“Don’t you think your marriage is a little different from the usual arranged marriage, My Lady?”

Rosaline quietly pointed out. Cherryl didn’t hide her displeasure.

“What do you mean?”

“There’s a rumor going around in the Empire that your father, Marquis Milose, had a deal with Archduke Blkanov behind the scenes.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Do you really want to marry a man who bought you like an object, Lady Cherryl?”

At the blunt question, Cherryl put down the teacup in her hand. Her eyes widened at what she just heard. Eventually, her raised brows slowly returned to their proper place as she secretly trembled.

‘I want to kick this princess out in the rain without an umbrella.’

As she suppressed the urge, Cherryl tapped her fingers slowly while still holding the teacup.

“There’s something that you’re mistaken about, princess. The Grand Duke didn’t hand over a single piece of gold to my father. He even got my dowry! Those ridiculously expensive jewels are worth a mansion.”

In fact, Cade was about to pay as much as her father wanted just to take Cherryl with him but thanks to her quick wit, she was able to obtain Natasha’s expensive jewels for themselves. Rosaline frowned as if she had never heard of that.

“What the businessman, Marquis Milose, was going to do with Hindel’s building was an open secret. I’ve never heard of him giving dowry to the Grand Duke.”

“Why can’t you believe it when you’re hearing it directly from the person involved?” Cherryl was so stunned at the princess’ words that she wasn’t able to sound polite. Rosaline herself didn’t care if she was surprised by anything else.

“Did the Grand Duke really take the dowry from that miserly marquis?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Rosaline realized her mistake and looked at Cherryl. She was afraid that Cherryl would be angry at her for saying that her father was a miser. Cherryl shook her head as if she wasn’t interested in that part.

“It was I who asked for the dowry. Not the Grand Duke. Of course, I wouldn’t have been able to get it without the Grand Duke’s support.”

The two women fell silent while looking at each other. Then, they dropped their gazes to their respective teacups. Rosaline, who stirred her red tea a few times with a teaspoon, suddenly changed the subject.

“Does Grand Duke Blkanov think the same?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m asking if the Grand Duke also likes you the way you like him.”

“Oh, well… no.” Cherryl glanced away with a blushing face. “I think the intensity is different. The Grand Duke seems to like me quite a bit but it’s not similar to mine.”

“…..”

Even after responding, Cherryl still got embarrassed that she raised a hand to cover half of her face.

“Perhaps you’re attaching more meaning to this wedding than the Grand Duke. After all, he’s building everything around the large garden to turn it into a wedding hall.”

She reflected on the time she shared with Cade on the side of the lake, which glistened like the universe. “I don’t think my feelings are one-sided.”

“Is that possible?”

Suddenly, Rosaline lowered her gaze self-deprecatingly and sighed. Not asking in anticipation of an answer but noticing that it was more of a murmur, Cherryl said nothing.

Rosaline recalled Cade, who was cold enough to deal with a barley sack. He was a heartless man who would never have experienced a primal desire in his life, let alone love for others. However, what was he like to Cherryl whom she encountered as soon as she came out of the drawing room? Cáde had freely expressed his worry over her with his words and actions the moment she had woken up from her sleep. It was so intense that Rosaline wondered if another soul had  possessed Cade. That wasn’t all. Previously, Rosaline, who was heading to the breakfast room after receiving a message from the maid to come down for refreshments, found Cade and Cherryl’s group in the hall at the first floor. Rosaline unintentionally hid behind the pillar and overheard the shocking conversation. Rosaline doubted her hearing when they hinted at a nuance that both of them have shared a bed even if they weren’t married yet. As if to let her know that she didn’t hear it wrong, she even witnessed Cade kissing Cherryl. The contact was done without hesitation despite Cade’s companion standing right in front of him. As she put together the series of events like a  damned puzzle, Rosaline finally realized that Cherryl, whom she thought was having a hard time living with such a cruel man, was receiving tremendous affection from the Grand Duke. When Rosaline just arrived at the fortress, Cade even demanded that she not dare make any noise for his sleeping bride-to-be. It was ridiculous of Rosaline to feel sorry for Cherryl for a moment. The chances of her completing her mission had been exhausted, so who was feeling sorry for whom?

“Is this the reason why Her Royal Highness visited Carlsvik?” Rosaline, who was lost in her own thoughts, faced Cherryl, who was staring at her with bright eyes at some point.Cherryl, who showed no signs of embarrassment, added. “Now I understand why you’re talking about love. Don’t you want me and the Grand Duke to have a wedding, Your Highness?”