Chapter 7
As the date of the original story got closer, Rosaline became harsher.
‘No one would ever imagine this.’
A busy duke making time for tea with the princess.
‘That it’s actually extreme training.’
Under the warm sunlight, Rosaline smiled softly.
“Now we just need to fix your weakness.”
She suddenly leaned closer to me.
I had a weakness I didn’t even know about.
When I lie, it shows.
“Duke, you’re tired right now, aren’t you?”
Rosaline slowly stirred her tea with a spoon, pressing me for an answer.
I really wanted to say yes. I was exhausted. But—
“No.”
I answered as taught, but without thinking, I lowered my eyes.
Rosaline leaned over the table.
“Look at me when you say it.”
The distance between us closed instantly.
“Oh my!”
“Our princess is so bold!”
To others, it might look romantic, but to me it was torture.
She was doing this just to see my eyes better.
‘My pupils shake when I lie.’
If I don’t consciously control it, I can’t stop it.
Rosaline stared at my eyes like she was studying an experiment.
“You’re really not tired, Duke?”
“I’m not tired, Your Highness.”
In the end, Rosaline sighed.
“There. Your pupils moved again.”
“……”
“See? Every time you lie, your pupils shake just a little.”
Normally, no one would notice. People don’t get this close.
But lovers would.
And Shabiyan, who grew up reading people’s moods, would notice even more easily.
“I can’t help it.”
This really was my best.
I tried, but how am I supposed to control my pupils?
“How do you even act with your pupils?”
At a disadvantage, I put on the arrogant expression I practiced with Rosaline.
“Isn’t that so, Your Highness?”
I leaned back and crossed my long legs confidently.
I was about to raise the corner of my mouth lazily—
“Stop! Arrogant Northern Duke mode! Don’t you remember we changed the plan?”
“Oh. Right.”
Rosaline blocked me.
‘Has it already been five years since Rosaline and I became an almost official couple?’
The rumors spread too fast for just the two of us to stop.
But Shabiyan wasn’t the type to fall for someone who already belonged to someone else.
“He’s supposed to be an obsessive man hurt by past trials!”
So we chose to face it directly and use the rumor itself.
‘This feels like a trashy drama…’
According to the plan, Rosaline would pretend to cheat and let Shabiyan catch her on purpose.
‘Shabiyan is kind, so he’ll worry about the duke who was hurt by the princess’s affair.’
When Shabiyan shows me a little kindness, I’ll pretend to fall in love and cling to him.
Relentlessly.
That was our script.
“You can’t talk much. You’ll get caught lying. Just do what I tell you.”
The so-called “Project Seduce Shabiyan.”
Rosaline had rewritten the script exactly 35 times and held her head.
‘But to do this…’
We needed one more actor.
Rosaline’s fake affair partner.
“But who are you going to cheat with?”
Was there anyone suitable?
As the topic changed, our positions flipped.
I asked confidently. Rosaline wiped water from her cup nervously.
“Well… the second son of Marquis Ferdo?”
“No.”
I crossed my arms and shook my head.
“He’s a womanizer.”
“It’s just temporary! I’ll just pretend. Shabiyan just needs to see it. Do you think I’ll spread rumors in society?”
Still, absolutely not.
“No. Someone else.”
“Tch. Then what about the eldest son of Count Lotsa?”
“No.”
“Why?!”
“He gambles.”
A while later, after naming almost every high noble house, Rosaline leaned back angrily.
To others, it probably still looked elegant.
“Then who? By your standards, only Resius qualifies. And that would be forbidden love.”
I thought for a moment.
“Why are you skipping one?”
“Who?”
“The Duke of Martos. His eldest son.”
Actually, there was someone perfect.
“Joseph?”
Rosaline’s lips twitched.
“How am I supposed to seduce him? In the setting, his childhood fiancée died, and he lives strictly single.”
“You don’t need to seduce him. You’re just pretending. Joseph would help if we pay him. He keeps his mouth shut.”
No matter how I thought about it, Joseph was the best choice.
