âDid you know? If you inject solar mana into a Canaria, itâll radiate a golden light.â
Freyâs expression became flabbergasted in response. Roswyn ignored him and proceeded to inject solar mana.
Coming from a collateral family, Roswyn didnât possess as much solar mana as Clana. She had however, trained diligently whenever she had the time for it. Her mana was sufficient to light the flower.
â ShingâŠ
ââŠHa.â
As Roswyn continued to inject solar mana into the Canaria, Frey began to look dejected when a faint black smoke seeped out of the flower.
âHm⊠Though it did get a little brighter, itâs not shining as brilliantly as the rumors suggest.â
Roswyn, who had been focused solely on the flower, finally gently placed the flower down beside her.
ââŠYou liked Canarias all this time?â
âYes, I like them a lot. Do you know why?â
âHm⊠I wonder?â
Frey frowned as if he found the whole situation unpleasant, but Roswyn continued speaking.
âJust as the glow of the sunset envies the light of sunrise, I too, like yellow more than red.
ââŠYou do?â
âYes. So truthfully, I was quite sad whenever you brought me red roses.â
Frey nodded his head with a frown as he watched Roswyn smile sorrowfully.
ââŠIâll bring you yellow flowers from now on, soâŠâ
âBut didnât you already give me one?â
âWhat?â
âIâm talking about this yellow Canaria.â
Frey silently stared at Roswyn as she gently tapped the Canaria.
ââŠWeird, is it really Roswyn?â
âWhy are you staring at me like that?â
âN-No, itâs nothing.â
When Roswyn tilted her head and questioned him, Frey dismissed his statement with an awkward smile.
âIt⊠really was a gift for me?â
Clana quietly muttered with a trembling voice as she observed the scene through the eyes of the canary.
.
.
.
.
âBut⊠But I definitely sensed dark manaâŠ?â
I stubbornly assumed Freyâs gift was a trap.
However, nothing happened to Roswyn when she opened the gift box. All it contained was a canaria.
Considering who gave me the nickname âCanaria,â this couldnât be a coincidence.
âR-right. Didnât a black smoke emerge from the flower?â
Amidst my confusion, I recalled a black smoke was expelled from the flower as Roswyn injected her solar mana.
With that thought in mind, I concluded that the gift was a malicious trap that Frey created with the use of our childhood memories.
âBut wait, if that really was a trap⊠how come Roswyn is unaffected?â
Confusion struck again as I suddenly had another matter to take into consideration.
Roswyn definitely grasped the flower with her bare hands. Itâs strange that nothing happened despite coming into direct contact with it.
âWait, could it beâŠâ
I broke out into a cold sweat when I recalled what Frey had mentioned regarding the black magic.
âCould it really just be that a little dark mana got mixed in when Kania went to purchase the flower?â
I did notice that Kania unknowingly released a large amount of dark mana while I stared at Freyâs room prior to entering.
For some reason, her dark mana seemed tens of times more powerful than in the previous timeline.
Then⊠if Kaniaâs dark mana did slightly seep into the flower for some unknown reasonâŠ
âThat Canaria really was a gift meant for reconciliationâŠâ
âFrey, can you pin the flower into my hair?â
Roswynâs joyous voice pierced through me, interrupting my train of thoughts and forcing me to come back to my senses.
âFufu, thank you.â
Roswyn thanked Frey after he placed the flower into her hair with a faint frown. She proceeded to question him afterwards.
âSo, why did you use the covenant for Clana?â
ââŠRoswyn, are you trying to acquire information from me right now?â
âNot at all. I simply asked out of curiosity.â
I subconsciously gasped at the mention of the covenant and focused my attention on what Frey was about to say.
âI just wanted to play with her before throwing her away.â
ââŠReally?â
âYes, I didnât like how conceited she was, even since childhood.â
I nodded as if I expected the response that he would provide.
âI-I knew it. Frey just wanted to play around with meâŠâ
âI see⊠I suppose my guess was off the mark?â
Before I could completely organize my thoughts, Roswyn narrowed her eyes and began whispering.
âWhat do you mean?â
âLike, for instance, I thought you did it to protect her?â
Hearing that, I froze on the spot and Frey also frowned.
âWhat kind of bullshit are you spouting, Roswyn?
