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Chapter 66
“Suddenly… what is that even supposed to mean?”
She doubted her own ears. Was it really what Rivera had said—about contraception?
But Roze was sure she hadn’t misheard. Rivera had just kept talking about contraception, one thing after another.
“If you have a baby without a plan, it’s going to be really tough. Your mood will swing because of the hormones, you won’t eat properly, and if things go wrong, you might even get depression.”
Rivera listed all the risks of pregnancy while gripping Roze’s hand even tighter.
“Do you understand what I mean, honey?”
No… I don’t understand…!
Roze didn’t know how to react to Rivera suddenly bringing this up. These were things she hadn’t even heard from her parents in her previous life—yet here she was, hearing them from Rivera.
Her eyes darted around in confusion.
“Rivera, I’ll go now.”
At the call of the demon, Rivera whispered to Roze one last time.
“I trust you, my daughter.”
She shook her clenched fist at Roze as if to give her encouragement.
Frozen in place, Roze watched the Count and Countess Serviat leave.
Even after they left, Roze remained standing there, dazed.
Artem Duke gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
Startled, Roze snapped out of her daze at the Duke’s touch.
“I’ll show you around the mansion now.”
Artem smiled as he reached out to her, but the moment Roze saw his face, Rivera’s words flashed through her mind.
“Make sure to use contraception, darling.”
Roze’s face instantly turned crimson.
What kind of misunderstanding is this?!
Blushing like a ripe tomato, she covered her fiery cheeks with both hands and lowered her head.
“Why is my face so hot? Am I running a fever?”
As the Duke reached to touch her forehead, she flinched and stepped back.
“I-I’ll… just go wash my face for a moment!”
Without even meeting his eyes, she bolted away.
Roze washed her face with cold water and stared at herself in the mirror.
Rivera’s voice kept ringing in her ears like a spell.
“You’re crazy… you’re crazy!”
Why did Rivera’s words keep popping up in her mind?
And it wasn’t just the words—lewd thoughts filled her head. Roze had never imagined the Duke that way before, and the situation embarrassed her to no end.
“Why would he misunderstand that way?”
The Duke hadn’t even been particularly kind to her yet…
Roze tapped her cheeks and shook her head.
Focus. Don’t overthink it. He probably didn’t hear anything anyway.
He must have thought it odd that she ran off so suddenly.
Roze took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
She wiped the water from her face roughly and stepped out into the long corridor.
“I came this way earlier…”
As she tried to retrace her steps, she felt a strange, hot gaze on her back.
Glancing over her shoulder, Roze came face to face with a pair of glowing red eyes.
The creature peeking in through the window was horse-shaped.
“A horse?”
Had it escaped from the stable?
Its jet-black body had no bridle, and it stood calmly, staring at Roze with huge eyes.
“Are you lost?”
Roze approached it cautiously.
The horse didn’t flinch or run away.
Staring closely, her eyes widened.
A horn… could it be a unicorn?
Unlike an ordinary horse, it had a sharp horn atop its head—there was no doubt it was a unicorn.
The unicorn leaned toward Roze as if seeking attention.
Roze gently patted its face.
“Wow… I didn’t know black unicorns existed.”
As she stroked the unicorn, a loud bark echoed somewhere.
Woof! Woof woof!!
The fierce voice belonged to Finn. His fur bristled as he charged aggressively.
“Finn?”
Roze had only ever seen him wagging his tail cutely—seeing him rush like this was startling.
The unicorn’s calm gaze sharpened as if preparing to face Finn. It lifted a hoof and stomped threateningly.
“It’s okay, calm down.”
Roze grabbed the excited unicorn’s neck to soothe it and shouted at Finn.
“Finn! Stop! You can’t be bullying our friends.”
Finn froze mid-charge, baring his teeth. The unicorn took this opportunity to run away.
“Ah… my eyes… why do they suddenly hurt?”
Roze, watching the unicorn flee, squeezed her eyes shut in sudden pain.
Rubbing her eyes, she squinted toward where the unicorn had vanished.
A red glow shimmered before her, almost calling her.
