Chapter 29: Passion, Secrets, and Courtship

Chapter 5: A Classic Case of Unrequited Love

“…….”

“…….”

Lara Schmord felt as if the dashing eyes and sharp profile of the man watching her were just part of a dream. Overwhelmed by a fiery passion bubbling like lava inside her, she closed her eyes tightly. Come on, one more time!

But luck doesn’t come twice. Without a word, he got to his feet. By the time Lara opened her eyes, he had long since vanished.

“Youngae! What on earth is going on here?”

Startled awake by the sudden commotion, Lady Elina IV approached Lara, who was sprawled among heaps of books. It was only when Elina IV helped her up that Lara finally returned to reality.

“Are you hurt anywhere? All these books collapsing at once is worrisome.”

Muttering about the librarian’s lax oversight, Lady Elina IV barely registered the sight of her own coat as it slid off her shoulders and fell by her feet.

She instantly recognized the coat’s owner—it was the same man she had seen wearing it just two hours ago.

“Your Majesty…….”

At the sound of Elina IV’s murmuring, Lara shyly pressed a hand to her chest.

‘Ah, his name is Pea.’

There was something endearing about the name Pea. Lara made sure to etch it deeply into her heart. Next time they meet, she fully intends to hold him accountable for stealing the Lady’s pure kiss.

“Oh, by the way, what about the rose?”

Lara suddenly remembered something she had forgotten. The white rose she’d lost from her hand when she fell—given to her by the dashing gentleman—was nowhere in sight.

“If you are talking about the rose, it’s right here.”

While Lady Elina IV was searching around, she picked up a red rose that had fallen among the books. Lara shook her head. Regardless of why a red rose was lying here, it wasn’t the one she was looking for.

“No, the rose I lost is white.”

“Could this be it?”

“Ah… it’s crumpled.”

It had been found, but half of its petals were crushed under the books. With a gloomy slump, Lara lifted the book.

“Shall we ask the gardener to pick a new one?”

“No, no. It’s fine…”

Nothing else would do. Clutching the withered white rose, its petals half-fallen, Lara could only feel a deep regret, wishing it could be saved.

Staring forlornly at the white rose’s stem half-submerged in a pretty glass of water, Lara left the room. Today, she had to return the clothes she had borrowed from Mikhail.

“Lara.”

Once outside the mansion, a carriage was waiting. Inside, Elina II waved cheerfully, beckoning her to come aboard.

Indeed, the guise of returning borrowed clothes was merely an excuse. Lara’s true objective was to establish a cliché: making Mikhail’s first female visitor none other than Elina II.

For Mikhail to open up completely, his first close female confidante had to be the female lead. Given Elina II’s social graces, she was ideally suited to soften Mikhail’s prickly temperament.

Lara adjusted her manly wig one more time to ensure it wasn’t askew. Even on her day off, clad in a knight’s uniform, she caught Elina II’s amused glance.

“So, you’re here to introduce someone? Judging by your outfit, there’s something up. Are I the bait? Some undercover operation?”

“I may not be as skilled as Lady Elina III, but I’m far from being able to handle such matters.”

Offering a reassuring smile, Lara then lowered her voice as she made a request.

“The person we’re about to meet must know me as a man. My being a woman is a secret, got it?”

“I can’t imagine why you’d go through such trouble, but it does sound amusing! Oh, come on, you didn’t have to nag so much. Silpid! If needed, you can step in. Ah, I get it, just have a sense of urgency. Honestly, all you ever do is nag.”

It seemed as though the Spirit King was riding somewhere in the carriage. Lara hoped he wasn’t sitting next to her. Casting a dubious glance at the empty seat, she quickly diverted her eyes to the window.

After a while, the carriage passed the entrance of Daeshin Shrine and stopped near a quiet annex. Together with Elina II, Lara disembarked and retraced her memories to find the garden’s entrance. Throughout the walk, Elina II chattered away to an unseen Spirit King.

Luckily, her memory served her well. Elina II marveled at a hidden building deep within the garden—who knew such a place existed? Lara knocked on the door first before they both stepped inside.

‘Is anyone here?’

