The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 59

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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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59.

 

“Friends with Hanella?”

 

I immediately waved my hands dismissively at Wilma.

 

“That’s impossible, that’s just an invitation.”

 

When I spoke as if to reassure her, Wilma also seemed greatly relieved, perhaps noticing the overly formal letter envelope format.

 

“I was just wondering. I absolutely, absolutely don’t have such a narrow-minded heart that I’d tell you to only be friends with me.”

 

Wilma, who had barely taken her seat, began speaking hesitantly while avoiding my gaze.

 

“Oh my, I’d be fine even if Wilma told me to only be friends with her.”

 

“…Really?”

 

Once again, Wilma’s eyes became round.

 

“Of course.”

 

At my immediate answer, Wilma drew a happy smile.

 

However, she soon shook her head and gently declined my words.

 

“Rozelita, you’re going to marry Prince Casian later. Someone who will become a princess consort shouldn’t do that.”

 

Wilma asked cautiously, blushing as if shy.

 

How can she be so cute and mature?

 

“Instead, may I take pride in being your closest friend?”

 

“Being my closest friend would be a source of pride?”

 

“Of course!”

 

I’m sure at first I showered her with various compliments to fill Wilma’s self-esteem and affection deficiency.

 

Seeing her answer immediately without a hint of doubt, it seemed like I would be the one getting my self-esteem recharged instead.

 

Was I actually hurt by the words I heard while working as Casian’s aide?

 

The sharp words “just a baron’s daughter” and “doesn’t know shame” that I thought didn’t bother me suddenly felt like they were flying away.

 

Thanks to that, I also became shy like Wilma and ended up tightly holding her hand.

 

“I love it so much, Wilma.”

 

As expected, Wilhelmina Lopez was my sparkling wine and healing character.

 

*

 

The fragrant aroma rose with warm steam from the herbal tea Joan had brewed and my portion of light americano.

 

While the tea was being served, I explained to Wilma the whole story of why I had placed Countess Hanella’s invitation on top.

 

“You’re going to Hanella’s tea party?”

 

She reacted as if jumping up.

 

“Oh, does it overlap with the date of the invitation you were going to give me? If so—”

 

I was about to say I would naturally spend time with Wilma, but she looked at me with a determined expression, quickly handing the invitation she had written to the maid.

 

“Wi, Wilma?”

 

“You absolutely cannot go alone.”

 

A different light swirled over her previously colorless eyes.

 

“You understand, right? I’m going to that party with you too.”

 

Why, why is she being so firm?

 

The current Wilma seemed to have just an ordinary relationship with Countess Hanella.

 

Even in the original story, she pretended to be friends but stabbed her in the back, so Wilma alone took the blame during Rozelita’s poisoning incident…?

 

Actually, the one who switched the medicine was Countess Hanella.

 

That’s why I was planning to accept the invitation to use the original story’s event in reverse and bring her down this time.

 

Naturally, Countess Hanella, who was First Prince Charley’s fiancée, had tremendous pride in her family and herself.

 

Just yesterday at the ball…

 

‘Obtaining a lair may be unusual, but it cannot fill one’s nobility.’

 

I could see her eyes wavering similarly to the Empress when she saw other nobles calling me Your Highness the prospective princess consort.

 

‘Oh, of course I think well of you. The imperial family needs various types of people to embrace various thoughts.’

 

While Prince Charley was dancing with other ladies, she spoke such pretty garbage to me as if venting her anger.

 

I had listened with one ear and let it flow out the other.

 

‘Prince Casian, you should dance with other ladies too.’

 

‘Why should I? I only see Rose.’

 

‘You should mingle with various people to broaden your perspective, as Hanella said. I don’t want to be a narrow-minded person.’

 

‘No, the narrow-minded one isn’t you, it’s me. If I leave my spot, others will immediately try to snatch Rose’s hand, so I’m worried and can’t bear to leave.’

 

Of course, I had given her some mild revenge.

 

After rumors spread that Wilhelmina had a one-sided love for Casian, she who had secured the First Prince’s fiancée position was becoming more arrogantly haughty by the day.

 

Moreover, she would often rebuke other noble children who courteously requested dances, asking who was asking whom to dance, so now when Prince Charley was away, she was often alone.

 

Anyway, because of such incidents, I naturally thought she wouldn’t send an invitation, so it was fortunate she delivered it.

 

Conversely, I expected Countess Hanella to pull some petty tricks on me, so I was concerned whether it was okay to show Wilma such an ugly sight…

 

“Really, Rozelita is so naive that I’m very worried.”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

I’m naive?

