Chapter 87: The Real Saintess
by rosalie“Your Highness, we have arrived.”
The voice of the imperial servant came from outside the carriage.
“Shall we get off?”
At Crown Prince Arthur’s words, Rosetta fidgeted inside the carriage.
“Your Highness, will I really be alright? Would a commoner like me fit in at the imperial palace?”
“No one would fit the imperial palace better than you, Miss Rosetta. I know that well.”
Rosetta blushed as she took Arthur’s outstretched hand.
‘…Does His Highness like me?’
Neither Duke Xavier Auguste, Pope Melvin, nor even Rexton had shown interest in her.
She was well aware of the intense gazes from many men directed at her until now, and it quite hurt her pride.
All this time she had only thought about serving the Madam, who was the Saintess, considering her a lifesaver, but now it felt like she was suddenly wide awake.
The imperial palace was magnificent everywhere. Her eyes were dazzled by dozens of chandeliers, expensive-looking statues and their pedestals, and wall decorations engraved with royal patterns. Rosetta took in every splendid and enchanting detail of the palace.
Her heart raced as the same desire she had felt when seeing the Duke’s castle resurfaced.
‘Ah, if only I could live in a place like this, I’d sell my soul for it.’
As Rosetta was enjoying the feeling of walking on clouds while holding the Crown Prince’s hand, a man swiftly approached and bowed before her.
“Your Highness, you’ve arrived?”
“Yes. Chief Chamberlain, prepare refreshments in my quarters.”
“Yes.”
Watching the chief chamberlain withdraw respectfully, Rosetta’s mouth fell open. Being by the Crown Prince’s side meant even such haughty nobles would bow to her.
Arthur led Rosetta to his private chambers. It was a room as white as baby breath flowers.
The cushioned chair looked as plush as one the high Madam would sit in, and everything from the curtains to the bed was of the highest quality, enough to make her eyes widen.
After seating Rosetta in that cushioned chair and withdrawing his hand, Arthur sat in the chair opposite her.
“Are you alright when that man bumped into you earlier?”
“Ah, that man with glasses? Yes, I’m fine. I’m just upset about my dress being like this.”
Looking closely, there was a dark footprint on the hem of her dress.
“Oh dear.”
“And it was a gift from Your Highness…”
“That stupid man must have stepped on it when he fell.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have helped him find his glasses. I should have just ignored it.”
Rosetta frowned, seemingly genuinely upset.
“Don’t worry about such an insignificant man. I chased him away, didn’t I?”
“Yes…”
Soon, the side door of the chamber opened, and maids entered pulling a tray cart with refreshments. Plates beautifully arranged with cookies and honey tea were placed on the table.
“Oh, these are all things I like…”
“I knew.”
“Pardon?”
Rosetta tilted her head. First in Berg, and now here – how did His Highness know her tastes so precisely?
“Curious?”
“Yes? Yes. I’m very curious how Your Highness knows my taste so well.”
After confirming the maids had left with the wagon, Arthur called to her in a low voice, seeing her astonished gaze.
“Miss Rosetta.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Arthur reached out and placed his large hand over Rosetta’s, gently caressing it.
“!”
“No one knows the fire in your heart better than I do.”
“Your Highness.”
Watching Rosetta’s thin eyelids trembling with emotion, Arthur continued.
“You were the Saintess. I saved you at Pins Square.”
“…What an interesting story. Hohoho, me, the Saintess? But it was Madam who saved me at Pins.”
Rosetta smiled broadly, happy just hearing Arthur’s story.
A story where she was the Saintess, not Madam Yuria! It was enchanting.
“That’s not all. You were the Crown Princess. My future Empress who would rule this empire.”
Though his words were absurd, it was a pleasant story as he spoke with a gentle smile.
“Hahaha, please stop teasing me with made-up stories.”
Arthur rose slowly with an upturned smile and eye-smile. He walked to the sofa where Rosetta sat.
There was a dark shadow over Arthur’s expression that had been kind and gentle until now.
Arthur wrapped one hand around her exposed white shoulder.
“In the past I know, you were the Saintess, Rosetta. Not Yuria Graham.”
“What? What do you mean…”
“This isn’t made up – it really happened. And you loved me deeply.”
“!”
Rrrip! The hand that had been caressing Rosetta’s shoulder moved down and roughly tore the back of her dress.
As the torn fabric hung loose in the back, Rosetta’s back and side were clearly exposed.
Rosetta quickly grabbed the fabric that was about to fall to her chest. Her face, which usually didn’t startle easily, turned pale.
“Your Highness? What are you doing!”