Roswyn asked while tilting her head while Frey let out a sigh.
âWhy are you asking me such a question?â
âWell, one of our Intelligence Guildâs clients suddenly disappeared. Isnât that bizarre?â
âIâm not sure. Maybe he went into seclusion on some mountain after I took Clana or maybe one of the girls they harassed took revenge on them.â
âIs that so? Is it really like that?â
Roswyn smiled and continued speaking.
âBut you see⊠Itâs surprising that even our Intelligence Guild is unable to determine their whereabouts.â
âWhy is that something to be surprised about? Your Intelligence Guild isâŠâ
âYou should know exactly what kind of organization our guild is.â
Roswynâs tone became serious as she continued.
âThere are only 4 groups with the power and ability to hide information from our guild.â
âAnd those groups are?â
âThe Imperial family, the Church, the Moonlight family, andâŠâ
Freyâs expression stiffened as he listened to Roswynâs deduction. A sly look emerged on his face as he spoke.
âAs expected⊠I canât fool Roswyn.â
âOh my, then the gossip circulating amongst the nobles is true after all?â
âNo, thatâs not it. I did eliminate them⊠but it was because those disgraceful bastards were trying to steal my toy.â
ââŠWell, if you say so.â
Roswyn stopped interrogating with a smile when Frey didnât seem likely to provide any information.
ââŠâŠâŠAh?â
I could only let out a stupid sound and mutter after listening to their conversation.
âWhat did I just⊠hear?â
Their conversation kept playing back in my mind and made me feel dizzy.
âFrey used the covenant to protect me? No, that canât be. Heâs only ever considered me a toy he can play around with⊠Back then and even nowâŠâ
âAnyways, is it true that you were just dumped by Clana?â
I tried to think as rationally as I could, but Roswynâs abrupt question stopped my thoughts in their tracks.
ââŠSeems like it.â
âShall I pour you a drink? Wine tastes the best when it comes to overcoming heartbreak.â
Roswyn grabbed the liquor bottle placed on the desk as Frey nodded in response to her proposal.
âWould you like a cocktail?â
ââŠSure.â
With Freyâs permission, Roswyn gathered all the liquor bottles scattered around the desk and started to mix them.
ââŠA drug?â
Through the canaryâs eyes, I noticed Roswyn secretly taking out a drug while mixing the drinks.
â Drip
âAhâŠâ
I could only watch dazedly and involuntarily mutter as I watched her sneak the drug into the cocktail.
ââŠNo.â
At some point, I ended up clutching the veranda rail with my hand that began trembling again.
âNo? Why shouldnât sheâŠâ
Now that I finally gained some power and obtained the Imperial familyâs weakness, I wonât be forced into an engagement, even if Freyâs covenant is broken.
So I really need to cut myself off from that detestable FreyâŠ
There was no knowing what heâd do with my Imperial authority if I didnât somehow break off this engagement⊠Which was why I requested Roswynâs assistance in helping me cut ties by using this schemeâŠ
So why was my heart telling me to barge in to stop the situation from advancing�
âShall we toast?â
âSure.â
Despite my contradictory feelings, Frey had already raised the drugged cocktail to his lips.
âMm⊠The taste is quite peculiar?â
He downed the whole drink before I could take any action.
âSo how do you feel right now, Frey?â
ââŠMm.â
Frey began mumbling with hazy eyes as Roswyn stared at him with expectant eyes.
âMy chest⊠it feels hot.â
âDoes it?â
âR-RoswynâŠ?â
Roswyn moved next to Frey before embracing him.
âItâs fine. Youâll be able to find a better girl.â
âNo, itâs really not like that⊠I only saw her as a toyâŠâ
âYes, yes. I know.â
Roswyn closed the proximity between her and Frey. She curved her eyes and whispered alluringly.
ââŠBut, what about me?â
âWhat?â
âIf you so want, I can console you tonight.â
âWhat are⊠no, r-really?â
Frey, who momentarily had a serious look on his face, began to speak with hazy eyes.
âDo you really mean itâŠ?â
âHuhu, not right now, but anotherâŠEup?â
Roswyn attempted to back away to avoid having her breasts groped. Her lips however, were stolen by Frey. She tried to push him off of her with a startled look on her face.
