“Indeed, this is the first time since I briefly greeted you when I visited the palace with Father after returning to the country.”

“That’s correct, my lady.”

There wasn’t a hint of that ripe fruit-like blush anywhere on Wilma’s face.

I also wasn’t as relaxed in my facial muscles in front of Wilma as I was when alone with Cassian, but…

Perhaps sensing my anxiety, or making an assumption, Wilma asked me.

“……Are you worried because of Prince Cassian?”

“What? N-no—”

I’m not doubting you, Wilma!

“Don’t worry, I’m the one who brought you here.”

Huh?

For some reason, after saying something that didn’t quite match up, Wilma hid me behind her and asked Cassian.

“May I ask what brings you here, Your Highness?”

“Official business.”

Though his face was quite stiff, I had already noticed.

That he found this situation quite interesting.

I can’t let sweet Wilma get devoured by that demon……

“Surely you can handle it alone, Your Highness? After all, you’re the one who gave your assistant Roselita vacation time.”

“Of course, however.”

Cassian’s face softened slightly as he spoke kindly to me.

“I would like to make a request of the lady.”

“What?”

“I’ll return to the capital in a few days, and even as a prince, I’d like to spend some private time outside of work.”

At those words ‘private time,’ far from showing anticipation, Wilma’s face hardened as if she’d encountered a great enemy.

“I do have plans, Your Highness.”

“That’s why I’m making this request. And you must know this isn’t such an unreasonable act.”

“……Are you saying a fiancé takes precedence over a friend?”

No, that’s not it.

Why would I prioritize seeing my superior’s face, whom I’ll be sick of seeing once I return to the capital!

I made a face clearly showing Wilma that I didn’t want this.

‘Besides, even the fiancé part is just work for me.’

I used every facial muscle I had to emphasize that Wilma was my priority, but……

“I suppose it can’t be helped. You must be in your honeymoon phase.”

Whatever interpretation she made, Wilma nodded with a face that seemed to say she would let me go with regret, though it pained her.

Wilma, don’t worry……

Are you sure it’s okay to help out like this when I’m your love rival?

When I turned my head from Wilma to Cassian with a bitter face,

“I’ll look forward to dinner, Rose.”

Only my superior, who had thoroughly read and understood all my expressions, wore the smile of a victor.

……Well, three days was a long enough break.

I simply resigned myself to it.

*

“……Still, I’m relieved.”

“About what?”

After we settled into our seats at the quaint brunch restaurant, Wilma let out a sigh as she spoke.

“I was very worried, both from your letters and the rumors I heard.”

She poured tea into the cups with elegant poise from the teapot that arrived first.

A red-colored tea with a tart aroma spread widely.

“That Prince Cassian was making you, who has no power, suffer for his achievements.”

That’s quite an accurate assessment, really.

“But seeing today, it seems that’s not entirely the case.”

Though Wilma looked genuinely disappointed, she also strangely seemed somewhat excited.

“……After all this, I suppose the newspaper article was right?”

“Which……”

“That you and Prince Cassian got engaged because you love each other.”

Why are you the only one believing an article that no one else believed……?

Though it’s fortunate when considering the purpose of the engagement.

“I wasn’t sure either, but seeing His Highness today, I understand clearly. He came all the way here because he couldn’t bear not seeing you for a few days.”

“Uh……”

I stared at Wilma with a dumbfounded face.

Worried about what I would do if she was hurt……

“Don’t make that face, I won’t be a petty villainess who steals her friend’s man.”

Ah, that’s what the story I recommended yesterday was about.

About a friend stealing a fiancé……

“Rather, seeing you and Prince Cassian looking at each other, I’ve completely sorted out my remaining feelings. Realizing it was just admiration after all.”

I’m truly glad Wilma escaped from the demon’s clutches, but……

Why……

Why do I feel so lonely?

As if my young sister—though Wilma was actually a year older than me—was graduating.

But since it wasn’t something I should say out loud, I cut into the moist French toast that had arrived in the meantime and covered it up with sweetness.

