Margaret responded, gauging Olivia’s mood. They had acquired information that Schultz’s mother’s condition had worsened and approached him with medication from the Lyle family.

Was it a mistake to prematurely view his refusal as an affirmative because I knew of his upright nature? The spy who had been secretly observing Schultz reported that he had not been in contact with anyone else.

‘I thought he had set his heart toward Ma’am by agreeing to come to the main house.’

“I could’ve become a laughingstock.”

“Calm down, Ma’am. It seems he couldn’t betray Miss Rosebelia after all.”

Olivia snorted. Choosing Rosebelia’s trust over a sick family member.

“What’s the big deal about trust.”

“At least he didn’t mention you, Ma’am, so it’s a relief…”

Before Margaret could finish, Olivia burst into laughter. She waved her hand as if dismissing the ridiculous thought.

“Even if he had, who would have believed him?”

“That’s true, but… I did warn you this was risky.”

“If things had gone according to plan, I could have put a stain on Rosebelia’s face. After all, everyone would not expect Schultz, who is special to Rosebelia, to frame her. They would all believe it to be the truth, wouldn’t they?”

She had intended to shame Rosebelia enough to make her reluctant to set foot in this mansion.

Olivia grumbled in a low voice.

This was just the beginning. Olivia’s plan was to slowly tarnish Rosebelia’s reputation until she willingly left the mansion.

“Ma’am, calm down. It’s not over yet.”

“That’s right, things are still proceeding as planned?”

Margaret nodded reassuringly with a chubby face.

“Of course. You have nothing to worry about.”

For a while, things went smoothly. After wrapping up the Schultz incident, I had been staying at my residence.

Capturing Schultz to frame me was likely just the beginning. Olivia would have been constantly trying to corner Rosebelia in similar ways.

Rosebelia must have felt disillusioned at some point as well.
Perhaps Rosebelia’s exile to a foreign land had not been unaffected by this.

Lost in thought, I lifted my head at the sound of hurried footsteps.

“Miss Rosebelia!”

The one standing before me, catching his breath, was one of the servants of the duke.

“What are you doing here?”

“My lady… is waiting for you in the square.”

“What? Where is my mother in the square?”

“She is at ‘Sweetz Avenue,’ 17 Main Street.”

I remembered Sweetz Avenue from Rosebelia’s memories. A place she often visited for its sweet desserts when she went to the square.

I had thought of visiting sometime.

“My mother is waiting for me there?”

“Yes. She said she would wait until you arrived.”

Wait until I arrived? This was somewhat novel.

If the servant called for me and I refused, word would spread quickly among the duke’s staff.

“Tell my mother I’ll be right there.”

“Understood, miss.”

I retrieved Emily from the knights’ stables and headed for the dessert café where Olivia was said to be waiting. Despite hurrying, Olivia was nowhere in sight.

What? She said she’d wait, but she’s already gone?

Ignoring the crowded first floor, I went up to the relatively empty second floor. Still, Olivia was not there.

I was about to turn around after checking the outdoor terrace.

“Rosebelia, I’m here!”

A man was waving at me from the second-floor terrace.

Isn’t he a senior from the White Knights?

What was his name? Ernoa Diaz, right?

He maintained an unusual long bang that hid one side of his face. And the eye obscured by that hair was a red odd-eye.

“Senior, what brings you here?”

I tilted my head and slowly approached the man.

“Sit down first.”

Upon sitting, Ernoa presented a dessert before me.

“Have you heard nothing?”

“About what?”

“The Winters family has proposed a marriage alliance to our Diaz family.”

“Winters… you mean my family?”

A marriage proposal? What’s this about?

“Yes, the targets of the strategic marriage are you and me.”

I burst into laughter. A marriage alliance isn’t something that happens overnight; it must have been planned.

Had I been too complacent because the Schultz matter went smoothly?

“Listen, Senior.”

“I didn’t come here to marry you.”

“Then?”

“I didn’t want to get married, but I can’t go against my mother’s wishes, so I had no choice.”

“I didn’t even hear about this meeting. My mother suddenly called me here. I didn’t know I would have such a conversation with you. I’m not thinking of getting married right now either.”

Before me were far more pressing matters. Thinking of their faces marked with sad endings, a part of my heart felt heavy.

“So, shall we agree to properly sort out this marriage proposal when we go back?”

He nodded, as if he understood, and asked.

“Yes, sounds good.”

What? That’s it? Resolved just like that?

If Olivia had initiated the proposal, she must have considered it a suitable match.

“Actually, I came here because I had something I wanted to ask you.”

“Me?”

I smiled as if encouraging him to ask anything. Slowly, Ernoa lifted his gaze and looked me in the eye.

“Where did Rosebelia go?”

His voice was calm, as if asking about everyday matters. I blinked a few times before realizing something odd about his question.

Where did Rosebelia go? I am Rosebelia, what is he talking about now?

“Sorry, what did you say…”

Just then, a gust of wind blew. Ernoa’s long hair fluttered, revealing his odd-eye. His intensely red eyes felt as if they were piercing through me.