âRoswynâŠâ
âMmâŠâ
In the next moment, Frey and Roswyn landed on the floor. Their bodies were connected, like a beast with two backs.
âHah⊠hahâŠâ
As I watched the spectacle unfold in a daze, I quickly severed my visual connection with the canary and slumped down on the floor.
âAeughâŠ. eughâŠâ
It definitely went according to plan, and I shouldnât be concerned with who he becomes intimate with.
But why are tears falling from my eyes?
.
.
.
.
.
âHeup⊠eup!â
Even after Clana stopped watching, Roswyn and Freyâs tongues intertwined for a long time. .
âPuah, w-waitâŠâ
Roswyn eventually mustered up all her strength to push Frey off of her.
â SeukâŠ
She was about to speak, but stopped and tensed up when Frey reached for her bottom.
ââŠHa.â
After a brief moment, Freyâs hand came in contact with her bottom, as a satisfied expression flickered across his face.
â Psst
At that instant, a black spot on her hand started to light up.
âEuuk!â
âR-Roswyn?â
Then, Roswyn suddenly started to vomit.
âG-Get off.â
Roswyn shoved Frey away with a glare and hurriedly headed for the door.
âD-Disgusting⊠EughâŠâ
Roswyn, who left Freyâs room in a rush, ran to the veranda where Clana was waiting and began puking.
âUekâŠ! EukâŠâ
After throwing up with tears welling up in her eyes, Roswyn spoke after noticing Clana staring dazedly at her.
âIâm sorry, it was too nauseating.â
âW-What wasâŠâ
âI went for a round of drinks with Frey, but I had to escape the middle cause I felt like I was going to vomit.â
Clanaâs face paled in response while Roswyn glared repulsively in the direction of Freyâs room.
âAs expected⊠I canât stand Frey, even if itâs a commission.â
Clana bit down on her lips in response to Roswynâs disgusted comment. Roswym clapped her hands and brought something out.
âAh, I completely forgot to hand you this. Here.â
âT-this is?â
âItâs the hidden magic device I used to record Frey sexually assaulting me. Use it for your plan later.â
Clana inadvertently accepted the device with trembling hands.
âUghâŠâ
Roswyn, who still felt nauseous, took out the Canaria flower with her fingertips as if it was filthy before tossing it onto the floor.
ââŠIâm still getting goosebumps.â
âN-No!â
Right as Roswyn stomped on the flower, Clana cried out in distress.
âHm? Whatâs wrong?â
âU-uhâŠso⊠ThatâsâŠâ
Clana could only stammer in a quivering voice when Roswyn tilted her head and questioned her.
ââŠAre you going to throw that away?â
When Clana finally asked after much hesitation, Roswyn released a sigh and picked the flower back up.
âI almost ruined the commission due to my useless emotions. Thank you for helping me return to my senses.â
âT-Thatâs not itâŠâ
âHonestly, I feel sick just holding onto it, but what can I do when itâs so beneficial to keep it.
Roswyn pinned the flower back into her hair as Clana stood there watching.
âAlright, Iâll return to Freyâs room.â
âI-isnât it dangerous? Frey might be mad so Iâll go instâŠâ
Clana, who stared long and hard at the Canaria tucked into Roswynâs hair, hurriedly spoke out.
âYou donât have to worry.â
Roswyn replied to Clana with a bright smile.
âThat bastardâs so obsessed with me, heâll come crawling back to me, even if I kick him aside.â
âT-Then, you donât need that flower, right?â
When Clana heard Roswynâs confident statement, she asked with a feigned composure.
âSeems like you like the flower quite a lot?â
Roswyn asked while pulling out the flower with upturned lips.
âY-Yes. Not to that extent, butâŠâ
Clana held out her hand expectantly while doing her best to maintain a calm tone of speech.
â Tuk!
â..Uh?â
Clana looked on dumbfoundedly as Roswyn plucked out the smallest petal and placed it into the palm of her hands.
âPlease be content with that, Your Highness, the Third Imperial Princess.â
Roswyn tapped her on the shoulder and left the veranda before Clana could respond.
âAhâŠâŠ.â
Clana stood there blankly for some time, helplessly mumbling with her head lowered.