifties, seated at the head, looked more delighted than ever. Sitting next to me, Assel hardened his face while looking at the Emperor.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m just introducing her to you.”
“Haha, it’s been a while since you’ve been so sharp with me. Though we’re the cuckoo’s offspring in the imperial family, we’ve been somewhat cordial until now.”
“……”
“Are you afraid I might touch Lady Ophelia?”
At the Emperor’s provocative words, Assel spoke with a serious expression,
“Your Majesty.”
“……”
“If you touch even a hair on this woman’s head, I won’t remain quiet, on the name of House Esteban.”
The Emperor laughed even more loudly. As if he had wanted exactly this reaction.
To an uninvolved third party, they might look like close brothers, but I found their confrontation quite uncomfortable.
He was the Emperor who had sent Assel, a mere thirteen-year-old boy, to the battlefield. Something that couldn’t be done unless one was determined to k*ll him.
Would his heart have changed now?
As I had felt with the Crown Princess earlier, the Emperor would also have many masks. He must be wearing one of them now.
What could be the Emperor’s true intentions? There must be a reason why Assel was so wary and hostile.
If it weren’t for the joke Assel had made in the bedroom earlier, I might be trembling with anxiety right now.
“Also, I am the Empire’s hero. Even Your Majesty the Emperor cannot cut off my head without justification.”
Yes, even His Majesty couldn’t do anything to Assel.
Perhaps it’s a ploy. Since he can’t bring down the solid House Esteban, he might be trying to persuade him as a second-best option.
“You’re taking this too seriously, brother. It’s your wife’s first meeting with me; wouldn’t it look bad if I behaved like this from the start?”
The Emperor was still grinning. I involuntarily flinched at his words. At that moment, Estelia, whose eyes met mine, seemed lost in thought before looking at me and saying,
“Father isn’t the type to care about such appearances, so don’t worry about it.”
“……I apologize.”
“Ah, that’s not what I meant. I was telling you to relax.”
Estelia’s tone was playful, but her eyes were serious. As if she genuinely meant it for my sake.
‘And yet she was blackmailing me earlier……’
I was confused by her two completely different faces.
“Are you two acquainted?”
At the Emperor’s sudden question, I froze.
“By acquainted, you mean……”
Just as I asked in surprise, the Emperor curved the corners of his lips and added,
“You and the Crown Princess seem to know each other.”
“……!”
My heart dropped.
Suddenly, the saying that there are no eternal secrets crossed my mind. If, following the Crown Princess, His Majesty the Emperor also discovered that I was Rose…
‘That absolutely cannot happen.’
The mere thought sent chills down my spine.
I tried hard to regain my composure. Earlier, Estelia had promised.
She had promised that if I was formally introduced to her, she wouldn’t reveal to His Majesty that I was Rose.
I don’t know if she would keep that promise, but for now, I had no choice but to trust her.
Just as I was anxiously looking at Estelia,
“We briefly met and greeted each other in the corridor earlier.”
A cool voice echoed throughout the room.
“……Being of similar age, they seemed to get along well.”
It was Assel’s voice. As I looked at him with eyes barely hiding my surprise, he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me toward him.
It was a movement no one would notice since it was under the table. Moreover, he was staring only at the Emperor’s golden eyes, not mine.
My heart fluttered involuntarily at that secretive yet protective gesture.
Then he met my eyes and asked,
“Isn’t that right, Levedi?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right… Her Highness is such a good person.”
I answered in a daze, and at that moment, Estelia’s gaze turned toward me. Her expression, looking at me with wide eyes, was bold.
“……”
She seemed to be enjoying this situation.
Was it because of Assel’s wary, almost hostile attitude toward her that I had observed earlier?
There must be a reason for such an attitude, but I felt somewhat uneasy.
I thought she might say something, but fortunately, she just smiled and appropriately chimed in on the conversation between me, the Emperor, and Assel.
