Maria smiled nonchalantly at Audrey’s reaction.

Her smile was almost arrogant.  

“Yes, Madame, you saw correctly. From now on, all expenses for me should be billed to the palace.”  

The list Maria had swept through today was long enough to touch the floor, and the amount exceeded 1,700 grand.  

It was an excessive amount for a single shopping trip, yet Maria showed no hesitation or reluctance, remaining composed.  

‘She’s insane. The article was true!’  

Madame Audrey suppressed a grin and bowed her head.  

‘Maria Tartien is becoming the queen. That means Tartien will devour this country whole.’  

Madame Audrey’s hand, clutching her dress, tightened with determination.  

This was an opportunity.  

Audrey was an ordinary woman born as the third of five siblings in a rural commoner’s family.  

Though she had risen to her position with her talent for making dresses and jewelry, her ambition didn’t end there.  

‘Royal Court Designer!’  

She wanted the highest position as a designer who frequented the royal court.  

She had heard that in other countries, many designers had already established businesses with high-end fashion.  

Audrey wanted to become one of those figures.  

“I must have shown you only ordinary things, considering you will soon be the queen. Lady Maria, if you have time, may I visit your residence next week to show you a special collection I’ve been saving? I’ll bring models to show you how they look when worn.”  

Maria hesitated for a moment at Audrey’s suggestion, then smiled pleasantly.  

“Madame, you’re quick to act, aren’t you? Well, alright. Visit on Wednesday morning.”  

“It would be an honor to serve the finest lady in this country.”  

With such keen awareness, it’s no wonder she quickly took control of Levania’s social circles.  

Maria watched Audrey retreat with a satisfied expression.  

‘Well, that’s a good thing.’  

The finest lady in this country.  

That title would soon be hers.  

But even so, what was this emptiness in her heart that felt so hollow?  

A pitiful and wretched lady sacrificed for her father’s and brother’s ambitions.  

That was who she had become.  

“Sigh…….”  

Indeed, her fate was too pitiful and miserable.  

This wretchedness couldn’t be compensated for with a few jewels and fancy dresses.  

‘A lover…….’  

Landers had told her to find a lover, but Maria wasn’t satisfied with anyone.  

Only Karl Winger.  

She wanted only that man.  

But that man was too busy, and more than anything……  

‘He’s not interested in me.’  

Why would he meet that vulgar painter with just a pretty face and not be interested in me, Maria Tartien?  

‘Is red hair his type? No, that Berhe royal he was meeting last time had black hair. Then why can’t it be me?’  

She had never thought there was anything she couldn’t have in her life.  

Whether it was a person, an object, or something beyond that.  

But why was it only Karl Winger she couldn’t have?  

The more she thought she couldn’t have him, the more desperate she became.  

Maria, staring vacantly out the window, suddenly paused and lifted her head.  

Was it because she had wished and desired so fervently?  

Karl Winger appeared.  

Maria wasted no time and rose from her seat to run outside.  

* * *

“Count Cissus!”  

Karl, who had been sitting on the railing of the grand staircase, slowly turned at the voice calling him.  

Maria Tartien was hurrying towards him, having forgotten her dignity.  

“Lady Tartien.”  

“You promised to call me Maria. Please call me Maria.”  

Maria, though breathless, anxiously requested him to call her by her name.  

“Maria.”  

At his single word, a smile bloomed on Maria’s face like a flower.  

Karl regarded that bright smile with a curious gaze.  

‘Monster!’  

‘Father, don’t sell me to that monster!’  

‘I don’t want to! I really don’t! I already have someone in my heart……!’  

What kind of expression would this woman make when she found out that the monster was the same person she had in her heart?  

When she realized she had looked at that monster with this excited expression.  

‘Would she despair? Would she be pleased? Or would she deny it, saying it’s unbelievable?’  

Whatever it was, Karl eagerly awaited the day it would come.  

He had endured all those days to strike them from behind.  

Karl looked at Maria with a soft smile he had never shown her before.  

“What urgent matter made you call me so hastily?”  

“Well, um…….”  

Though she had caught him, she didn’t actually have a clear reason.  

Her maid, Lindsay, who was surprised by her sudden impulsive action, hurriedly followed Maria out.  

“Maria?”  

For a moment, Maria stared blankly at Karl.  

Hearing her name whispered in that sweet voice,

It felt like her ears were melting.  

Maria, who had been staring blankly at Karl, lowered her head with a flushed face.  

Truly, it was the first time she had been so flustered, the first time her heart had pounded like this.  

‘I don’t know what to say. My heart feels like it’s going to burst!’  

In fact, if he were a considerate man, he wouldn’t have directly asked her for her purpose, making her feel embarrassed.  

Beyond consideration, that was basic social etiquette.  

But in any case, this man was a foreigner and a businessman who spoke directly.  

No matter what, Karl Winger’s actions didn’t matter.  

As long as she could hold onto this man.  

He’s just a businessman at best.  

And a noble from another country.  

Yet she wanted him to death.  

If she couldn’t have him, she felt like she would go crazy someday.  

Maria mustered the courage to grab his coat.  

For Maria, who had always been escorted by men, this was an unprecedented boldness.  

“I-if it’s alright, would you spare some time for me?”  

Karl looked at Maria calmly, without any sign of surprise.  

His golden eyes, resembling the sun, burned her intensely.  

Maria thought her soul was being consumed by his gaze.  

If she could, she wanted to be passionately entangled with this man.  

She wanted to feel his possessiveness.  

She wanted to shiver at his touch, to hear those austere lips panting her name.  

He looked at her quietly and then smiled gently.  

Maria’s heart pounded at that smile.  

“I’m really sorry. I have a scheduled appointment right now…….”  

“Oh…….”  

It was a rejection.  

She was rejected again.  

Maria felt beyond despair and shame, she felt anger.  

How dare he treat someone who would become the first lady of this country like this every time!  

Even when Landers and her father gritted their teeth at Karl Winger, Maria had defended him several times.  

If it weren’t for her, Karl would have faced several business crises.  

Ignoring such grace, how dare he……!  

Maria felt terribly wronged and upset.  

But more than anything, she was despairing over her own heart that still wanted to hold onto him despite being so humiliated.  

“Today won’t work, but could you invite me to the Tartien estate in a few days?”  

“What?”  

……it wasn’t a rejection?  

Karl took Maria’s hand, which was still holding onto his coat, and lightly kissed it over her glove before releasing it.  

“I’m really sorry to decline your offer. As an apology, I’d like to give you a ticket to a special box seat for tonight’s opera. Would that be alright? If you go with Lord Landers…… Ah.”  

As he spoke, he hesitated and then looked apologetic.  

“I was thoughtless. I heard belatedly that the young duke of Tartien is unwell. Is he alright?”  

“L-Landers is fine! More importantly, can you really come to our estate next week?”  

Karl gave Maria a charming smile she had never seen before.  

Maria felt elated, as if she could fly.  

“I would like to meet and talk with the duke again. Would you be able to arrange that? Perhaps…… next Tuesday would be good.”  

“Of course! Alright! Anytime! You’ll definitely come, right?”  

Maria realized belatedly that day was the ‘card game’ day, but she couldn’t retract her decision.  

He had asked her to invite him first.  

There was no way he didn’t know that she would soon be marrying the king.

Yet he kissed her hand and sent her affectionate glances while asking to be invited—this could only mean one thing.

‘He might, he might want me.’