The silence stretched until one maid, older and braver than the rest, finally lowered her head and spoke in a trembling voice.

“Ma’am… sir hates disorder,” she whispered. “Everything must be in its place. He… he doesn’t tolerate even the smallest misarrangement.”

A few of the other maids glanced at her in horror, as though she had spoken a forbidden truth. Rose, however, only smirked, leaning further into the sofa.

“Disorder, huh?” Rose murmured, her tone more amused than surprised. “That explains why all of you looked like you’d seen a ghost when I moved a few plates earlier.”

The maids exchanged uneasy glances. One of them wrung her hands nervously and tried to warn her, “Ma’am, please… sir doesn’t like anyone breaking his rules. If he finds out, there could be consequences—”

Rose cut her off again, her eyes glinting with quiet defiance. “Consequences are for those who fear him.” She tilted her head, her smirk deepening. “I don’t fear Jeon Jungkook. He’s just a man… not a god.”

The maids froze, stunned by her boldness. No one in the mansion had ever dared to speak like that. For the first time, someone wasn’t just surviving under Jungkook’s shadow—she was daring to step into it.

“Oh, thanks for telling me,” Rose said casually, pushing herself up from the sofa. “Now I’m going to explore this mansion.”

And with that, she walked away gracefully, leaving every maid stunned and whispering in fear the moment she was out of sight.

Rose wandered from one room to another, taking in the grandeur of the Jeon mansion. Every corner was elegant, perfect, and suffocatingly precise—just like Jungkook. But even as she admired, her mind kept replaying that moment from last night—his forceful kiss, his smirk, his audacity.

Her fists clenched at her sides. He thinks he can take whatever he wants… she thought, eyes narrowing. No. I’ll make him regret it. I’ll take back the control he believes I don’t have.

By the time the sun dipped low, Rose already had the beginnings of a plan—one that would sting Jungkook’s pride more than any slap.

That evening, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the mansion. Jungkook stepped in, tall and commanding as ever. The maids immediately bowed their heads, trembling in their places.

He shrugged off his coat and loosened his tie, his deep voice filling the space. “Where is Rose?”

One maid hesitated, then answered softly, “S-Sir, she is in the room.”

At that, Jungkook’s lips curved into a knowing smirk. Without another word, he strode up the staircase, his steps heavy and confident, heading straight toward the bedroom where his bold little wife waited.

Jungkook pushed open the door to their room. As expected, Rose was there—sitting on the edge of the couch with one leg crossed over the other, scrolling through her phone as if she owned the place.

The sight of her so calm, so unbothered, made his smirk deepen. “Princess, didn’t you miss me?” he asked, shutting the door behind him and stepping inside.

Rose finally lifted her eyes, meeting his gaze without the slightest hint of nervousness. “Why should I?” she replied coolly. “I had a peaceful day without you.”

That caught him off guard for a split second, but then he chuckled, low and amused. “Peaceful? In my mansion? That’s interesting.”

“Yes,” she said boldly, standing up and walking past him toward the window. “I explored the mansion, enjoyed the silence, and had my breakfast without being suffocated by your presence. Quite an improvement, don’t you think?”

Jungkook tilted his head, watching her every move. Her tone was sharp, fearless, but her eyes didn’t reveal anything else—nothing about the maids, nothing about what she might know of his habits or obsessions.

“You’re getting comfortable here, aren’t you?” he asked, taking a slow step closer.

Rose turned back with a small smirk of her own. “Why not? Since I’m your wife now, I might as well get used to this place. But don’t misunderstand—I’ll live here on my own terms, not yours.”

His eyes darkened, but he couldn’t deny the thrill in his chest at her fire. She was challenging him, testing the very boundaries he had set for everyone else in his life. And unlike the maids, unlike anyone else, she wasn’t afraid.

“Careful, princess,” Jungkook said softly, a warning lacing his tone.

Rose held his gaze steadily, her voice calm but bold. “Don’t worry, Jeon Jungkook. I know exactly what I’m doing.”