Chapter 67
“Could you bring me a shawl? I’m feeling a bit chilly.”
“Are you cold, Miss? This place has been empty for a while, so it might be cooler even during the day.”
“If you go to my room, there’s a light purple shawl in the wardrobe on the right side of my dressing room. Please bring it for me.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll be right back!”
The maid answered cheerfully and hurried out of the hall. Rosen pretended to check the harmony between the curtains and the table decorations until the maid disappeared completely.
In truth, the light purple shawl was not in the right wardrobe but buried deep in the middle drawer. As this maid was not one who had served her for a long time, it would take her some time to find it.
During that time, Rosen planned to confront Iscarion and get a clear understanding of his intentions.
After the maid left to fetch the shawl, Rosen quickly exited the grand hall and walked swiftly in the direction of the lord’s office.
As she rounded a corner in the corridor, she saw some maids approaching from the opposite direction and quickly hid behind a large statue. The maids carrying bundles of laundry passed by her hiding spot, chattering as they went.
“I can’t believe His Highness is finally getting married! I hope we get a big bonus to celebrate.”
“But when will Miss Rosénia leave the annex? Is she still there?”
“Well, with the wedding soon, she should be out soon. And we shouldn’t call her Miss anymore, should we?”
Their words made Rosen’s heart sink.
So everyone in the castle knew she had been confined to the annex and subjected to such things. They also knew she had to leave when Iscarion’s bride arrived…
A deep sense of humiliation washed over her, making her face burn.
“Oh, right. Didn’t the head maid mention it during the morning briefing? She’s not to be called Miss anymore…”
The maids’ voices faded as they moved further away. Even after their chatter was out of earshot, Rosen remained still for a while.
Realizing she didn’t have time to waste, she hurried on. The cool autumn breeze that had been making her feel lonely and empty now felt like it was freezing her heart.
‘Could Iscarion’s bride be that foreign noblewoman everyone is talking about? The one he gifted a grand mansion to…’
Unable to shake off thoughts of him, Rosen arrived at the lord’s office with a heavy heart.
She cautiously pushed open the slightly ajar door and found the room empty. It seemed Iscarion had just stepped out, as the teacup on the edge of the antique mahogany desk still held some warmth.
Approaching the empty desk, she glanced around until her eyes landed on a particular document lying in the center.
‘That’s…’
A stiff piece of paper bordered with luxurious golden patterns. The document, signed in Iscarion’s elegant handwriting, was a marriage certificate. Her heart dropped like a stone, churning with waves of emotion.
The space for the bride’s signature was still blank, and Rosen, avoiding the sight of it, turned her gaze elsewhere. In a small box nearby, various documents were neatly organized.
The bottom drawer was slightly open, indicating that old documents were being sorted for disposal.
Picking up the top document from the box, Rosen realized it was proof of her engagement to Iscarion from twelve years ago. She quickly put it down, recalling a vivid memory as if it had happened yesterday.
“Rosie, you remember how I taught you to write your name, yes? Just write it here next to mine.”
“Mm, done…!”
She had proudly written her name in clumsy handwriting as he had taught her.
“A betrothal means you promise to get married when you grow up. Like making a pinky promise. Understand?”
“So, I’ll live with you later too? Forever and ever?”
“That’s right, forever and ever.”
“Wow…!”
Iscarion seemed to have taken out documents related to Rosen with the intent of disposing of them before his marriage.
She placed the engagement certificate back and picked up a green star-shaped piece of origami paper below it. On the back, a short, childish letter was scribbled in a young child’s handwriting.
[Brother, I really really reeeeally like you. Let’s aaaalways be together.]
Ah…
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