He was on Rosaline’s level.
And his personality wasn’t bad either.
Calm. Quiet.
The downside was that his family had been chancellors for generations, so he was sharp and picky.
But that also meant fewer problems if the deal was clear.
‘Even if it’s temporary, I can’t let weird men get close to her.’
I’ve known Rosaline for five years.
We shared secrets and knowledge no one else in this world understood.
She felt like family.
I almost felt emotional, like sending a childish younger sibling into danger—
“Deal!”
Rosaline’s loud voice shattered the moment.
She clenched her fists, full of passion.
“With this beauty, wealth, and status, who would reject me? I’ll conquer that iron wall!”
“No—just pretend. Just pretend.”
I had to calm her down for a long time as she stared wildly.
***
Maybe arguing with Rosaline drained me.
‘I feel exhausted.’
Leaning against a tree, I closed my eyes for a moment.
“Lewin.”
A sweet voice brushed my ear like the wind.
It was Resius, calling my name softly.
He sat beside me, and the heat of the sunlight faded.
When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw his palm blocking the sun.
The smell of documents on his hand felt oddly comforting.
“Want to… spar with swords?”
In his slightly hoarse voice, Resius covered my eyes.
“Sleep more. You don’t rest well at night.”
So he knew about my insomnia.
‘I didn’t have it before the war…’
Experiencing war from a modern perspective—
Fighting with real swords—
It was harder than I expected.
Hard enough to leave trauma.
“It’s an imperial order, Duke Berwen.”
He spoke firmly as I tried to open my eyes.
Knowing he was joking, I joked back.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Then I’ll borrow your legs for a moment.”
I quickly laid my head on his legs.
I was probably the only one who used the emperor as a pillow.
“That is gladly permitted.”
Resius whispered, brushing my hair.
‘Kindness can be a sin.’
If he weren’t the emperor, he’d have charmed every noble lady in the capital.
“Resius.”
I remembered recommending a man to Rosaline earlier.
“Hmm?”
“What do you think of Joseph de Martos?”
His hand stopped.
“…You mean the eldest son of Duke Martos?”
He covered my eyes again and spoke low.
The atmosphere felt dangerous.
“Hypothetically, he’s good enough to introduce to a younger sister, right?”
Did I recommend a bad guy to Rosaline?
I tugged at Resius’s waist, urging him.
“…Objectively, he’s a good man. He’s sincere and trustworthy.”
Resius answered reluctantly.
That was enough.
“See? I have good judgment.”
“Do you?”
It sounded half agreeing, half questioning.
But of course he meant the first.
‘Warm.’
My thoughts faded, my head grew heavy.
With the warmth of his hand, I almost fell asleep—
***
If you knew what I think when I look at you, you’d be shocked.
Watching the sleeping Lewin, Resius removed his hand.
Unlike Lewin’s guess, Resius’s face was flushed.
Half from Lewin’s careless closeness.
Half from anger.
‘Joseph?’
Just hearing another man’s name from your mouth makes me furious.
“So careless…”
Do you know what I could do to you?
What I could do to him, blinded by jealousy?
“You say you have good judgment?”
Resius smiled bitterly.
In this empire, I’m the most dangerous person to you.
And you say that in front of me.
My innocent Lewin.
So bad at reading people.
Lewin frowned in his sleep.
Resius clenched his fist, veins rising.
“I wish you could sleep peacefully.”
Since his first battle, Lewin had slept poorly.
“I’m sorry.”
I should have dealt with those nobles sooner.
How dare they send you to fight and guard borders.
Carelessly using you.
“How dare they.”
Resius gently moved the hair from Lewin’s cheek, despite his dark voice.
I treasure you too much to touch you like this.
They pile responsibility on you and throw you into wars.
Those trash—
How dare they.
“Your Majesty.”
Resius’s burning gaze turned.
This was the emperor’s private training ground.
Only someone truly desperate would enter.
“The Bahat Empire’s army attacked the County of Hesen.”
The shadow continued.
“The Bahat Crown Prince is personally moving toward the border.”
