“It's been a long time, Princess Wilhelmina.”
Cassian, who smiled softly at me, returned to his usual face and gave Velma a formal salute.
At that moment I was nervous.
I'm afraid my boss will steal my girlfriend's heart and take her away from me.
Isn't Wilhelmina Lopez famous for her unrequited love for Prince Cassian, both in the original story and in reality?
'I can't lose my friend after all the difficulty I went through to win her heart...!'
When she thought of this, she looked at Velma with a face full of worry.
“I see, is this the first time since you returned home that I greeted your father briefly, and did not have the opportunity to greet Your Highness.”
“Yes, princess.”
There was no redness like ripe fruit on any part of Velma's face.
Since I was also in front of Velma, my facial muscles weren't as relaxed as they were when I was alone with Cassian.
However, Velma asked me if I was worried in my heart or if it was just her guessing.
“…Are you worried about His Highness Prince Cassian?”
"Yes?
Oh no-"
Velma, I never doubted you for a moment!
“Don't worry, I'm the one who brought you here.”
What?
For some reason, at the same time as she said, Velma hid me behind her and asked Cassian.
“May I ask what you are doing here, Your Highness?”
“I'm on official business.”
He had a rather stern face, but I noticed that...
He finds this situation interesting at the moment.
I can't let Velma's cotton candy get eaten by that demon...
“Your Highness, of course this is something you can handle on your own, right?
It has also come to my attention that you have granted your assistant, Roita, a leave of absence.”
“Of course, just...”
Cassian's face softened a little and he spoke to me gently.
“I would like to make a request to the princess.”
"Yes?"
“I will be going to the capital in a few days, and even though I am the prince, I want to spend my time outside of work on a special schedule.”
When Velma heard these words, instead of showing any anticipation, her face became stern, as if she had met a great enemy.
“I have plans too, Your Highness.”
“So, I ask the Princess for understanding.
And the Princess knows that this is not very rude.”
“…Is a fiancé more important than a friend?”
No, not me..
When I return to the capital, my boss's face, which I will see with great fatigue, cannot be my priority!
She made a very dismissive face towards Velma.
'For me, being a fiancée is also work.'
I really used every muscle in my face to express my position, but Velma spoke before she could understand me...
“We can't help it.
It was a very beautiful time.”
Velma nodded, with a sad expression on her face, saying that she would leave the matter.
Velma, don't be so sad...
We were just on a date, can't I do something for you like this?
With a bitter face, I turned my head from Velma to Cassian.
“I'll look forward to dinner, Rose.”
Only my boss, who read my facial expressions well and figured out the meaning, was smiling like a winner.
…Yes, three days was a long break.
I just gave up...
“…but I’m happy.”
"What?"
After entering the brunch shop with a simple atmosphere and sitting down, Velma opened her mouth as if she was sighing.
“I was very worried about your letter and the rumors I heard.”
Velma picked up the teapot that came out first and elegantly poured it into the teacup.
The red color and deep scent spread widely.
“Prince Cassian makes you suffer in order to achieve his goals.”
This is a really accurate assessment.
“But today, I don’t think that was really the case.”
Velma had a really sad face, but she also had a strangely excited look on her face..
“…Anyway, the article in the newspaper was true, wasn’t it?”
“Eh...”
“What I'm saying is that you and His Highness the Prince got engaged because you love each other.”
Why would you believe an article that no one else believed?
It's a good thing, considering the purpose of the sermon.
“I wasn't sure either, but after seeing you today, I understood why he came like this after not seeing you for a few days.”
“Oh…”
She looked at Velma with a puzzled expression
I was wondering what I would do if I told her the truth...
"Don't show that face.
I won't be a petty villain who steals her friend's leg."
Ah, the novel I recommended yesterday was like this...
My girlfriend steals my fiancé...
“On the contrary, seeing you and His Highness Prince Cassian facing each other erased all my remaining emotions.
I think it was just longing.”
