Chapter 41

Three Days at the Imperial Palace (1)

The gifts from the emperor and his wife were carried to their rooms by a servant. On the way back from her meeting with them, Rosetta felt a rare sense of excitement. The burdensome imperial ball was over, and she could leave the capital after three days at the palace, all but today.

If she went to the duchy, it would have its own challenges, but it was a relief to be away from the nobles who ostracized her.

They were already speaking with their eyes.

‘How dare you?’

It was an unfair situation for Rosetta, as she hadn’t married Michael on her own terms, but it had all worked out without too much trouble, she thought.

If she were to go down to the Duchy, she would send only Michael when the Emperor summoned them from the capital. If he cheated on her because she did not travel with him to the capital, she could use that as a reason to divorce him.

In any case, Rosetta was no longer coming to the capital. The capital was Isabelle’s domain.

‘It will be all right now. She won’t be able to do anything to me at the palace.’

While Isabelle’s influence in social circles was tacit, it was a different story in the imperial court. Alexis and Annette were also formidable figures.

It was only because they had condoned Michael’s behavior that Iris was in such a difficult situation.

‘So…. It’s okay here, just four more days and we’ll be out of here.’

Unlike Rosetta, who was relieved, Michael was taking things in stride. The Empress would take care of the young ladies who had been mobilized against Isabelle, and the Emperor would take care of the Duke of Carulias.

He had just been married, so he was told to focus on his bride. The words are flattering, but he knew Alexis had done so out of concern for him.

He’s worried that his investigation into Isabelle will lead him to the Lydia case. If the past came to light and he lost his cool, it could alienate Rosetta, whose heart he hadn’t even caught yet.

He also faked the incident, disguising it as a mutilation of Rosetta’s face. Lydia was spared in that incident, but he fears that the brutality of it will remind Michael of the past.

Alexis, the Emperor, and no one else.

That’s how much Michael had changed since Lydia’s incident.

‘I’m glad to see you’ve improved.’

Alexis had whispered that to Michael as he watched Rosetta talking to Annette. Ever since Lydia’s incident, Michael had looked fine on the outside, but not on the inside. Only those closest to him noticed the change.

‘Thanks to Rosetta….’

As he replied, he looked at Rosetta. This time, he wanted to protect her from harm, every hair on her head, every shred of her heart, and he would do so with all his might, with everything he could use and mobilize.

The palace they were led to was the Dawn Palace. It was so named because the castle’s outer walls were said to be bathed in an ethereal glow in the first light of dawn.

The chamberlain led them to their bedrooms, then retreated in silence. Entering the bedroom first, Rosetta smiled when she saw that the room was decorated with flower petals.

A table near the bed was set with chilled champagne and light nibbles.

‘What a coincidence, my favorite champagne.’

It was, of course, tailored to Rosetta’s taste, but she hadn’t expected the Emperor and his wife to care that much.

“Shall I pour it for you?”

Earlier in the ballroom, she had been so nervous she hadn’t even eaten or drunk enough. Michael had had a servant bring her food, but she had refused, whispering in his ear, ‘I’ll feel sick if I eat now.’

“Yes. Please do!”

Rosetta, in a rare good mood, said yes. Michael preferred alcohol more acidic or heavy in flavor than this, but he’d take anything for Rosetta.

Seeing her smile made him feel better. Seeing her happy made even the tasteless taste delicious, so matching their tastes was nothing.

Filling two glasses, they clinked them lightly against each other and tasted the champagne. Rosetta was surprised to find it tasted better than she had expected.

It was the same brand, but serving from the imperial family was different. Annette had ordered it specially for the two of them.

“It’s a little different, do you like it?”

“Yes…. It’s delicious.”

“I’ll pour you some more.”

He filled her glass and she ate the finger food she’d been craving. After sitting Rosetta down on the couch, Michael took the shoes off her feet with a familiarity. He was satisfied to see that her heels and toes were unharmed.

“It’s embarrassing, please put my feet down.”

She had been wearing the leather shoes for so long, she was worried that her feet would smell. Michael considered kissing the instep of Rosetta’s foot, but stopped when he saw the wary look on her face.

“The dress, isn’t it uncomfortable? I’ll take it off for you.”

