35.

Rosetta froze for ten seconds, then shuddered in disgust.

“…Are you insane?”

“I’m perfectly normal.”

“Someone who calls themselves normal would do something like this right now—?”

“I fully understand you’re desperate to avoid marriage, Lea.”

Again, Lea.

“But the scandal has already spiraled beyond control, and resolving it with an engagement would put both our reputations at risk.”

“…”

“Therefore, use me.”

Was there anyone else who could say “use me” with such a blissful expression? More than anything else, that was what felt most suspicious. Rosetta cautiously shifted her hips backward, increasing the distance between them.

Judging by his cheerful expression, it seemed he’d obtained some decisive clue. She had no idea where or how that had happened… Rosetta once again rummaged through her memories thoroughly, until a single possibility occurred to her.

The kiss they’d shared last night, when they exchanged breath underwater.

For a woman who’d never undergone even a single session of underwater training, her mouth had been strangely dry. Right before falling into the water, she’d taken a deep breath, and during the time she was swept by the current, she’d carefully conserved her breath.

All her actions immediately after falling into the water had been remarkably skillful. The only difference was that Lea’s body seemed excessively frail to withstand the current.

Letting her body go limp and floating upward back-first, drifting diagonally along the current, untying the ribbons of her flowing dress one by one—every action was exactly what “Rosetta” herself would have done to achieve the optimal result. Only then did she realize what she had done—and how much that certainty had given to him.

Cardier Montrosa added with a kind, innocent smile.

“I can meet any condition you desire.”

“…What?”

“You may marry me and immediately depart for the east, or remain here in the capital. There will be no obligation to fulfill conjugal duties.”

Obligation to fulfill conjugal duties. Rosetta understood that phrase was a refined way of referring to bearing children. Instantly, alongside the memory from last night, the image of their bodies pressed tightly together flashed vividly in her mind. Damn it. Of all things to remember… She opened her right hand and buried her burning red face in it.

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll draw up a contract.”

“Stop it.”

“Does that mean you don’t need a contract?”

“No. Are you insane? I’m not marrying you.”

“Really?”

“Really. I’d rather be engaged to the eldest son of the Dreuire family.”

He tilted one side of his lips upward. Was it her imagination, or did his expression radiate an unsettling calmness?

“Dreuire? And that doesn’t seem like such a wise choice either.”

“Anyone is better than you.”

“Provided he’d even accept you in the first place.”

“…”

“The rumors have spread far and wide. Extremely, viciously so.”

A chilling premonition prickled across her skin. Somehow, Cardier’s words sounded less like a statement and more like a veiled threat: “I’ll make the rumors so overwhelmingly undeniable that you won’t be able to ignore me any longer.”

…It had to be her imagination.

* * *

“Milady!”

Rosetta had just stepped into the room when Anna’s cheerful call made her face crumple like a crumpled sheet of paper.

“…Are you out of your mind?”

“But you’re about to get married! Once you’re married, we can’t keep calling you ‘Lady’ or ‘Miss’ like before!”

“Who? Who said I’m getting married?”

“Oh, come now, everyone already knows!”

Seeing Anna cup her flushed cheeks with both hands, Rosetta felt like the oatmeal she’d eaten for breakfast was about to come back up. And then Anna kept poking her side with her elbow… What was with that sly look? Rosetta forced a hollow laugh.

“Oh? Was it good? Of course it must have been wonderful! It’s the young Marquis Montrosa, after all!”

Wonderful? This was harassment at a masterful level. Actually, if something had truly happened, at least she wouldn’t feel so wronged. Rosetta lazily crossed her legs and flicked her eyes around rebelliously.

“In all those grand rumors, was there any mention that I was bedridden due to illness?”

“There wasn’t anything like that.”

Anna proudly pulled out a long sheet of paper from her pocket. It was already smudged with fingerprints from being passed around among the maids, and dotted with water stains that had been carefully dried. Anna began reading aloud in a loud, crisp voice, as if to ensure the entire household could hear.

