Chapter 36

Returning to the Prince Palace, Rosena had to take numerous medications with extreme care.

She felt like she had taken all the medicine that was said to be good for reducing swelling.

It certainly worked, after a few days the bruise disappeared.

Rosena woke up early in the morning and got ready to go out. She was going to stop by the county alone today.

She told others she was going to see her family, but actually she was going to check her father’s study.

Her father has long told her not to be involved with the royal family.

Maybe stopping by the mansion will give her clues as to why he said that.

In case Yerhan might come along, Rosena pondered for an excuse to go alone.

However, Yerhan was also very busy for some reason, so Rosena was able to go to the county alone without any other excuse.

Before leaving, Rosena had a letter to be sent to the Marchioness Helis of Astania.

Since she couldn’t go back to Astania for a while, she was going to send a letter to tell her the news.

“I didn’t know it was going be like this at that time…”

Rosena had planned to return to Astania as soon as she had cured Illian’s disease.

But everything went wrong, and instead of returning to Asania, she became the imperial prince’s wife.

It was clear to her how the people in the marquis family would react when they found out about the fact.

Rosena came out of the palace and found a carriage waiting.

As soon as she approached the carriage, a man in black clothes with his hair tied up high, straightened his back as soon as he saw Rosena.

“I’m Isaac, who will escort Your Highness today.”

“Oh, you…”

Rosena immediately recognized that they had eaten together before. He said he was a worker hired by Yerhan.

He even repaired the Prince Palace, and now he was escorting her… He’s so multi-talent.

Shortly after riding the carriage, the scenery outside the Imperial Palace Fortress unfolded.

Rosena stopped the carriage for a while and stopped by a store she knew in advance on the pretext of buying something.

She hadn’t told anyone about the fact that she had contact with Astania, so she had no choice but to send the letter secretly.

After getting back into the carriage, Rosena headed for the County of Estarot.

As the sun in the middle of the sky began to lean, Rosena finally reached the county.

She felt uneasy. Rosena recalled her purpose of visiting the county.

There was a reason to look for her father’s belongings, but she also had something to say to Macella and Rania.

She didn’t expect she would say this herself.

Arriving at the count’s mansion, Rosena looked up at the mansion.

It looked as colorful and magnificent as it was seven years ago, but it was quickly noticeable that it was poorly managed.

As she looked around the unkept mansion, an employee came out from the inside.

He is the old butler who had been taking care of the mansion since Rosena was a child.

Seeing Rosena, the old butler opened his eyes wide with an incredible face.

“Lady…”

“Long time no see, right?”

Rosena greeted him with a faint smile. Crying, he nodded and led Rosena inside.

While walking down the hall for a while, Rosena had a long talk with the butler.

Then the butler stopped walking and stood in front of a room and knocked on the door.

“Madam, the lady has come.”

When she told him to come in from the inside, the butler opened the door. Rosena stepped inside through the open door.

“You’re here.”

There sat Macella and Rania, who decorated themselves as if they were going to a party.

Rosena stared at Macella and Rania sitting on the sofa.

They greeted Rosena without even getting out of their seats.

The living room was quite different from Rosena’s memory.

In the past, there were quite a few empty spaces by selling a lot of furniture to pay off debts. But now it’s full of overly glamorous furniture.

Since the two could not have made money and bought it, the current count, who came in as the live-in son-in-law, must have filled it up.

Rosena paused and looked around the living room.

This place clearly remained in Rosena’s memory.

Seven years ago, Macella and Rania talked about Rosena’s marriage here.

She still hadn’t forgotten the image of the two trying to sell their family casually for good food.

“Who’s behind you?”

Macella asked about Isaac who was following Rosena.

“Please don’t mind me.”

Isaac put his back on the wall.

Macella’s eyes narrowed slightly at his attitude that he would not interrupt the conversation and would just keep to his place.

But when he showed no sign of anything else, Macella quickly ignored it and pointed to Rosena on the opposite side.

“Have a seat.”

As soon as she sat down, she could feel the gazes analyzing her. It was to take a look at what she was wearing today.

