At Least One

W-what did you just say?

Roswyn stood frozen, her voice trembling as she posed the question.

I dont quite understand.

She tilted her head to the side as if Freys words were difficult for her to comprehend, but her increasingly pale face told a different story.

I told you, Roswyn.

To that, Frey responded once again.

I dont want to love you anymore, and I dont want to meet you either.

W-wait!

Just as Frey turned to get back into the carriage, Rosewyns hand had shot out and grabbed his arm.

Are you throwing a tantrum? Youre just upset, right?

Hm, you seem quite upset, dont you? Okay, its my fault. Ive been too hard on you. Ill try to be better from now on

Roswyn.

Her expression turned apologetic, and she took a tentative step closer. But when she heard him speak in a low tone, she flinched back.

Let go.

Oh, uhmm

Roswyn released her grip slowly.

F-Frey? Why are you acting like this?

From her perspective the Frey that had always worn a foolish smile in her presence was now looking at her with coldness in his eyes.

Y-you. Has that strange detective agency brainwashed you? Or did you eat something weird? You seem a bit different from your usual self.

Sorry, Im just a bit busy right now.

W-wait!

When Frey tried to leave yet again, Roswyn timidly had stopped him once more, this time holding the hem of his cloth rather than grabbing his arm as she had done before.

..!

Only after he had given her the same cold look did Roswyn realize something was wrong.

Sigh

Frey watched Roswyn for a moment, then sighed deeply.

How long are you going to stay here?

He asked, frowning.

Somethings strange.

Roswyn continued to stare at him with a puzzled expression, all the while muttering to herself.

Did he get possessed? If not, did he really get brainwashed

Tsk.

Y-you, theres no way you dont like me anymore, right?

Frey let out a small sigh and spoke.

After countless confessions until now, Ive finally come to the realization that I would never be able to receive any love from you.

What? But

They say, theres no tree that wont fall after ten hits, but no matter how many timesbe it a hundred or a thousand timesI try, you wont fall for me..

Roswyns gaze dropped.

Even so, I held onto the hope that one day youll see my sincerity but that never happened.

I knew you were using me, I knew you treated me like a pushover I knew you only saw me as a source of money, and in reality, you also detested and looked down on me.

N-No

But still, it doesnt matter to me. Such treatment was something I always received from those around me, so it wasnt anything new.

He didnt let her speak, clenching his fist as he continued.

Even so, even if I was used by you, became a source of money, and treated as a pushover, I still wanted to convey my sincere feelings to you

Frey allowed himself to breathe; it seemed his emotions got the better of him for a moment.

Im sorry.

Locking his eyes with the now frozen Roswyn, he spoke in a soft voice.

You must have suffered a lot because of me all this time, right?

Frey.

You no longer have to put up with the Empires top scoundrel and loser like me bothering you, making you disgusted anymore. You wont have to go through the trouble of entertaining someone you dislike.

.

I can no longer reveal my true feelings to you, for I fear that doing so would shatter my own heart and become a burden on you

After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence between them.

Then

Wait

What now?

Frey asked with a deeply furrowed brow. It was her third time blocking him from boarding the carriage.

W-who are those women?

What?

Those women behind you.

To Freys inquiry, Roswyn repeated the question.

What is their identity?

She had seen Lulu always clinging to him recently, but today, there was Irina with him.

The presence of those two came as a surprising revelation to Roswyn.

Roswyn firmly believed that there would be no one who would genuinely like someone foolish, pathetic, and scoundrel like Frey.

It was because of this belief that she thought even if such a situation were ever to occur to her, he would become lonely without receiving love from anyone, and would eventually return to her with his ears drooping like a drenched puppy.

Lulu and Irina?

But today, her last piece of assurance had been shattered mercilessly.

Lulu has been employed by me for a long time as a servant, and Irina is the same. Its just a simple relationship like that. You dont have to care about something like this

Though Freys explanation was calm, the gazes and expressions of Lulu and Irina in the carriage behind him dripped with superiority and mockery as they stared at Roswyn.

..

Ah.

It was unmistakably the look of females who had taken possession of a male that others had been playing with.

What are you doing, Roswyn?

Freys words snapped Roswyn out of her daze.

Uh, Frey. Can we talk for a moment? Just the two of us. There seems to be a misunderstanding

Im busy right now. Theres a place I have to go.

Just wait for a moment. Please, just a moment

Roswyn herself couldnt explain why she had been keeping him out of the carriage.

Youre acting like this because you might not know about this. Those women Oh?

Soon, something seized her attention and Roswyn widened her eyes.

W-what is that, Frey?

A glint flashed on Freys left ring finger as the sunlight caught it.

A-a ring? Youre wearing a ring? Why is it there?

With her left hand outstretched, she lowered her head to examine it, confusion growing across her features.

T-this.

He immediately replied to her in a calm voice.

