The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 16

I heard the sound of liquid being poured, and then my back was pushed.

“…Lady Wilhelmina?”

And the moment I turned around, I saw Wilhelmina covered in purple liquid.

Our positions seem to have changed a bit, Lady.

“Wh-why?”

The face of the young lady holding an empty wine glass turned pale.

Drip, drip, wine droplets fell to the floor in dots.

Through her deeply stained hair, Wilhelmina was glaring at the young lady with a fierce look.

“Seriously, what an undignified act. Did some strange trend emerge in social circles while I was away at the academy in the kingdom?”

Wilhelmina exhaled briefly, then spoke to the young lady while casually brushing back her wine-soaked hair.

“I don’t understand what this behavior is about, especially at a party with distinguished guests from the kingdom, not just an ordinary party.”

“I, I… I just… wanted to put her in her place…”

“Put her in her place? Because you’re a count’s daughter and Miss Saliche is a baron’s daughter?”

Wilhelmina snorted in disbelief.

“Then, as the young lady of the Duke of Lopez, should I teach you your place?”

Wilhelmina said this while raising her hand to the side.

As if overwhelmed by her aura, a servant placed a wine glass in her hand.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Wilhelmina splashed the wine over the count’s daughter’s face.

“Kyaa! Lady! H-how could you! Do you know how much this dress costs?!”

“I’m just showing kindness by not making you pay for the dress you ruined. You should be grateful.”

Then, as if she couldn’t stand being here any longer, Wilhelmina turned sharply and walked away.

‘Huh?’

For some reason.

While firmly holding my hand.

*

Only after entering the resting room prepared for the ducal family did Wilhelmina look at me as if she had come to her senses.

Then, with a face as red as the spilled wine, she shouted loudly.

“Wh-why are you here!”

“You brought me here, Lady. I thought it was your kindness considering my embarrassment in that situation, so I followed you. Was I being presumptuous?”

I first praised Wilhelmina’s actions as I spoke.

Then, contradicting her words from earlier, Wilhelmina spoke as if suppressing a scream.

“Who said that!”

Then she told her maids to prepare a change of dress, and also ordered them to serve me tea.

She’s really kind.

And also…

‘She seemed like the original Wilma.’

Actually, it’s because I greatly flustered her, but originally, Wilhelmina in the original work had charisma befitting a ducal lady.

Just like how she reprimanded the count’s daughter at the ball earlier.

‘In the original work, she also got angry when other young ladies clumsily bullied Roselita instead of her.’

That’s why in the latter half, people wondered if she was obsessed with Cassian or Roselita.

I waited for Wilhelmina to finish changing clothes while drinking the tea prepared by the Duke’s maid.

When she finally sat in front of me with a sullen face, I bowed politely and expressed my gratitude.

“Thanks to you, Lady, I was able to avoid trouble. Thank you. And I’m sorry too.”

“…No need to apologize, I acted on my own.”

Wilhelmina said that, and then mumbled somewhat ambiguously.

“Why did I really… instead of Miss Saliche…”

I heard it all, but I decided to pretend I didn’t.

And in my mind, I was recalling information about that count’s family.

I think there was a task related to a business run by the count’s family among next month’s work.

Should I put some pressure in advance?

I smiled brightly while thinking bad thoughts in my head.

Then Wilhelmina, as if by reflex, flinched and spoke to me.

“N-now get out! How long do you plan to stay in my resting room? It looks like I’m close to you. You and I are rivals!”

Look at how shy she is again.

So I decided to be shameless.

“I thought I became quite close to you, Lady. Was that thought too presumptuous after all?”

“…What?”

“It was a first for me, a noble young lady who greeted me so often.”

This was true. More than being just a baron’s daughter, it was because of the infamy that had built up over the past year.

The male lead had destroyed all my friendships.

Even the original Roselita had a friend or two…

At my words, silence fell in the room for a moment. Wilhelmina turned pale as if she had said something she shouldn’t have, then averted her gaze.

“S-stop saying such presumptuous things, it’s not a big deal to just greet someone.”

Her face turned red again.

She’s really too cute.

Our Wilma.

*

Wilhelmina told me to leave but then held me back saying we should have a cup of tea.

“Y-you should at least keep me company while my hair dries! You have that much sense of responsibility, right?”

Of course, I didn’t miss this precious opportunity and showered Wilhelmina with compliments.

Save Wilma with a few compliments!

And save myself too!

It’s a total win-win, isn’t it?

