Please Answer Me - Chapter 128

Rosetta had changed into comfortable indoor clothes and was reading a book in bed, as her official schedule for the day had ended. After thinking for a moment, she shook her head.

“No need. There’s no reason to be overly formal with someone I’m about to marry. Iselle wouldn’t expect me to be dressed up at this hour. Let him in.”

The nanny looked at Rosetta with wide eyes. “You’re going to allow Lord Iselle into your bedroom?”

“As I said, it would be silly to be too formal with my betrothed.”

The nanny furrowed her brow, gazing at Rosetta for a moment before letting out a sigh. “Understood. I’ll bring him in.”

As soon as the nanny left the room and closed the door behind her, Allen, who had been waiting outside, approached her.

“What did the princess say? Is she going to see Lord Iselle?”

“Yes, but she’s asked him to come to her bedroom.”

“The bedroom? Not the drawing room?”

“Yes, that’s what she said.”

A royal bedroom was not just a place for sleeping. It was a private yet public space. For nobles, the degree of familiarity with royalty was often judged by how far they had been allowed into the spaces used by the royals. Those who had been allowed into the bedroom were considered the most trusted and intimate, while those who were kept farther away had less familiarity.

Until now, Rosetta had always met the duke in the drawing room, even after they were engaged. Allowing him into her bedroom was a clear sign that she intended to close the distance between them.

“I wonder if she’s overdoing it.”

Recently, Rosetta had been acting as if the idea of breaking off the engagement with Iselle had never crossed her mind. She smiled often and was particularly considerate toward Iselle. Earlier today, Rosetta herself had invited the Grand Duke and Duchess for a meal. After they left, she even called for the head maid and instructed her to find out where the Grand Duke and Duchess were staying and to send flowers from her garden to them.

Although the nanny had always hoped for this, seeing Rosetta now made her anxious. She feared that the emotions Rosetta had buried deep in her heart might one day spill over.

“Lord Iselle doesn’t look well either. He’s usually good at hiding his feelings, but even he seems unsettled.”

While Rosetta had become better at hiding her emotions, Iselle’s feelings were more visible than before. Even Allen, who was not particularly perceptive, could tell that Iselle was anxious.

The nanny shook her head as she spoke, “We’ve gotten sidetracked. Go ahead and bring Lord Iselle in.”

“Yes.”

When Iselle entered the room, Rosetta was gazing out of a half-open window. Her warm-colored bedroom was located on the highest floor, offering a view of the entire Lysa palace. However, Iselle knew that the landscape she was looking at wasn’t the palace. Her gaze was directed somewhere far beyond it.

Eventually, Rosetta turned around to face him. She was wearing a simple white stola made of linen. The thin fabric draped softly over her body, flowing from her shoulders to her feet. The belt beneath her chest was loosely tied, hanging down at length.

“Don’t just stand there. Sit down. Come to think of it, this is your first time in my bedroom, isn’t it?” Rosetta smiled as she offered him a seat.

Recently, Rosetta had been smiling frequently in front of him and was always attentive to him. The palace servants whispered that the princess, who had previously known nothing about men, had finally awakened to love as her wedding approached.

“You’ve been in Father’s and Tanit’s bedrooms, but you’ve never been to mine. I called you here for that reason. It’s a bit late, but would you like some tea?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Rosetta pulled on a long cord that hung from the ceiling twice. From now on, unless Rosetta gave specific instructions, not even the nanny would enter the room.

“Were you reading?” After taking a seat, Iselle noticed the book on the table and asked.

Rosetta nodded lightly. “Yes. Accounting is still difficult for me, so I’m studying whenever I have time.”

“You don’t have to do all the difficult work yourself. We have stewards to handle those tasks.”

“But I need to know how to read the ledgers. That way, I can grasp the general state of the finances. Last time, when I saw Thelma managing things…”

Rosetta trailed off and smiled at him.

“By the way, did you make sure the Grand Duke and Duchess were well taken care of? I instructed the head maid to send them flowers.”

“They asked me to convey their thanks to you. My mother, in particular, was delighted with the flowers.”

“I was worried because I didn’t know what kind of flowers the Grand Duchess likes, but I’m glad she was pleased.”

