Chapter 6

The reception room on the second floor was a spacious area typically reserved for hosting foreign delegations.  

‘There’s no scheduled appointment….’  

Sabrina quickened her pace. As she walked down the long corridor, a voice called out to her from behind.  

“Sabrina.”  

“Your Highness.”  

Chase approached her with long strides, coming to stand beside her. Sabrina tilted her head slightly to meet his gaze.  

“Who’s coming today?”  

Chase tilted his head slightly and stretched his lips into a long smile. He spoke evasively, his tone playful.  

“Well….”  

“I haven’t been informed of anything.”  

“That’s to be expected.”  

Extending his arm faster than Sabrina could react, Chase opened the door to the reception room and whispered,  

“Unexpected gifts are always more delightful.”  

“What do you….”  

Before Sabrina could fully grasp his words, the door opened, and she was half-pushed into the room.  

Inside stood a woman who immediately curtsied gracefully.  

“I greet His Highness, the Crown Prince.”  

“Ah, Madame Brouard. Thank you for making time despite your busy schedule.”  

“If you call, Your Highness, it is always my honor.”  

Madame?  

Sabrina glanced between Chase and the woman before her.  

The woman, with her tanned skin and strikingly short bobbed hair, was a beauty. Her red dress and feather-shaped hair accessory might have seemed excessive on someone else, but they suited her exotic and glamorous features perfectly.  

‘But what’s her connection to Chase? They don’t seem to have much in common.’  

At that moment, Madame Brouard suddenly grabbed Sabrina’s hand.  

“You must be Miss Sabrina Wintlet. It’s a pleasure to meet you. May I call you Sabrina?”  

“Uh, yes, that’s fine.”  

“Sabrina, do you have any particular styles you like? Colors or patterns, perhaps? Even small details would be helpful to me.”  

What kind of conversation was this?  

Sabrina turned her head to look at Chase. He was already seated on the sofa, legs crossed, reading a newspaper.  

“Your Highness?”  

“Yes?”  

“Well, um….”  

Before Chase could answer, Madame Brouard spoke up with a cheerful smile.  

“I’ve been entrusted with your dresses, Sabrina. Please take good care of me.”  

Did she have mind-reading powers?  

Sabrina looked at Chase in surprise. She knew he was considerate toward those around him, but she hadn’t expected this level of thoughtfulness.  

At the same time, a small sense of unease crept in. 

Was it really okay to accept this so readily?  

“Your Highness, I truly appreciate this, but….”  

“It’s for maintaining professional decorum. I plan to provide similar allowances for Henry, Avery, and Joel under the same pretext, so just accept it.”  

Chase flipped a page of his newspaper and continued in a calm voice,  

“You’ve only just started receiving your salary. It’s unreasonable to expect you to spend your earnings on work-related expenses. Don’t you agree?”  

Well… that made sense.  

“Exactly, Sabrina. I feel a bit embarrassed to boast, but securing an appointment at my salon is as difficult as plucking a star from the sky.”  

Madame Brouard quickly linked her arm with Sabrina’s and guided her to the sofa. As soon as Sabrina sat down, a soft cushion and a catalog were placed on her lap with practiced ease.  

“There’s no one more fashionable than His Highness, the Crown Prince. Since he has entrusted me with this, you can trust me as well. I promise you won’t regret it.”  

Madame clasped Sabrina’s hands tightly and sparkled with enthusiasm. Caught off guard, Sabrina nodded. She had no reason or justification to refuse.  

Delighted, Madame began enthusiastically recommending various designs to Sabrina.  

“Since you usually dress so neatly, it wouldn’t hurt to try something a bit different once in a while, would it?”  

“I suppose not….”  

“This is the most popular design right now, but it’s a bit plain, isn’t it?”  

“Now that you mention it, yes….”  

“So, at our salon, we added this detail to the neckline. It’s designed to expose the shoulders completely, and since you have beautiful shoulders, I think it’ll suit you perfectly. It’s… how should I put it… sensual yet refreshing, modest yet bold. You get the idea, right?”  

