Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Rosette emerged from the water, roughly toweled off, and began to put on her clothes. Since she hadn’t dried herself completely, it was difficult to even get one arm into her dress. To make matters worse, her long silver hair was also damp and tangled everywhere. It was one hardship after another.

Rosette struggled to put on her dress for a long time. Only after a considerable amount of time passed did she flee the space.

Finally spotting familiar lights, she let out a sigh of relief. She clasped her wildly beating heart for a while. She had known she would see him soon, but she had absolutely not expected to meet him like this.

His large, firm body. His red eyes persistently staring at her face. And the unusual… at his core.

Rosette shook her head, as if trying to shake off the persistent thought that kept invading her mind.

“The tent is ready, Princess.”

A soldier, finding her strange state curious, led her to her designated resting place. Rosette entered the tent with tired steps and finally rested.

After their encounter with Theodore, the Emperor’s party had driven their carriages quickly and were now crossing the border into the Kaysen Empire. Fortunately, Rosette hadn’t encountered Theodore even once since then.

Of course, this was partly because she was meticulously keeping a low profile, but from her perspective, simply not seeing his face made her feel like she could breathe again. So, she stayed inside the carriage, only venturing out for the restroom, carefully avoiding any chance encounters.

A landscape distinctly different from the Hersia Kingdom, which harmonized with nature, began to unfold before her eyes. Unlike her homeland, which was lined with wooden buildings, here stood towering structures built from solid brick and marble.

Carvings depicting the worship of gods were everywhere, adorned with intricate decorations. The ever-changing, magnificent scenery finally made her realize that she had truly left her country and crossed the border. If this was what the empire’s periphery looked like, she couldn’t even begin to imagine what the capital and the Imperial Palace would be like. She nervously smoothed her sleeves.

“Cough, cough!”

Her beautiful, diamond-like silver eyes remained fixed on the window, yet a continuous cough escaped her throat. Her body wasn’t feeling well lately, perhaps due to the long journey. Rosette, thinking a blanket might help, pulled the one draped over her knees even higher.

They continued to travel for several more days. It was almost the time they would reach Winterreus, the capital of the Empire.

The carriage she was riding in stopped briefly, and the door opened. It was the knight who had been escorting her carriage all along.

“Please step out, Princess.”

They still had a little further to go to the Imperial Palace, so what could be the matter? Before she could wonder, something was placed in her slender fingers. It was the flag of the Kaysen Empire.

“What is this?”

“It’s the Empire’s flag, Princess. A victory procession is about to begin. You just need to wave it to the people.”

Rosette, a princess from a small kingdom invited to the Empire under a treaty of amity. She was being told to hold the flag of the Kaysen Empire, which had been an enemy nation, and wave it towards its people.

Perhaps the Rosette of old, who knew nothing, might have refused to preserve her meager pride. But the current Rosette was different. She had resolved to risk everything to change her future, and pride was a luxury she couldn’t afford.

What mattered most to Rosette now was her survival and the security of her nation.

In short, she would gladly make clothes and a cape from the Empire’s flag and dance if it meant securing her life and future. They were too precious.

Taking the Empire’s flag, Rosette ascended to the open-top victory procession carriage. The carriage, adorned with fresh flowers, was enormous and lavishly decorated, completely filling the procession.

And then, Theodore, positioned at the very top of the lead carriage, made eye contact with Rosette. It was only for a fleeting moment, but his sharp, powerful presence instinctively drew her gaze. The instant their eyes met, Rosette quickly turned her head, averting his gaze.

As they entered the capital, a thunderous roar erupted from the Imperial citizens awaiting them.

Emperor Theodore Alexius, who had ascended to the throne and engaged in continuous wars to aggressively expand his territory, had celebrated victories day after day.

Especially in this war against the Hersia Kingdom, a peace treaty had been signed with the kingdom, thanks to Princess Rosette’s resourcefulness.

The trade strongholds of the Caballian and Hespain regions, located in the southwestern part of the kingdom and initially occupied, were returned, fostering increased trade between the nations.

Everyone agreed that Emperor Theodore, who had pursued aggressive territorial expansion since his enthronement, also showed a benevolent side depending on his opponent.

