~TMPM 15~

Chapter 15

“W-Why?”

The young lady’s face turned pale as she held her empty wine glass.

Drip, drip—wine droplets fell onto the floor.

Through strands of her dark, wine-stained hair, Wilhelmina fixed her with a deadly glare.

“Truly, what a lack of decorum. Did some bizarre trend suddenly emerge in the social circle while I was away at the Royal Academy?”

Wilhelmina exhaled sharply, brushing the wine-soaked hair from her face, and addressed the young lady.

“I don’t understand what you think you’re doing at a party attended by the kingdom’s dignitaries, especially—not just some ordinary gathering.”

“I-I… I was just… trying to… teach her a lesson…”

“Teach her a lesson? You mean, since you’re a count’s daughter and Saliche is a baroness?”

Wilhelmina snorted in disbelief.

“Then, as Princess Lopez, may I teach you a lesson in your place?”

With that, she raised her hand.

As if intimidated by her presence, the attendant handed her the wine glass.

Without the slightest hesitation, Wilhelmina poured the wine directly onto the count’s daughter’s face.

“Kyah! Princess! H-How could you! This dress—do you know how much this costs?!”

“I’m simply being kind enough not to make you pay for the dress you soiled. Consider it a favor.”

Then, as if she couldn’t bear being there any longer, Wilhelmina spun around and walked away.

‘Huh?’

For some reason…

She was holding my hand tightly.

It wasn’t until we entered the lounge prepared for the duke’s household that Wilhelmina seemed to regain some composure, finally looking at me properly.

Her face as red as the wine she had spilled, she shouted,

“Wh-Why are you here?!”

“You were the one who brought me, Princess. I thought you were just being considerate of me, given how awkward that situation was—but was I being presumptuous?”

I carefully praised her actions first, circling around to avoid offense.

Yet, contrary to moments before, Wilhelmina muttered as if trying to hide a scream:

“Who said that!”

She then instructed her maids to prepare a change of clothes and asked me to serve tea.

Truly, she could be so kind.

And also…

‘Just like the original Wilma.’

In truth, it wasn’t that Wilhelmina lacked charisma—she had plenty of it, just like her original portrayal.

Just as she had scolded the count’s daughter at the previous ball.

‘In the original story, she’d gotten angry when another young lady clumsily harassed Roselita instead of herself.’

That was why some later questioned whether her obsession was with Cassian or with Roselita.

I sipped the tea the duke’s household maid prepared while waiting for Wilhelmina to finish changing.

When she finally sat before me, looking somewhat reluctant, I bowed politely and expressed my gratitude.

“Thanks to you, Princess, I avoided getting into trouble. Thank you—and I’m sorry as well.”

“…No apology is needed. I was acting on my own.”

Wilhelmina said that, then muttered under her breath:

“Why did I do it instead of Saliche…”

I heard it all, but I pretended not to notice.

Meanwhile, I recalled information about the count’s household in my mind.

Next month, one of my tasks would involve a business operated by the count’s family.

Should I apply some gentle pressure beforehand?

I grinned at my own mischievous thought.

Startled as if by reflex, Wilhelmina exclaimed:

“G-Get out already! How long do you plan to stay in my lounge? This is making it look like we’re close friends! We’re rivals!”

Still so flustered.

So I decided to be shameless.

“I thought we were getting quite close, Princess. Was I overstepping?”

“…Huh?”

“You’re the first noble young lady to greet me so often.”

This was true. Beyond just being a baroness, it was the result of a year’s worth of accumulating notoriety.

The main male lead had destroyed all my friendships.

Even the original Roselita had one or two friends…

A brief silence filled the room. Wilhelmina looked thoughtful, as if she had said something she shouldn’t have, then averted her gaze.

“Stop saying you’re overstepping. What’s so special about a simple greeting?”

Her face blushed again.

She really was adorable.

Our Wilma.

Despite telling me to leave, Wilhelmina held onto the tea cup, insisting on some conversation while her hair dried.

