A Marriage Alliance for Revenge - Chapter 32

“Your Majesty!”

 

Gusto frowned slightly at the commanding tone that echoed through the parlor.

 

Sitting back and sipping his tea, Gusto set his cup down at the sound of Eve’s voice.

 

The red roses Eve had carefully brought him this morning, the last of the year, were exuding a rich fragrance.

 

‘It’s sickening.’

 

Gusto furrowed his brow at the scent of roses filling the parlor.

 

Rose tea and the scent of roses were familiar to him, always filling the air where he stayed.

 

But for some reason, today, the scent of roses was so strong, it made him sharper.

 

“Your Majesty, how could you let that wench into the palace without consulting me?”

 

Eve said irritably as she paced in front of Gusto.

 

The pounding of her footsteps, obviously upset, set Gusto’s already sharp nerves on edge.

 

“Eve.”

 

“I’ve always followed your wishes, but this time I don’t understand your intentions.”

 

Gusto sighed lowly at the tear in Eve’s voice.

 

Even with his hand pressed firmly against her temple, Eve did not relent in her insistence.

 

“The Duchess Viterpan is your shield, Eve.”

 

“If you’re just saying that to appease me, stop it!”

 

Eve, who had been stomping back and forth in front of Gusto, suddenly stopped and glared at him.

 

Her golden eyes blazed in the sunlight.

 

The unpleasant scent of roses and the unpleasant thumping of his heart slowly steadied as he met those golden eyes.

 

Gusto stretched out his hands toward Eve, who was staring out the window in disbelief.

 

Eve crossed her arms and glared at Gusto, then snorted and turned her head resolutely away.

 

But Eve’s reflection in the glass was tense, watching Gusto’s every move.

 

Gusto couldn’t help but smile.

 

“Eve. My love.”

 

“I don’t know about this.”

 

Eve’s voice softened, and she shook Gusto’s outstretched arm lightly.

 

Gusto’s voice was as sweet as honey, and Eve collapsed into his arms as if she couldn’t resist.

 

“Hmph, are you sure you want to bring her into the palace? I don’t like her, Gusto.”

 

Eve said in a squeaky voice, nuzzling her face against Gusto’s chest.

 

Usually, when she acted cute like this, Gusto would pretend to resist but ultimately grant Eve’s request.

 

“My golden rose.”

 

Ignoring Eve’s petulant protests, Gusto kissed her peachy cheek.

 

When Gusto’s lips parted with a snap, Eve quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.

 

“Your Majesty-“

 

Gusto smiled at Eve’s nasal voice. He willingly indulged in the sight of Eve, hanging on him with her eyes fixed solely on him. 

 

The thought that her petite body was the only thing he focused on sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.

 

“‥‥‥Eve. Who are you?”

 

“What?”

 

Gusto tenderly stroked Eve’s hair. 

 

Even if the last rose were to fall, Eve’s crimson locks would remain eternal. 

 

Gusto buried his nose in Eve’s hair and took a deep breath. 

 

The faint scent of roses permeated his nostrils.

 

“You are my golden rose.”

 

Gusto spoke on behalf of Eve, who looked bewildered by his question and was unable to answer.

 

Gusto’s cold hand stroked down Eve’s face, stopping at her eyes.

 

Eve gritted her teeth at the chilling sensation.

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

“That’s it, Eve. You are my rose, and that’s why you’re allowed to occupy the Rose Palace in the Rhone Empire.”

 

Gusto stroked Eve’s eyes.

 

Eve closed her eyes as the long fingers slowly moved toward mine.

 

Each time the cool fingers passed over her eyes, darkness fell.

 

Eve wanted to run away from the cold sensation immediately, but as always, she held on.

 

She knew from countless experiences that holding on was the only way to stay in this position.

 

Every time Gusto squeezed Eve’s breath like this, she remembered her unhappy past.

 

The memories were enough to make the creepy Gusto’s touch bearable.

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

“Did you say you wanted to be empress?”

 

“Yes‥‥‥.”

 

Gusto smirked at the answer that came without delay. He liked the honesty of Eve’s desire.

 

Eve’s venomousness, her willingness to whisper death in his ear to get what she wanted, was beautiful in Gusto’s eyes.

 

Eve’s skillfulness in dealing with various schemes, resembling a foolish fox wagging its tail in front of him, brought a sense of calmness to Gusto’s heart.

 

“You’re not the Empress yet, and it’s not like you have any pretensions, yes?”

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

“You want me to give you a fake identity?”

 

Gusto dabbed at the tears pooling in her golden eyes with his long fingers.

