“Is this a case of ‘Can you repay the 100 gold you never borrowed’?”
It was at this moment that Rosaline realized he was deceiving her. As her gaze sharpened, Dwight confessed and chuckled. “You were being so serious with me, so I thought I’d crack a joke. It’s been a while since we last saw each other, and you seem as unflappable as an Imperial guard—nothing seems to faze you. Even I would be hurt, you know?”
He laughed heartily, resembling an actor, and soon displayed a charming smile. Rosaline looked at him, her expression blank. Unable to find words, she remained silent, and as her lips stayed sealed, Dwight’s façade began to waver. He clicked his tongue.
“Losing your memory doesn’t alter your fundamental personality or tendencies. Teasing those guards was a breeze.”
Dwight wiped away his charming smile and leaned casually against the railing. This was a stark contrast to his previous polite demeanor, though the closeness remained the same. Rosaline was more concerned about his words than his change in attitude.
“Were you teasing me?”
Understanding the nature of her profession, with many men around, Rosaline roughly grasped the euphemism of ‘teasing’. Knights with noble titles tended to shed their dignity and act like boisterous fools when it came to matters involving women, so she had picked up a few seemingly crude phrases.
Dwight let out a bewildered laugh. “Most people usually catch on when you have your lips against the back of their hand for about 5 seconds… Especially if you’re making various gestures in close proximity and smiling…”
The time his lips were against the back of my hand did seem about 5 seconds longer than with others!
“I’m starting to feel a bit disheartened. Honestly, it’s not like I have a face that goes unnoticed wherever I go. Any woman would feel a flutter when I send a charming smile up close. Yet, you didn’t even blush once. Rosaline, has your heart turned to stone or something? Perhaps you’ve spent too long by His Highness Ricardis’ side. The women associated with Moonstone Castle either marry late or not at all.”
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})It was a bit unfortunate.
“Could it be that your own abilities are lacking?”
“It’s not that I lack ability, but His Highness Ricardis is so charismatic that it often affects how women perceive things. Besides, there’s a woman here who seems quite infatuated with him.”
At Dwight’s words, Rosaline turned her head. In the ballroom, she could see Ricardis in the distance, and approaching him was a woman with blue hair.
Rosaline knew that woman. She had received information from Nathan earlier that a significant figure needed attention. Theresia Ironhoff, a troublemaker known for causing numerous incidents in the past. The shocking and persistent incidents involving Ricardis were caused by this one person. Rosaline’s gaze turned fierce. As she stepped forward, Dwight wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“Whoa there, calm down, Miss Rosaline. Do you know what expression you’re wearing right now? It seems like you’re ready to beat someone up. You might not realize how famous you are at the moment. It’s better not to draw attention. Even Theresia won’t dare to do something serious in a place with so many people watching, so you can rest assured.”
Indeed, only about thirty minutes had passed since Nathan scolded her for being overly vigilant. If she rushed over now to try to intervene and apprehend Theresia, Nathan might truly pull her aside and reprimand her again. “You’re just an escort; why are you so conspicuous!?” Being famous was exhausting.
Rosaline continued to observe Ricardis. He was smiling as usual, but there was a subtle hesitation in his actions as he distanced himself from Theresia.
Theresia approached Ricardis with a sweet smile. As she seemed to stumble and nearly fall, Ricardis unconsciously supported her, and she ended up nestled in his arms.
In an instant, a rush of flames surged within Rosaline, making her head dizzy. Her hand clenched the fan tightly, resulting in a sharp, shattering sound as it broke.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})At the same time, Ricardis’ expression froze. Theresia was subtly touching Ricardis’ forearm, and a murderous look appeared on Rosaline’s face. She pondered how to handle Theresia as she pressed her lips firmly with the fan. While restraining the desire to bite the end of the fan, Rosaline realized that something was touching her waist.
