“How recklessly you acted.”

He realized that the advice he had given her about the wild boar was actually meant for her.

This woman, bustling energetically around Inkheart Castle all day, appeared so small and fragile with her eyes closed.

Holding her brought a smile to his face, but seeing her this exhausted and collapsed…

His heart twinged.

Just like when Annette had collapsed in the forest, his heart ached once again.

Why did looking at her both make him smile and cause his heart to ache?

As Darius was lost in thought, it happened.

“Your Grace, we’ll take care of the lady.”

At the servant’s logical suggestion, Darius looked at the servant intently.

“She is my wife; I will do it.”

Yes, wife.

Though their marriage was a strategic alliance, they had decided on it together, without anyone else’s interference.

Annette had become his wife and his only family.

‘But how were you when you first accepted Annette as your wife? You were indifferent. Everyone was only concerned about the dowry she would bring.’

A voice inside Darius spoke to him.

‘What have you done while Annette has done so much for you?’

His heart twinged again.

Though he tried to treat her well, seeing her work so hard for the North made him feel his efforts were not enough.

He wanted to treat her better, especially since he hadn’t done so initially.

“Ugh.”

“Shh.”

Annette showed signs of waking up as the comfort was disrupted.

Darius, concerned she might wake up, gently soothed the murmuring Annette.

‘What future will Annette and I build together?’

Thinking about it made his heart flutter.

“Give me a role too, Annette.”

Darius gently soothed the murmuring Annette, cautiously.
“If you lose consciousness here, it’s over! You can’t die!”

There was a desperate voice shouting, insisting that she mustn’t let go of her lifeline.

“The fever is too high!”

“Change the wet cloth again, prepare the bed sheet! The sheet is already too damp!”

In her hazy memory, she was delirious with fever, and someone was comforting her.

“It’s okay, Rose. You’ll get better now. Just hold on a little longer.”

Even in those moments of pain and anxiety, hearing that voice somehow reassured her. It felt like she wouldn’t be in pain anymore. And just as said, Rose recovered.

After wandering at death’s door for two days, Rose was greeted by a storm of scolding.

“Rose, you foolish girl!”

“Running off from the castle like that without fear! Do you know how many people suffered because of you? When I think of the Duke and the Duchess’s hardship, I’m too embarrassed to show my face!”

Lady Temerly, who had been by Rose’s bedside, scolded her nonstop, followed by her father, Lord Temerly, and then by Sir Lucion.

“Your life was practically given back to you by Lady Annette. There’s no way to repay her great kindness.”

“Oh, if Lady Annette hadn’t found you in the forest, I dread to think what might have happened…”

Throughout the scolding, Annette was continuously mentioned. It was Annette who had found her unconscious in the forest and saved her life with proper treatment.

“If it weren’t for Annette, you would have had a huge scar from bloodletting by now! That decision was all your father’s and your brother’s!”

Annette, Annette!

Who is this woman anyway!

Even Lucion and her parents seemed utterly taken by this woman.

She had set out to make a name for herself, but instead, Annette’s reputation had risen.

“You saved my life? Do you think I’d believe that?”

Roused from her reverie, Rose snapped like a bristling cat.

“Lady Rose, the lady has gone through so much trouble nursing you…”

“No, leave it.”

Annette stopped Apple, who was getting upset. Despite Rose’s rude words, Annette was smiling.

‘Thank goodness. Her feisty spirit isn’t dead.’

Rose, who should have died, was breathing, talking, and walking.

To Annette, it was a miracle in itself.

She was overjoyed that she had managed to break the death flag set by the original story, so much so that she couldn’t get angry at anything Rose said.

‘If she had to completely change her personality to survive, I would have been in trouble.’

If the brash Rose had turned into a humble and shy character to escape her destined death in the original story, Annette would have found it too cringeworthy to bear.

“Why are you laughing!”

“I’m happy you survived.”

Annette was delighted. Seeing Rose, full of life and shouting at her, filled her with hope for her own survival.

“You were cooling down in my arms. You were shivering as if you were going to die. And when you arrived here? You were delirious with fever and talking nonsense.”

On that powerless night, Annette had vowed to save Rose. To Rose, to herself, over and over.

And Annette kept that promise. This laughter was a reward she gave herself.

“I don’t remember any of that.”

“It’s okay if you don’t remember. I kept praying for one thing. That you would be safe. That the girl I held in my arms wouldn’t die such a horrible death.”

Annette brushed Rose’s fallen hair behind her ear.

“Rose, live long and healthy. Get married, have children.”

Do a lot of things you want to do. Rewrite your story. A story that wasn’t in the original.
“What are you saying to a girl who hasn’t even been married yet!”

“I’m just giving you a blessing. That’s a nice thing to say.”

Rose’s face flushed red. Unlike Rose, who was an unmarried maiden, Annette, already a married woman, shamelessly offered her blessings.

“I’ve stayed too long. I should go now.”

“I, I…”

As Annette, smiling faintly, was about to leave the room, Rose hesitantly opened her mouth.

Everyone said Rose owed a debt to Annette. They said she should be thankful and apologize profusely, bowing her head to the ground.

But Rose didn’t want to apologize to that woman. She hated the thought of saying thank you.

That woman couldn’t have saved me. If it were me, I wouldn’t have helped. And even if I did, I would have made a big deal out of it. Maybe she’s trying to push me away from Lucion’s side because of this incident. Maybe she’s scared I’ll do something she wants?

“I’m happy you survived.”

“Stay healthy. You have to live a vigorous life from now on.”

She thought she was going to be scolded.

Treated like a silly, childish little girl.

But it wasn’t like that. Annette genuinely cared for Rose.

She was happy that Rose had regained her health, that she would continue to be around. She told her to live well.

“…Th, thank you!”

Rose barely caught the edge of Annette’s dress and bowed deeply.

“For saving me! And for being kind and not getting angry with me! Thank you.”

Annette looked intently at Rose. Rose’s fingers, holding onto the hem of her dress, fidgeted uncertainly.

Annette took Rose’s shy hand. Rose’s ears turned bright red.

“Rose, as you know, I didn’t grow up well in my family. I grew up under a stepmother, always being cautious. So, when I see young girls, I wish they could be happier than I was. I didn’t enjoy my childhood, after all.”

“…You think of that when you see me?”

Annette’s gentle comforting touch reminded Rose of a hand from her memory.

“It’ll be okay, Rose. I’ll be there with you.”

Ah, now she remembered.

“Of course. I wish your days ahead will be even brighter.”

That bright smile.

It was the smile of an angel who had nursed her during her fever.

“Be strong, Rose.”

Rose Temerly realized that day that a woman could also fall in love with another woman.

Rose’s heart, which had been set on Darius for ten years, changed direction in an instant.