Chapter 11
Translated by: ME
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*****
After leaving the Pendleton estate and before the trial began, Rose stayed at the Kirkland home, but she felt a painful sense of being a burden. A woman returning to her parents' home inevitably provided fodder for the neighbors' gossip. Many invitations to tea parties and evening galas arrived at the Kirkland house from people in social circles who were desperate to uncover even a sliver of the truth. She felt terrible and apologetic toward her brothers and her two friends who had to deal with it all.
(It’s exactly as Logan said...)
Her sisters-in-law told her, 「Don’t worry about it!」 but Rose agonized over the fact that they were constantly being forced to entertain nosy aristocrats. Though they had been her friends since their academy days, that was precisely why there was a line she felt she shouldn't cross in terms of overstaying her welcome.
Thus, once they had finished organizing their luggage, Rose and Alfred moved into the Earl of Goldsmith’s manor. She had decided to accept Logan’s offer and rent a room from him. Unexpectedly, it was incredibly comfortable; Logan found Rose’s ability to act as a proxy for the mistress of the house invaluable, and Rose felt nothing but gratitude for having secured a safe home at a reasonable price.
On the surface, Rose was a live-in tutor for Josh. Here, too, her grades and certifications from her academy days proved useful. The servants of the Goldsmith household praised Rose’s impressive resume and her refined conduct; while she was technically categorized as a fellow employee, they took great care to respect her status as a noble lady.
Josh was a cheerful, honest, and lovely boy. Perhaps starved for maternal affection, he delighted in the smallest things and became very attached to Rose. Inheriting his father’s genes, he was taller than Alfred, but the two got along famously, and it was heartwarming to see them playing together like brothers. Alfred seemed to play the role of the older brother, and despite being larger, Josh played the younger brother role perfectly by acting spoiled.
Living there, Rose noticed things other than academics that she wanted the boy to learn—dining manners, escorting, and proper speech—likely because he had been raised solely by a father. Rose approached the task with great enthusiasm.
In the evenings, once Logan returned from work, he would oversee Rose’s studies for the civil service exam. Logan wasn't the type to crack jokes, but he was quick-witted and an excellent teacher. When Rose told him so, he turned red all the way to his ears in embarrassment.
「I’m not the genius type, you see. I don’t dislike studying, but the Royal Palace is full of geniuses. I’m the type who had to spend twice as much time on the exams and struggled to learn, so I think I understand the tricks to it when I’m teaching.」
The modest Logan was kind and dependable. Rose, rediscovering the joy of learning, came to understand herself better: (I’m really not suited for competing with others through dressing up or other feminine pursuits. I’m much more vibrant when I put my energy into studies like this, where the results are clear.)
In the midst of the trial, many words comparing Catherine and Rose came from Siegfried’s side. His lawyer attempted to prove that the fault for the affair lay with Rose.
「She lacks allure, she lacks charm, she never acted like a woman who needed a man.」
「She flaunts her knowledge. She demands money directly. I cannot see her as a woman.」
Every one of those words hurt. It was true that Siegfried was handsome. Though he wasn't Rose’s type, she could understand why women wouldn't leave him alone.
Because her features were youthful, Rose had tried to compensate by making sure she wore proper makeup for evening parties. However, when she applied it carefully, he would say: 「Where did you get the money for that? The Kirklands? A friend from the academy gave it to you? You must be telling everyone that I’m an incompetent man. That’s why you have no shame in accepting hand-me-downs from your academy friends like a charity case. It’s embarrassing! If you’re a woman, shouldn't you support your husband and refrain from telling your friends such things?」
She protested that she hadn't told them anything—that her friends had simply seen her without makeup and given her unused items or samples—but he refused to listen. Rose, who couldn't beg for necessities as skillfully as a mistress or invite him to the bedroom in a charming way, and who had spent her life seriously focused on her studies, was left utterly confused by the image of womanhood Siegfried desired. The allowance he gave her for managing the household was always far too small, leaving her in a terrible bind when she had to provide important hospitality. Thinking her vague explanations were the problem, she had once listed everything out and summarized it in a table, only to be insulted: 「How cunning and crafty, for a woman.」
When Logan heard this, he smiled.
「The moment he thinks a woman’s charm is entirely about 'allure,' he’s probably still a novice. Besides, the fact that you had to ask for permission every single time to get funds is just bad management on the Master's part. I’m actually worried for him, speaking like that in court—people might start doubting if the Pendleton house even has the ability to pay its bills. More importantly... I would have liked to see you dressed up in makeup at an evening party.」
Rose tilted her head, not quite understanding the implication, but Logan didn't mind. However, his gaze as he watched over her was gentle and full of affection. Although he hadn't explicitly praised her, his concern made Rose’s face turn red in spite of herself.
Logan felt a surge of joy, seeing that the bright, lovely Rose he had met at the villa with his sister Amanda hadn't changed at all. The sparkle in Rose’s eyes when she faced a hardship or challenged something made his heart soar. Honestly... it felt like he was twenty again. He knew the side of Rose that was hurt by cruel words in court and shed tears in secret, but he also knew the Rose who buried herself at her study desk, single-mindedly trying to carve out a future. When he had seen her at the academy, she wasn't loved by her husband and her smile was dark, but now she enjoyed family time with Alfred and the others, and her cheeks had filled out somewhat.
Since leaving the Pendleton manor, her skin was radiant thanks to proper makeup and care. When she was in her nightwear after a bath, her flushed skin looked alluring, and she would occasionally join him for a nightcap.
Because Logan himself had zero skills in wooing women, he never praised her for such things. Their conversations were strictly about the civil service exam and the trial, yet Logan found every day to be radiant and fulfilling.
