While Atha was going out with the Crown Prince, and Almond's room was empty, Ruby was tidying the room while singing a little song.
There's still some time, can I take a short nap?
After carefully examining the room she had arranged, she was about to enter the side room designated for the rest of the servants, when someone came.
Knock—knock—
I shuddered.
Ruby knew instinctively as soon as she heard the knock on the door.
bribe.
But so fast?
Not a full day has passed since the Almond Room received its owner?
Honestly, this was her first time, so she felt nervous, but she couldn't escape.
[Medium] It must be reported in detail to the head maid, Mrs.
Watch, who is approaching Almond's room and what conversations are taking place.
This wasn't just a mission to report information about some people who spoke.
It was a mission to talk to “everyone” who approached Almond’s room.
That is, she has no right to decline the conversation based on time, place, or personal feelings.
Ruby took a deep breath to calm her nervousness, then carefully opened the door.
The visitor was the Blossom Mansion's candle manager, Mr.
Ferrell.
"...Mr.
Ferrell?
What's going on?"
Her voice was full of astonishment, and Ferrell smiled gently.
“Miss Ruby has gone up to the third floor.
Here, take this first.”
They were four long, thick cans.
"What is this?"
"Custom made candles mixed with precious essential oils.
Custom made candles for Almond's room.
This is a little gift for Miss Ruby."
Then place a small box on top of the tall candle boxes.
It was luxurious packaging at first glance, and Ruby knew this was a bribe.
“Why a gift?”
Ferrell held the door to Almond's room instead of Ruby, who had her hands full, and blinked.
"Every beautiful woman has the right to receive gifts.
Oh, by the way.
Who is the new character in the Almond Room?"
Ruby looked at the gift box with a troubled expression, then calmed her mind.
Now that I've started, I can't back out.
Ruby moistened her lips with glitter, and temporarily placed the candle boxes on the decorative cabinet by the door.
Then she opened the lid of the luxury box that was said to be her gift, and Ferrell, who was watching, immediately said.
“It's a sapphire.
It seems to suit Miss Ruby's blue eyes well.”
Ruby closed the lid of the case after checking the size of the ruby, and quickly put it in her pocket.
“...You said you were interested in the new character?
She is Miss Atha, the daughter of Count Hermann’s family.”
***
Atha stealthily withdrew her gaze from Cedric and spoke to Alisto.
“Your Highness, what about you?
Have you ever fallen in love?”
After talking about love, Saint obviously changed.
She blushed, added embarrassment to her voice, and the smile did not leave her lips.
It was a satisfying reaction.
With this state, I will soon be able to whisper love.
The corner of his mouth naturally rose.
“Me too for the first time”
The saint opened her eyes roundly.
"truly?"
Alisto nodded lightly.
"Yes.
Don't I look like it?"
The saint rolled her eyes as if her secrets had been revealed, and then she confessed.
“Um-yeah.
You seem very calm, I thought you had some experience.”
Alisto took a deep breath, then let it out slowly and smiled awkwardly.
“I'm glad I look calm.
I was worried I'd look sloppy because of the stress.”
Then she bit her lips and twitched the corner of her mouth.
Seeing the saint expressing excitement with all her body, he felt a dry throat.
Alisto took a sip of wine to moisten his throat.
Then when he put the cup down—
“What is this?”
The Saint's rechecked expression was strangely frozen.
Her gaze fixed on him was askew somewhere.
***
What is this?
Atha was thinking of something similar to Alisto.
Suddenly she felt a burning sensation in her face, so she withdrew her gaze and found Cedric staring at her.
If it had been just a passing glance, Atha would have passed it by.
The eyes are similar, they may temporarily meet.
The important thing is not that.
Why, why doesn't he look away?
The problem is that he looks at her nonstop.
Isn't it the first meeting?
Does he know that I was the meeting partner?
Why does he look like that?
Looking at a woman on a date like that, isn't it a challenge to the other man?
Atha suddenly felt threatened, so she quickly withdrew her gaze and swallowed.
Her timid little heart began to beat loudly.
If you think, Cedric was a pure, obedient man when Atha was in the palace, but he was cruel if she tried to escape or someone else interfered?
The original, manic Cedric ran through her mind.
While she was transfixed in her thoughts, a low voice suddenly came from in front.
A low, stable and gentle sound, which made it even more strange.
“Are you used to rolling your eyes while talking?”
“N, yes?”
The stunned Atha looked at Alisto quickly, and his head turned as if to say what was behind him!
“Wait a minute!”
“Just a minute,” Atha shouted uncontrollably due to panic.
The Crown Prince probably did a thorough background investigation when he brought her to the palace yesterday.
No one will enter his palace.
Maybe he already knows about her encounter with Cedric.
But—
In the sweet atmosphere of new love, if he misunderstood that I sold my eyes to a man, and that man was Cedric, my meeting partner?
Will the nominated crown prince of the tyrant leave this?
Moreover, look at Cedric's eyes now.
As if he saw his girlfriend cheating on him?!
If Alisto and Cedric were sure of each other now, I had a bad feeling that something would happen.
Oh, no, no.
No bad feeling.
How a bad feeling comes to my quiet path to the Emperor's prison.
Strictly prohibited.
Did her wish come true?
Exactly half.
Alisto's half-turned head slowly returned forward.
He crossed his arms, leaned against the back of the chair, and asked slowly.
“Would you rather I didn't check?”
Atha looked at Alisto with prominent eyes only after rubbing her face with her hands unwillingly.
He was smiling a lazy smile like yesterday, but a little different.
A more fierce and sharp smile.
Atha's mind went white upon seeing his expression.
She reflexively swallowed dryly, and her shoulders shrank.
She opened her mouth several times, then nodded softly.
“Yes”
Then the man's smile in front of her seemed to deepen, or a feeling?
“I ask again.
Sincerely.
Would you really prefer me not to check who that man is?”
No, how did he know it was a man?
Atha anticipated the options available to her now.
First, Alisto checks on Cedric.
wow.
Unpredictable.
Maybe Cedric found the atmosphere strange.
Cedric's pure, gentle expression hardened, and the intensity of his blue eyes began to spread.
Cedric behind him is very cold, and Alisto in front of him is very dangerous.
Her timid, hard-beating heart was about to jump out of her mouth.
E, come on, get ready.
Crises come at any time.
But it can be bypassed.
I am the heroine of the novel, no matter what they say.
I can.
After wearing confidence, I decided on an answer to avoid the immediate problem.
“Yes.
I would rather it not happen.”
Did he not like her answer?
Alisto smiled slightly, then chose a short silence.
After the short silence ended.
“Okay.
Alternatively...
I can lock you up until trust is established,” said Miss Atha.
Suddenly Atha's back went cold.
When she realized too late that the tiger cave she entered was a trap with no way out.
Alisto announced her future.
“I will do it”
His voice speaking of confinement was pathologically sweet.
Ah, right.
I am the heroine of the story of imprisonment.
I forgot?