The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 14

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

14.

From that day on, I would greet Princess Wilhelmina with the highest level of business smile whenever I saw her.

“I heard you often visit the Second Prince, who must find the kingdom unfamiliar, Your Highness. You’re much kinder than I thought, and I’d like to learn from you.”

“Don’t think so! I won’t be fooled!”

Naturally, Princess Wilhelmina would treat me like a hedgehog with all its spines raised.

“Would you like to have lunch together, Your Highness? Prince Casian will be joining us as well.”

On another day, I tried some scheming to show her the devil’s true nature and shatter her illusions.

“You, you! Are you being smug because you think you’ve won against me?! Are you acting above your station because your status elevation is right around the corner! Do you think I’ll fall for you just because you’re pretty?!”

Wow, she even used the term “status elevation” – I was so moved, Wilma.

Though the lunch invitation unfortunately failed.

I thought she’d naturally take the bait when I offered Casian as an incentive.

Still, I persisted without giving up,

“The white lace ribbon you’re wearing today suits you so well. I was curious about the beautiful wisteria flowers of the ducal house, but seeing you, Your Highness, I don’t think I need to anymore.”

“Miss Salice, do you have no sense of shame at all?!”

“I’m merely a baron’s daughter, so there’s much I don’t know, Your Highness.”

“That’s not what I mean! You’re the Second Prince’s aide! You shouldn’t say you lack ability!”

She even got angry on my behalf.

How can someone be so kind and caring?

After repeating this several times, for some reason she would avoid eye contact even when I just gave her a business smile.

Really, what is this bitterness I’m feeling?

I felt sad that Princess Wilhelmina seemed to treat me like a devil to be avoided.

“…I’m a bit jealous, Rose.”

“Pardon?”

Moreover, Casian said something strange, making me even sadder.

“Or are you relieving stress with Princess Wilhelmina?”

“What kind of nonsense is that!”

As if that could be true.

Princess Wilhelmina is like a ray of sparkling wine in my bleak and dreary work life.

And she’s a very lovable character who provided healing even in the original novel based on a tragic story!

When I looked at him with resentment, blaming it all on Casian, I heard a short clicking of his tongue.

“I’d like to hear some of those sweet words you say to the princess, my fiancée.”

I frowned.

After seeing all sorts of things over the past year, you want me to squeeze out compliments now?

This is workplace harassment, Your Highness.

*

Wilhelmina Lopez was very confused.

A few days before returning home, she had heard news of Casian’s engagement and fell ill for several days, refusing food and drink.

Because of this, she couldn’t keep the date her father, Duke Lopez, had set, and was scolded as soon as she arrived.

‘Are you planning to keep chasing after someone who’s already engaged, Wilma! Are you going to bring shame to the ducal house like this?’

Wilhelmina found this so heartbreaking.

She was also disgusted by how a marquis’s daughter, who had been acquainted with her since childhood, acted arrogantly after becoming the First Prince’s fiancée.

Even at the modest tea party held after her return, she acted as if she had become a princess herself.

‘After the Second Prince’s royal wedding, won’t it be my turn soon? I feel so regretful thinking there isn’t much time left to spend so comfortably like now.’

She said this while making sure to meet Wilhelmina’s eyes.

As if to say that her ability to act superior because she was a princess of higher status would only last until now.

That made Wilhelmina want Casian even more.

Of course, it was also true that she had fallen for him during his triumphant return.

The image of him with traces of the rough battlefield still on him, not even greatly celebrating his triumph, with that sharp expression, was strongly etched in teenage Wilhelmina’s mind.

So she steeled herself and summoned Roselita to the Imperial Palace.

But as soon as she saw her, she somehow felt diminished.

Even though she was merely a baron’s daughter, even though there were so many rumors about political reasons.

Her chestnut hair that seemed to hold the colors of autumn, and her green eyes that seemed to contain some deep understanding.

Even though she was dressed in an utterly plain dress, Wilhelmina thought she was pretty and wonderful.

She couldn’t sense even a hint of inferiority from her, so Wilhelmina couldn’t bring herself to say the nasty things she had planned.

She had hoped.

Very much hoped.

That she would be at least a little upset, as much as Wilhelmina felt wronged.

But to herself, who was trying to say nasty things.

‘Your Highness is truly a kind and thoughtful person.’

