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Chapter 67
“Um… Your Grace.”
Rose, nestled in the Duke’s arms, spoke cautiously.
“Was that unicorn just now really a monster?”
“Yes. A very dangerous one. There are no black unicorns in this world. If you ever encounter it again, don’t even look back—just run.”
Rose seemed completely unaware, but the situation had truly been dangerous.
“They are high-level monsters that feed on human souls. It appeared in the form of a sacred unicorn to charm people’s hearts.”
Since it rarely showed itself, even the Duke had seen it in person for the first time.
Despite the Duke’s words, Rose’s doubts only grew.
“It didn’t seem threatening at all…”
To Rose, the red-tinged unicorn’s eyes were pure and innocent.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice they had already entered the mansion.
The servants at the Artium Duke’s residence glanced discreetly at the Duke and Rose.
The Duke was half-naked, and cradled in his arms was the daughter of the Serviat Count’s family.
Rose felt intensely self-conscious under their burning gazes.
In contrast, the Duke seemed completely unfazed by their stares.
Even after walking down a short corridor, dozens of eyes swept over Rose in a dizzying fashion.
“Turn your head to me.”
The Duke whispered to Rose, who didn’t know what to do in his arms. He seemed to sense her discomfort under the servants’ eyes.
Though his intention was to help Rose, his words only made her feel more flustered.
“If I turn toward the Duke, where should I look?”
She couldn’t lift her face for fear of embarrassment, and lowering it into the Duke’s chest made her heart feel like it would explode.
After a long moment of hesitation, Rose buried her face against the Duke’s chest and closed her eyes.
The sound of heavy footsteps and his steady breathing tickled her ears.
Without realizing it, Rose swallowed hard and fidgeted with her fingers.
After some time, the Duke gently set Rose down on the floor.
“Have we arrived?”
Rose cautiously opened her eyes. She had arrived at the room the Duke had prepared for her.
“I’ll have a maid draw you a bath. You should warm up in hot water before going to sleep.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Even after Rose responded, the Duke didn’t leave and remained standing quietly.
“Why… isn’t he leaving?”
Rose met the Duke’s gaze with an awkward expression.
He seemed to be contemplating something, staring intently at her face.
“By the way… have you ever seen Luna’s tears in person?”
“Eh? No… probably not?”
Rose tried to answer firmly that she hadn’t, but her words faltered and she smiled awkwardly. While she hadn’t seen Luna’s tears herself, in the novel, the heroine—Rose—might have.
“Really never?”
Is that really important right now?
Rose nodded hesitantly at the Duke’s sudden question.
Unsatisfied with her response, he touched his chin and made a subtle, complex expression.
The Duke was troubled by today’s events.
When he told the black monster by the lake to ‘run,’ it immediately turned and fled.
The same went for Finn. It felt as though both the monster and Finn were utterly incapable of resisting Rose’s words.
“The monster… and Finn… it’s as if they couldn’t disobey Rose.”
He became certain there was a connection between ‘Luna’s tears’ and Rose.
Though the necklace was rumored to be rare, its true value was even greater. Luna’s tears contained the power to control monsters.
“Nothing else could explain it.”
Thinking Rose might also be hiding something, as if she had a secret from him, the Duke took a step back.
“…First, bathing comes first.”
With that, he called for a maid and left Rose’s room.
Rose, still dazed, greeted him awkwardly.
“….”
Left alone, she recalled the events from earlier.
“What just happened…?”
The black unicorn, Finn—both had followed her words so perfectly. Especially Finn; he obeyed her more than the Duke himself.
“Could it be… that in the original story, the heroine had a hidden ability?”
Early in the book, this had never been revealed, leaving Rose deeply confused.
She slowly pieced together the events.
“So… if that black unicorn really was a monster, as the Duke said…”
Could it be that I have the ability to tempt monsters?
She recalled how the black unicorn, which had been very affectionate toward her, had been extremely friendly. In the novel, monsters were described as grotesque, but the one she met was nothing like that.
“…It was cute.”
Murmuring to herself, Rose also questioned:
“But Finn isn’t a monster… so why did he obey me?”
She racked her brain, trying to find the connection between monsters and Finn.
The Next Day
Rose seemed unusually busy from the morning. She had finished preparing to go out, along with a letter for Jane.
She mounted the black carriage waiting in front of the mansion, her face glowing with excitement.
From his office, the Artium Duke watched Rose.
“She looks quite cheerful to be meeting that guy…”
For some reason, he felt a pang of jealousy. Rose’s other business partner—today she was going to see him, and her face was so bright.
