The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 25

“You would know better than anyone.”

Indeed I do.

Until just half a year ago, I had to endure his piercing gazes or clicking tongue about twice a week.

He had become Duke Zamoti only half a year ago; before that, he worked at the Ceremonial Office.

Though it was already full of people who looked at me with distaste, Duke Zamoti was particularly severe.

In short.

The supreme old fogey among old fogeys!

‘I was so frustrated that Duke Zamoti wasn’t there during the Ceremonial Office audit.’

I really wanted to see his face contort with indignation at least once.

“So you’re saying I should face Duke Zamoti as the future Imperial Princess Consort?”

“Exactly.”

Cassian giggled softly.

“I think you can handle this perfectly.”

For a moment, my devilish superior appeared in a different light.

Such a legal revenge, no, such perfect utilization of personnel.

‘Though I wonder if that old fogey who used to click his tongue every time he saw me will acknowledge it.’

But who cares if he doesn’t? That would just make it even better for turning his stomach inside out.

I nodded while sharing a smile with Cassian.

“Of course, I’ll definitely live up to Your Highness’s expectations.”

A boss-approved disruption, no, a strategy execution.

I’ll make good use of this opportunity.

*

On the day of execution, for this rare opportunity, I unusually focused on the maids’ preparations.

…Though that just meant I read reports during the preparations rather than not reading them at all.

Anyway, thanks to the maids’ elaborate efforts, I looked more like a prince’s fiancée than ever before.

I felt I wouldn’t lose even in comparison to Lady Hanella, First Prince Charlie’s fiancée.

Since her engagement to Prince Charlie, Lady Hanella had maintained the most flamboyant peacock-like appearance in social circles.

‘Though this dress doesn’t give an overtly flashy impression.’

Rather, it made me admire Cassian Artez’s eye for fashion even more.

Using a light mint-colored fabric with subtle sheen as the base, it avoided frills and lace decorations, instead using embroidery as accent points for decoration.

Adding generous jewel decorations as points, the balance was so exquisite that it harmonized without looking excessive.

Moreover, it was truly a masterpiece that utilized the fabric’s characteristics to create natural folds that served as decorations themselves.

“I thought you’d keep me waiting today.”

When I went outside at the appointed time, I saw Cassian who had arrived early and was examining documents while leaning against the wall.

He immediately organized the documents and handed them to his attendant as he swiftly approached me.

“I’m pleased you’re even prettier than I expected.”

“When did you order this?”

Cassian, who had been offering mannerly greetings, burst into small laughter at my honest question.

“It’s my recent hobby.”

“What…?”

“It’s quite enjoyable, finding and ordering dresses that would suit you, Rose.”

Cassian smiled as he lifted my hand to kiss my knuckles.

“I can’t prepare something inadequate for the additional income you love so much.”

It was his usual playful tone to lighten the mood, but somehow I found it difficult to respond in kind.

‘His eyes….’

Why are they somewhat different?

Because along with his desire to tease me and his usual goodwill, there seemed to be another emotion, faint and difficult to identify, mixed in.

Without realizing it, I found myself staring intently into his eyes.

Far from avoiding such a gaze, Cassian readily met it, then raised his hand to lightly cover my eyes.

“I wish you’d let me escape a bit.”

Along with these enigmatic words, I felt his breath sweep close to my cheek.

“…Your Highness?”

Uncharacteristically, I sensed slight hesitation from him.

In the slow flow of time, just as I began to feel my pulse quickening strangely…

—”I need to work, Rose.”

He whispered to me as if it was nothing special, as if there was nothing extraordinary about it.

His warmth that I felt close by, and his large hand that had blocked my vision, were both withdrawn.

With my vision restored to its brightness, I blinked for a moment and looked at him as if to confirm.

The depth of his eyes, which smiled in gentle curves, had already returned to normal.

Armed only with a bit of mischief, trust, and goodwill toward me.

*

The treasures of the Anden Kingdom were all stored in the annex located north of the Winter Palace.

Cassian and I had arrived 30 minutes earlier than our appointment with Duke Zamoti.

“Your Highness!”

However, Duke Zamoti must have been quite anxious, as he hurried toward Cassian as soon as he saw him, as if he had arrived even earlier to wait.

“Duke Zamoti greets Your Highness the Prince.”

As expected of a former Ceremonial Officer……

While not hiding at all that he was in a hurry, I had to admire how he performed his greeting without a single flaw the moment he came within exactly five steps of Cassian.

