At least until the second crisis.

The first came when his brother Yulisius, who became Emperor after their father’s death, no longer looked at him warmly as before.

Though he had killed all the other siblings and spared only Assel, his full brother, Assel could tell.

That his brother was already treating him as a competitor.

But he thought positively.

Even when he was pushed to the northern region with an imperial order to subjugate monsters, a place known to be difficult to survive in.

Believing he could overcome it, he lived each day more desperately than anyone else.

Thanks to that, he was able to return as the first person to win battles against monsters.

Although his brother showed sharp hostility toward him when he returned alive, it didn’t matter because the battlefield had turned him into a strong adult who could disregard such things.

The second crisis that came was none other than his sister’s death.

His sister Isabel, naturally free-spirited, was born with a genius talent for art.

Especially after what happened with Yulisius, she began to obsess over art even more.

To the point where she would stay in her studio for months, eating and sleeping just enough to survive while working.

But thanks to that, she was able to make a name for herself as an imperial princess and promising artist.

And in the year she turned twenty-three, Isabel fell in love with Duke Filiche, the captain of the Imperial Knights who had a deep appreciation for art, and married him.

But the happy marriage didn’t last long.

The conflict began after Isabel gave birth to Elysion.

After losing her sight due to pregnancy toxemia following childbirth, she could no longer paint, and she cursed life and attempted s*icide.

As if her husband and child to be left behind didn’t matter.

Duke Filiche tried to dissuade Isabel countless times, but she eventually jumped from the mansion when her husband was out, and her s*icide attempt was a complete success.

At that time, Assel was away on a business trip to some seaside location, and when he heard the news, he thought about just dying.

For him, who had been living to protect his only remaining blood relative, life had no purpose after that blood relative died.

Perhaps if it hadn’t been for Levedi, who held him back from the cliff at that time, he might have collapsed right in front of that crisis.

If that had happened, he wouldn’t have even thought about Elysion’s existence—she was truly a woman to be thankful for.

His brother-in-law was so shocked by the incident that he couldn’t stand the sight of Elysion, Isabel’s son.

But ironically, the woman who helped him overcome his second crisis, Levedi, brought about the third crisis.

A crisis that felt too overwhelming for him to handle for the first time.

“But… it’s true that Lady Ophelia’s conduct wasn’t proper, isn’t it?”

“You should be careful too, Duke Esteban. Being with her might damage your reputation, and also… at the academy, she was with this man, that man…”

“Lady Rolls.”

“Let’s stop there.”

“If the person who’s going to be my wife jumps off, I might go crazy.”

For the first time in his life, he got really angry. He had maintained his composure in any situation, but at that moment, he was genuinely angry.

He was angry at the woman insulting his woman, but more than that, he was angry at his own powerlessness.

He wanted her.

To the extent that Elysion’s upbringing was just an excuse.

He had proposed marriage, taking advantage of her guard being down when he said he would give her what she wanted, intending to make her come over to his side.

But if there was one thing he felt after observing her for months, it was that it wouldn’t be easy.

And what he felt in that situation today was that it was impossible.

The burden she carried was more overwhelming and exhausting than he could imagine.

The ladies who had been badmouthing her with baseless rumors until he appeared, and her being the talk of the newspapers.

What he saw was only three people, but he couldn’t dare to count how many people might be cursing her.

Just because she was divorced.

No, just because she was a woman without succession rights.

There was a way to live by ignoring it appropriately, but Assel knew Levedi. She was a woman with an innately large capacity.

In the past two years alone, she had saved thousands of single mothers and children.

A woman who shines brightest when achieving something and accomplishing what even the country couldn’t do.

That woman would someday build her name higher in society. For that, the position of family head would be essential.

In other words, when the contract marriage period ended, she would undoubtedly cut him off cleanly.

Then, what words could he use to hold onto her, when no words would get through?

But his worries were brief. Soon, a sneer formed on his lips.

‘If that were possible, I wouldn’t be worrying like this.’

He was so pessimistic that he even had such thoughts.

The thought of blindfolding her eyes, breaking her wings, and locking her in a cage of his own.

But Levedi resembled his sister exactly. Perhaps she might meet the same end.

During his time sitting on the bench, his mind was filled with these thoughts.

And the intelligent woman in front of him had clearly noticed after exchanging just a few words.

“If you, after this contract marriage period ends…”

“Shh, be quiet. Someone might see us.”

With a mischievous voice, she grabbed his collar with her small, nimble hands and then pressed her lips against his.

As if proving that his foreseen future was correct.

And at that moment, the lips that met his were so soft it could drive one crazy, and Assel couldn’t reject that kiss.

Even though he knew the future that would soon unfold and that he would be used, at that wonderful moment, he didn’t want to think about anything else.

