Chapter 22
***
His hair was combed back neatly without a single strand out of place. His rigidly stern face and rimless glasses gave him an extremely static appearance. Ian Douglas, Theodore's direct subordinate who volunteered for the dirty work, was one of the few people the Emperor trusted.
Pushing his glasses up his nose, he appeared as rigid as a board, seemingly impervious to even the slightest prick. Approaching Rosette, he spoke in a monotone voice.
"How is your health?"
"Well... not great, but not as bad as I thought."
"I see. I will do my utmost to ensure Your Highness recovers as quickly as possible."
"Yes. But I imagine you didn't come just to say that. I'm more curious about the reason you, the emperor’s close aide, came here in person..."
Rosette, who had already sensed there was another purpose behind his visit, sharply pinpointed it.
It was true. Ian pushed his glasses up once more and opened his mouth to broach the subject.
"First, His Majesty has urgently departed for the northern provinces due to a rebellion there. I ask for your understanding that I have come in his stead."
"A rebellion... That sounds rather serious."
"The rebels have allied with barbarian tribes, so it may take some time."
"Yes, it's fine."
"And I wanted to apologize first."
"Why?"
The first thing Ian spoke of was the curse Theodore bore. It was a matter so secret it was shared only among Theodore's closest confidants. No wonder his condition seemed so unusual... Rosette's expression grew increasingly stiff as she listened to Ian's words, and once she understood the reason, it all made perfect sense.
Ian had another reason why he had no choice but to reveal this fact, known only to the Emperor's inner circle, to Rosette. That reason was precisely...
"So, you're saying my ability is effective against His Majesty's symptoms?"
"Yes, and very much so... that is correct."
Theodore’s curse was nothing less than a challenge for them all, including the Emperor himself. The curse meant to protect the imperial family was, ironically, making it even more precarious.
He recounted how they had sought out unparalleled magicians and renowned physicians from every corner of the land, trying every conceivable method to lift the curse, yet naturally, none had yielded any results.
And then, that day not long ago.
After Theodore and Rosette spent a long night together, his symptoms visibly improved, and he calmly informed her that her abilities had also taken effect on him.
"So... to conclude, His Majesty's symptoms occur roughly once a month. Once the curse is lifted, he will grant you everything you desire. Furthermore, he will provide immense aid to the Kingdom of Hercia..."
"It's fine. I came here to help him anyway."
"Then... are you granting permission?"
At his question, Rosette sank into a deep well of thought.
Theodore bore a curse, and Rosette's mysterious ability purified it. Moreover, it seemed the effect was maximized only through intimate physical contact and a bond formed with him.
From the moment she left the Kingdom of Hercia and learned of her own death, Rosette had prepared herself for everything.
This current situation was something she hadn't even glimpsed in the fleeting scenes of that day's dream. It might mean her future was changing. It could also suggest she might reach an even safer future.
Besides, if that night with him had been truly dreadful, she would have refused... But for her, the night with Theodore wasn't a bad memory. If anything, the problem was that it had been better than she'd expected.
It made her understand why nobles secretly call gigolos. An unexpected thought flashed through her mind, momentarily flustering her, but after some consideration, Rosette's face slowly gave a small nod.
"Once a month, perhaps..."
"Thank you so much, Your Highness."
Ian then placed several items he'd been holding onto the side table. They were a small glass vial containing a red liquid and a beautifully crafted ring.
"An emergency contraceptive and a magical device for birth control."
"I've already taken the pill. And this ring... I'll accept it."
The contraceptive ring was one of the magical artifacts made from magic stones, a hot-selling item among the nobility. At first glance, it resembled a diamond, its cut and craftsmanship incredibly intricate and beautiful.
The original contraceptive ring with its reddish tint was a low-end model; only through special treatment could that reddish hue be made transparent like a diamond. It was a rare top-tier item among magical artifacts, likely costing a fortune.
Rosette gazed at the ring, crafted to fit her hand perfectly, with a meaningful look.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I understand. I shall take my leave now."
Having received her permission, Ian bowed respectfully and departed.
