~TMPM 17~

Chapter 17

It seemed like he already had complete monopoly over me by contract—both professionally and even over portions of my personal time…?
Honestly, it felt like I had less of my own time than he did.

When I looked at him with questioning eyes, Cassian whispered softly.
“You’re thinking about something else again, Rose.”

He really was a boss like a ghost—always uncanny.

I decided to willingly play along with Cassian’s little act.
Just imagining the mountain of work that would pile up if I left my post even for a moment…!
There was no way I would let him steal any more of my precious personal time.

And, for now, he and I were supposed to be lovers.
Even if no one else believed it…
Still, if I kept at it consistently, maybe some would just accept it.

“You’re being unfair, Your Highness. Don’t you realize I’ve already given everything to you?”
I recalled lines from the romance novels I occasionally read and answered as nonchalantly as I could.

“There are far too many who desire you to fully understand,” Cassian replied, kissing the back of my hand before turning his head toward Alexis.
“Of course, I cannot blame my Rose for such things. How could it be your fault that Princess Alexis desires her?”

I was genuinely relieved that the final dessert was a refreshing grapefruit sorbet—otherwise, my insides would have gone far too sweet.

Yet, despite Cassian’s overwhelmingly sweet words, Alexis responded with an amused expression.
“Since Your Highness is so generous, my curiosity is only heightened. Don’t worry—I won’t make the impertinent demand of asking for everything.”

Alexis straightened her posture and spoke with sharp eyes.
“For the roughly one month I’ll be staying in the Empire, I wish to keep your aide close. Of course, this is not mere curiosity.”

Her gaze became piercing.
“I wish to know her as the successor of the Anden Kingdom. What better way is there to truly know someone than observing how they treat those they deem important?”

Unlike her earlier leisurely demeanor, Alexis made her proposal very seriously.
Even Cassian’s violet eyes showed a flicker of caution.

“You make bold statements,” he said.

“I do have eyes,” she replied with a faint smile, lightly countering him.

If the Empress had overheard this conversation, she would have raged at why Cassian was being praised above the First Prince.

I stayed silent, offering no words to him, yet I could sense what decision he might reach.
“Those words must also apply to me, Princess Alexis.”

“Of course,” she replied.

Indeed, he was quite a reasonable boss.
He even brought someone to bear at least some of the hellish workload in my place…!

Yet, thinking that way gave me a strange feeling.

“I shall come to fetch you tomorrow, Miss Salice.”
Having accomplished her purpose, Alexis left the Winter Palace with a refreshing expression.

And I…

“You’ll regret it, Your Highness. Losing a capable aide like me,” I muttered to Cassian with a playful scold.

Even though I knew I could spend the next month in a somewhat more relaxed work environment.

“Rose, you don’t know me well,” he replied.

Really? Couldn’t you play along just a little here…!

With that thought, I turned my head, and Cassian leaned close, resting his head on my shoulder as he whispered.
“I’m already regretting it.”

My body froze at his low voice.
He probably meant nothing by it… probably…
Yet, for some reason, I felt sorry for him and reached out to pat his shoulder.

A deep sigh escaped him.
“…How am I supposed to handle all this without Rose?”

Hearing such sincere words, I patted his shoulder even more firmly, filled with sympathy.
“Ugh, that hurts, Rose,” he protested.

It really was a pat of encouragement.

“Hello, Miss Salice.”
As promised, Alexis had come to fetch me.

“…Good morning, Your Highness.”
Though it wasn’t at the Winter Palace office but in front of my own home, the sight felt utterly mismatched.

Even though the townhouse neighborhood wasn’t far from the palace, small yet well-maintained, it still didn’t compare to palace grandeur.
‘The difference in splendor is staggering.’

The carriage she had brought was the same one used for my grand entrance ceremony.
Seeing my blurred gaze, Alexis laughed heartily.
“You don’t seem very impressed. I thought the means Prince Cassian used to entice you would be grand.”

