CHAPTER 49
Translator: Rae
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Huge thanks to beloved Virginie for the support! (2/4)
「An indecent secret tryst in the royal palace! The duchess’s affair scandal—who is the man involved?」
Beginning with the few photographs that arrived at the ducal residence, news of the duchess’s “affair” spread through the entire capital as though the city had been waiting for it.
The black-and-white photographs that arrived for Rozella had been taken on the balcony the day of the princess’s engagement ceremony.
The photos were blurry, as though taken from quite a distance. Even so, they captured many different moments: Rozella standing alone, the instant Dante appeared, the moment their bodies happened to overlap in the frame, and even the moment they sat side by side.
It was obvious that someone had been watching Rozella from the start and had taken them deliberately.
And the “evidence” did not end there.
「…It is said that after enjoying dinner with the count and countess, the duchess left behind a special gift: a handkerchief embroidered with her name, and lace gloves. According to the testimony of a certain servant, those personal belongings were found inside garments frequently worn by the count’s son…」
Once even testimony came in from an anonymous servant said to work at the count’s estate, the scandal’s credibility seemed beyond dispute.
The edge of the daily paper crumpled violently in her hand.
“...This is unbelievable.”
Rozella’s face turned pale as she muttered in disbelief
Her belongings were found in Dante’s clothes? That couldn’t be true. It was an utterly absurd lie.
Clutching the paper, Rozella rose hastily, only to stop short before leaving her room.
Dante’s clothes. Come to think of it, when she visited the count’s estate, she had returned the jacket she borrowed from Dante. At the time, she had left the wrapping of the jacket and the preparation of the gift to Cynthia, so she had not checked the contents herself.
What if one of her things had gotten in by mistake then? But Cynthia, who was usually meticulous to a fault, would never make such a mistake. And even less likely, she would never do such a thing on purpose…
“No. The same applies to me as well. You must not trust someone so easily based on mere surface impressions.”
As the words Cynthia had once firmly warned her with came back to mind, even that certainty began to lose its strength. Hesitating, Rozella let go of the doorknob and looked back down at the paper.
…No. This is excessive paranoia. Someone is clearly determined to frame me, and here I am suspecting an innocent person.
After making up her mind, Rozella slowly read down to the final lines she had not yet finished. But the moment the printed words fully entered her sight, her breath caught in her throat.
Some of the very photographs that had arrived for Rozella had even been printed in the middle of the article. Through provocative editing, they were made to look as though the two were sharing intimate physical contact.
「Will this shocking scandal between two influential houses affect the political world as well? As controversy surrounding the duchess continues without end, attention is likewise fixed on just how far the honor of House Hayden may fall…」
A deep despair crashed down over her. Rozella sank weakly into a crouch right where she stood.
In fact, there was no one else to blame. She had known she was being watched in society for all the wrong reasons, and it was her own fault for not acting more wisely.
If only she had not asked Dante to stay with her that day when he was about to leave. Before that, if only she had not foolishly fallen into the trap at the charity party.
No, if only she had never said from the start that she would enter society, none of this would have happened. In the end, it was all the result of her own incompetence and foolishness.
…I have to fix this. But how? No matter what I do, I only ruin things, so how could I possibly solve this?
This would not end with scandal falling on her alone. She had brought disgrace upon both the ducal and the comital houses. She had caused harm to Edmund and Dante, who had shown her more kindness than anyone.
A helplessness seized her whole body, leaving her unable to do anything. She did not even have the strength to stand, and simply sank to the floor.
The aftereffects of every ordeal she had endured since becoming the duchess came crashing down on her all at once, making her body unbearably heavy. It felt as though there were no way she could possibly resolve all of this.
“...”
Crackle, crackle—the burning firewood filled the bedroom sunk in deep silence. Along with that lone sound, a self-destructive despair she could never drive away spread through her entire body from where she sat curled in on herself.
What made her even more devastated in that moment was the fact that this reality was not a nightmare that would vanish when she opened her eyes.
Rozella, who had sat with her head lowered for a long time as though unconscious, came back to herself only when she heard a knock.
“Madam, it is time for His Grace to return home.”
Cynthia’s voice felt as though it were wringing her heart. Ah, how is she supposed to explain this to Edmund? At the fear that struck her belatedly, Rozella’s lower lip twitched.
Edmund had already shown her far too much consideration. From the moment he married her until now, though he had suffered countless indignities because of her, not once had he blamed or reproached her.
But… would that still remain now? After she had stained the ducal house with the disgrace of adultery, and even damaged the relationship between their families?
Could there be a greater humiliation or betrayal for him than this?
Rozella pressed her lips tightly together and lowered her head. She simply did not have the courage to go meet him today.
***
Her long anguish and self-reproach did not subside even deep into the night.
After dismissing even the maids who had offered to help her bathe and change, Rozella sat on the sofa staring only at the dying fire and then checked the grandfather clock.
It was near midnight. The estate was silent, and even the sound of the wind was still.
Rozella weakly smoothed down her disheveled hair, then quietly rose from the sofa. Half on impulse, she left her room and stepped into the corridor.
