“Your Highness, do you really not know about the ‘Devil King’s Gift’?”

I had come out for a night walk, feeling stiff all over.

When I scolded Adrian for not bringing a candle, he chuckled softly and asked that.

“Devil King’s Gift? I’ve never heard of it.”

At my answer, Adrian turned his gaze towards the flowers spread widely across the garden.

Deep purple flowers swaying with each gust of wind.

The sight was as beautiful as gentle waves rippling on a night sea.

“That’s the name of those flowers. They’re flowers from the demon realm, not found in the human world.”

“I see… I was wondering why flowers kept blooming in the garden despite the cold weather.”

“That’s not the only amazing thing about them.”

Adrian turned to me with a smile and held out his hand.

“Would you like to walk through the flower garden with me?”

I grabbed Adrian’s politely outstretched hand and slowly walked out.

And as we reached the boundary where the violet flower bed began.

“Stretch out your other hand towards the flowers, Your Highness.”

“Towards the flowers?”

At Adrian’s sudden request, I stretched my hand towards the flowers with a puzzled expression.

Feeling the soft petals touch my palm, I took a few steps into the flower bed.

I gasped in admiration at the beautiful sight before my eyes.

“Wow… What is all this…?”

As I walked through the flower bed, wherever my hand touched, the flowers began to emit a mysterious purple light.

Under the night sky, the soft light seeping from countless flowers embroidered the darkness.

I kept touching the flowers, delighting like a child at the mysterious light that flowed out each time.

Adrian smiled contentedly as he watched me.

“The forests of the demon realm are very dark. If you happen to come across this flower when you’re lost, you’re considered lucky. That’s why this flower is called the ‘Devil King’s Gift’.”

“I see… Why hasn’t anyone told me about this until now? Both Mina and Adrian, how disappointing.”

Adrian silently watched me for a while as I was completely captivated by the flowers.

“…Because these flowers are so beautiful, in the demon realm, lovers often promise their love while viewing them together.”

“…”

“So everyone probably thought Your Highness would already know about them.”

Adrian’s eyes lowered slightly.

“After all, Your Highness has… the Grand Duke.”

Only then did I realize why Adrian had been looking at me with eyes full of sympathy.

‘It shows even in things like this that I didn’t receive Cedric’s love.’

Feeling embarrassed, I turned my gaze towards a distant point.

“It’s fine now that I know. Even though we’re not lovers…”

And as soon as my mind calmed, I looked back at Adrian with a smile.

“I’m even happier that my loyal butler, Adrian, told me about it.”

At my words, waves of emotion began to ripple low in his blue-violet eyes.

“Your Highness, do you… really mean that?”

I nodded with a smile on my face.

Adrian then smiled faintly and plucked a flower from beside him.

“Then, since I’ve already overstepped, allow me one more thing…”

Saying that, he gently tucked the flower behind my ear.

As Adrian’s hand brushed my earlobe while pushing back my hair.

“In the demon realm, they also put this flower behind their lover’s ear.”

“…”

“So they can see their beloved’s face even better.”

Adrian stepped back slightly and gazed down at my face with gentle eyes.

“People from the demon realm have a surprisingly romantic side.”

When I spoke gruffly, feeling oddly embarrassed, Adrian burst into soft laughter.

“Haha, I suppose so.”

As I was slowly lifting the corners of my mouth, seeing his pleasant smile.

Creeeeak—

Thud. The sound of a window closing quietly echoed through the silence.

‘Who could still be awake at this hour…?’

The sound seemed to have come from the Light Mansion.

I quickly turned my head, but all that lingered there was a quiet stillness.

* * *

The next day, in the Grand Duchess’s dressing room.

As my preparations were finishing up, I kept lowering my head to secretly smile at my twitching lips.

‘I can’t believe I’ll be able to meet Bianca soon…’

Bianca, the princess of the Twins Grand Ducal family and Cedric’s late youngest sister.

Of course, I had to win Bianca’s favor to survive.

But even without that reason, I would have wanted to make a good impression on Bianca.

Because…

‘Our Bianca is just so-o-o cute!’

Bianca was my second favorite character after Cedric.

Bianca, who followed the female lead Robelia around expressing her affection, was truly the epitome of adorableness.

Her charm was, above all, her white and plump cheeks.

When Robelia caressed those round, puffy cheeks, Bianca would be as happy as if she owned the world.

‘I thought I’d never see her after Rebecca left in the original story, huuung…’

Just as my facial muscles started to move on their own from happiness, that’s when it happened.

“Your, Your Highness…”

The maids’ faces turned as white as if they’d seen a ghost.

Due to my harsh features, my expression must have become even more terrifying contrary to my intentions.

‘I guess my features are a bit harsh. Bianca might be surprised to see me too, so I should restrain myself.’

However, contrary to my resolve, my cheekbones kept rising higher and higher.

‘In the novel, Bianca was nine years old. Since this is right before the original story begins, she must be about…’

Eight years old?!

