I Became The Secretary Of A Tyrant

Chapter 21

***

The coffee tasted worse than he had expected. Rosaline, who enjoyed the bitter and acidic taste of the brewed liquid, gave him a strange look.

Soon realizing his mistake, Anthony quickly covered his mouth with his hands. It wasn’t polite to the person who recommended it. “I’m sorry. It’s good, really.”

Gulping it down, he finished his coffee in an instant, forcing out a laugh even though the unnatural wrinkles on his face clearly exposed his lie.

“Pffft.” Rosaline laughed. “I’ll let you try something else.”

She grinned and ordered a glass of warm milk for Anthony. It was considered rude to order milk at a coffee shop, but the owner was willing to warm it up for Rosaline, who was a regular.

“How is that friend of yours?”

They exchanged light stories until the milk came out and became lukewarm. Anthony brought it up around the time Rosaline had finished her first cup of coffee and ordered another one.

“My friend?”

“Well, the one who felt maternal love for a man…”

“Oh, that one!” Rosaline was startled, but pretended to be calm. She had forgotten about that. “That friend… Why?”

“This is about you, isn’t it? Her story.”

Was Anthony supposed to be this sharp? Anthony was a character well-known for his density.

“I’m sorry, priest.” She looked down.

Whatever the situation, Rosaline deceived a reprimand from the temple. She doesn’t believe in God, but given the sentiment of the continent, she had committed a terrible offense. Rosaline looked at Anthony.

“I didn’t mean to receive an apology. I just wanted to be a little more useful if it’s the secretary’s job.”

“Help? You’ve helped enough! Thank you very much for your words.”

Luckily, Anthony was not too upset. Seeing that he was willing to help, he must have been genuinely worried about Rosaline.

“Well, I don’t know if it’s presumptuous, but human beings are always suffering from worldly desires and conflicts, and are lost in choices.”

Why was he suddenly talking about philosophy? Rosaline struggled to maintain her smile.

Anthony had a very serious look on his face. “If the secretary makes the wrong choice, oh, not to say that the secretary will do so, but perhaps. Humans are always under temptation… No, it’s not…”

He shut his mouth for a moment, perhaps because he kept stuttering over his words. He sighed after another minute. Rosaline was the party in question, but Anthony looked more distressed. Rosaline felt like she had to help him.

“You can feel free to tell me what you’re worried about, sir priest.”

She would handle it.

Anthony’s expression grew more determined. He let out a deep breath as if he had made up his mind. “Secretary, maternal affection is an infinite love, so there is a high possibility of bias. Excessive love can sometimes be poison that will spoil a child, and if you keep too far away, they will suffer from a lack of love for the rest of their life. You understand this, don’t you?”

A spoiled child, a lack of affection. Strangely, there was someone who vaguely came to mind.

“So, priest?”

His advice was something only professors in the Department of Early Childhood Education would hear.

“The most important role for parents is to know when to let go to give way to someone who will fill the void of life that parents can’t fill.” Anthony, who suddenly stopped talking, glanced around. He gripped the table and leaned over the table towards Rosaline. “The aristocrats surrounding His Majesty are searching for a noble daughter to be his companion.”

Anthony’s face, which always had a tender smile, was completely blank. He was serious.

Rosaline, on the other hand, laughed. The information he was divulging had already been circulating for several years. The nobles could not afford to leave the emperor single past his marriageable age.

“Ms. Rosaline, I dare say, from now on, you will be constantly shaken like a man on a boat, a rolling river. Your motherly feelings will tempt you to make the wrong decision.”

‘What is he talking about?’

Motherhood aside, Rosaline was about to get annoyed. The priest was startled and leaned back when he saw her expression harden.

“Oh, well, I’m sorry if I am rude.”

Anthony, who had been saying something about temptation, disappeared and returned to his old self.

“You mean, you’re worried that I might interfere with the emperor’s marriage?”

“That’s not it! It doesn’t matter to me who the emperor marries since it doesn’t have anything to do with the relationship of Berlos, that’s not what I’m worried about!” Anthony swallowed his words.

“What are you worried about?”

“That’s… Rosaline…” His body sagged and he had an enlightened expression on his face.

“Me?”

“Yes… I’m afraid Rosaline will be misled by her motherhood… I believe in Rosaline, but human love can obscure one’s judgement for a moment.”

Alas, Rosaline now understood what Anthony was saying.

So he was worried that she is going to interfere with Cahir’s marriage by acting as a mother-in-law to the woman who would be his partner?

Oh my goodness, did he think that her love for His Majesty was so strong that it would cloud her judgement? Did she look that dull to the people around her?

But she couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t happen.

Viscountess Verit, her mother, came to mind. The viscountess’ attitude towards Yuri, who married Roy and became his wife.

The lady, who was a solitary and virtuous woman, secretly gossipped about Yuri behind her back.

Anthony’s worries were valid. Rosaline’s relaxed smile collapsed.

Rosaline knew the end of those who dared harm his woman.

The time she spent beside Cahir to survive. It was natural for her to have some affection, but she couldn’t bring herself to die for him.

It really was time to leave his side.

“Thank you, priest.”

‘You just saved my life.’

Rosaline laughed bitterly.

***

“Welcome, my daughter!”

She hugged her as soon as she jumped off the carriage. Rosaline felt warm in the arms of Mrs. Verit. That’s what love was all about.

“Rosaline, your father’s waiting in the study. He has something to say. You must be tired, but would you like to talk with your father first?” Mrs. Verit ordered Rosaline’s luggage to be moved to her room.

“Yes, mother,” Rosaline said.

Mrs. Verit gently swept Rosaline’s hair, smiling brightly in response.

Rosaline knocked on the door in front of the study. A voice from the other side told her to come inside. As Rosaline opened the door, Viscount Verit, who was sitting at his desk, jumped up.

Viscount Verit’s eyes fell on Rosaline. He really had no choice. Rosaline, who was already lovely, has saved the family twice.

Rosaline protected the Verit family from falling into crisis. What would have happened if Rosaline hadn’t asked him to withdraw his investments from that gold mine fraud? He shuddered when recalling that. It was also fortunate that Rosaline volunteered to be the emperor’s secretary. If Roy had gone…

He trembled.

Rosaline was a smart, pretty, and humble child.

“Father?”

Rosaline was told that he had something to say, but Count Verit just stood there smiling at her.

“My daughter, you’ve become prettier since I’ve last seen you. Let’s have a cup of tea and talk.”