“Are you sure you don’t want to go? Isn’t the Empress the mastermind Rondun was working with?”

 

Tehard asked as he examined Rosalie, channeling his mana through her body. He had been called to the mansion by Erudit to check on her condition.

 

“I’m not going. It’s enough for me to know that it’s over.”

 

Her calm, uninterested expression made Tehard shrug briefly. She was always such an unusual person.

 

“Hmm… is that so?”

 

Tehard withdrew his mana from her body.

 

“Well, I’m no expert in healing magic, but there doesn’t seem to be any major issues.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“And, though I doubt you’re curious, Rondun’s name and every record of his existence will soon vanish. The Tower considers him a disgrace. I thought you might want to know.”

 

Rosalie only gave a passing “I see,” in response. Tehard had worried that being subjected to Rondun’s experiments might have shattered her spirit, but her composed demeanor eased his concerns.

 

Thinking back to the three men who had relentlessly pressed him to locate Rondun’s secret lab, Tehard pinned Rosalie with a serious look.

 

“Duchess, you must never get hurt. Too many lives depend on you.”

 

The words struck Rosalie with a strange sense of familiarity. After a brief pause, she deduced that Tehard must have been the one who uncovered Rondun’s hidden research facility.

 

“Was it you who found Rondun’s secret lab?”

 

Tehard gave a small shrug of confirmation.

 

“They wouldn’t let me leave until I did. Those three men drove me mad, pestering me like maniacs.”

 

“…Thank you. I’ll make sure to reward you.”

 

“Expensive liquor will do.”

 

Tehard spoke with a warm smile, adding that it might as well be with the best if she was going to reward him. Rosalie chuckled at his honesty and promised to procure all the finest and most renowned liquor from across the Empire.

 

As she thanked him again, a knock came at the door.

 

“Are you done? May we come in?”

 

“Come in.”

 

Erudit and Nathan entered at her invitation.

 

“The Duchess is in good health.”

 

“Thank you, Tehard.”

 

Erudit said with a polite bow, and Tehard just waved it off casually.

 

Nathan, stepping closer, muttered quietly.

 

“Thanks, magician.”

 

Tehard widened his eyes in mock surprise before letting out a soft laugh, turning his gaze back to Rosalie. Truly, if anything happened to her, it would cause no end of trouble for everyone.

 

“I’ll take my thanks in the form of liquor. I’ll be going now.”

 

“Thank you for today, Tehard.”

 

Tehard smiled and left, with Erudit following to see him out. Rosalie remained seated, her eyes wandering to the birds outside the window.

 

“Shall we have a drink together when Derivis comes by this evening?”

 

Derivis was still visiting the mansion every day, even if only for a few minutes. Despite being busy handling the remnants of Nine’s faction and her punishment, he made a point to see Rosalie daily.

 

‘Perhaps I’ll go meet him halfway.’

 

With that thought, she rose to her feet. When she announced her intention to leave the mansion briefly, Nathan and Erudit naturally joined her without waiting for an invitation.

 

As they entered the capital, they found themselves swept up in a massive crowd.

 

“Ugh, it’s chaotic.”

 

Nathan groaned, throwing an arm around Erudit’s shoulder. Erudit shoved it off irritably, but Nathan ignored him.

 

The trio made their way to the city center, where the aftermath of an event was evident. The execution platform was being dismantled, and they spotted Derivis watching silently among the workers.

 

“Derivis.”

 

He turned his head at her voice.

 

“Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

 

“I thought I’d meet you on your way back. You’d have come to the mansion anyway.”

 

Her practical reasoning made him chuckle softly. Together, they watched the dismantling of the execution platform in silence.

 

“Rosalie~ We’ve met Derivis. Let’s head back to the mansion. All this noise is giving me a headache.”

 

“Alright, let’s go.”

 

Rosalie turned to call for Derivis, but he remained fixated on the platform being taken down. His gaze lingered as if lost in thought.

 

“Nathan, Erudit. Go on ahead.”

 

“No way, we’re coming with you.”

 

Derivis finally tore his gaze away from the dismantled execution platform. Turning on his heel, he said they should head back, and Rosalie followed suit after glancing one last time at the site he had been watching so intently.

 

Though the place had been chaotic today, it would soon return to its usual peace as if nothing had ever happened.

 

“Whew, this crowd is insane.”

 

“Well, it’s not every day you see something like this.”

 

Erudit replied, now accustomed to Nathan’s arm draped over his shoulder and bantering along without complaining.

 

Walking behind them, Rosalie felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up to find Derivis gesturing for her to follow. He placed a finger over his lips, then deftly led her away from the crowd, weaving through the throng like a shadow.

 

“Your Grace, on the way, Nathan said he wanted to pick up some macar—Your Grace?”

 

Erudit turned to talk to her but found no one there. He looked around in confusion, craning his neck to search the bustling streets.

 

“Don’t worry about it~ Let’s just get some macarons.”

