Chapter: 24
When Dorothy heard Rose say she would go outside tomorrow,
she was a little surprised, but she didn’t show it.
Of course, she promised to go with her, and even if the plan were canceled on the day itself, she would have understood.
When she visited Rose’s house the next morning, Rose was already fully prepared to go out.
“Did you come? I’ve been busy packing a parasol, boots, a dagger, gloves, a hat, a compass, and some water.”
“…Are you going for a walk or heading into the desert?”
However, the color in her face—which had improved a lot lately—had turned pale again.
“I’m going out right now. I can go.”
It might have been her imagination, but Rose looked as if something were chasing her.
“Let’s go now.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah, right now.”
Rose spoke bravely, but the hand gripping the doorknob was trembling faintly.
Even so, she didn’t let go.
She was afraid of going outside—but it seemed that right now, there was something she feared even more.
“It’s not as big a deal as you think. I used to step outside the front door now and then anyway. To catch Brandon. You know?”
After hesitating, Rose turned the knob and opened the front door.
* * *
Rose had lived in Salevrums for quite a while.
But she didn’t seem very familiar with the area.
So Dorothy led her to a quiet walking path where there were few people.
“How do you feel?”
“I feel like someone’s watching me.”
“I am watching you.”
“…I also feel like someone reported me.”
“Did you commit a crime on the way here?”
Rose seemed slightly detached from reality, but she was walking fairly well.
She looked around busily, as if she had suddenly opened her eyes in a strange world.
“There are too many clouds.”
“It’s nice that it’s not glaringly bright.”
“What if it rains?”
“You brought a parasol. You can just use that.”
Despite Rose’s complaints and anxiety, Dorothy remained calm.
More than calm—she looked relaxed.
She didn’t make a fuss just because Rose had come outside.
Well, that was typical Dorothy.
“Oh, I learned something from the Duke.”
Dorothy escorted Rose like a proper gentleman.
“What are you doing?”
“Please place your hand on my arm. I’ll escort you.”
Her earnest but slightly clumsy attempt eased the tension for a moment.
Rose let out a small laugh.
“Did Brandon even escort you?”
“Yes. Every time we went out, he insisted on escorting me.”
“He’s insane.”
Rose snorted.
That sly snake doing escorts?
He must have brought up manners as an excuse to sneak it in.
“Is escorting common in the capital? It’s not very common in Salevrums.”
“…Anyway, Dorothy, you should only meet people who escort you regularly. Except Brandon.”
“If I want to meet Miss Rose often, I guess I should escort you from time to time too.”
Dorothy said shyly.
She looked so lovable that Rose immediately warned her.
“Hey. Never say that to anyone but me.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I don’t know—just don’t. Especially not to Brandon.”
“Why does the Duke keep getting mentioned? The Duke is a good friend.”
“Whew, looks like that guy finally met his natural enemy. Just imagining him suffering makes me burp.”
As she comfortably badmouthed her younger brother, the anxiety weighing on her shoulders began to fade.
“…You’re right.”
“Yes?”
“Even though it’s cloudy, the weather feels nice. The wind’s cool too.”
“Right? I like cloudy weather.”
I used to really enjoy taking walks.
With unfamiliar eyes, Rose looked around the path.
“The ducal family’s garden is beautiful too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. There’s a rose maze.”
As old memories surfaced, Rose’s mood improved even more.
“When we were kids, Brandon got lost in the maze. But that idiot climbed on top of the rose bushes to find the way. He ended up scratched all over and rolled off because of his weight.”
It was reckless—but he did manage to get out of the maze on his own.
“Anyway, that guy’s persistence is absolutely insane. No—he’s just weird.”
Even though they bickered whenever they met, Rose clearly cared a lot about Brandon.
Whenever she thought of the faces of the people she loved, she looked happy.
“Anyway, next time I’ll take you to the rose maze. It’s really beautiful! I guarantee it—you’ll love it the moment you see it.”
* * *
After about thirty minutes, Rose looked much more relaxed.
She even suggested they try sitting on a bench first.
Then she went so far as to suggest taking a carriage somewhere farther next time.
Did she gain confidence after just one walk? Cute.
Dorothy swallowed her smile as she watched the excited Rose.
“You’ll come with me next time too, right?”
“Of course. I may not look it, but my calves are very strong. I’ve trained them since I was young.”
“Someone trained you when you were little? What, did a mercenary teach you?”
