Chapter 25 Part 1: I, the Archduchess of Elchen

A faint dawn air. Two heads leaned against each other.

It was no wonder that Rosa’s eyes widened.

Caron held her close. He had her sit sideways on his lap.

One arm wrapped around her slender waist, and the other hand delicately held her chin.

In the dimly lit room, the sound of dry lips brushed against each other.

“Ca, Caron..?”

Something. She felt like she should push him away.

But even in her surprise, she couldn’t push Caron away because his expression was so serious.

First his lips. Then her cheeks. Her small nose.

Short, careful kisses followed.

A large hand gently swept her bangs aside.

Their gazes were still slightly higher on Caron’s side. Only because Rosa was sitting on his lap were they at a similar height.

And again.

“..It’s practice.”

Saying that, Caron kissed her.

Rosa had already experienced it.

And it was none other than Caron who had given her that first sensation.

Their wet breaths slowly, permeatingly, mingled with each other.

In the dreamy atmosphere of dawn, Rosa felt a lack of reality.

The shallow kisses continued. Sucking on each other’s lips, or lightly biting.

Carefully, like a baby bird landing.

Caron explored Rosa as if treating something precious.

But just as it was about to get a little more intense.

“..Wait.”

Rosa twisted her body.

But Caron’s large hand came to rest on her thin stomach.

“Ugh..”

As if by magic, Rosa felt all the strength drain from her body.

Like a fragile herbivore being captured.

Held tightly in Caron’s arms.

Unable to push him away, nor able to resist.

Rosa helplessly allowed the intrusion.

“Ngh..”

Her cheeks gradually turned red. Her tightly clenched small fist loosened in embarrassment.

Embarrassment and confusion.

Those emotions took a backseat to the current act.

‘Why all of a sudden..’

She didn’t know if they were practicing. She was even a little, no, very doubtful if this kind of practice was necessary.

But the most embarrassing thing was Caron’s unimaginable skill. He was quite skilled at kissing. Even Rosa, who was experiencing this for the second time, could tell.

He was too skilled for his own good.

That very skill was making Rosa unable to think of anything.

Despite all this, it was Caron.

The being most familiar to her.

Perhaps more than Count Anencia, more than her brother, Roadl.

The being she had relied on, been relied on by, and watched over.

Naturally, the only reason she could do this was because it was Caron.

Self-loathing, resistance.

Those feelings were outweighed by the awkward satisfaction of the moment.

This was definitely practice.

As long as that rationalization existed, it was the natural course.

Rosa awkwardly accepted Caron.

Their kiss continued in a daze for a while.

“Haah-“

She exhaled heavily.

A thin, silver thread stretched between their two lips.

Rosa and Caron.

The two caught their breath with their foreheads touching.

The physically weak Rosa was almost exhausted.

“Heh-“

Caron let out a low laugh and kissed Rosa’s forehead, seeming satisfied.

“The results of today’s practice..?”

He didn’t need to hear the answer to know.

Whoosh-

It was as if a sound could be heard. Rosa’s ears instantly turned red, and she avoided his gaze.

“I, I’m going.”

And she almost ran out of his room.

Left alone, Caron was lost in thought for a moment.

He couldn’t resist the impulse.

When Rosa first entered his room. At that moment, he had already woken up.

He knew. He knew she would come to wake him up today.

But Rosa, who had approached stealthily, only carefully covered him with a blanket.

[You should sleep in bed..]

She said in a worried voice.

She seemed to be planning to come back and wake him up later.

It was consideration so that he could sleep a little longer since he had slept in an uncomfortable position.

Only then did Caron realize. Now Rosa was really right beside him.

So, he couldn’t resist.

Still, seeing her accept the excuse of practice, however flimsy, it seemed that she didn’t completely dislike him.

Or, she was seriously misunderstanding his intentions.

‘I doubt she really thinks it’s just practice.’

A part of him wished she would realize.

Suddenly, Caron frowned.

He probably needed to wash up and change.

“..Damn it.”

It was Caron’s hardship, which Rosa would never know.

A faint sunlight shone into the room.

The chirping of young birds could be heard.

It was a clear morning.

It was the first day Rosa would spend in Elchen, and in Arnad.

Rosa was wearing a casual dress.

The skirt was white frills, and the overall color was a reddish hue.

The white frilled shirt gave a feminine feel.

But unlike her neat attire, Rosa sat on the bed with a dazed look on her face.

