Chapter 30 – There Is No Happy Ending 

Two days later, on a sunny late spring afternoon.

Wearing outdated clothes, the Earl Malève couple and Rosalie—who shamelessly wore yet another dress gifted by the Countess of Aloua—entered the royal palace’s famous maze garden.

They arrived on time, not as the stars who would brighten the event with a late entrance.

Brilliantly blooming red roses and a champagne fountain rising at the center of the garden. Around the maze, children wearing flower crowns had already gathered and were playing.

“Mm, the scent of roses.”

Rosalie’s eyes widened at the strong floral aroma. The moment she took a step, countless noble gazes poured over them.

But it was familiar. Gérard and Angela, walking ahead, casually regretted not bringing Theo, saying they should have shown him to the Princess next time.

“If there’s another chance, let’s make sure to introduce Theo to Her Highness.”

“Good idea. By the way, maybe it’s because the weather’s warm, but I’m feeling thirsty…”

“Should we start with a glass of champagne? But don’t drink too much.”

Gérard pointed to the champagne-filled fountain spouting from a cherub statue. Around it, white tables were lined with the finest champagne bottles and glassware.

“Rosalie?”

“I’d like a glass too. But hasn’t Jeremy arrived yet?”

“The Aloua family is part of the royal circle. They wouldn’t come this early.”

Since there were so many people around the fountain, Rosalie decided to wait on a bench near the maze.

She suggested Angela do the same, but Angela, not trusting Gérard’s taste, disappeared into the crowd first.

“Oh my, Miss Rosalie.”

While Rosalie was watching the children share chocolate cookies, one of the nobles chatting nearby recognized her.

“Hello, Miss Olivia.”

The speaker was the daughter of a baron’s family, whom Rosalie had met at other social parties. Olivia, glancing at the surrounding eyes, approached her.

“I heard the news. You went through something terrifying. But here you are…”

Olivia, looking Rosalie up and down between her raised lashes, smiled with full lips.

“You can’t trust newspaper articles. I’m glad you look well.”

“Thank you. I also heard you got engaged, Olivia. Congratulations.”

Though it was only as the second wife to an aging Duke, Gérard had said it was a lucky match considering Olivia’s family.

When Rosalie stood and offered a polite greeting, Olivia’s smile faded.

“I hear it every day—I didn’t want to hear it from you too. But let’s talk about you. Everyone’s dying of curiosity, pretending not to care.”

“What do you mean…?”

“How can you act so clueless? The recent kidnapping incident, of course!”

Rosalie answered cautiously, but one of Olivia’s group called out sharply. Rosalie, who had been avoiding testimony to the guards, fell silent in embarrassment.

Suddenly, all the nobles nearby were looking at her. Sweat trickled down her back.

Rosalie folded her hands in white mesh gloves.

“There’s nothing to say. I can assure you nothing anyone feared happened. I was abducted, but soon rescued.”

“But you returned after three days! That’s exactly what we want to know!”

Another noblewoman couldn’t hold back and interrupted. Just then, the crowd parted like a wave, and a foot in silver shoes adorned with subtle pearls appeared.

“Exactly. I’m curious about that too, but it seems Miss Rosalie has no intention of telling us.”

“Your Highness!”

Princess Camille appeared, pushing through the crowd. Olivia, who had been watching Rosalie with interest, called out, delighted.

The Princess wore a dress that showed off her creamy, milky-white shoulders, and smiled at those around her.

“How could you all enjoy the hottest topic in society without me? You’re all so mean.”

Princess Camille pouted her lips, and the nobles laughed, each offering words of comfort.

As always, “You’re so beautiful, Your Highness,” “Now that you’re here, it truly begins…”

The Princess accepted the praise as if it were her due, and her gaze slowly settled on Rosalie. Camille, who didn’t speak the language of the Kingdom of Ipelda and ruled society in place of the Queen, who was lost in religion, now focused her attention on Rosalie.

Rosalie, tense, took a deep breath and waited for the Princess to speak.

“…Let’s finish our conversation. I don’t like talking in circles. Even the elders at the palace seem to be like that these days.”

“That’s right, Your Highness. Everyone knows what they want to hear.”

A young Earl beside Camille agreed, his handsome face and sultry gaze at the Princess making Rosalie wonder.

A new lover?

She thought idly that his deliberately long, oiled beard looked like a goat’s. The Princess’s eyes sharpened and her voice rose.

“So I’ll ask. My Inès suffered a terrible fate and died, so I must know. Miss Rosalie, are you pure enough to be the lady of a noble house?”

At the garden party, with countless nobles gathered, the host Princess Camille attacked Rosalie in front of everyone.

It was a question that chilled Rosalie’s blood. Even if everyone was curious, it was a topic that should have been private and handled delicately.

The Princess could have asked for a private meeting. But she chose to ask here.

“Excuse me, Your Highness, what do you mean? The criminal who tried to harm me didn’t even touch a hair on my head.”

“What do I mean? You know already. I’m just asking for the truth. I think I have every right to demand it.”

The Princess looked around for agreement, innocently shrugging her shoulders. Of course, no one opposed her. On the contrary, the host’s boldness made everyone more impatient.

“Tell us the truth, Miss Rosalie.”

“Surely you didn’t disgrace your family twice?”

“What a shameless woman. She should be in a convent—what is she doing here!”

Some nobles even pointed at Rosalie. If only she’d been stabbed by the criminal, she wouldn’t have to endure this humiliation.

Rosalie gripped her trembling fingertips. She wore gloves to hide the lingering marks on her wrist, but feared someone might see.

Tell the truth? She couldn’t. If she spoke here, it wouldn’t just be the Malève family that suffered.

She thought of Jeremy, who had blushed in the shabby backyard. Then she realized:

Princess Camille was only venting her sorrow at losing her beloved maid, taking it out on Rosalie.

But Rosalie had no reason to endure such humiliation forever. The constant flood of accusations made her dizzy.

Her breathing quickened, her vision narrowed.

“Stop being so evasive, Miss Rosalie!”

Princess Camille was suddenly right in front of her. Beyond the Princess, beyond the nobles gathered behind her, a figure taller than the rest watched from the shadows.

‘…Hystein.’

Was he smiling now? The distance made it impossible to read his expression. Even so, Rosalie stared at Hystein, trying to block out the nobles around her.

“Why are you the only one who survived? My Inès died!”

Princess Camille grabbed Rosalie’s arm and, unable to contain her anger, shouted at her. At that moment, the crowd fell silent as if cold water had been poured over them.