 

While I hesitated to answer, Wilma opened her mouth as if frustrated, adding a modifier that absolutely didn’t suit me.

 

“Do you know what Hanella said at the ball yesterday? You’re a kind person, so you might go even after hearing it!”

 

Wilma leaned forward with a determined face and shook her head.

 

“She bragged to other people that since you’re beneath her, if she invites you, you can’t not come, and to ask her if they have any favors to request!”

 

She huffed as if more indignant than I was.

 

“You’re gentle, so you probably want to go because you can’t bear to refuse! But Hanella won’t think that way.”

 

Wilma’s gaze seemed excessively warm as she looked at me, but I didn’t bother to point it out.

 

“So go with me, I’ll protect you.”

 

And while I was confident I could single-handedly ruin the tea party and humiliate Countess Hanella…

 

“Alright, Wilma. Spending time with you is my joy.”

 

I decided to gladly accept some protection.

 

*

 

The next day, as I was preparing for the tea party, Casian’s gift arrived with perfect timing.

 

‘Does he really know me too well?’

 

I had observed Countess Hanella a bit at the ball, but to predict this far with just that.

 

The dresses Casian had gifted so far were generally for evening parties or balls I’d attend with him, or else completely outdoor wear.

 

Since I hadn’t planned to show off appearance-wise at the tea party, I was thinking of covering it with a not-too-flashy evening dress with fresh decorations and accessories.

 

“This worked out perfectly. This will suit you much better than using a shawl or adding a brooch.”

 

Joan subtly teased me, saying it was fortunate that even His Highness the Prince had this much sense.

 

Honestly, I probably wouldn’t attend peers’ tea parties often, so buying separate clothes seemed wasteful, but I couldn’t even get praise…

 

Though I felt unfairly treated, I decided to gratefully accept Casian’s kindness.

 

Also, this seemed perfect for hurting Countess Hanella’s pride.

 

With Joan’s help, I styled my hair and applied light makeup suitable for a daytime tea party.

 

The dress Casian sent used ivory-colored fabric as a base, with some thickness reflecting the considerably cooler season.

 

From the shoulders to the neck area, and on the sleeves, delicate lace fabric was layered for an elegant decorative effect.

 

I chose accessories with moderately sized gems to decorate it, put on the coat that came as a set with the dress, and finished preparing for the tea party.

 

Not long after finishing preparations, Wilma arrived.

 

As we boarded the ducal carriage, she clapped her hands in admiration.

 

“Today’s dress suits you so well, Rozelita. Did you choose it?”

 

“Prince Casian somehow knew and sent it.”

 

“His Highness did…!”

 

At my words, Wilma looked very pleased.

 

“It’s really reassuring that he always seems to cherish you, and…”

 

Wilma smiled coolly, unlike herself.

 

“I’m also very much looking forward to Countess Hanella’s reaction.”

 

She hurriedly urged me.

 

“You understand, right, Rose? You just need to smile elegantly today. I’ll protect you!”

 

Wilhelmina smiled brightly as if happy and excited.

 

Since I was fine with anything as long as she was happy, I simply nodded.

 

*

 

The Hanella Countess family was a house that had rapidly grown in power alongside the development of emerging entrepreneurs in recent times.

 

If we were to consider wealth alone, our Second Aide’s House of Ashwood or Wilma’s Lopez Ducal House would certainly have more.

 

However, at least within the Empire, the place with the fastest cash flow was the Hanella Countess family.

 

Just 20 years ago, the Hanella Countess family had barely maintained its name, but it grew rapidly and expanded its influence.

 

As a result, honor and appearances became extremely important, so about 10 years ago they bought several houses including a townhouse of a noble family that had fallen into ruin and been abandoned, along with adjacent properties, tore them down, and built what could truly be called a grand manor.

 

It was comparable in size to the country houses within the estates of most nobles.

 

Moreover, being the newest building in the capital, its paint and materials stood out strikingly without any traces of time.

 

And even while in that splendid house, Countess Hanella was quite conspicuous.

 

“What an honor it is to have the famous Miss Salice, owner of the Flare Dragon Lair, and the noble Lady Lopez visit our Countess’ Mansion.”

 

And her words as she welcomed us as host were also quite prominent.

 

Wilhelmina opened her mouth with an elegant voice toward Countess Hanella, who was showing off to the gathered young ladies as if to say her words were correct.

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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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