She did it again.

But this time, there was no excuse.

She recalled the sensation of their breaths mingling.

It was a deep kiss, to the point where she wondered if this was practice.

By this point, even Rosa felt that something was strange.

‘Is it.. really just practice?’

Still, Caron had said it was practice.

She returned to her room and agonized over it.

‘Could it be.. that Caron likes me?’

But.

She gradually leaned towards the idea that it was impossible.

She might not know about other men.

But considering his serious personality, Rosa judged that Caron wouldn’t lie.

They were friends. She had never felt that kind of feeling for him.

They were closer to siblings than lovers, at least Rosa definitely felt that way.

She thought Caron probably felt the same way.

More than anything, he wasn’t just an ordinary person. Caron could really be like that.

He was unnecessarily diligent and was used to hiding his emotions.

‘Although he’s not really good at hiding his emotions.’

Caron didn’t really feel much emotion about most things.

That was his personality as described in the original work. And the one who awakened his seemingly deficient emotions was none other than the destined female lead.

‘So..’

It made Rosa confused for no reason.

Caron treated even practice like a real lover would.

So, even though she wasn’t drunk this time, she had lost herself in the moment.

‘Honestly..’

It was good. It was just two acts, but both were good.

Being treated so preciously, like a real lover.

The affectionate kiss that made her lose her mind.

‘What is this. Really.’

Rosa covered her face with her hands.

She had no choice but to doubt her own tastes.

She had imagined kissing between a man and a woman a few times. Each time, she had rarely been in the woman’s position.

Of course, rarely meant that.

Since she had become a noble lady in this world, she had accepted that she might have to do it someday.

‘Still..’

Rosa consoled herself that she didn’t have very strange tastes.

‘After all, my body is that of a woman now. At least it’s not some kind of homosexual act.’

Over the years of adapting to this new world, Rosa had become accustomed to a woman’s body.

Her originally delicate personality had developed in a more feminine direction.

‘I’ll admit that.’

Perhaps. Her identity as a man had already faded considerably within her.

‘But to have so little resistance to this extent..’

Then suddenly, Rosa realized.

‘Ah- he’s the protagonist after all.’

She ended up rationalizing it that way.

He was the male lead of a romance fantasy novel.

This was all because Caron was more skilled than necessary.

She thought that physiological harmony was truly unavoidable, and Rosa washed her face. Still, her face felt hot.

Knock knock-

The sound of someone knocking.

Startled, Rosa jumped up.

“Come in.”

It was the same handmaiden from yesterday.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duchess. Did you have a good night?”

She had slept well. Although her mind was complicated by other thoughts now.

“I think so.”

Rosa smiled awkwardly, and the handmaiden brought her a gold basin.

“If you’re thirsty, please have some refreshment.”

The basin was filled with clear water.

Rosa parted her parched lips and drank the cool water.

“Thank you.”

She felt a little better.

‘She’s cute. Her Grace, the Grand Duchess.’

Of course, the handmaiden thought that to herself.

Getting all red in the face, rubbing her lips for no reason. Sighing, then shaking her head again.

There must have been something good between the two of them.

‘I heard it was a political marriage. That youthful appearance..’

Feeling excited herself, the handmaiden smiled and spoke.

“Your Highness. Please go down to the first-floor hall now. His Grace, the Grand Duke, is waiting.”

“Caron, I mean, Your Grace..?”

‘Oh my. It seems Jeff’s words were true.’

Hiding her inner excitement, the handmaiden nodded.

“Yes. This is usually when he goes out for patrol or training.”

Seeing the handmaiden’s faint smile, Rosa felt like she understood a little.

‘Ah.. I see.’

In the end, she was escorted by the handmaiden downstairs.

“Then please.”

Caron, wearing a thick gray cloak, was talking with the chief steward, Hamel.

“Yes. Don’t worry. I’m sure Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, will like everything.”

The next moment. Caron and Rosa’s eyes met.

Without a word, Caron pointed to his neck. The cravat was hanging there, tangled.

“Please go, Your Highness.”

Rosa blushed.

‘Does he have to do this?’

She thought, but even so, she walked over to Caron.

Rosa stood on her tiptoes and straightened Caron’s attire.

A cravat was similar to a necktie. Rosa felt very awkward, like a wife seeing off her husband.

She knew Caron’s intention to act like a good married couple.

“Can’t you do this on your own..?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m not skilled with my hands.”

