The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 139

The days she had expected to be difficult passed by unexpectedly peacefully. Although the castle folk were initially wary of the king’s man who had unexpectedly stayed behind, it didn’t take long for them to reclaim their daily routines and return to normal.

 

“Please have some of this, Milady.”

 

“I’m full right now. You eat it, Rose.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Of course. I’m going to leave some anyway.”

 

As soon as the permission left her lips, Rose’s face brightened. She shyly popped the snack into her mouth. Seeing her chew like a little hamster stashing food in its cheeks, Shailoh smiled warmly.

 

“You seem to be in an even better mood today than yesterday.”

 

“The festival day is coming up soon, after all. That’s why I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Nodding, Shailoh glanced out the window. The cloudless, vivid blue winter sky caught her eye. “That’s true. It’s only held once every three years, so everyone is looking forward to it.”

 

The winter festival held in the North once every three years was a celebration to honor the goddess who had revealed the location of the castle to the first Duke Yesiol. It was an event where a woman dressed beautifully in pure white from head to toe would disguise herself as the goddess and board a palanquin. Dozens of people would then carry the palanquin, parading all the way around the outer castle to give thanks for the peaceful three years that had passed and to bless the three years ahead. However, the festival’s true climax came right after that.

 

With a dreamy look in her eyes, Rose pressed her palms together and murmured, “They say that lovers who join hands at this festival stay together for a long, long time. They’ll never break up.”

 

“Rose, do you have someone you like, too?” Intrigued, Shailoh gently probed, causing Rose’s face to instantly flush red.

 

“N-No! I don’t!”

 

Avoiding her gaze, Rose secretly glanced at Caleb, who was standing a little distance away. It was true that she had once harbored a brief crush on ‘Cay,’ a person she now could neither dare mention aloud nor meet eyes with. But the moment she learned his true identity, the shock had been so great that it felt as though all the blood had drained from her body. That innocent little crush had vanished without a trace.

 

Fortunately, after that first day, which had felt like walking on thin ice, the situation Rose had feared so deeply did not occur. The two always maintained a proper distance. Unless it was absolutely necessary, her lady did not speak to him. In contrast to her lady’s indifference, the turquoise eyes watching her lady were dark, deep, and persistent. It was a gaze akin to a long-starved beast staring at a piece of dripping, juicy meat right in front of its eyes.

 

In the middle of this bizarre balance, Rose was the only one tiptoeing around nervously. As if oblivious to Rose’s complex emotions, Shailoh let out a sly grin and teased her.

 

“From the looks of it, I don’t think it’s ‘nobody.’ You’ve been on good terms with the gardener lately; isn’t it him?”

 

“I-I don’t know!” Pouting slightly at the mischievous question, Rose quickly changed the subject. “Anyway, Milady. Why didn’t you accept His Grace’s proposal? You would suit the role well.”

 

“Well.”

 

What Declen had proposed was none other than asking her to take on the role of the goddess for this festival. However, Shailoh had refused immediately without even pretending to deliberate.

 

“I’m still not familiar with this place. I don’t even know what the previous festivals were like either. I felt it would be too overwhelming to take on such a major responsibility for a festival I’m experiencing for the first time.”

 

Shailoh spoke calmly, but in truth, she had wanted to do it. She wanted to feel that thrilling, spine-tingling rush she used to feel on stage once again. However, she felt that a woman like her shouldn’t hold such an important role. It would better suit the festival’s meaning if a flawless, noble woman took it on instead.

 

“Still, I’m sure all the people of the territory wanted you to take that role, Milady.”

 

While Rose muttered with a crestfallen face, oblivious to Shailoh’s true feelings, Caleb, who was standing three or four steps away, suddenly moved. Startled by his unexpected movement, both women froze in tension. But Caleb simply reached out and took the teacup Shailoh was holding.

 

“Ah…” Only then did Shailoh realize the situation. Without realizing it, she had been on the verge of spilling hot tea onto her own lap. “T-Thank you.”

 

Instead of a verbal reply, Caleb gave a slight nod and returned to his spot. The easygoing, peaceful atmosphere turned awkward, and a heavy silence descended upon the room. It was then. Someone knocked on the door from outside.

 

“Excuse me. Is Rose inside by any chance?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“The butler is calling for her. May I take her for a moment?”

 

“…Go ahead.” Shailoh wanted to say no, but doing so would make it seem like she was intentionally avoiding being left alone with Caleb.

