Since that day, I have been greeting Ms.
Wilhelmina with a high-class business smile whenever I see her.
“I heard that you frequently visit the palace for His Highness the Third Prince who is unfamiliar with the kingdom.
You are much kinder than I thought, I would really like to learn from you.”
"That's not...!
I won't be fooled by this!"
Of course, Mrs.
Wilhelmina treated me with her spikes raised like a hedgehog.
"Would you like to have lunch together, ma'am?
His Highness Prince Cassian will join us."
Another day, I tried to plan to show the devil's true nature and break her illusion.
"You!
Are you making fun of me now because you won over me?!
Are you overestimating yourf because your social advancement is about to happen?
Do you think I will fall in love with you just because you are beautiful?!"
Wow, she even used the term social progress.
I was impressed, Velma.
Although the lunch invitation unfortunately fell through,
I thought she would definitely take the bait when I mentioned Cassian..
However, I was not discouraged, and continued flirting,
“The white lace ribbon I decorated today suits you perfectly.
I heard that the wisteria flowers of the Duke’s family are very beautiful, but after seeing you, I don’t think they are necessary to highlight your beauty.”
“Miss Salish, do you really know nothing about etiquette?!”
“Since I'm just a baron's daughter, there are a lot of things I don't know, ma'am.”
“That's not what I meant!
You're His Highness the Second Prince's assistant!
You shouldn't say you're deficient!”
She even got angry on my behalf.
How could she be so kind and caring?
After repeating this several times, for some reason she started avoiding eye contact even when I was just giving her my practical smile.
Really, what is this bitterness?
I felt sad because it seemed to me that Mrs.
Wilhelmina was treating me like a demon to be avoided.
“…I'm a little jealous, Rose.”
"What?"
Moreover, Cassian said something strange, which made me even sadder.
“Or are you trying to relieve the pressure on Mrs.
Wilhelmina?”
'What nonsense are you talking about!'
How could that be possible?
Mrs.
Wilhelmina is like a ray of light in my dreary and boring working life.
She is a very beautiful character who was responsible for the healing parts even in the original novel which was based on a depressing story!
While I was looking at Cassian with resentment that it was all his fault, I heard a short click of the tongue...
“I wish my fiancée would say some of those sweet words to the young woman to me, too.”
A frown appeared on his face...
After seeing all kinds of things over the past year, are you asking me to pinch myf to give you compliments right now?
This is called workplace harassment, Your Highness.
Wilhelmina Lopez was very confused.
A few days before her return to the country, she heard the news of Cassian's engagement, and she was so distraught that she fell silent and remained bedridden for several days.
As a result, she skipped the appointment given to her by her father, Duke Lopez, and was reprimanded upon her arrival.
“Do you plan to keep going after someone who is already connected, Velma!
Do you plan to keep discrediting the family like this?”
Wilhelmina found this very heartbreaking.
She couldn't bear to see the Marquis's daughter, whom she had known since childhood, act so arrogantly and proudly after becoming the first prince's fiancée.
Even at the little tea party held after her return, she acted as if she had become the prince's wife.
“After His Highness the Third Prince holds his national wedding, it will be my turn soon, right?
I feel very remorseful when I think that there is not much time left to live comfortably like now.”
She said this while looking directly at Wilhelmina.
As if she wanted to say that this was the only time Wilhelmina could act superior to her because she was a duchy princess.
This is what made Wilhelmina want Cassian even more.
Of course, it was true that she fell in love with him when she saw him during the victory parade.
This sharp expression, which had not been erased by the harsh effects of the battlefield, nor did it show much joy in victory, was strongly imprinted on the mind of the teenage Wilhelmina.
So, she steeled herf and summoned Roita to the Imperial Palace.
But as soon as she saw it, she felt somewhat weak.
Despite being just a baron's daughter, and despite all the rumors about their engagement being for political reasons,
Her chestnut hair seemed to be filled with autumn light, and her green eyes seemed to be filled with deep understanding.
Even though she was wearing a very simple dress, Wilhelmina thought she looked beautiful and elegant.
She didn't feel even the slightest bit inferior to her, so Wilhelmina couldn't say the bad things she was planning to say.
This is a lot..
This is a lot..
She hoped that Roita would feel a little upset, as much as she felt wronged.
To herf who was trying to say bad things.
