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14. ‌‌‌‌

From that day forward, whenever I encountered Wilhelmina Lopez, I greeted her with the highest caliber of business smile.
"I've heard you visit frequently for the Third Prince, who finds the Kingdom unfamiliar, my lady. You're far kinder than I imagined—I find myself wanting to emulate you."
"Don't think you can fool me!"
Naturally, Wilhelmina Lopez bristled like a hedgehog, her spines fully extended toward me. ‌‌‌
"Would you care to join me for lunch, my lady? It's a time when Cassian Artez participates as well."
On another occasion, I even schemed to shatter her illusions by revealing the ‌‌demon's true nature.
"Y-you! Are you gloating over defeating me right now?! Don't presume ‌‌‌‌that a rise in status is within your grasp! Do you really think I'd fall for you ‌‌just because you're beautiful?!"
Ah, she even used the phrase "rise in status"—I was genuinely moved, Wilma.
Though regrettably, the lunch invitation failed.
I'd assumed she would naturally take the bait when I dangled Cassian's name.
Yet undeterred, I persisted,
"The white lace ribbon you've adorned yourself with ‌‌‌today suits you beautifully. I've heard Duke Lopez's House wisteria blossoms are quite ‌‌‌‌lovely, and I was curious, but seeing you, my ‌‌lady, I find I need not wonder."
"Miss Salice, do you truly not understand what propriety means?!"
"I'm merely a baron's daughter, my lady, so there's much I don't know."
"D-don't say such things! You're the Second Prince's aide! You mustn't speak of lacking ability!"
She even grew angry ‌‌‌on my behalf.
How could anyone be so kind and gentle?
After repeating this several times, whenever I offered merely a business smile and met her ‌‌gaze, she began to avoid me.
What is this bitter taste, truly?
It saddened me that Wilhelmina Lopez treated me as a demon she ought to shun.
"...I'm growing jealous, Rose."
"Pardon?"
And Cassian's strange words only deepened my melancholy.
"Or are you using Wilhelmina Lopez to relieve your stress?" ‌‌‌
"That makes no sense whatsoever!" ‌‌‌‌
How could it be so?
Wilhelmina Lopez ‌‌‌is like a single glass of sparkling wine in my bleak and dreary work life.
And in the original novel—that desolate, depressing source material—she's a truly beloved character who provides healing.
As I gazed at him with resentment for everything being his fault, I heard a ‌‌short clicking of his tongue.
"I wish you'd spare some of those sweet words you give the lady for me, my fiancée."
I grimaced.
After witnessing ‌‌‌every conceivable spectacle over the ‌‌past year, now you demand I squeeze out compliments?
That's workplace harassment, Your Highness.

*

Wilhelmina Lopez was deeply confused.
Days before returning home, she had heard news of Cassian's engagement and spent several days bedridden, unable to eat or drink.
Because of this, she had failed to keep the date her father, Duke Lopez, had set, and was scolded the moment she arrived.

'Did you think ‌‌you'd keep chasing after someone who's already engaged, Wilma! ‌Do you plan to keep bringing shame to Duke Lopez's House like this?'

It stung Wilhelmina deeply.
Ever since childhood, the Marquess's daughter ‌had maintained ‌‌‌‌relations with ‌‌‌‌her, and after becoming the First Prince's fiancée, her pompous airs were unbearable to watch.
Even at the modest tea party held after her return, she had conducted herself as though she were already a princess consort.

'Once His Highness the Third Prince completes his state marriage, ‌‌won't ‌‌it be my turn soon? I find myself wishing I could enjoy this comfortable time a little longer, knowing how little remains.'

She had said it while deliberately meeting Wilhelmina's gaze.
As if to say that her advantage of higher status as a princess would only last until now.
That was precisely why Wilhelmina ‌coveted Cassian all the more.
Of course, it was also true that she had fallen for him during his triumphant return. ‌‌
The sharp expression on his face—bearing the unpolished marks of the brutal battlefield, not even taking great joy in his homecoming—had been seared into Wilhelmina's mind since her teenage years.
So she had steeled herself and summoned Rose to the Imperial Palace.
But the moment she saw her, Wilhelmina felt herself shrink somehow.
Despite all the rumors that she was merely a baron's daughter, engaged for purely strategic reasons.
Her dark chestnut hair seemed ‌‌‌‌to hold the essence of autumn itself, and her green ‌‌eyes carried a depth of compassionate understanding.
Even wrapped in the plainest of dresses, she appeared beautiful ‌‌‌and striking.
Because Wilhelmina ‌detected not the slightest hint of inferiority in her, she found herself unable to voice the cruel words she had prepared.
Not even close.
Not even remotely.
She had wanted Rose to feel at least some of the hurt that Wilhelmina herself felt.
But to someone about to unleash cruel words—

'Your Highness, you truly are thoughtful and possess such depth of character.'

