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Chapter 4: You’ve Got a Long Way to Go
When she turned around, a woman was standing there with a sharp smile in her eyes. Surrounded by five or six maids, she had elegantly curled blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. The woman opened a lavish fan to cover her lips.
Rose recognized her immediately.
‘Arachne de Callon.’
She was the Second Princess, born of the First Empress, two years older than Rose. As the woman looked down on her with smug superiority, something clicked in Rose’s mind—when she had first opened her eyes here, she’d been bedridden.
‘So that was Arachne’s doing.’
In the original story, it was briefly mentioned that the Second Princess tormented the Third Princess whenever she could. One of those incidents involved Arachne pushing Rose into the palace lake. Since it happened when they were alone, no one else ever knew.
“I heard you caught a cold after looking like a drowned rat. With that kind of disgrace, how can you call yourself royalty?”
Her comment was layered in false innocence, and while Rose was inwardly irritated, she responded calmly.
“Thanks to your concern, I’m fully recovered.”
“And what business did you have with Father?”
Rose quickly smoothed over the awkward expression that almost surfaced. She had let slip that she’d had an audience with the Emperor—information that should’ve been kept to herself.
‘Of all times, she just had to catch me coming out of the audience chamber.’
“I simply went to express my gratitude for recovering.”
She replied lightly. Arachne frowned, but Rose wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. Facing a childlike princess consumed by jealousy and spite was more tiresome than scary.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
“Who said you could leave yet?”
“Do you have more to say?”
“A princess walking around without attendants? How improper. Oh, right—wasn’t it that you don’t have any houses that support you?”
Rose looked at her with dull, unimpressed eyes.
“Really, who would offer their noble daughters to serve an incompetent princess like you? There’s not a shred of nobility to be found in you.”
Arachne paraded her entourage of noble-blooded maids as if to flaunt her superiority. Compared to that, Rose didn’t have a single maid. She had no faction backing her—it was only natural. Not that she found it inconvenient.
But living in the imperial palace without power was like walking on a frozen lake. The houses that backed the royals were the very foundation of their power—and determined whether they lived or died. So for now, she had to tread carefully.
But…
‘Seeing her strut around like that makes me really not want to just let it go.’
Rose smirked.
“Aren’t you walking around without attendants too, Sister?”
“Excuse me? Can’t you see those attending me? Did your eyesight go along with your cold?”
“Hmm… I must’ve had bad eyesight that day. You know, when I thought you didn’t have anyone with you.”
At the mention of the lakeside incident, Arachne stiffened. Rose smiled sweetly.
“The weather’s so nice today. I was thinking of taking a dip in the water. It’s actually perfect that I don’t have anyone to stop me.”
Arachne’s eyes widened as if she’d just heard utter nonsense. It was still April, and the weather, despite being sunny, was chilly. But at Rose’s next words, Arachne clutched her fan so tightly it looked like it might snap.
“The imperial lake sounds like just the place, don’t you think?”
“Ha! Planning to fall in again?”
“Fall in? What an odd way to put it.”
“I’m just worried your scattered attention span might get you dunked in again.”
Rose narrowed her eyes.
“And how did you know I fell into the lake, Sister?”
“……!”
“Strange. Everyone in the palace just thinks I caught a cold. So how did you know it was from falling into the lake?”
The maids murmured in surprise. Arachne’s expression twisted noticeably, and Rose felt a wave of satisfaction.
‘She can look down on me all she wants, but if word gets out she hurt me directly, it’ll be trouble.’
No imperial family ever liked rumors of siblings harming each other, especially when heirs were precious and few. Even a powerless princess was still royalty.
“I-I was just speaking generally, because a lake is, well, water! Everyone knows you got soaked and fell ill!”
“Oh, I see. In that case, how about you come along with me? Out of concern, of course.”
“Come along?”
Arachne hesitated, but quickly puffed herself up, probably believing her maids would protect her.
“Fine. I’ll humor your little game. Just don’t catch another cold, hm?”
“Wow. I’m honored you’d join me.”
Rose smiled sweetly, and for a moment, her blue eyes glinted like icy blades.
“But are you sure you’re okay with it? This time, there will be lots of witnesses. The rumor might spread.”
“What rumor?”
“That Princess Arachne pushed Princess Rose into the lake.”
“H-how dare you!”
Rose suddenly stepped closer, whispering softly into her ear.
