TGW Chapter 19 Part 2

 

Dian laughed for a while, then suddenly stopped and spoke to Kuhn.

“Hey, Marquis Rose.”

Then he laughed again, slapping the sofa with his hand and giggling uncontrollably, saying, “Marquis Rose, Marquis Rose.”

Kuhn sighed and put down his teacup.

“Can you stop?”

“They’re calling you the Marquis Rose. Oh, it’s so cringe. Roses? They probably gave you that nickname because they don’t know what kind of person you are. I bet there’s never been a marquis in the empire’s history with a more romantic nickname. Hmm, come to think of it, you’re the first and only Marquis in the empire, right? It’s certainly unprecedented.”

No one knew who started it, but people began calling the Marquis of Raad the “Marquis Rose.”

Kuhn looked serious.

“I said, stop.”

If he knew who started it, he would have grabbed them by the collar and shaken them. The nickname wasn’t just circulating among some nobles; it was quite widespread. Even the members of his own clan had heard it. Just this morning, Walter had muttered “Rose…” while looking at him with a strange expression.

He could tolerate a ridiculous nickname. Even though the excessive attention around him was more than he expected, the nickname served its purpose well enough, conveying, “I’m currently courting the Silver King. Those who can’t compete should step aside.” The one person who was frustrating him was none other than her.

‘How nice it would be if she invited me in just once.’

The countess would receive the flowers every day and then turn away without even a greeting. Even a simple acknowledgment, like her coming out to accept the flowers herself, would have been enough. But there was no reaction from her to his persistent gifts, leaving him feeling frustrated.

He had so much to say, but no opportunity to see her. She still didn’t engage in any social activities. Now that more people were watching, he couldn’t even think of sneaking into her bedroom like before.

He was momentarily lost in thought when he looked up and saw Dian staring at him.

“What?”

“I’m just taking a good look at the most famous man in the empire.”

“Really, that’s enough. Stop it.”

“I’m not joking. I’ve recently received a lot of requests. People want me to arrange a meeting with you. It’s like they’re all competing with each other.”

“...”

“Aren’t you going to engage in social activities?”

“I should.”

“The more you keep yourself hidden, the more they’ll chase after you. Anyway, the roses have been effective.”

Kuhn frowned.

“What do you mean, effective?”

“Their wariness toward you has decreased significantly. People are naturally afraid of the unknown. Initially, everyone was on edge, thinking the Marquis of Rad might dig up old incidents and investigate all over the place. But now that you’ve become the talk of the social scene, they feel they can relate to you. Some people on my side who didn’t like you have even started showing a friendly attitude.”

Kuhn gave a bitter smile. The investigation hadn’t even begun. Why were they jumping to conclusions? It was strange how nobles could be cunningly shrewd one moment and naively simple the next.

“I’m planning to host a party at the mansion. That’s where I’ll begin my social activities in earnest.”

“Oh? When? Do it before my wedding. You need to drain the intrigue first. If you keep up this air of mystery and then show up at my wedding, you’ll end up being the star of the day.”

“Early next month. That’s roughly when I’m planning it.”

“That’s good. The Ivy Mansion is spacious, so it can accommodate a large party.”

A servant quietly entered and announced:

“Your Highness, Her Highness the Silver King has arrived.”

Kuhn flinched.

“Show her in.”

Dian, seeing Kuhn’s expectant look, explained.

“I invited the Silver King for you. Do your best.”

When Kuhn didn’t say anything, Dian, feeling uneasy, glanced around nervously.

“Did I... do something unnecessary?”

“You’ll give us some privacy, right?”

Dian’s mouth dropped open as he pointed at Kuhn. Kuhn quickly made his move before Dian could change his mind.

“If you want to help, help all the way. Thank you.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard you say thank you.”

“Well, until now, you were the one who should have been grateful to me.”

“Ha, true, but that’s annoying.”

Sienna entered. Not having been informed that Kuhn was inside, she was taken aback as soon as she saw him.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

Sienna responded to Dian’s greeting and sat down on the sofa. Almost at the same time, Dian stood up.

“Just sit for a while. I have a special tea I’d like to give to Her Highness, and I’ve kept it in a secret place known only to me.”

Dian spoke his piece and hurried out, not giving Sienna a chance to think it odd. It was only after Kuhn moved to sit beside her that she realized they were the only two people in the reception room.

Kuhn took Sienna’s hand. Sienna tried to pull it away, but he tightened his grip and interlaced their fingers completely. Their fingers entwined perfectly.

“Does the Iron King...”

“Know about you and me? Of course, he does. Is it just the Iron King? All the nobles of the empire probably know. What do you think I’ve been doing for more than twenty days?”

He spoke in a subtly accusing tone. As Sienna silently looked at him, his expression grew even darker.

“Don’t tell me. You didn’t receive the gifts I sent?”

