Chapter 51
Jansen rubbed his chin, analyzing the painting she had brought. He muttered as if he knew the meaning now.
“It’s a scene where a white snake is torn to pieces by a black wolf’s claws. It pierced the snake’s head with precision.”
When Maxim looked at Rose, she smiled faintly. His eyes turned to the insignia of the family hanging behind her. The coat of arms of the Lancert family shows a black wolf roaring with its paws raised over a sword stuck in the ground.
The last time she came, she had looked closely at it.
‘Then this white serpent that is being torn apart underneath must be the symbol of the House Dumas!’
It was only then that Maxim realized the meaning of the picture she had given him and smiled. The intention of the picture was clear.
“You got an invitation from Solstern. What are you going to do?”
Rose shifted the topic elsewhere. Exactly to the reason she had come to see him. Maxim waited patiently for the next word to come out of her mouth.
‘Are you going to threaten me to commit suicide if I tell you I’m going?’
As he was thinking so, something completely unexpected came out of her mouth.
“I’ve been thinking about it, and I think it’s better to go.”
Jansen was the most surprised by her words. The day she received the last invitation, he clearly saw how taken aback the Queen was. Of course, he thought she would ask Maxim to decline the invitation. But she personally came to His Majesty’s office like this and asked him to go to the wedding…
“Did you change your mind? Alright, you might be curious. After all, he could have been your husband.”
Maxim smirked and nodded his head as if he understood.
“Think whatever you want. I just thought that going to Solstern would have a lot of advantages.”
“Advantages?”
Maxim asked, urging her to continue. Although, instead of answering, Rose just looked at Jansen with slightly awkward eyes.
The complex relationship involving her, Maxim, and even Cassiax, was unknown to secretary Jansen. It was difficult to bring the story out in earnest in front of him. Quick to notice it, Jansen bowed.
“Then I’ll just leave.”
He smiled politely at Maxim and Rose then quietly left the room. After Jansen left, Maxim got up and walked to the window. He leaned against the frame with his arms crossed and looked down at Rose from that angle.
He didn’t realize that, from some point onward, he started to take a defensive position every time he was alone with Rose.
“Now you can tell me.”
“You must accept this invitation to the wedding.”
Maxim wondered why she had come to such a firm conclusion.
“You’ll never have a better chance to make your presence known to the world.”
Maxim frowned.
“Obviously, this wedding will be a gathering of nobles, priests, and foreign high-ranking ambassadors, who are said to be influential in the Empire.”
“Therefore?”
Rose recalled how it was when she married Cassiax.
It wasn’t just an imperial wedding, it was a great place for diplomacy and connection. It was the perfect place to reveal the figure of Maxim Lancert hidden under the veil. There was no more perfect, natural, and dramatic opportunity than Cassiax’s wedding.
“If you show up, people will definitely pay more attention to you rather than the wedding. They all are curious about you. That’s true not only in Solstern but in neighboring countries as well.”
Maxim snorted and laughed.
“Aha! You mean, they look forward to seeing the demon-like savage King’s appearance.”
“That’s right.”
Rose replied firmly, ignoring his blatant sarcasm.
“You’re already making your way through the Guagimolia forest to make connections with the rest of the world. That stupid Cassiax just serves you the opportunity on a silver plate.”
Rose’s smile shone in determination. Maxim was curious. Did she know how wickedly she smiled whenever she spoke of Cassiax? Her clear, transparent purple eyes were tinted with a deep reddish hue as if they were stained with blood.
Maxim wondered where Rose’s boiling feelings for Cassiax came from. Whether it was hate, love, or whatever…
Thorough hatred for someone burns the most when their affection for them was trampled on or the trust was broken. Maybe she was like that, too.
‘What the hell happened between them?’
“Are you listening to me?”
While he was immersed in these thoughts, her voice reached his ears again.
“You will be able to create a confrontation with Cassiax right away just by appearing. You both are of about the same age, and historically, the Lancert and Dumas have been tough opponents for a long time. Umm… and… and…”
Rose, who had expressed her opinion confidently, began to blur her words. Maxim stared intently at what she wanted to say.
“And… Compared to Cassiax… you are second to none in terms of your presence. It sounds funny, but this is actually a plus factor. It’s a really important factor that makes someone like you, who’s making his first appearance in public, have a good impression.”
Rose knew how shameful and funny it was to say these words in front of him, but she would say anything to convince him.
Maxim, standing at the window, lifted the corner of his lip and smirked. She avoided his gaze and continued.