Scanning the room they had once visited, Lara spotted a hint of pale blond hair peeking out from behind a sofa. Napping lazily on the sofa, it was almost a perfect display of high-ranking papal leisure.

“I’m here. Hey, over here.”

“Hey? Can’t you call me properly?”

Mikhail, now sitting up with his hand shielding his eyes, frowned as he noticed another presence besides Lara.

“Who are you?”

While Lara was drenched in nervous sweat, Elina II wore a naturally amused smile.

“No need to be so guarded. I’m Elina II, Lara’s friend.”

“Friend, you say…?”

“Yes. And for your information, I’m from a noble family!”

“Ugh, what does that even mean?”

Once again, it was Elina II. She effortlessly disarmed Mikhail’s suspicions; perhaps this was the charm exclusive to the female lead.

Feeling that her presence might only hinder, Lara decided it was time to retreat. After all, with the lead characters, things would sort themselves out. Just as Lara turned to leave, a hand grabbed her wrist.

“Am I supposed to take care of everything for you? What are you doing standing there foolishly?”

“Huh? Ah, I’m in a hurry. I’m just here to return this outfit.”

“There’s an element of irresponsibility, too. If you bring a guest, you should at least introduce them properly!”

“Uh… sorry.”

Realizing the point, Lara found herself reluctantly dragged back to join the group. Just as the three began to converse, the door burst open and the clacking of heels took over the room.

Her dress flowed like the extravagant feathers of a peacock, her makeup was heavy, and jewels adorned her neck and fingers. With her wavy, red hair cascading down, the woman raised her chin arrogantly and surveyed the room.

Without missing a beat, she targeted Elina II, who was standing close to Mikhail, and strode towards them.

‘Wait, she’s here already?!’

Lara, who once read plenty of romance novels in her youth, knew that a rival woman was an essential cliché. However, this was too much.

“Mikhail, who is this woman? What exactly is your relationship with her?”

“And who exactly are you?”

‘Don’t you know?!!’

Judging by Mikhail’s cautious demeanor, it was clear he didn’t know. Unfazed, Rozally unfurled her fan without any sign of panic.

“Nice to meet you. I am Rozally Verbel, your fiancée. Although our engagement was arranged and neither of us harbors any feelings, for the sake of my family, I must secure your position beside the Pope at all costs.”

“Gasp! Mikhail, are you saying you’re the Pope?”

Elina II stared in shock at Mikhail, and Rozally’s gaze quickly shifted to her, her eyes raising in a clearly indignant manner.

“How disgraceful! How dare you mess with a man who already has a fiancée?”

Once again, Rozally lifted her left hand high. It seemed poised to strike, but at the sound of Elina II’s subsequent words, her hand abruptly froze mid-air.

“Mikhail, what is our relationship exactly? We’re just meeting today, and frankly, it’s still a bit awkward. We haven’t even reached first-name terms.”

Elina II, closing her eyes in deep thought, found it difficult to define their connection. At the sound of her heavy sigh, Rozally’s trembling hand slowly dropped.

“You’re telling me the two of you are not involved at all?”

“That’s right.”

“No way. If you’re lying in front of me, I won’t let it slide!”

“I won’t just sit back either. If there’s truly nothing between us, then what do you expect us to do? Seriously, this is so frustrating. Lara, say something already!”

Elina II’s eyes snapped open as she turned to Lara. Startled, Lara shivered, and before she could react further, Rozally strode directly towards her, raising her left hand high. At that very moment—

“He’s a man.”

It was Mikhail. Rozally recoiled, her hand trembling uncontrollably. Her dismayed eyes darted around as if seeking guidance amid the chaos.

Ultimately, Rozally reverted to her original target and positioned herself before Elina II. Her hand shot upward towards the ceiling once more.

“Let me ask you again… You two aren’t involved at all, right?”

“Correct. Should we settle this in court?”

“Court?”

“Yes, let’s head to court and have it officially decided. Mikhail and I truly have nothing between us. I’ve said it countless times—we just met today.”

“Enough… there’s no need to go that far…”

“But from a rival’s point of view, it’s just too much. If your fiancé is seen with another woman, even I would feel uneasy. So, why don’t we settle this in court once and for all?”

“That would just blow everything out of proportion. If word gets out, my reputation will be ruined…”