Chapter 11 Part 5: Will You Marry Me?

Rosa Anencia was inherently frail. It was mentioned in a single line in the novel.

At first, she thought it was a side effect of the transmigration. That she was simply struggling emotionally, finding it hard to adapt to this world. She realized that wasn’t the case when she turned thirteen.

Her body burned with fever. She was dizzy and weak. The symptoms were similar to the flu, except for the coughing. Count Anencia procured all sorts of remedies, but his daughter’s condition didn’t improve.

Rosa was bedridden for two weeks.

Once, a renowned imperial physician visited the Count’s estate.

“It’s ore disease.”

He said.

The soil of the so-called Lunar Continent had a unique composition. Fragments of moonstone, called moonlight stones, were spread throughout the continent.

And occasionally, there were those who suffered from the energy emitted by these moonstones.

“The fatality rate is low, and there are no dangerous complications. But as of yet, there is no known cure, so it’s considered a chronic illness.”

Hearing this, the Count pleaded earnestly.

“I don’t care how much it costs, find a cure.”

But the renowned physician shook his head.

“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can say about this.”

She would be bedridden for a few days each month. Usually when she was feeling down or when her body was weak.

The physician, dressed in white, felt Rosa’s pulse for a long time.

“Has anything bad happened? You haven’t had this in a while…”

The Count looked at his daughter, who was breathing shallowly.

“I see. She must have had a lot on her mind lately.”

“I’ll prescribe some medicine. To be taken within 30 minutes after breakfast and dinner.”

“Thank you.”

The physician bowed his head and left.

It was a moonlit night. Rosa lay on a white bed.

The Count stopped her as she tried to get up.

“Rest comfortably. You need to relax.”

Rosa gazed at the ceiling with hazy eyes.

“How long was I out?”

“About two days.”

She had worried everyone again. She must have collapsed after parting with Caron.

The Count, with a worried expression, spoke to Rosa.

“This father has been pushing you too hard lately. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

She had simply forgotten for a while. She thought the symptoms had improved.

‘Ore disease…’

A cure would be developed soon anyway. It was one of the original female lead’s many achievements.

“It’s not that serious. I’ll get better after a day or two of rest.”

“Rosa. Don’t be silly. Do you know how worried I am to send you off like this?”

Rosa jokingly replied.

“Then, I can just stay with you forever, Father.”

“Of course, that’s every father’s wish. I want that too, naturally.”

The Count smiled fondly.

His wrinkled hand stroked Rosa’s hair.

“But, that can’t happen forever. One day, your brother will inherit this family. And the child you bear will do the same.”

Sometimes. Rosa felt it. People adapt to the environment they grow up in. So the Count was also inevitably a nobleman.

“Of course, that’s not the only reason.”

The Count continued, looking at the moon outside the window.

“A person’s life is finite. So you have to choose and focus.”

“Choose and focus…?”

“Yes. Just like when your mother was alive, she was my priority.”

Rosa’s mother, the Countess Anencia, had passed away when Rosa was seven.

“Everyone has their own priorities, so you can’t always care for everyone. This father will leave you one day, and your brother won’t always be able to look after you.”

“Hmm. That’s true. I’m sure brother Roadl will be an excellent head of the family.”

“Then think about it, my daughter. When the two of us are gone. Who will be by your side?”

Rosa couldn’t easily answer that question.

“That’s what it is.”

That was why the Count was sending his daughter away.

Count Anencia had given it a lot of thought. His decision to connect his daughter with the Second Prince wasn’t made lightly.

“You are kind and truly good. Not just because you’re my daughter, but genuinely so. That’s why this father always wanted you to have a truly precious relationship.”

Someone who would protect his daughter even after he was gone, a strong pillar of support.

Suddenly, Rosa clearly felt the Count’s sentiment. And she was flustered. She had never received such affection before. As an orphan in her previous life, she was naturally ignorant of such parental love.

But she felt she could say this one thing.

“Thank you, Father.”

The Count stroked Rosa’s hair and spoke softly.

“Don’t worry too much. He was very confident.”

Seeing his daughter’s questioning gaze, the Count smiled and opened his mouth again.

“The Second Prince, I mean.”

On a winter night bathed in soft moonlight, the conversation between father and daughter continued for a long time.

Overnight, white frost settled on the world. It was a common sight in the Anencia territory.

Located in the northern part of the empire, the Anencia territory was famous for its oat production. In other words, it meant the land was quite barren. If the soil had been rich and fertile, it would have been famous for wheat instead.