They always compared their opponents to themselves, and they were satisfied only when others were worse and lacking than them.

That chronic habit hasn’t changed in years.

Rosena looked directly at them calmly, swallowing a grin.

“What about your husband?”

“He couldn’t come because he’s busy with work.”

“I understand because he’s a royal family member.”

After responding generously to Rosena’s comments, Macella sarcastically asked,

“Imperial Palace’s life seems very fun, right? You don’t even think about showing your face at home.”

“Wouldn’t it be more fun than the county in the outskirts?”

When Rosena smiled and responded, Macella’s expression shook.

Macella, waving a fan with a discontent face, stared at Rosena.

“You didn’t do that when you were a kid, but you keep talking back to me lately.”

“I just answered… but I can’t help it if it sounds rude.”

Macella began to boil. Overpowering her is important, but she kept getting entangled.

In the past, it was Rosena who would roll her tail even with a little scolding.

But she had changed a lot in the meantime, now she was out of her grasp and it was all out of control.

Rania, who was shaking the fan gently next to her, put the fan down.

“Sister.”

At Rania’s call, Rosena casted her eyes toward her.

“Is there anything you want to say? You owe me an apology.”

She couldn’t really figure it out even when she searched through her memory.

When she showed an expression of having no idea, Rania leaned forward with a look of great disappointment.

“That was too much at the reception. Did you have to humiliate me in such a crowded place?”

Rania still seemed to be mindful of being humiliated at the reception.

At that time, Rania flirted with the men by pretending she didn’t have a husband and was single. But Rosena poured cold water when she referred to her husband.

Rosena tilted her head as if she didn’t understand what Rania was talking about.

“Is it about when I mentioned your husband? Was that something to be ashamed of?”

“Not really, but…”

Rania’s voice, which had been proudly demanding, became blurred. Rosena just happened to open her mouth with a happy face.

“Come to think of it, I should say hello to the new Count of Estarot.”

“What?”

Surprised, Rania uttered a leaking voice without realizing it. Rosena didn’t miss it and pushed it with a smile.

“I’ve never seen him before, so you’ll introduce him to me, right?”

“He, he’s been busy these days.”

Rania stammered to refuse. Because she didn’t know what Rosena would say when she met her husband.

In addition, the count’s face and body were extremely ordinary compared to the third prince, who is Rosena’s husband.

It was clear that if she showed his face, he would be compared, so she didn’t want to do anything that would make her feel ashamed.

Rania straightened her expression and glanced at Rosena with her slender face.

“Still, that was harsh to mother.”

When Rania had no more pods to catch, she dragged Macella.

“It’s possible to omit the title between family members.”

“Rania…”

Rosena called for Rania as if she pitied her.

“You don’t know anything yet.”

“What…”

“Did you not know that if you talk down to your superiors in public, you can be detained under the imperial law? I was trying to help you.”

As soon as Rosena finished speaking, Rania and Macella’s faces hardened at the same time.

It is right to use honorifics in public places, but if they are close, they tend to overlook it to some extent in private places such as reception.

So, of course, she didn’t think much and talked to Rosena without honorifics, but she didn’t expect her to bring out the word detainment.

Rosena looked at the two seated women who had puzzled faces.

In the past, she was anxious to protect Macella and Rania, who were her family.

She stayed up all night trying to pay off their huge debts, thinking of them.

Even if she was not loved by her mother, even though she had never shared a sisterly bond with Rania, she loved them because they are her family.

But now that she thought about it, she felt like she was the only one trying not to let go of the rope. Even though they don’t think of her as family.

“So why did you call me to the mansion?”

Rosena, who was sitting calmly, asked without expression.

Macella, who had been stunned for a moment by the words ‘detainment’, came to her senses. Soon, greed filled her face.

“Our family is having a hard time these days, so I want you to help. Since you are the eldest daughter.”

Rosena laughed upon the attitude of asking for her share.

Macella didn’t seem to have given up on her greed yet.

“I should have answered it before. I will refuse.”

But Macella was persistent.

“If it became known that you ran away, would you think that the imperial family would stay still?”

Rania was openly saying that she had Rosena’s weakness.