I too slightly bent my knee to greet Duke Zamoti before being called out.

Though he looked at me with the same hostile gaze as before, he didn’t throw sharp words at my face like last time.

‘Your Highness, it is also your duty as a member of the imperial family to have a suitable assistant. It’s bad enough having Lord Gache as an assistant, but a baroness who hasn’t even had her debutante ball?’

It doesn’t uphold the empire’s dignity.

Are you really going to introduce such an assistant as your first assistant at foreign ceremonies?

To think she walks around the imperial palace without even properly greeting Her Highness the Imperial Consort.

If she knew her shame, she would step down herself — that would be true loyalty.

And so on!

He had been so relentless with his criticism whenever he saw me that I thought he had a hate switch installed somewhere.

‘I’ve practically had my debutante ball already, and now I’m not just an assistant but the future Crown Princess?’

While I was wondering in my head why this trash talker’s attitude had changed, his mouth opened quickly.

“I see you brought Miss Saliche — I assume you plan to have her cultivate the proper education as the future Crown Princess.”

Duke Zamoti spoke while looking at Cassian as if he truly meant it.

“I’m very pleased to see that Your Highness seems to be considering selecting a proper assistant, as I suggested in my loyal counsel before.”

At that moment, Cassian gently tapped my pinky finger.

It was a considerate signal asking if he should handle this.

Of course!

I had no intention whatsoever of passing my prey to someone else.

“As the first assistant to the one I serve, I’m very grateful that you care so much about His Highness.”

“I didn’t ask you a question, though?”

“I believe it’s also my duty to respond to words that aren’t worth His Highness’s response.”

I looked at Duke Zamoti with the nasty smile I had learned well from Cassian.

“You should know very well, Duke, that not just anyone can be His Highness Cassian’s assistant.”

When they were the ones who isolated him in the first place!

“Duke, you always told me I was lacking, and I might think those words were right.”

“You know your place?”

“Yes. But I’m also someone who knows responsibility.”

I covered my mouth with my hand and let out a clear sound of mockery, then opened my mouth again.

“I must be better than the second son of the Zamoti family who ran away saying he couldn’t handle a slightly burdensome task, right?”

“T-that was for legitimate reasons…!”

“Ah, of course, I did hear that the second son of the Zamoti family quit because he suddenly took on the honorable position of scribe writing documents for the Ceremonial Office.”

Duke Zamoti’s eye twitched at my words, delivered with all traces of smile removed.

“I happened to review some documents written by your son a few months ago.”

Right during that Ceremonial Office audit.

And Duke Zamoti knew the results very well.

Just before the second son was about to be dishonorably dismissed, Duke Zamoti had whisked him away saying there was an urgent matter at their estate.

Duke Zamoti’s triumphant face distorted.

I was prepared for whatever response might come.

But Duke Zamoti, having no manners…

“Ahem, Y-Your Highness, you remember the purpose of my visit here today!”

Instead of declaring his defeat to me, he avoided by turning to Cassian.

That man…

While I was inwardly muttering a brief anger,

“Ah, of course.”

Cassian nodded while openly mocking him.

“Since the Duke seems to have nothing more to say to my assistant, shall we move on to today’s main topic?”

“A-ahem…!”

The Duke could only clear his throat loudly and nod at Cassian’s strike.

At those words, Cassian deliberately escorted me preciously into the annex ahead of the Duke.

He tapped my hand resting on his arm as if apologizing for taking over the finale.

Of course, I leaned slightly against Cassian with a look saying it was fine.

Just like real engaged couples.

“Kuh, kup…!”

I felt slightly satisfied at the Duke’s incredulous choking sound from behind us.

*

“Rose, are your feet not hurting? Should I carry you?”

Due to Duke Zamoti’s visit schedule, the inside of the annex was already like a preview exhibition hall.

“Look at that tiara, Rose. The princess said some of the artworks are available for purchase.”

And my superior…

“It seems everything loses its luster before my lovely Rose, no matter what I compare.”

Was thoroughly enjoying the sound of Duke Zamoti’s blood boiling.

Every time he spoke to me affectionately, the Duke’s face changed through various colors, to the point where even I found it somewhat amusing.

“A-ahem, Your Highness.”

“Hmm? Is the Duke examining everything well?”

Cassian responded with obvious annoyance at being called.

“I’m a bit displeased to have to share this short time I planned to spend sweetly with Rose with you as well.”

Of course, his tone, sweet as if someone had poured an entire jar of honey, wasn’t simply pretending to tease the Duke.