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Chapter 19
“Ah, so I’ve been caught, haven’t I?”
Rosalyn spoke in a bright, almost cheerful voice as she looked at Emma. Yet a dangerous aura radiated from her. It was impossible to shake off the feeling that she might draw something from her cloak and strike at any moment.
Emma squeezed her eyes shut and collapsed to the floor, suppressing the surge of killing intent.
If she was exposed here, it would be over.
Even though she wore a robe, she had already met Rosalyn twice. If things went wrong, her entire plan could be exposed.
Sensing Emma’s dangerous state, Deus hurriedly drew Rosalyn’s attention away.
“Fortunately, you didn’t come through the window this time.”
“So you were expecting me?”
Rosalyn glanced at Emma briefly before stepping inside.
Deus’s expression stiffened slightly as he realized his slip of the tongue.
Rosalyn waved her hand dismissively.
“Oh, forget it. I’m not interested in excuses. I just came to pick up a reply again today. Preferably short this time, unlike last time.”
She reached to place the envelope on Deus’s desk—but paused.
Ink stains still remained on the surface.
“Oh, that is…”
Deus quickly moved to block her view, standing between her and the desk.
Rosalyn looked at him with mild surprise. Even knowing she would come, his behavior was far too different from before.
Especially considering she had once been thrown to the ground here.
This time, she was the one who stepped back first.
“Don’t you think we’re a bit too close, Your Grace?”
Her tone was light, but sharp.
Deus panicked and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Two spans of distance is quite sufficient, I believe. At a ball, partners dance much closer than this.”
Rosalyn ignored his absurd explanation—until the word ball caught her attention.
“I heard you’ve never attended a ball, Your Grace. That’s unexpected.”
“Ah—no, I haven’t. I only meant that most people—”
“So how long will it take this time?”
She smoothly cut him off and extended the envelope.
Deus hesitated, then accepted it.
Rosalyn stepped back quickly.
“I’ll just stand over there again?”
“No, stay here. I’ll… go there to write the reply.”
“As you wish. Just be quick.”
Deus moved to the sofa.
For a brief moment, his eyes searched for Emma—but she was gone.
Relief washed over him.
Rosalyn, meanwhile, was casually examining the bookshelves, completely unaware.
Deus opened the letter.
The moment he read it, he knew something was wrong.
Why?
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
Not Emma’s. Not his. Not Chandler’s.
Then that meant—
He slowly raised his head.
Rosalyn was flipping through a book, her attention elsewhere.
“Your Grace, may I ask something?”
Her hand stopped.
The tension in the room tightened instantly.
“Freshwater pearls are extremely rare, right?”
No response.
“So they’re only handled by Marchelland, correct?”
Still no answer.
“And strangely enough, I heard that tiny freshwater pearls—no larger than a fingernail—aren’t even officially traded there. They’re usually just… given directly to you, Your Grace.”
She returned the book to the shelf.
Then, without warning, she struck the bookshelf with her palm.
BANG.
The entire shelf shook violently.
Deus shut his eyes for a moment.
“Your Grace, I saw it.”
“……”
“You were there that day. With your mistress.”
“Mi-mistress?! That’s—!”
He stopped himself too late.
A fatal mistake.
Rosalyn tilted her head slightly.
“So this is what I came to ask. Why are you having secret meetings outside while sending me as a messenger?”
She turned toward him.
“And I’ve got another question. Do maids in the ducal estate receive military training? One of them vanished so quietly I thought she died. Normally people scream when they see me. Or is it just that your estate is used to things like this?”
Step by step, she approached.
Deus swallowed hard.
There was nowhere to run.
No one to help him.
He had to face this alone.
“Now then, instead of a reply today… let’s hear some answers. Keep it short.”
Behind her mask, he could almost imagine a smile.
Like a predator staring at prey.
No. Now wasn’t the time for thoughts like that.
He had to think.
What could move her?
What could change her mind?
Then it came to him.
Gold.
“May I move for a moment?”
Rosalyn stepped back slightly.
Permission granted.
Deus quickly opened a drawer. Inside were several pouches.
He grabbed the largest one.
Then he stood and spoke.
“If you promise not to ask questions, I will compensate you for confidentiality.”
Gold poured onto the desk.
Rosalyn’s eyes widened.
Deus reached in again.
More gold spilled out.
“And if you continue delivering letters, you will be paid each time.”
“…Hah. Seriously?”
Rosalyn let out a short laugh.
What did he take her for?
She examined the gold carefully.
This was merely a probing visit—but the outcome was unexpectedly profitable.
She forced her smile down.
“Leaving aside everything else… you skipped over the explanation about the servant.”
“‘No questions’ includes that as well.”
Clever.
Rosalyn clicked her tongue.
She wouldn’t lose anything either way.
“So be it. But at this rate, I might end up visiting frequently. You can’t make a scene like this every time.”
“…Ah!”
Deus froze.
That was something he hadn’t considered.
Rosalyn laughed under her breath.
“So it was a hazard pay, huh? I thought you were just showing off your wealth.”
Then she added:
“I’ll hide the letters somewhere safe.”
“No—no, absolutely not!”
Deus raised his voice.
Rosalyn paused.
“Dangerous. Someone might see them.”
He was right.
Rosalyn nodded slowly.
“Then I’ll just have to keep testing your security every time I visit. If I get caught, I’m the one who dies.”
True enough.
Deus clenched his jaw.
He had no solution.
None at all.
Rosalyn sighed loudly.
“Honestly… I thought you were just being generous. Turns out it was danger pay.”
Then—
“Tomorrow evening, I’ll come again. You don’t even know your guard rotation times, do you?”
“I’ll learn them!”
“Honestly, after seeing it today and tomorrow, I’ll probably figure it out anyway.”
She gestured toward the gold.
“Leave that there. I’ll take it tomorrow. And tomorrow’s payment is separate, of course.”
Deus’s face darkened again.
Rosalyn laughed softly.
“Keep track carefully. You’ll be paying this regularly.”
Then, just like she arrived—
She disappeared.
A storm had passed.
Deus collapsed into his chair.
And then—
He laughed.
Helplessly.
Uncontrollably.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
He was finally starting to get closer to Rosalyn.
