……No way. Is he really saying this in front of me? He doesn’t care about hiding it at all. Or perhaps he thinks there’s no risk of anything leaking even if I know.

I swallowed hard.

I felt cold sweat running down my back.

How could I smile after hearing something like that? Rozenne’s expression slowly hardened. I could see her lips trembling slightly. I quickly lowered my head, pretending to know nothing.

“But you still need to cooperate with me, don’t you? That’s our deal.”

“That’s why I’m here. So, lady, stop clinging to me. It’s unpleasant.”

Gasp.

I pressed my lips tightly together to avoid making a sound. To survive long in this business, you need to pretend you didn’t see what you saw or hear what you heard.

Vairen brushed past me.

Rozenne, who had been breathing heavily, spoke with a sigh in her voice.

“Madame Iris. You’ve witnessed something embarrassing. Vairen and I aren’t getting along well these days. But as you know, not all relationships are always pleasant, are they? Male-female relationships aren’t that simple. What you just saw……”

“Did something happen?”

I tilted my head gently with a soft smile, pretending to know nothing. Rozenne stared at me with a calm expression.

“……”

“It seems His Highness has gone inside. My lady, please go in as well. Our employee is waiting to take your measurements.”

“……Madame, you’re truly intelligent and capable. Useful in many ways.”

“Thank you for the compliment. You’ll be even more satisfied with the clothes.”

Ha, this much is essential. I’ve been in this business for three years already. I’ve seen it all. There was a man who came to get clothes for his mistress and got dragged out by his hair, and a woman who secretly came with her lover to get clothes and ended up with divorce papers.

I’ve seen it all, so this is nothing.

Pretending not to know is the best policy.

Besides, whether it’s Vairen or Rozenne, they’re no longer relevant to me. I just need to get paid and do my job.

“……I look forward to it.”

Rozenne brushed past me. I followed right behind her.

I really can’t catch a breath.

But seriously, why are those two like that? Shouldn’t they be madly in love by now? Something seems off, but……

No. What did you just say, Iris? Don’t get involved in other people’s business. I shook my head slightly and went inside.

I could see Laurel taking Crown Prince Vairen’s measurements.

Please, let this pass quietly.

Rozenne plopped down on the sofa. As soon as she sat down, Vairen spoke.

“Choose whatever clothes you want. Whatever you prefer. I’ll just get measured and leave.”

Rozenne responded through gritted teeth.

“……If you keep acting like this, I’ll find it difficult to cooperate, Vairen.”

I wish someone would tell me what kind of cooperation they’re talking about. This is making me curious.

Vairen didn’t budge at Rozenne’s words.

“I’ve told you many times that this wasn’t included in our contract.”

“……I don’t understand why you keep acting like you’re holding the knife when I’m the one with the handle, Vairen. Perhaps you don’t want to find Ires?”

……Gulp. W-why am I being mentioned h-here?

They’re really treating Laurel and me like we don’t exist. Or they’re confident they can silence us.

I quickly covered my mouth. My eyes met Laurel’s. She was looking at me with a pale face.

Meanwhile, the conversation between the two continued.

“If you want to get even a clue, you need to behave properly, Vairen.”

Vairen laughed coldly.

“Fine, have it your way. But if you break your promise, you’ll die. A man who lost his wife and went mad could do anything.”

Gulp…… Wife? Why would I be His Highness the Crown Prince’s wife……?

“That won’t happen. I’ll keep my promise.”

Rozenne replied without showing any emotion. Vairen stared coldly at her before turning his head sharply.

“Let’s stop this meaningless argument and get to work. I don’t want to make any more of a scene.”

“This wouldn’t happen if you didn’t annoy me.”

He refuses to back down until the end. Cold sparks flew between them. If we weren’t careful, Laurel and I might get caught in the crossfire.

……From the current situation, it seems Vairen is looking for me.

Why……?

I really don’t understand……?

Were we really that close and special? I tried so hard not to get involved.

Vairen, who had finished being measured, glanced at me.