“If you don’t show up, there are a lot of rumors about your hideous appearance, saying you’re a devil or a monster. The twist will surprise them even more. Just like when I first saw you.”
“Was that so?”
Maxim looked at her as if teasing her, asking if that was the case when they first met.
Rose nodded slightly. This wasn’t just to convince him, it was the truth.
“I’m glad you think so.”
Ignoring his reaction, Rose continued talking earnestly.
“As you know, our family has quite a lot of connections, so we have a wide range of exchanges with not only Solstern but also foreigners. Royal families, bureaucrats, merchants, and artists from around the world; regardless of the type and status. If you go, you will gain a lot, and you will never lose a business.”
As the daughter of the merchant family, it was so natural for her to weigh the gains and losses just by attending the wedding.
Maxim said bluntly as if he wasn’t interested.
“Did you not think that my existence would harm your family? They would be suspicious of them and keep an eye on it.”
“I know. It’s the same whether you go or not.”
Rose’s face darkened slightly.
“If you’re going to be in harm’s way anyway, then it’s better than hiding quietly like this. The best move is to show your claws so they won’t touch them.”
She was able to say this because Hans gave her the confidence she needed when he visited her. Although he knew that Cassiax was watching to find an excuse to frame the Etoile family, he came to her confidently.
Knowing that they are scared and shrinking in advance, the opponent is bound to treat them recklessly. The more you act like that, the more ruthless they will become.
“You want to meet Cassiax, don’t you?”
At his sudden question, Rose looked at him with bewildered eyes as to what he meant.
“It was a special relationship. You even thought about getting married at one time. Usually, in this case, it’s complicated and awkward. I don’t know.”
Rose lowered her gaze with despairing eyes.
“Will you believe me if I say no? It doesn’t matter what you think. But if you don’t want to bother me, stop talking about that.”
He looked at her dark face and regretted what he had said. I couldn’t understand why such jealousy-like sharp words came out.
“I’ll take that back. I shouldn’t have asked you because I know how much you hate him.”
As he relaxed his arms, he returned to his desk and sat down.
“I’ll think a bit more about what we talked about today.”
Rose smiled at him. It was a great achievement for her that Maxim said he would think about her opinion without ignoring it.
“Thank you.”
Rose thought this was enough and got up. All that was left was to give him time to decide.
“I’ll leave now.”
When Rose left, Maxim was left alone in the office. He fell into deep thought as he recalled the things she had just told him.
After receiving the invitation, he actually thought about it. Even if she hadn’t come and told him to accept the invitation, he had already decided to go. Among the many reasons she said why he should go to Solstern, half were right and half wrong.
From the moment he decided to make way in the forest of Guagimolia, he had already chosen Cassiax as his opponent.
He had already decided to pluck the flag of the Dumas from Stern and break it, planting the flag of the Lancert family and making that land his.
He didn’t need other people’s help. He never thought of such a frivolous way to take advantage of her family’s connections and get the world to like him. If you show them that they will die if they don’t give in, everyone would eventually bow down.
It was the dream of his ancestors to repay the insults that Lancert and Helavant had suffered and to restore their original honor.
He swore he would do it.
And there was one more personal reason.
Cassiax Dumas.
‘What kind of bad relationship did she and that bastard have?’ He wanted to see it with his own eyes.
Rose Etoile. Who was that woman?
He couldn’t quite comprehend why he was curious about it, but he couldn’t deny that he was bothered by it all the time. It was like a lump under his fingernails.
His gaze, as he was organizing his thoughts, stopped at the painting she had brought.
A black wolf and a white snake…
His eyes, staring at the painting, were somehow oddly similar to the eyes of the wolf in the painting.
* * *
The laughter of the young ladies rang like clear bells in the mansions of Marquis Montara.
Sitting around the round table, they treated Lady Muriel friendly and warmly, as if they had been her longtime friends. Muriel, who was usually shy, was even shyer in social gatherings.
It was rare for women of such prominent families to gather like this just for her. But the reason was clear. Even the maid who carried the tea knew why.
“You’ll soon be the highest-ranking woman in Solstern.”
“Please don’t say that. Her Majesty the Empress is still alive. How dare you say that.”
Muriel waved her hand humbly but with a firm gaze.
“Eh~ it’s just us. Besides, the Empress has been imprisoned in a monastery so it’s basically the same. If Lady Muriel is married to His Highness the Crown Prince, she will indeed be the most important woman in the Empire.”
“If His Highness Cassiax succeeds to the throne, Lady Muriel will become the Empress.”