What’s that?
Like being hypnotized, Roze followed it into the garden.
Woof! Woof woof!!
Hearing Finn barking behind her, she instructed him,
“Finn, don’t follow. Stay there. If you chase it, the unicorn might get scared and run again.”
Eeeeeeek! Eeeek! Woof!!
Finn seemed to understand and slumped slightly, restless but staying put, circling anxiously as he barked at Roze.
Roze followed the shimmering light. After passing a manicured garden, a dense forest appeared.
The sun was setting, making the forest feel eerie.
A calm lake lay beneath the dark trees, reflecting a faint full moon.
“Ah… creepy. I think I’ll just go back.”
The red glow disappeared, and Roze turned back toward the mansion.
Hiiiiing!
Turning, she saw the unicorn raising its head toward her.
“So you were here. You were scared, huh?”
Roze stroked the unicorn’s face. The creature let out a plaintive sound, almost like a complaint.
Looking into its eyes, Roze felt the pain in her eyes again.
“Ah… my eyes… again…”
Rubbing her eyes, she heard Finn and the Duke calling in the distance.
“Roze!”
Woof! Woof woof!!
She turned to see the Duke running toward her with a grim expression. Finn, resembling his master, also looked ready for battle.
“Duke!”
Roze waved cheerfully, but the Duke’s expression was full of worry. He shouted,
“Get away from that thing!”
“Excuse me? This unicorn?”
Was it too precious to touch? Startled, Roze pulled back her hand.
The Duke frowned and shouted,
“That’s not a unicorn—it’s a monster!”
He drew his sword with a cold glare, advancing toward her.
Roze stepped in front of him, blocking his path, and hugged the unicorn.
“It’s dangerous. Let go right now.”
This was the most terrifying expression she had ever seen on the Duke. Roze instinctively stepped back, forgetting the lake behind her.
One step… two steps… and—
Splash!
“Ahhh!”
She fell into the lake before she could take three steps.
“Roze!”
The Duke ran toward her, and the unicorn also charged into the water, seemingly to protect her.
Even in the water, Roze shouted at the black unicorn,
“Don’t come this way. Run!”
The unicorn splashed through the water, hooves clattering, then reared and fled to the opposite side.
The Duke pulled Roze out of the water and ordered Finn to chase the unicorn.
“Finn, go after it.”
Woof woof!
Finn bristled and prepared to follow—but then,
“Finn, don’t. Sit!”
Roze’s command made Finn stop mid-movement.
It… worked?
Roze blinked in disbelief. Finn, a hunting monster dog, had obeyed instantly.
The Duke looked at the soaked Roze. Her wet dress clung to her body, outlining her figure.
Without hesitation, he took off his shirt and approached her.
Even shirtless, he acted naturally, but Roze couldn’t. She swallowed hard, staring at him with trembling eyes.
Though she had seen his body before, this time her heart felt like it would burst.
Was it because of Rivera’s words? Roze couldn’t calm her pounding heart.
The Duke leaned toward her and draped his shirt over her shoulders.
The shirt fluttered around her, wrapping her body.
“…Thank you.”
Her heart felt like it would jump out of her chest. She lowered her head, cheeks blazing, and murmured in a tiny voice.
“The northern nights are cold. Let’s get inside before you catch a cold.”
Rising, the Duke extended his hand to her. Roze nodded and grasped it.
The Duke frowned, noticing something.
“You don’t have shoes.”
Dazed from the Duke’s presence, Roze hadn’t realized she was barefoot.
“Oh… my shoes must have fallen into the lake,” she said, pointing.
“Don’t worry. I’ll prepare new ones for you.”
Then, he lifted her effortlessly.
“D-Duke?”
Roze was suddenly in his arms, her head spinning. Her damp skin pressed against his, making her dizzy.
“Hold on tight or you’ll fall.”
He secured her arms around his neck. Roze froze in an awkward position, unsure where to look.
I can’t…
Even in a clothed man’s arms, she would be embarrassed—but now he was shirtless.
Her eyes scanned him in vain, then she finally closed them.