(Once this trial is over, I will tell her how I feel.)
Logan resolved to act on the feelings he had kept hidden in his heart ever since reuniting with Rose. Furthermore... Logan was reaching his limit with the suggestive looks his servants were giving him every day. He had been nagged many times to take a second wife, but now the pressure from his butler was at an all-time high.
「Lady Rose has become quite settled, hasn't she? Moreover, she is so beautiful and lovely. Once she begins working as a civil official, marriage proposals will surely come flying in immediately. Don’t you think so, Master?」
「The trial seems to be going well, too. Look! The newspaper headline: 'The Pendleton House’s Devoted, Beautiful Wife on the Verge of Victory.' A 'beautiful wife,' it says. Everyone is quite sympathetic.」
This was repeated several times a day.
Hurry up.
Don't just stand there being carefree.
Once she passes the civil service exam, they’ll leave!
If you let an elegant and still-young lady out of the house, a horde of men will flock to her.
Logan understood this too. That was why he intended to propose as soon as the trial concluded
***
Rose, who had braved the trial by exposing her shameful past, secured a judgment that satisfied almost all of her demands regarding both the settlement amount and conditions. Rose was granted full custody of Alfred, and while the child support was reduced by about 10% from the requested amount, the Pendleton house was ordered to pay it in a lump sum. The lawyer informed her that since they had managed to arrange for the return of her dowry from the time of the marriage, Rose wouldn't have to worry about living expenses for a while, even if she remained unemployed. Apparently, the financial contract the former Viscount Kirkland had made at the time of the engagement had proven useful. He probably hadn't specifically anticipated the husband’s embezzlement, but because the dowry was large, he had prepared carefully.
Rose and Alfred held hands and rejoiced together as they heard the results. Though she was leaving the aristocratic register, she had already been forced to live a life of poverty despite residing in an Earl's manor. The amount she could now use monthly was more than she had expected, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Ironically, it seemed she would be able to provide Alfred with better food and clothing than before.
When they returned to the Goldsmith manor, news seemed to have reached Logan immediately, and Rose was invited to dinner: 「Let’s celebrate!」
Rose, who hadn't eaten out in a long time, jumped up like a young girl, but when she tried to take Alfred along, her son declined.
「You two should go alone today. I have some catching up to do with Josh. It’s man-to-man friendship talk, okay? So it’s better if Mother isn’t there. Besides, I plan to return to the academy once the week starts, so I want to prepare.」
「Is that so?」 When his mother tilted her head, he countered with: 「Why do you think a boy my age would be happy about going out with his mother?」
The Goldsmith butler took over. 「The children likely couldn't sleep yesterday, so they must be tired. Leave the entertaining of the young master and Alfred-kun to us. Tonight we’re preparing a dinner that children love, so I’m sure they’ll have a blast.」
(I see... they can't make a fuss in a restaurant with proper manners.) Rose realized that the two boys wanted to enjoy some time without parents today, with all formalities cast aside.
「May I leave them in your care?」
「Of course. Please enjoy yourself with Lord Logan today. It’s a restaurant with exceptionally delicious seafood.」
Rose pulled out a dress she had recently received as a hand-me-down from her sister-in-law and decided to have her corset tightened for the first time in a while. 「I bought it, but the volume of the hem didn't spread as much as I expected, so it didn't suit me,」 her sister-in-law had said when handing over the dress—a beautiful, deep burgundy velvet. Above all, it was very elegant. It suited Rose’s fair skin perfectly, and because Rose was somewhat smaller than her sister-in-law, the volume of the skirt was just right for her.
Before the trial started, the weather had still been sweaty, but lately, the nights were so cold she would shiver without a jacket. It had been a long time since she had gone out at night. She tried to see if she had anything she could wear over her shoulders. Then, someone went knock-knock-knock-knock at the door.
Clara, the maid who had been assisting Rose lately, placed a box on the table with a beaming smile. 「This is a gift from Lord Logan.」
Opening the large boutique box, she found a soft, collared cape-coat in a pale wisteria-purple.
「Oh, it’s wonderful... from Lord Logan?」
「Yes! It’s surely a celebration for today. It will definitely suit you, Lady Rose!」
The two smiled at each other, and as Rose wondered if it would be alright to wear it for today’s outing, they set about the preparations. A short while later, Rose’s groans of struggle with the long-forgotten corset could be heard from the room.
***
Logan finished his work early and headed to the restaurant where he was to meet Rose.
I absolutely cannot be late!!
When he arrived at the restaurant, Rose hadn't arrived yet, and Logan breathed a sigh of relief. He called the manager over, told him he had an important talk with her, and asked him to prepare a drink suitable for a celebration.
One surprising new fact was that Rose could actually hold her liquor quite well. He had never offered the student version of Rose alcohol at the summer resort, but he had offered the adult Rose a nightcap several times after their studies. Rose said she didn't dislike sweet, easy-to-drink alcohol, but she apparently also liked stronger spirits; even if she drank the same amount as Logan, she remained perfectly sober. Her cheeks would flush just a tiny bit, but neither her speech nor her consciousness seemed drunk. There was a chance Logan might actually pass out first.
Logan tapped the small ring case in his breast pocket as if to reassure himself.
(Please, let her respond to my feelings.)
It would be wrong to make her say "yes" out of a sense of debt just because he had looked after her. If Rose disliked it or was troubled by it, he was prepared to back off. But... he truly hoped she would respond to his feelings.
He had already obtained the approval of the Kirkland brothers in advance. Logan hadn't even noticed that this kind of cunning was the trademark of someone who worked in the Royal Palace.
*****
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