~TMPM 13~

Chapter 13

I had decided that I would go on strike as the protagonist, but my conscience was working overtime.

In the original story, Roselita’s first meeting with Cassian was when she saved him from a near-death experience.

I had tried to convince myself to look the other way, but I simply could not shake the thought that he might die if I ignored it.

So, I made thorough preparations before the events of the original story began.

Fortunately, timing wasn’t difficult to match since, in the original, the meeting happened while her parents were away on a summer vacation.

“Still, I didn’t want to get entangled, so unlike the original, I didn’t bring him to the cottage I stayed at with my parents.”

Using the pocket money I had carefully saved up, I rented a shabby cabin in the forest temporarily and brought the injured Cassian there.

On top of that, I even matched Princess Wilhelmina’s hair color with a lavender wig I wore regularly and deliberately called her “Wilma” as a nickname!

I even pretended to have a cold and wore a mask to avoid being recognized. There was no way she could have known, right?

“Why, Rose? Doesn’t the meat taste good?”

Because of you! You with your cryptic smirk!

“…Maybe we should change the chef.”

“And take away the poor chef’s job? How cruel.”

“Making my beloved fiancé’s mouth happy is also my duty.”

Ugh. Sure. Yeah, right.

That person just wants to tease me.

Determined to prevent any mishap for the talented chef, I ate more aggressively than usual.

Watching me, Cassian’s lips softened into a gentle curve.

Really.

Annoying!

Afterwards, the Empress spent several days pleading and even going on a sort of hunger strike, saying that the Third Prince was still too young.

But the Emperor had no intention of sending Cassian away, and the youngest prince was only twelve, so there was nothing to be done.

“Then why did you disobey the Emperor’s order to be careful?”

Well, in his mind, he justified it as a matter of national relations.

As a result, the Empress, who had sown the seeds herself, was now forced to oversee the Third Prince’s marriage preparations reluctantly, wiping tears along the way.

The Third Prince, having been raised even more delicately than the First Prince Charlie, couldn’t help but cause more stress.

“I heard the kingdom’s princess is extremely beautiful. And the kingdom has so many wonders; I’m really excited. Don’t envy me just because I’m marrying before my older brothers!”

His chatter constantly turned the Empress’s stomach.

Perhaps to release stress, the Empress spent the national treasury like water on the Third Prince’s royal wedding.

Naturally, some of the records even ended up in Cassian’s and my office.

“How kind of the Empress to give us this excuse.”

My superior, of course, didn’t miss the opportunity and cheerfully gathered all the documents.

The Empress had no idea she was digging her own grave…

I spent my days focusing on work, with just a tiny bit of sympathy for the Empress’s future.

And then, while preparations for the Third Prince’s wedding were in full swing, I ran into her:

Princess Wilhelmina Lopez, who returned earlier than planned due to news of the Third Prince’s wedding.

That day, I was completely exhausted.

The Emperor—a lunatic—had piled extra work on me as if taking revenge on Cassian, and I, with my tiny heart, could only endure it silently.

Really, two rich people together can be incredibly unlucky.

Anyway, I had to shuttle between the Winter Palace and the Sun Palace, where the Emperor and other administrators stayed, keeping my legs, hands, and mind busy all day.

As I walked, barely keeping myself upright, a voice like a nightingale cut through the air.

“Could you stop for a moment?”

After hearing nothing but work-drained mid-tones for the past few days, excluding Cassian, the bright, clear high-toned voice was like a wake-up call to my ears.

Turning around, I saw a woman with beautifully curled lavender hair.

Slightly upturned eyes, a mole in the middle of her cheek.

Pale gray eyes with a generally cat-like appearance—absolutely unmistakable. It was Princess Wilhelmina!

I greeted her politely in a professional manner.

“What brings you here, Princess Wilhelmina? Have you lost your way?”

“…Lost my way? I would never do such a thing!”

For some reason, she shouted, not too loudly.

“I, unlike you, brought proper attendants! Are you implying that I, Princess Lopez, brought servants unfamiliar with the palace?”

I simply smiled at her.

Her face flushed further in embarrassment.

“And…! I’ve frequently been to the palace since I was young! There’s no way I wouldn’t know!”

“Indeed, Princess.”

I deliberately stepped closer to her.

“I only thought that since it’s been a while since your return, you might have some trouble navigating. You’re such a kind person; I hope you can overlook my shortcomings.”

I displayed the highest-level business smile.

Her face turned bright red.

How can someone be this cute?

“Y-you! I heard you’re formidable! You know my face without ever meeting me before? And… you’re actually keeping me in check?!”

So frank.

I maintained my smile and shook my head.

“Keeping you in check? I don’t understand. How could I not recognize a princess of the illustrious Lopez family?”

I placed my hand on my chest and spoke as if paying my respects.

“If I didn’t know that, how could I dare call myself the Second Prince’s aide? And…”

“And?”

“I just thought, who else could have such a lovely appearance and beautiful lavender hair besides you?”

Her face turned even redder at that sweet declaration.

“D-don’t think looking pretty will solve everything! I… I won’t give up!”

She then turned and strode away toward the Dawn Palace, where the Third Prince stayed.

I couldn’t stop the grin creeping across my face.

Wow… Wilma, Wilma.

How can she be simpler and cuter than I imagined?

In the original story, Wilhelmina did play many mischievous pranks.

But in reality, she was a bit of a coward and never dared to cause real trouble.

Fans even called her prank-filled sections “healing parts” during the original serialization.

A few slaps, spilling juice, gossiping in high society—childish compared to the evils of the temple and the Empress.

Later, it even became unclear whether her obsession was with Cassian or Roselita.

“Wilma just needs affection.”

In the original, her minor harassment of Roselita was exploited by the Empress.

Even Roselita felt some sympathy for her.

“Because the Lopez family didn’t try to save her.”

Although she grew up being called a noble lady, in reality, she wasn’t raised that way.

With four older brothers and a father solely focused on their own advancement, no one paid much attention to a troublesome younger sister.

The Lopez family considered her merely a tool for advantageous marriage, and thus deemed her useless when she chased Cassian and ruined her social reputation.

After falling for Cassian, her political marriage prospects, especially with Prince Charlie, were practically gone.

They willingly let her be used as a shield for power instead of the Empress.

“Such an honest and adorable princess…”

This was also why I disguised myself as young Wilhelmina back then.

I thought it would be fine if her current goal succeeded.

However… a big problem had arisen.

“Now Cassian, unlike the original, has become competent but turned into a devil.”

Recommending him to such a soft, gentle lady…?

He might try to make me his friend!

I let out a deep sigh.

For now, whenever I see Wilhelmina, I’ll shower her with praise.

And I’ll carefully watch over her so she doesn’t fall into the Empress’s schemes.