“This time, I’ll jump in myself.”
Even she was surprised by how emotionless her voice came out.
“If His Majesty hears the rumors, I imagine he’d be quite upset… don’t you think?”
Arachne recoiled in horror.
“So there’s no need for such effort on your part.”
Rose brushed her peach-colored hair behind one shoulder and turned without hesitation. She cast one final glance at the pale, trembling Arachne and twisted her lips into a cold smile.
‘Sweetie, if you want to beat me, you’ve got a long way to go.’
This wasn’t the same obedient Rose from before.
‘Because someone else is living in this body now.’
Compared to the slippery investors she’d dealt with in her past life, a bratty princess was nothing. Only after Rose disappeared down the corridor did Arachne come to her senses, furiously slamming her fan on the ground.
“That little—!”
“P-please calm down, Your Highness!”
The maids tried to stop her, but Arachne stomped and crushed the fan in a rage.
“Find out what she reported to His Majesty!”
“Wh-what? How—?”
“Do I have to explain everything? Bribe the Emperor’s attendants, plant spies—whatever it takes, just find out!”
* * *
As Rose strolled down the long corridor, she reached a garden lined with towering trees. A soft, sweet floral scent wafted through the air. Occasionally, the fountain would spray a burst of water into the air. Rose closed her eyes and listened to the sound.
She felt alive.
Even though this world was from a novel, it all felt strangely familiar—like she had always belonged here.
‘Time to adjust to this body.’
She recalled the moment of her death. The jarring impact of a car crash, the sensation of sinking into the ocean, cold water invading her lungs, freezing numbness crawling over her limbs.
Her chest tightened.
She never imagined her life would end so suddenly. As she mourned that bitter truth, a low voice reached her ears.
“Your Highness?”
Arsène stood before her in a light tunic, likely just returning from early morning training. Through the thin fabric, his firm physique was faintly visible.
“Just finished training?”
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
He noticed her slightly red eyes.
“How are you feeling after yesterday?”
“Oh, I’m fine. Nothing to worry about.”
She didn’t want him remembering the image of her soaked and covered in feed, so she acted even more composed.
“Don’t be too hard on your trainee knights. It was my carelessness.”
“You’re blaming yourself, Your Highness?”
“What, did you think the dumb youngest princess wouldn’t even acknowledge her own mistakes?”
Arsène gave her a strange look.
“I mean, I’ve been locked away in the palace all this time. It makes sense people think that. But I’d like to change that reputation—ridiculous as it is.”
In truth, she planned to use the upcoming inauguration to rally her own power.
‘And bring you to my side.’
She had to recruit this man, the future head of the Imperial Knights. After yesterday’s rejection, it would take serious effort.
But then, the loyal knight said something unexpected.
“I’ve never thought that way.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve never judged Your Highness by those rumors.”
His tone was unusually sincere, and Rose blinked in surprise.
“I was merely caught off guard—by how kindly you spoke to your subordinates.”
He paused, then added quietly:
“I don’t have a very good reputation, after all.”
So his coldness had been out of concern—for her.
‘So it wasn’t because he hated me…’
Rose’s heart swelled. Despite the discrimination he must’ve faced, he had worried about her. He truly was as upright as she remembered from the novel.
“Well, I’m not one to believe idle gossip.”
A smile crept onto her lips.
‘Arsène… you don’t know how much I already adore you.’
“Besides, if I believed bad rumors, I’d have to admit I’m foolish too. My reputation isn’t all that great either.”
Sensing a good moment to recover from their awkward start, Rose extended her hand out of habit.
“Looks like we’re in the same boat. We’ll be seeing each other often, so let’s get along.”
Arsène blinked. That sounded like they’d be seeing each other a lot. But why would a knight cross paths often with a princess? He stared at her pale hand.
Just then, a playful breeze carried the scent of apricot blossoms. Her coral hair swayed, flower petals danced like spring rain. It was April, when the early roses were in full bloom.
The knight gently took her hand, bringing it to his lips. Rose flinched slightly at the unfamiliar gesture.
His eyelashes, long and delicate, cast shadows on his cheeks.
Then his deep black eyes opened and locked onto hers.
A sense of enchantment surged—like she might be swept into that gaze forever.
His lips parted.
“May the blessing of the fairies be with you. Arsène Wig de Lafayette, at Your Highness’s service.”
