Chapter 41
Part 4. The Oath
Reina’s birthday banquet was held a day early, just as she had wished.
It was the first time she was formally introduced to all the northern nobles.
If the previous tea time had been an informal gathering with the noble ladies, this banquet was an official affair.
Perhaps that was why.
From early morning, Reina had been tense, busily getting dressed up, and by now she was utterly drained.
Lily, who had taken charge of her adornments at her side, smiled brightly and said,
“You’re so beautiful. Your skin is so fair that you stand out in anything you wear. Isn’t that right, sis?”
Rose responded to Lily’s question with a light nod of her head.
Reina glanced at Rose out of the corner of her eye.
After the incident with Mrs. Mary, Rose seemed to fear her, but Reina actually preferred it that way.
It was because she had reconsidered her approach after trying to show proper courtesy only to get thoroughly rebuffed by Mrs. Mary.
With servants, it was best to maintain a relationship that was close yet distant.
She now understood that getting too friendly could lead them to cross boundaries and act with brazen insolence.
At that moment, there was a knock, and Kaiden entered the dressing room.
For some reason, though, he just stood blankly at the door.
His expression was sour, as if he’d encountered something unpleasant first thing in the morning.
Seeing him standing there with that sullen look, Reina tilted her head in curiosity.
“Kaiden.”
When she raised her hand and beckoned him closer, Kaiden’s face crumpled even further.
He seemed to mutter something under his breath, but it wasn’t loud enough for her to hear.
A moment later, Kaiden approached Reina with a deep sigh.
His slow gait resembled that of a horse being led to the slaughterhouse.
He also looked somewhat dazed, so Reina asked with concern,
“Were you swamped with work yesterday?”
“No?”
“You seem upset.”
“No way.”
Kaiden flinched, his face betraying that she’d struck right at the heart of it.
Then, glaring at her dress, he ground his teeth.
He had always considered men who policed their wives’ attire to be pathetic.
Yet now, he understood their feelings all too well.
When it hit him personally, staying calm was impossible.
Reina was beautiful.
So damn beautiful that it twisted his insides.
‘Who the hell recommended that scrap of fabric? Isn’t it half-finished?’
That’s what he thought, but there was nothing wrong with the dress.
In fact, it suited Reina as if it had been made just for her.
Poor Lily was on the verge of catching the brunt of his misplaced ire for suggesting the dress.
Kaiden glared at Reina’s outfit with eyes blazing like fire.
He didn’t want to show her like this to anyone.
‘I want to be the only one who sees her. What kind of mad, possessive nonsense is this?’
Kaiden was at a loss, stunned by his own unexpectedly clingy desire to possess her.
Because of it, his expression wasn’t just fierce—it was downright menacing.
Amid the chilling atmosphere that hung in the air, he helped her to her feet and said,
“It’s cold out—why are you wearing something so thin?”
“I heard the hall is warm inside, so I thought I’d try it.”
“No, you can’t. You’ll catch a cold. Why not put on a shawl at least?”
As Kaiden glanced around, Lily stepped in.
“Oh, come on, the hall is hot anyway. You’ve always complained about the heat yourself, Your Grace… Eek.”
When Lily interjected, Rose gave her a knowing poke in the side.
Then she fetched a shawl from the drawer.
“Hand it over.”
Kaiden took the shawl from Rose and draped it over Reina’s shoulders.
He paid no mind to Lily’s grumbling from behind: ‘Ah, you shouldn’t cover that part…’
Reina, suddenly bundled up like a package, stared at Kaiden with a bewildered expression.
Even to her, the highlight of this dress was clearly the shoulder line.
Yet, by covering it all up with the shawl, it made the dress look utterly ordinary.
Feeling her sullen gaze, he cleared his throat awkwardly and made an excuse.
“Northern colds are vicious.”
“……”
“I’m serious. You can’t afford to get sick.”
“Fine.”
Reina adjusted the shawl with a resigned air. She didn’t want to go against him when he seemed in such a foul mood from the morning.
Rose watched the two of them bickering as they left the dressing room, a bitter expression on her face.
Rose immediately knew why Kaiden was in such a low mood.
His reaction was so exaggerated that it would be strange if a third party didn’t notice.
Just look at him now.
He was glaring at the innocent knights like a hunting dog fully on alert.
The knights, receiving those unwarranted stares, were frozen stiff, staring straight ahead.
Fortunately, Reina seemed completely oblivious to why he was acting this way.
Rose let out a deep sigh and shook her head wearily.
‘What on earth is he doing…? If he just honestly said she looks beautiful, Madam would be thrilled. He really doesn’t understand women at all.’
In Rose’s eyes, Reina looked exceptionally beautiful today.
Dressed up as the star of the event, she was so stunning that she evoked the image of a princess from a fairy tale.
But with her partner acting like such a blockhead, how could the person herself know?
‘The road ahead is long, so long.’
Rose kept her mouth shut tight. She had long given up on interfering between the two, but she wasn’t about to cheer them on either.
Matters between husband and wife were for them to handle on their own.
The feeling when she saw Kaiden staring at Reina with that dazed expression at the door.
Seeing him, who was always so composed, flustered over a woman—it stirred a whirlwind of emotions in her.
To think she’d dared to try squeezing herself between them without fear.
Rose newly realized just how presumptuous she had been all this time.
And she was deeply impressed by Reina’s wise handling of the situation.
A few days ago, Rose had informed Reina that she could no longer serve at her side.
Because of the previous incident, some servants didn’t view her favorably, and staying by Reina’s side had become burdensome for her.
But the response she got back was a refusal.
Rose quietly recalled that moment.
“You’re saying you’ll keep me by your side? Even though the suspicions haven’t been fully cleared…?”
“I already said it wasn’t you who did it.”
“That’s true, but… It doesn’t look good to others, and it’s burdensome for me too.”
“So, in the end, you’re running away?”
“It’s not running away…!”
“If it’s not running away, then just stay. It’s the only chance you have to prove that it wasn’t your fault.”
“Pardon?”
“If you quit like this, it’ll look like you’re admitting guilt. So, stay by my side and prove your innocence.”
It felt like a punch to the gut. She, who had subtly looked down on Reina, had no choice but to acknowledge her own foolishness.
She’d thought Reina was just naively kind, but it was quite the opposite.
Even actions that seemed casual were, upon closer inspection, thoroughly calculated.
She was a woman with far deeper insight than expected.
Rose couldn’t help but recognize her as a fitting match for Kaiden.
In this harsh northern land, they needed someone who could see the big picture and plan accordingly.
Moreover, with the emperor’s excessive scrutiny upon them now.
There was no one else in as good a position to mediate as she was.
Of course, this was a thought made without knowing that Reina disliked the emperor.
Rose quietly watched Kaiden.
Even now, he was fussing over Reina’s shawl, grumbling away.
He, who always seemed like a splendid lord, transformed into a mere nag in front of Reina.
Seeing that, insisting on her own feelings would be foolish.
As Reina had said, this was an opportunity. A golden chance to wash away her own disgrace.
Reina had told her to stay by her side, but she hadn’t said she trusted her.
The meaning was clear. Become a reliable maid and prove your innocence yourself.
Rose was well aware that she was now on trial.
‘She’s scarier than I thought.’
Rose glanced at Reina, who was calmly conversing with Kaiden, and let out a soft sigh.
A short while later, as the two arrived at the hall’s entrance, the doorman announced their arrival in a loud voice.
“His Grace, Duke Kaiden Crencia, and Her Grace, Duchess Reina Crencia, are entering!”
As the massive doors swung wide open on both sides, the gazes of those gathered in the hall turned toward the entrance.
