The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 12

It might be just my feeling, but Cassian gave the impression today that he simply wanted to see what I liked.

Usually, my workaholic boss would feed me extravagant meals or give extra allowances as work intensified.

However, today was too ambiguous to be considered compensation for difficult work.

“Was it hard?”

“Not really.”

Honestly, after leaving the restaurant, I just enjoyed it too.

Shopping with someone else’s money was quite fun, but I just felt a bit uncomfortable.

“Then it wasn’t meaningless. I just…”

“……?”

“I just wanted to give you something other than work.”

You’ve already given me many other things before.

Like salary, allowances, delicious meals.

As I looked at him with a dumb face, Cassian smiled and suddenly came close to me.

With a soft touch, he kissed my right cheek and pulled away.

“This is a repayment for something from the past.”

“…What?”

“Well then, good night, Rose.”

He disappeared into the carriage, looking satisfied with his eyes curved.

Did he eat something strange today?

Why is he acting like this?

‘…Repayment for something from the past?’

He even left me with a riddle.

Feeling somewhat robbed, I covered my right cheek with my palm and watched the direction of the carriage Cassian had boarded.

“…You should have taken me there, Ian.”

The carriage was heading towards the western district, not the central shopping area we had been circling all day.

Really, what’s with that person?

*

After spending a weekend full of riddles, I went to Cassian’s office to start work, as if shaking off my complicated feelings.

As usual, Cassian was processing documents dryly in a comfortable shirt.

At this truly tiresome yet reassuring everyday scene, I sat down comfortably to start reporting today’s schedule.

“There’s no special schedule in the morning today, and at 2 PM, there’s the Knight Order–”

“Before that, Rose.”

“Yes?”

But as soon as I started reporting the schedule, Cassian cut me off and said,

“Shall we get engaged?”

“…What?”

“I said, shall we get engaged?”

“…Did you get a lover? When should I schedule–”

Faced with this unexpected topic that came out of nowhere, I mechanically prepared to take notes as an assistant.

Cassian got a lover?

There wasn’t even a hint. Then was last weekend some kind of rehearsal for a date?

However, as if crushing the thoughts I had evasively recalled, Cassian continued,

“I don’t have a lover, I’m asking you.”

“What?”

“I’d like you and I to be engaged.”

“……”

What kind of bolt from the blue is this?

For the past year, while working as Cassian’s assistant, I thought I became quite good at understanding his intentions.

But now, I couldn’t understand at all.

“…Your Highness, I’m asking just in case.”

“Yes.”

“We weren’t in a romantic relationship, were we?”

I was afraid that I might have been so absorbed in work that I had said ‘yes’ when he asked to be lovers.

Even though I was crazy about work, I don’t think I lost my mind to that extent.

“If I say we were, you look like you’d believe it, and it’s making me want to lie, Rose.”

“…That’s a relief. I thought I had committed a huge disrespect to Your Highness.”

“Why would that be disrespectful?”

You and I being lovers? Cassian muttered, speaking somewhat disapprovingly.

No matter how foolish I sometimes become, I knew that Cassian Artez had no personal feelings for me.

This wasn’t about being dull, it was the truth.

He just treated me like a precious little sister.

“Please explain properly, Your Highness.”

“I wanted to make you a bit excited, but I guess it failed.”

If that was your intention, you would have deceived me more thoroughly.

Seeing my face that seemed tired of this, Cassian raised both arms in surrender and said,

“Alright, Rose. You’re right. We need a bit of disguise.”

“Why?”

“I thought she was in self-reflection, but the Empress has been spreading rumors in the kingdom at her whim.”

“What?”

“Saying they should arrange a royal marriage with the kingdom’s precious princess.”

I opened my eyes wide at those words.

The effects of the original story’s destruction were showing here too.

Clearly, the Empress trying to sell off Cassian as a son-in-law to the princess heir of the kingdom’s was a story that came out after the middle of the novel.

And now this?

“But as you know, my brother already has a fiancée, and I don’t. Well, it’s not like my brother and I are the only princes.”

I remembered the Third Prince was still about sixteen years old.

And the kingdom’s princess was even older than Cassian.

“But I have no intention of leaving the empire at all.”

“Did you call me out on the weekend as a rehearsal for today?”

“…That wasn’t it. But if thinking that way makes you more comfortable, Rose.”

Cassian made a lonely face, so I shook my head.

“But Your Highness, couldn’t you choose plenty of other fiancées besides me, right?”

Even with some interference from the Empress, unlike in the original story, Cassian had built up his position enough to be able to make a marriage arrangement with a young lady from a decent family.

“That would be disrespectful to the other party, when I have no such intentions.”

“Do you want a contract engagement?”

“Hmm, something like that.”

Cassian told me with an amused face.

“You don’t have those feelings for me.”

“Neither do you, Your Highness.”

“Right, so it’s perfect.”

Cassian said that and then started quickly writing up documents.

No, even if I love money, an engagement with him is a bit…

Even if it’s a contract engagement, it will be openly known to those around us, so dealing with the aftermath of breaking it off will be very, very troublesome.

Honestly, I don’t have much interest in marriage, but I don’t want to create something for my parents to worry about either.

However, Cassian’s hand stopped faster than my thoughts could finish.

“How about these conditions?”

50 gold per event as my fiancée.
All necessary items provided.
Triple the existing allowance for overtime work.
No deduction from existing salary during work hours when accompanying.

My eyes, which were about to refuse while recalling the original story, suddenly widened.

This is the devil’s temptation.

It’s an act of selling my soul.

I should refuse, but.

I should say no!

The courage to–

“Hmm, if this isn’t enough.”

30 gold every time you’re mentioned as my fiancée in articles.
Additional 100 gold for image exposure.
Separate retirement allowance upon termination of engagement period.

The devil, as if reading my hesitation, relentlessly added a few more conditions and thrust them before my eyes.

Seriously, this crazy boss.

I looked at Cassian with a blank and dumbfounded face.

I thought he would naturally have an expression full of confidence.

“Is this still not enough?”

Instead, he seemed to be desperately pleading with me.

“Only you can save me, Rose.”

Just act arrogant as usual!

Then, no matter how good the conditions were, I was planning to refuse, saying I couldn’t interfere with someone else’s marriage prospects.

But when he makes that face, since I have memories of cheering for him in my past life…

“I’ll take full responsibility so that you won’t be in trouble even after the contract ends.”

Cassian finally added even that content to the contract and placed it in front of me.

“Please.”

Even saying such words.

Ah, really!

I sighed deeply.

Right, save a person and earn money too.

With this, I could pay off my debt about 5 years faster.

Fine, I’ll do it.

I closed my eyes tightly and signed the contract.

A strong sense of déjà vu struck my mind.

Right, people repeat the same mistakes! Whatever!

Whether I fell for the money, or for Cassian’s ridiculously desperate expression, I don’t know.

Even as I finished signing, I wasn’t sure within myself.

As I handed the contract to Cassian with a bitter face, he laughed softly and grabbed my left hand.

“You look like you’ve been kidnapped, by me.”

“I think that’s accurate.”

It’s like my private time is being kidnapped, Your Highness.

“Then is this like a shackle to bind you?”

He made a strange face as he slowly raised my left hand.

A ring was already on my left ring finger.

A lavishly crafted ring with a conspicuously large diamond attached.

“Of course, this is yours too.”

He lightly kissed my ring finger and smiled gently.

And I couldn’t smile.

This crazy prince. This must be well over 1000 gold.

Who gives such an expensive ring for a fake engagement…