“It’s not my fault for the divorce, yet do I have to lower my head and live just because I’m labeled as a divorcee?”

Nervan blinked at Rozé’s words. He couldn’t come up with a specific counterargument to what she said.

From the beginning, he tried to belittle Rozé by pointing out the flaw of divorce.

Not based on Rozé’s actions, just labeling her as a ‘divorcee.’

“The man who cheated could proudly bring in a new wife, so why should I live as if I were a sinner? It’s ridiculous that my worth is determined merely by marriage and divorce.”

Rozé didn’t want to live shrinking away like she did in the past. She simply wanted to confidently pioneer her future.

However, why did this person speak so derogatorily without knowing anything about her?

“Moreover, you don’t get to judge my worth. I decide. I’ll live my life, trampling over people like you who look down on me, as if it were nothing.”

Nervan, although perplexed by Rozé’s words, didn’t change his attitude.

“People like us should stick together. What I wanted to say is that you don’t match with the Duke at all.”

Without even apologizing to Rozé, he continued to lash out.

“If you want a rich noble, I can find a suitable one for you. Pay attention to the Duke.”

“Huh?”

Now, this is interesting…!

With a flushed face, Rozé confronted him. Her anger reached its peak.

Nervan’s attitude, criticizing her based on her personal life, was extremely annoying.

“Do I look like someone obsessed with a man? Stop your nonsense because it’s irritating to listen to.”

Nervan, who was about to say, ‘Isn’t it true that you’re obsessed with a man?’ swallowed his words with great effort.

He was well aware that he was behaving rudely.

“And!”

Bam!

Rozé slammed both hands onto the table.

The teacups and plates on the table wobbled dangerously.

A tingling pain shot up Rozé’s palms. Although she almost lost control of her expression, she managed to overcome the crisis.

“Why do you keep associating the Duke with me since earlier?”

With a reddish-blue face, Rozé confronted Nervan.

“It seems like you’re seriously misunderstanding! I have no romantic interest in the Duke.”

Nervan furrowed his brow in disbelief at Rozé’s unexpected words.

“From what the knights heard today at the palace, it seems like I confessed to the Duke just to chase away my ex-husband, Eric!”

Shouting in frustration, Rozé, with a face flushed, looked defiant. Nervan appeared thoroughly confused by her words.

What is this woman talking about? Is she sincere?

As if confirming Rozé’s words, Nervan asked, “So… are you saying that you used the Duke?”

“… Th-that’s right. I’ve already apologized to the Duke enough.”
When the mention of using the Duke came up, Rozé trailed off. However, it was only a brief moment, and she soon spoke with a bold attitude.

“The Duke understands my situation well enough, so there’s no problem.”

Instead of feeling upset, the Duke even tried to lighten the mood by throwing jokes.

‘If I have a sister, would it feel like this?’

Nervan still had a suspicious expression on his face.

Rozé grumbled in discontent. Then, having said everything, she stared at Nervan as if to say he should moderate himself.

Ignoring Rozé’s gaze, Nervan carefully recalled his conversation with the Duke.

He had suddenly brought up the topic of marriage, making such remarks.

‘She confessed to me.’

Rozé’s explanation and the Duke’s attitude seemed quite different.

While Rozé simply said it was a confession to drive away her ex-husband, Eric, the Duke looked pleased, as if he had received a confession of the century.

He gazed at Rozé with complex emotions.

Noticing Nervan’s reaction to her words, Rozé didn’t miss the chance to push him further.

“I really have no interest in the Duke. We’re just business partners, no more and no less.”

Saving his life was also part of Rozé’s mission, but there was no need to mention that.

“I don’t know why you think I’m only interested in men and not in department store business. I think about business all day long. How can I be more successful? How can I progress a little faster? Apart from sleeping and eating, my mind is fully devoted to thinking about the department store.”

Nervan had never witnessed her passionately engrossed in business.

Although he had seen her lying in the office, shedding tears, and scattered documents underneath.

Since Nervan wasn’t interested in Rozé, it was difficult for him to witness her engrossed in her work.

“I’ve staked my life on this business. I challenged the first thing I wanted to do in my life. However, you, who knows nothing, belittled my efforts and determination. You regarded my business as a means to seduce just one man.”

Rozé’s resolute voice echoed one after another.

“So, apologize. For everything you said to me.”

Everything was rude.

Declaring a divorce, belittling her business…

And even arbitrarily judging her worth.

Listening to Rozé’s words, Nervan fell into thought.

‘…Is she lying to me?’

Or… could it be… the Duke might be having a misunderstanding.