She looked down at the unfamiliar sensation on her waist. Dwight’s hand, which was on her shoulder just now, gently encircled her waist. Rosaline turned her head to Dwight. With a serious face devoid of a hint of laughter but containing determination in his eyes, he stared at her. “Surely I didn’t misinterpret that secretive signal just now, Miss Rosaline.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Dwight nodded as he muttered to himself, “It was definitely a mistake…“ And continued, “Do you know how to use a fan, as women do?”
Fan usage? Expressing intentions through various shapes and movements? Rosaline checked the shape and position of her fan.
“…”
Rosaline carefully lowered the fan, which was about halfway open and touching her lips, and glanced at Dwight. She felt a bit embarrassed by the faint smile on his face. Thanks to lessons from Chloe, she already knew what her recent actions implied.
It was ‘Please kiss me’. Rosaline instinctively knew that a ‘kiss’ was an act shared between people in love, coupled with a somewhat sensual feeling. It was not an act appropriate for meeting someone for the first time, and she didn’t want to engage in it. She had undeniably made a mistake. Rosaline tilted her head down slightly and mumbled, “It was a mistake. You do know I have amnesia, right?”
“Well, not really.”
“A gentleman should pretend not to notice a lady’s mistake.”
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Dwight chuckled. “You really don’t know me, Rosaline.”
His finger gently touched the tip of Rosaline’s chin, lifting her face towards him. Without resisting the flow, Rosaline could see his face up close. “There’s something you said to me in the past, Rosaline. ‘Lord Dwight, you’re not much of a gentleman’.” Dwight lowered his head, bringing his face close to hers. “So, which gentleman are you referring to now, miss?”
Rosaline subtly nudged his shoulder, breaking the peculiar atmosphere. “I believe I referred to you as ‘Brother’ just now.”
“… Do you have any sense or not?”
To hear such words from that ‘Rosaline.’ Dwight, man, what on earth have you done? With Rosaline’s seemingly reproachful gaze, he continued to wag his tongue, “Being called ‘Brother’ so innocently by Miss Rosaline, who used to look at me like I was a bug. How ridiculous. Is this why they say people shouldn’t give in to their past desires?”
“Did we not get along well?”
“You were not the kind to gracefully accept my free-spirited behavior, and I regarded you, who seemed to look at me disapprovingly… as a rock or a dry baguette.”
Rosaline did prefer freshly baked baguettes.
“So, we didn’t get along.”
“That doesn’t mean we can’t get along now. Isn’t that right, Miss Rosaline? I quite like the current you. It feels like something is missing, though.”
It felt like he was swearing, making Rosaline uncomfortable. Ignorant of Rosaline’s feelings, Dwight displayed a charming smile. Rosaline spoke with a somewhat bewildered tone. “… Don’t tease me.”
“Ah, I did it without thinking. Anyway, I’ve become more well-behaved compared to my unrestrained past, and you seem less hostile than before, don’t you? If we meet today, we can greet each other, have tea, drink alcohol, go out together, and you can even call me ‘Brother,’ if you’d like.”
“I don’t want to.”
“… You’re remarkably honest. Is there a particular reason?”
“Personally, I find you amusing. However, since the Lyonmanes are in conflict with His Highness, I feel obliged to be in conflict with you too.”
Dwight grinned. “Where you misunderstand, Miss Rosaline, is that the Lyonmanes are not opposed to His Highness; they merely support His Highness Elpidio.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“If it were the same thing, I would’ve phrased it that way. Why complicate matters with different expressions that grate on the ears? You must have heard of it, Miss Rosaline?” Dwight whispered meaningfully into her ear, “Those who can capture the lion’s mane are not merely brave individuals.”
Rosaline looked at him. Somehow, the distance between them had closed again. He was indeed a man who left no room. Rosaline lightly covered her mouth with her fan and retorted, “Then who can capture it?”
“Those who tremble in fear while their comrades are dying in front of the lion’s head but sneakily approach when the sated lion is dozing off.” He laughed. The fan obscured his mouth, but his eyes curved like crescent moons. “A cowardly opportunist.”