My heart suddenly sank.

He approached me. What’s going on? Did he recognize me? That’s impossible. I changed my eye and hair color, plus I’m wearing a deep veil.

Just continue what you were doing. Keep arguing with Rozenne. If I listened to their conversation more, I might understand why I became the crown princess.

At least I now know that Vairen is cooperating with Rozenne in exchange for her help in finding me. What’s next?

I gulped hard.

My heartbeat seemed to echo in my ears.

Behind Vairen, Rozenne was watching with a cold expression. Laurel mouthed words to me with a pale face.

‘……Run away, boss……’

Where to……?

Vairen stopped in front of me.

“……Um.”

Words reflexively escaped my mouth. But before I could say anything more, Vairen was quicker.

“Are you in charge of this dress shop?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ah, he didn’t recognize me. Phew.

The breath I’d been holding burst out.

“My name is Iris.”

“……Her Majesty the Empress spoke highly of you. I’ll trust your skills. Make the clothes according to the measurements taken. No need for fittings or design confirmations. You can skip those steps.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

That’s exactly what I wanted. If I keep encountering Vairen, Rozenne, or other acquaintances at such close distances, I might have a heart attack. Phew, haah.

No, d*mn it.

Making a living is so hard.

I noticed Laurel talking with Rozenne and taking her measurements.

Rozenne also seemed to have completely lost interest in me. As I was sighing in relief, Vairen asked.

“Did you have something to say to me?”

“Ah, no, Your Highness.”

I almost made a guilty confession out of nervousness.

“I was worried I might have made a mistake.”

“……No way. I’ll be going now.”

Vairen nodded to me and left the dress shop. I sighed as I watched his well-proportioned back disappear. Scaring people like that when he didn’t even recognize me.

By then, Rozenne had finished being measured and approached me, speaking in a cold voice.

“Let me say this again. Forget everything you heard and saw today. I chose this small dress shop because I thought there would be no risk of information leaking.”

Rozenne glanced at where Vairen had stood and threatened me.

“If what His Highness the Crown Prince and I discussed today leaks out… You, Madame, and that employee over there…”

Laurel, suddenly singled out, blinked her eyes.

“Remember that both of you would find it difficult to keep your lives.”

Why are they making such a fuss with us when they’re the ones fighting? But regardless of my thoughts, my words came out politely.

“That will absolutely never happen. I’ll erase even the memory of your visit today.”

“Wise. I look forward to the clothes.”

Rozenne also substituted a nod for a farewell and left the dress shop. The moment she left, my trembling legs gave way and I collapsed into a chair.

I only dealt with two people, but it feels like a storm has swept through. Laurel spoke with a trembling voice.

“……I really feel like we’ve arrived in the capital now.”

“Me too.”

I never thought I’d be in a position to receive such threats.

Moreover, from what I could tell, Vairen seems to know that Ires isn’t dead. And Rozenne appears to have agreed to provide information about Ires in exchange for something.

But wait.

How would Rozenne know what I’m doing, where I am, or whether I’m dead or alive? Only Cappuccino and his group knew that I changed my name and completely left the capital. Surely that Cappuccino bastard…

He wouldn’t have sold me out, would he?

No way. An information merchant who lives on credit wouldn’t sell client information. With all the trust I’ve built with Cappuccino, I should believe in him.

“……Did the lady say anything else specifically? About me, or about the Crown Prince?”

“Not at all. Aren’t you family? You didn’t know about her? Wow, she’s scarier than I heard. She’s different from you. They say blood tells, but…”

“I don’t share blood with her.”

Laurel sighed. Then she replied.

“It seems His Highness the Crown Prince is looking for you. Do you know anything about that?”

“Not at all. Why would he be looking for me? We weren’t even that close originally.”

“……Then what do you know?”

“……Should we go back to Lorentz after finishing this job? Just leave this place entirely.”

Actually, I was planning to leave everything to Laurel within a year once the main shop was established in the capital.

I needed to run the main shop in Lorentz. The Lorentz market was too profitable to give up.