Michael smiled sweetly and spoke in a low voice, and Rosetta blinked at him for a moment.

“Not that….”

Rosetta’s gaze fell on a box off to one side of the room. It contained a tiara, a gift from the Empress. She wanted to try it on before she took off her dress.

“Aaah….”

Michael laughed and stood up, returning with the box. He opened the lid and placed the sparkling thing on Rosetta’s head.

Badump—

Feeling overwhelmed, Michael looked at Rosetta, who was smiling shyly.

Tiaras were for duchesses and royalty. Seeing Rosetta, the Count’s youngest daughter, wearing it on her head made him realize that she was his woman.

“It’s beautiful, Rosetta…. I wish you could have worn it on our wedding day, I’m so sorry.”

Since she was marrying a duke, she could have worn a tiara. But it would have been dangerous for Rosetta if he had approached her with his identity revealed.

“No, you don’t have to be sorry for anything, because the wedding was a joy, and the tunnel of flowers at the entrance to the villa was beautiful, and the dinner was wonderful… and…….”

Rosetta blushed as she remembered their first night together. Michael chuckled.

“And our first night was wonderful?”

“Oh, you were wonderful.”

“You’re being honest, aren’t you?”

His tone was teasing, and Rosetta glanced at him. Denying it didn’t change the fact that she had enjoyed being held by Michael. She still felt it every night in his arms.

“If I don’t tell you the truth, you’ll say you’re going to make it up to me.”

“I’ve been caught, so why don’t we relive our first night together today?”

“That’s fine, but… before I take off my dress, I’d like to dance one more time with Michael, even though we don’t have any music right now.”

Michael’s face flushed at Rosetta’s words. Just the fact that she wanted to dance with him made him feel like he could fly.

“I don’t mind if we dance until we’re exhausted, I can arrange for music.”

She’d expected him to say he’d be fine without music, but what she heard was something else entirely. Michael kissed Rosetta lightly on the lips, then swept her up in a quick hug and left the bedroom.

He walked through the study and across the living room to the music room off to the side. It wasn’t until she was in his arms that she realized it was a music room.

With one arm around Rosetta, Michael skillfully used his magic to light up the music room. Once inside, Rosetta looked back at him.

“Are you going to call a musician now? You don’t need to….”

“Rosetta. I’m a wizard.”

It was a spell he’d cast for fun when he was younger. To frighten people into believing that a ghost had appeared and played.

He cast the spell over the piano and other empty instruments, and they began to move and play music of their own accord. There were only a few pieces he could get them to play, but two of them were dance pieces, including a waltz.

Rosetta’s eyes widened as the piano and violin began to play of their own accord. The music was very light, as it was a childhood spell.

But it was enough for Rosetta. She was in a very good mood, even with the champagne.

Michael set her down in the center of the music room and bowed gracefully. Rosetta returned the gesture, lifting the hem of her skirt slightly.

The way the couple looked at each other brought a smile to their faces. They laughed lightly and began to dance in a relaxed manner. It didn’t matter if their steps were tangled, if they missed a beat, if they made a wrong move. All that mattered to Michael was Rosetta’s laughter and beaming face, and vice versa.

It was at this moment that Rosetta genuinely enjoyed spending time with him, and the small part of her that had always been there grew even larger.

Three songs later, they were not tired. The third song was a repeat of the previous one, and Rosetta decided it was enough.

They had other things to do in bed.

Michael’s eyes widened as Rosetta pulled him by the collar and captured his lips. He’d never been so happy on a date.

“I love you, Rosetta.”

He whispered, unable to control his excitement, and Rosetta smiled at him, and the fact that she didn’t look embarrassed by his confession made him feel hot all over.

‘I can’t take it anymore!’

Michael’s hands clumsily ripped off Rosetta’s dress.

?

The garment fell to the floor. Rosetta, who was now down to her underwear, looked at Michael, who was still wearing his pants. His green eyes were burning with lust.

Rosetta wanted it as much as he did, if not more, so she followed his touch and removed her corset. Her underwear was pulled down, revealing flimsy panties made of lace.

His face flushed as Rosetta stroked his cheeks across Michael’s firm chest. His low breath sounded like a groan.