The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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31.

“It’s been a while, Princess Wilhelmina.”

Casian, who had been smiling gently at me, returned to a thoroughly official expression and offered a ceremonial greeting to Wilma.

At that moment, I tensed up.

What if my boss charmed and stole away my friend?

Wasn’t Wilhelmina Lopez famous for her one-sided love for Prince Casian, both in the original story and in reality?

‘I can’t let him steal away the friend I worked so hard to make…!’

Thinking this, I looked at Wilma with a face full of worry.

“That’s right, is this the first time since I briefly greeted you when I entered the palace with Father after returning to the country?”

“That’s correct, Princess.”

Nowhere on Wilma’s face could I see the ripe fruit-like redness.

I too wasn’t relaxing my facial muscles as much as when I was alone with Casian, since I was in front of Wilma.

Nevertheless, perhaps sensing my inner anxiety or making her own assumptions, Wilma asked me.

“…Are you worried because of Prince Casian?”

“What? Oh, no-“

Wilma, I’m not suspecting you!

“Don’t worry, I’m the one who brought you here.”

Huh?

For some reason, she said something that didn’t match my wavelength, then Wilma hid me behind her and asked Casian.

“May I ask what brings you here, Your Highness?”

“Official business.”

Though his face was quite stern, I had already noticed.

That he was finding this current situation quite interesting.

I couldn’t let that demon devour cotton candy-like Wilma…

“Surely Your Highness can handle it alone? Since you’re the one who gave your aide Roselita a vacation.”

“Of course, however.”

Casian’s expression softened slightly as he spoke affectionately toward me.

“I would like to make a request of the Princess.”

“What?”

“I’ll be going up to the Capital in a few days, and even as a prince, I’d like to spend my non-work hours on personal schedules.”

At the mention of personal schedule, Wilma’s face hardened like someone who had encountered a great enemy, far from showing any anticipation.

“I have something called plans too, Your Highness.”

“That’s why I’m making a request. And you know this isn’t entirely unreasonable, Princess.”

“…Is it ‘fiancé over friend’?”

No, I’m not like that.

Why would I prioritize seeing my boss’s face, which I’ll see endlessly when I return to the Capital!

I made a face toward Wilma showing I didn’t want it at all.

‘Besides, even the fiancé thing is work for me.’

I really used all my facial muscles to express that Wilma was my priority, but…

“It can’t be helped. You’re at such a sweet time.”

Whatever she interpreted it as, Wilma nodded with a face that said she was reluctantly letting me go while holding back her pain.

Wilma, don’t worry…

I’m your rival in love, is it really okay for you to help me out so readily?

When I turned my head from Wilma to Casian with a bitter expression.

“I’ll be looking forward to dinner, Rose.”

Only my boss, who had read all my expressions and finished understanding their meaning, was wearing a victor’s smile.

…Right, three days was a long enough rest.

I just gave up.

*

“…Still, it’s a relief.”

“What is?”

After entering a brunch cafe with a charming atmosphere and settling in, Wilma spoke as if sighing.

“I was quite worried, both about your letters and the rumors I heard.”

Wilma picked up the teapot that came out first and poured it into the teacup with elegant grace.

A reddish color spread along with a tartly scented fragrance.

“That Prince Casian was making you, who has no power, suffer to build his achievements.”

That’s an accurate assessment, really.

“But seeing you today, it doesn’t seem to be entirely like that.”

Wilma looked truly regretful but also strangely excited.

“…After all is said and done, the newspaper article was right, wasn’t it?”

“Which one…”

“The one saying you and His Highness got engaged because you love each other.”

Why are you believing an article that no one else believed…?

Though it’s fortunate considering the purpose of the engagement.

“I wasn’t certain either, but seeing His Highness today, I understand properly. He came all the way down here because he couldn’t see you for a few days.”

“Uh…”

I looked at Wilma with a dumbfounded expression.

I was worried about what to do if she got hurt…

“Don’t make that face, I won’t become a petty villainess who steals her friend’s man.”

Ah, the story I recommended yesterday was like that.

A friend stealing an engagement…

“Rather, seeing you and Prince Casian looking at each other, even the feelings I had left were all sorted out. I realized it was just admiration.”

Really, it’s fortunate that Wilma escaped from the demon’s clutches…

But…

Why do I feel so lonely?