Rosetta screamed, covering her front with both arms. Arthur withdrew his hand and pointed to her side with an unperturbed face.
“There’s a red mark there below your br*ast, isn’t there?”
“H-how do you know about that?”
“You didn’t have it when you were young, but it appeared as you grew up. You were upset about it while lying beneath me, your husband, trying to seduce me.”
“……!”
Her black pupils shook violently. Arthur’s golden eyes curved widely as he gazed at them with amusement.
“I know everything about you, Rosetta, even your most intimate parts.”
“Was I… really the Saintess? Not the Madam?”
Arthur’s sneer covered her trembling voice.
“Kuk, what Madam? Shall I tell you more if you don’t believe it?”
Arthur’s hand gently caressed Rosetta’s cheek.
“You’re a bundle of desires. In fact, you’re not quite satisfied with your current situation, are you?”
“…Yes. That’s right.”
Rosetta didn’t deny it. Rather, Arthur’s words felt relieving.
“Then… what about Madam, no, the Duchess? Besides, I don’t have any abilities to be a Saintess!”
“As far as I know, that woman was someone without presence. I don’t know how she appeared at Pins Square with the Duke, but one thing is certain.”
Rosetta’s slender, clean-lined Adam’s apple moved greatly. She stared tensely at her own reflection in his cold golden eyes.
“It wasn’t by chance that she appeared there. Is it really true that she saved you?”
“Ugh… you mean she’s not my benefactor?”
“Not a benefactor, but a thief who stole what was yours.”
“A thief… I’m the real Saintess…?”
Arthur’s long fingers carefully tucked Rosetta’s hair behind her ear.
“Correct. You are the real one.”
Veins bulged on Rosetta’s hands covering her front.
As the answers she wanted to hear poured from Rosetta’s pretty lips like water from an overturned bottle, Arthur smiled deeply.
“I’ll give you the highest position. I’ll crown you and seat you beside me to command the world. We’ll reclaim your stolen position as Saintess.”
“How dare she deceive me – I can’t forgive this. After all I did for the Duchess!”
Though her black eyes blazed with anger, Arthur seemed rather satisfied as he smiled.
“Yes, Rosetta. Now you’re more like yourself.”
*
Maybe because I felt empty inside. I woke up early.
Perhaps it was because I was chased by those thugs yesterday, crying, and feeling upset about my contract husband.
Even so, this is too much.
I glanced at the clock on the bedside table.
“6 AM? Is this real?”
I can’t believe that I, who has nothing to do with being a morning person, woke up at this hour. This is all because of Xavier.
‘Somehow it feels unfair. It’s only me who likes him!’
It feels like being rejected before even confessing.
I turned my head to look beside me. Xavier was sleeping peacefully, turned towards my side. He’s annoyingly handsome.
We used to sleep embracing each other wearing only thin nightclothes since skin contact was more effective for his curse, but yesterday, I wasn’t in the mood at all.
When he tried to hold me to sleep like before, I escaped to the edge of the bed, avoiding his hands.
Even though I knew from the start that Xavier’s feelings weren’t love, I couldn’t help feeling resentful.
You jerk. Not even knowing my feelings! Is the contract that important?
“Hmph.”
I got off the bed, roughly kicking away the blanket. I rolled up the blanket and threw it under the bed with a thud.
Xavier who’s tossing and turning without a blanket looked a bit pitiful, but I was never a generous woman to begin with.
My emotions are up and down like a water balloon in my palm. They felt unstable, like they would burst if poked with a finger.
‘Yes, I should avoid him for a while.’
I didn’t have the confidence to act cool like nothing happened yet. I sat at the vanity trying to leave the room before Xavier woke up and habitually tried to hug me.
“Mmm. Yuria?”
“!”
I turned around startled. He was still lying on his back with his eyes closed.
The morning sunlight pouring in from the window created shadowed contours on the man’s upper body lying on the white bed.
A masculine yet small and three-dimensional face, and a perfect eight-head proportion ratio1an idealized human figure proportion where the height of the head is one-eighth of the total height of the figure that matched it impeccably.
A man with a fatal charm that one couldn’t help but stare at blankly.
‘Ah, how annoying.’
Irritated by his handsomeness, I quickly turned my head back.
I quickly opened the toner cap and picked up a white cloth piece from the wooden basket. After dampening it slightly with toner, I started applying it to my face while looking in the mirror.
At that moment, my eyes met Xavier’s, who was watching me through the mirror while lying down.
I felt upset. How many seconds had it been since I made my resolution? My pride was hurt as I found myself unconsciously captivated by that sight.
I threw the cloth piece at Xavier’s face reflected in the mirror.