Chapter 5 Part 4
Usually, black roses aren’t often used because they’re said to harm landscaping, so this was an unexpected sight.
Though it seemed like an incompatible combination that wouldn’t match, they harmonized surprisingly beautifully and seductively.
“It suits you well, being called the Black Rose of society. Do you like it?”
With these unwelcome words and a subtle smile, Abel took my hand and slowly walked toward the center of the garden.
But now… it seems like he’s saying all these countless roses were planted just for me, or is that my imagination?
And asking if I like it. How could I…
“How could I not like it…”
Black and red are my favorite colors, after all.
“If there’s anything else you want, feel free to say so. I’ll grant whatever you wish.”
Whatever I wish, huh… It was a seductive phrase that would have been terribly sweet to an ordinary woman.
Instead of answering, I plucked one black rose that was closest to me.
A single black rose petal fluttered down onto my palm.
The rose’s scent was so strong that it sweetly stimulated my sense of smell even without deliberately bringing it close.
“I believe I already answered that before. I don’t want anything from you, Abel.”
A strange vibration passed through Abel’s purple eyes as he looked at me giving this lukewarm answer.
He seemed to have roughly guessed I would answer like this.
As expected, it didn’t seem like we came all the way here just to show me roses.
“Rosiel, why are you trying to let me go?”
Abel’s question getting to the point was quite simple. And here I was wondering what grand thing he was going to say.
Come to think of it, that line was something I should have said to Abel.
Even more so since the original Rosiel was not only abandoned by Abel but also killed by him.
In my past life when I lived exactly as the original Rosiel, I had to experience firsthand the humiliation and shame she felt when Abel abandoned her.
For Rosiel, who had strong pride as the young lady of House Laté that even the Imperial family had to acknowledge, being abandoned for a mere woman who came up from the countryside was a great wound.
Just for being an obstacle to the love between the female and male leads, being called a villainess – Rosiel was too pitiable a character for that.
Come to think of it, from Rosiel’s perspective, the villains were Abel and Hertiana.
Anyway, among the answers I could give to Abel’s question, there was no correct answer I could claim was right.
This development wasn’t in the original story, and therefore, my answer now would be entirely my opinion and choice.
I approached Abel, who was looking at me with sad eyes, and spoke while removing a cold flower petal stuck to his warm cheek.
“Isn’t it funny? While we don’t love each other, we’re afraid of being abandoned.”
Abel overlapped his hand on top of mine that was touching his cheek.
My cold hand quickly warmed up from his hot temperature.
“Rosiel, it’s true that I wasn’t sincere with you until now. But… not anymore.”
It was a pitiful voice that seemed like it would cry at any moment.
In my previous life, around this time, Rosiel would have been suffering alone after belatedly realizing her feelings for Abel who had abandoned her.
At the same time, she would have been hating Hertiana.
Seeing Abel’s kindness, which had always been directed only at her, going to another woman, that’s when she would have realized her true feelings.
But since I’ve gone on strike from living as the villainess Rosiel, Abel is no longer a man I love, nor a man I should love.
He would only be an obstacle to me who was finally trying to break free from the original story.
Moreover, since I’ve given up on living according to the original anyway, if I were to consider my real preferences – not as Rosiel but as ‘me’… Rather than Abel who’s used to handling women, I’m slightly more drawn to Hyle who’s clumsy and oblivious but therefore sincere in every moment…
Anyway, I just wanted to overcome this cursed time-limited life.
Whatever the goal, don’t you need to be alive to achieve it?
“Abel, if you need Laté’s authority, go to Fergio instead of me. As the young lord of Laté, he would be helpful in realizing your ambitions. As you know… our engagement is now just nominal.”
No matter how much of a ruffian Fergio might be, it’s not like he lacked ability.
As they say you need to be smart even to cause trouble, Fergio had long been recognized for his ability and power as the young lord of Laté whom everyone acknowledged.
Except for his somewhat fierce temperament, he was quite a promising talent in public matters.
“Who knows? Maybe you’ll become best friends. You two are quite similar in personality.”
Both being shameless, and not being particular about means to achieve your goals.
Unable to speak the latter part, I finished speaking, and Abel showed a sad smile with a slightly darker expression.
I shook off the hand Abel was holding and looked away from him.
Though he’s making such a depressed face now, he was a man who had exceptional talent in managing his expressions since childhood.
So it was difficult to be certain right now whether his current words and actions toward me were sincere or not.
But Abel grabbed my wrist again.
“Rosiel, I have no intention of letting you go in the future. So don’t let me go either.”
The purple eyes I met were so serious it was startling.
Abel was expressing such deep emotion that I couldn’t help but acknowledge he was sincere.
Someone’s heartbeat echoed particularly loudly in my ears along with a strange sense of déjà vu.
Somehow, my belief that those eyes, that sincerity, weren’t directed at me seemed to be wavering.
“Abel, do you like me?”
My lips moved on their own without me realizing.
For some reason, I had the illusion that whatever he said now would all be true.
“Yes.”
The unhesitating answer came across so heavily it was chilling.
Suddenly, I had an ominous feeling like I was being sucked into a deep, black quagmire with no end in sight.
* * *
“Hah…”
Returning to the duchy, I collapsed onto the bed while trying to suppress an incredulous laugh.
The vague aversion I had toward Abel until now was naturally because Rosiel’s memories and emotions from her previous life of being abandoned remained within me.
But when Abel actually confessed with such a plaintive expression I’d never seen before, I completely couldn’t breathe.
Just like when Caligo in his snake form was constricting my neck.
After hearing his confession, I fled from the Imperial Palace.
If I had stayed there just a little longer, I might not have been able to resist Abel approaching closely.
I must have momentarily lost my senses because the rose fragrance was too strong.
Rather than make an irreversible mistake, it was better to run away with some excuse and ignore the situation.
…But why does Abel like me?
I forgot to ask the most important thing.
When there’s a pure and holy female protagonist right there, how could he notice a villainess who controls scary magical beasts and uses black magic?
