So I was planning to run the business while traveling between the capital and Lorentz.

When I suggested leaving, Laurel replied with a cold expression.

“What about the building penalty fee?”

I bit my lip hard. I remembered the three-year contract I had signed recently. I was so ambitious then. I was confident I wouldn’t be discovered and was full of hopeful dreams for the future.

That confidence has faded.

The provincial social circles, including Lorentz, imitate the capital’s social circle. That’s why most of the renowned dress shops in the provinces also have their main stores in the capital.

That’s why I pushed myself to come to the capital. I thought I only needed to endure for a year since I was planning to leave again anyway.

I didn’t think much could happen in just one year.

But in just a few days, much less than a year, life-shortening events kept happening one after another.

Why does it feel like God is only giving me trials when I’ve lived a good life?

“I’ll work like a dog and leave this place within six months.”

“That seems most realistic.”

Laurel muttered with a dry face.

She handed me the paper with Rozenne and Vairen’s measurements.

“Please create a masterpiece, boss. It’s best to finish with one big job. You definitely suit Lorentz much better than the capital.”

“I think so too.”

I resolved to pour my soul into making Rozenne and Vairen’s clothes. Drawing people’s attention in one go… The dream of establishing myself in six months and returning to Lorentz if I could capture people’s interest at the debutante ball that day.

It might be possible.

※※※

Meanwhile, Rozenne.

As soon as she returned to the ducal residence, Rozenne summoned her informant. What happened at Iris’s dress shop today had properly wounded her pride.

D*mn Vairen.

Fortunately, Madame Iris seemed to understand the situation well. The reason the Empress had originally connected with Iris’s dress shop, which was merely a provincial establishment, was because the owner knew how to read the room and listen well.

She planned to use her as a useful tool if this job went well. The Empress was currently looking for a dress shop to use for money laundering.

The Empress had assigned Rozenne the task of checking out Madame Iris personally. So far, Iris had been performing well, understanding the situation.

The problem was Crown Prince Vairen.

Rozenne asked her informant in a cold voice.

“So what you’re saying is that you can’t find any trace of Ires anywhere. Does that mean she’s dead?”

“That might be the case.”

“Then bring me her corpse. I need to show that much sincerity to convince that damned Crown Prince. Find her grave at least.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Rozenne gritted her teeth. When she first drove Ires out and became a noble lady, she thought everything would go well. A thief who lived by pickpocketing on the streets became a noble lady. Rozenne thought all of this was an opportunity given by God.

The Duchess had whispered to her that she could become the crown princess.

A pickpocket becoming the crown princess! Rozenne was full of dreams. But Crown Prince Vairen, whom she met in person, shattered that dream immediately.

〈Don’t even dream about it. I’m already married.〉

What impressive loyalty.

〈My only wife is Ires.〉

Even after being driven out, Lady Ires continued to hold Rozenne back. What kind of grudge did she have? If anything, Rozenne was the one who should feel wronged. Her life had been stolen. Meanwhile, Ires had been living as Rozenne, enjoying things that she couldn’t have enjoyed with her own status.

But why…

“If she’s alive, drag her before me.”

Rozenne’s eyes glinted cruelly. Street life had taught her some things.

Never leave loose ends. When you decide to kill someone, make sure to confirm their end.

And important matters must always, always be confirmed personally!

“That woman needs to die before my eyes. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lady.”

The paper in Rozenne’s palm was completely crumpled.

She hadn’t intended to go this far, but it was Vairen who pushed Rozenne to the extreme.

The humiliation at the dress shop today, along with countless past instances of being dismissed by Vairen, fueled her anger.

And naturally, all that rage transformed into a sword aimed at Ires.

‘If the source disappears, perhaps the Crown Prince will come to his senses.’

That is, if Vairen had any sense left at all.

※※※

Meanwhile, Iris.

Feeling anxious, I went to find Cappuccino. He greeted me with a lazy, cat-like expression.

“That look suits you quite well.”