Chapter 51
Jansen rubbed his chin, analyzing the painting she had brought. He muttered as if he knew the meaning now.
“It’s a scene where a white snake is torn to pieces by a black wolf’s claws. It pierced the snake’s head with precision.”
When Maxim looked at Rose, she smiled faintly. His eyes turned to the insignia of the family hanging behind her. The coat of arms of the Lancert family shows a black wolf roaring with its paws raised over a sword stuck in the ground.
The last time she came, she had looked closely at it.
‘Then this white serpent that is being torn apart underneath must be the symbol of the House Dumas!’
It was only then that Maxim realized the meaning of the picture she had given him and smiled. The intention of the picture was clear.
“You got an invitation from Solstern. What are you going to do?”
Rose shifted the topic elsewhere. Exactly to the reason she had come to see him. Maxim waited patiently for the next word to come out of her mouth.
‘Are you going to threaten me to commit suicide if I tell you I’m going?’
As he was thinking so, something completely unexpected came out of her mouth.
“I’ve been thinking about it, and I think it’s better to go.”
Jansen was the most surprised by her words. The day she received the last invitation, he clearly saw how taken aback the Queen was. Of course, he thought she would ask Maxim to decline the invitation. But she personally came to His Majesty’s office like this and asked him to go to the wedding…
“Did you change your mind? Alright, you might be curious. After all, he could have been your husband.”
Maxim smirked and nodded his head as if he understood.
“Think whatever you want. I just thought that going to Solstern would have a lot of advantages.”
“Advantages?”
Maxim asked, urging her to continue. Although, instead of answering, Rose just looked at Jansen with slightly awkward eyes.
The complex relationship involving her, Maxim, and even Cassiax, was unknown to secretary Jansen. It was difficult to bring the story out in earnest in front of him. Quick to notice it, Jansen bowed.
“Then I’ll just leave.”
He smiled politely at Maxim and Rose then quietly left the room. After Jansen left, Maxim got up and walked to the window. He leaned against the frame with his arms crossed and looked down at Rose from that angle.
He didn’t realize that, from some point onward, he started to take a defensive position every time he was alone with Rose.
“Now you can tell me.”
“You must accept this invitation to the wedding.”
Maxim wondered why she had come to such a firm conclusion.
“You’ll never have a better chance to make your presence known to the world.”
Maxim frowned.
“Obviously, this wedding will be a gathering of nobles, priests, and foreign high-ranking ambassadors, who are said to be influential in the Empire.”
“Therefore?”
Rose recalled how it was when she married Cassiax.
It wasn’t just an imperial wedding, it was a great place for diplomacy and connection. It was the perfect place to reveal the figure of Maxim Lancert hidden under the veil. There was no more perfect, natural, and dramatic opportunity than Cassiax’s wedding.
“If you show up, people will definitely pay more attention to you rather than the wedding. They all are curious about you. That’s true not only in Solstern but in neighboring countries as well.”
Maxim snorted and laughed.
“Aha! You mean, they look forward to seeing the demon-like savage King’s appearance.”
“That’s right.”
Rose replied firmly, ignoring his blatant sarcasm.
“You’re already making your way through the Guagimolia forest to make connections with the rest of the world. That stupid Cassiax just serves you the opportunity on a silver plate.”
Rose’s smile shone in determination. Maxim was curious. Did she know how wickedly she smiled whenever she spoke of Cassiax? Her clear, transparent purple eyes were tinted with a deep reddish hue as if they were stained with blood.
Maxim wondered where Rose’s boiling feelings for Cassiax came from. Whether it was hate, love, or whatever…
Thorough hatred for someone burns the most when their affection for them was trampled on or the trust was broken. Maybe she was like that, too.
‘What the hell happened between them?’
“Are you listening to me?”
While he was immersed in these thoughts, her voice reached his ears again.
“You will be able to create a confrontation with Cassiax right away just by appearing. You both are of about the same age, and historically, the Lancert and Dumas have been tough opponents for a long time. Umm… and… and…”
Rose, who had expressed her opinion confidently, began to blur her words. Maxim stared intently at what she wanted to say.
“And… Compared to Cassiax… you are second to none in terms of your presence. It sounds funny, but this is actually a plus factor. It’s a really important factor that makes someone like you, who’s making his first appearance in public, have a good impression.”
Rose knew how shameful and funny it was to say these words in front of him, but she would say anything to convince him.
Maxim, standing at the window, lifted the corner of his lip and smirked. She avoided his gaze and continued.