“While my hair dries, you should at least keep me company! I expect you have that much responsibility, right?”

Of course, I didn’t miss this golden opportunity to shower her with compliments.

Praise her a bit, save Wilma!

Praise me a bit, save me!

A total win-win!

“You really graduated from the Academy with excellent results! That’s amazing, Princess.”

“There’s nothing amazing about it. I just read a lot of books.”

“You’re so humble! You’ve accomplished what even the Viscount Lopez couldn’t!”

I saw her lips twitch slightly behind the tea cup.

No wonder—she would never hear this at home.

After all, that family treated a princess merely as a tool for marriage arrangements.

Anyway, my efforts over the past two weeks weren’t entirely in vain.

“N-Next time…”

“Huh?”

“I’d like to have tea with you! You won’t refuse, will you? Surely, as Prince Cassian’s fiancée, you wouldn’t avoid me?”

Wilma tried to act nonchalant, but it was obvious.

I could just say I wanted tea together—it would be fine!

She genuinely had no friends.

I smiled at her honest-but-not-so-honest words and nodded.

“Of course, Princess. How could I possibly refuse your invitation?”

Yet, Wilhelmina frowned slightly at my words.

“I wish you’d stop saying ‘possibly.’”

“Huh?”

“I consider you the only person who can match me, but when you say that, it makes me feel insignificant.”

I looked at her, startled.

Beneath her seemingly arrogant words, there was a hidden kindness.

My chest swelled with pride.

Two weeks of effort!

My sparkling wine!

I had gained a friend and even weakened the ruinous flag a little.

…That must be it, right?

“Abandoning me…”

After parting from Wilma and returning alone, I found Cassian leaning against the wall with a cold expression.

“Aren’t you aware of the situation?”

My question caused his face to crease slightly.

He stared at me, displeased, then extended his hand instead of speaking.

The dance music began, and I placed myself in Cassian’s hands, moving in rhythm.

As expected of the male lead—his dancing was near perfect.

“…Why are you so concerned about Viscountess Lopez?”

“…Because she’s cute?”

Thinking of the tea time with Wilhelmina, I responded reflexively.

My superior smiled brightly, far too warmly, and said:

“I see. So Rose likes cute things.”

I hoped this devilish male lead wouldn’t extend his reach toward Princess Wilhelmina.

I offered him a kinder smile than usual.

Cassian’s beautiful smile twisted slightly as he whispered during the next turn:

“No matter how I look at it, I think I’ve given Rose more than she wanted.”

“…Your Highness?”

“I’ll need to try harder.”

Yet, his violet eyes glimmered with a dangerous light.

No, if you’re going to try harder, why do you look so lecherous?

Three months ago, when dealing with corrupt nobles, he had the same expression.

“So that Rose won’t abandon me.”

I couldn’t hide my incredulous expression.

“You’re too harsh on me, Your Highness, even though I’m fulfilling our contract faithfully.”

To look at someone so irresponsibly—both employment and engagement contracts.

My precious wages were at stake, yet he couldn’t run off.

Seeing my discontented gaze, Cassian finally smiled with satisfaction, finishing the dance gracefully.

He had thrown me off with a variation in the steps, yet led a perfect dance unnoticed by anyone else—a truly aggravating display.

Unlike the harsh and cunning Cassian Artez, the innocent and reliable Princess Wilhelmina Lopez actually sent me an invitation a few days after the ball.

So, could I attend tea time?

Answer: No.

‘Was this intentional?’

I glared at Cassian with resentment as I faced the mountain of piled-up documents.

I want to make friends too, male lead!

That prickly princess sent me a tea invitation.

At this rate, I’d have to send a third rejection letter.

There was simply no free time due to work.

Of course, I knew it was partly because of royal marriage arrangements, welcoming dignitaries, and various diplomatic negotiations.

“Why, Rose? Curious about tonight’s menu?”

Hearing him casually bring up overtime made it feel very, very deliberate.

I turned my head quietly, not to resist.