TROWFT 07

Chapter 07

As the date of the original story’s progression drew nearer, Rosalyn became harsher.

‘No one would ever imagine it.’

The busy Duke taking time out for tea time with the Princess. That was…

‘Actually, extreme training.’

Basking in the warm sunlight, Rosalyn smiled brightly.

“[Now I just need to fix your weakness, unnie.]”

Rosalyn suddenly leaned her body toward me.

I had a weakness I didn’t even know about myself.

That was—giving away when I was lying.

“Duke. You’re tired right now, aren’t you?”

Rosalyn spun the teaspoon in her teacup and urged me to answer.

I wanted to say yes—I really was tired. But.

“No, I’m not.”

I spoke as I’d been taught, but unconsciously lowered my gaze.

Then, Rosalyn leaned her body over the table.

“[Look me in the eyes and say that, unnie.]”

The distance between us narrowed in an instant.

“Oh my!”

“As expected, our Princess is so bold!”

To someone else, it might have looked like a romantic scene, but for me, it was torture.

That was all to get a better look at my pupils!

‘My pupils waver every time I lie.’

It was a habit I couldn’t control unless I consciously focused on it.

Rosalyn examined my eyes meticulously, like observing a research subject.

“Are you truly not tired, Duke?”

“I am not tired, Your Highness.”

In the end, Rosalyn sighed.

“[Your pupils wavered again.]”

“[…….]”

“[See? Every time you lie, your pupils tremble minutely.]”

Normally, it wouldn’t be noticed—not unless someone came this close.

But as lovers, the chance of being caught was high.

Above all, Shaviyan, who had survived on nothing but reading the room, would be even more likely to notice the other’s agitation.

“[I can’t help it either.]”

But this was the best I could do!

I tried, but how am I supposed to control my own pupils?!

“[How do you expect me to act with my pupils?]”

At a disadvantage, I put on the arrogant expression I’d practiced with Rosalyn.

“Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”

I leaned back fully against the chair and crossed my long legs.

Then I tried to curl the corner of my mouth lazily—

“[Stop the arrogant Northern Grand Duke mode! Don’t you know our plan changed?]”

“[Ah, right.]”

Rosalyn blocked me.

‘Has it already been five years since Rosalyn and I became almost an official couple?’

The two of us couldn’t stop the rumors that spread like wildfire.

But Shaviyan wasn’t the type to give his heart to someone already taken.

“[He’s a possessive obsessive with a wounded past full of trials!]”

So we decided to break through head-on. To just use the rumors themselves.

‘It feels like some kind of melodrama, but…’

According to our plan, Rosalyn would pretend to have an affair, and Shaviyan would deliberately catch her at it.

‘Shaviyan is kind, so he’ll feel sorry for the Duke who was hurt by the Princess’s infidelity.’

When Shaviyan extends a small kindness to me, I will pretend to fall in love with him and cling to him.

Very persistently.

That was our script.

“[Unnie shouldn’t talk too much. You’ll give away all your lies, so just do as I say.]”

The so-called ‘Shaviyan Seduction Project.’

Rosalyn, who had rewritten that script exactly thirty-five times, held her head.

‘But to proceed with this…’

To carry out this play, one more actor was needed.

Namely, Rosalyn’s affair partner!

“[But who are you going to have an affair with?]”

Was there a suitable person?

As the topic changed, our positions reversed.

Now emboldened, I asked, and Rosalyn wiped the moisture from her cup, glancing at me.

“[Well? Hmm… the second son of the Perdo Marquisate?]”

“[No.]”

I crossed my arms and shook my head.

“[He’s a playboy.]”

“[It’s not like we’re actually going to date for real! We’re just going to pretend. Just pretend. We only need Shaviyan to catch us, right? It’s not like I’m going to spread it around high society!]”

Still, he’s a playboy and a delinquent. Absolutely not.

“[Still no. Someone else.]”

“[Geez. Then… how about the eldest son of the Lottsa Earldom?]”

“[Him neither.]”

“[Ugh, why not?!]”

“[He gambles.]”

A moment later.

Rosalyn, having named almost every high-ranking noble family, huffed and leaned back against her chair.

Of course, to others, it probably looked like an elegant gesture.

“[Then who do you want? The only person who meets your standards is Lesius. Huh? Isn’t that the very definition of forbidden love?]”

Looking at Rosalyn, who had become sulky, I fell into thought. Hmm. Who’s left? Ah!

“[But you forgot one person.]”

“[Who?]”

“[There’s the Martos Ducal House too. The eldest son there.]”

Actually, there was someone who fit that role perfectly.

“[Josef?]”

Rosalyn’s lips trembled.

“[How am I supposed to seduce him? He’s practically a fortress—in the setting, his childhood fiancée died, and he’s been thoroughly single ever since.]”

“[Do you even need to seduce him? You said we’re just pretending. Josef will help if we pay him enough. And he’s tight-lipped.]”

No matter how I thought about it, Josef was perfect.

He was on par with Rosalyn’s standing to begin with.

‘His personality is… pretty decent too.’

Somber, taciturn, one might say.

The only downside was that, coming from a family that had produced prime ministers for generations, he was quick with numbers and meticulous.

But as long as we paid him well, he wouldn’t cling, so the conditions were acceptable.

‘I can’t let some weirdos get tangled up with her, even if it’s just for a short time.’

It had been five years since I took Rosalyn under my wing.

Sharing an unknown culture and secrets that no one else in this world understood, the two of us had grown as close as family.

Just as I felt my nose sting, as if I’d let my immature little sister loose by the water—

“[Alright, deal!]”

