Chapter 64

Chapter 64

The progression of the original novel had already changed because of me, and the butterfly effect created this situation. Wouldn’t it be difficult for Albert to deal with 30,000 soldiers?

I snuck a glance at him, but he didn’t look to be shaken at all.

“Mercy will bring the mages with her in just the right time… And Schubert is doing his job properly at the knight order. Don’t worry, Rosé.”

Rather, he even reassured me by explaining the situation like this.

“How many mages are there?”

“The mages who remained in the magic tower… There’s probably 300 left.”

“Pardon?”

No matter how precious a mage was considered, wasn’t that too few?

Albert continued explaining. Originally, the mages living at the tower totaled to 2,000 people. However, a bloodbath took place as Mercy rose as the next tower lord, and so many mages got imprisoned or killed.

Besides that, there was also a significant number of mages who left the tower after being fed up with the heinous behavior of the higher ups before.

“Oh my gosh… There’s only 300 people to deal with 30,000 others…”

Because… Because of me, I wonder just how much the novel’s events had changed because of me. Overwhelmed by the odds, I gulped dryly.

“This number isn’t such a big deal.”

As though reading everything in my mind, Albert comforted me.

With how blasé he was about this, I could clearly see how certain he was of his own abilities.

Really though, I was genuinely curious about Albert’s capabilities, since I’ve never really seen him in action. Thus far, he’s only shown me a fraction of his strength.

With his chin still propped on one hand, Albert leaned towards me.

“Ah, the first thing I should do after returning to the palace is to honor my part of the deal.”

The nonchalant statement insinuated the rebellion’s certain victory.

But then, Albert suddenly turned serious. I was wondering if he realized that there’s a problem, but he finally spoke.

“Which do you want more, money or a fief?”

“…Huh?”

“Didn’t you ask for enough riches so that you can live a rich life?”

“Ah, that…”

He’s talking about the contract now, but it somehow didn’t feel real. The contract was really coming to an end now.

…But wait, before that.

There’s a more serious issue at stake right now—like, our lives, right? I tried to bring up the coup d’état again.

“There’s no reason to do that right away. We can wait a little bit, so that the soldiers…”

But Albert smiled gently and shook his head.

“It’s a good opportunity to strike while they’re confused. If we do it later, they’ll recruit more people on their side.”

“That’s true, but…”

It was difficult to answer. I didn’t know which would be better for me specifically.

However, I knew that this matter had to be dealt with quickly.

Once we enter the palace, it’s certain that I’d be revealed as just a maid. If things pan out in this direction and I keep being at Albert’s side, it would be difficult to keep any personal information secret.

Once they find out that a maid roped the prince into signing a contract ensuring her fortune and riches, what kind of aristocrat would like hearing that?

He took out the contract that he kept stored in the drawer. Wordlessly, he carefully scanned the terms of the contract, then he turned to face me.

“If it’s land you want, is there a place you like?”

“……”

“A territory with fertile land would be good. Or do you want it to be somewhere close to the sea? Or one with lakes…. There’s also some that have mines.”

My land…! At first, I got overwhelmed just thinking about it, but as I continued to think about it more, I found myself more inclined to receiving money than land. Just enough money to buy a building, and just enough to eat and play for the rest of my life.

Wasn’t it tiring to be a fief lord? I’d have to turn my brain constantly to try and keep my people fed. I’d also have to collect taxes, make sure that the granaries are filled every year, prepare for the winter, and even more…

“Prince, I think I’d like to receive money more than land.”

“Money?”

“Ah, a building is good, too!”

“A building?”

“A building in the capital that has the best restaurant with the most customers.”

“……”

“If not that, maybe a dessert shop?”

“…You did say that you like desserts.”

I nodded quickly.

“Anyway, I’m satisfied with a regular monthly stipend. It can help a lot wherever I go.”

“Wherever, you say.”

“Yes, wherever. My dream is to travel around the world!”

Going around the world while having a monthly allowance. Was there anything more romantic than this?

“Travel…”

Albert’s eyes narrowed as though he was displeased with something. One finger tapped the edge of the table.

“No matter how I think about it, a fief would be good.”

He said this with certainty, but this statement was like a bolt out of the blue for me. A bolt of lightning.

I added hastily.

“Prince, I’m not worthy to have a fief. I don’t even know how to manage one in the first place.”

“That’s why there are people out there you can hire. Not even all the nobles know how to manage their land. Wouldn’t it be better to have a fief as your lifetime pension rather than just money, Rosé?”

That’s true, Albert’s right—but!

“As a loyal subject who knew that I was imprisoned in this place, who sacrificed much of her life to infiltrate this tower and stayed right beside me, shouldn’t you receive this much?”

It’s easy to guess that this was the narrative that Albert would spread once we leave this place. He’s a capable man who knows how to spin stories.

“But I still think that money is more…”

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But Albert cut me off right there and spoke.

