“Have you arrived?”

Nervan approached her as if he had been waiting, and then greeted her very graciously. Although it seemed like the actions he usually took towards Rose, it was distinctly different. His expression seemed very lively. He greeted the woman who appeared to be the Duke’s fiancée and then looked at Rose. Afterward, he sent a meaningful smile, as if saying, “Look, this person is the Duke’s fiancée.”

Rose, with an indifferent attitude, let out a sniff at Nervan looking at her.

‘Because the Duke doesn’t like you.’

Perhaps she was behaving that way because she mistakenly thought he liked her. While having a confrontation with Nervan, she felt a warm gaze in front of her.

A beautiful woman with blue hair was staring at her. When their eyes met, Rose’s mind became complicated. There was no way she could favor the woman staying at her fiancé’s house.

Rose considered running away, but shook her head.

‘No, just running away will make me feel worse.’

She didn’t want to create a misunderstanding when she hadn’t done anything wrong.

Rose was here as a business partner of the Duke.

So, there was no need to be intimidated.

“Hello. I am Rose de Serbiat.”

With courage, Rose initiated the greeting.

The woman, who had been scanning Rose with mysterious eyes, nodded her head and asked Rose.

“Nice to meet you. I am Yulia, the princess of the Mederion Kingdom.”

Contrary to her delicate appearance, her voice was quite husky.

‘Wow, she’s a princess.’

She looked like a well-raised woman. Although she was somewhat tall, her white skin, as if she had never received proper sunlight, and the lack of freckles were noticeable.

“I greet Princess Yulia of Mederion once again.”

Rose politely greeted her again.

Looking directly at Rose with half-moon-shaped eyes, Yulia asked straightforwardly.

“What’s the relationship between you and our Lucas?”

Lucas was the Duke of Artem’s name.

To casually address the Duke by his name without any hesitation.

This woman must undoubtedly be the Duke’s fiancée.

With a curious gaze, Yulia looked at Rose.

There was no malicious intent in her eyes.

Rose calmly explained her situation in a steady voice.

“The Duke is an investor in my business. He is staying at Artem Mansion for business purposes.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Then I will go in now.”

Rose turned her body toward the detached house where she was staying and walked away briskly.

She didn’t want to get involved with her unnecessarily.

Because it might lead to misunderstandings. At that moment,

Slap!

Sometime after being chased, Yulia grabbed Rose’s wrist.

Rose looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“How about a cup of tea?”

“Tea?”

Awkward… I don’t want to get involved with you.
Rose sent a glance towards Nervan, who was beside Yulia.

“Princess, allow me to escort you. Rose is busy with her business.”

“No. I want to be with Serbiat.”

Although Rose tried to subtly withdraw her hand, the grip holding her wrist was formidable.

Rose wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at her.

“I apologize, Princess.”

“No need to apologize. Come with me. It’s too scary to be alone with that weird guy. Right? Stay with me.”

At Yulia’s words, Nervan’s expression distorted like someone who had chewed on feces.

Yulia clung to Rose, pouting her lips like a child throwing a tantrum.

It was an embarrassing moment.

Rose looked at her awkwardly and then intuitively realized.

‘Ah… This person has no intention of letting me go at all.’

Seeing her act like this, she was probably curious about the woman staying at her fiancé’s mansion.

‘Did… Did the news of my public confession to the Duke spread to the Mederion Kingdom already?’

If so, she needed to clear up the misunderstanding.

‘I should explain that confessing to the Duke was to get rid of my ex-husband, who clung to me after the divorce.’

As the Duke’s fiancée, it must have been very unpleasant for her. Having gathered her determination, Rose nodded.

“Yes, sure. Let’s have a cup of tea.”

Rose sat across from the Duke’s fiancée, Yulia.

There were plenty of splendid pastries on the table, but it was unclear whether they were just for show or if they were actually edible.

Rose felt uncomfortable with Yulia’s gaze, staring at her with unknown eyes.

Yulia didn’t lead the conversation.

She only looked at Rose with curious eyes. There was no apparent malice, but it was uncomfortable.

‘I have to say we have no relationship.’

Why don’t you ask?

She hadn’t asked yet but was already speaking first.

It was like someone stung and was confessing.

Rose, hoping that Yulia would say something, sipped her tea.

Yulia’s blue eyes stared at Rose.

She reached for the teacup in front of her.

When Yulia grabbed the cup, Rose flinched unintentionally.

‘She won’t sprinkle me with hot tea, right?’

There was a time when Duana tried to pour water on Rose.

Thinking of that memory, Rose looked at Yulia with a tense gaze.

“It’s interesting. Lucas bringing a guest inside.”

Yulia poured hot water into her tea and sipped it.

‘She surprised me.’