‘She was so cute at nine, but at eight! Will her cheeks be even more plump and bouncy? Oh, I’m really going crazy…’

My lips wouldn’t stop twitching.

I quickly lowered my head, barely covering my mouth.

At that moment, Mina’s trembling skirt hem entered my lowered field of vision.

As I slowly raised my head, Mina was also looking at me with a terrified expression.

“I, I guess… you’re really displeased about attending Princess Bianca’s welcome ceremony, right? Aren’t you?”

Mina’s voice tone became awkwardly high as she forced a smile.

“Of, of course! Even I would be extremely upset if my in-laws returned as soon as I left the mansion!”

“…”

“It’s absolutely! Absolutely not! because Your Highness has a bad temperament or is mean, no…”

Even though it sounded like she was subtly insulting me, it was still a desperate attempt at empathy.

Mina and all the servants seemed to think I was angry about Bianca’s return.

My facial muscles, which had been twitching uncontrollably from joy, must have fueled their misunderstanding.

‘Well. It’s natural for them to think that way.’

In the original story, Rebecca strongly disliked Bianca.

That meant the current Bianca was bound to be afraid of me.

Then I might not even be able to properly talk to her, let alone see Bianca’s cute smile…

“No way… I don’t want that…”

As I muttered in a whimpering tone, Mina also made a tearful face and stuck out her lower lip.

Then, a subtle determination settled in Mina’s eyes.

“Grand Duchess, don’t worry! I’ll make sure to clearly convey it to the Light Mansion this time!”

“Convey what?”

“Since Princess Bianca is still young, she might make mistakes!”

Mina nodded her head vigorously with her lips tightly pressed together, as if she had made some decision.

“Just in case… I’ll make sure that the Princess absolutely, absolutely! doesn’t come near Your Highness!”

“What…?”

“This won’t do, I should go to the Light Mansion servants right now and beg them properly, even if I have to kneel…”

“No! Absolutely not!”

When I jumped up and shouted, Mina’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘Ah, Mina… I should be the one kneeling and begging her to come near me, why are you doing this…’

I barely calmed my startled heart and grabbed both of Mina’s hands.

“Mina, listen carefully. I intend to get along well with Princess Bianca from now on.”

“…Pardon?”

Mina let out a small, nervous laugh with a face that said ‘I must have heard wrong?’

“I said I’m thinking of mending my relationship with Princess Bianca. So, make sure there’s nothing hindering me, okay?”

“Ah? Yes…”

Mina still had an unconvinced expression.

And the same went for the surrounding maids.

They all still seemed to doubt me, but they would understand in time.

“I need to go ahead now.”

After checking the time, I hurriedly got up from my seat.

“Mina, go to Adrian right away and tell him to bring what I requested to the Light Mansion as soon as it’s ready.”

* * *

It was already almost time for Bianca to arrive.

As I hurried my steps and approached the Light Mansion,

I saw a group of high-ranking servants lined up horizontally in front of the main entrance.

And in front of them, Cedric was talking with his aide.

‘Come to think of it… it’s been a really long time.’

Cedric looked just as he did the last time I saw him.

The lines of his body that suited the suit well, his languid attitude, and even the overwhelming aura that evoked a subtle tension.

Seeing him suddenly reminded me of Cedric’s alluring gaze as he looked at me on that forest path.

‘Is he… planning to let me go now?’

Just as I was hesitating without realizing it.

“Rebecca, you came.”

Cedric, who had noticed me, gave a slight nod as if telling me to stand beside him.

As I gradually got closer to where Cedric was standing, the servants behind him each bowed their heads with fearful expressions.

“Cedric, have you been well?”

“…Thanks to you. It seems you’ve been doing well too.”

I naturally approached Cedric.

Shortly after, Adrian, who had followed me, placed the gift I had brought in front of Cedric and me.

It was a huge floral arrangement I had specially ordered from Adrian earlier, shaped like Princess Bianca’s initials.

“I thought the welcome ceremony for Princess Bianca might be too empty. I asked Adrian to prepare a flower arrangement separately.”

At my words, everyone present alternately looked at the flower arrangement and me.

They seemed surprised that not only had I attended Princess Bianca’s welcome ceremony, but I had even prepared a welcoming flower arrangement.

However, strangely enough, Cedric’s gaze was fixed on Adrian.

Even as Adrian walked towards the group of servants, Cedric continued to stare at him.

‘Hmm, it seems Cedric is coveting my capable butler… Should I brag a little?’

I turned my head slightly towards Adrian and continued speaking.

“Our Adrian is quite skillful. He knows my tastes well, so I can trust him and leave things to him.”

“…Our?”

At the sudden deep, attractive voice, I turned back around and immediately met Cedric’s eyes.

His characteristically sharp gaze, sensual enough to feel erotic.

As that unique gaze settled more heavily on my face, it was at that moment.

“No.”

“…?”

“You don’t like lilies.”

Cedric’s lips parted slowly once more.

“I’m afraid I know you better than ‘your’ Adrian does.”