Furthermore, as a symbol of peace between the two nations, Princess Rosette Demianne, renowned as the most beautiful flower in the kingdom, had been invited to the Empire.

Though some secretly called her a trophy of war, outwardly, she had entered the Empire as a distinguished guest.

Cheers and shouts of welcome poured out from the populace for the Emperor, who returned in triumph.

The massive victory carriage, adorned with splendid flowers, began to traverse the heart of the capital. White stallions, leading the carriage, slowly advanced as celebratory fireworks and flower petals continuously fluttered against the bright blue daytime sky.

And behind it sat the silver-haired beauty. Her delicate, silver hair and transparent, glittering eyes. The Princess of the Hersia Kingdom with captivating beauty was brought in by the Emperor.

Her face appeared incredibly bright, almost like an envoy of friendship. In her radiant smiles as she waved the Empire’s flag to the people, there was no sign of the pain or sadness of being forcibly taken from her homeland.

She genuinely seemed to rejoice in the Empire’s victory and wished for its future prosperity. The citizens reacted even more enthusiastically to the princess appearance.

“Look at her bright smile. Isn’t she truly beautiful?”

“She seems genuinely happy. There’s no sadness to be found on the princess’s face.”

“It feels like the goddess of victory is with us.”

The beautiful woman smiled, revealing her white teeth. There was no shadow on the beautiful princess’s face. Anyone might have mistaken it for her country, not the Empire, having won the war, so engrossed did Rosette appear in the procession.

Theodore, whose gaze was momentarily captivated by Rosette, quickly returned his eyes to their original position. A corner of his perpetually expressionless mouth twitched subtly. It was a fleeting moment.

The endless procession continued through the capital’s center for a long time. The corners of Rosette’s mouth, which had been smiling all along, slowly began to cramp.

Perhaps due to the arduous schedule, her condition had worsened compared to when she was seated in the carriage, making it even more excruciating. As time passed, her entire body was soaked in cold sweat, and she felt dizzy, swaying for a moment, but she overcame it all with sheer willpower.

From the moment the procession began, Rosette had tried her best to present the image they desired. Anyone might have called her a princess without pride, but her true feelings were different.

She had to change, starting with small actions. The end for the Rosette who was consumed by stubbornness and pride had been death at the hands of the Emperor. Now that she knew that fact, she was willing to do her utmost for a comfortable future.

The moment her eyes shone with such determination, she made eye contact with Emperor Theodore once again, who was continuously waving to the citizens. He let out a sneer, as if mocking her.

Of course, this sight must be amusing. Though his sneer momentarily made her feel like her spirit would leave her body, Rosette forced the corners of her lips up, smiling even brighter at the crowd.

On that street, overflowing with flower petals celebrating the enemy’s victory, Rosette thought this would be a second beginning, one where only a flowery path would unfold before her.

Finally arriving in front of the Imperial Palace, Rosette wiped the sweat from her forehead with the cuff of her sleeve. The Imperial Palace, which she had seen for the first time after a long journey, was a sight of unparalleled luxury, but she was too exhausted to appreciate it.

What Rosette needed most right now was rest. She carefully dismounted the carriage with a knight’s escort.

Just as she stepped out of the carriage and was about to head to the palace temporarily assigned to her, someone suddenly blocked her path.

The person who stood before her, unaware of her desperate need for rest, was none other than Theodore. He drew close, his massive frame eclipsing the light until her shadow was swallowed by his darkness.

Rosette glanced up at him, her face subtly furrowed in a frown as his features were obscured by the shadows. He even blocked her path again when she tried to turn around to avoid him.

Had her actions displeased him? Curiosity got the better of her, but she kept her voice perfectly polite as she asked.

“Did you have something to say…?”

Theodore spoke to her with an intrigued tone as she cautiously asked.

“Your performance was quite convincing.”

A performance—in a way, it was both true and false. But from his perspective, it was easy to misunderstand.

A woman who smiles brightly at the citizens of an enemy nation immediately after leaving her homeland. Determined to clear the misunderstanding, Rosette spoke up, her voice sounding deeply wronged.