Captain! Where is the Battlefield?

 

 

  Bianca gritted her teeth as she rushed towards Rosalie. Rosalie calmed her down and sat her on the sofa, tapping her shoulder.

 

  “Is the today’s news true?”

 

  “Can you calm down for a moment?”

 

  “No! I can’t calm down! Is it true?”

 

  Bianca became angry again, like a raging bull. When Rosalie nodded slightly, Bianca became even more agitated and tore the newspaper to shreds, shouting:

 

  “I’ll go right now and grab her by the hair and make her drown her in hot tea!”

 
  (TL/N: Bianca woke up today and chose violence 😂)

 

  Rosalie hastily rang the bell when she saw that Bianca was about to explode. When a servant appeared, Rosalie quickly ordered them to bring soothing tea.

 

  Warm herbal tea, soothing the heart, was promptly brought to the coffee table. Bianca, having drained two cups in no time, opened her mouth with a slightly calmer expression.

 

  “Haa… What happened?”

 

  “I can’t tell you the details, but the news is true.”

 

  When Rosalie drew a line and couldn’t explain the complicated situation, Bianca let out a small sigh of regret.

 

  “Then let me just ask you one thing. Are you just going to let this slide after receiving compensation?”

 

  “Of course not.”

 

  Bianca felt relieved when she saw Rosalie’s eyes glint eerily as she took a sip of tea. 

 

  She’ll be able to hear the full story when the time comes, but what’s most important to her was that Rosalie will repay them as much as she was wronged.

 

  “Are you planning something? If you need my help, please tell me, sister.”

 

  “I will. Are you feeling better now?”

 

  Bianca nodded again, taking a deep breath. 

 

  “However, Count Amins was His Highness the Crown Prince’s biggest supporter. I didn’t expect him to be taken down like this. Was His Highness not afraid of future retaliation?”

 

  The person who brought Amins to the Imperial trial was Derivis. Putting Sonia on trial as the perpetrator signified his willingness to cut ties with Count Amins, who regarded his daughter as a precious treasure.

 

  “It’ll be fine. The Dukedom of Judeheart will support him from now on.”

 

  Rosalie had no intention of dragging Derivis into this situation in such a manner. Despite the current circumstances, she couldn’t allow him to suffer harm because of her actions.

 

  “No one will dare to lay a finger on him.”

 

  The Judeheart Duchy won the territory war and was gaining fame. Business will soon follow, and the family’s power will grow. Perhaps the Duchy’s support will help him even more than the Count’s.

 

  ‘This will never hold him back.’

 

  While Rosalie was lost in thought, Bianca ran her fingertips slowly across her empty teacup.

 

  “The person who you’ll give the cord to… was it His Highness the Crown Prince?”

 

  Bianca asked with a meaningful smile. Guessing from Rosalie’s words and situation, she had a strong feeling that Derivis was the recipient of the gift.

 

  Rosalie’s expression, which changed strangely at the mention of his name, confirmed it.

 

  “…No.”

 

  Bianca’s meaningful face didn’t change even as Rosalie denied it with a quick shake of her head, feeling like Bianca had seen through her.

 

  “Sister, do you like His Highness?”

 

  “…Me?”

 

  Rosalie responded, looking puzzled. After a moment of stunned silence, Bianca slapped her forehead with a thud at her clueless reaction.

 

  “Oh my goodness… Sister, your being dense is adorable and beautiful, but you need to be quicker in understanding emotions like this!”

 

  Rosalie was still trying to decipher the meaning behind her words as Bianca spoke in a somewhat complaining tone. In this aspect, Rosalie, with her dull emotions, seemed even denser than a bear.

 

  “These emotions…?”

 

  Eventually, Bianca couldn’t take it any longer and rang the bell to request a bucket of cold water. She immediately gulped down the cold water without pausing for breath.

 

  “Sister, do you only feel gratitude towards His Highness? Are there no other feelings?”

 

  “What do you mean, other feelings?”

 

  “Like a fluttering heart, missing someone, affection, worry, or hoping they won’t get hurt! Those kinds of emotions!”

 

  As Rosalie listened to Bianca’s rant, she slowly searched her memories. She did feel a slight disappointment on days when Derivis didn’t come. When he met her gaze, she turned her eyes away, feeling awkward. 

 

  And when she saw the sorrowful expression on Derivis’s face, she sometimes felt herself becoming equally distressed. 

 

  ‘And my instep…’

 

  Back then, Rosalie felt a burning sensation where his hand had briefly touched her foot. Meanwhile, Bianca’s rant continued.

 

  “And your expression when you made the cord! I’ve never seen such a gentle expression on your face before!”

 

  “Did I… really? I guess I was smiling.”

 

  “Oh my goodness.”

 

  In the end, Bianca drank two cups of calming tea and five glasses of cold water that day. When she returned to her mansion, she couldn’t even eat dinner because she was so full.

 

       ⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰ 

 

  It was now the last day of Erudit’s vacation. Although it could hardly be called a vacation, as he spent it reading in the mansion or working with Rosalie in her office.

 

  Thanks to the salve that Derivis had sent, Rosalie’s foot quickly healed. She decided to go out with Erudit to treat him to a delicious dinner. However, Joey stopped Rosalie as usual.