“You don’t need to worry about my parents anymore, Rosetta.”

“What? I haven’t done much, just had a meal with them and sent flowers…”

“That’s enough. I mean it.” Iselle lowered his eyebrows as he spoke, “After passing the Grand Duke title to me, they’ve decided to live in a separate residence.”

“Does that mean they’ll be staying outside the Hezen estate?”

“Yes.”

After a moment of thought, Rosetta cautiously asked, “Is it because they feel uncomfortable around me?”

“That’s not it.” Iselle’s tone turned firm. “They like you. They just want to spend their remaining years peacefully in a quiet place.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

“I wanted to see you today because I have something to give you.”

Rosetta’s green eyes looked directly at Iselle as he took a bracelet with emerald gemstones from his pocket. It was the same bracelet he had given her when he first proposed. After all the twists and turns, the bracelet had found its way back to her.

“You’ll accept it again, won’t you?”

Rosetta gave him a faint smile. “Of course.”

She extended her left wrist toward him. The green ribbon she always wore on her wrist whenever she wasn’t tying up her hair had been placed deep inside a drawer on the day she wrote the letter. She knew she should have burned it completely, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Instead of the soft fabric, Rosetta’s wrist was now encircled by the cold metal of the bracelet. As the clasp clicked shut, Rosetta realized that everything had truly returned to its original state.

“…Iselle?”

Iselle didn’t stop at fastening the bracelet. He took her hand and pressed his lips against the inside of her wrist.

After a moment, he raised his head, still holding her wrist, and spoke, “Last time, you said you had nothing to give me. Does that include your body?”

Rosetta stared at him with a pale face before shaking her head. “No, that’s not what I meant. I have no intention of neglecting my duties.”

“That’s all I needed to hear.”

Just as Rosetta began to relax, Iselle continued, “Rosetta, give me your night.”

“Iselle!”

“I need to be certain that you are mine. I don’t want to wait until the wedding.”

Previously, Iselle had told Rosetta that he would wait until she was ready before spending their wedding night together. But now, he seemed to have no intention of waiting. In a way, it made sense. The situation had changed.

Back then, Iselle had been considerate of her ignorance about relationships with men. But Rosetta had already spent many nights with Rashid, and she knew exactly what Iselle intended to do. Even so, his forceful approach was out of character for him. He was never one to show his anxiety.

“…Are you really okay with this?”

After a moment, Rosetta asked, and Iselle responded with a question of his own.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, are you really okay with me being by your side without having any feelings for you?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“If you want, you can be free. I’ll allow it.”

Iselle’s face turned cold. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that after we’re married, you can be with other women if you want. As long as you don’t openly bring a mistress into the house, I’ll allow it. If you end up having a child with someone else, I can even raise the child…”

Bang!

Iselle pushed his chair back and stood up abruptly. He glared at Rosetta with a terrifying look. The hand that had gently held her wrist earlier was now clenched tightly, with veins bulging. More than anything, the cold, burning look in his eyes made it seem like he wanted to strangle her right then and there.

“Stop talking nonsense and answer my question first.”

Despite his icy and grim voice, Rosetta responded obediently, “If you’re asking about tonight, do as you wish.”

After all, in a month’s time, she would be spending nights with him and bearing his children. Whether it happened sooner or later made no difference to her.

A cynical smile appeared on Iselle’s bloodless lips.

“Fine.”

He grabbed Rosetta and pulled her up. Holding her wrist, he dragged her to the bed and threw her onto it.

As Iselle climbed on top of her, Rosetta closed her eyes. She intended to keep them shut until everything was over.

“Open your eyes, Rosetta.”

But he ordered her to open them, and Rosetta lifted her eyelids to look at him. She saw his red eyes filled with anger and desire.

“Look carefully at the man in front of you.”

Rosetta knew that if she invoked her authority as a princess and ordered him to stop, he would retreat without hesitation. Last time, she had slapped him in front of his subordinates, a serious humiliation, yet Iselle hadn’t complained even once. After all, this was her room, and Iselle knew that if she screamed, Allen would immediately burst in and drag him out.