 

A thick tear rolled from Eve’s eye, almost too big for his touch.

 

Wetting his cheek and swiping at the tears running down his face, Gusto shook his head.

 

They were tears of unfilled desire, of not having what she wanted.

 

Tears of resentment for not getting what she wanted.

 

Tears of frustration at not getting what she wanted.

 

Gusto covered Eve’s eyes along with those greedy tears.

 

“Eve Ferena. Your mother abandoned you without your father knowing. You ate moldy bread, scavenged from the garbage heap, and people gave you the finger.”

 

Despite his gentle voice, Gusto’s words were brutal.

 

Eve’s tears soaked Gusto’s shirt, but neither of them cared.

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

“Will you continue to be my hidden woman?”

 

“Oh, no, I want to be your dignified lady.”

 

Gusto wiped her moist, tear-stained eyes with her large hand.

 

Even in the midst of all this, she looked away, trying not to disturb me, saying that she wanted to be my woman, not the empress.

 

“I also hope that you become my dignified woman. It was because of you that I killed the Empress with my own hands and killed my own child.”

 

She choked.

 

Fear showed on her pitiful, tear-stained face.

 

Gusto lifted Eve’s chin, her body trembling like a baby.

 

“You know best, Eve, how you got here, don’t you?”

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

Eve’s lips quivered at Gusto’s words.

 

Gusto grabbed her chin and pressed his lips close to hers.

 

The distance between them was so close that their breaths mingled.

 

“You expect me to put a concubine with no title in front of nobles who humiliate me for presenting an unworthy lineage?”

 

“Your Majesty, I’ve made a mistake.”

 

His clenched jaw didn’t move.

 

His gentle tone of voice and the wrinkles around his eyes gave the appearance of a smile, yet Eve couldn’t shake off the shivers running up her arms.

 

“Yes, that’s right. Eve, you’re a good girl. You should continue to behave obediently in the future as well.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“There’s no need to overthink it. Consider it a lesson in becoming a queen. Should the Duchess Viterpan succeed, it will add to your merit, and should she fail, the Duchess will become a new subject of gossip.”

 

As Gusto spoke, a glimmer appeared in Eve’s tear-drenched eyes.

 

Her radiant golden irises sparkled in the sunlight.

 

“Ah…”

 

With tears clinging to her eyelashes, Eve smiled beautifully.

 

Her face was pitifully pale.

 

“Ah, there’s my empress.”

 

Eve nodded at Gusto’s words. Her face was pure, without a trace of doubt.

 

The maid and the butler, who observed the two, exchanged glances.

 

In the sunlight that flooded the parlor, they embraced each other, whispering words of love—an image of blissful lovers.

 

However, their conversation was far from endearing, unlike their appearance.

 

Eve’s innocence struck terror into the hearts of those who watched.

 

The one who whispered the death of Queen Olivia into Gusto’s ear with the most innocent face in the world was Eve.

 

A woman who captivated Gusto’s gaze instantly with her utterly naive countenance.

 

The mistress of the Rose Palace, capable of shedding tears whenever necessary.

 

“So, go and prepare to meet the Duchess Viterpan. Behave as a future empress would.”

 

Gusto swiftly separated Eve from his embrace, lifting her up as if she were a young child, and lightly swatted her behind.

 

“Oh! You’re being naughty.”

 

Eve delicately cast her eyes downward, concealing her behind from Gusto’s gaze.

 

Surprised, Gusto covered his mouth with his hand and burst into laughter at Eve’s playful, swaying gestures.

 

The somewhat serious atmosphere dissipated in an instant due to Eve’s charm.

 

Seeing Gusto’s laughter, Eve, too, erupted in melodious laughter.

 

Observing Eve’s expression, Gusto plucked a single rose adorning the table.

 

It was a well-groomed rose, devoid of any thorns, glistening with water, and blooming magnificently.

 

“Wasn’t this supposed to be the last rose of the year?”

 

Snap.

 

Gusto snapped the stem of the rose in half with his hand.

 

Holding the red rose, Gusto swept Eve’s hair aside and placed it behind her ear.

 

“You are my rose.”

 

“…”

 

Eve leaned her face against Gusto’s palm.

 

In that animal-like, tender gesture, anyone could feel an endearing charm.

 

But, just as Gusto had said, Eve was a rose.

 

One that possessed strength and sharp thorns more than anyone else.

 

“So, go and prepare to meet the Duchess Viterpan as befits a rose of mine.”

 

“Yes, I will.”

