I Bought the Villains With Money - Chapter 88

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 88.
“What do you mean, a wager? Besides, you never lose a bet. I’m going to choose the same thing you do.”
Cassion stepped closer to me. Standing side by side, I suddenly felt how much he’d grown in such a short time.
Somewhere along the way, Cassion and I had become the same height.
His recovery had been remarkable, and his growth had followed suit—though on difficult days, he still thrashed through the night, too wracked with pain to sleep.
“Come on, don’t be dull. I’m grateful you think so highly of my abilities, but the decision should be yours alone. Whatever happens next.”
“Fine. So what about the wager?”
“You choose first, Your Highness. I’ll take the opposite, no matter what.”
“That’s too much in my favor. Why would you agree to that?”
“Well… sometimes when I’m uncertain, I want to leave things to chance. Today is one of those days.”
Cassion spoke with an expression of bewilderment.
“Tell me. What’s the wager about?”
I relayed to Cassion what I’d heard, and then stated the terms of the bet.
“His Majesty is coming here? To my birthday celebration? Diana, that makes no sense. I’ve seen him twice since the Wind Valley incident. The only real conversation we had was at the birthday breakfast gathering. Even after everything I’ve been through, he was indifferent. And now he’s coming to the celebration?”
In truth, since the Betrothal Ceremony incident, Karman had been meeting with me but not with Cassion, which I’d found puzzling.
That’s why I’d wanted to wager on him not coming, but something nagged at me.
“He won’t come. I’m betting on that, and you’ve already lost.”
Cassion spoke with certainty.
“I’ll take the opposite of whatever you say.”
“Fine. The wager is set. What do I get if I win?”
“What should the prize be if I win?”
We were in the midst of discussing the terms when—
“Your Highness, happy birthday.”
An uninvited guest had arrived. It was Bella.
Now the commotion from earlier made sense. It was because of Bella and Dayson.
Bella wore a subtle smile, while Dayson beside her made no effort to hide his irritation.
“Why are you holding the celebration outside? The palace is right there.”
Dayson voiced his annoyance to Cassion.
“Your Highness Dayson, I’m afraid I was being stubborn. While it can’t compare to a Royal Palace celebration, since this is my first birthday after the betrothal, I wanted to arrange something here in Irenber.”
When I interjected to defend Cassion, Dayson fell silent.
His eyes grew colder, fixed on Cassion with unmistakable hostility.
“How fortunate you are to have met Lady Diana.”
At Dayson’s words, Bella’s face—which had been linked with his arm—went pale in an instant.
With a veiled insult, he’d rendered himself the unlucky one for having met Bella, thereby crushing her pride.
Dayson was a cruel man, but he didn’t usually speak so harshly about the person beside him.
‘He’d tormented her in subtle ways before. But maybe he only had the leisure to do that when Cassion wasn’t drawing attention.’
I felt a pang of sympathy for Bella for the first time. But she was the one who’d chosen Dayson.
It was plain that she’d deliberately approached him first, unwilling to leave the Capital and desperate to become part of the Royal Family by any means.
‘At least their hearts were never truly aligned.’
So it was easy for Dayson to trample her pride without a second thought.
“Bella, what are you thinking? There’s much to enjoy at tonight’s celebration.”
I spoke kindly to Bella. She snapped to attention and gripped Dayson’s arm firmly.
“Your Highness, shall we move to another spot?”
Behind Dayson and Bella, a line had formed of people waiting to give gifts to Cassion.
Dayson’s lips twitched, then he turned sharply on his heel.
As he made his way to his designated seat, he studied each person in line, memorizing their faces with an intensity that was almost laughable.
Dayson allowed himself to be led away by Bella’s guiding hand, feigning helplessness.
‘Remember all you like. What will it matter?’
Without Julia, he couldn’t accomplish anything.
Even in Imperial Studies classes, he’d shown as much. Outside the professors Julia had selected, Dayson was utterly useless.
Faced with difficult material, he’d make excuses about being tired. With demanding assignments, he’d procrastinate until Julia helped him finish.
Dayson was far more pathetic than I’d ever imagined. Cassion, by contrast, was different.
“I don’t need a gift.”
When a young man from a minor house offered Cassion a small gift box, Cassion declined.
“Please do accept it, Your Highness Cassion. I chose it myself.”
“I’ll take it for the sake of your sincerity, but gifts shouldn’t be distorted by obligation. Don’t bring any next time.”
It was the perfect response. Cassion was beginning to resemble the Crown Prince himself.
Dignified, thoughtful, and principled.
“Liam, make a separate record of who gave what gift.”
Cassion glanced at Liam beside him. Liam, despite his aching legs, had followed Cassion all the way to the Irenber Mansion to attend to him.
Flac organized the gifts while Liam handled the records. The two of them, though years apart in age, worked in perfect rhythm.
“Your Highness, you really must send thank-you gifts in return.”
Cassion nodded at my words.
Everyone presenting gifts to Cassion came from minor noble families. Even so, I hoped he would maintain these connections.
These were people who had chosen Cassion over Dayson—who had Julia’s powerful backing.
‘Julia probably wouldn’t give them a second thought.’
But even insignificant ants become a formidable force when gathered together. I believed these families would do great things for Cassion.
“Liam, give me that list once it’s finished.”
“Dayson, I’ll handle the thank-you gifts for those people. Save your money.”
Cassion shook his head at Liam as he spoke.
“Of course the thank-you gifts are your responsibility, Your Highness. I’ll do something else.”
If there were any businesses connected to the Irenber family, I would quietly make introductions. Provided they had the capability, of course.
Cassion seemed to have something to say, but the next person waiting to present a gift cut our conversation short.
