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nCahir was well aware of Rosaline’s relationships. Five years ago, he finished investigating the people and families around her and spent most of his time together with her after that.

nCahir remembered a part of an old memory. When Rosaline was just 20 years old, Derek told her that she needed a friend. At that time, Cahir prohibited it, saying she would be negligent in her work if she went out to socialize.

nShe didn’t get the chance to make friends. What are friends?

nHowever, Cahir couldn’t get rid of Ella right away. That was the problem. There were plenty of reasons to throw her out. Azela introduced her to him first, so he could say that they were members of opposing factions. Plus, she lied about being friends with Rosaline.

n‘But why…?’

nHe wondered what would happen if the word “kill” came out of his mouth. Cahir narrowed his eyes. Soon, the tea pots were emptied and had to be refilled. He looked at Rosaline. (pg 0-3)

n“Rosaline…”

nWhy didn’t she just look at Ella and say that they weren’t friends. Maybe there was something that he missed. Was Ella truly Rosaline’s friend? Or was Rosaline just observing her out of interest?

nShe must be planning something.

nCahir decided to stifle his unpleasant feelings and just endure their ruined tea time.

nHow annoying.

nIt felt like someone was squeezing his heart.

nWhy did it hurt to see Rosaline? There was a flood of unknown variables. Cahir was proud that he knew everything about himself, but recently he wasn’t so certain about that.

n———–

n“Your Majesty, do you feel uncomfortable?” Ella asked Cahir with round, doe-like eyes.

n“No, Rosaline’s friend… I’m enjoying being able to spend this time here together.”

nA lie.

nThat smile on his face didn’t reach his eyes, and there was a small twitch near the corners of his mouth. This was a sign that meant, ‘How unpleasant, I want to kill this nuisance in front of me.’

nSlowly, Rosaline’s patience was also running out.

nWould her small actions offend Cahir? Her past, in which she acted carefully because of her fear of him, flashed before her eyes at the speed of light.

nWas she willing to put up with everything, even when she was irritated, because of the heroine buff Ella had?

nRosaline clenched her teacup, tightly enough that her tea rippled. One of Cahir’s eyebrows went up.

n“Rosaline, are you sick?”

nA large hand pressed against her forehead, and Rosaline almost jumped.

nShe was used to physical contact with Cahir. He often grabbed her wrists or her waist, which was even more frequent yesterday as they danced together. None of those formal touches were like this, warm and gentle and unfamiliar.

n“You look pale. You can’t do this. It’s nice to meet friends, but I think you need to rest today.”

nTechnically, it was a misunderstanding, but the suggestion was good. It would be nice to have a break after this stressful morning.

n“Your Majesty… Are you staying?”

nHowever, Rosaline didn’t want to leave Cahir alone with Ella.

n‘Why?’

nRosaline was surprised at her own pettiness.

nHer goal was to meet with His Majesty, cleanly quit her job, and enjoy a lazy life.

n“Why are you asking me? I’ve been with you for a long time, too. You seem to have forgotten your duty as secretary, Rosaline. Can you tell me the first and most important role of being a secretary?”

n“The secretary is always next to the king?”

n“Do you know what’s wrong with yourself? Let’s go, Rosaline.”

n“Would you excuse us, Ella?”

nYou shouldn’t ask that, Your Majesty.

nIt’s rude to ask even if you ask with that hurt face.

nCahir only said that he would leave first, but Ella looked like a lost puppy.

nHowever, Ella quickly put on a smile. She was trying so hard to look good in front of Cahir to the point where Rosaline felt sorry for her.

nElla’s facial muscles trembled. Her tendons popped out with how hard she was clenching her hands under the table.

n“I was here to see Rosaline, but it looks like it can’t be helped. Rosaline, take good care of yourself.”

nRosaline got goosebumps from that chilling goodbye. Was Ella supposed to be this pretentious? Since she was also a transmigrator, shouldn’t she try to match the personality of the original story?

nIf God had common sense, would they have allowed a person with that kind of personality to transmigrate into the heroine’s body? There must be some kind of mistake, maybe Rosaline misread something, how could this…? Rosaline became increasingly confused. She too was a transmigrator and, unwittingly, changed the flow of the original story.

nSeeing Ella, who looked as fragile as a daffodil, Rosaline’s head began to hurt.

nThe warm and caring expression she had when pretending to care about Rosaline could have easily fooled people into believing she truly was the original heroine….

nThis was so confusing.

n***

n“Rosaline, tell me what you know about Ella.”

nRosaline, who had been escorted back to her bedroom, was prepared to send Cahir back and rest well. Instead of going back to his room, however, Cahir strode into Rosaline’s room.

n“Your Majesty, you said you would let me rest.”

n“Rosaline, are you sick? Why do you keep forgetting secretary rule number one? Do you want me to re-evaluate you from the beginning?”

nSecretary’s first rule.

nThe secretary is always next to the king.

n“No, doesn’t that only apply when you work?”

n“No, I don’t think you know exactly what the rule means. To say you’ll always be with me, whenever I want. I’m not referring to business hours.”

nWow, what a vicious boss you are!

nA self-centered psycho who doesn’t give others a choice!

nLeft or right, it’s room A!

n“Phew. Rosaline, what’s with that look?”

nCahir laughed. Her dissatisfaction seems to be a source of entertainment for him. Rosaline puffed up her cheeks and pouted. Cahir’s big hand came to rest on top of her head.

