Hello, Readers! I am celebrating my birthday with extra chapter updates, so please enjoy this special chapter release of 4 bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 2/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before my Birthday: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

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The tea room, with its elegant brass decorations on the glass dome ceiling, was a bright place filled with fresh flower fragrance and sweet melodies.

“Callia, control yourself.”

“What?”

“You look like you want to rub your cheeks against that ice decoration.”

“Is it that obvious?”

I muttered, unable to take my eyes off the smooth and cool-looking dolphin ice sculpture.

“I shouldn’t accidentally collapse over there, right?”

“Take off that veil first.”

“My arms have no strength.”

I’d already taken off the gloves. I thought I was going to get eczema on my hands.

Richard clicked his tongue and carefully removed my veil.

“But, um, I must look terrible right now.”

With my face flushed red and sweat-soaked hair sticking to it, I must be quite a sight. I probably look like a boiled octopus.

“Didn’t you say earlier that the face completes fashion?”

“That’s the problem right now.”

Richard laughed softly and dampened his handkerchief with the ice water brought by the server, pressing it against my cheek.

“You look the same as usual.”

“Now I know how you see me normally.”

I spoke weakly, staring blankly at his hand before accepting the handkerchief.

“I apologize.”

“That’s my line.”

How strange that after such a short time knowing each other, that hand feels not frightening but grateful. The human heart is truly fickle.

“Here’s your raspberry sherbet.”

“Thank you.”

The server placed sherbet and silver dessert spoons in front of Richard and me.

I reflexively thanked them and immediately began attacking the sherbet like it was a battle.

I briefly looked up at the ceiling, feeling my overheated brain cooling down with steam coming off it, then lowered my gaze.

“Huh? What’s this?”

Finding an identical sherbet in front of me just after finishing mine, I wondered if I was hallucinating.

But Richard had pushed his portion toward me.

“Aren’t you hot, Richard?”

“Not particularly.”

Now I’m starting to feel admiration. Past me who questioned if looks were the only criteria for selecting those in power, you should reflect.

While that might apply to the Emperor, for an Admiral, character counts too.

With that thought, my determination to complete the mission surged.

As I relaxed, I could hear people whispering.

“The Admiral…”

“…with a lady…”

“I heard… from Rainfeld-“

But everyone seemed to know how to keep their voices down, as the decibel levels were quite low.

‘It would be better if there was a chance to make an impactful scene.’

Would there be anyone brave enough to step forward?

Drum roll. There was!

A brave soul who spoke with malice, without volume control.

“The Rabius ducal family must be in dire straits. To wear an early winter dress in midsummer like this…”

“The Admiral must be accompanying her out of humanitarian concern.”

A young man with pomade-slicked hair and a few curled strands on his forehead chimed in agreement.

The young lady wearing a low-cut summer dress laughed shrilly.

Glancing at Richard, I noticed that despite there being no direct insults toward him, his expressionless face somehow showed signs of displeasure.

I rang the bell on the table.

It was time to make the sherbet worth it.

“How may I help you?”

Despite their professional demeanor, fear was evident in the server’s eyes.

The surroundings suddenly went quiet.

They probably thought I was going to take out my anger on them.

“One extra-large raspberry sherbet.”

“I’ll bring it right away.”

As the server quickly departed, relieved at the unexpectedly normal order, the tense atmosphere began to loosen again.

“She must be too focused on eating to feel any shame.”

But that young lady’s voice rang out again in the tea room like a discordant note. Perhaps feeling ignored, her volume was higher than before.

Even her companion, the young man, hesitated to respond immediately and carefully observed the situation.

Just then.

“Your extra-large raspberry sherbet is ready.”

They said they’d bring it quickly, and they really did.

I nodded to the server.

“Not here, over there.”

“Pardon?”

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

“Ah, no, not at all.”

The server practically ran to place the sherbet at the table where the loud-voiced young lady was sitting.