“If there’s someone who asks you about it, that’s what you should answer.”

There was a glint in Albert’s red eyes.

“Ah, and one more thing. There’s a rumor that Liam told me about.”

“What is it?”

“He said there’s someone who makes food that’s similar to what you cooked in his residence.”

If it’s the food I cooked at the duke’s place, then it’s sujebi and chicken. If there’s anyone else who could make such dishes in this world, then…

There’s only one person—Seo Ina, the female lead.

“He wanted to ask if it’s someone you know.”

“No, I don’t. But…”

I trailed off, then I shook my head. Seo Ina and I aren’t exactly acquainted.

Still though, it’s kind of amazing to hear about Seo Ina now. The original story truly was beginning in earnest.

And it’s clear that Seo Ina’s story was going to change after I went around and affected the plot, regardless of the original.

I don’t know either what the future entails, whether Albert might come to dislike me eventually, but I do know that it would be impossible for Albert and Seo Ina to connect now.

I’m not enough of a fool to willingly send away the person I like. Unless Albert chooses Seo Ina himself.

“I’d like to meet that person.”

It wasn’t because of the romantic subplot between Albert and Seo Ina. And it wasn’t because I was worried about how they might fall in love once they met.

“Why?”

The reason is this: I’m curious about the food that Seo Ina makes. If I were to use the metaphor of coffee, then in the cooking world, I’m just instant coffee while Seo Ina was T.O.P. When it came to food, cooking was important, but so too was enjoying it.

[ t/n: she’s talking about Maxim instant stick coffee vs bottled/canned Maxim TOP coffee. ]

Maybe I should think about taking the fief and bringing the female lead there. I’m seriously considering it.

“Because it seems like that person is good at cooking.”

Albert glanced at me with a smile on his lips.

“If you want, I’ll bring that person to the palace later.”

“Thank you so much, Prince!”

And as though he was mulling something over, Albert stroked his chin. Then he spoke again.

“Go travel for a bit, then you can stay at the lateral palace for a while.”

“Lateral palace?”

“There are two lateral palaces at the east side of the royal palace. I’ll be using one, and…”

He stared at me.

“You will stay in the other one.”

After leaving the tower, I was in trouble anyway since I had nowhere to go until Albert gave me my compensation. I nodded right away.

“Once you’ve received your fief… After that, you’ll have to leave the palace with Liam. I still need to have the palace cleaned up on a larger scale.”

It was exactly as Liam expected. Albert was going to leave me to Liam.

As I listened to Albert explain this calmly, I felt guilty. Even if I’m only going to be away from him for a while.

The way he said ‘clean up’ might not just refer to cleaning up the building itself. It’s nigh time that those who’ve been supporting Rosteratu, surviving up until now, should be dealt with and erased from history.

“I’ll need a lot of time cleaning up the place, and I don’t want you to see how messy it is.”

His gaze sank as deep as his low voice. Though his expression was languid as usual, he looked tired as he sighed.

“Your Highness will be meeting a lot of people in the palace as well… I guess you’re really going back to your old life.”

I thought out loud. At this, Albert rose to his feet and walked towards where I was on the floor, sitting on the ground as I listened to him explain all that. Then, he placed his hand on top of my head.

“Yeah, just like you wanted.”

His life, which Rosé Artius had ruined, was finally back on track.

He stroked my head gently.

“And one month later, I will find you again.”

His deep voice sank deep into my ears.

One month.

It was too specific a period for me to just brush off. I knew it instinctively. Albert had caught onto my plan.

Liam wouldn’t have said it on purpose. Albert was just too quick-witted.

But I wonder why. Why was it that even as I looked at Albert, who already knew about my plans, I wasn’t upset at all.

“I know what you’re thinking, Rosé.”

The hand over my head gradually slipped down.

“I did say tell you I’ll follow as you heed and let you do whatever you want to do.”

In the end, he placed his hand on the back of my own.

“My patience is running out, but I think you’ll believe me when that time comes.”

He raised my hand and placed it on top of his heart.

“After a month.”

He held my hand tightly and pressed it against his chest. His heart was racing. And as I felt his solid muscles beneath my touch, my face became bright red.

On the other hand, unlike his rather calm, composed demeanor, his heart was pounding violently. And in time, I could no longer tell whether this racing heartbeat drumming against my fingertips was his or mine…

“You’ll be bringing with you everything that I can receive, and I will wait. After that…”

Albert’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“You’ll come back to me.”

You will come back. His voice echoed within me. And, he kissed the back of my hand.

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The gentle touch and soft breath tickled me. The kiss was too pure to be considered anything sensual, but his lips lingered a moment long enough that I could feel his hidden intentions.

In the end, as Albert’s lips left my hand, he laughed with his eyes curved elatedly.

“And even if you don’t come back, I will go to you.”

He was so dazzling.

——