My Ex-Fiancée Is the Female Lead in the Romance Novel

25 – Rosemary (2)

The first patriarch of the Rosemary duchy is said to have loved roses. For this reason, generations of the Rosemary duchy used roses to decorate their gardens and mansions.

It seems that tradition is still being applied to this generation.

As I passed the front door of the Duchess of Rosemary decorated with roses in five colors, a rose garden with all kinds of colors also appeared.

“You can come this way.”

As I walked along what appeared to be the butler of the Duchess of Rosemary, I could see a variety of roses, from a plain white rose with no color to a rainbow-colored rose that seemed artificially created.

As soon as I entered the mansion, I saw a familiar face.

“Cesar! Welcome.”

“Yes. Welcome thank you Lady Rosemary.”

I was taken aback when I saw Lady Rosemary suddenly calling me by her first name. Of course, the fact that the duke’s family was actually making all family decisions under the agreement of Lady Rosemary and her twin brother.

“Whoops… I will guide you from now on.”

When Lady Rosemary gestured to the butler, the butler lightly lowered his head and headed somewhere.

“Cesar, I heard you. I heard that Lady Argenta was annoying again? I even told you not to bother Cesar that day…”

“Yes, what. That’s right. Thank you for your concern.”

Then Lady Rosemary smiled a little, as if she was happy with my thanks. After following her, who looked a little excited, we arrived at the door engraved with the rose pattern.

There are several scratches that show signs of age as if it has been made for a long time.

“Seren is waiting inside.”

She opened the door and led me into the room.

Opening her door, she saw a young man with hair the same color as hers.

With a room decorated with roses in the background, Rosemary Serene greeted me.

“Hello. Nice to see you. This is Rosemary Serene.”

“Nice to meet you. This is Cesar Lombardi.”

In response to his greeting, I lightly returned the greeting.

“Cesar, you can sit here.”

When Lady Rosemary told me to sit down, she and Seren sat down in front of me.

“Did you see the garden on your way?”

At Seren’s question, I remembered the rainbow-colored roses that left an impression on me.

“Yes, the rainbow-colored roses are impressive. It is the first time I have seen such flowers.”

Then Lady Rosemary proudly explained about the rainbow-colored roses.

“My family spent a lot of money to make that rainbow color. That’s why you can’t see rainbow-colored roses except in my family.”

“Is that so?”

I pretended to admire Lady Rosemary’s pride with all my soul.

After that, many casual conversations came and went, and finally Seren asked me a question with a serious expression as if this was the business.

“Do you know the current situation in the East of Lombardy?”

“Yes. I have heard of it, so I know it to some extent.”

“It seems that the 4th Princess and Duke Flare are having a hard time with the demands of the barbarians.”

After sipping her cup of tea, Seren spoke again.

“Duke Flair asked me for help. Haven’t you received something from the Lombardi side as well?”

“Yes, our family also received a letter from Duke Flair asking for help.”

Of course, the 4th princess also arrived, but Duke Flair also sent a letter to my father asking for help.

“What do you think?”

I gave a blunt answer to Seren, who asked me a direct question. It was because I still didn’t understand the meaning of the Rosemary duchess’s words to me.

“Okay. Shouldn’t all the nobility step up for the empire? Everyone knew that the slave traders were working secretly within the empire, but I didn’t know that they were affecting beyond the borders.”

I tried Seren once. The fact that slave traders were able to boldly hide and trade slaves even to the territory of the Arit people was because they had a background as the first prince.

It’s become obscure now, but anyway, the Rosemary duchy belonged to the faction of the first prince. I know that I will not be ignorant of this fact, so how Seren answers this question will determine my future attitude.

“I see… It is not an ordinary thing to go to a foreign land and bring back slaves. It’s clear that everyone has a strong back. The reason I called the Marquis today is to find out who is behind him.”

“Is that so? I am willing to do anything for the Empire.”

After hearing Seren’s answer, I decided to withhold judgment on exactly whose side he was on.

It was an ambiguous answer that wasn’t completely ignorant, so I couldn’t tell if he was saying it around or not because he didn’t completely trust me. It could be that he is still standing on the side of the first prince and trying to catch me.

“As expected, Mr. Cesar! Then we are on one side now!”

“Is that so?”

I could see Lady Rosemary puffing out her cheeks slightly as I answered in an apathetic manner. The atmosphere in the room, which had been heavy for a moment at her action, eased a little.

Perhaps Lady Rosemary was aiming for that and acted like this.

“Then… shall we begin the details?”

At Seren’s words, I immediately turned my attention to Lady Rosemary’s actions and began to focus on her words. How much information will Rosemary reveal to me? If they really decided to betray the first prince, it might be easier to catch the slave trader than I thought.

* * *

Seria felt unreal that she was going to meet her second prince. She had apparently vowed that she would no longer have relations with any man except César.

She

She and she told César about that promise, and she even begged her to believe in herself. It was ugly for anyone to see, and I hung on while crying.

Seria laughed at her futility.

Seria Her own commitment was nothing. It dawned on her that she was nothing more than her horse, acting according to her father’s will.

Seria thought of Camilla, who she called her nemesis, her own rival in her social circle. Unlike herself, who was only guided by her father’s will, she had a great influence on the decision-making of her duchy on behalf of the great Duke of Rosemary.

In fact, there was a saying that there were not just one Serene but two acting dukes, so Camilla was very involved in the decision-making of the Rosemary duchy and was taking care of some of her family’s businesses.

Emotions she had never felt before began welling up in her heart.

Camilla thanks to such an environment no one points a finger at Cesar even if she expresses her heart so openly. I don’t know if it’s because of the rights she can exercise, but Camilla can always be confident.

But what about Seria herself?

Her father is burdened with nothing to do with her own will. Her brother, who could be on her side, was no longer in her capital, so she had no options.

Emotions caused by comparing oneself to others, it may be one of superiority or inferiority. Seria subconsciously felt that this feeling might be an inferiority complex.

But she didn’t want Seria to know that she was feeling those feelings.

So she hid it.

Her expression and emotion were not shown on the surface, but were hidden under an expression as cold as the water of a lake that lingers under the ice in winter.

“Welcome, Young lady.”

The second prince’s expression as he politely bowed to Seria was also not very good.

Seeing him like that, Seria felt relieved inside. Thinking that the 2nd Prince also did not seem happy with this meeting, Seria vowed to ask the 2nd Prince to make this her last meeting.

For Seria, it is important for her to wait in front of Cesar’s house and meet Cesar at least once more than to waste her time.

Even while Seria was passing the time with useless thoughts, her feet were steadily following her 2nd prince.

And the place where she arrived, following her prince, was a pavilion located in the garden of the imperial palace.

With flowers all around and the sun shining down, Seria somehow didn’t want to enter the place where there was a shadow that seemed the only thing around.