“What? Why are you putting this here?”

“That customer… asked us to deliver it to you.”

I smiled sweetly as I looked at the young lady.

“It’s my heart.”

Of course, what I got in return was a bewildered look.

If I had to guess her thoughts, they might be something like ‘What’s wrong with this crazy person?’

But I continued smiling brightly and spoke without concern.

“Seeing how scantily dressed you are, I wondered if you needed to save on fabric… As the Rabius Duke’s daughter, I felt quite concerned.”

Actually, being from Earth, I didn’t find it that strange. This wasn’t a funeral, so people could dress more comfortably.

However, considering the Empire’s sensibilities, it was quite a shocking level of exposure.

As if to support this, small whispers could be heard from various corners.

“…Lady Manehil’s outfit is rather revealing.”

“I hope people won’t develop prejudices about all Southerners being like Miss Estra…”

So her name is Estra Manehil.

Anyway. I leisurely observed Estra, who had just tried to criticize my survival look and mental state as a set, only to have it backfire on her.

At first, she seemed dazed by my words, but gradually her face darkened with anger.

After showing her real-time gradient of fury, Estra ground her teeth.

“How… how dare you make such an insult…! They said you were an ill-mannered villainess, and not a single rumor was wrong.”

My goodness, she knew and still came at me? I’m freshly impressed by that courage.

‘In that case, I should respond even more sincerely.’

Steeling my resolve, I widened my eyes innocently and retorted.

“Oh, you knew? I thought you hadn’t heard the rumors about me.”

Faced with my brazen attitude that went beyond mere confidence, Estra wore an expression of utter disbelief.

“A-apologize to me right now.”

Oh, she stuttered.

I felt satisfied having gained the upper hand in momentum.

But it’s not over until it’s over.

Tilting my head, I replied nonchalantly.

“You’re the one who should apologize. You interrupted my sweet time with Richard.”

Take that, irritating semi-formal speech attack.

Since she’d been glancing at Richard this whole time, I decided to scratch at that particular spot.

“….”

Bingo. Seeing her face contort like a demon’s, this provocation was truly critical.

Let’s see, countdown to explosion starts now. 3, 2, 1…

“Admiral! I cannot accept this! How can you associate with such a vulgar woman!”

“Why do I need your acceptance for Richard and me to meet?”

Before Richard could answer, I deployed the ‘Who are you to talk?’ strategy.

Then I shrugged my shoulders and gently placed the veil on my head.

“Let’s go, Richard. It’s too noisy here.”

When I reached out my hand as if requesting an escort, he naturally offered his arm.

“Eeeek…!”

Witnessing this clearly, flames shot from Estra’s eyes.

“Stop right there, Lady Rabius.”

I moved lightly, pretending not to hear her call.

By openly ignoring her, I could feel her rage burning even with my back turned. How heated.

“I said stop!”

“This is really tiresome.”

The moment I turned around with flair.

I clearly saw Estra about to throw the heavy sherbet glass in our direction.

However, instead of being surprised or trying to dodge, I felt satisfied.

‘Good thing I put on the veil earlier.’

Humans are learning animals.

To someone like me who had gained harsh real-world experience at the May Festival, a sherbet attack was nothing.

In fact, I had anticipated this possibility from the start.

However.

Splash.

‘The current situation is quite perplexing…’

As someone who prides herself on being a K-drama enthusiast, I’m ashamed I didn’t anticipate this variation of a classic scene.

“…Richard.”

“Sorry for suddenly embracing you.”

Cold raspberry sherbet dripped from the back and arms of his black jacket.

Meanwhile, only the edges of my veil and dress hem had slight sherbet splatters.

‘Why did he step in? I told him it wasn’t necessary.’

Anyway, it’s my fault for allowing his approach.

Since it’s come to this, I should at least provide proper aftercare.

I let my displeasure show clearly in my face and voice, unhappy with this unprofessional mistake.