Sienna looked down at their joined hands. This wasn’t the first time they held hands, but holding them like this felt intimate. Even though it was just holding hands, it felt like having a secret conversation.

When Sienna looked at her hand, Kuhn seemed to think she was trying to pull away, so he tightened his grip even more.

‘His hands are big.’

Her hands weren’t small, but being held in his made them look tiny.

These were the hands of someone who wielded a sword, yet every morning, he brought bouquets to the Silver Palace with them. She had never seen it in person, but the scene vividly played out in her mind. Her stomach churned.

Looking into his eyes, Sienna spoke.

“They’re calling you the Rose Marquis, aren’t they?”

“...So you did receive them.”

He seemed to be choosing his words carefully, his expression complex.

“Didn’t you like the flowers?”

“I did like them.”

“I thought you might come out to receive them at least once.”

“Hmm...”

Sienna glanced away. Every morning, when Beth went out to receive the flowers, she would ask Sienna, “Do you have any message you’d like me to convey to the Marquis?”

About ten days in, she even said, “Your Highness, perhaps you could receive the flowers yourself just once.”

But she couldn’t. As the time approached for him to come with the flowers each morning, Sienna found herself increasingly unsettled. She was overcome by a strange feeling she had never experienced before.

She couldn’t explain it to the countess. Even if she could, she didn’t want to. She wanted to hide it.

It felt as if someone knowing her feelings was like standing naked before a crowd. It was similar to shame, though not exactly the same. She certainly couldn’t tell him.

“I was just... playing along.”

She tried to conceal her true feelings by changing the subject.

“Playing along?”

“You’ve been called the Rose Marquis. Public opinion about you has softened.”

Kuhn let out a sigh of disappointment. He murmured somberly.

“So, you think I’ve been doing this because I’m concerned about public opinion.”

He felt like a captain watching his ship run aground on the rocks. He thought he was just sailing straight toward the horizon. He thought his ship had already set out into the ocean, but it hadn’t even left the coastal waters.

The fact that she misunderstood wasn’t as troubling as her attitude of dismissing his gifts as calculated ploys, even though she still perceived them as having ulterior motives.

“You still think I’m just that... Sigh... No, it’s my fault for not giving you enough reason to trust me.”

Just a moment ago, Dian had said something similar. Probably many of the nobles thought the same as her.

“Sienna.”

Kuhn now understood clearly. Indirect approaches didn’t work with her. It seemed that being direct was the only straightforward approach that would reach her.

He raised their clasped hands and kissed the back of her hand.

“The confession I made to you during the deer hunting competition was sincere.”

Sienna saw a small reflection of herself in his dark eyes. She could only see this when she was with Kuhn. He was the only person who would come so close and look directly into her eyes.

The people around her always lowered their gazes. She had thought perhaps her mother might be different, so she had watched Patricia closely when they met. But her mother was the same. She didn’t try to make prolonged eye contact with Sienna. She used to think people’s behavior was a sign of respect toward her.

Kuhn always looked straight into her eyes. At first, she found it rude. Somehow, that rudeness started to seem like sincerity.

She realized that avoiding eye contact wasn’t just about respect; it was also a way to hide one’s true feelings.

“No matter what I say to you or what I do, my only intention is you. There’s no ulterior motive. I’ve never thought of deceiving you or using you. Your status as a royal and as the Silver King—those are just parts of who you are to me.”

Sienna nodded. It wasn’t a meaningless gesture of agreement. While she had once doubted his intentions, she had long since begun to feel his sincerity. And she grew curious. What kind of person did she appear to him?

Until then, all her relationships were centered around herself. She had only ever judged others. For the first time, she was aware of how she looked through someone else’s eyes.

“You understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes.”

Kuhn looked at her with skeptical eyes. The rumor that “royals don’t understand emotions” seemed to be somewhat true. At times, he felt like he was teaching her human emotions.

“But don’t bring any more flowers.”

“Why?”

“Because stopping now would have a better effect.”

His expression turned grim.

“...You didn’t understand at all.”

“I mean, it’s best to leave things as they are now, where the nobles are somewhat suspicious.”

He furrowed his brow.

“There are three reasons.”

“Three reasons?”

His demeanor was as if he were inviting her to explain. When she began with “First,” he was incredulous. His emotions seemed to be blocked by her rigid logic.

‘Maybe sending flowers wasn’t the right approach.’

He had been too subtle. It would have been better to kneel outside her bedroom window and sing a serenade.

“They’ll debate amongst themselves because they’re half-convinced and half-skeptical. Instead of focusing on whether it’s true or not, they’ll get caught up in the debate. The opinion of those who are hostile toward you won’t unite. Second, you’re on an important mission under His Majesty’s orders. If you give the impression that you’re not focusing on that and are engaged in other activities, your authority as an investigator will be undermined.”

Sienna stopped speaking. Kuhn waited a moment before asking.