“Here it says that the young Marquis Montrosa personally leapt into the water to save the noble lady, and that the two of them felt love blossom as they swam diagonally through the water.”

“…What?”

“They fell instantly in love at first sight during the crisis! Immediately after surfacing, they shared a passionate kiss, and the young Marquis personally carried the unconscious lady to the Montrosa residence, where he tenderly cared for her.”

“…”

“And in the middle of the night, when the noble lady awoke, the young Marquis…”

A knowing glance darted quickly among the maids. It was only at this moment, witnessing their indecent exchange of looks, that Rosetta realized the room was packed with maids carrying various chores. Why on earth had they brought silverware from the kitchen all the way here to polish?

And what nonsense was this about the middle of the night? She had woken up in broad daylight, nearly at noon. To distort the facts so completely was talent in itself. Rosetta ground her teeth. At this point, she didn’t even want to hear more.

“Enough. Stop reading.”

But Anna showed no intention of stopping before reaching the most crucial part. Holding the paper to her chest with one hand and raising the other toward the ceiling, she recited dramatically, like an actor granted a pivotal monologue.

“The very next morning, after passionately confirming their feelings for each other, the young Marquis Montrosa knelt before the noble lady and recited a romantic proposal poem…!”

Every last bit of romance in the world just died. And what proposal? This was straight out of a third-rate novel. Rosetta waved her hands furiously, her face turning red and purple.

“Throw that damn gossip rag away and just help me get dressed. And tell the eldest son of the Dreuire Count that I’ll meet him today.”

“…Yes?”

“Yes, what? Why aren’t you going?”

“But, milady… then Master Cardier will be deeply hurt.”

In Anna’s mind, they were already married—her title for him had subtly shifted from “the young Marquis Montrosa” to “Master Cardier.” Who knew? Maybe she’d even picked out names for their children by now. Rosetta clenched her teeth, barely restraining the urge to flip the table.

“Not a single one of those indecent things written in that gossip rag ever happened. Damn it, can’t you do something about those damn suggestive looks?”

“Oh, come now, milady.”

And Anna’s gaze turned three times more suggestive.

“There’s no need to be so shy. Look here…”

Rosetta abruptly stood up, snatched the damn scrap of paper from Anna’s hand, tore it to shreds, and hurled it into the fireplace.

* * *

The flawless Montrosa Duke and his wife. Lately, Rosetta had become obsessed with that phrase. Perhaps even more than Cardier himself.

In Rosetta’s memory, Cardier had always been a boy of unwavering integrity. Kind to the weak, unyielding toward the strong, unable to pass by someone in distress… Yes, there was no need to elaborate. He was simply an innocent little pup. Not an insult—literally like a puppy. She, in her past life, had been the one closest to him, witnessing it all firsthand, awkwardly receiving that puppy’s endless, consistent affection.

But now, not a trace of that innocent boy she once knew remained in the current Cardier. A predator—no, a beast enraged as if something had been snatched right before his eyes. He seemed to be trying to conceal his changed nature, but to her eyes, it was completely transparent.

Rosetta felt sorrow over this change. If it weren’t for her, he would have had no reason to suffer loss, growing into a strong young man having seen only the bright and good things in the world… In truth, she felt entirely responsible for this transformation, and wanted in some way to compensate for the innocence he had lost.

Therefore, at the very least, Cardier should marry a proper noble lady. Not a woman like her, someone so easily discarded. But… how on earth could she convince him to actually listen?

“Milady, the eldest son of Count Dreuire has arrived.”

While Rosetta was deep in thought, wracking her brain, a servant announced the arrival of the eldest son of the Dreuire family. She gracefully rose to her feet to greet the man.

“Eldest Son of the Dreuire Family. Welcome.”

“Lady Valdemore.”

The man smiled gently, took her fingertips, and lightly pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

“It’s only been half a day since we last met.”