“So until then, enjoy your vacation with Lady Wilhelmina. I like seeing your face light up surrounded by desires.”

Why does he make me sound like some materialistic person?

Well, it’s not entirely wrong.

After escorting me to the mansion entrance, Cassian carefully studied my face, still unable to shake off my anxiety.

“Is something still bothering you?”

His tone was incredibly gentle.

With an attitude suggesting I should unburden all my fears and leave everything to him, he tickled my cheek.

“It’s fine even if it sounds absurd, I’ll never dismiss anything you say, Rose.”

“……This is just hypothetical, but…”

Though it was merely part of the original work with no real connection, I couldn’t shake my unease—despite having twisted and destroyed the story as I pleased since childhood.  

“I hope Wilhelmina doesn’t get involved in this matter.”  

Even though I truly see no connection right now, I felt I could at least share this uneasy feeling with him.  

Even if he is a devilish superior who only brings overwork.

“The ducal lady, you mean.”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t help but trust him since he never dismisses my words.

And keeping things bottled up alone wasn’t my style either.

“I’ll make sure of it.”

Though his answer was casual, it wasn’t insincere, making me feel the tension that had been stiffening my entire body dissolve.

“Though I’m feeling jealous.”

“What?”

Cassian showed me a mischievous face as I relaxed.

“You’re always looking after Lady Wilhelmina like that, it makes me wonder if I should start watching out for ladies to protect my fiancée.”

“What are you—”

The words caught in my throat.

Because of his sudden approach.

The purple eyes that filled my vision gazed at me teasingly, and then,

Chu–

A soft sensation touched my cheek near my lips before pulling away.

“So please forgive this much rudeness, my beloved.”

His voice whispered from so close I could feel his breath, making my already slow thoughts even slower.

“……Ah, um.”

I failed to notice someone approaching to greet me.

“Oh, oh my, oh my…!”

Hearing the startled voice behind me, I reflexively turned my head to find Wilhelmina standing there.

Along with her lady’s maid, both with reddened cheeks as a set.

“Ahem, we, we didn’t see anything. We just came out for a walk.”

What exactly was she trying to explain?

“It seems a bit chilly, let’s go walk again with shawls.”

“Yes, yes! My lady!”

Wilhelmina already had a shawl draped over her shoulders, and her maid was holding what seemed to be a spare one meant for me.

“Wilma—”

“Ah, that’s right! Didn’t they say that gazebo over there finished maintenance today and no one comes around at night?”

“That’s right, my lady!”

Though I tried to explain to her, Wilma awkwardly turned away as if pretending not to see and started walking briskly.

“……”

Only silence settled in the space Wilma and her lady’s maid left behind.

After staring at their retreating figures for a while, I turned to Cassian with an annoyed expression.

“Since that’s what she said, shall we meet her expectations?”

He, on the other hand, kissed my knuckles with a satisfied face.

The male lead was once again interfering with my friendship business.

*

Fortunately, Cassian Artez withdrew like a gentleman without teasing me further.

“I should leave quietly now, or Rose might submit a resignation letter.”

That is, if you can call that gentlemanly.

When I returned after seeing Cassian off at the entrance, Wilhelmina actually showed a disappointed reaction.

“Why are you coming in so early?”

She had a serious expression, having been in some discussion with the villa’s butler.

“Didn’t we promise to have late night snacks?”

“That’s not what’s important right now…!”

“My promise with you, Wilma?”

Wilma pressed her lips together briefly at my casual question.

“Well, no, that’s not it.”

Even if Cassian interferes, I can fix things afterward anyway.

I approached her with a bright smile.

“I was already so disappointed that we couldn’t have dinner together today, don’t you feel the same?”

“Of course! I was looking forward to it so much! As soon as I decided to bring you to the villa, I made reservations at that restaurant—”

Wilma’s face flushed as she poured out her words, then quickly shifted to an angry expression.

“Are you teasing me right now?”

“Me? Tease you?”

Honestly, it would be a lie to say I had no such intentions at all.

But at least not right now.

