Before the sky turned completely black, Cassian took me home with my arms full of different things..
No matter how I thought about it, my conscience hurt if I considered this day as extra work.
“Your Highness.”
“Today's work isn't over yet, Rose.”
“…Ian, I really like my salary, but I don’t think I should accept it today.”
In addition, the things Cassian gave me were all of great value...
We visited all the famous shops in the capital.
We even stopped at a dress store in the middle of the place, despite my looks of wonder why he was doing that..
“I want to give my wife a special dress, but she is so frugal that she always runs away.”
He ordered several custom-made dresses, from evening dresses to going out dresses.
How will I be able to wear such things?
“…I thought you would like them, Rose.”
For some reason, he seemed disappointed by my reaction...
“But this is work-”
“It was business, Rose.
I wanted to see the capital's famous shopping district with my own eyes at least once.”
“You're really good at making excuses.”
If that was truly the goal, he could have said so from the beginning.
Maybe it's just my feeling, but Cassian gave the impression today that he simply wanted to see what I liked...
Usually, my workaholic boss would feed me expensive meals or give me extra bonuses as work intensified.
But today was too ambiguous to be considered compensation for hard work.
“Was it difficult?”
"not really."
Honestly, after I left the restaurant, I had fun with him too..
Shopping with someone else's money was a lot of fun, but I felt a little uncomfortable...
"Then it wasn't meaningless.
I just…"
“I just wanted to give you something other than work.”
You gave me many other things before..
Such as salary, gifts, and delicious meals.
When I looked at him with a silent face, Cassian smiled and suddenly approached me.
With a soft touch, he kissed my right cheek and pulled away.
“This is a repayment for something from the past.”
"…What?"
“Okay, good night, Rose.”
He disappeared into the carriage, looking content with his downcast eyes.
Did he eat something strange today?
Why does he act this way?
Repayment for something from the past?
He even left me a mystery...
I felt that I had been somewhat robbed, so I covered my right cheek with my palm and watched the direction of the carriage that Cassian rode in.
'...You should have taken me there, Ian.'
The carriage was headed towards the Western District, not the central shopping district we had been circling all day.
Really, what's up with this person?
After spending a weekend full of puzzles, I went to Cassian's office to start working, as if trying to get rid of my complicated feelings..
As usual, Cassian was calmly processing the documents, wearing a comfortable shirt.
In this truly stressful and reassuring daily scene, I sat down comfortably to start reporting the day's schedule.
“There is no special schedule in the morning today, and at 2 p.m., there are knights-”
“Before that, Rose.”
"Yes?"
But as soon as I started reporting the schedule, Cassian interrupted me and said...
“Are we getting engaged?”
"…What?"
“I said, ‘Shall we get engaged?’”
“...Have you got a girlfriend?
When should I make a date-”
Faced with this unexpected topic that came out of nowhere, I automatically prepared to take notes as an aid..
Has Cassian got a girlfriend?
There wasn't even a hint of it.
So was last week a kind of rehearsal for a date?
However, as if to crush the evasively remembered thoughts, Cassian continued
“I don’t have a girlfriend, I’m asking you.”
"What?"
“I would like you and me to be engaged.”
What kind of blue lightning is this?
Over the past year, while I've been working as Cassian's assistant, I think I've become pretty good at understanding his intentions...
But now, I couldn't understand at all.
“…Your Highness, I’m asking just in case.”
"Yes."
“We weren't in a romantic relationship, were we?”
I was afraid I would be too immersed in work to say “yes” when he asked me to be lovers.
Although I was obsessed with work, I don't think I lost my mind to that extent.
“If you say we are, you seem to believe it, and it makes me want to lie, Rose.”
“…This is a relief.
I thought I had committed a great insult to Your Highness.”
“Why would this be an insult?”
“You and I are lovers?” Cassian muttered, speaking in a somewhat dissatisfied manner.
No matter how foolish I was sometimes, I knew that Cassian Artiz had no personal feelings for me..
It wasn't a doubt, it was the truth.
He treated me like a precious little sister.
“Please explain properly, Your Highness.”
“I wanted to make you a little excited, but I think it failed.”
If that was what you meant, you would have fooled me even more.