Why did she send such a warm smile, and say things she had never heard even from her own family?

She couldn’t understand it at all, and began to want to avoid Roselita a little.

*

My sparkling wine!

No, without seeing Princess Wilhelmina, it was already the day of the welcome party for the kingdom’s princess.

‘I think it would be good to give her a bit more praise.’

Since I had to appear as the Second Prince’s fiancée at the kingdom princess’s welcome party, I was dressing up more carefully than at the previous ball.

The maids Casian had assigned to me transformed me from a mere baron’s daughter into a proper prince’s fiancée.

The dress was one I had fitted during our last shopping trip to the Capital’s Central Marketplace, and I thought it was truly excessively luxurious.

This extravagance of a deep navy dress decorated with lustrous pearls and diamonds.

While thinking I should wear something like this given the occasion, it still felt somewhat awkward.

However, my gratitude soared to the heavens when Casian came with a jewelry box.

“…Your Highness, are you in your right mind?”

“I really like that about you, Rose.”

My bluntness?

No, this time even I, whose courage was usually the size of a soy sauce dish, had to speak up.

“…Did you perhaps forget the contents of our contract?”

That couldn’t be possible, this work demon.

“That can’t be, I know it well.”

Casian smiled and calmly placed a beautifully crafted diamond necklace around my bare neck.

“Oh my, why are you about to cry?”

“Of course I want to cry.”

This fraud, after saying everything I wore would be mine.

How can I take something like this!

“I was expecting my private assets to increase, but if you bring me the late Empress’s jewelry, I’ll have no choice but to return it.”

“Why?”

Seeing my tearful face, Casian looked puzzled and carefully took my hand.

“I’m giving it to you because it’s you.”

“Your Highness, are you testing my conscience right now?”

Even at my words dripping with injustice, Casian didn’t correct himself, but instead kissed the ring he had previously placed on my finger and shook his head.

“No, really. Who else would I have wear my mother’s jewelry but Rose?”

The purple eyes looking at me were intense.

As if he wanted to tease, but also hiding some desperate sincerity somewhere.

“Mother would also want me to give it to Rose.”

“…”

I held my breath for a moment.

I had to act nonchalant, as usual.

Casian Artez was truly extraordinary, and if I showed even the slightest weakness, he would immediately try to devour it.

“…Alright, I’ll just borrow it until the contract ends.”

I barely managed to answer.

This is his leading interrogation, I mustn’t fall for it.

She must not be certain that I’m the fake Wilma she met in childhood either.

No, she has to be uncertain!

Casian smiled crookedly at my answer, which was filled with tension.

“You really are heartless, Rose.”

Thankfully, he didn’t try to dig anything more out of me.

Instead, he extended his arm, which had become somewhat familiar by now.

It was time to go out to the party.

*

As soon as Casian and I entered, the aristocrats’ gazes poured over us.

Most of them were looks of wariness toward us.

Well, that made sense. Nearly half of them had their ledgers raided directly or indirectly by Casian and me over the past year.

I’d avoid us too.

‘It does seem better than being looked down upon like in the original story.’

Though it’s a bit disappointing too…

The more they whisper, the easier it is to catch various evidence.

But whenever Casian and I are nearby, everyone lowers their voices dramatically.

“I feel like we’re at a disadvantage.”

“Should we revise the contract?”

“Not that!”

Casian really sees me as someone obsessed with money.

Not that he’s wrong!

“There’s no place better than a party for gathering all sorts of information, but it’s like there’s a barrier around us here.”

At my words, Casian looked at me with a gentle smile.

“Rose, do I need to be jealous of work now too?”

Ugh, you should really be grateful this isn’t the office.

I reminded myself that this was a party hall and barely managed to put on a business smile.

“What a dreadful thing to say.”

“I should get some wine for Rose.”

At my words spoken through gritted teeth, Casian squeezed my hand once before answering.

Thanks to that, the demon who kept people away temporarily left my side.

Just as I was waiting for the wine he would surely pick out perfectly to my taste like a ghost.

“Miss Salice-!”

Along with an urgent and clear voice.

Splash-!

I heard the sound of liquid being spilled and felt myself being pushed from behind.

“…Princess Wilhelmina?”

And the moment I turned around, I saw Wilhelmina drenched in purple liquid.

It seems like the positions have switched a bit, Princess.

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