“Hiss…”

The faint moans occasionally flowing between her lips paralyzed his reason.

To the point where if he could extend this time, he would gladly be used by her ten, no, hundreds of times.

“…Hiss!”

Although I clearly initiated the kiss, somehow the lead had been taken by the other person.

Trapped in his large embrace, receiving all the desire that had been suppressed until now, I felt like an instrument.

An instrument that jumps up and creates sound according to the player’s will.

And finally, when I reached the point of being tamed and unable to move at all, a low voice penetrated my ear.

“Shall we go to the carriage.”

At that moment, I realized I had forgotten one important fact. That this was a public place.

I accepted his proposal, and soon I felt hands lifting my body.

❀❀❀

Three days before the wedding. Despite the impending marriage, I was working at the trading company.

Rather, since we were scheduled to go on a honeymoon for a month after the wedding, there were many things to do in advance.

As I wrestled with documents in a mountain of paperwork all day, a knock was heard.

Knock knock!

“Lady Rose, it’s Ilina. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

Ilina’s visit was as natural as breathing since she frequently came in and out of my room with work.

When I casually granted permission, the door opened and Ilina appeared.

After closing the door, she approached me, looking somewhat anxious.

“Is something wrong?”

Perhaps because we had been in sync for so long, I had reached the point where I could guess what kind of matter she had come to discuss just by looking at her expression.

“It’s nothing much.”

“You said that last time too, but it wasn’t a small matter, was it?”

I spoke, recalling the Ersia incident. At my words, Ilina cleared her throat and then opened her mouth with an awkward expression.

“Ahem. But this time, it really is nothing. The Crown Princess has visited.”

“That truly is nothing.”

The Crown Princess is one of the biggest figures. Yet she says it’s nothing. She probably said that to ease my tension, but her awkwardness made me smile.

“What brings the Crown Princess here? Didn’t we already give her the clothes last time?”

After Baroness Dupont made the second draft of the Crown Princess’s custom clothes last time, the design was finalized with Her Highness’s confirmation.

Unlike other orders, I remember the design team was absolutely worn out trying to complete it urgently according to the Crown Princess’s request to match it with the party date.

They even managed other orders and completed it in just about two weeks.

Of course, I gave them overtime pay accordingly.

“Well, I’m not sure either. But she didn’t look very happy, so I think she might be dissatisfied with something.”

Ilina was someone who spoke directly rather than beating around the bush.

She wasn’t the type to exaggerate either, so her words could be taken at face value without any issues.

“She must not have liked the clothes.”

More precisely, did that man not like them? As complicated thoughts crossed my mind…

“But Miss, don’t worry too much. Everything will work out in the end.”

“…?”

I tilted my head at Ilina’s sudden comfort. No, should this even be called comfort?

It felt like she knew the entire situation and was speaking with confidence.

“May I ask why you think so?”

“Well, she has a man, right?”

“…How did you know that?”

I got goosebumps at Ilina’s almost prophetic accuracy.

Ilina spoke with a calm expression.

“It’s obvious. When someone who doesn’t usually dress up starts doing so, they’ve either been stimulated by their surroundings or they’ve found a man.”

“And why did you think it was the latter?”

“Because she doesn’t seem like the type to be sensitive enough to be stimulated by her surroundings.”

“Ah…”

Ilina was quite observant. And her observations were usually correct.

“You don’t know who that man is, do you?”

Just as I was admiring her insight, Ilina suddenly threw a question.

When I nodded, she opened her mouth as if she had been prepared.

“I heard there’s a man she’s been seen with in social circles recently.”

“…Who?”

“He’s her classmate from the academy’s fencing department, and he’s the second prince of the Pelockton Empire.”

“And?”

“From what I heard, he seemed to have difficulty approaching Her Highness on the day she wore the dress.”

My eyes widened involuntarily.

“How on earth do you know these things?”

“After seeing the draft, I placed some people in the imperial palace just in case.”

“Ah.”

“Anyway, after investigating him, I found out he lost his mother at a young age.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. So I think he might be attracted to the Crown Princess’s mature side, and if we were to make a new dress, it would be good to emphasize that aspect.”

I nodded at Ilina’s words. It was a rational solution without any flaws.

“Let me probe a bit first, and if what you say is correct, I’ll suggest that opinion.”

“Yes.”

“By the way, what about what I asked you to look into?”

When I asked, changing the topic, Ilina seemed to think for a moment before opening her mouth.

“Ah, that. It was exactly as you predicted.”

“So Lady Ersia did steal it.”

“Yes. She was spotted leaving the Rolls residence.”

I couldn’t help but sigh at Ilina’s report.