After all, I don’t have any love in my heart more precious than friendship right now.

“……I tried even harder to help because I didn’t want you to misunderstand me.”

Wilma lightly hit my arm, looking upset.

I smiled softly at her behavior.

Though she’s my friend, she often reminds me of an awkward little sister, making her seem incredibly cute.

“Ahem, Miss, shall I cancel the instructions you gave earlier?”

The butler, who had been quietly observing our mood, asked carefully.

“Instructions from earlier?”

As I tilted my body sideways with curiosity to look at the butler, Wilma desperately blocked my view while saying,

“Yes, tell everyone not to worry and rest.”

“Understood, Miss.”

The elderly butler walked away with small steps, wearing a somehow pleased smile as he looked at us.

Since only Wilma could give me answers, I stared at her intently, but she avoided my gaze and quickly grabbed my hand to lead me away.

“We promised to have late night snacks together! Let’s spend time in my room today, I want to talk about novels too!”

“Yes, that’s fine, but what were those instructions……”

“Since you said you liked the dessert you had yesterday, I just asked the chef to try making it in different styles.”

So what exactly were those instructions?

Though I found it hard to suppress my curiosity, I ultimately decided to let it go.

I can’t become a mean person who torments their friend, since I’m not a demon.

*

For the next three days, nothing special happened, meaning Cassian didn’t call me for work-related matters.

He seemed sincere about wanting me to enjoy time with Wilhelmina, as he didn’t take up my time separately like that evening.

However, he made sure to see me at least once a day—whether during lunch, dinner, or even at night if scheduling was difficult.

Each time, the one who was most delighted was none other than Wilma.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am that His Highness seems to care for you so much.”

I don’t think even my mother would like me that much.

But when she said that with such a dreamily happy expression, I didn’t bother to correct her or break her fantasy.

After all, one of the reasons I got engaged to Cassian was to save her from his demonic clutches.

“Are you less worried now?”

Cassian asked me in a soothing tone when he visited the night before returning to the capital.

“……Is that why you came to see me every day?”

“That’s one of the reasons.”

“What are the others?”

“To show our relationship to Lady Wilhelmina.”

As expected. I nodded while perching on the gazebo railing that Wilma had mentioned the other day.

“The most important reason is…”

Cassian sat beside me and looked at me.

What’s with that ominous look?

As I grew wary, Cassian made a laughing sound that rumbled in his throat.

“Because I missed you, Rose.”

“Your Highness, do you enjoy teasing me that much?”

Since I understand your intentions now, I don’t even react with surprise anymore.

Perhaps you should research some new repertoire, Your Highness?

“Yes, it’s fun.”

This pervert.

“I especially enjoy seeing you show such a comfortable expression around me.”

Cassian gently brushed my ear with his knuckles.

“When I first saw you in the capital, you looked at me like I’m such a monster.”

Was it that obvious?

I couldn’t have been that rude back then. Now would be a different story.

When I protested with my eyes, Cassian showed a gentle expression as if even that pleased him.

“You’re returning to the capital tomorrow, right?”

“Will Your Highness stay longer?”

“Yes, I think I’ll need to look into things for another day or two.”

I heaved a deep sigh at those words.

“There must be a mountain of work piled up in the capital.”

“Indeed.”

Cassian rested his head on my shoulder with a soft thump.

“How fortunate I am to have Rose by my side.”

“How unfortunate I am.”

My shoulder shook slightly with Cassian’s laughter.

“I’ll send a message before leaving to reassure my worried assistant that everything’s fine.”

“That means you’ll be busy tomorrow, right?”

Seeing how he’s saying this when it could be a chance to appeal to Wilhelmina.

“Because I want to protect Rose’s vacation as much as possible.”

It was the sweetest words I’d heard lately, making my heart flutter.

I stroked Cassian’s hair as he leaned against me and replied,

“I’ll wait.”

*

Making his words seem hollow.

Even after completing all preparations for departure and waiting half an hour at Wilma’s request, Cassian’s message didn’t arrive.