Rania looked at Rosena in surprise.
What was that attitude just now?
The feathers of the fan in her hand shook like reeds in front of the wind.
He It was the first time she experienced such humiliation in her life.
Even more so in a place where so many people are gathered.
Rania bit her lips hard, as if crushing them, as if she forgot to color her lips red. (PR/N: she bit her lips so hard that it became red.)
Everyone around seemed to laugh at her.
âRosena, whatâs wrong with your attitude?â
In front of Rania was Macella.
She sided with Rania, showing a disapproving face.
âYour sister was just complimenting youâŚâ
Macella, who was trying to speak up, realized where this place was and closed her mouth.
It was a place with a lot of attention, so she couldnât even scold her properly.
Rosena stared at such Macella and opened her mouth.
âDid you have a problem with my attitude?â
Macellaâs lips were wide open.
There were many things she wanted to say, but the main character of this reception was Rosena.
She just pretended to be close with her, so she couldnât lose her temper.
Macella shook her head, looking angry that she couldnât push and blamed Rosena as usual.
Macella quickly responded to Rosenaâs call. She was expecting Rosena to bend over and appease her.
But Rosenaâs following words shattered Macellaâs expectations.
âI think you should learn how to call me first.â
âItâs an official setting, so you have to call me by my exact title. Not calling me by name. Isnât it right?â
Macella stood blankly for a moment. With that said, Macella could no longer call Rosenaâs name in the open space.
In any case, Rosena was the wife of the third prince.
Now, no one can call Rosenaâs name recklessly.
Macellaâs complexion quickly darkened. She didnât expect the day where she has to treat her daughter with respect would come.
Macella admitted her mistake, pressing her nails tightly into her nails.
âI, I made a mistake.â
When Rosenaâs answer did not come, Macella took a deep breath.
After a while, she let out a trembling voice.
ââŚI have been disrespectful. Your Highness.â
Rosena smiled at her as she struggled to hold onto her last piece of pride.
âYou can be careful from now on. Itâs all for motherâs sake, so donât put it in your mind.â
That was what Macella used to say to Rosena.
She tamed Rosena to be a good daughter by saying âitâs for your sakeâ or âyou did a good jobâ.
Rosena, who turned to Rania, asked innocently.
âBy the way, Rania. Why didnât your husband come?â
The words hardened the faces of the men who were hovering around Rania and flirting with her.
Rather than drawing a line to the menâs flirtation because she has a husband, Rania took many actions that seemed to suggest she was unmarried.
Rania rolled her eyes with a deeply perplexed look.
Sheâd never told her sister about her husband.
But Rosena smiled as if she knew everything.
âNow that heâs the head of our family⌠please send my regards.â
Rania couldnât give a proper answer and immediately turned away.
Macella, who was standing next to her, followed her belatedly.
They were scurrying, making them seem like theyâre running away.
The eyes that glued to Macella and Rania fell off like leaves against the wind.
The nobles, who had been enjoying the show, naturally dispersed.
Rosena, who was looking at the backs of the two getting smaller, turned her head.
Then her eyes met with Yerhanâs, who was quietly standing next to her.
He knew very well that Rosena wanted to end the bad relationship with her family.
So as Rosena previously asked, he was waiting patiently, not intruding on family matters.
Rosena looked a little embarrassed because she seemed to show this every time they met.
âYou did a good job.â
Rosena opened her eyes wide.
She embarrassed her family who came to see her in a public place, so she was ready to accept a little blame.
But on the contrary, he said she did a good job.
The unknown guilt and bitterness that made her uncomfortable were washed away like snow melting with the words he uttered.
âCan I come forward next time?â
âI just want to say hello formally.â
There was a slight edge at the end of his polite words.
She didnât know if it was because he really wanted to say hello or if he had anything special to say to her mother and Rania.
Rosena replaced the answer with a nod for now.
The night was dark and the reception was ripe.
Rosena and Yerhan were greeted by other nobles and served as the main characters of the reception.
Rosena had been out of society for a long time, but she treated the nobles with perfect manners as a princeâs wife.
The nobles, who had secretly ignored her for being from a fallen noble family, were surprised.