“My late mother did. She always told me to diligently build muscle rather than money from a young age.”
“…Yes, that’s… good advice. Very, um, impressive and cool advice. Ahem. The weather’s cool, but I’m suddenly breaking into a cold sweat.”
This mouth of mine.
Walking beside Dorothy, Rose muttered to herself.
Anyway, it had been a pretty good walk.
Rose looked happy.
Next time, I should pack a picnic basket.
Slowly. Little by little, she would spend time with Rose.
Just as they were entering the residential area with that thought—
Perhaps because there were more people than on the walking path,
the thing she had worried about finally happened.
“That’s the lady, right? The one with the filthy personality and who does whatever she wants.”
“Yeah, I heard she’s gloomy and violent.”
Recently, Dorothy had been spending a lot of time with Rose.
She spent all day with her without even having time to properly greet the neighborhood residents.
Mrs. Horton had also deliberately avoided mentioning the rumors, just like with the weekly magazine incident last time.
Maybe that was why.
Dorothy hadn’t known about the evaluations and wild rumors circulating about Rose in Salevrums.
“They say she’s staying in Salevrums without even getting married.”
“She must be hiding something.”
“I heard she even killed someone.”
“Oh my, really?”
There was no way the two of them could miss the whispers.
Rose’s face gradually stiffened.
Meanwhile, the silent Dorothy finally spoke.
Her expression was extremely serious and solemn.
“…Could it be… are these rumors about me?”
“…What? Why would it be you? Anyone can see they mean me!”
Rose almost twisted her ankle mid-step.
“Hehehe. I’m more perceptive than I look. Why assume it must be about you? I have quite a nasty personality too.”
And then—
Dorothy added,
“When I went out recently, people were whispering too. When my face appeared in the weekly magazine. I’m somewhat experienced.”
“Experienced? In what way is that experience? Wait—when were you in the weekly magazine? Why am I the only one who didn’t know? And someone badmouthed you? Bring them here right now! I’ll tear them apart!”
“Hey, Dorothy.”
At that moment, a middle-aged woman spoke to Dorothy.
It was a familiar face.
Mrs. Kedrid.
She was one of the people who had previously visited Rose’s house and been kicked out.
In other words, the type who traveled in groups spreading rumors.
“Hello, Mrs. Kedrid.”
“I’m only saying this because I care about and cherish you, Dorothy. You’d better be careful.”
Mrs. Kedrid glanced at Rose as she spoke.
“Mrs. Horton keeps things very tight-lipped, so I don’t know the details, but that woman came here after breaking off an engagement.”
As the woman continued, Rose’s face turned pale.
Rose had never broken off an engagement.
And she had even supposedly killed someone.
Absurd rumors were spreading.
Even so, Rose couldn’t respond.
Perhaps because her body was trembling—she couldn’t even bring herself to speak.
“If she was dangerous enough to break an engagement, she might not be ordinary. You should be careful too, Dorothy, before something happens.”
It seemed being kicked out of Rose’s house last time had badly hurt Mrs. Kedrid’s pride.
She was known in Salevrums for her wide connections.
Even merchants didn’t dare offend her.
Yet even in front of someone like that, Dorothy remained composed.
“…So my guess was right.”
Dorothy, who had been listening carefully, responded.
In truth, Dorothy had already vaguely sensed it.
That Rose had gathered the courage to step outside because of Brandon.
And now her first walk had been ruined.
“I think you misunderstood the subject. The one I told to be careful was that young lady from who-knows-where.”
Her first walk had been ruined.
Dorothy was angry.
That a day Rose had bravely mustered for someone precious was being ruined like this.
“But, Mrs. Kedrid.”
Dorothy spoke in an even, level voice.
Her demeanor was so calm that Mrs. Kedrid—who had been busy eyeing Rose from the corner of her eye—paused.
“The one who broke off an engagement is actually me.”
“…What?”
“You know that too, don’t you, Mrs. Kedrid? It was even in the weekly magazine recently.”
“T-that’s true, but…”
“All this time, have you thought of me as a dangerous and violent person?”
“That’s not it!”
“Then why did you tell me to be careful of this lady?”
“I told you—because she’s dangerous.”
“You warned me without even knowing whether those rumors are true or false?”
Dorothy met Mrs. Kedrid’s eyes without flinching.
“You just wanted to slander her.”
“……”
“Am I wrong?”
Just like Rose, Dorothy also didn’t avoid a fight when it came to protecting someone precious.