“Uh, yes.”  

It felt like being told to imagine a warm iced Americano.  

With a slightly dazed expression, Sabrina nodded along.  

“Yes, that’s nice. I like it.”  

Those three phrases were all she alternated between, and somehow, things moved along smoothly.  

Guided by Madame’s confident hands, Sabrina had her measurements taken, fabrics held up against her face, received compliments that made her blush, and endured Chase’s quiet chuckles.  

‘Well, she’s a professional. I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.’  

After scribbling something down in her notebook, Madame Brouard snapped it shut with a satisfied smile.  

“Let’s settle on seven dresses for now.”  

“What? Seven dresses?”  

Sabrina had expected two or three at most. Seven seemed excessive.  

Madame tilted her head and asked kindly,  

“Didn’t you say you liked them? Shall I explain everything again from the beginning?”  

Everything… from the beginning?  

Sabrina shook her head quietly. Madame smiled knowingly.  

All she had done was nod politely, yet she felt utterly drained.  

With dark circles forming under her eyes, Sabrina asked cautiously,  

“May I go now?”  

“Oh?” 

Madame Brouard looked genuinely surprised, covering her mouth with her fan and widening her eyes.  

“What an innocent and naive thing to say, Sabrina. Of course not! You still have to choose shoes and accessories. Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”  

“Indeed.”  

A wooden chest was placed before Sabrina. When its lid was carefully opened, an array of colorful jewels sparkled under the light, almost blinding her.  

Ugh, so bright.  

Sabrina instinctively closed the lid.  

While dresses were necessary for maintaining decorum as Chase’s aide, jewelry felt like a different matter.  

Scooting closer to Chase, she whispered softly enough for only him to hear,  

“Your Highness, I’ll gladly accept the dresses. I was already worrying about what to do, so thank you.”  

“Mm.”  

“I really don’t think I need anything else. I already have shoes and necklaces at home. Besides, they’ll just be hidden under the dress anyway.”  

At this, Chase raised an eyebrow slightly and asked,  

“Does it feel burdensome?”  

Sabrina stared directly into Chase’s eyes without answering. It was a silent affirmation.  

However, the response she received was entirely different from what she had expected.  

“That’s perfect.”  

“Pardon?”  

I said it felt burdensome, yet he said it was perfect?  

Question marks filled Sabrina’s face.  

After a brief pause, as if choosing his words, Chase added,  

“It means I have high expectations of you, so please keep doing well as you’ve been.”  

“……”  

“And to add, it means don’t resign and try to endure in your position for a long time.”  

Chase, who had been sitting slouched the entire time, turned slightly toward Sabrina. The playful air on his face faded a bit.  

“I know it’s difficult to say this or that to your superior, but if there’s something you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”  

“……”  

“I enjoy working with you, and I’m more than willing to listen to your requests.”  

Sabrina’s pale blue eyes wavered slightly.  

Chase probably didn’t mean it that way, but Sabrina felt comforted by his words.  

They weren’t extraordinary, but they were exactly what she wanted and needed to hear the most.  

‘You’re doing well.’  

Sabrina felt a renewed sense of dedication to her work, which had been waning little by little.  

The golden sunlight slowly broke through the thick clouds that had seemed to hang over her heart.  

The faces of her family, the nerves she had felt about the upcoming grand banquet—all of it gradually faded into the background.  

Even the slight envy she felt toward Henry, Joel, and Avery seemed like something she could now let go of.  

Yes, what workplace doesn’t have at least one or two villains? She had never expected it to be easy.  

A relaxed smile spread across Sabrina’s clear face like ripples on water.  

She replied in a playful tone,  

“So… everything you’ve given me today is basically a bribe, isn’t it?”  

“That’s right.”  

Chase’s immediate and unhesitant affirmation made Sabrina laugh softly. Chase’s lips also curved into a gentle arc, following her lead.  

“Be mine, Sabrina.”  

Chase’s eyes crinkled into crescent moons, and he whispered sweetly with a light smile.  

“I’ll take good care of you.”