Chapter 5.1
It was late at night.
Rosena was tiptoeing down the third-floor hallway of the mansion, holding a softly glowing lantern in one hand.
Cassian hadn’t returned by midnight, so it seemed he wouldn’t be coming back tonight.
She knew no one was there, but she still felt inexplicably nervous. Rosena’s facial muscles were slightly stiff as she cautiously walked in her pajamas. A cold sweat seemed to have gathered in her palms.
“This is what a tracking magic tool looks like. Dispose of it immediately after you’ve checked it.”
Baron Leilia had handed Rosena a paper with a drawing of the tracking magic tool on her wedding day.
The tracking magic tool, made of obsidian that reacted sensitively to divine power, had a complex spell written on it to connect it to a large number of inverted triangular pendants.
The spell, a mix of ancient and divine languages, were said to be impossible for anyone to create anew now. The divine clan had destroyed all design records to prevent further production of magic tools, and even the blood of the divine clan, used for the pendants, had disappeared, making it impossible to find.
Just one tracking magical tool caused the entire clan to live in hiding, so if the manufacturing method remained, the imperial family, the temple, and other forces might all covet it.
Though considered a legend now, if it were known to be true, the awakened power of the divine clan would appear absolute and alluring in the eyes of humans.
‘There must be a tracking magic tool somewhere on the third floor.’
In fact, Rosena had already checked most of the rooms.
And she had come to the conclusion that the tracking magic tool was stored somewhere deeper and more secret than the rooms.
For example, a place where a seemingly ordinary room had an unexpected secret device installed.
Thump. Thump.
“Hmm. The sound seems normal?”
Rosena was frowning deeply, her ear pressed against the wall, tapping it with her palm. She was trying everything she’d seen or heard about.
She had already gone through half the rooms on the third floor.
More than half of the candle she brought had melted. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but she knew it was early morning.
“…Could it be that it’s not on the third floor? If it’s not here, there aren’t many rooms left.”
Since the third floor was a place where only direct descendants of the family lived, the number of rooms was not as many as one might think.
The only places left were the Baltinart family’s portrait room and…
Click. Clack clack.
“Huh?”
Clack.
“What? Why is it locked?”
It was a room whose owner was unknown and was mysteriously locked, as if someone had originally lived there. In short, it was a very suspicious room.
Just as Rosena rolled up her sleeves and was about to twist the doorknob again.
“Rosena.”
“Gasp.”
An arm reached out from behind her, and a larger man’s hand gently wrapped around the back of Rosena’s hand, which was holding the lantern.
A familiar voice whispered in her ear.
“At this late hour.”
“…Huh.”
“What are you doing here instead of sleeping, Rosena?”
“Cassian…?”
Startled, Rosena stepped back and looked at Cassian.
Cassian’s gaze, as he questioned her, was fixed not on Rosena but on the lantern in her hand.
More precisely, he was looking at the traces of candle wax that had melted more than half from long use.
Rosena subtly hid the lantern behind her back and asked, feigning ignorance.
“…When did you arrive?”
She thought he wouldn’t be coming home today.
“A little while ago.”
“If you came, why didn’t you say something instead of sneaking up like that…?”
“Isn’t that the same for Rosena?”
Rosena swallowed dryly. The important thing now was to avoid suspicion and smooth over the situation. However, any excuse she made would look strange.
Rosena clearly looked like someone who had been caught secretly roaming the mansion.
She swallowed dryly, afraid that her mouth, unable to lie, would blurt out the pendant story.
“The door just wouldn’t open, so I was curious and tried to open it.”
“At this hour?”
“Yes.”
“Now I see you have a knack for making excuses.”
“…So, you’re not going to believe me?”
Even if he didn’t, she would have nothing to say. Rosena looked exactly like a thief caught by the owner.
Cassian, who had been silently looking down at Rosena, wondering what she was thinking, turned around and replied.
“Yes, I believe you.”
“…Huh?”
Was he really letting her off the hook?
Rosena, looking surprised at Cassian walking away, slowly started to walk, then quickened her pace to catch up with him.
“But what kind of room is that?”
“I won’t tell you.”
“…”
“Rosena, you haven’t told me everything either, have you?”
Whimpering. Rosena, who had partially revived, quietly shut her mouth and quickened her pace obediently.
Cassian overlooked Rosena’s actions because he had promised not to ask her anything.
There was a precondition that she would stay by his side, and now she was by his side with the name Baltinart.
‘I’m keeping my promise sincerely.’
It seemed Rosena didn’t even remember that promise. Or perhaps she didn’t know the extent of Cassian’s promise.
‘Maybe it’s better that she doesn’t know.’
Cassian was willing to overlook anything Rosena did, as long as she stayed by his side.
And he certainly had no intention of asking what she was doing at this hour. If he asked, Rosena, unable to lie, would tell him everything. Moreover, it was obvious what Rosena had been trying to do in front of the locked room.
Wandering around a dark mansion with a lantern at a late hour was proof that she was looking for something.
She must have found that locked room and tried to open it.
It wasn’t difficult for Cassian to deduce that much.
‘She must have wandered around quite a bit.’
Judging by the amount of melted candle wax, it seemed she had been exploring the mansion for at least several hours.
What on earth was she looking for?
“Cassian, are you going to be this busy often in the future?”
Moreover, she was subtly probing him, perhaps looking for another opportunity. The question was so blatant that Cassian nearly laughed.
“Probably. I think it will be like this for a while.”
“I see.”
“But I can’t feel at ease. I came home after midnight, and my wife wasn’t in the bedroom but taking a walk in the mansion in the middle of the night.”
Rosena suddenly became quiet.
Her lips were clamped shut like a clamshell, and she walked looking straight ahead, clearly saying, “I did something wrong.”