And Yerhan, who had never made an official appearance, overwhelmed the nobles just by his atmosphere.
The nobles, who thought the third prince was mad and ugly, realized that it was a false rumor.
If they called such a beautiful man an ugly man, the imperial people would not be able to raise their heads from tomorrow.
For someone who was rumoured to be suffering from madness, he was too sane and looked more dignified than anyone else.
Perhaps by tomorrow, malicious rumors about Yerhan would disappear.
It was about time that Rosena and Yerhan thanked the nobles for coming to the wedding and wrapped up the reception.
A commotion came from behind, Yerhan and Rosena looked back at the same time.
Someone was coming down from a spiral staircase behind the banquet hall.
Underneath the gentle gait, came the cold sound of clicking heels.
The calm navy dress was unshakable even as she walked.
Everyone who was talking stopped what they were doing and looked up at her.
âYour Majesty, EmpressâŚâ
Someone murmured slowly. Only then did Rosena know who that woman was.
She had never appeared since she entered the imperial palace.
She is the empress she had never seen before.
The empress stood on the steps and looked down as if she reigned over the world.
When she didnât come down, the nobles couldnât greet her properly and were restless.
But the empress never came down the stairs.
It seemed to mean that she would not attend the reception.
Rosena looked up at the empress, as the others did.
Despite her cold face, she is so young and beautiful that it was hard to believe that she had a grown-up son.
Deep, straight eyebrows, upright posture like a tree, and delicately colored lips. Each and every part of her body made her impression strong.
The empress, who was looking around, turned her eyes and looked at Rosena.
The moment their eyes met, Rosena felt as if she was stabbed with a blade.
There was no emotion on her face, but her eyes were clear as if she was whispering in front of her.
The empressâ eyes contained only one word.
It was a frighteningly intense emotion, but Rosena didnât avoid it.
It was already expected that the empress would dislike her.
If she looked down here, she would be running away.
Rosena took the empressâ gaze to the extent where she didnât seem too rude.
Then the empressâ forehead narrowed and furrowed. She whispered, in a deafening voice.
As the empress climbed up the stairs again, leaving behind just a word, Rosena could barely breathe out.
After the reception, the two returned to the Prince Palace by a carriage.
In the rattling carriage, Rosena leaned her head against the window.
She was relaxed, and maybe because of the champagne she drank earlier, her heart was pounding as she got drunk belatedly.
Rosena closed her eyes for a moment and remembered Illian.
She missed him a lot because she hadnât seen him all day.
He should be in a dreamland by now, so she should apologize for not taking care of him when he wakes up tomorrow.
The carriage stopped and the two got off in front of the palace.
Rosena hurried to see Illian as soon as possible.
Maybe because she started walking so suddenly, she felt drunk and her vision shook.
The sensation of the ground soaring upward as if she was on a boat, and a huge hand was laid on her waist.
âCan you walk straight?â
Rosena spoke clearly to emphasize that she was not drunk.
But she didnât think that it would make her look more like a drunk person.
âI think you drank too much.â
He murmured like a sigh. Whatever he said, Rosena was in a good mood now.
It was because she was drunk, but the fact that she could see Illian made her excited.
Rosena picked up the hem of her clothes and smelled her body before entering the palace.
She was worried if she smelled alcohol, but she didnât smell anything.
Rosena walked down the hall with Yerhan.
Every time she stumbled, Yerhan helped her.
Rosena stood in front of Illianâs sleeping room with a serene face.
And it was when she turned the doorknob quietly.
Rosena paused at Yerhanâs call.
He was only calling her name, but the slight feeling of intoxication was scattered at once.
âItâs not that way.â
Unable to understand Yerhanâs words, Rosena stood, silent.
He naturally reached out, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and led like a guide.
Rosena quickly arrived in front of the next room, a short distance away.
Rosena, who had not yet understood the situation, looked up at him with her back against the door.
âThis is your place from today.â
The drowsy whisper was deeper and stronger than the champagne she drank earlier.
âWhat do you mean hereâŚ?â
Rosena couldnât help but ask. And Yerhan replied nonchalantly.
âYours and my bedroom.â