The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 80

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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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80.

 

In the carriage on the way back, Casian openly whined to me.

 

More to tease me than because he was actually upset.

 

“I really was trying to repay a favor, but you’re being too harsh, thinking I was a scammer.”

 

“….”

 

I had no choice but to quietly avert my gaze to the window again.

 

“Though it was good that you didn’t trust someone with unclear identity.”

 

As soon as Casian said that, I quietly retorted.

 

“Didn’t you do it on purpose knowing I would refuse?”

 

“No, you really don’t understand people’s hearts.”

 

“A cunning Your Highness would be fully capable of that.”

 

“To bring Rose to my side?”

 

When he said it like that again, I felt like I was being too self-conscious.

 

“I’ve been trying to act quite earnestly and purely toward you.”

 

However, at Casian’s next words, I couldn’t help but frown.

 

Pure? I really thought it was a modifier that didn’t suit him any more than it suited me.

 

That’s a modifier that could only apply to us from when you were feeding me completely ruined scrambled eggs.

 

As I grumbled inwardly like that, Casian, who had been sitting beside me, pulled me into a tight embrace.

 

“More importantly, the way you address me.”

 

“…Obsessive men aren’t popular.”

 

“Not Rose’s type?”

 

That didn’t seem quite right either.

 

When I fell silent, Casian pressed his body against me again and began asking strange questions.

 

“Then what does Rose like? I tried hard to cater to nine-year-old Rose’s tastes faithfully.”

 

“…Is this also a scheme to keep employing me as Your Highness’s assistant?”

 

“It would be nice if that were all.”

 

“…What?”

 

Casian smiled brightly.

 

“I received some good advice while visiting Salice Barony.”

 

Who on earth had whispered unnecessary words to Casian again?

 

I counted the suspicious people on my fingers while trying to distance myself even a little from Casian.

 

“Since it seems like you’ll pretend not to know no matter what I do.”

 

“What would I do?”

 

“I’m going to do as I please too, so this worked out well.”

 

Since I don’t have to hold back.

 

At those whispered words from Casian, I felt a chill of fear run through me.

 

It already seems like you’re not holding back in various ways, so what more could there be?

 

But as always, Casian Artez, who read all my inner thoughts, only brushed it off with a faint smile at times like this.

 

Of course, I definitely preferred this cunning boss to the original Casian from the novel, but it was a bit sad that I was the one getting into trouble because of it.

 

It seemed I would have to write a letter.

 

*

 

Though I felt like I had lost a lot somehow, I still felt relieved.

 

Because at some point, Casian had stopped testing me and had been trying to be considerate.

 

Actually, this situation came about through my choice, and he was just dragged into it, wasn’t he?

 

But if he alone bore the responsibility and memories, and then felt sorry for testing me unnecessarily, I would hate that even more.

 

I didn’t want to be that irresponsible.

 

Future matters could be dealt with later, and since we’d managed well so far, we could prepare well for what’s to come.

 

Wasn’t I having a much easier time with the seven trials compared to Rozelita in the original story?

 

I wasn’t imprisoned, nor did I climb onto a pyre.

 

Even now, not only Casian but many people from the Winter Palace were helping me.

 

Because the camaraderie forged through intense work existed beside us.

 

And as for my immediate situation.

 

“Oh my, what a relief. His Highness has such good taste. Rose, you’re a bit careless about these things, so I was worried when you said you were going to work in the capital.”

 

…I was preparing for the ball while being openly criticized by Mother.

 

“It’s not that you lack sense, but you always chose carelessly because you found it bothersome. You should be grateful that your mother gave birth to you so prettily. So don’t just pick any clothes relying on your face.”

 

Mother’s sharp factual violence stung a bit, making me newly realize how gentle the Winter Palace maids who helped with my appearance in the capital had been.

 

“Still, it seems fortunate that she chose her fiancé properly, my lady!”

 

“Really now, do you think she chose him? She probably got tricked somehow, she’s not that diligent. It’s not like it’s work.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Jane, who came today to help prepare for the ball, tormented my ears with even more direct wit than before.

 

“His Highness knows Rose so well, he understood perfectly how she dislikes choosing things but loves pretty things.”

 

“Oh my, I greeted him on the way in today, and even though he hadn’t changed clothes yet, he looked so neat and tidy.”

 

“Right, the servants say they’ve never seen His Highness in a disheveled state. He knows Rose too well.”

 

I’ve seen him disheveled though.

 

Our first meeting was when he was a complete mess.