“Ma’am, you are really kind and brilliant.”
Why did she give such a warm smile and say things that Wilhelmina had never heard before, even from her own family...?
She couldn't understand it at all, so she started to want to avoid Roita a little..
Oh my beautiful light!
I mean, without seeing Lady Wilhelmina, the day of the princess's welcome party would have arrived...
'I thought it would be nice to shower her with more compliments.'
Because I had to appear as the second prince's fiancée at the princess's reception, I was putting more effort into my appearance than at the previous party.
The maids hired by Cassian turned me from a mere baron's daughter into a real prince's fiancée.
The dress was the one I ordered during our shopping trip together in the capital's central shopping district, but I found it too luxurious.
This extravagance in decorating a dark blue dress with shiny pearls and diamonds...
Even though I thought I should wear this much given the occasion, I still felt a little embarrassed.
However, my feelings of surprise rose when Cassian brought a jewelry box...
“…Your Highness, are you in your right mind?”
“I really like that about you, Rose.”
Do you mean my rudeness?
No, this time even I, with a little courage like a plate of soy sauce, had to speak up...
“…Did you forget the contents of the contract?”
This can't be it, this workaholic...
“Of course not, I remember that well.”
Cassian smiled and calmly placed a beautifully crafted diamond necklace around my empty neck.
“Oh my God, why are you about to cry?”
“Of course I want to cry.”
This scammer says everything I wear will be mine...
How can I take this if you give me something like this!
“I expected my personal possessions to increase, but if you bring me the late Empress’s jewels, I will have no choice but to return them.”
“Why?”
When Cassian saw my tear-filled face, he carefully held my hand, looking puzzled.
“I'm giving it to you because it's you.”
“Your Highness, are you testing my conscience now?”
Even though my voice was full of anger, Cassian didn't correct himf.
Rather, he kissed the ring he had given me before and shook his head.
"No, that's right.
Who else would I let wear my mother's jewelry but Rose?"
His purple eyes were looking at me inteny.
He looked like he wanted to play a joke, but there was also some desperate honesty hidden somewhere..
“My mother also wants me to give it to Rose.”
I swallowed for a moment...
I had to act carelessly, as usual.
Cassian Artiz was truly exceptional, if you showed him even the slightest weakness, he would immediately try to eat it..
“…Okay, I’ll borrow it until the contract is up.”
I was able to answer..
This is his main question, I should not confirm his suspicions.
He must not be sure that I am the fake Velma he met in his childhood..
No, it shouldn't be like that!
Cassian smiled crookedly at my nervous response.
“You're really cruel, Rose.”
Fortunately, he didn't try to get anything else out of me.
Instead, he extended his arm, which was now somewhat familiar.
It's time to go to the party.
As soon as Cassian and I entered, the nobles' gazes rained down on us.
Most of them seemed cautious.
Well, that's understandable.
Nearly half of their accounts have been emptied directly or indirectly by Cassian and me over the past year.
I would avoid us too if I were them..
'I think it's better than being seen as easy targets like in the original work.'
It's a bit unfortunate though...
The more gossip there is, the easier it is to collect various pieces of evidence.
Everyone lowers their voices as soon as Cassian and I are near them.
'I feel like we're at a disadvantage.'
Should we modify the contract a little?
'Not this!'
Cassian sees me as someone who is really obsessed with money.
Well, that's not entirely untrue!
“There's no better place than a party to collect different information, but it's like there's a barrier around us.”
Cassian looked at me with a gentle smile at my words.
“Rose, should I be jealous of work too now?”
Oh, you should really be thankful this isn't the office.
I could barely put a business smile on my face, reminding myf that this was a concert hall...
“Don't say such terrible things.”
“I should go get you some wine, Rose.”
Cassian answered as he squeezed my hand before letting go, in response to my words that I said through clenched teeth.
Thanks to that, the demon that was keeping people away from me left my side for a moment...
While I was waiting for the wine, it was sure to be C
Choose what exactly suits my taste, at that moment,
“Mrs.
Salis-!”
With urgent and clear sound.
flow-!
I heard the sound of the liquid being poured, then I turned my back.
“…Lady Wilhelmina?”
The moment I turned around, I saw Wilhelmina covered in purple liquid.
It seems our positions have changed a little, ma'am...