Thus, their secret transaction was concluded.
***
After arriving in the Kaisen Empire, Rosette, who had been staying in a secondary palace with a small garden, had recently moved to a new room within the Emperor's palace, adjacent to the room where Theodore resided.
This move had been agreed upon by Rosette herself, as both Theodore's curse and her deal with him demanded secrecy.
When she first entered this place, she was utterly stunned by its scale and luxury, incomparable to anything she had known before.
She had prided herself on enjoying the finest things as the sole princess of the Kingdom of Hercia, but this was incomparable.
The high ceilings, over five meters tall, were adorned with decorations woven from tiny jewels, and antique art hung on the walls. Every single accessory placed in the room clearly showed meticulous attention to the finest quality.
Its antique elegance was so profound that it could easily be called the empress's chamber, leaving her speechless at first.
"His Majesty must think of you very fondly, Princess."
Charlotte, the maid who had grown noticeably closer, had been beaming ever since the move. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, as if she held some firm misunderstanding. Yet, Rosette's expression remained rather composed, so Charlotte cautiously glanced at her before speaking.
"Hmm, hmm. His Majesty may have a fearsome reputation, but he seems warmer-hearted than anyone. He greatly expanded the facilities for unwed mothers created by this war... and he cares deeply about the people's welfare, doesn't he?"
"That's true."
"And what about His appearance? He holds his own against the most popular male actor at the Conte Theater. Among our servants, they say just seeing him from afar makes their hearts flutter... You have no idea how much of a topic of conversation he is."
"You used to say he was scary."
"If you take away the scary parts, he's actually perfect. Honestly, when I first saw the two of you together, I might have had a premonition. The princess came all the way to the empire for a peace treaty, but perhaps... the two of you bearing fruit together is actually the greatest peace treaty of all..."
Charlotte's face, flushed pink, was already soaring on wings of imagination. She smiled, her expression rapturous, as if she'd already lived through countless scenarios in her mind.
"That will never happen, Charlotte. It's just temporary assistance."
Her words made Charlotte's face flush mischievously, but she seemed to think it no big deal, accepting Rosette's reasoning that she would gradually open her heart.
Meanwhile, unlike Charlotte, Rosette's mind was somewhat complicated.
The reason was none other than her dream. The painting hanging in the farthest corner of the room she had newly taken up residence in was the very one she had seen in her dream.
Moreover, it was the one that had been beside the woman named Theodore who would appear in the future.
Rakiel's painting, The Smile
A crescent moon was freely painted in his uniquely metaphysical style. Rakiel's works were paintings traded at astronomical prices even within the kingdom.
Now that he was deceased, any painting he had created commanded astronomical prices, with demand so high among nobles that the asking price was practically whatever they were willing to pay.
In short, it was as if Rosette had ended up using the room that would one day belong to the woman who would appear as Theodore’s lover in the future. She pondered endlessly what this could possibly mean, but there was no way an answer about the future would come.
Lost in these thoughts, Rosette's heart grew heavy upon reaching her conclusion.
His powerful curse and the immense weight of her mission. She could only look around and feel it keenly. She would do her utmost to change the future. And this space was the result of her feeble struggle.
Charlotte, smiling brightly, unaware of her complex emotions, stepped aside at the arrival of the emperor’s aide, Ian Douglas.
"Are you satisfied with your newly assigned room?"
"It's... too large for me to stay in."
"It is a room for both Your Highness and His Majesty."
"Yes, I am well aware. I understand the gravity of my duties."
"His Majesty desires more than anyone else that you be comfortable. He also instructed us not to forget to grant you whatever you desire."
"The rebellion hasn't been suppressed yet, has it?"
It was her true feelings, bursting out without Rosette realizing it. Still, it was a question revealing her lingering disappointment that after spending a night hotter than any lovers’, he had only sent his subordinate. Theodore had gone north on important business, and such private matters were rightly handled by his subordinate.
Even though her mind knew this was only natural, the sudden emergence of that feeling left her flustered too.
Rosette spoke awkwardly to Ian, who was pondering how to respond.
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