Really, I'm happy that Velma escaped the clutches of Satan...
but… .
Why do I feel lonely?
I felt as if my younger sister—even though Velma was a year older than me—had graduated.
However, since I shouldn't have said this, I cut off the moist French toast that had been laid out in the meantime and put it in my mouth, to offset the bitter sweetness I felt.
“How are you, Rose?”
"Yes… ".
I answered my main question helplessly...
“You were smiling so well in front of the princess.”
“I have to do my job right.”
Cassian Artiz came to pick me up around evening, because he had asked permission from Princess Wilhelmina beforehand..
I really enjoyed my lunch time and afternoon walk with Velma.
The itinerary was comfortable and pleasing to the eyes and mouth, as if reminding you at every moment that the goal was to entertain onef..
Wilma had originally said that tonight she would take us to a restaurant that used only the freshest ingredients produced in the area.
She said menu changes are made by researching recipes at regular intervals, the plating is beautiful, and since the chef has worked at the Imperial Palace for decades, the food is quality assured.
'Haha, I feel like something that was given to me has been stolen.'
Everyone works to earn a living.
After crying internally, I let out a deep sigh and accepted reality.
There is no point in letting the past haunt you for too long.
Velma said she would reschedule our appointments before I returned to DC!
As expected, Princess Wilhelmina Lopez was an angel.
“I remember saying I would spend some private time with the princess.”
After giving me enough time to express my regret, Cassian slowly opened his mouth.
“…Are you leaving me much to do?”
“You lack so much confidence in me...why?”
I was surprised by Cassian's words and spoke to him with a straight face.
“Is it possible to put your hand on your heart and quietly remember the past?”
“I don't think there's anything in particular that might make my heart remember.”
“You even took me shopping under the pretext of work.”
“Wasn’t that preparatory work to make you my fiancée?”
Obviously what he said is true, but why do I feel like he's just keeping up with me?
This was true too..
But that's not a realistic amount of work.
I!
I just wanted to get out of work on time!
Of course, I never said anything like that in the first place when it seemed like it would be impossible to leave work on time no matter what.
“…Why are you so obnoxious?”
“I think Rose likes that about me.”
“You're really overconfident.”
“Being kind and full of a sense of justice, he does not sacrifice everyone around him to solve the problem according to his standards, saying that it is okay for him to suffer for a while.”
“Wouldn't you rather have someone weak and cunning than someone like this?”
Cassian grabbed my hand and looked at me with a strange look.
“That's true, but...”
Even as I pursed my lips, a shiver ran down my spine.
No matter how you look at it, you really do remember, right?
That was almost ten years ago, so it's not clear what I said, but it certainly felt like I was talking like that in front of Cassian, who was very excited..
“He won't remember anyway,” my half-wit said.
And if you remember, I want you with all my heart to live an easier life.
From the moment I stood in front of Cassian, I had stopped controlling my facial expressions a long time ago, so I thought my annoyance would be read through his eyes..
I would like to overcome this situation somehow but I had no confidence
“…What’s wrong with your expression?”
His hand raised mine and our fingers intertwined, before the back of my hand when I heard his words, and he looked at me with warm eyes.
“It's already been a year and a half since Rose has been by my side.”
Cassian smiled softly, as if he was asking me to relax.
“I guess I haven't yet been able to analyze Rose's taste in men.”
This is not the situation I thought it would be.
I was relieved when I heard what Cassian said, but at the same time, I let out an internal laugh...
“Analysis.”
"Yes."
When I said I didn't like it, I felt like he was being considerate by taking a step back and saying he wouldn't touch me anymore..
“…You really care about me.”
So I decided for now to accept this idea.
Because we both know that ill-considered decisions can destroy many things.
“Should I beg you to take care of me too?”
Cassian's soft smile made me act startled as usual.
But I also knew that I couldn't rely on the attention he gave for free.
Since he was also the seed I planted, I put it in my heart that I should prepare and repay his kindness step by step.