The Duke and Duchess were good at pretending to be a happy family, but they didn’t know what their daughter truly needed.

“How can you say that, Mother? Why am I working so hard! If only you hadn’t cherished that fake daughter so much……”

“That fake daughter became the crown princess without any such effort. She made Crown Prince Vairen pine for her without doing anything.”

The Duchess pointed out the truth.

“Isn’t that what’s important? The fact that you still haven’t surpassed Ires. Why don’t you try making more useful efforts?”

“Mother!”

“I gave you three years. But you haven’t accomplished anything properly! Have you gained people’s recognition, or have you secured the position of crown princess!”

After this outburst, the Duchess continued to blame Rozenne.

“You’re tarnishing the Liberk name! We did our best for you!”

“What have you done for me?”

“We drove out Ires and handed over everything she achieved to you. We placed you in a position that was already established! All you had to do was be like her! And you can’t even do that……”

The Duchess touched her forehead.

There was a hint of contempt in her eyes as she looked at the pale Rozenne. The Duchess clicked her tongue softly.

“……I know you persuaded your father to drive Ires out. I heard it was you who convinced your father to declare her dead.”

Rozenne gritted her teeth.

“If you created this situation, you should produce results to match.”

Those words stabbed her heart like thorns. The wounds Rozenne received transformed directly into blades aimed at Ires.

‘It’s all because of you, b*tch.’

※※※

It seems Vairen isn’t exactly a gentleman either. The very next day after hearing from Cappuccino that the owner of the shoes had been found…

Vairen came to my shop personally, carrying my shoes.

Fortunately, since I already knew about this, I was able to greet him calmly.

“I heard you’re the owner of these shoes.”

Straight to the point like this?

What if I hadn’t been prepared? My heart wouldn’t have survived.

Without any pleasantries, Vairen opened the box containing the shoes and thr*st it before me. The shoes that had decorated the newspapers were neatly placed inside the box.

“Yes, that’s right. Those are my shoes.”

I answered as calmly as possible. It’s not obvious, is it? Laurel was watching me from a distance with a ghostly expression. I gave her a small nod.

I’m fine.

Vairen spoke to me.

“……You dropped these shoes before and left. Do you remember?”

“I do remember. I left the banquet hall in a hurry that day, but thanks to you, I’m getting my shoes back.”

“I’ve been advertising to find the owner of these shoes for the past few days. Did you know that?”

“Yes, I…… was aware of the advertisements.”

“Why didn’t you come forward as the owner? You said you knew about the advertisements.”

I had already prepared an answer for this question. Thank you, Cappuccino. You’re certainly worth the money. I couldn’t completely hate Cappuccino since he always helped at critical moments.

“I knew about the advertisements, but…… actually, by the time I found out about them, the situation had already become overheated. So I thought—”

As rationally as a merchant would:

“If I waited a bit longer, it would be a good opportunity to promote my shoes. I put a lot of effort into making those shoes, you know.”

“……So you used me for advertising?”

“I’m truly sorry about that. But I’m a merchant, and the opportunity was too good to pass up. Were you…… displeased?”

Vairen chuckled and ran his hand through his hair. He placed the shoes in my arms.

“Well, I suppose it’s fortunate that all that commotion benefited Madame.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. Thanks to the 200,000 gold, the value of these shoes has increased.”

Since they caused such a controversy, people would at least take a look. Even during all that chaos, some people saw our job advertisements and came looking for work.

I hired a few of them, and they would start working soon.

Moreover, the young ladies Rozenne brought were wearing our dresses to social gatherings. The number of visiting customers was gradually increasing.

Add the shoes to that?

This could turn a crisis into an opportunity.

Strike while the iron is hot. Laurel scolded me for thinking about business even in this situation, but well.

What else should I do?

Who’s going to earn money for me?

“……Let me ask one last thing.”

Vairen asked quietly.

“Do you happen to know anything about Ires Liberk? She has light blonde hair and purple eyes. Oh, and she looks similar to Lady Rozenne.”

