Chapter 10
Inside the greenhouse where the tea party was held.
“Why is he taking so long?”
Aileen, dressed in a red gown to match her vivid red hair and lightly scented with roses, looked every bit like a single, striking bloom.
Not one to hide her thorns, she displayed them proudly, making it feel as though even approaching her would result in being pricked. Yet the noble ladies around her forced smiles, pretending familiarity while masking their fear.
“Your Highness, you look even more beautiful today. It’s like seeing a living goddess.”
“Your dress is already stunning, but I can only imagine how much more magnificent your gown will be at the engagement ceremony. I hope that day comes soon.”
“Please, at least tell us the color of your dress for the engagement party. We must avoid it at all costs.”
“Yes. If we wear a dress even slightly similar to yours, our plain faces will look even worse.”
They flattered her while belittling themselves.
Aileen’s lips remained tight.
‘Why isn’t he here yet?’
The longer she waited for Prince Valentin, who hadn’t shown up for a tea party held at the palace, the more her irritation grew.
Not only had he failed to send a royal carriage, but he hadn’t even come to greet her. She had no choice but to dismount her carriage like the other ladies and walk alone to the greenhouse.
The engagement was imminent, and the wedding would follow next year, yet she was treated with such disrespect.
Even though he had promised to come days ago, he hadn’t appeared, leaving her frustrated.
‘Ignoring me even before we’re married? This isn’t even funny.’
She planned to tell him off when she finally saw him. If he intended to treat her like this, she’d call off the engagement entirely.
Aileen had no desire to become the crown princess; she wanted only one thing: Damon Craig.
The problem was that Damon not only ignored her but had already married the butler’s daughter.
‘Clarissa… that wretched woman.’
Cursing Clarissa, who had stolen Damon from her, Aileen waited for an opportunity, also considering how she might permanently remove Clarissa from Damon’s side.
“His Highness Prince Valentin!”
At the steward’s announcement, everyone in the greenhouse rose.
And the moment Valentin appeared, all eyes—unexpectedly—turned to Aileen.
Valentin had appeared alongside Clarissa.
‘Why is he with Clarissa instead of me, his fiancée?!’
Aileen Rackton…
I stepped into the greenhouse with Valentin, sensing Aileen’s sharp gaze drilling into me.
Dressed in red with her equally vivid red hair, she was far more brilliant and imposing than I had imagined.
She knew it herself. Aileen had manifested her aura as a child, proving the strength of the Rackton lineage.
No one in the room could defeat her in swordsmanship, not even the royal knights.
Yet Aileen’s exceptional skill only fueled Valentin’s sense of inferiority, as he could not wield a sword himself.
Despite this, Aileen made no effort to hide her prowess, flaunting her strength at every opportunity.
‘She can’t possibly want to be hated…’
I lowered my eyelids slightly, avoiding her gaze. Even a mere glance from her felt like a painful jab, reminding me of the time she’d struck my cheek and left me bedridden for days.
“Baroness, shall we go?”
Valentin offered her a brief glance in acknowledgment, then guided me to the round table where Aileen was seated.
Although there were several identical tables in the greenhouse, the one Aileen occupied was clearly the VIP seat.
“Allow me to introduce the guest joining us for the first time. The wife of Baron Damon Craig, Clarissa Craig. She recently rendered significant assistance, so I invited her here in gratitude.”
Valentin omitted the story about the wolves and the horse accident while introducing me.
“Thank you for inviting me, Your Highness. And greetings to all attending this tea party. I am Clarissa Craig.”
A peculiar tension swept the greenhouse.
The stares I received as I spread my gown to bow were full of disapproval.
‘So this is Aileen’s inner circle.’
Eyes that labeled me an intruder, a threat, a woman to be ousted—they were sharp and merciless.
“The engagement is approaching, and I called you here. If you have any good ideas for an impressive ceremony, please speak freely.”
As Valentin explained the purpose of the gathering, some offered ideas. Some were absurd, but he listened attentively with a smile.
“And what do you think, Baroness?”
Valentin suddenly asked me.
Aileen snapped irritably.
“I doubt Clarissa even has a thought in her head. Before marriage, I folded her undergarments and clothes. After marriage, she never attended any social gatherings, so she probably has no idea how the world works. Isn’t that right, Clarissa?”
Clarissa had once been slapped by Aileen, crying while she finished folding Aileen’s remaining undergarments before returning home.
