🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 5
Unless the missing Diego Genomgard suddenly returned shouting, “This marriage is invalid!” and caused a scene, Rosetta would now have to live in the Solarium mansion.
Creak—
As she opened the jewelry box taken from the wooden case, soft music from a music box began to play.
It was the only personal belonging she had brought from the Pavinu estate—something left behind by her birth mother.
Gently stroking the keepsake, Rosetta took out a worn envelope from inside.
The folds were frayed from being opened so often, and the ink had faded with time.
Carefully unfolding it, she saw handwriting so familiar she could now copy it by memory.
“When you become an adult, I’ll come for you. Wait ten years.”
He had kept that promise.
Though it took three years after her coming-of-age ceremony—when she had already turned twenty.
“No wonder I never heard from him…”
A bitter smile formed on Rosetta’s lips.
“If he forgot me, then it makes sense there was no word.”
The day she barely escaped her kidnappers and returned to the Pavinu estate—
She had been confined to a detached bedroom as punishment for wandering outside.
Locked from the outside, she could only see servants during meals or cleaning.
What had allowed her to endure that isolation was this very letter.
In a world where the Mage Tower had fallen and only magitech remained, there were only three groups who could wield mana:
The Emperor of Kailus, the Inquisitors—and the Ingelos family of the West.
Among them, the Ingelos margraves were the only nobles capable of using mana.
That was why Rosetta had believed “Sol” belonged to the Ingelos lineage.
The letter that flew to her in the form of a paper airplane had been infused with mana.
“But he was Iglesia.”
When Sol’s photograph appeared in the newspaper as the new head of the Iglesia family, Rosetta gave up hope of ever seeing him again.
It was said that all the gold and treasures of the continent passed through Iglesia.
A family that stood at the very peak of wealth and power.
Someone like her—a count’s daughter, practically cast aside—could never dare to desire such a man.
So instead of longing for him, she chose to wish for his happiness.
She had truly believed that.
And yet—
“I’ll come tonight, so prepare yourself.”
Rosetta squeezed her eyes shut. Heat rushed to her face.
It was already hard to believe he had forgotten her—
But even harder to believe she would become his bride and share a wedding night with him.
And yet, the pounding of her heart told her this was no dream.
It beat so loudly it almost hurt.
There was no need to pinch herself.
Knock, knock.
At the sound, Rosetta hurriedly folded the letter and placed it back into the jewelry box.
“What is it?”
“We’ve come to assist you with your bath.”
The maids.
“Come in.”
At her permission, the door opened and five or six maids entered, carrying warm towels and fragrant oils.
Rosetta swallowed dryly.
* * *
“All finished.”
Wearing a robe of the finest silk, Rosetta sat before the vanity, looking slightly awkward.
A soft fragrance rose from her exposed skin—strong enough that even she could notice it.
“So it’s really happening.”
Her body, warmed from the bath and carefully prepared, made the reality of the wedding night sink in.
As the maids brushed her deep cherry-colored hair, a voice came from beyond the bedroom door.
“Lord Rike has arrived.”
At once, Rosetta’s cheeks flushed deeper.
Through the mirror, she saw the door open.
The first thing she noticed was his loosely worn bathrobe.
As he approached, the defined movement of his chest muscles became visible.
Above that, damp golden hair clung to his thick neck.
“He didn’t fully dry his hair…”
Wet blond hair looked darker than usual. He had plenty of time to dry it—yet he hadn’t.
At his arrival, the maids quickly withdrew.
“Let no one enter until noon.”
“Yes, Lord Rike.”
After dismissing the servants, Sol Rike met her gaze through the mirror.
The moment their eyes met—blue-gray and gold—her mind went blank.
Rosetta quickly lowered her gaze.
Thump. Thump.
Her heartbeat echoed like a drum.
“We’re really going to spend the night together?”
Hadn’t he said she only needed to fill the position?
Suddenly, the fragrance on her body felt like it was meant to seduce him.
Well… it was.
As she sat stiffly, eyes lowered, he approached and clicked his tongue.
“Do they starve their daughters in Pavinu? You’re skin and bones.”
“…Ah!”
Startled by the hand brushing along her back, Rosetta bit her tongue.
A sharp sting made her flinch.
A quiet scoff came from beside her.
As she tried to wipe away the tears that had gathered, her chin was lifted.
“Let me see.”
“Ah—”
Gripping her chin, Sol Rike forced her mouth open and inspected it.
After a moment, he tilted his head.
“No bleeding.”
“…Le-let go.”
“Let go?”
Rosetta tried to nod, but his grip didn’t budge.
Watching her tear-filled eyes, he grinned.
“I don’t want to.”
…Was he picking a fight?
Her amber eyes practically cursed at him.
After staring at her face, Sol suddenly burst into laughter.
“Ahaha!”
His hearty laugh made her widen her eyes in surprise.
“What… why is he laughing?”
He could at least let go of her chin.
Instead, he lightly toyed with it before finally releasing her under her glare.
Chuckling, he stepped back and sat on the bed, patting the space beside him.
“Come here.”
“……”
“Be good.”
“…Am I a dog?”
His tone, like he was calling a puppy, made her pout.
Still grumbling, she approached him—her tension easing slightly.
The moment she got close, he suddenly pulled her.
“Ah!”
Thud.
Regaining her senses, Rosetta realized she had fallen onto him.
Beneath her palm, she felt firm muscle move.
“I’m sorr—ah!”
As she tried to get up, his arm pulled her back again.
A sharp sting followed.
Startled, Rosetta clutched her shoulder.
“I didn’t know you grind your teeth, Lord Rike.”
“My teeth have been bothering me lately.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
Chuckling, he pulled her closer by the waist.
“More importantly, Rosetta.”
“Yes?”
“Call me by my name. Are you going to keep using formalities even in bed?”
Her cheeks flushed.
She hesitated, lips refusing to move.
“Go on.”
He clearly had no intention of letting her go until she said it.
She used to call his name so easily as a child—
But now, saying it in front of him felt strangely embarrassing.
His grip tightened.
Under his steady gaze, she could no longer avoid it.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she whispered softly—
“…Sol.”
“Again.”
“Sol.”
“Good.”
Still holding her, he leaned in and kissed her.
Smack.
Startled, Rosetta covered her mouth.
“Wh—what was that—!”
Looking at her wide-eyed expression, Sol asked calmly,
“Do you like the room?”
As if nothing had happened.
Rosetta was bewildered.
“Do I like the room?”
Of course she did.
“It’s almost strange how perfectly it suits my taste.”
The problem was—
She had only realized she liked this kind of interior today.
The “Valerie’s bedroom” felt as though it was telling her:
This is what you like.
And somehow—
That felt strange.