You dont need to know.

The ring on your left ring finger that

Ive said you dont need to know. Cant you understand that?

However, when Roswyn didnt relent, Frey raised his voice and pulled his hand away.

Could it be an engagement ring?

Huff.

Her question drew a sigh from Frey, and he finally answered her.

Yes, its an engagement ring.

W-w-with whom

With whom? Of course, its with Serena.

..!

Upon hearing those words, Roswyns eyes widened in shock.

B-but youve been cursing Serena in front of me every day

You know what?

In response to her, Frey started speaking while caressing the ring.

Until now, I wanted to wear this ring with you.

What?

Its disgusting, right? I must have misinterpreted your intention. You probably didnt even want to think about it.

W-wait, just a moment.

But since Ive given up on you, to continue the lineage of the Starlight family, I have no choice but to marry Serena. After all, Clana hates me, so I have no other option.

Wait

Roswyn urgently reached out to Frey.

It seems like you still dont understand.

Frey, who had withdrawn his hand a step back from her touch, spoke in a low voice.

I no longer like you.

Ah

Every time I see you, it feels like my heart is breaking. Therefore, I dont want to see your face anymore.

Understood? I wont harm you anymore. Thank you for all this time, Roswyn.

Wait

In order to save you no, this is the best way for both of us. So, I wont look for you again.

Eventually, with that final blow, Frey slowly boarded the carriage.

I-I said, lets have a talk! Where are you going?

Seeing him go, Roswyn unconsciously shouted.

Dont go!

..

And then, there was a moment of silence.

Talk?

As Lulu and Irina stealthily approached Frey with uncertain gazes, Frey, who was standing between them, glanced at Roswyn, who was outside the carriage.

Talk

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke with a dark voice.

If you really want to talk about feelings, come find me with the flowers I gave you.

What?

And then, the carriage slowly moved forward.

If you dont do that, I dont think Ill ever want to meet you face to face anymore.

With those words, Frey left the Starlight Mansions garden in the carriage.

..

Roswyn, who stood still in that spot, fell silent for a while.

Ha.

As the carriage disappeared, she began to mutter with a baffled expression.

Am I just being pushed away? B-by Frey of all people?

This is ridiculous. Who does he think he is? He is just someone who always follows me all around like a puppy, and now he

At first, it was a mix of anger and embarrassment.

Push me away Why

As time passed, Roswyns voice started trembling more and more.

W-what the hell are those women Theres no way. I was the only one showing interest in Frey

W-well, thats right. Go ahead. Do you think I would even care about it? I I already have the Hero by my side. I would never cherish you

Like that, she muttered alone in front of the mansions yard.

Never.

Suddenly, with a vacant expression, she said that.

Just for someone like Frey It doesnt matter either way

And from that moment, Roswyns voice completely changed.

W-what is this What is it

Completely bewildered, Roswyn started muttering while sitting in her place.

Disgusting I feel strange. Why? Why? It doesnt matter anyway, right? It was just Frey, whom I detested so much. And he has finally left on his own

Roswyn muttered something as she felt the intensifying sunlight and the chilling breeze contrasting in the courtyard.

As the sun grew stronger, in contrast, the chilly wind swept through the courtyard.

Jealous?

Suddenly, she remembered the words the mysterious detective at the detective agency said.

Me? Jealous because of Frey?

Roswyn mumbled as she slowly rose from her seat.

No way, that cant be

She denied it verbally, but her complexion continued to darken as she began to break out in a cold sweat.

E-even if its not jealousy this feeling

Then, she completely stood up like that.

I-Isnt this what I wanted from the start I might have been a bit excessive and that wimp might end up being used by those foolish kids

Saying so, she slowly began to walk outside the mansion.

T-thats right, flowers. I only need to come again while bringing flowers to have a talk with him. We cant afford to lose a VIP client like this. This is totally not out of jealousy.

Despite no one listening, Roswyn continued muttering as she headed outside.

Wait.

As she abruptly halted her steps, memories of all the flowers he had given her flooded back.

Uh

All the flowers she had burned with her solar mana as soon as Frey left or had given as gifts to her employee or carelessly discarded in the warehouse or trash cans.

Grind.

She had stood frozen in place for a while, anxiously grinding her teeth because of those memories. However, eventually, she moved her steps again and thought to herself.

Its okay, no problem. I can just find them at the guild.

Something went terribly wrong, but she believed she could turn the situation around.

If I search it properly, there should be at least one left.

She headed towards the waiting carriage outside the mansion.

Imagine how many flowers I have received from him. I even received one as a gift just a week ago, didnt I?

Despite it being early, the sunlight was unusually strong today.

..Ah.

As she walked through the bright sunlight, Roswyn suddenly recalled the golden flowers she had ruthlessly trampled, the one Frey gave.

..

The memories surged right before she got on the carriage.

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