n“Okay, I’ll stop talking. Get some rest. I’m going to work here.”

nHis crescent-shaped eyes instantly melted Rosaline’s displeasure. An invisible tremor swept past her body.

nAs he said, Cahir refused to leave. That was until Rosaline was saved by Hui and changed from her day dress to a comfortable sleeping gown and lay down on the bed.

nRosaline had thought he was joking when Cahir said he would stay in her room. However, as if to show her that it wasn’t a joke, Cahir had Derek bring the documents into Rosaline’s room to review.

nRosaline heard a small ring, the sound of a bell falling over. She pulled the quilt under her chin and quickly glanced around. Cahir had ordered Rosaline not to do any work and to stay in the room but, “do nothing”, saying she needed rest. Honestly, it made her feel a little lonely.

n“Rosaline, I know you’re not closing your eyes.”

nCahir got up, folding up the papers. He approached Rosaline’s bed.

nRosaline closed her eyes when she heard him move.

n“Your eyelashes are shaking and I can see your eyes moving under those eyelids. Rosaline, are you awake”

nCould you sleep in this situation?

nRosaline sighed and pulled down the quilt.

n“Yes.”

n“Well, can we talk about this conversation?”

n“You already are.”

n“No, not like this. Rosaline, who is Ella?”

nRosaline didn’t want to hear Ella’s name coming out of Cahir’s mouth. As Rosaline’s brows furrowed, Cahir’s eyebrows shot up.

n“Answer yes or no. Even if you are tired, that’s something you can still do.”

nPulling her lips into a straight line, Rosaline knew she could do it.

n“Don’t try to lie. I know everything.”

nRosaline tossed and turned trying to get up. Cahir sat on the bed and gently pushed on her shoulder with one hand. Rosaline struggled to get out of Cahir’s hands, but gave up. A soft mattress and a cozy blanket wrapped around her body perfectly.

n“Rosaline, you can answer me before you sleep. That Ella girl isn’t one of you friends, is she?”

n“Yes.”

nRosaline didn’t want to be friends with a girl like that. Even if Ella married the emperor, she still wouldn’t want to be friends.

n“Can I kill you?”

nCahir’s dismal words made Rosaline feel numb. It’s been delayed for 10 years…?

nRosaline’s mouth moved on its own.

n“No.”

nHe couldn’t kill her. There is still something she has to check.

n“Is she on our side?”

n“No comment.”

n“Just say yes or no.”

nRosaline agonized. Was Ella on their side? She certainly isn’t on Rosaline’s side. However, Ella’s eyes were full of affection for Cahir’s opposition.

n“Is it the Empress Dowager?”

nMaybe she’s on the side of the Empress Dowager. Rosaline heard from Derek that it was Azela who introduced Ella to Cahir. But if that person was transmigrated, then they would know that Azela and Cahir were bitter enemies. Why did she team up with her? She didn’t want to know what Ella was up to.

n“I don’t know.”

n“Answer yes or no.”

n“I really don’t understand, what are you going to do?”

nRosaline’s lack of confidence came as a surprise. Cahir had a clear view of Rosaline. His own vermillion eyes stared straight into Rosaline’s sky-like eyes.

n“Rosaline, is there anything I don’t know about?”

nRosaline covered herself with the quilt. If she lied, she would be found out, and without wanting to lie, she answered “Yes” in a small voice while her face was stuffed behind the blanket. Her answer was too quiet for Cahir to hear.

n***

nCahir confirmed that Rosaline was asleep and returned to the office. Even after the conversation, Rosaline tossed and turned in search of what was worrying her, and eventually fell asleep without finding her burden. Cahir stayed next to Rosaline until her breaths became deep and even.

n“Derek, search around Rosaline.”

nWhile Derek was working hard in the ownerless room, Cahir put the crown on the corner of the desk.

n“Around the secretary?”

n“Yeah, it’s weird. Sometimes I become numb, I can’t remember things well, and turn pale.”

n“I’m not the kind of person who would make a mistake.”

n“When did I say I was working? You think I’m doing this because I can’t work? I’m a generous person when it comes to making mistakes. You know that, right? That’s not why Rosaline changed. You have to know what it’s for.”

nHe didn’t know. Derek bit the inside of his mouth so that he wouldn’t accidentally blurt out the truth.

nCahir is misunderstanding himself. Generosity, that is the farthest word to describe him. Mercy, generosity, tolerance, forgiveness: none of these terms suited Cahir at all.

n“It’s because Rosaline is tired. Your Majesty, why don’t you take a vacation?”

n“Vacation?”

nCahir didn’t want to, but maybe Derek was on to something. Rosaline had refused to accept Cahir’s offer of a special leave in addition to general days off for the past five years. Cahir had just thought Rosaline like her job, but did she have a lot of work to do?

n“And I think it’s necessary to see a doctor. I heard your face often turns pale. Shall we deal with the matter of the vacation right away?”

n“No, I’ll think more about my vacation. Gather all the royal court doctors tomorrow. Don’t forget to check Rosaline’s surroundings. Oh, I almost forgot. Look into the relationship between Azela and Ella.”

nGreat, Derek was going to have to start working overtime again starting from today. He was supposed to go on a night outing with Hui. Derek sighed, internally, of course, so that Cahir wouldn’t hear.

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