When he saw my face that looked tired from this, Cassian raised his arms in surrender and said,
"Okay, Rose.
You're right.
We need a little disguise."
“Why?”
“I thought she was in a state of introspection, but the Empress was spreading rumors in the kingdom according to her whims.”
"What?"
“Saying that they should arrange a royal marriage with the precious princess of the kingdom.”
My eyes opened wide when I heard those words.
The effects of the destruction of the original story were evident here as well.
The Empress's attempt to l Cassian as a son-in-law to the princess heiress to the kingdom was clearly a story that came out after the middle of the novel.
And now this?
“But you know, my brother already has a fiancée, but I don’t.
Well, it’s not like me and my brother are the only princes.”
I remember that the Third Prince was still about sixteen years old...
The princess of the kingdom was older than Cassian.
“But I have no intention of ever leaving the Empire.”
“Did you call me on the weekend to prepare for today?”
"...It wasn't like that.
But if thinking that way makes you more comfortable, Rose, so can you."
Cassian made a lonely face, so I shook my head.
“But Your Highness, there aren’t many other fiancées besides me, right?”
Even with some interference from the Empress, contrary to the original story, Cassian had built up his standing enough to be able to make an arranged marriage to a young lady from a respectable family.
"It would be disrespectful to the other party.
When I have no such intentions."
“Do you want to enter into a contract?”
“Hmm, something like that.”
Cassian told me with an amused face.
“You don't have those feelings for me.”
“Neither do you, Your Highness.”
“Okay, this is perfect.”
Cassian said then quickly began writing the documents.
No, even if I love money, being attached to it is one thing...
Even if it was a contractual engagement, it would be publicly known to those around us, so dealing with the consequences of breaking it would be very upsetting.
Honestly, I don't have much interest in marriage, but I don't want to create something that my parents will worry about either..
But Cassian's hand stopped faster than my thoughts could finish.
“What about these conditions?”
50 gold per event as my fiancée.
All necessary items provided.
Three times the current overtime salary.
No amount is deducted from current salary during working hours as a fiancée
My eyes, which were about to refuse while remembering the original story, suddenly widened...
This is Satan's temptation.
It's like ling my soul.
I should refuse, but...
I must say no!
Courage to-
“Mmm, if that's not enough.”
Every time you are mentioned as my fiancée in articles, 30 gold will be added.
Additional 100 gold coins for displaying photos.
Separate retirement bonus at the end of the contract period.
Satan, as if reading my hesitation, relentlessly added a few more conditions and placed them before my eyes.
Seriously, this crazy president...
She looked at Cassian with a blank, stunned face.
I thought he would naturally have an expression full of confidence.
“Is this still not enough?”
Instead, he seemed to be desperately pleading with me.
“Only you can save me, Rose.”
Just act arrogant as usual!
Hence, no matter how good the circumstances were, I was planning to refuse, saying that I could not interfere with someone else's marriage prospects.
But when he makes that face, since I have memories of cheering for him in my past life…..
“I will take full responsibility so that you do not get into trouble even after the contract expires.”
Finally, Cassian added that content to the contract and placed it in front of me.
“Please.”
Even saying such words...
Oh really!
I sighed deeply.
Well, save someone and make money too..
Thanks to this, I can pay off my debts faster by about 5 years.
Okay, I'll do that.
I closed my eyes tightly and signed the contract.
A strong feeling of déjà vu hit me in my mind.
Well, everyone makes the same mistakes!
whatever!
Whether I fell in love with the money, or with the absurdly desperate expression on Cassian's face, I don't know...
Even when I finished signing, I wasn't sure of myf.
When I handed the necklace to Cassian with a bitter face, he laughed softly and grabbed my left hand.
“It's like I kidnapped you.”
“I think that's true.”
It feels like my personal time is being hijacked, Your Highness.
“Is this like a chain that binds you?”
He made a weird face when he raised my hand
To walk slowly.
There was already a ring on my left ring finger.
An exquisitely crafted ring with a noticeably oversized diamond
“Of course, this is yours too.”
He gently kissed my ring finger and smiled sweetly.
I couldn't smile..
This crazy prince must be worth more than a thousand gold coins.
Who gives an expensive ring like that to a fake fiancée?!