Though Rose was simply excited to acquire a department store property, the Duke didn’t perceive it that way.
“Huh… should I secretly follow her?”
The Duke muttered to himself with a wild gleam in his eye. But his plan was thwarted before it even began.
“That would be a crime, Your Grace.”
Neran looked at him with an exasperated expression.
“What crime is following her? I’m just worried.”
“Excessive obsession will only tire a woman of you.”
“It’s not obsession—it’s protection.”
“If I were to receive such ‘protection,’ I think I’d lose all interest immediately.”
Neran’s polite face contrasted sharply with his biting words, leaving the Duke irritated.
“I won’t go. I never intended to. I’m just saying.”
The Duke frowned and glared at Neran.
“Did you gather the information I asked for?”
Neran nodded and quickly relayed the details he had gathered:
“Male. Recognized as an elite in his field, so outstanding that he even received a scouting offer from the Royal family. Born into a baron’s family, excellent background, and trustworthy—people hold him in high regard.”
As Neran praised Rose’s business partner, the Duke’s expression twisted in displeasure.
“Those guys always have a hidden agenda.”
“Is that all the information you got?”
“Yes, that’s it.”
“Just this? The important things are missing—age, height, marital status…”
Neran actually knew everything about the butler Gwen, even how many dishes were in his house. But he didn’t want to tell the Duke.
‘He’d panic if he knew Gwen was over 60 and about the same age as the Serviat daughter.’
Recently, the Duke had left more work to Neran because of Rose, which had increased his workload. This was Neran’s small act of revenge.
He smiled politely, enjoying the Duke’s discomfort.
While Neran and the Duke bickered, Rose sent her letter to Jane and waited for Gwen.
In a private room, Rose looked bright and cheerful as she waited.
A clear, jingling sound announced Gwen’s arrival, and the door slowly opened.
Gwen entered, neatly brushing back his graying hair. Rose sprang to her feet.
“Gwen!”
“Are you well?”
Gwen smiled warmly in response.
“I’ve been well. And you? Everything okay?”
Gwen simply smiled silently.
Since being dismissed by Eric, Cedric’s subordinates had visited him.
‘The master wants to continue working with you. What will you do?’
Gwen politely declined, wishing for a quiet retirement. Cedric had offered a generous severance, but Gwen refused it.
‘Since I decided to work with Rose, I cannot accept that money.’
Although it was rightful compensation, Gwen wanted to leave no room for Cedric to interfere.
For someone who didn’t know what kind of business Rose intended, this was a huge decision.
Gwen finally nodded to Rose and said:
“There isn’t much to do in an old man’s daily life.”
He didn’t mention Cedric’s visit.
“I’m so glad to meet you again. And thank you once more for agreeing to work with me.”
Rose beamed at Gwen, happy he had chosen her.
“Shall we sit and talk?”
“Yes. I’m curious about what ingenious business you’ve prepared.”
Facing Gwen, Rose began explaining her business plan, even revealing that she had the Duke’s support.
Gwen’s expression of amazement lasted from beginning to end.
‘Rose is even more impressive than I thought.’
Although he had served her for three years, he had never seen her like this.
Moreover, she had managed to make the cold, aloof Duke her ally.
He admired not just her business plan but her ability to win people’s hearts.
“Truly remarkable. You have great boldness. Asking to borrow a fortune of 10 billion Les… you must have been confident of success?”
Rose scratched her cheek shyly.
“Not confidence, but I wanted him to believe in me.”
Gwen’s eyes widened.
“I used to be extremely negative. I encouraged others to try but did nothing myself. I was too afraid to fail.”
Recalling her life in Korea, Rose spoke softly.
“A bit cowardly, right? My life never had real challenges. The safest, smoothest path always seemed best.”
She had lived diligently, graduating from school, attending a prestigious university, and joining a major corporation. Her life might have seemed enviable.
“I wanted to test my own potential. Doing nothing out of fear would be too regrettable. I might regret it for the rest of my life.”
Having once faced death, she regretted not pursuing what she truly wanted.
“So this time, I decided to bet on success, not failure. We only live once.”
Rose spoke calmly, then smiled brightly.
Gwen, initially surprised, smiled along with her.
“That’s quite a risky bet. Effort sometimes betrays us. Hard work alone cannot guarantee success.”
Gwen’s words struck true, his tone decisive.
“Acting only on ideals may leave you buried in debt.”
His hearty laughter left Rose frozen as if turned to stone.