 

You’re making me sound like trash who only looks at faces.

 

It wasn’t even a real engagement, we did it for money!

 

Thinking like that made me feel even more like trash, so I decided to just quietly endure the factual violence from these two people who knew me well.

 

“Indeed, if you just keep your mouth shut, you’d be a perfect lady anywhere!”

 

Jane, who had put on my hair ornaments and earrings, spoke admiringly.

 

“Yes, I feel quite proud. I don’t regret missing your debutante appearance.”

 

Mother said this while carefully hugging me so as not to disturb my hairstyle or the carefully arranged dress.

 

“So Rose.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I answered gently, planning to participate in Mother’s sentimental mood just for today.

 

Thinking about it, she probably missed all the events she wanted to see while raising her daughter.

 

Mother looked at me warmly with her light green eyes and spoke gently.

 

“Just for today, you mustn’t make Terodima Count’s son cry, understand?”

 

I smiled brightly at those words.

 

Sentimental my foot, I almost forgot I was Mother’s daughter.

 

*

 

I don’t know when he prepared it, but the dress Casian had ready was a toned-down pink dress.

 

It was decorated tastefully with silver and colorless diamonds, with lace wrapped around the neck area thick enough to provide some warmth.

 

Of course, he also prepared a proper white long cloak, showing his characteristic thoroughness.

 

Like in the capital, he was waiting in front of my room after finishing his preparations, and he personally draped the cloak around me, drawing cheers from Jane.

 

“With you standing like that, miss, you look like a princess from a fairy tale.”

 

Mother also agreed and chimed in.

 

“I’d want to live as just a citizen in a country where Rose is the princess.”

 

That’s a compliment, right?

 

Seeing Casian barely maintain his business smile during this heartwarming conversation where you really couldn’t find any hidden meaning made me feel even more complicated.

 

Did I really live that badly here?

 

I only remember trying to live a happy, peaceful life of contentment with little.

 

Though in the process, I couldn’t stop Father’s generous heart, so our house did temporarily go bankrupt.

 

Anyway, knowing that opening my mouth here would only lead to more unfavorable comments about me, I silently accepted Casian’s escort and got into the carriage.

 

The inside of the four-horse carriage sent by Terodima County was quite spacious, showing how much care they had put into it.

 

“I can see why you were able to get along so well in the capital.”

 

“I’m sure they weren’t like this when I was little, but at some point everyone started acting this way.”

 

“Everyone must have been tamed by Rose, like me.”

 

Casian said this while creating a beautiful smile on his face.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“Even if it’s Ian.”

 

It was truly persistent obsession.

 

“Don’t think that just because Ian smiles prettily, I’ll let it slide appropriately.”

 

“Then should I give Rose a listening bonus for every word I say?”

 

Is it a holiday now?

 

Setting allowance rates per nagging session?

 

“Don’t make people strange like that either.”

 

“That’s too much, I’m just trying to faithfully give Rose what she likes.”

 

Was doing whatever I want perhaps aimed at making me a conscienceless person?

 

“Still, I can understand why Rose said she wanted to live peacefully in the Salice Barony.”

 

“Because it’s comfortable for the heart.”

 

A slight bitterness passed over Casian’s face.

 

I could read a strange resignation that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t give me what I wanted.

 

Maybe he was letting me read it on purpose.

 

I carefully leaned against Casian’s shoulder, being careful not to mess up my hair—I didn’t want to get scolded by Mother and Jane—and spoke.

 

“But even in the Capital, when I’m by Your Highness’s side, my heart is as comfortable as it is here, so don’t make such a face.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“Yes, I can tell you’re scheming to make my heart soft for no reason.”

 

Even without doing that, my heart was already in a very weakened state in front of Casian.

 

At my firm words, Casian clicked his tongue and whispered.

 

“Oh no, I told you for nothing. That what the Emperor does to the Empress is scheming.”

 

Really, I was so glad that my superior was someone who was very good at self-objectification.

 

*

 

Thanks to the four-horse carriage, we were able to arrive at the Terodima Baron’s Mansion a bit earlier than usual.

 

Looking at the brightly lit decorative lighting, I realized how much effort the Baron’s family had put in upon hearing news of Casian’s visit.

 

At least until the Baron uttered his first words.

 

“It’s been a while, Rose! First, here’s the ledger for today’s party decorations, I absolutely didn’t waste anything unnecessarily, so don’t show me that affectionate habit of spitting out harsh words first!”

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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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