“If you don’t show up, there are a lot of rumors about your hideous appearance, saying you’re a devil or a monster. The twist will surprise them even more. Just like when I first saw you.”
“Was that so?”
Maxim looked at her as if teasing her, asking if that was the case when they first met.
Rose nodded slightly. This wasn’t just to convince him, it was the truth.
“I’m glad you think so.”
Ignoring his reaction, Rose continued talking earnestly.
“As you know, our family has quite a lot of connections, so we have a wide range of exchanges with not only Solstern but also foreigners. Royal families, bureaucrats, merchants, and artists from around the world; regardless of the type and status. If you go, you will gain a lot, and you will never lose a business.”
As the daughter of the merchant family, it was so natural for her to weigh the gains and losses just by attending the wedding.
Maxim said bluntly as if he wasn’t interested.
“Did you not think that my existence would harm your family? They would be suspicious of them and keep an eye on it.”
“I know. It’s the same whether you go or not.”
Rose’s face darkened slightly.
“If you’re going to be in harm’s way anyway, then it’s better than hiding quietly like this. The best move is to show your claws so they won’t touch them.”
She was able to say this because Hans gave her the confidence she needed when he visited her. Although he knew that Cassiax was watching to find an excuse to frame the Etoile family, he came to her confidently.
Knowing that they are scared and shrinking in advance, the opponent is bound to treat them recklessly. The more you act like that, the more ruthless they will become.
“You want to meet Cassiax, don’t you?”
At his sudden question, Rose looked at him with bewildered eyes as to what he meant.
“It was a special relationship. You even thought about getting married at one time. Usually, in this case, it’s complicated and awkward. I don’t know.”
Rose lowered her gaze with despairing eyes.
“Will you believe me if I say no? It doesn’t matter what you think. But if you don’t want to bother me, stop talking about that.”
He looked at her dark face and regretted what he had said. I couldn’t understand why such jealousy-like sharp words came out.
“I’ll take that back. I shouldn’t have asked you because I know how much you hate him.”
As he relaxed his arms, he returned to his desk and sat down.
“I’ll think a bit more about what we talked about today.”
Rose smiled at him. It was a great achievement for her that Maxim said he would think about her opinion without ignoring it.
“Thank you.”
Rose thought this was enough and got up. All that was left was to give him time to decide.
“I’ll leave now.”
When Rose left, Maxim was left alone in the office. He fell into deep thought as he recalled the things she had just told him.
After receiving the invitation, he actually thought about it. Even if she hadn’t come and told him to accept the invitation, he had already decided to go. Among the many reasons she said why he should go to Solstern, half were right and half wrong.
From the moment he decided to make way in the forest of Guagimolia, he had already chosen Cassiax as his opponent.
He had already decided to pluck the flag of the Dumas from Stern and break it, planting the flag of the Lancert family and making that land his.
He didn’t need other people’s help. He never thought of such a frivolous way to take advantage of her family’s connections and get the world to like him. If you show them that they will die if they don’t give in, everyone would eventually bow down.
It was the dream of his ancestors to repay the insults that Lancert and Helavant had suffered and to restore their original honor.
He swore he would do it.
And there was one more personal reason.
Cassiax Dumas.
‘What kind of bad relationship did she and that bastard have?’ He wanted to see it with his own eyes.
Rose Etoile. Who was that woman?
He couldn’t quite comprehend why he was curious about it, but he couldn’t deny that he was bothered by it all the time. It was like a lump under his fingernails.
His gaze, as he was organizing his thoughts, stopped at the painting she had brought.
A black wolf and a white snake…
His eyes, staring at the painting, were somehow oddly similar to the eyes of the wolf in the painting.
* * *
The laughter of the young ladies rang like clear bells in the mansions of Marquis Montara.
Sitting around the round table, they treated Lady Muriel friendly and warmly, as if they had been her longtime friends. Muriel, who was usually shy, was even shyer in social gatherings.
It was rare for women of such prominent families to gather like this just for her. But the reason was clear. Even the maid who carried the tea knew why.
“You’ll soon be the highest-ranking woman in Solstern.”
“Please don’t say that. Her Majesty the Empress is still alive. How dare you say that.”
Muriel waved her hand humbly but with a firm gaze.
“Eh~ it’s just us. Besides, the Empress has been imprisoned in a monastery so it’s basically the same. If Lady Muriel is married to His Highness the Crown Prince, she will indeed be the most important woman in the Empire.”
“If His Highness Cassiax succeeds to the throne, Lady Muriel will become the Empress.”