The line of gift-bearers wasn’t particularly long.
We had only sent invitations to a select few, and many families were still wary, hesitant to stand against Julia’s overwhelming influence.
Now Dayson was sixteen. Soon enough, he would be seventeen.
While the formal age of adulthood was twenty, at seventeen boys became eligible for military service, and girls came of age through the Debutante Ball and received quasi-adult status.
When that time came, Julia would pressure Karman to enthrone the crown prince without delay.
Would Karman have the strength to resist such pressure?
‘He drove out the Former Queen Violeta at the nobles’ insistence that he produce an heir.’
Would he still champion the still-frail Cassion? I felt doubt, yet a stubborn hope persisted.
‘His Majesty dislikes gambling.’
“Brighten up. You said this was a joyful day. So let’s enjoy the celebration.”
Cassion touched my hand with the back of his when he saw my expression growing serious.
“Thank you for the celebration.”
Then he spoke with a bashful wrinkle of his nose, and I felt the sincerity behind it.
I tend to grow guarded in the face of another’s genuine heart.
For that very reason, Rumdracks, Cho, and Jennis scolded me constantly, yet it never changed.
This moment was no exception.
“Your Highness is too easily satisfied. All it takes is one celebration and a royal offers their gratitude.”
“Only to you, Diana.”
“What?”
Cassion bowed his head deeply. Below his neatly trimmed hair, the pale curve of his neck was exposed.
“Only to you am I so unguarded.”
Watching his white skin flush pink, my heart stirred.
“You shouldn’t be that way with me, either.”
“……Shouldn’t be?”
Cassion looked up at me, his head tilted. His eyes glistened for some reason, as if I had wounded him.
I remembered how he used to be.
No, no, no to marriage—and then yes, yes, do it.
I saw my future. A future where I gave in to him on everything.
So there was no point wasting time.
“You should. Be endlessly indulgent with me, at least.”
Cassion laughed, and I caught the gleam in his eyes—curved like mischievous crescents.
It was an act.
I had forgotten that he was a consummate performer, one who had deceived Julia and Dayson for years.
“Since I’m being indulgent, let me dance the first dance with you. Take my hand, Diana.”
The boy struck a pose and extended his hand. It was too charming to refuse.
“It seems I’m the indulgent one, Your Highness.”
We walked hand in hand toward the center of the floor.
Bella and Dayson, already dancing, didn’t yield when they saw us.
The two of them began circling the stage in wide loops, as if to claim every inch and deny us any space.
“Shall we dance next?”
I didn’t want to engage in a power struggle with Dayson while dancing. I glanced back at Cassion, thinking I should handle this lightly. But his profile was cold and rigid.
‘No matter what happens, I’m going to dance. That stage is mine.’
His mouth was set in a hard line, and his determination burned through.
The pride of a child.
“Then let’s dance.”
As expected, Cassion stood to face me instead of leaving the ballroom. We exchanged formal bows and took our positions.
“If you grow faint while dancing, please tell me. You shouldn’t overexert yourself.”
“What do you think of me?”
Gardian had said Cassion’s health had improved, but I still worried about him.
So I didn’t want to strain him physically if I could help it.
“I could dance ten times!”
Cassion blurted out tersely.
“That’s too much for me.”
When I played the delicate one, Cassion’s expression softened.
I rested my hand lightly on Cassion’s shoulder. He grasped my hand with one hand and placed the other on my back.
A new waltz began. Though Cassion couldn’t have been dancing formally for long, he moved with skill.
I’d thought I’d take the lead if he fumbled, but that worry proved needless.
We drew close and pulled away in rhythm, losing ourselves in the dance.
We nearly collided with Dayson once, but the nimbler Cassion sidestepped smoothly.
One, two, three, two, two, three, three, two, three, four, two, three.
After the three-beat rhythm repeated four times, I spun in a full turn with Cassion’s hand as my axis.
My skirts bloomed open like a flower in full bloom, then drew tight like a bud on the verge of opening.
Perhaps from moving after so long, my spirits lifted with each turn. Cassion’s expression, bright and clear each time I faced him, lifted mine further.
Finding it enjoyable, I thought perhaps I could manage five more dances.
Then the music cut abruptly short. Another commotion rippled through the hall outside.
A murmur spread through the ballroom—far more significant than when Dayson had arrived.
‘His Majesty? Has the King come?’
I craned my neck toward the entrance, but couldn’t see anything.
The doorway was blocked by people rushing to pay their respects.
“Let’s go see, Your Highness.”
I grabbed Cassion’s wrist and pulled him forward.
“He’ll come in anyway—do we really have to go?”
Grumbling even as he spoke, Cassion freed his wrist and took my hand instead.
I quickened my pace. Even as we drew closer, I was too short beside the adults to see who had arrived.
“…It is truly an honor to meet you.”
Frustrated, I was considering squeezing between people’s legs when I heard the fawning tone of their voices.
Hearing them, I had an instinct.
‘It’s not the King.’
And indeed,
“Cassion, happy birthday.”
It wasn’t Karman.
It was Julia who had arrived at the birthday celebration, greeted by the crowd’s enthusiastic cheers.
Julia, dressed in elaborate finery, stepped through the path the crowd had cleared for her. And she turned toward Cassion and me with a smile bright as a flower.
I Bought the Villains with Money (Serialized)
Author │ Lee In-hye
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyung
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd. – Tiramisu
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyuk
Address │ 11th Floor, 1101, Digitorogil 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, Ace Techno Tower 8th. 11th Floor)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ http://blog.naver.com/jayplemedia1
© Lee In-hye 2021
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. under a contract with the copyright holder,
and the content may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and author.
Violation of this may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————