She was visibly tense, wondering if Cassian would ask any other questions.
“I’m tired. Let’s go back to the bedroom quickly.”
“…If you’re that tired, why didn’t you just rest at the Imperial Palace instead of forcing yourself to come back…?”
It seemed she was quite unhappy about Cassian’s sudden appearance at a crucial moment.
‘Even if she opened that room, there would be nothing there.’
That room had been empty for a long time, having lost its owner.
“I can’t rest comfortably at the Imperial Palace.”
The two had already arrived at the bedroom.
“So I came to rest, Rosena.”
“Ah… then perhaps I should sleep separately today?”
At the single word “tired,” her round blue eyes immediately filled with concern. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had worried about him without expecting anything in return.
Rosena seemed to be trying to give him space, knowing he had insomnia.
‘He shouldn’t have said anything unnecessary.’
Cassian shook his head, thinking he should call Ted again soon and educate him.
“If that was the case, why would I come here, Rosena? You can’t sleep either, right?”
Does this woman know? That being with Rosena Baltinart was when he felt most peace.
Perhaps she would never know unless Cassian told her.
* * *
In the early morning light, Rosena, who woke up first, was watching Cassian sleep, lying on her stomach with a pillow under her chest. Her sleepiness had been completely driven away by the events of the dawn.
“…He sleeps so well.”
Does his insomnia come irregularly, or was his work at the Imperial Palace so exhausting that it wasn’t a problem?
“He looks gentle when he’s sleeping.”
His typically cold features seemed somewhat softened with his eyes closed. He looked even kinder with his hair down. How wonderful would it be if his personality were also less twisted and kinder?
“Come to think of it, I forgot to mention that a letter came from the Imperial Palace.”
She had meant to tell him that an invitation had arrived from the Empress Dowager, but she had been so flustered that she hadn’t. She would have to send a reply by the morning at the latest to avoid displeasing the Empress Dowager.
‘I can’t wake up someone who’s sleeping soundly to tell them.’
Rosena quietly got up and left the room. She wouldn’t be able to live while maintaining her marriage and drawing a line with the Imperial Family. Even if the Baltinart family supported the Emperor, she couldn’t openly take sides.
‘Haa.’
Rosena came out of the room with the reply she had written beforehand and saw Helia standing by the door.
As Rosena’s exclusive maid, Helia always accompanied her wherever she went unless there was a special circumstance.
That’s why she was even more curious. On that day, when Rosena hadn’t given any separate instructions, under whose orders did Helia head to the North Annex during her working hours?
“My lady, are you awake?”
“Yes, Helia. Please deliver this letter to the Imperial Palace.”
“Of course. Who is the recipient?”
“Empress Dowager Tiella Agzent.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Helia smiled brightly, took the letter, and left. And shortly after, another letter arrived from the Empress Dowager.
* * *
“The Grand Duchess Baltinart says she will come to see me.”
“Oh, really?”
Isabelle smiled as she gently massaged the Empress Dowager’s shoulders familiarly.
Having served the Empress Dowager since childhood under the instructions of Duke Senicia, all of Isabelle’s actions in serving her superior were natural.
The Empress Dowager, well past forty, still possessed captivating beauty.
With her dark purple hair styled up and adorned with jewels, she was so beautiful that the opulent accessories faded into the background.
The Empress Dowager, elegantly reading the Grand Duchess Baltinart’s reply, smiled with satisfaction at its positive content and lightly grasped Isabelle’s hand.
Her red lips soon opened.
“That’s enough. Your arms must be tired, stop now.”
“No. Nothing is difficult when I serve Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
As Isabelle shook her head and spoke pleasant words, the Empress Dowager smiled again.
Tiella Agzent liked Aria, the Empress, much less than her younger sister, Isabelle.
Isabelle was intelligent and knew her place, unlike her foolish older sister who only knew how to make a fuss.
“Isabelle.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Isabelle answered softly, still massaging Tiella’s shoulders. Knowing that Isabelle wouldn’t overstep her bounds, Tiella generously decided to grant Isabelle what she wanted.
“Don’t you want to meet the Grand Duchess Baltinart?”
“Why would I meet the Grand Duchess?”
The Empress Dowager drank her tea and looked at Isabelle’s reflection in the mirror. Even with the desired opportunity before her, Isabelle acted as if massaging the Empress Dowager’s shoulders was her entire existence, without any emotional stir.
‘This young one harbors hundreds of sly snakes within her.’
The Empress Dowager raised one corner of her mouth and set down her teacup. It was as if she was looking at her younger self, so Tiella decided to be generous.
“When the Grand Duchess Baltinart comes to the palace, you shall personally go to greet her.”
“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty. I will serve her with all my heart.”
“Do you not resent me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you desire the position of Grand Duchess?”
Isabelle’s hand paused for the first time. Her straight eyelashes were still directed downwards without a flicker. There was a brief silence, but then Isabelle smiled radiantly, like flowing water.
“I coveted something that was never mine from the beginning.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I am grateful that you think so.”
That was the correct answer. Tiella twitched her eyebrows upwards and traced the rim of her teacup. Then she looked out the window at the Emperor’s palace.
From the beginning, the Empress Dowager had no intention of giving the position of Grand Duchess Baltinart to Isabelle Senicia. A young fox who has what she wants might try to climb over her head at any time.
It was safer for her to prostrate herself and get what she wanted, as she was doing now.
“I look forward to the day I meet the Grand Duchess Baltinart.”
She was genuinely looking forward to it. The Empress Dowager was very interested in how a mere daughter of a lowly baron came to sit in the position of Grand Duchess.
More precisely, she was curious about the cunning of the late Grand Duke Dierre Baltinart.
After all, he must have created a safety measure to protect the position of Grand Duchess and died, keeping Tiella Agzent in check until the very last moment.