She even protected me from awkward questions by restraining the Emperor.
‘……I really can’t figure out this person’s true intentions.’
Her attitude was confusing. Which one was her real face?
❀❀❀
Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t probe further into my relationship with Estelia.
He just rambled on about trivial matters: how fascinating it was that I, the minister’s daughter, had become his sister-in-law; how I should bring my father, who insisted on working from home, to the imperial palace; how surprising it was that Assel, who hadn’t batted an eye even when sent the Empire’s most beautiful women, was only gentle with me.
He spewed out such insignificant chatter for quite some time.
Additionally, Estelia agreed with such remarks, contributing to Assel’s increasingly contorted expression.
Since it was an awkward gathering, I just smiled or repeated simple responses like “yes” or “no” when difficult questions arose.
I learned for the first time how mentally draining it is to have lengthy conversations with people you’re not familiar with.
The one fortunate thing was that the Emperor said he had urgent matters to discuss with the Duke and asked Estelia and me to leave.
Of course, that was only relatively fortunate; the situation couldn’t be considered good.
Because I would be alone with Estelia.
She begged me to have a cup of tea with her. Having had tea with her several times as Rose, it wasn’t a surprising proposal, but I felt uneasy.
Since glimpsing her other side, I had been constantly aware of her danger.
Nevertheless, unable to refuse the Crown Princess’s request, I instructed a maid to prepare for teatime in the greenhouse.
❀❀❀
Not long after, maids brought tea and various desserts to accompany it.
While the maids took them out of the trolley and set them up one by one, Estelia’s gaze remained fixed on me.
Though her gaze clearly indicated she had something to say, she just stared without taking any further action. She seemed to be mindful of the maids.
Sure enough, after the maids disappeared and just as I brought a freshly brewed cup of chamomile tea to my lips,
“It’s still surprising when I think about it.”
“……”
“To think that you were the much-rumored Esteban’s wife.”
At Estelia’s voice, I put down my teacup and raised my head. Her golden eyes, looking at me, rarely held a curious light.
For me, unable to understand her intentions, even that gaze felt suspicious.
“I……”
“……”
“Honestly, I’m not sure what Your Highness is trying to say to me.”
Moreover, the memory of her blackmailing me with my identity earlier was still fresh.
If this had been my first encounter with her, I might not have been so shocked, but the Estelia I met at the trading company, unlike earlier, had shown only the gentlest aspects.
Should I call it unfamiliar? That sense of disconnect wasn’t easily erased.
Meeting my wary gaze, Estelia smiled faintly.
“There’s no need to be so guarded. I am indeed the same person you saw at the trading company.”
“……!”
It was an answer as if she had read my mind completely. My eyes automatically widened as I looked at her, and she continued,
“My blackmail earlier wasn’t done with entirely bad intentions. I don’t particularly like people whose outside and inside differ.”
She doesn’t like people whose outside and inside differ…
It wasn’t the kind of statement one would expect from the Crown Princess, standing at the peak of power.
It’s almost like a soldier going to war with unblunted arrows.
“That’s contradictory.”
“If that’s how you take it, there’s nothing I can do……”
At my response, Estelia lowered her gaze to her teacup with a seemingly desolate look.
After looking down at the strongly brewed lemon balm in her cup for a while, she lifted the teacup handle and looked at me.
“I just wanted to be your real friend.”
At this sudden outburst, I asked in surprise,
“……Friend?”
“Until now, weren’t we in a business relationship? I thought we had some kind of friendship, but was that just my misunderstanding?”
For a moment, Estelia’s gaze seemed somewhat pitiful. Being such a beauty, when she made such an expression, I couldn’t help but feel my heart ache. I was newly impressed by the impact of physical appearance.
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bluemoon238
Why is FL turning wuss all of a sudden? I get dealing with the power dynamic but if she wants to be a part of high society, an heir, or even just a business woman she will be needing a bigger liver.