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n***

nThe coffee tasted worse than he had expected. Rosaline, who enjoyed the bitter and acidic taste of the brewed liquid, gave him a strange look.

nSoon realizing his mistake, Anthony quickly covered his mouth with his hands. It wasn’t polite to the person who recommended it. “I’m sorry. It’s good, really.”

nGulping it down, he finished his coffee in an instant, forcing out a laugh even though the unnatural wrinkles on his face clearly exposed his lie.

n“Pffft.” Rosaline laughed. “I’ll let you try something else.”

nShe grinned and ordered a glass of warm milk for Anthony. It was considered rude to order milk at a coffee shop, but the owner was willing to warm it up for Rosaline, who was a regular.

n“How is that friend of yours?”

nThey exchanged light stories until the milk came out and became lukewarm. Anthony brought it up around the time Rosaline had finished her first cup of coffee and ordered another one.

n“My friend?”

n“Well, the one who felt maternal love for a man…”

n“Oh, that one!” Rosaline was startled, but pretended to be calm. She had forgotten about that. “That friend… Why?”

n“This is about you, isn’t it? Her story.”

nWas Anthony supposed to be this sharp? Anthony was a character well-known for his density.

n“I’m sorry, priest.” She looked down.

nWhatever the situation, Rosaline deceived a reprimand from the temple. She doesn’t believe in God, but given the sentiment of the continent, she had committed a terrible offense. Rosaline looked at Anthony.

n“I didn’t mean to receive an apology. I just wanted to be a little more useful if it’s the secretary’s job.”

n“Help? You’ve helped enough! Thank you very much for your words.”

nLuckily, Anthony was not too upset. Seeing that he was willing to help, he must have been genuinely worried about Rosaline.

n“Well, I don’t know if it’s presumptuous, but human beings are always suffering from worldly desires and conflicts, and are lost in choices.”

nWhy was he suddenly talking about philosophy? Rosaline struggled to maintain her smile.

nAnthony had a very serious look on his face. “If the secretary makes the wrong choice, oh, not to say that the secretary will do so, but perhaps. Humans are always under temptation… No, it’s not…”

nHe shut his mouth for a moment, perhaps because he kept stuttering over his words. He sighed after another minute. Rosaline was the party in question, but Anthony looked more distressed. Rosaline felt like she had to help him.

n“You can feel free to tell me what you’re worried about, sir priest.”

nShe would handle it.

nAnthony’s expression grew more determined. He let out a deep breath as if he had made up his mind. “Secretary, maternal affection is an infinite love, so there is a high possibility of bias. Excessive love can sometimes be poison that will spoil a child, and if you keep too far away, they will suffer from a lack of love for the rest of their life. You understand this, don’t you?”

nA spoiled child, a lack of affection. Strangely, there was someone who vaguely came to mind.

n“So, priest?”

nHis advice was something only professors in the Department of Early Childhood Education would hear.

n“The most important role for parents is to know when to let go to give way to someone who will fill the void of life that parents can’t fill.” Anthony, who suddenly stopped talking, glanced around. He gripped the table and leaned over the table towards Rosaline. “The aristocrats surrounding His Majesty are searching for a noble daughter to be his companion.”

nAnthony’s face, which always had a tender smile, was completely blank. He was serious.

nRosaline, on the other hand, laughed. The information he was divulging had already been circulating for several years. The nobles could not afford to leave the emperor single past his marriageable age.

n“Ms. Rosaline, I dare say, from now on, you will be constantly shaken like a man on a boat, a rolling river. Your motherly feelings will tempt you to make the wrong decision.”

n‘What is he talking about?’

nMotherhood aside, Rosaline was about to get annoyed. The priest was startled and leaned back when he saw her expression harden.

n“Oh, well, I’m sorry if I am rude.”

nAnthony, who had been saying something about temptation, disappeared and returned to his old self.

n“You mean, you’re worried that I might interfere with the emperor’s marriage?”

n“That’s not it! It doesn’t matter to me who the emperor marries since it doesn’t have anything to do with the relationship of Berlos, that’s not what I’m worried about!” Anthony swallowed his words.

n“What are you worried about?”

n“That’s… Rosaline…” His body sagged and he had an enlightened expression on his face.

n“Me?”

n“Yes… I’m afraid Rosaline will be misled by her motherhood… I believe in Rosaline, but human love can obscure one’s judgement for a moment.”

nAlas, Rosaline now understood what Anthony was saying.

nSo he was worried that she is going to interfere with Cahir’s marriage by acting as a mother-in-law to the woman who would be his partner?

nOh my goodness, did he think that her love for His Majesty was so strong that it would cloud her judgement? Did she look that dull to the people around her?

nBut she couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t happen.

nViscountess Verit, her mother, came to mind. The viscountess’ attitude towards Yuri, who married Roy and became his wife.

nThe lady, who was a solitary and virtuous woman, secretly gossipped about Yuri behind her back.

nAnthony’s worries were valid. Rosaline’s relaxed smile collapsed.

nRosaline knew the end of those who dared harm his woman.

nThe time she spent beside Cahir to survive. It was natural for her to have some affection, but she couldn’t bring herself to die for him.

nIt really was time to leave his side.

n“Thank you, priest.”

n‘You just saved my life.’

nRosaline laughed bitterly.

n***

n“Welcome, my daughter!”

nShe hugged her as soon as she jumped off the carriage. Rosaline felt warm in the arms of Mrs. Verit. That’s what love was all about.

n“Rosaline, your father’s waiting in the study. He has something to say. You must be tired, but would you like to talk with your father first?” Mrs. Verit ordered Rosaline’s luggage to be moved to her room.

n“Yes, mother,” Rosaline said.

nMrs. Verit gently swept Rosaline’s hair, smiling brightly in response.

nRosaline knocked on the door in front of the study. A voice from the other side told her to come inside. As Rosaline opened the door, Viscount Verit, who was sitting at his desk, jumped up.

nViscount Verit’s eyes fell on Rosaline. He really had no choice. Rosaline, who was already lovely, has saved the family twice.

nRosaline protected the Verit family from falling into crisis. What would have happened if Rosaline hadn’t asked him to withdraw his investments from that gold mine fraud? He shuddered when recalling that. It was also fortunate that Rosaline volunteered to be the emperor’s secretary. If Roy had gone…

nHe trembled.

nRosaline was a smart, pretty, and humble child.

n“Father?”

nRosaline was told that he had something to say, but Count Verit just stood there smiling at her.

n“My daughter, you’ve become prettier since I’ve last seen you. Let’s have a cup of tea and talk.”

n