My sentiment was shattered by Rosalyn’s jarring voice.

Rosalyn clenched both fists and blazed with enthusiasm.

“[Who could possibly refuse me, who has all this beauty, wealth, and status?! I will conquer that iron fortress!]”

“[Wait, you said we’re just pretending. Just pretending.]”

I had to spend quite a while dissuading Rosalyn, who had gone wide-eyed with zeal.

Was it because Rosalyn and I had been bickering for so long?

‘I feel drained.’

Leaning against a tree, I was closing my eyes for a moment when—

“Lewin.”

A sweet voice tickled my ear like a breeze.

It was Lesius, calling my name softly, almost like a murmur.

He quietly took a seat beside me, and the scorching sunlight that had been touching my eyelids ceased.

“…….”

Slowly opening my eyes, I saw Lesius’s palm blocking the sunlight.

The scent of documents on his hand was somehow warm.

“Shall we… spar?”

As I spoke in a slightly drowsy voice, Lesius covered my eyes with his hand.

“Sleep more. You don’t sleep well at night anyway.”

So he did know about my insomnia.

‘I didn’t have it before the war, but…’

From a modern person’s perspective, experiencing war—

And combat fought directly with a sword—was more difficult than I’d imagined.

Enough to leave trauma.

“It’s an imperial command, Duke of Berwen.”

When I still tried to open my eyes, Lesius spoke in a commanding tone.

Knowing it was a joke, I retorted playfully.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Then I’ll borrow Your Majesty’s lap for a moment.”

I quickly laid my head on Lesius’s lap and stretched out.

I’m probably the only person in the world who uses the Emperor as a pillow. That’s the privilege of being the Emperor’s childhood friend. Yep.

“I gladly grant permission.”

Lesius whispered as he brushed the hair from my forehead.

‘They say even kindness is a sin.’

It’s only because he’s the Emperor and has few people he interacts with privately.

Otherwise, Lesius would have charmed every noble lady in the capital.

“Lesius.”

I remembered recommending a man to Rosalyn just a moment ago. Josef… he’s a decent person, right?

“Hm?”

He responded gently, then—

“What do you think of Josef de Martos?”

At my question, he stopped his hand completely.

“…….”

He was probably making a bewildered expression.

Most likely looking down at me with a look that said, “Where did that come from?”

I tried opening one eye to check his face, but—

“…You mean the eldest son of the Martos Ducal House.”

He covered my eyes again with his large hand and murmured lowly.

‘The atmosphere feels ominous…’

Have relations with the Martos Ducal House been bad lately? Could Josef actually be no good?

“If you had a younger sister, he’s decent enough to introduce her to, right?”

I didn’t set Rosalyn up with some weirdo, did I?

Worried for no reason, I tugged at Lesius’s waistband and urged him.

“…Objectively speaking, he’s a decent man. At least he’s not two-faced. He’s prudent and trustworthy.”

Lesius answered reluctantly.

Receiving a definitive answer from Rosalyn’s own brother put my mind somewhat at ease.

“See? I have an eye for people.”

“Is that so?”

It sounded like an affirmative “Of course,” but also like a questioning “Is it really?”

It was an answer with a strange nuance that could be taken either way.

But Lesius surely meant it in the former sense.

‘Warm.’

As I cleared my mind, my head grew heavier.

With the warmth of his palm covering my eyes, I might actually fall asleep at this rate…

—

***—

‘You’d be surprised if you knew what I was thinking when I look at you.’

Looking at the sleeping Lewin, Lesius removed his hand that had been covering Lewin’s eyes.

Contrary to Lewin’s expectations, Lesius’s face was flushed red.

Half from Lewin’s oblivious physical touch, and half from anger.

‘Josef, you say?’

Just hearing another person’s name from your lips makes me this upset.

It makes me angry enough for my heart to burst.

“You are so…”

Defenseless.

Do you have any idea what I might do to you?

Do you have any idea how I, blinded by jealousy, might destroy him?

‘You have an eye for people?’

Lesius let out a scoff.

You say that in front of me—the most dangerous person in this empire to you.

Our innocent Lewin.

What are we going to do with you, having such poor judgment of people?

“Hngh.”

Suddenly, Lewin furrowed his brow slightly.

“…….”

Watching that, Lesius’s eyes narrowed painfully.

Lesius clenched his fist tightly, blue veins rising on the back of his hand.

I wish you could at least sleep comfortably. But you’re having nightmares.

Ever since the day of your first deployment. Lewin had been unable to sleep.

“I’m sorry.”

For not taking care of all those nobles who treated you like a dog before you could find out.

I warned them so thoroughly, but who would have thought they’d still dare to spout nonsense about subjugations and border defenses right to your face.

“How dare they.”

Lesius carefully brushed away the hair tickling Lewin’s cheek.

Unlike his menacing voice, his touch was gentle.

‘I can hardly bear to touch you like this, you’re so precious to me.’

And yet they burden you with responsibility—calling you a Swordmaster, a hero of the nation.

Treating you like a guard dog left to watch the house, dragging you from one battlefield to another.

Those filthy vermin. How dare they.

How dare they touch you.

“Your Majesty.”

His eyes, slick with anger, turned toward the source of the sound.

This was the Emperor’s training ground.

A place where entry was strictly forbidden.

Anyone in their right mind who knew how much Lesius hated having his time with Lewin interrupted wouldn’t dare enter recklessly.

“The Bahat Imperial Army has attacked the Hessen County.”

But the figure before him was in his right mind.

And the fact that he risked such intimidation meant the situation was urgent.

“The Crown Prince of Bahat is heading directly toward the border.”