The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 8

Although I lost about 8 hours, it was a sweet rest I hadn’t had in a long time.

I was also happy that the hefty allowance and spoils made me feel comfortable.

I was fulfilled by the fact that I could spend three whole days alone without meeting anyone.

It was the first time I was properly resting for three days since coming to the capital.

I got up late, a bit past lunchtime.

Without even changing out of my pajamas, I just wrapped a shawl around myself, filled my stomach with the meal the maid had prepared in advance, and leisurely checked the pile of letters.

First was the letter from my parents.

Since it had been a while, I wanted to put more effort into the reply than usual.

I had always felt sorry for barely managing to write letters while chased by drowsiness and fatigue.

‘They’re really worried.’

When I said I was going to the capital to work, even those who had always supported whatever I did tried to dissuade me.

‘We can work more, you don’t have to struggle so much.’

‘Yes, Roselita. If it really doesn’t work out, we can sell the title and territory and go to another kingdom.’

Of course, it was also my parents who finally gave in to my stubbornness.

The letters they sent me every month were always full of affection.

And they always wrote that I could come back anytime if it was too hard,

Roselita, our daughter.
You don’t have to send home the money you earned with such difficulty.
Use it for yourself.

and they consistently wrote asking me not to send them money.

‘Surely… They haven’t been using the money I sent them for paying the debt, have they?’

Thinking that such affectionate parents might really do that, I emphasized and urged them to pay off the debt this time as well.

Additionally, I wrote about the debutante ball I had been worried about, nicely packaging Cassian’s actions like a fairy tale.

If they knew his true personality, the two soft-hearted people might come to the capital right away to get me.

I didn’t want to create such a situation at all.

The afternoon passed quickly just by writing a reply to my parents with reassurances and checking other letters.

‘I was originally planning to go to the bookstore today.’

I pondered for a moment, lying on the sofa and just wiggling my fingers.

Even though I had slept in today, I strangely felt sleepy again.

‘Should I just go tomorrow?’

The thought of changing clothes, going out, then washing up and sleeping again made everything feel bothersome.

Then I wouldn’t have time to read books today anyway… But if I bought them today, I could stay in all day tomorrow and just read books.

Knock knock knock.

The sound of someone knocking on the door came when I was full of such trivial thoughts.

There’s no maid today.

Moreover, I’m in my pajamas with my hair all messy.

Thinking they might go away if I pretend I’m not here, I hurriedly tied my hair roughly and looked for a long robe that could cover my pajamas.

I had a bit of a bad feeling.

And.

“I’m sorry for the sudden visit. Are you Miss Roselita of the Saliche baronial family?”

As I opened the door around the third knock, I had to suppress my irritation as I saw the seal in the letter the visitor presented.

“It’s an invitation from the Viscountess to attend a luncheon at the Irenol viscounty tomorrow.”

I had firmly refused, pressing down my intentions.

‘I appreciate your words, Your Majesty the Empress. But I was taught by my parents not to carelessly betray my faith.’

And that too, in a tone that might be perceived as impertinent from the Empress’s perspective.

“Our second young master will also be attending. The Viscountess also asked me to convey that special desserts will be prepared for you, so please make sure to attend.”

Yeah, I’m not buying it.

It seemed like tomorrow would be a day for self-imposed work.

*

And I really did go to work.

“…Rose?”

“…Your Highness?”

When I entered the office with a big sigh, I had to check the calendar for a moment.

Saturday, January 2nd.

Today is definitely a holiday.

I’m pretty sure Cassian said he would rest too.

“Securing overtime pay from the new year, as expected of you, Rose.”

“You’re really saying words that are nice to hear at the start of the new year.”

Cassian only smiled leisurely at my sarcastic words.

“So? Should I have lamb prepared for lunch today?”

And my boss was once again too quick on the uptake today.

*

The morning was so relaxed that it was hard to believe I had come to the office.

It was because we had processed an enormous amount of work at the end of the year, and for some reason, Cassian only passed on easy tasks.

Meanwhile, he often furrowed his brow and seemed deeply engrossed in something, making me curious about what he was doing.

As he focused on his work like that, he suggested lunch earlier than usual.

As he said, it was thick lamb meat.

The imperial chef’s skill was so good that the meat was cooked perfectly delicious without any gamey smell.

“Both the Empress and Viscountess Irenol seem to misunderstand your tastes, Rose.”

Cassian spoke with a satisfied smile as he watched me eat.

“The things you like are meat, alcohol, and pretty things.”

It was truly uncanny how well he knew my preferences.

It was even scary that he had cold mulled wine prepared instead of alcohol since it was lunchtime.

“Of course, you like money too.”

If he hadn’t added that last part, my opinion of him might have improved a bit more.

Naturally, I reported to Cassian about Viscountess Irenol.

I boldly used the excuse that he had made me work on a holiday.

“I apologize for acting without reporting in advance, Your Highness.”

“No, for matters like that, use me as a shield as much as you want.”

Cassian replied while leisurely putting meat in his mouth.

It struck me anew, but Cassian really ate in a very neat manner.

From the way he held his utensils to how he chewed his food, it was truly flawless.

I’m sure in the original story, Cassian was somewhat lacking in such etiquette due to rolling around on battlefields, even inviting ridicule.

Did my protagonist strike affect even this?

I felt a bit less guilty.

It seemed things had flowed in a good direction for Cassian in various ways.

“But Rose, even if we’ve avoided it this time, Viscountess Irenol will surely try to pair you with that young master again.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Of course, I can block it with excuses like today’s as much as you want, but that’s not your style, is it?”

I nodded as I put the last piece of lamb in my mouth at Cassian’s words.

“Of course not.”

I already had the solution in hand.

*

When the Empress called me and talked about the young master of the Irenol of Viscount, I had a sense of déjà vu.

And when the Irenol family urged me to attend a dinner gathering yesterday, that déjà vu turned into certainty.

‘In the original story, the point where Roselita faced a big incident wasn’t when she came to the capital, but after meeting the Empress.’

I should have noticed this earlier.

That uneasy feeling I had forgotten for the past year resurfaced.

But unlike then, instead of shrinking back, anger welled up.

‘How dare they make a working person come in on their own time?’

As if I would respect the original story that I’ve already sufficiently destroyed!

Perhaps due to the anger from coming in on my own, the contents of the original story came back to me vividly.

‘Think carefully, Miss Saliche. Do you really need to risk your life for Prince Cassian?’

‘You should be grateful. My son, for a baronial family! It’s a dream come true for you, thanks to Her Majesty the Empress’s grace.’

‘It’s not a bad story for you, is it? The young viscount is willing to become a son-in-law to the Saliche baronial family.’

Really, thinking about it again, they were crazy people.

Who do they think they are to ignore someone’s will?

Besides, Viscount Irenol’s young master, who was already acting like I was his wife, was extremely unpleasant.

‘I’m at a bit of a disadvantage, but I’ll endure it.’

Acting all high and mighty when he’s trash inside and out!

Still, unlike the original Roselita, I’ve already crushed the first flag.