It was a big flaw that a noble young lady left the house and wandered around unknown places.

Most young ladies have grown like flowers in a greenhouse equipped with everything.

Without any adversity, just a graceful lady in the mansion.

They got an education and made their social debut in time. And getting a good husband was the most important goal of their lives.

If a noble young lady worked to earn money, it was considered demeaning.

In severe cases, even if the other family demanded a unilateral breakup of the marriage, they had no choice but to accept it.

Not only did Rosena do economic work, but she was completely out of the land.

Running away from home was a tremendous stigma at a time when even a noble young lady went on a trip alone did not receive very good attention.

“Who’s going to hold a woman who may have rolled outside for years?”

Therefore, they threatened to tell the imperial family if she did not listen to them.

Rosena swallowed her breath and smiled. The woman who she called her mother was selfish until the end.

Did she really ever think of her as a daughter?

Rosena was groping through her memory. There was not much of her mother’s face smiling at her in all those memories.

She only showed her a smiling face when Rosena made money on behalf of her late father.

The mother in her memory was generally only showing her a scolding, rebuking or disappointed face.

“Do as you please.”

There was silence upon Rosena’s calm voice.

Either way, the empress or the emperor must had heard the report since they did their own background checks.

And Yerhan knew everything, and even though she wanted to leave with her child, he was the one who forced her to stay as a prince’s wife.

They couldn’t drag her down with such threats.

Rather, thanks to coming out like this, Rosena was able to completely organize her mind.

In her silence, Rosena decided to do what she had only ever thought of.

She decided to let go of the regrets she had not been able to let go of.

“Did mother ever consider me a child?”

“…O, of course.”

Macella’s eyes fluttered as she replied one beat later. Rosena took a deep breath.

“There’s one reason why I came to the county.”

“The reason you came…?

“From today on, I will cut ties with the Estarots.”

Rania, who was listening quietly next to her, dropped the fan. She was so surprised that she seemed to forget to breathe.

“Think of Rosena Estarot.… hasn’t been found since she left home seven years ago.”

Rosena’s voice was calm. It was like a dry wind passing by without shaking or biting.

“And don’t come to me in the future.”

“Rosena!”

Macella cried out Rosena’s name.

“You mean you’re going to turn your back on the family?”

“No, I mean I’ll throw it away completely.”

Macella jumped up from her seat in a rage. She screamed, pointing her finger at Rosena with a fan.

“You selfish thing! You’re still only thinking about yourself!”

Macella accused her with a vein popping on her neck.

“What’s so good about becoming a prince’s wife?!?”

Worked up, Macella threw the fan in her hand at Rosena.

A hard fan hit Rosena’s chest and fell to the floor.

It was that moment.

“!”

Something cold touched Macella’s neck.

Isaac, who had been standing behind Rosena as if he had never been there before, pulled out his sword in an instant and aimed it at Macella.

He whispered as he parted the frozen air.

“Do not be disrespectful to Her Highness.”

Everyone in the living room held their breath.

The slanted blade of the sword shone brightly. It felt like it would cut her if she moved a little.

The sudden thrust of the sword made Macella stiff.

“…Ro, Ro…”

Macella, who was surprised, gasped and tried to call Rosena. But her voice didn’t come out properly.

“The sin that inflicted injury to the royal family. It is a summary execution, but… I will do as Her Highness wishes.”

Isaac, who was aiming the sword, looked at Rosena.

Rosena, standing tall in amazement, barely breathed. As the conversation deepened, she forgot that he was standing behind her.

“Put your sword down.”

Isaac’s tip of the sword shook with her calm voice. And it went down in regret.

Isaac sheathed the sword in one strike.

Only then did Macella’s frozen body tremble like an aspen.

Tears began to drip from her eyes filled with fear.

Rania, who was watching it from the side, collapsed with her legs weakened.

But Rosena didn’t reach out to them.

She opened her mouth as if she was looking at strangers.

“I’ll just overlook what happened today, but if it happens again…”

Rosena made eye contact one by one.

“I’ll deal with it by imperial law then.”