“What’s the third?”

“The third...”

She hesitated.

“If they think you’re serious, my mother will take action.”

The words that came out of her mouth were completely unexpected. Kuhn’s eyes flickered.

“My mother will trouble you.”

Sienna had no idea what Patricia might do. She didn’t know how to stop her either. The information from the dream was woefully insufficient.

---

“I cannot forgive your mother.”

---

In the dream, he had spoken calmly, but his fury was evident. He wouldn’t have used the word “forgive” over just losing a close aide. That was just the final straw; there must have been many previous incidents building up to it.

‘I don’t have the power to stop my mother.’

Sienna had never built up her own faction of loyal supporters. She had thought it unnecessary to build her own power base since everyone would become her subjects once she became the emperor. Now she suspected even that might have been part of her mother’s plan.

Kuhn smiled softly and spoke in a casual tone.

“There’s no mother who’s lenient when some guy hovers around her daughter.”

“You don’t know my mother.”

For once, his confident attitude didn’t seem reassuring to her.

He has no idea and still laughs so nonchalantly!

“Of course, your mother won’t be able to do anything to you right away. She’s not the type to recklessly pick a fight with someone formidable.”

“I won’t come running to you crying if I’m harassed.”

“You know it’s not that kind of issue.”

Sienna suddenly stood up, angered by his lack of seriousness.

“People around you will get hurt.”

“People around me?”

“Would it be people around me?”

Kuhn blinked at her. Were there people around him she was close to? As she looked at his puzzled expression, Sienna felt frustrated.

“I’m saying this because if someone close to you gets hurt, you’ll find that harder to bear than getting hurt yourself. If you’d just...”

Kuhn, who had been quietly watching her, suddenly sprang up and captured her lips. Sienna twisted her body, but her arms were held too tightly to move. The more she struggled, the more he tilted his head and deepened the kiss.

She stopped resisting. Her clenched fists loosened. He gently licked her lips as if rewarding her for calming down.

As he sucked on her lower lip and then released her lips, her tightly shut lashes fluttered and slowly lifted.

“First.”

He spoke while their lips were still precariously close.

“We don’t need a scandal that’s half-believed and half-doubted. What I want is for everyone to truly believe I’m in love with you. Otherwise, why would I go to the greenhouse every morning?”

His breath touched her lips with each word, tickling them. Sienna tried to respond, but her words were blocked by his lips again. This time, he gave a shorter kiss than before and spoke again.

“Second. My duties as an investigator and my focus on you are separate matters. The authority of the investigator rests entirely with His Majesty. As long as I am useful to him, that authority remains intact.”

Kuhn kissed her again, making a smacking sound, and hugged her tightly. Then his eyes met Dian’s, who was standing by the doorway. He had heard him enter earlier but pretended not to notice.

Since Sienna’s seat faced away from the doorway, she couldn’t see Dian. Kuhn waved his hand dismissively at the astonished Dian.

Dian, gaping at Kuhn, pointed at the air and then quietly stepped back out.

“What’s the third?”

“The third...”

Kuhn rested his chin on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry about it.”

She began to struggle again, hitting him with her fists. Kuhn held on for a moment before releasing his arms. He laughed leisurely as he looked at her golden eyes, which had grown darker.

“Are you worried about me? Maybe you should be worried about your mother instead.”

Her eyes widened.

“Don’t assume I’m weaker than her.”

Sienna frowned.

“My mother is stronger than you.”

Perhaps Patricia wasn’t overwhelmingly superior, but she was certainly a tough opponent for him. After all, the Kuhn in the dream had lost. He failed to protect the Iron King and lost someone dear to him because of Patricia’s attack.

“Well, if it were this time last year, you might have been right.”

Sienna was taken aback, noting the changes in just a year.

“Don’t tell me you’re relying on His Majesty?”

“I was laying low a year ago, trying not to be noticed. That means there were a lot of restrictions on my actions. I tied myself down. I couldn’t actively attack or defend. But now, since I’ve already revealed myself, I have nothing to hide.”

Kuhn regretted that he couldn’t explain the full power of the Raad family to her just yet.

“I can’t explain it any better right now.”

Sienna understood what he meant. The Kuhn in the dream was still disguised as a merchant at this time. According to what he just said, there were many restrictions.

“Because you became a marquis? Is that why the future has changed?”

“Anyway, I’m going to keep bringing flowers to the Silver Palace tomorrow and the day after.”

Hearing his declaration, Sienna sighed softly.

“I’ll stop if you come out to receive them.”

Sienna shook her head. She didn’t want to create a situation where her mother would take notice of him.

“I know we have different opinions. You do as you like. I’m not going to accept them.”

“...Harsh. Do I need to sing a song under your window?”

“Try it.”

Sienna’s eyes narrowed. He sighed in surrender and raised both hands in the air.

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