Having been slapped by Cedric, Eric felt a strong urge to grab his father’s collar.

He thought he could escape from his father’s grasp once he became a Count, but his father always treated Eric like a child and never fully transferred power to him.

He thought that once he inherited the title, he could live as he wanted, so he endured and endured.

However, the complete independence he wanted was not there.

He forcibly hid his trembling arm with anger and muttered,

“I will take responsibility for this matter and conclude it.”

“Conclude what. What on earth can you do? You have nothing but womanly duties.”

Cedric looked at Eric as if he was pathetic. In his eyes, Eric was nothing more than a child.

In his childhood, Eric was physically weak. The prophet said that he must seize power at the same time as his marriage, otherwise he will have a short life.

Following the prophet’s words that he must marry before he turns twenty, Cedric hurriedly married his son and transferred his title.

If only my son hadn’t insisted on marrying Rosé, if there hadn’t been such a prophecy, he would never have allowed Rosé to be his daughterinlaw.

“Damn Serviat bastards.”

Cedric spat out a curse towards Rosé’s family and once again spoke to Eric,

“Why on earth did you marry that halfwitted child, tsk. I will give you till the end of the month, sort things out with that child immediately. After all, I already know that you never truly cared for that child.”

“…Right.”

A spark of rebellion rose from one side of Eric’s chest, like a snake writhing in smoke.

Despite his polite response, Eric’s eyes sparkled with madness.

At that time, at the mansion of the Archduke Artem.

“Madam has quite a thorough personality, I see.”

The sight of Rosé, dressed not only in a wig but also in maid’s clothes, was enough to surprise him.

“Yes. I thought there would be nothing good if I was caught sneaking around here.”

Rosé answered, brushing her shoulderlength bob hair.

“Is it not uncomfortable?”

“A bit. But it’s okay. I’m much more comfortable this way.”

The Archduke Artem stared at Rosé.

He thought she looked familiar, but he didn’t realize she looked this much like her.

‘Is it because of the wig, she’s a complete spitting image.’

His pet dog ‘Fin’, with its gorgeous golden fur, naturally came to mind. The Duke overlaid the image of Fin on Rosé’s face.

Following the flow of the Archduke Artem’s consciousness, he slowly reached out and touched her hair.

Rosé was quite taken aback by the Duke’s sudden behavior of stroking her hair.

Unlike the fluffy fur of Fin, his fingertips felt the smooth sensation of a wig.

Archduke Artem quickly withdrew his hand, realizing his mistake.

“I was rude. I apologize.”

What a rude action. Suddenly stroking her hair.

It was actually embarrassing to say he had stroked it.

He had thoughtlessly stroked Rosé’s hair as if petting his own dog.

“It reminds me of a pet I keep.”

Yes…… I know without you saying it. Your touch felt as if you were treating a puppy.

It was the first time in her life. To be treated like a ‘pet’.

‘How much do a person and a puppy have to resemble for…….’

Rosé was complaining inside, but she couldn’t show it outwardly. She straightened her disheveled hair and forced a smile.

“It’s okay.”

Rosé’s awkward laughter, unable to hide her discomfort, echoed. Rosé began searching for something in her robe.

“Ah, I found it.”

A small gift box was placed on her palm. It was neatly wrapped.

“Oh, I meant to give it to you at the last party, but I couldn’t.”

Archduke Artem, the social outcast, who invited her for the first time. It was a small gift prepared by Rosé for him.

“It seems I was out of my mind that day. I can’t believe I didn’t give you something this important.”

It could happen.

Facing a duke who had turned the table in front of her was not enough, she had also witnessed the death of Count Bled.

Archduke Artem seemed quite surprised that Rosé had prepared a gift for him.

“So…… you prepared this gift for me?”

“Yes, it’s not expensive, so don’t feel burdened and accept it.”

Archduke Artem had quite a startled look on his face.

In fact, the reason he sent Rosé an invitation was because he was curious about how she found out that Luna’s tears were fake, so he invited her to the party just for that reason.

“He didn’t invite with the best intentions, yet he even brought a gift as a token of gratitude.”

“You didn’t need to do this.”

The Grand Duke, feeling undeservedly sorry, murmured like a whisper. The Grand Duke, who was lowering his eyes while slowly blinking his long eyelashes.

He, who was staring at Rosé’s hand, was indeed moved by Rosé’s sincerity, but it did not seem so in Rosé’s eyes.

It seemed as if he was just glaring at the gift on her palm with a cold gaze.

It was enough to make Rosé, who was sitting face to face, feel fear.

‘Does he not like it?’