Like a younger sibling—though Wilma was a year older than me—was graduating.

But since it was something I shouldn’t say, I cut the moist French toast that had arrived and put it in my mouth, drowning the feeling in sweetness.

*

“Did you have a good time, Rose?”

“Yesss…”

I answered my boss’s question weakly.

“You were smiling so well in front of the Princess.”

“I have to do my job properly.”

Casian Artez came to pick me up around evening, as he had asked Princess Wilhelmina’s understanding in advance.

The brunch time and afternoon walk I spent with Wilma were truly enjoyable.

Rather than forcibly dragging me around here and there, it was a leisurely schedule that didn’t forget the purpose was rest, appropriately pleasing both eyes and mouth.

Wilma had originally planned to take me to a restaurant that only uses fresh local ingredients for dinner tonight.

According to her, the menu changed through recipe research at certain periods, the plating was pretty, and since there was a head chef who had worked in the Imperial Palace for decades, the taste was guaranteed.

‘Sob sob, it feels like something was given then taken away.’

People work to make a living, after all.

After lamenting refreshingly in my mind, I let out a deep sigh to shake it off.

What’s the point of dwelling on what’s past?

And Wilma said she’d make another reservation before returning to the Capital!

Princess Wilhelmina Lopez truly was an angel.

“I remember saying I wanted to spend private time with the Princess.”

After giving me enough time to feel regretful, Casian slowly spoke.

“…Isn’t it because you have work for me to handle?”

“You have too little trust in me.”

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

At Casian’s words, I was dumbfounded and spoke to him with a serious expression.

“Won’t you put your hand on your chest and calmly reflect on the past?”

“I don’t think there’s anything that would make my heart sting particularly.”

“You’ve also dragged me around shopping under the excuse of work.”

“That was preparation for making you my fiancée, so it’s work, isn’t it?”

His words were certainly correct, but why did it feel so forced.

“You’ve also given me loads of work at 5 o’clock saying ‘just finish this and we’re done.'”

“I remember Rose stubbornly finishing everything before quitting time on those occasions.”

That was also true.

But that wasn’t a realistically possible workload.

It was me!

Displaying superhuman strength driven by the desire to go home!

Of course, I had never said such things when it seemed impossible to leave on time no matter what from the start.

“…Why are you so annoying?”

“I think Rose quite likes that aspect of me.”

“You’re really overconfident.”

“Rather than those overly kind men full of justice who sacrifice everyone around them trying to solve things the proper way when they could just suffer briefly.”

Huh…?

“Wasn’t your type someone cunning and sly?”

Casian intertwined his fingers with mine as he cast a strange look.

“That’s true, but…”

Even as I moved my lips, chills ran down my spine.

No matter how I look at it, does he really know?

It was almost ten years ago so it’s hazy what I said, but I definitely remember rambling like that in front of a feverish Casian.

Half thinking he wouldn’t remember anyway.

And half hoping that if he did remember, he’d live life a bit easier.

Since I had already stopped managing my expression from the moment I stood before Casian, I thought my agitation would surely be read completely in his eyes.

I wanted to get through this situation somehow without letting him gain certainty.

Though it had lessened considerably, I still had the desire to escape from the title of this world’s protagonist.

The modest yet grand desire to live leisurely and peacefully in the quiet Salice Estate once I paid off all the family debts.

“…Why do you look like that?”

He lifted our fully intertwined hands and kissed the back of my hand with a smacking sound, looking at me with warm eyes.

“It’s already been almost a year and a half since Rose has been by my side.”

As if telling me to relax, Casian smiled gently.

“Don’t tell me you think I couldn’t analyze Rose’s taste in men.”

It wasn’t the situation I had been thinking of.

At Casian’s words, I felt relief and simultaneously let out a hollow laugh inside.

“Analysis.”

“Of course.”

I could feel his consideration in taking a step back, saying he wouldn’t push further since I disliked it.

“…You really have too much interest in me.”

So for now, I decided to accept that thoughtfulness.

Since both he and I knew that unprepared revelations could mess up many things.

“Should I beg you to show some interest in me too.”

At Casian’s gentle smile, I acted exasperated as usual.

However, I also knew I couldn’t rely only on the reprieve he had considerately given me.

Since that too was a seed I had sown, I resolved in my heart that I should also carefully prepare to return his affection.

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