“That lady is truly beyond redemption. She still hasn’t come to her senses even after what happened.”

What I had instructed Ilina to look into was none other than the photo leak incident from a few days ago.

When I asked Elysion, he said he had put it in my shawl pocket as a surprise gift, and there was only one possible way for the photo in there to have been leaked externally.

It was definitely that day when I draped my shawl over Ilina’s shoulders after she grumbled about being cold as she was going to meet Ersia.

“More than that, I feel sorry for causing trouble. I should have been more careful.”

“It’s not your fault. You didn’t drop it.”

Based on the circumstances, it was clear that Ersia, who had picked up the photo that fell from the shawl, had taken it to the Rolls family, who had connections with the newspaper.

“Let’s terminate the contract with that lady to conclude this matter.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare according to procedure.”

“You may go now. Tell the Crown Princess I’ll be there soon.”

❀❀❀

“…It seems the clothes didn’t receive a good response.”

Surprisingly, everything was as Ilina had predicted.

“That’s right.”

But contrary to concerns, Estelia just looked a bit gloomy and didn’t seem to want to complain particularly.

“Actually, the person is more important than the clothes, but I think I relied on them too much.”

“No, it’s my fault for not accurately understanding your needs.”

“……”

“But seeing that you’ve come back, are you looking to have new clothes made?”

Estelia nodded as if there was no need to consider.

“You’re quite perceptive. As expected of a trading company head.”

“You flatter me.”

“And besides that, I feel like we get along well. Aren’t you the same age as me?”

I thought for a moment before asking back.

“Are you twenty-six years old?”

“That’s right. I just want to make you a friend I can share my concerns with.”

I easily figured out what Estelia wanted. She was interested in me as a person rather than the clothes and had come back to visit.

“Of course, it’s not free. I’ll give you a fitting reward too. First, I’ll pay generously for the clothes.”

It was a welcome proposal for me. The Crown Princess would eventually become the next Emperor.

It was clear that drawing her to my side would be advantageous in many ways.

“I’m honored.”

“Then can I come by occasionally to chat?”

“Yes, that would be fine.”

After chatting with Estelia for a while, the topic soon shifted back to clothes.

“By the way, I believe you mentioned that the man was on the cute side, is that correct?”

“That’s right. He has a somewhat childlike aspect.”

“If he doesn’t show that side to everyone, it might be good to compete with a more mature charm…”

❀❀❀

Unlike the previous visit, this time the Crown Princess left early, saying she was busy even before sketching began.

Left alone, I completed the sketch over two days in consultation with Baroness Dupont. In reality, I just provided ideas, and Baroness Dupont led almost everything.

When I saw the completed dress, I couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

“It seems like it will suit the Crown Princess very well.”

Baroness Dupont added,

“I think the same. Actually, the previous dress, while pretty on its own, seemed a bit mismatched with Her Highness’s aura.”

Baroness Dupont kept looking at the sketch, seemingly satisfied with her own work.

The sketched dress was a black draped dress.

A draped dress refers to a dress that naturally creates folds just by wearing it, without artificial embellishments.

It could have looked plain, but by adding a ribbon at the waist as a point and puff sleeves for a neat yet lovely feel, its charm came alive.

Of course, after doing a preliminary sewing, we would modify it a bit more from here, but it already looked very pretty as it was.

“I look forward to seeing the completed look.”

❀❀❀

After completing the sketch, I took a carriage straight home.

As soon as I entered the mansion, Sherry, with a half-tearful face, greeted me.

“Oh, Miss, why are you coming only now!”

The reason for her tearful expression was simple. Tomorrow was the wedding day.

Normally, I should have been cooped up in the mansion all day receiving massages, but perhaps because it was a contract marriage, not only did I not feel much pressure to look pretty, but I couldn’t resist the urge to work and headed to the trading company.

“Miss, you stayed up all night again, didn’t you? Your face is completely swollen. This swelling needs to go down by tomorrow…”

Sherry poured out worried words like a waterfall, and then looked at me and said in a solemn voice:

“Follow me. It’s not too late even now!”

I felt a chill at her appearance, like an experienced butler trying to bathe a cat.

“Is it really necessary…?”

“What? You call that a response… tomorrow is your wedding day!”

“……”

“Follow me!”

Sherry seemed more enthusiastic than ever.

❀❀❀

Contrary to my worries about excessive enthusiasm, the touch of Sherry and the other maids giving the massage was gentle.

So much so that I dozed off several times while receiving the massage.

I suddenly came to my senses when Sherry’s voice echoed, shaking me awake.

“Miss, wake up. Miss!”

Opening my drowsy eyes, and as my vision fully accepted the light, I caught sight of Sherry with an urgent expression.