Rose lifted her drowsy eyelids, which had been on the verge of closing.She cast a sharp glance at the maid standing awkwardly at the door.

“Who did you just say was here?”

“A man named Aster, my lady. He said you’d know him immediately by his name… What should we do?”

Whenever Aster suddenly appeared before her, it was never for anything good.But Rose knew that refusing his visit would lead to even worse consequences.

There was no time to wonder why someone who should be busy with duties at the palacehad come to the Robepon marquisate.

Rose dragged her heavy body up and headed to the entrance herself.Beyond the open door, as always, was Aster’s cunning smile,and beside it, the hypocritical smile of Princess Rilen, who somehow resembled him.

Rose, unable to grasp the situation, slowly looked back and forth between the two.She could barely breathe until Princess Rilen stepped forward and bowed her head.

“I greet Your Majesty the Queen. Please forgive my rudeness.I was passing by on personal business, but I couldn’t help but visit,concerned for Your Majesty, who I heard had returned to your family home to recuperate.”

“Oh… I see.”

Passing by by chance and visiting out of concern?Rose was certain it was the most brazen lie in the world.

What are they plotting?

As Rose sank into suspicion, Aster gave a small cough.

“If it’s not too much trouble, may we come in and talk?”

Rose scrutinized them with wary eyes before gesturing for them to enter.

The three entered the parlor and sat at a slight distance from one another.The maid placed three teacups on the table and withdrew.

After a silence filled with swirling thoughts,it was Aster who spoke first.

“I heard you came here to recuperate, but you don’t look rested at all.”

“I’m just a bit tired, that’s all. I’m fine.”

“Is that what you plan to tell His Majesty the King as well?”

At Aster’s probing, meaningful remark, Rose’s shoulders visibly stiffened.Aster, observing her reaction closely, leaned forward over the table.

“We’re here to help Your Majesty.”

“Help me with what, exactly? I…”

Before Rose could finish, her trembling eyes were filled with the sight of Rilen.

Princess Rilen, as if unwilling to prolong the conversation, opened her eyes wideand set her teacup down with a clink. The transparent liquid in the cup,steaming faintly, rippled slightly before settling.

“Let’s stop repeating meaningless words and get to the point.Your Majesty, why have you been holed up at Saintfield’s doctor’s housefor the past few months? Didn’t you tell the royal courtyou were returning to your family home to recuperate?”

At Princess Rilen’s direct and accusatory question, Rose’s face turned deathly pale.

“How… how do you know that?”

Rose’s gaze shifted to Aster’s face. His characteristic smirk,as if he held the world at his feet with nothing to fear, was plain to see.Even without a reply, Rose understood.

“You’ve been spying on me.”

“Call it protection, not spying.”

“That’s just an excuse!”

Rose’s chest heaved with ragged breaths. Princess Rilen spoke.

“There’s no need for pretenses anymore, so let’s be honest.First, I deeply regret the loss of your child.But miscarriages in the royal family have happened before.It’s a tragic event, but not an unusual one.So why is Your Majesty so deathly pale now? What are you so worried about?”

At Princess Rilen’s words, Rose couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.The two people who posed the greatest threat to her position stood right before her,yet they were utterly shameless.

Unable to respond as she gripped her skirt so tightly her knuckles whitened,Princess Rilen continued.

“You must be afraid of being abandoned by His Majesty the King.As family, I understand. He’s certainly capable of it.”

“So what are you trying to say?”

Princess Rilen stood and sat beside Rose.She gently took Rose’s hand, holding it as if to comfort her.Rose’s bewildered gaze met her beautiful face.

“Don’t be afraid. There’s a way.”

“A way…?”

“Before His Majesty abandons you, you abandon him first.”

Rose’s long eyelashes trembled faintly.It took her a moment to process what she’d heard.

“Princess Rilen, are you trying to sway me? Do you think I’d fall for such a crude trick?”

“Then how about we quietly remove your greatest weakness, Nelson, from this world?”

Rose’s ragged breathing stopped abruptly.Momentarily flustered, she glared at Aster with eyes filled with rage.

“Aster, you…!”

“Your Majesty, let me be clear: this is not a threat or coercion.We’re trying to help you out of your predicament.We would never use your hidden secrets against you.”

Princess Rilen continued with a brazen face.

“It’s already too late for His Majesty.He’ll keep calling for Kasallin, stumbling,and ultimately destabilizing the lives of the people.Before you fall and break your neck clutching a rotten rope, take my hand.”

“Don’t you have any shred of compassion or affection for your sibling?His Majesty is your brother.”

At Rose’s question, directed at Rilen, who treated the king and her brother as a branch to be pruned,Aster, sitting quietly to the side, couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

Rose’s wide eyes turned to him.

“What’s so funny?”

“My apologies. I didn’t expect Your Majesty to say such a thing.”

“What?”

“For someone who’s been secretly involved with her sister’s fiancé for twenty years under the same roof,do you really have the right to speak of sibling bonds or compassion?Princess Rilen acts for the noble cause of the kingdom’s future and the people’s well-being,but Your Majesty simply gave in to instinct and pleasure.”

Rose, stunned by the insult, could only open and close her mouth in disbelief.

“Surely you haven’t forgotten.While His Majesty was courting Kasallin,he had inappropriate meetings with you.There’s no guarantee he won’t turn his gaze to another woman.No, I’d wager he definitely will.”

What angered Rose most in that moment was that not a single word Aster said was wrong—deep down, she knew it.

He had pinpointed exactly what she’d been secretly anxious about.

Rose no longer had the confidence to maintain a composed facade in front of them.Her face, steeped in despair, slowly lowered.

“So what do you want me to do?”

“His Majesty clings to a throne he can’t handle, ignoring the people’s cries of suffering.Such a ruler must be brought down as soon as possible.”

“But even so, that’s…”

“If you take my hand, I will ensure you live a peaceful life with the utmost respectuntil the day you close your eyes—unlike His Majesty, I don’t make promises I won’t keep.”

Princess Rilen’s eyes gleamed with a sincerity Rose had never seen before.Her bold offer of a secure life shook Rose for the first time.

Rather than clinging to Shallen’s coattails, trembling in fear of being cast aside,wouldn’t it be better to join her side?And she’d even offered to quietly eliminate Nelson if Rose wished.

At that thought, Rose was struck by a shocking realization.

‘Wasn’t I supposed to love Shallen?’

Yet here she was, considering betraying her husband at Rilen’s tempting offer.Rose couldn’t believe herself.

Noticing Rose’s heart beginning to waver, Princess Rilen gripped her hand tighter.

“Your Majesty, love isn’t eternal.Even I once had someone I truly loved.I would’ve done anything for him.But when I was pushed out of the succession struggle and exiled to the Kingdom of Ram,he left me without looking back. That’s what love is.”

“…”

Rose remained silent.Rilen let go of her hand, smoothed her dress, and stood.

“Consider whether devoting yourself to His Majesty is more precious than your own well-being.I’ll give you a few days to think it over.I apologize for today’s intrusion. Stay well.”

Princess Rilen and Aster bowed politely to Rose and left the parlor.

Just as they were about to cross the threshold, Rose’s trembling voice stopped them.

“What… what do I need to do?”