22.

Rosetta Toulon pretended to be embarrassed, covering her pale cheeks with both hands and turning away from Cardier Montrosa’s gaze. Damn it, what a wretched body this was. How could someone who had once been the designated future empress consort have such paper-thin shame? The fact that every thought and shock showed plainly on her face wasn’t merely inconvenient—it made her wonder if she had been fundamentally inadequate all along.

“You’re even breaking into a cold sweat now.”

“…….”

“Should I lend you a handkerchief?”

Cardier Montrosa asked in an exceedingly polite tone, watching her with quiet amusement.

The pounding of her heartbeat grew louder and louder, like an ominous ship’s bell tolling in the distance. If Cardier leaned forward just slightly, the sound would surely be loud enough for him to hear clearly.

Damn it. If this were truly her own body, it wouldn’t keep interfering like this at every turn. Calm down. Just calm down. She forced her stiff lips to move.

“I’ve always been prone to motion sickness.”

“Is that so?”

“Every time I ride in a carriage, I feel so nauseous I think I’ll die.”

Cardier turned his head slightly, showing little sign of suspicion. Compared to the intense, meaningful way he had been observing her, his expression now seemed indifferent to her answer. His face revealed nothing but complete detachment.

Now it was she who wanted to crack open his skull and take a look inside. She wanted to know why he was so fixated on her identity, how much he suspected about this absurd situation, whether he had found any evidence, and what exactly he intended to do if he discovered the truth about ‘Rosetta.’ She wanted to just blurt it all out.

Or… whether he, too, planned to betray her.

Lore stared at her own trembling hand with a puzzled expression, then quickly hid it beneath the folds of her dress. It was better to ignore phenomena she couldn’t understand.

“We’ve arrived.”

The carriage was gradually slowing down. Cardier Montrosa gazed out the window with a bored expression. Rosetta Toulon subtly turned her head to follow his gaze and let out a soft, surprised “Huh.”

The Renouac Residence. She had imagined something modest, like the dingy office in Barneac where ship permits were issued, but this was a massive estate. No wonder they said high-ranking military officials lived here—the garden alone was enormous and exquisitely beautiful. Along the well-maintained twin stone paths, noble carriages were packed tightly in rows.

Their carriage wasn’t directed toward the crowded line but guided instead down an empty path—clearly a distinction made according to status, ensuring important guests wouldn’t have to wait. Soon enough, the carriage door opened.

Cardier Montrosa, with his tall frame and superior height, stepped out effortlessly, but Lore peeked out and looked down, momentarily flustered. There was no step. How was she supposed to get down? Jump?

She hadn’t learned this from Lady Valmont either. Instinctively, Lore considered Lea’s physical condition. Lea, with her clumsy coordination, would be lucky not to fall flat if she jumped from this height in such a cumbersome dress. The risk of spraining an ankle was extremely high.

But she couldn’t stay in the carriage forever. She was already under heavy suspicion from Cardier Montrosa. She needed to act as naturally as possible. Rosetta Toulon quickly rolled up the bulky hem of her dress to her calves. As she boldly swung one bare leg out of the carriage,

“The s-steps are here!”

A young servant boy came panting up, apparently pulled from the other line where he had been busy working. As the boy’s voice reached them, Cardier reached out and firmly pulled down the dress fabric she had rolled up.

Their eyes met.

“…….”

“…….”

“……I, I just had an itchy leg. You know?”

“Just get out of the carriage first.”

Once the servant placed the steps on the ground, Cardier extended one hand toward her.

“You need to take my hand first.”

Unlike earlier, when he had kept a certain distance, his voice now carried a subtle warmth.

…Why the sudden change? Did he swallow something weird in the meantime? Rosetta Toulon narrowed her eyes, eyeing him suspiciously, then noticed a group of noblewomen approaching nearby. Several innocent young ladies were blushing at the sight of them.

She had been thinking about this for a while—this bastard treated her completely differently depending on whether others were around or not.

Even when speaking informally, he acted slightly more intimate when people were present and avoided giving her those overtly suspicious looks.

“Lea, come quickly.”

Seeing her hesitantly glance between his outstretched hand and his composed face, Cardier urged her gently with a soft smile, like a spring breeze.

Rosetta Toulon had no choice but to place her hand over his. As she shifted her weight, trusting him to support her, he suddenly loosened his grip and slid his hand slightly downward.

“……!”

A sudden sense of falling made Rosetta Toulon shut her eyes tightly. This was clearly a drop.

Yet, after a long moment, she didn’t collapse awkwardly onto the ground. Instead, something warm and solid caught her.

Cautiously opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was Cardier’s chest. Tilting her head up, she saw his neck, his jawline, and then that perfectly sculpted face—so flawless it inspired a reverent awe, as if gazing upon a god.

Cardier had grabbed her waist and pulled her tightly against him. Gently lowering her to the ground, he asked,

“Are you hurt?”

“……What on earth do you think you’re doing?”

Rosetta Toulon growled, unable to hold back any longer—though she kept her voice low, fearful someone might overhear. Cardier replied, completely unperturbed.

“You’re at the center of rumors due to your broken engagement with the crown prince, and I’ve been pursuing you in quite a one-sided manner.”

“…….”

“It was necessary for us to appear a bit more affectionate, rather than overly formal.”

As if this were the most natural calculation in the world. When she thought about it, it even made sense. It still felt unpleasant, but… she couldn’t really think of a counterargument. Cardier certainly knew more about society’s ways than she did.

“This way.”

He gently guided Rosetta Toulon, who wore a disgruntled expression.

With every few steps they took, bursts of laughter rippled through the clusters of noblewomen like the jingling of bells—clearly meant for them, or rather, for Cardier Montrosa to hear. The sly smiles sent from behind fans were just an added bonus.

She had heard from Lady Valmont multiple times about balls and the etiquette one must follow there… but seeing it in person was even more irritating and suffocating. The ‘socializing’ she had known consisted of landing after a voyage, frying pork cracklings until crisp, piling up rum, and drinking until passing out.

As they ascended the long staircase leading to the grand ballroom hall, a servant bowed deeply and immediately announced toward the interior:

“Lady Valdemore has arrived!”

“Lord Montrosa has arrived!”

In an instant, nearly every gaze in the banquet hall turned toward them. It was an overwhelming crowd, one that could sweep her away if she wasn’t careful.

Those who had arrived earlier parted before them as they walked, like swarms of mosquitoes scattering at the scent of burning incense.

Sweat gathered in her palms from tension. Rosetta Toulon almost wiped her hands on her dress, then awkwardly clenched them instead, aware of several sharp glances from young ladies.

Having to face all those eyes for the entire night—she was going to go mad. To ease her tension, Lore repeatedly clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white, then released them again. Suddenly, Cardier spoke.

“Just endure a little longer.”

“……Huh?”

“After our first dance, the attention will disperse. Then we can pass some time appropriately and slip away when the chance comes.”

“That’s… surprisingly hopeful.”

She replied skeptically, but those words were like a ray of light. Even the ‘Red Dawn,’ no matter how seasoned in countless battles, would naturally feel tense in an unfamiliar environment—especially when her life was on the line.

And when people were tense, they naturally leaned on anything even slightly familiar. Rosetta Toulon gave a stiff nod and pressed her upper body slightly closer to Cardier’s arm.

Now it truly felt like it was beginning. Rosetta Toulon let out a helpless breath. She was almost nostalgic for those long battles fought through the night, waiting for the sun to rise.