 

In response to obedient Eve’s words, Gusto’s gaze turned towards the window.

 

The sky stretched out like a spread canvas, reminiscent of spilled blue paint.

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

“Is this all the luggage?”

 

Count Delevinge spoke as he looked at the piled-up luggage in front of the carriage.

 

It was pitifully meager to be considered the luggage of a duchess.

 

Among the people entering the mansion, Count Delevinge was just one of the common attendants, easily overlooked by others.

 

He was so unremarkable that some might mistake him for a stranger upon first seeing him.

 

Thus, it was truly a rare occasion for him to be standing outside the entrance in broad daylight.

 

“This is for the carriage in which Madam will be riding. It seems fitting that the valuable items should be kept nearby.”

 

Upon hearing Vinter’s words, Count Delevinge poked his head out of the entrance.

 

“S-Surely, that can’t be all the Duchess’s luggage?”

 

“It’s only a portion. Due to the lack of preparation time, Madam Blanc decided to procure the necessary items as needed.”

 

Vinter replied with a bustle.

 

“Good Lord.”

 

“Stop dawdling, and head inside.”

 

“No, I just.”

 

Count Delevinge stumbled back at Vinter’s words.

 

“Why are you here?”

 

“Ah! My lady.”

 

Count Delevinge turned around at the sound of Briella’s voice and froze in place.

 

He had seen Briella many times over the years.

 

She and Count Delevinge were the ones who took charge of the mansion in Lucas’s absence.

 

Being surprised by Briella’s appearance was something Count Delevinge never expected.

 

“Is there something wrong?”

 

“Oh, no.”

 

Count Delevinge quickly averted his gaze from Briella and wiped his face.

 

Although one must believe in a woman’s innocence, it was still surprising every time he saw her.

 

The count thought of his daughter, who was still living in his domain.

 

By now, she was probably setting off from the estate for the Goddess Festival.

 

“Count?”

 

Count Delevinge snapped out of his thoughts of his daughter at Briella’s call.

 

Just the thought of his daughter brought a smile to his lips.

 

“Oh, I apologize.”

 

“It seems like you were thinking something happy.”

 

Briella smiled and asked. Count Delevinge scratched his head in a somewhat awkward manner.

 

It was a rare and perplexing sight.

 

“I was thinking of my daughter in the estate.”

 

“Oh… you have a daughter.”

 

Nodding his head and feeling awkward, Count Delevinge turned away. He remembered Marquis de Ronae, whom he had forgotten until now.

 

It was bittersweet.

 

Count Delevinge, whose face reddened at the mere thought of his daughter, and Marquis de Ronae who had mourned the death of his daughter.

 

Both men carried the title of “father,” but their actions as fathers were different.

 

Briella, who thought of Marquis de Ronae, averted her gaze elsewhere.

 

“Is everything ready?”

 

“Just wait a moment, please.”

 

Vinter, who had been moving about busily, quickly changed his steps at the gesture of the housekeeper.

 

Everyone in the manor threw up their hands when Briella declared her intent that she would go to the palace alone.

 

But there was no one in Viterpan Manor who could stop what Lucas had agreed to and Briella had decided to do.

 

“Hmph.”

 

Briella sighed as she looked out at Vinter and the maid, who were discussing something in earnest.

 

She didn’t want to take anyone with her.

 

It was enough to stand there, alone, on a path of roses and thorns.

 

“We’re ready.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Briella’s eyes widened as the redheaded girl followed the maid, smiling brightly.

 

“My lady. This is Lena.”

 

Upon the housekeeper’s introduction, the freckled face of the red-haired girl bowed respectfully. Her mischievous smile adorned a face dotted with freckles.

 

“Lena!”

 

However, soon after, Lena quickly concealed her expression at the housekeeper’s scolding. 

 

Briella recognized the girl. 

 

She was the one who had caught her attention when she first came to the mansion.

 

“It is an honor to serve you again, my lady.”

 

Lena also seemed to remember Briella. The heavily wrinkled face around her eyes revealed Lena’s feelings.

 

“Is going to the palace so delightful?”

 

Seeing Lena’s bright face, an unwarranted sense of guilt washed over Briella. 

 

No matter how much she thought about it, her life in the palace was unlikely to be as enjoyable as Lena imagined.

 

Vinter, who checked the time, hurried them. 

 

Briella nodded silently and stepped into the carriage. 

 

As soon as she took her seat, the carriage departed. 

 

Vinter, the housekeeper, and Count Delevinge stood outside the window. 

 

It was a journey back to a place they didn’t want to return to, not even twice.