“How dare you touch my man.”

To cause trouble properly, one needs strength. That is, Callia was very strong despite her slim build.

“I wasn’t aiming for the Admiral, but for you… Eeek!”

I instantly grabbed the sherbet terrorist’s hair and shoved her face into the ice decoration.

It was my first time grabbing someone’s hair so I was quite nervous inside, but thanks to muscle memory, it wrapped around my hand perfectly.

With her cheek pressed against the catfish-like ice sculpture, Estra gasped.

“Hic, hiccup, y-you crazy woman…”

“That’s right. If you didn’t know, learn it well now. I’m absolutely crazy about Richard.”

A moderate level of anger helps with method acting.

When I released her hair with a throw-like motion, Estra coughed artificially while choking.

I looked down at her contemptuously, then straightened up and cast my gaze around.

People who had been whispering or watching this chaos with interest averted their eyes.

I smiled brightly at the audience.

“From now on, whoever you are, be prepared to come to your senses in the North Sea before approaching Richard.”

Then I took out a handkerchief and brushed off the sherbet from Richard’s jacket.

“We were having such a pleasant time, this is really upsetting.”

As I spoke with an intentionally whiny voice, I noticed drops of sherbet on Richard’s cheek.

“Could you lower your head for a moment?”

Richard obediently lowered his head to help with my performance.

Hmm, but I can’t wipe his face with the handkerchief I used to clean his coat, can I?

I held his arm and stood on my tiptoes.

Then I licked off the red juice splattered on his smooth cheek.

I could feel the arm I was holding become stiff.

“…Callia.”

“What a waste. It was so delicious.”

“….”

I had intended to give people one last impactful scene before leaving.

‘Hmm, was that too much?’

Richard wasn’t saying anything.

Maybe he was uncomfortable because things progressed too quickly.

‘No, be confident.’

Light kisses were already agreed upon in the contract anyway.

Besides, this wasn’t even on the lips, just the cheek, right? It’s just being cute, just cute.

After finishing my rationalization, I activated my social life active skill Lv. 3 Thick-faced for a follow-up attack.

“I want to taste it again next time, Richard.”

I whispered like a love poem, but loud enough for others to hear.

“…Oh my goodness.”

“…I think I’m seeing things.”

“I think I’m hearing things…”

But it wasn’t just the people who were dumbfounded; the focus disappeared from Richard’s blue eyes as well.

‘He’s weaker to unexpected situations than I thought. It was something we agreed on… wait.’

Suddenly, the rating standards started getting mixed up in my head.

Did Richard think of innocent pecks while I interpreted it as PG-15?

Being an obsessive villainess is fine, but becoming a crazy pervert is not.

I still have that much human dignity left in me.

“Richard.”

Worried that I’d messed up, I carefully called out to him, and his gaze slowly turned to me before quickly returning straight ahead.

Finally, breaking the silence that felt as long as an ice age, he spoke.

“Callia. Please restrain your displays of affection in public places.”

Though his voice was resolute to the point of being cold, I felt deeply relieved.

Thank goodness. It seems he’s willing to end this with just a warning.

‘From now on, I’ll strictly adhere to general audience guidelines.’

But I can’t immediately change my attitude just because I’m scared. That would go against the purpose of our contract.

“Then let’s move to a private place. Where I can love you completely without any disturbances.”

I said with a smile while grabbing Richard’s arm.

And in a direction others couldn’t see, I frantically wrote ‘I’m sorry’ with my finger on Richard’s gloved hand.

His hand twitched slightly, probably from ticklishness.

“…Right. My clothes are dirty anyway, so we should leave now.”

Fortunately, he cooperated with me until we left.

“This place has great sherbet. It was delicious.”

“Thank you for visiting! Please come again!”

After I handed over plenty of gold coins for cleaning expenses, the manager bid us farewell in a booming voice.

And so Richard and I left the tea room.