“I heard you graduated from the academy with excellent grades! You’re really amazing, Lady.”

“It’s not that amazing. I just read some books, that’s all.”

“You’re really modest, you did something even the young duke of Lopez couldn’t do!”

At my words, I clearly saw Wilhelmina’s twitching lips trying to hide behind her teacup.

That’s understandable, as it’s something she’d never hear at home.

To begin with, that family only sees the lady as a tool for marriage business.

Anyway, my efforts over the past two weeks weren’t in vain.

“N-next time.”

“Yes?”

“I’m going to have tea time with you! You won’t refuse, right?! Surely you, as Prince Cassian’s fiancée, wouldn’t avoid me?”

I can see right through your attempt to act nonchalant, Wilma.

It’s okay to just say you want to have tea time together!

Wilhelmina doesn’t have many friends either.

I smiled and nodded at those honest yet dishonest words.

“Of course, Lady. How could I dare avoid your invitation?”

However, at my response, Wilhelmina frowned slightly with a displeased look.

“…I wish you’d stop using words like ‘dare’.”

“Pardon?”

“I think you’re the only person who can compare to me, but when you talk like that, it makes me feel worthless too.”

I looked at her with a surprised face for a moment at those words.

Kindness was hidden in words that seemed arrogant.

My heart swelled with pride.

The result of my two weeks of effort!

My sparkling wine!

This way, I gained a friend and broke some misery flags.

……

That’s right, isn’t it?

*

“You abandoned me.”

When I returned alone after parting with Wilma, Cassian, who had been leaning against the wall with a cold expression, approached me.

“Don’t you know the situation?”

His face slightly crumpled at my words.

He stared at me with a displeased look, and instead of saying anything, he extended his hand to me.

Soon the dance music started, and I began to move my feet, entrusting my body to Cassian’s hand.

As I felt before, his dance skills were close to perfect, as expected of the male lead.

“…Why are you so concerned about Lady Lopez?”

“…Because she’s cute?”

Lost in thoughts about my tea time with Wilhelmina earlier, I gave a reflexive answer.

Then my superior looked at me with an excessively bright smile and replied.

“I see, Rose likes cute things.”

You’re not thinking about bullying Wilhelmina, are you?

I gave him a kinder smile than usual, hoping that this demon-like male lead’s claws wouldn’t reach Lady Wilhelmina.

Then Cassian, who was smiling beautifully, slightly twisted his lips,

“Ugh–!”

During the next turn, he suddenly pulled my body towards him and whispered.

“No matter how I think about it, I seem to have given you more of what you want, Rose.”

“…Your Highness?”

“I’ll have to try harder.”

Contrary to his words, his purple eyes had a dangerous glint.

No, why are you making such a lecherous face while saying you’ll try harder?

It’s similar to the look you had when rooting out corrupt nobles three months ago.

“That way you won’t abandon me.”

Hearing those words, I didn’t hide my incredulous face and showed it to him.

“You’re being too harsh on me, Your Highness, when I’m faithfully fulfilling our contract.”

To view someone so irresponsibly.

Both the work contract and the engagement contract.

There’s no way I’d run away arbitrarily when my precious salary is at stake.

As I looked at him with dissatisfaction, Cassian finally smiled contentedly and beautifully finished the dance as the music was ending.

It was really annoying that he led a perfect dance that others couldn’t notice at all, despite confusing me by changing the steps.

*

Unlike the mean and harsh Cassian Artez, the innocent and promise-keeping Lady Wilhelmina Lopez really sent me an invitation a few days after the ball ended.

So, was I able to attend the tea time…

The answer was, No!

‘Is this on purpose?’

I looked towards Cassian with resentful eyes as I saw the mountain of paperwork piled up.

I want to make friends too, male lead!

That hedgehog-like lady sent me a tea time invitation.

At this rate, I would have to send a third rejection letter.

Because there was simply no time due to too much work.

Of course, I know well that it’s because of the royal wedding, welcoming distinguished guests, and all sorts of diplomatic negotiations…

“What’s wrong, Rose? Curious about tonight’s menu?”

Seeing him casually mention overtime work, it seems too, too intentional.

I quietly turned my head to avoid trying to stop him unnecessarily.

I bitterly wrote a rejection letter, swallowing tears for my hopeless free time.

If only Wilhelmina could see this situation.

Then she would completely lose interest…

I sincerely thought it would be worth it if I could save an innocent lamb through my overtime work.