Each step felt heavy, as though the floor beneath her had become a swamp. Even so, Rozella kept moving and at last stopped in front of Edmund’s bedroom.
She raised her hand to knock, then hesitated.
“...”
What if I wake him? He must already hate the sight of me as it is—what if I only irritate him and make him despise me even more?
As always, the swelling fear overcame even that faint impulse. Just as Rozella withdrew her hand and slowly turned away, the door opened and revealed a man behind it.
Startled, Rozella lifted her head, parting her lips slightly before closing them again.
Edmund, dressed in a long satin robe, wore no particular expression. Fortunately, it seemed she had not woken him, for the ends of his hair were damp.
“Would you like to come in?”
Edmund stepped aside at once, inviting the speechless Rozella in. Her fists clenched tight enough to wrinkle her blouse sleeves, she could only nod silently a couple of times.
Forcing her heavy steps forward, she entered the bedroom, and the door shut behind her in an instant.
The room was dim, lit only by the distant glow of the fireplace. Rozella stopped awkwardly in the middle of the carpet and lowered her gaze.
I Now that she was inside, she had no idea what to say first. Her mind felt completely blank.
"Rose, come here.”
His composed voice called to Rozella, who stood stiff as a statue. Leaning against the sofa, Edmund tilted his chin as if beckoning her to come sit beside him.
But Rozella could not move. Clenching and unclenching her sweat-damp palms several times, she finally forced out a single word.
“...I'm sorry.”
Even then, she could not bring herself to look up at him, slowly exhaling a trembling breath.
“I, handled things poorly… I caused trouble for you again, Ed.”
Apologizing would not change anything. She had to clear the misunderstanding between them, and then find a way to silence the rumors spreading through society.
“It… it all happened because I made mistakes and chose wrongly. B-but what the papers are saying isn’t entirely true.”
“...”
“Even if you don’t believe me, I understand… but still, I’ll do everything I can. I-I’ll go anywhere, explain everything I can, and then—”
In that moment, his broad embrace suddenly wrapped around her completely. Rozella’s eyes widened as she froze, unable to comprehend what was happening. His warmth and scent enclosed her so abruptly.
A soft, soothing voice brushed past her ear. His large, warm hand gently stroked the back of her head.
"You're shaking, Roze.”
“...”
“You can say those things later. For now… just stay like this.”
As he went on to talk with his gentle voice Rozella’s heart pounded harder. Drawing in a deep breath and releasing it, she managed to ask one question.
"Why…”
Why? How could he remain so calm, so kind, even at a moment like this?
“…Don’t you hate me?”
Even at such a foolish question, Edmund merely let out a soft laugh and patted her back.
"Do I look like I do?”
It was precisely because he didn’t seem that way that it was harder to understand. Resting against his chest, Rozella murmured in confusion.
“You could be angry with me… you could throw me out right now, and I wouldn’t have anything to say…”
His warmth gripped her heart so tightly that she almost wanted to look up and examine his expression inch by inch.
“Why... are you this kind to me?”
Actually, she had wanted to ask this for a long time. From the moment they reunited last summer to now, as she stood here as his wife.
Not once had Edmund shown her even a fragment of the hatred or contempt from the past.
Though she found it incomprehensible, she had avoided digging deeper. She was afraid to learn about his true feelings, which would bring a despair she could not bear.
But… now, she truly wanted to know. Why he had never changed.
"You really don't know, Roze?”
As though she were more precious than anything—why did he hold her like this, whispering so sweetly that she could not escape…?
"Or are you pretending not to know?”
His lips brushed lightly against her earlobe. His affectionate voice sank deep into her ears, as if trying to make her understand.
"You already know. The reason I’m like this.”
Her lower lip trembled faintly. This time, it wasn’t fear. It was because she didn’t know how far the emotions threatening to overflow would go.
To be frank, she had known for a long time where his heart lay. From the day they reunited until now, Edmund had never treated her as merely a contractual partner.
She had always sensed what feelings lay behind that kindness.
“Come. I’ll take you to your room.”
The man who once promised never to trouble her if she didn’t wish it hid the yearning in his eyes with practiced ease and gave her a gentle smile.
Rozella hurriedly grabbed his sleeve as he turned away without hesitation. She wanted to tell him—I too… you…
She seized both his arms as he turned back, rising onto her toes. However, that impulsive movement did not quite reach a kiss.
Unable to match his height, she only managed to press her lips to his chin before pulling away—her face flushing crimson.
“Ah, uh…”
Edmund’s pupils widened. Like someone caught off guard, he remained utterly still, staring blankly as Rozella slowly retreated.
Heat surged through her entire body. Overcome with embarrassment, Rozella lowered her head deeply.
“S-so, just now, that was…”
As she stepped back with a flimsy excuse, a strong grip suddenly seized her wrist.
Before she could even lift her head in surprise, Edmund drew her roughly. Grasping her flushed cheeks, he kissed her with a sudden, hungry urgency.
A startled gasp escaped between their connected lips, which was swallowed whole.
***
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