“Really? Actually, I think so too…… No. That’s not it. Cappuccino, are the Crown Prince Vairen and Lady Rozenne looking for me?”

I should have asked this earlier.

I was so distracted by the fact that I was the crown princess that I didn’t ask what I needed to.

Cappuccino answered nonchalantly.

“Yes.”

“……Why are you only telling me this now?”

“You didn’t ask, did you? Besides, you should have been able to figure out that much. Right?”

Cappuccino winked at me.

No, this damned bastard.

He must be the traitor.

“You should have told me that when I was planning to come to the capital!”

“Why should I?”

“Weren’t we friends? Isn’t it common courtesy between friends to warn each other about dangerous situations?”

“I don’t make friends with women. And if I had told you that……”

Cappuccino leaned slightly toward me. His almond-shaped eyes sparkled softly.

“You would never have returned to the capital.”

Of course not. Who would willingly walk into a minefield? Cappuccino snickered.

“……Why are they looking for me? Do you know?”

It felt like I was confirming my suspicions. My heart pounded rapidly.

“I don’t know why Crown Prince Vairen is looking for you. As I told you before. But I do know why Lady Rozenne is.”

“……Why?”

“Lady Rozenne wants to confirm that you’re dead.”

What nonsense is this about a perfectly alive person? I felt dizzy and held my head.

I had always thought I might meet a violent end at the hands of the ducal family if I were discovered. But hearing it like this made it feel real. She really is looking for me to kill me.

Rozenne, you damned woman. May the Liberk family be completely ruined!

Cappuccino added softly,

“So make absolutely sure you’re not discovered, Owl.”

“……Why are you only telling me this now? You could have at least hinted at the danger.”

“You didn’t ask, did you?”

If I end up getting discovered by Rozenne and die unjustly, I’ll write in my will to bury this bastard with me.

Definitely.

While I resent Cappuccino, that’s just my personal feelings. Why would I develop any internal affection for an information merchant? I shouldn’t have.

I pressed down on my pounding heart and continued the conversation.

“……But from what I heard the VIP saying, he seems to know that Lady Ires isn’t dead. Is there perhaps a rumor going around that I’m alive?”

“That’s not it. Lady Ires Liberk is definitely known to be dead. Only the VIP and your fake sister are looking for you. No one cares about the dead.”

I need to know why Vairen is looking for me. From the conversation I overheard earlier, things don’t seem good between Rozenne and Vairen. Actually, to exaggerate slightly, they’re like mortal enemies meeting on a narrow bridge. And Ires is caught in the middle like a shrimp.

As they say, when whales fight, the shrimp’s back gets broken.

Is my back still intact?

Perhaps Vairen also wants to use me politically. I don’t know what happened between Rozenne and Vairen while I was gone, but if their relationship has soured, maybe he wants to use me to defend against Rozenne?

“But how does the VIP know I’m alive?”

“That’s something only the heavens, the VIP, and your sister would know. All I know is that there was a big commotion at your funeral.”

“Are you really an information merchant? What do you actually know?”

Cappuccino smiled brightly and said.

“Will you need hair dye in the future?”

“……Nevemind, I definitely need it.”

“I just felt quite hurt, so the price has gone up. Forty gold.”

……I should watch my mouth from now on. If I hurt his feelings any more, he’ll clean out my entire treasury.

※※※

I worked hard, determined to leave the capital within six months by working like a dog.

According to Cappuccino, Rozenne was looking to kill me, and I wanted to return to Lorentz before being discovered.

But wait, would I even be safe in Lorentz?

Cappuccino mentioned that Rozenne had hired mercenaries.

Am I going to spend my entire life depending on forty gold hair dye, changing my hair and eye color?

“What’s wrong with the female protagonist’s personality?”

I felt anger rising as I was cutting the dress pattern. She’s supposed to be the female protagonist? Supposedly as beautiful, warm, and pure as sunshine?

Where is any of that? Where?

Looking at what she’s doing now, isn’t she completely a villain?