Why did she smile so warmly, and speak words Wilhelmina had never once heard even from her own family?
Unable to comprehend it, Wilhelmina found herself wanting to distance herself from Rose slightly.

*

My sparkling wine!
Without having seen Wilhelmina Lopez, the day of the Kingdom Princess's ‌welcome party had arrived before I knew it.
'I think it would be nice to receive a bit more praise.'
Since I had to appear as the Second Prince's fiancée at the Kingdom Princess's welcome party, I was preparing myself with more care than I had at the previous ball.
The attendants Cassian had assigned to me had transformed me from a mere baron's daughter into a proper prince's fiancée.
The ‌dress was one ‌‌‌‌I'd had tailored during my last shopping trip to the Central Shopping District, and I thought it was excessively luxurious.
This extravagance adorned with lustrous pearls and diamonds over a deep navy gown was almost too much.
Given the ‌‌‌‌occasion, I supposed I had to wear something like ‌‌‌‌this, yet it still felt somewhat strange.
However, my awe ‌‌‌reached the heavens when Cassian arrived carrying a jewelry box.
"...Your Highness, are you in your right mind?"
"I really like that about you, ‌‌Rose."
What kind of ‌‌nonsense was that?
No, this time my courage was barely the size of a soy sauce dish.
"...Did you perhaps forget the contents of our contract?"
That couldn't be, yet this master of schemes. ‌‌
"Of course not. I know it well."
Cassian smiled and casually placed a beautifully crafted diamond necklace around my bare neck.
"Now, why are you about to cry?"
"Of course I feel like crying."
This con artist, saying everything I wear belongs to me. ‌‌‌
How could I possibly keep something like this!
"I was hoping my personal assets would increase, ‌‌but if you bring me the Late Empress's jewels, I have no choice but to return them."
"Why is that?"
Looking at my distressed face, Cassian gently grasped my hand as if puzzled.
"Because it's you that I'm giving them to."
"Your Highness, are you testing my conscience right now?"
Despite the tone laden with grievance, Cassian didn't correct himself. Instead, he shook his head while pressing his lips to the ring he had placed on my finger before.
"No, truly. ‌‌Who else would I have wear Mother's jewels but you, Rose?"
His violet eyes gazing ‌‌at me were intense.
As if he wanted to tease, yet somewhere deep within lay a desperate sincerity.
"Mother ‌would also wish for them to go to you."
....
I swallowed my breath for a moment. ‌‌‌
I had to act as I normally did, with composure.
Cassian Artez was far from ordinary, and if I showed even the slightest opening, he would immediately try to swallow it whole.
"...Understood. I'll just borrow them until the contract ends."
I barely managed to answer.
This is his leading interrogation—I mustn't falter.
He certainly doesn't have certainty that I'm the fake Wilhelmina he met in childhood.
No, it has to be that way!
Cassian let out a lopsided smile at my answer, which was thick with tension.
"You really are heartless, Rose."
Thankfully, he didn't press me further on the matter.
Instead, he extended his ‌‌‌arm—one ‌I'd grown somewhat familiar with by now.
It was time to head to the party.

*

The moment Cassian and I entered, the nobility's gazes flooded toward us.
Most of them were looks of disdain.
Well, that made sense. Nearly half of them had been fleeced directly or indirectly by Cassian and me over the past year.
I'd avoid us too.
'Though I suppose it's better than appearing as easy prey like in the original story.'
Still, it was a bit disappointing...
The more they whispered, the easier ‌‌‌it was to gather all sorts of evidence.
But the moment Cassian and I were nearby, they all lowered their voices.
"I feel like I'm at a loss."
"Should we revise the contract?"
"Not that!" ‌‌‌‌‌
Cassian really did see me as someone obsessed with money.
Which ‌‌‌wasn't entirely wrong, but still!
"There's no ‌‌‌‌place quite like a party for gathering all sorts of information, yet it's as if you've cast a barrier around this place alone."
Cassian gazed at me with a gentle smile at my words.
"Rose, must I now be jealous of your work as well?"
Ugh, you should be grateful this isn't your office.
I managed to muster a business smile by reminding myself ‌‌‌we were in a party hall.
"That's absolutely terrible to hear."
"I should fetch you some wine."
Cassian answered by squeezing my hand firmly before releasing it, gritting his teeth slightly.
Thanks to that, the demon keeping people away from my side stepped ‌‌back for a moment.
I was waiting for him to return with wine, which he'd surely pick with an almost supernatural understanding of my taste.
"Miss Salice—!"
Along ‌‌‌with an urgent, crisp voice.
Splash!
I heard the sound of liquid being splashed, and my back was shoved forward.
"...Lady Wilhelmina?"
When I ‌‌‌turned around, I saw Wilhelmina Lopez drenched in purple ‌liquid.
The positions seem to have switched, Lady Wilhelmina.

---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support ‌our team and enjoy the latest ‌‌‌‌releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------