Unfortunately, I had only one answer to give him. I smiled sweetly and shook my head.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve never heard any rumors about Lady Ires.”

“……I see.”

Vairen’s expression sank. I could clearly see the emotions floating in his green eyes subsiding as well.

Actually, I wanted to ask.

Why he was searching for me so desperately.

What I meant to him.

But I kept my lips sealed and smiled.

“Thank you for finding my shoes.”

This was exactly how far we should go.

Vairen stared at the smiling Iris.

He could see her lips curving behind the veil.

But what caught his attention even more was…

‘A clover-shaped mole!’

Vairen’s pupils dilated. The small mole between her neck and collarbone, which had been hidden until now, became prominently visible when Iris moved.

He bit his lip hard to prevent himself from crying out.

That night.

It was the exact mole Vairen had kissed countless times. He hadn’t forgotten a single detail of what he had seen that night.

It was a single night that felt like eternity. His blood felt like it was freezing. Vairen’s frozen gaze traveled up Iris’s neck, along her jaw, trying to see the face hidden behind the veil.

Though her features weren’t clearly visible…

At that moment, Iris turned around.

‘Ah.’

His heart sank with a thud. There was no way he could forget that back view. The back view he had been chasing for so long. Vairen unconsciously took a step back.

‘Ires.’

His lips moved.

‘Ires……!’

The name he couldn’t possibly call out lingered in his mouth. Iris, who had placed the box containing the shoes on the counter, turned her head toward him.

Vairen bit his lip hard.

Iris was pretending not to know Vairen and hiding her identity.

If that was the case, unless he wanted Iris to flee even further, Vairen needed to pretend as well.

He mumbled with his lips. He didn’t know what to say.

His heart was beating wildly. Once he was certain she was Ires, everything looked like her. Her hair, her hidden eyes, her soft jawline, her fingers, her gestures. All of it.

If he met her again, there was so much he wanted to ask.

‘You said you would come back to see me, so why did you leave? Why didn’t you come find me?’

‘Where have you been all this time? What have you been doing? Are you well? Have you been eating properly?’

He had been anxious about what might have happened to the noble Ires who had never lived outside the ducal family. At first, he was resentful and angry at her for leaving without a word, then he was worried, and finally, he missed her.

He wanted to lift her veil and look into her eyes.

But unable to do anything, he blurted out whatever came to mind.

“……Have you eaten?”

“Pardon?”

Iris opened her eyes wide.

At that moment, Vairen’s quick thinking shone through.

“……Aren’t you grateful that I found your shoes? And it seems I’ve given you unexpected publicity as well.”

“Ah, yes.”

“I should treat you to a meal, at the very least.”

Vairen regained his composure. Though he was still so surprised that his fingertips trembled, he managed to appear calm.

“……Hahaha. While that would be an honor, could I offer you a tailored outfit instead?”

“Why?”

“I want to maintain a good relationship with Lady Rozenne. I don’t think the lady would be pleased if she saw her fiancé dining with another woman. Even if it’s just a merchant.”

Rozenne.

Vairen gritted his teeth. He was sick of Rozenne constantly blocking his path. Now that he had found Ires, there was no need to continue his contract with her.

‘No.’

That was a hasty judgment. If Rozenne discovered that Ires was here, there was no telling how she would react. Vairen needed to continue pretending not to know and deceive Rozenne until the end.

For Ires’s sake too.

“Clothes, that’s fine. In that case, I’d like formal attire for the upcoming Foundation Day.”

“Yes?”

Iris’s eyes widened. No, how much would that cost, and how difficult would it be to make!

“If that’s not enough……”

Vairen smoothly raised his lips.

“I could pay with the 200,000 gold instead.”

“……I will make it with the utmost sincerity, Your Highness.”

Iris bowed deeply. Vairen covered his mouth to hide his emerging smile. He couldn’t believe he was having such a normal conversation with Ires. He deliberately spoke in a low voice.