I lifted my head, and Alexis’s smile tightened as she held my hand, having me board the carriage, then spoke as we departed.
“You look as if you’ve only considered why Prince Cassian chose you.”

I neither confirmed nor denied that.
I didn’t know Alexis well enough—she wasn’t a major character in the original story—but somehow, this felt like the best response.

“I’m consciously trying not to. Here, your perspective quickly narrows,” I said.

Alexis crossed her long legs and shrugged.
“So, Miss Salice, you needn’t answer me. Guessing is also my skill.”

I quietly lowered my gaze, meeting her wine-colored eyes.
She reminded me not to relax simply because she was from another country.
This person… was unexpectedly impressive and also…

“You’re kind, Your Highness.”

“And your character is also commendable. The Empire is full of those who would misjudge me,” Alexis sighed briefly, ruffling her hair.

Perhaps this was also a test for me.
She likely wanted to see what kind of person I was and maybe also conduct a sort of recruitment trial.

I relaxed my stiff shoulders and confidently spoke toward her.
“It’s a short period, but I’ve been appointed as Your Highness’s aide. I will act so as not to give you any trouble.”

Alexis’s lips stretched slightly.
She softly curved her eyes and spoke teasingly.
“Don’t do too well. I wouldn’t want you to commit any diplomatic faux pas.”

Her words reassured me.
She appreciated the brief impression I had given.

If working with Cassian was like enduring hellfire, assisting Alexis was more like life on Earth.

‘Being able to leave on time all week…! In these circumstances.’

I heard she had received the handover from Cassian. Whatever he told her, she even spent two hours at lunch.
Other aides ate in the civil servant cafeteria, but I always had full-course meals with her separately.

“We’re going to be family, aren’t we? Naturally, it should be different,” she said.

I had expected at least some camaraderie with other aides here, but that never materialized.

Still… the working environment wasn’t bad.
Everyone was courteous professionally and didn’t create unnecessary obstacles.

Maybe the only difficulty was one aristocratic youth who grumbled at me for no reason.
But nobles grumbling at me was practically routine, so it didn’t bother me.

Contrary to my worries, work with Alexis went smoothly.
Working here directly also allowed me to handle Cassian-related matters faster.

And… truthfully, I wasn’t exactly leaving on time either.
I was too concerned about this side of things.

6:15 p.m.
Quietly entering the Winter Palace office, Cassian frowned slightly, while Alexis’s aide, burdened by the heavy workload in my place, looked on the verge of tears.

“Oh… you’re here, Aide Salice…!”
He hadn’t even put down his pen, yet ran toward me with a desperate expression.

“Go, Your Highness is calling.”
I meant for him to leave for the day.

He quickly tidied the documents with a grateful expression and stood.
Alexis had clearly chosen competent people carefully; his work ability was excellent.

I habitually sat down, checked the daily work summary left by another aide, and picked up my fountain pen.

Cassian stood and tapped my desk lightly.
“…Rose, you seem genuinely kind only to others, not me.”

“You’re saying I’m not kind to Your Highness?”

“I wouldn’t say not at all.”

“Well… it’s just that,” I replied.

On the first day, I let it slide. I wanted the freedom to leave on time.
But then the aide who had plunged into this hellish work in my place looked anxious, and Cassian’s golden hair had rarely lost some of its shine…

I couldn’t ignore it.
It wasn’t a seat I wouldn’t return to anyway.

“If you appreciate my kindness, prepare a very spicy stew for dinner tonight,” I said.
Alexis’s meals were always excellent, but I needed something spicy at the moment—my K-style taste was inescapable.

Just as I was about to start working in earnest…

Click.

Cassian lifted my left arm and fastened a bracelet.
It was delicate, multi-strand goldwork with a beautiful violet gemstone in the center…

‘It’s enchanted.’

Why on earth would he give me something like this?

“I’ll tell you to prepare the spicy stew. Eat that, then you’re free to leave. Rose.”

What had I just heard?

This… this boss is a ghost.
He’s letting me go…?