Anyway, there was something called frost oats. Usually, oats are harvested between late summer and early autumn, but this variety, developed in the Count’s territory, is harvested in winter when frost falls.

The bustling activity outside the window was probably due to that.

“My lady. I was worried.”

Her maid, Mary, chattered as she opened the window.

“I’ll close it quickly if you’re cold.”

“No, it’s fine.”

She was removing the frost that had formed on the window. Rosa wrapped herself in several thick blankets.

“My lady. You still look sick. It’s only been a few days.”

“Didn’t you take care of me?”

“Well, you see… I was on leave.”

Mary added with a laugh.

“It seems the head of the house wanted to take care of you himself, so I went to my parents’ house instead.”

In short, the Count had dismissed even the maid and taken care of her himself.

Only then did Rosa understand why the Count’s eyes had been so dark.

“That’s good, Mary. Did you enjoy your leave?”

“Of course, my lady. It was nice to see my parents after so long.”

‘Parents…’

Looking at Mary’s bright face, Rosa recalled her conversation with the Count last night.

The previous night, the two had talked a lot. The Count, in particular, talked about his first impression of Caron, most of which was filled with admiration and satisfaction.

So it was unexpected.

‘I was worried because the conversation went on for so long…’

Fortunately, Caron seemed to have passed the Count’s test with flying colors.

[Rosa. He is confident. And humble at the same time. He clearly knows his place. And there is no one more fearsome than someone who knows their place.]

The Count even said this.

[It seems the rumors were hiding his true character.]

What kind of conversation did they have? But the Count saved his words, saying she would find out soon.

“My lady. Rosa, my lady.”

Mary tapped her shoulder, pulling her out of her thoughts.

“Shall we, shall we get ready?”

Rosa still needed Mary’s help with getting dressed.

“Yes. We should get going.”

“Are you sure? You’re moving around as soon as you’ve recovered.”

“I took my medicine, and I got permission from Father.”

She had a special appointment at lunch.

“Ah! I see!”

Mary’s hands moved busily with unnecessary enthusiasm.

“You’ve become even more beautiful.”

“We saw each other just three days ago.”

“No, it’s not like I’m asking to be taken as your personal maid… or anything.”

“Did you just. Say that on purpose?”

“What are you talking about? You need to get dressed now.”

They quickly got ready while having such a small chat.

Soon, a carriage quietly left the Count’s mansion.

Louis, an orphan boy from the monastery, hadn’t forgotten last winter. Nor the winter before that. They were unusually warm winters.

The monastery’s director said an anonymous benefactor had appeared. They had donated a considerable sum of money.

Thanks to that, the children’s lives had changed a lot. First of all, the food had improved significantly. While they used to get only two cold pieces of bread, now it felt strange if there wasn’t warm soup.

The fireplace never ran out of firewood, and the children were given clothes that could withstand the harsh winter winds.

But.

What made Louis happiest was the fact that he could study what he wanted.

For a year, he had been nurturing his dream in the playwriting department of a well-known academy in the area.

One day, the director told Louis that he had an opportunity to meet his benefactor.

So for the past few days, Louis hadn’t been able to sleep properly. Today was finally the day.

In one hand, the boy held a handkerchief embroidered with violets, and in the other, a hand-written play.

‘What should I do? When I meet them…’

What should he say first?

‘Thank you…?’

Such words couldn’t express it.

He didn’t know their name or appearance. Nothing.

Louis could only guess.

‘Is it an elderly gentleman? Or a successful young merchant?’

Soon, footsteps could be heard. Someone was coming to the inner room of the monastery.

Tap-tap-

He could hear the sound of shoes.

Maybe it was a gentle lady.

The nervous boy, Louis, jumped up from his seat.

Creak-

At the same time, the door to the inner room opened.

A subtle fragrance, the first the boy had ever smelled, wafted in. A refreshing scent that would be deeply etched in his memory after just one whiff.

The person who entered next was wearing a white fox-shaped mask that covered their face.

Wavy silver hair. Translucent skin. The curve of a slender waist. Even though she was wearing a simple navy blue dress, the surroundings seemed to brighten in an instant.

It was clearly a noble lady.

“Hello..?”

She greeted him cautiously. He didn’t even have time to be surprised by her clear voice.

“Nice to meet you. You’re Louis.”

A small, white hand was placed in front of the boy.

“Y-yes…! It’s an honor to meet you!”

Louis felt like he was dreaming.