 

  “One.”

 

  “Can’t you bring two?”

 

  “Two is a hassle. I don’t really want to bring anyone, but I’ll only bring one if I have to.”

 

  “Still…”

 

  “It’s lunchtime, and it’s the most famous restaurant in town.”

 

  Joey could only nod his head awkwardly at Rosalie’s firm attitude. In the end, they decided to assign only one knight as a guard.

 

  Nathan grumbled that he wanted to go too as he watched Rosalie and Erudit leave the mansion. However, he didn’t join them, sensing Erudit’s mood.

 

  Rosalie, who had secured a seat at the most upscale restaurant in the capital, looked at the menu and told Erudit.

 

  “Since I brought you here, you can choose.”

 

  “In that case, I’ll go with seafood.”

 

  Rosalie nodded in response, and after calling the waiter, they placed their orders. It didn’t take long for the table to be filled with expensive and delectable seafood dishes.

 

  The two started eating the delicious food, savoring each bite.

 

  “Marquis Windell’s fortune that we received from the Imperial Palace is quite substantial.”

 

  “Yes. That means we can improve the welfare of the people in the Duchy immediately.”

 

  “And judging by the progress of the mining, we’ll soon have proper Life Stones, too.”

 

  “Have you decided on the merchant guild who will distribute them? Is it going to be Countess Seth’s guild?”

 

  Rosalie nodded, and Erudit paused his eating for a moment. With the assets that had just arrived and the anticipated Life Stones, Judeheart Duchy’s economy would flourish and they would have the resources for new ventures.

 

  “Erudit.”

 

  “Yes?”

 

  Looking up from his plate at Rosalie’s call, Erudit saw her pick up the etiquette handkerchief that was on her lap and gently dab it on the corner of her mouth.

 

  “Would you like to join the Duchy in its future endeavors?”

 

  “…Are you asking me?”

 

  “I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Let’s register you as a sole proprietor and apply for your Baronetcy at the palace. I’ll assist with the necessary paperwork.”

 

  Seeing the seriousness on Rosalie’s face, Erudit closed his mouth. A mixture of happiness and nervousness crossed his mind.

 

  ‘I’m going to become a Baron…’

 

  It wasn’t that he hadn’t imagined becoming a Baron. No, he had actually hoped for it. He believed that even as a commoner by birth, he could rise to at least Baronetcy by his forties if he worked hard.

 

  “So, you mean I should meet the property conditions for a Baron as a sole proprietor?”

 

  “I think that would be a good idea.”

 

  Rosalie knew that Erudit had a complex about being a commoner and aspired to become a noble in name, even if only through the title of Baron.

 

  In that case, Rosalie thought it would be much better for him to become an independent noble with no affiliations anywhere.

 

  “I’ll accept the Baronet title and participate in the ventures. However, I won’t register as a sole proprietor. I want to belong to the Dukedom.”

 

  “Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

 

  Taken aback by the unexpected answer, Rosalie clasped her hands together on the table. But Erudit seemed to have already made up his mind.

 

  “I didn’t participate directly in the war, but I didn’t leave the dukedom either. I know it may sound silly, but I want to stay with the dukedom.”

 

  “If that’s what you want, I’ll submit the application for the Baronetcy from the Duchy. Although you didn’t work for a long time, you played a direct role in assisting the duchy as the General Administrator, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting it.”

 

  Erudit agreed with those words. Rosalie couldn’t help but be surprised that he had developed a lot of affection for the dukedom more than she had expected.

 

  “I didn’t know that Erudit would reject my proposal of being a sole proprietor.”

 

  Erudit was also surprised by her behavior. The conditions that Rosalie proposed were not common conditions. They were conditions that were rare, if not priceless.

 

  “…I have my reasons.”

 

  However, he didn’t feel like leaving the dukedom, no matter how good the conditions were.

 

  ‘Or maybe I just want to stay with the person who recognized me for who I am.’

 

  He felt that being a part of Judeheart Duchy was the link, and he didn’t want to sever that connection.

 

  “Oh really? I’m curious now.”

 

  “It’s nothing important. It’s just a trivial reason. More importantly, I heard that the biggest bookstore is here in the capital, and I want to visit.”

 

  Rosalie didn’t press further when Erudit tried to change the subject. It was a minor matter, and she would learn about it in due time.

 

  “Do you need to buy anything?”

 

  “I want to look for books related to business.”

 

  Rosalie nodded easily at the simple request. It was still early, so there would be plenty of time to stop by the bookstore after they finished eating.

 

  “If you need anything else, just let me know.”

 

  “Can you appoint my successor? If the business starts in full swing, it might be difficult for me to handle the workload.”

 

  “Oh, right. I’ll choose someone who Irudit likes.”

 

  “Your Grace… are you doing this because I am your General Administrator?”

 

  Rosalie, who didn’t catch the intent of the question, cocked her head. In retrospect, she had initially shown him favor because she knew of his abilities and talents. But now, after observing him, it meant something slightly different.

 

  “That’s part of it, but it’s also because Erudit feels like a younger brother to me.”

 

 

  [Collection of Footnotes]

1. Baronetcy
    —  The rank of a baron.

 

  

 

Want faster releases? Support us now!