Being a butler’s daughter, she had no choice but to serve diligently.
But this wasn’t Aileen’s bedroom in the Rackton mansion.
Did Aileen really think she could crush my confidence with that remark?
‘Foolish Aileen. Even in front of Valentin, you should pretend to be good.’
I clasped my hands politely and spoke.
“I think it would be wonderful to include a charity fundraiser at the engagement party, so everyone can witness Princess Aileen’s generosity and consideration. We could gift undergarments, diapers, and other necessities to the poor.”
Valentin glanced at Aileen expressionlessly, then smiled warmly at me.
“That’s an excellent idea. We will hold a charity fundraiser at the engagement party, as you suggested, Baroness.”
At Valentin’s formal acceptance, Aileen trembled, fists clenched, her body shaking.
“Ah… I’m exhausted…”
Shortly after leaving the greenhouse, I stretched.
Just sitting through the tea party for a little while drained me. I longed to return home, soak in warm water, and rest.
As the carriage left the palace heading toward Middletown, disaster struck.
“Ahhh!”
The carriage braked suddenly, and I, dozing off, toppled forward.
“Milady, are you alright? Milady!”
Miranda shook me, worried, as I groaned on the carriage floor.
“Ugh… I hit my forehead. What on earth is happening?”
Before I could process it, the carriage door flew open violently.
A white hand suddenly thrust in, grabbing my hair and yanking me out.
“Ahhh!”
Dragged outside, I was horrified to see Aileen holding my hair.
To think a noblewoman would fight in the middle of the capital’s main street!
Aileen’s eyes were wild with rage, utterly disregarding that she was the fiancée of the crown prince.
“Enjoying stealing other people’s men? Not satisfied with Damon, now you’re manipulating Prince Valentin too?”
She shook my hair violently. Her strength was such that it felt like she might pull it all out.
“Ah! Princess, people are watching!”
“And what if they are? I am Aileen Rackton!”
At that moment, a familiar, cold voice came from behind Aileen.
“It’s Damon Craig. Princess Aileen Rackton.”
Startled by Damon’s unexpected arrival, Aileen released my hair.
Freed, I hurriedly tried to tame my messy hair with both hands.
I was embarrassed to show Damon such a state. He had told me not to attend the tea party.
‘Why show up now?’
I roughly tied back my hair and lifted my head.
Damon stood with his hands behind his back, glanced at me briefly, then clicked his tongue and smiled softly at Aileen.
“What has angered you so? Naturally, my wife must be at fault. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have abandoned decorum and grabbed someone by the hair in the middle of the street.”
As expected, Damon wasn’t on my side.
“Damon, Clarissa is flirting with Prince Valentin! How can she do that after marrying you?”
Aileen whimpered like a tragic heroine.
“Your Highness, apparently my wife made a major mistake to the point of being misunderstood.”
“It’s not a misunderstanding! Look at that royal carriage—they sent it for her but not me. She must intend to make him her lover.”
“…Lover?”
Damon chuckled lightly, still standing with his hands behind his back, as if listening to a ridiculous joke.
“She might have already committed adultery!”
“That’s impossible.”
His gaze lingered on me briefly, then returned to its original stance. But I could almost hear the confidence in his voice:
You only know me. You only love me. You could even die for me, right?
Despite my bleeding forehead and hair mangled by Aileen, Damon smiled calmly, saying nothing about it.
My chest ached as if it had been torn apart. I bit my lips.
And there they were, Damon and Aileen, carrying on a conversation.
“Damon, you must believe me. Valentin looked at Clarissa with affection. He’s never looked at me that way. You’re not planning to continue living with an unfaithful Clarissa, are you?”
“I’m more concerned about the Princess right now. You’re blocking the road, and people are gathering. Let’s discuss the details over tea.”
“Sh-should we?”
“I will escort you. Millan, move her horse off the road.”
As Millan passed me, he removed the horse Aileen had arrived on.
Meanwhile, Damon offered Aileen his arm.
“I will escort the Princess who has been hurt.”
“Thank you, Damon.”
Aileen smiled brightly and placed her hand on his arm as they walked away.
Left alone, I watched them go, then spun around.
Getting into the carriage, my whole body ached, and a groan escaped me.
The sudden stop had left me bruised all over, not just my forehead.
‘Damon and Aileen! I’ll make sure you regret today!’