In her cold eyes without any emotion, Macella and Rania swallowed their breath.

They realized that even if they sold the family name, Rosena wouldn’t budge anymore.

“I’m done with my business, so I’ll leave.”

Rosena slowly stepped toward the door. Then Isaac followed like a shadow.

Before heading out into the hallway, Rosena turned her head as if she suddenly remembered something.

“Ah, I’d like to look around the mansion before I leave, wouldn’t that be all right?”

Macella and Rania nodded, unable to open their mouths.

If they said no, Isaac, who was standing behind her, would probably pop out again.

Rosena closed the living room door, leaving the terrified women behind.

With the sound of the door closing, the space was divided into two, and there were two women who had nothing to do with Rosena from now on.

“…Haa.”

Rosena let out a deep breath that she had held back. She had finished everything she ever wanted to say.

Now she had cut off her family ties herself.

She thought it wouldn’t matter because she had thought about it several times, but one side of her chest seemed to have fallen off.

Rosena looked at the door for a long time and turned away.

Walking down a deserted hall, Isaac, who standing behind her quietly called Rosena.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Isaac hesitated. He was considered as someone who knows women’s hearts well among the knights of Tiriad, but he did not know what to say at times like this.

As he was troubled, Rosena, who was walking ahead, asked.

“Are you going to report what happened today to him?”

“…..”

Isaac was silent. It was customary to report.

In addition to arguing, Rosena even faced debts.

Perhaps Yerhan will be angry, and will even try to turn the count family upside down. Even without notifying Rosena of that.

“I want you to keep it a secret from him.”

Isaac was shaken by a soft voice. But the moment he looked into Rosena’s eyes, he had no choice but to say yes.

Isaac looked at Rosena’s back as she walked ahead.

She was walking as if nothing had happened, but somehow, she looked lonely.

Isaac wanted Rosena to rely on Yerhan for once. Yerhan is sincere to Rosena.

“Mylady.”

At the end of the hall, the butler called Rosena.

Rosena’s mouth naturally rose with his appearance.

He was the only person in the county whom Rosena could give her heart to.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

“You’ve been waiting for me?”

When Rosena tilted her head, the old butler only smiled.

“Please follow me.”

Rosena followed him without further question.

While walking down the hall, Rosena looked carefully at the old butler.

Despite the passing of time, he seemed to look no different from Rosena’s memory.

At best, the number of wrinkles increased, and the gray hair was more noticeable.

“After the lady disappeared like that, my heart was very lonely.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Rather, I am sorry. It was after you left the mansion that I learned that you had carried a lot of things.”

He walked down the hall and climbed the stairs.

The third floor was the space used by Rosena’s father, Count Philian Estarot. It was also a place she had deliberately kept away from after her father passed away.

As she went up to the third floor, Rosena’s heart began to pound.

“The third floor is used by the current count, but the room used by the former count is left as it is.”

Rosena looked frantically around the hall, unable to even nod her head to his explanation.

The butler walked inward and stopped in front of a room. It was the office where her father was sometimes stuck in.

There was always a lock on it, but since her father died, she couldn’t find the key, so she left it unattended.

“There is something the former count asked me to do.”

“My father…?”

“He asked me to deliver this when the lady has come of age.”

The butler took a very small box out of his arms.

The box wrapped in red velvet looked old.

It was well managed and flawless.

“Then I’m going to leave now. Make yourself at home before returning.”

When the old butler quietly stepped back, Rosena hesitated and opened the box.

What was contained in a small velvet box was none other than the key.

It was only then that Rosena could see why he had brought her here.

“What my father left for me…”

The key shone under the light.

Ten years have already passed since her father died. What will be in the room that was opened after 10 years?

Rosena asked Isaac for understanding before opening the door.

“I’m sorry, but can you wait outside? This room wasn’t used anyway, so there’s nothing that could threaten me.

“I get it. Instead, please be sure to call me when something happens.”

Isaac took a step back. Rosena breathed deeply, then slipped the key into the keyhole.

The key that fit perfectly turned sideways and let out a snapping sound.

The heavy wooden door made a rusty sound, then the white dust scattered and made a path.