*

“Did you have a good time, Rose?”

“Yeees……”

I answered my superior’s question weakly.

“You were smiling so brightly in front of the lady.”

“I have to do my job properly.”

Cassian Artez came to pick me up in the evening, as he had arranged with Lady Wilhelmina beforehand.

The brunch and afternoon walk I spent with Wilma were truly enjoyable.

Rather than being forcefully dragged around, the schedule was relaxed, keeping its purpose of recuperation in mind while pleasantly satisfying both the eyes and the palate.

Wilma had said she would take me to a restaurant tonight that only uses fresh local ingredients.

According to her, they change their menu regularly through recipe research, have beautiful plating, and their head chef who worked at the imperial palace for decades guarantees the taste.

‘Sob sob, it feels like something was given and then taken away.’

People work to make a living, but still.

I let out a deep sigh to shake off my internal lamentations.

No use dwelling on what’s passed.

Besides, Wilma said she’d make another reservation before returning to the capital!

Lady Wilhelmina Lopez truly was an angel.

“I remember telling the lady I wanted to spend some private time.”

Cassian spoke slowly after giving me sufficient time to feel regretful.

“……Did you not have work to assign me?”

“Your trust in me is too low.”

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

At Cassian’s words, I looked at him seriously, exasperated.

“Would you please put your hand on your heart and calmly reflect on the past?”

“I don’t think I’ve done anything to make my heart prick with guilt.”

“You’ve dragged me around shopping under the excuse of work.”

“That was preparation for making you my fiancée, so it was work, right?”

His words were technically correct but why does it feel so forced?

“You also give me tons of work at 5 PM saying this is the last task.”

“I remember you usually finished everything desperately before closing time in those cases.”

That was true too.

But that wasn’t a realistically possible workload.

It was because I–!

Exhibited superhuman strength from my desire to leave work!

Though admittedly, he never said such things when it was clearly impossible to leave on time no matter what.

“……Why are you so annoying?”

“I think you quite liked that about me, Rose.”

“Your confidence is really excessive.”

“Rather than a man who’s too kind and full of justice, who makes others suffer briefly to solve things by the book—”

Huh……?

“Wasn’t your type someone weak and cunning?”

Cassian grabbed my hand, intertwining it with his and gave me a strange look.

“That’s true, but……”

Though my lips moved, a chill ran down my spine.

No matter how I look at it, doesn’t he really know?

Though it’s hazy since it was almost ten years ago, I’m pretty sure I rambled something like that in front of a feverish Cassian.

Half thinking he wouldn’t remember anyway.

And half hoping that if he did remember, he would live life a bit more easily.

Since I had stopped managing my expressions from the moment I stood before him, I knew he would read my agitation thoroughly.

I wanted to somehow get past this situation without letting him be certain.

Though it had eased considerably, I still had the desire to escape from the title of this world’s protagonist.

My modest yet grand desire to live leisurely and peacefully in the quiet Saliche territory once all the family debts were paid off.

“……Why that expression?”

He lifted our fully intertwined hands and kissed the back of my hand with an audible sound while looking at me with warm eyes.

“It’s been almost a year and a half since you came to my side.”

As if telling me to relax, Cassian smiled gently.

“You don’t think I couldn’t have analyzed your taste in men by now.”

This isn’t the situation I was thinking of.

Relief and an internal chuckle escaped at Cassian’s words.

“Analyzed, you say.”

“Yes.”

I felt his consideration in stepping back when I showed dislike, not pushing further.

“……You really pay too much attention to me.”

So I decided to accept his thoughtfulness for now.

Because both he and I knew that unprepared revelations could disrupt many things.

“Should I beg you to pay some attention to me too.”

At Cassian’s gentle smile, I acted exasperated as usual.

However, I also knew I couldn’t just rely on the grace period he gave with consideration.

Since that too was from seeds I had sown, I kept in mind that I should carefully prepare to return his kindness.

*