 

Before Shailoh could even finish her forced nod, Rose, who had been nervously reading the room between the two, stood up from her seat. “Then I’ll be back shortly.”

 

“Yes.”

 

At first, Rose had hated the thought of leaving the two alone and had tried her best to stick by Shailoh’s side. But as time passed, she realized that Caleb meant her no harm. She had realized this during a moment when Shailoh was taking a brief nap on the couch.

 

Rose had been sitting opposite her doing embroidery when she, too, had dozed off. She could never forget the sight that greeted her when she opened her eyes again. The man was wrapping a blanket over the shoulders of the soundly sleeping woman. His gaze was so desperately tender that it couldn’t possibly be any more so. Remembering how he didn’t even dare to make a sound, terrified that even a slight noise might wake her, still made Rose’s heart ache even now.

 

Ever since that day, Rose had unknowingly begun to hope, little by little, that the two would reconcile. Although she didn’t know exactly what had happened between them or what conversations had taken place, when they stood side by side, they were a pair that couldn’t possibly look more suited for one another. Even if she felt a little sorry for Sir Kianan…

 

Steeling her resolve, Rose offered a slight bow to Caleb as well before leaving the room. The moment she opened the door and left, silence settled over the room once again. After remaining silent for a long while, Shailoh slowly broke the silence.

 

“Sit down.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t your legs hurt from standing all day? Sit.”

 

“If you allow it.”

 

Caleb responded softly, stepped forward, and sat across from her. Shailoh met his eyes, which looked at her as if she were the only thing in his world.

 

“Confess. What did you do to Rose?”

 

“What?”

 

“What on earth did you do for the way Rose looks at you to change lately?”

 

That gaze that had previously held nothing but wariness had softened at some point, becoming noticeably gentle. Rose had even occasionally left the two of them alone under the pretext of going to fetch something, though she never said outright why. Shailoh suppressed her confusion and anger at Rose’s obvious behavior, which seemed to indicate that she wanted the two of them to get along again.

 

“If you threatened Rose with something, or coaxed her—”

 

“I never did anything like that.” Before she could even finish her sentence, Caleb denied Shailoh’s words. “We’ve barely even had a conversation. There’s no way I would.”

 

“…Is that true?” Shailoh’s eyes narrowed.

 

At her reaction, Caleb asked back. “Do I have any reason to lie to you?”

 

“…”

 

That was true. Caleb had already laid out all his cards, exposing himself completely by accepting Shailoh’s somewhat humiliating proposal. If this sight were seen back at the royal castle, Shailoh would be dragged straight to the execution block. But regardless, here in the North, Shailoh was his master.

 

“Whatever the case, don’t get close to Rose.”

 

“Are you jealous?” Caleb sneered, letting out a faint, dry laugh.

 

Angered, Shailoh retorted. “Of course not. Rose is far too good for a man like you. The reason I’m saying this is—” Because it feels like Rose wants you and me to work things out. Unable to bring herself to say those last words aloud, she swallowed them. “Anyway, just do as I say. You promised to obey my orders well from now on, didn’t you?”

 

“I shall.” Caleb nodded, answering plainly.

 

“Good. Then you may—”

 

“In exchange, I have one thing, too.”

 

Shailoh, who was about to tell him to return to his private room, froze at his following words.

 

“Take on the role of the festival’s goddess, Shailoh.”

 

“What… did you say?”

 

“Just what I said.”

 

“Right now…” She was so flabbergasted that the words wouldn’t even come out properly. Mouth opening and closing a few times, Shailoh barely managed to speak. “Are you in your right mind? Do you really think you have the authority to tell me to do that?”

 

She was the master, and he was the servant. Their master-servant relationship was clear.

 

“Wasn’t it a male dog that you called me, Sasha?” Taking a sip of the tea from the cup Rose hadn’t even touched, Caleb continued nonchalantly. “A dog doesn’t obey its master without food.”

 

“…Then just go back to the royal castle.”

 

“Are you planning to abandon me? After taming me?” Furrowing his brows, Caleb quietly warned Shailoh, who was rendered speechless by his sheer absurdity. “A stray dog easily turns into a wolf.”

 

Chills ran down her spine, causing Shailoh to wrap her arms around herself. She was reminded of the wolf’s glaring eyes that had watched the humans back in the shepherd’s hut. Those eyes overlapped with the turquoise eyes in front of her right now. It was a madness that looked as though it would devour her whole at any moment.