26.

The next morning.

Ro rubbed her cheeks against the soft down pillow like a cat, then jolted awake in alarm. Her last memory had been dozing off in the carriage, yet somehow she now found herself lying in her own room’s plush bed.

Rosetta tried to spring up from the bed. But the moment she moved, her head throbbed painfully. Her entire body felt heavy, limp like water-soaked cotton, and her stomach ached sharply. Her condition was utterly dreadful. What on earth was happening? She couldn’t possibly have fallen gravely ill overnight… Could it be… that time of the month?

She quickly reached down to check, then exhaled in relief upon feeling nothing. Then, with a serious expression, she pondered deeply why her body was in such a state.

If it were a cold, her throat should have been swollen, but it wasn’t. And if it were muscle pain, she wouldn’t just feel weak—she’d actually hurt. Tracing back the events of last night, she finally, barely, stumbled upon one utterly absurd possibility.

Could it be… this was actually… a hangover?

To Rosetta, who had drunk rum and cheap brandy like water all her life, this was utterly ridiculous. Was there really such a thing as someone collapsing from just one glass of wine? Wasn’t that something only fairy-tale princesses did? How could the air possibly be so heavy it weighed on your head?

Letting out a bitter laugh, still denying reality, she suddenly heard the door open. Anna peeked her freckled face in and smiled brightly.

“Miss! You’re awake!”

The high-pitched, cheerful voice made her head throb again. Ro groaned faintly, clutching her forehead. As Anna flung open the curtains, Rosetta squirmed under the blanket to escape the sunlight. A terrible, unfamiliar sound rasped from her parched throat.

“What… exactly… happened yesterday…”

“You passed out from drinking, and Master Cardier Montrosa brought you back by carriage.”

“You’re telling me I actually… got drunk… from just one glass of wine…?”

Ro peeked out from under the blanket, asking in disbelief. Her face seemed more shocked by that fact than anything else.

“Don’t remember? Well, you were so drunk you were barely conscious. Honestly, I’ve never seen such a hopeless drunkard!”

Anna handed Rosetta a cup of cool tea with honey. Her throat had been dry and scratchy, so Rosetta gratefully accepted it. Watching her finish the cup, Anna continued.

“Don’t worry, you won’t get scolded. The Duchess seemed quite pleased.”

Rosetta frowned mid-sip. Suddenly, a terribly ominous feeling crept over her. It was just like the sensation she got when someone recklessly touched her carefully hidden stash of alcohol.

“Why… why would Mother be pleased…?”

“It takes an hour to get from Renouac Manor to Valdemore Estate, but it took over three hours last night. The Duchess even asked whether anything improper had happened with Master Montrosa, and whether she should start sending out wedding invitations.”

“…What?”

“She was disappointed when Master Montrosa clearly said nothing improper occurred.”

“…”

She wanted to faint again immediately. Preferably, never wake up again at all. With each word Anna chirped, her will to live dwindled. She wished someone would strike Nick, that damn scoundrel, with lightning ten times. Then she could close her eyes happily, with no regrets.

Seeing her hollow laughter, Anna quickly supported her arm.

“You’re still not fully recovered. Just how much did you drink last night…?”

Now she was being treated like a habitual drunkard. To her, who had only drunk one glass of wine, this was so unjust it was maddening. Ro wrinkled her nose and protested.

“I really only had one glass. Just one.”

“That’s what all drunkards say. Even Timothy says that.”

…Who the hell is Timothy? She didn’t even have the energy to respond anymore. Rosetta lay motionless, letting Anna attend to her. Anna wiped away the previous night’s makeup with a damp cloth, then maids entered with hot water and filled the bathtub. Anna carefully adjusted the water temperature and added flower petals and fragrant oils.

“The bath is ready.”

That was undoubtedly the best news Anna had brought all morning. Rosetta shed her stifling undergarments and slipped straight into the tub. Her body felt utterly drained, but soaking in the hot water gradually melted away last night’s fatigue. Ro splashed water on her face with both hands.

“Uuuugh… I think I can live again.”

Anna replied as she gently scrubbed Rosetta’s arm with a soft sponge full of foam.

“Anyway, the Duchess seemed very positive about it. If there were any guarantee that suitors wouldn’t stop coming for you, she’d have published a society column herself.”

“Knowing Mother, she’d do exactly that…”

Rosetta nodded gravely, deeply agreeing with Anna’s insight. Though, admittedly, that insight was about as reliable as a broken clock being right twice a day.

All things considered, last night had truly been close. Cardier had shown enough confidence to speak her name aloud. He had stepped back at the end, but next time they met, he’d likely be desperate to catch her in the act. He might even set a trap.

Suddenly remembering something, Rosetta grabbed Anna’s arm.

“Hey… um…”

“Yes, Miss?”

“Do you… remember what happened when I tried to kill myself?”

For a moment, unease flickered across Anna’s face.

“I do… but why ask?”

“It’s just… I don’t remember anything from that time.”

Ro flicked water with her fingers. Honestly, she hadn’t paid much attention to Lea’s suicide incident until now. After all, it was already done—knowing anything wouldn’t change it. But the Crown Prince’s reaction yesterday… that wasn’t just how someone reacted to a fiancée who had attempted suicide.

“So… where exactly, how, and what were you doing when…”

Rosetta carefully chose her words, seeing Anna’s pale, anxious expression.

“…it happened?”

“I don’t know the exact details.”

Anna bit her lip and opened her mouth cautiously.

“That day, when the Lady was carried in, we weren’t allowed to leave the servants’ quarters except for the housekeeper and steward.”

“Carried in? It didn’t happen here?”

Anna’s face fell at Rosetta’s sharp question. Rosetta studied Anna’s expression closely. The maid’s plain face shifted from hesitation, to a look that seemed to say, “Well, you’re the one involved anyway,” then hardened as if recalling a strict oath. Clearly, someone had warned her firmly to keep quiet.

Rosetta gently held Anna’s arm.

“Anna. If not you, who else could I hear this from?”

“But the physician…”

“Never mind the physician. It’s my life. It’s absurd that I don’t remember anything at all.”

“…Are you certain you must hear this?”

Anna looked at Rosetta’s determined face, set the sponge down, and leaned close, gripping the edge of the tub and bringing her forehead nearly to Rosetta’s as she whispered.

“I don’t know the full truth, but since you’re not just anyone but the Lady herself, I’ll tell you.”

“Good. Tell me everything, from the beginning.”

“If you say from the beginning…”

Anna paused, seeming to consider where to start, then slowly began.

“About half a year ago, rumors started spreading. That the Crown Prince had taken another woman. At first, the Lady didn’t seem to care, but honestly, rumors like that weren’t exactly rare.”

“So the Crown Prince was known for liking women?”

“He was. At first, it was just whispers in a few high-society salons, but when even us maids started hearing about it…” Anyway, at first, the Lady thought it was just gossip, or perhaps a brief affair she could overlook. After all, she’d been the presumptive Crown Princess for such a long time.”

“…Wait a second. You mean people just… let that slide?”

“The Duke and Duchess had firmly declared they would not allow the engagement to be broken. Just like most noble marriages.”

Anna grimaced, as if just recalling it made her sick.

“But then… he actually brought another woman into the palace.”