 

Nathan said nonchalantly, patting Erudit on the shoulder and humming a cheerful tune.

 

“But—hey!”

 

Erudit’s protests were cut off as Nathan dragged him deeper into the crowd.

⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰

 

Meanwhile, Rosalie followed Derivis out of sight and gave him a puzzled look.

 

“What’s this about?”

 

“Well, we haven’t had much time alone lately.”

 

It was true. Nathan and Erudit somehow managed to show up every time Derivis visited the mansion as if they had a sixth sense. Most of the time, it was Nathan who insisted on tagging along, with Erudit reluctantly joining in.

 

“They’ll worry, you know.”

 

“Nathan probably already knows.”

 

Fair enough. When Rosalie asked what he wanted to do, Derivis pointed to a small shop. It was an ice cream parlor that closed during the summer months. If they didn’t go now, it would be another six months before they could try it.

 

“I thought you didn’t like sweets.”

 

She’d never seen him reach for anything sugary, whether it was food or tea.

 

“I just felt like it.”

 

Rosalie chuckled softly and led the way to the shop. They each ordered a different flavor. Rosalie chose vanilla, and the creamy sweetness spread delightfully through her mouth as she took a bite.

 

“This is delicious.”

 

“Is it?”

 

“Would you like a bite?”

 

She offered him the untouched side of her ice cream. But instead of taking the offered side, Derivis grasped her hand and deliberately licked the spot she had already bitten from.

 

“It’s sweet.”

 

“…You always play dirty.”

 

Rosalie muttered, feeling flustered. Derivis feigned innocence and extended his chocolate ice cream to her. Reluctantly, she took a bite, only to scrunch her face at the overwhelming sweetness.

 

“It’s too sweet.”

 

“I agree.”

 

The two wandered around, half-eating their ice cream before giving up as it began to melt. Eventually, they had to toss what was left.

 

Their aimless strolling led them into a toy shop filled with plushies of all shapes and sizes. Rosalie, who wasn’t particularly fond of such things, found herself charmed by the sight of so many adorable stuffed animals.

 

“Do you like them?”

 

“Yes, they’re quite cute when displayed like this.”

 

She replied, poking the nose of a large teddy bear. It was about half the size of an adult man, stuffed to perfection with soft, plushy fabric.

 

“Shopkeeper, I’ll take them all.”

 

Derivis said without hesitation.

 

“What? Why all of them?”

 

Rosalie exclaimed, trying to stop him. Thankfully, the shopkeeper hadn’t heard him yet.

 

“You liked them, so I thought I’d get them for you.”

 

“That’s too much! I’m not a child.”

 

“Then is the teddy bear your favorite?”

 

His tone made it clear that he would indeed buy the entire store if she didn’t pick, so Rosalie reluctantly nodded.

 

Derivis paid for the bear on the spot, and he almost bought everything again when the shopkeeper mentioned they didn’t deliver single items. In the end, Rosalie had to intervene, and Derivis ended up carrying the oversized bear himself.

 

“Pfft.”

 

Rosalie couldn’t hold back her laughter at the sight of him lugging the massive teddy bear. Despite his dignity, the image was hilariously incongruous.

 

Unfazed, Derivis plopped the bear down on a bench.

 

“Teddy bears don’t suit you. Let me carry it.”

 

“It’s too big for you.”

 

Instead of handing it over, Derivis sat beside the bear. Rosalie joined him, still smiling. Passersbyers pretended not to notice, but their eyes were drawn to the striking couple and the oversized teddy bear on the bench.

 

“How’s Prince Radinis doing?”

 

“He’s working hard on his studies. His swordsmanship is coming along well too, and his grades are excellent. I asked if he wanted to attend the academy, but he chose to continue studying at the palace.”

 

For Derivis to call him excellent, Radinis must have been exceptional indeed.

 

“That’s great to hear.”

 

“I’ve decided to leave the palace.”

 

There was no hesitation in his voice, only a sense of finality. Rosalie realized that his long gaze at the dismantled execution platform earlier had been his way of letting go of his last lingering attachments.

 

“…And I want to stay by your side.”

 

His words were casual, almost as if spoken on a whim, but Rosalie reached out to him instinctively. Before her hand could meet his, a familiar voice interrupted.

 

“Ah, there they are! Rosalie and Derivis.”

 

“So this is where you’ve been.”

 

Derivis clicked his tongue softly, making sure no one else could hear as Erudit and Nathan approached.

 

Nathan carried boxes of macarons in both hands, with more balanced precariously in Erudit’s arms.

 

“Let’s eat these with some drinks~!”

 

“What kind of pairing is that?”

 

Rosalie frowned at the odd combination.

 

“How can you dismiss such a delicious combo?!”

 

Nathan retorted indignantly, while Erudit scolded him for selfishly enjoying the treat by himself.

 

“Devi, what’s with that teddy bear?”

 

Nathan asked, raising an eyebrow as he noticed Derivis still holding the large plushie.

 

 

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