It was definitely a lie.

Knowing he was doing it on purpose, Rosa was about to tighten the cravat, but she stopped.

Caron whispered in Rosa’s ear.

“Why are you suddenly using formal speech?”

“That’s how it should be.”

Caron chuckled.

“It does seem more like a married couple this way. Do as you please.”

“..I’ll just keep using informal speech.”

Caron, who burst into laughter, kissed Rosa’s forehead with a smile.

“Then. I’ll be going.”

‘Ah..’

Rosa wanted to close her eyes. But it wasn’t just her imagination that the atmosphere around them was filled with warmth.

That was enough.

‘It’s all acting. Just acting.’

But some of it was definitely sincere.

Come back soon. I don’t know anyone here but you.

Rosa waved her small hand at Caron’s back as he left.

“It’s true.”

The handmaiden, Reina, said excitedly.

“How did he laugh. Haha? It’s almost the first time I’ve seen His Grace, the Grand Duke, laugh so much.”

“There’s so much love between them. The two of them.”

“There’s a rumor that they were childhood friends, is it true?”

“That must be a lie. Where would they have had time to meet.”

The handmaidens giggled and chatted.

Hearing them, Bella clicked her tongue, finding them pathetic.

“You guys. Get a grip. Why are you being swayed by the rumors spread by the servants?”

Keep your noble dignity. The way she crossed her arms seemed to say that.

Even with a little bit on her head, her beauty couldn’t be hidden.

Bella Isöynak.

The treasured daughter of the Isöynak family, she had luscious pink wavy hair and alluring golden eyes.

She was slightly taller than her peers, and her voluptuous figure was more than enough to attract the attention of many men.

Her family, Isöynak, was a prestigious family in Elchen.

At one time. They were also criticized by other Elchen people for being turncoats.

But now that the one they served had become the Grand Duke of Elchen.

[Bella. Now only the path to success lies before us.]

Her father had said excitedly.

But Bella’s goal wasn’t something as small as that.

The purpose of coming as a handmaiden was different, but the prey she was aiming for had gone somewhere else.

“Ha-“

Bella sighed.

Reina, who had served the Grand Duchess for a day, warned Bella.

“Bella. Give up. His Grace, the Grand Duke, already has feelings for Her Highness.”

“..Her Highness?”

Bella scoffed.

“That word doesn’t suit a woman from such a lowly family.”

Reina’s expression hardened.

“I’m telling you this because I value our past relationship. What you just said could be punished as treason.”

“Hmph. Whatever.”

Bella roughly walked out of the handmaidens’ quarters.

“They’re all acting so loyal. All talk..”

The reason why the other handmaidens couldn’t do anything to her, even though they talked like that, was because the Isöynak family’s influence in Elchen was so high.

Everyone was just pretending, anyway. They all came here with similar thoughts.

Bella thought that there were probably more handmaidens who were not friendly to the Grand Duchess.

Besides.

‘It’s a political marriage, anyway, isn’t it?’

Bella was quite confident.

The Grand Duke probably wasn’t sincere either.

‘If I approach him sincerely, His Grace’s thoughts will change.’

She even regretted not acting sooner.

“What to do..?”

Bella fell into thought. It was the face of someone planning a scheme.

Meanwhile.

Rosa was being guided by Hamel.

“First, in the morning, I will inform you about the household budget and the duties of the lady of the house. After that, I was planning to arrange a meeting with the handmaidens, what would Your Grace, the Grand Duchess, like to do?”

A handmaiden was different from a simple servant.

They were usually unmarried noble ladies, and if anything, they were closer to being companions or attendants.

Usually, entering the household of a high-ranking family or the royal family as a handmaiden meant an opportunity to build connections with young ladies from various other families.

So, being a handmaiden was a privilege of a fairly high class, and at the same time, they were young ladies from families that were quite well-known in the region.

‘Then there’s no reason to refuse.’

In other words, meeting the handmaidens of the Grand Duke’s household was like a small social gathering.

To have a smooth life as the Grand Duchess for the next year, it would be good to get along with the handmaidens.

Rosa answered, slightly nervous.

“Alright. Then please prepare it, Hamel.”

The chief steward, Hamel, bowed respectfully.

“Yes. Then I will inform the head handmaiden. A tea party will probably be arranged after lunchtime.”

Rosa nodded.

That afternoon.

A small tea party was planned in the garden of the inner castle.