I had heard recently that the Dmitri family was paying huge compensation.

Of course, the cause was Camilla’s failed gift investment.

‘I thought they would be going through a difficult time, but…’

Camilla’s situation seemed to have flowed more seriously than I expected.

‘Well, in the original work, the nobleman who invested in that item also suffered great economic losses paying compensation.’

Moreover, didn’t Camilla borrow money from loan sharks and invest it all?

It was obvious that Camilla’s damage would be more severe than the unnamed nobleman in the original work.

Camilla’s face was already covered in sweat and black tears.

Her cheeks trembled as she forced a smile.

“Da-darling… But th-this item is really different! I’ve studied hard and researched…”

“Please! Please stop that nonsense!”

The count’s thunderous shout echoed around.

Camilla’s body sprawled on the ground reflexively curled up.

She seemed already accustomed to such treatment.

However, the count just glared at her coldly, as if not feeling even a shred of sympathy.

“I’m really… completely sick of you as a woman now.”

Count Dmitri gritted his teeth lowly.

“I tried my best not to divorce, but even my patience seems to be running out.”

“Darling…!”

Camilla desperately grabbed her husband’s pant leg.

But the count roughly stepped back and brushed off his pants where her hand had touched.

“I’ll prepare the divorce papers right after the emperor’s birthday celebration ends.”

With those final words, Count Dmitri boarded the carriage without hesitation.

Camilla hurriedly stood up and knocked on the carriage window like a madwoman.

“N-no way… Divorce? Wh-what are you saying?”

But the count’s voice flowing from the window was utterly cold.

“Don’t let me see you until we meet at the imperial banquet.”

“N-no, darling! Dar…!”

“Depart.”

With the count’s cold order, the carriage began to drive away through the crowded market street.

Camilla, left alone, stared blankly as her husband’s carriage departed.

“This can’t be… How could you do this to me…?”

Camilla’s lifeless black hair fluttered pitifully over her dull face.

Around her, spectators were still gathered in crowds.

In the past, this situation would have been intolerable to Camilla’s pride.

But now, Camilla seemed unconcerned about the surrounding gazes.

‘The situation seems to have gotten much worse.’

As I watched Camilla, who was still half out of her mind, I slowly let go of Bianca’s hand.

Then I smiled slightly at the child.

“Bianca, wait here with His Grace for a moment. Cedric, please look after Bianca for a bit while I go.”

Cedric nodded silently.

His expression showed he understood without needing to be told.

I walked slowly past the street spectators and approached Camilla.

Unaware of my arrival, Camilla was still staring at where the carriage had left, her jaw trembling.

“Camilla.”

At the quiet call, Camilla slowly turned her head.

“Bi… Your Highness…”

Humiliation and shame intertwined chaotically on Camilla’s face as she finally recognized me.

Pretending not to notice, I slowly bent my knee.

“Could you lift your shoe for a moment? Your handkerchief fell under your foot.”

Camilla’s lips trembled, and she looked around as if just noticing the gazes on her.

Her face turned bright red, as if about to burst.

Camilla hurriedly bowed her head and slowly lifted her foot.

“Here, Camilla.”

I picked up the handkerchief, dusted it off, and handed it to her.

Camilla hastily wiped away a tear that had fallen and gently raised the corners of her mouth.

“Oh my… It’s been a while, Your Highness Bi.”

She smiled as if nothing had happened.

Like someone trying to hide a face already withered by misfortune behind a mask.

“Are you out for a stroll before going to the capital?”

“Something like that.”

“Ah, I see…”

Camilla pressed her trembling lips together.

As I stared blankly at her face, suddenly…

“Bi… Your Highness Bi!”

Camilla suddenly grabbed my arm and looked up at me with desperate eyes.

“For the sake of our old friendship, couldn’t you show me a small kindness?”

“…What?”

At that moment, Camilla’s expression was indescribable, neither smiling nor crying.

She contorted her face strangely and gave an exaggerated smile.

“Even just a little, a tiny bit is fine! I’ve found a really good item this time, so it’s sure to work out…”

“…”

“If it goes well, I’ll definitely pay you back with interest, so please, please just a little…!”

“…Camilla.”

I coldly withdrew my arm.

At the same time, the smile faded from Camilla’s face.

“I didn’t tell you beforehand. His Grace the Grand Duke and Princess Bianca are here with me.”

“…What?”

Camilla’s gaze, mixed with madness and desperation, slowly moved behind me.

Cedric, unable to hide his contemptuous expression, and Bianca, looking at her fearfully as if she were a monster.

Camilla’s eyes wavered aimlessly as she saw those two.

“I didn’t know both of them were here…”

Abandoned by her husband, rolling pitifully in the dirt, and now clinging to me.

Camilla’s face flushed red with shame at having shown her rock bottom to the Grand Duke’s family.

“To, to see me like this…”

“We should go now, Camilla.”

“…”

“I heard about the Dmitri family’s situation… I hope it gets resolved well.”

That was all I had left to say to her.

I returned to Bianca, took the child’s hand, and hurried on our way.

After a few steps away.

When I glanced back slightly, Camilla was still standing there, staring blankly at our departing figures.

Fortunately, the shock from Camilla did not last long.

As we strolled through streets lined with women’s boutiques and jewelry shops, Bianca soon regained her cheerful demeanor.

“I think it’s more fun to come out to the street directly than having designers visit the castle!”

“You’re right, I’m having more fun being out with you too, Bianca.”

As I patted Bianca’s head, I stopped in front of a jewelry shop window.

At the same time, Cedric’s footsteps halted beside me.

“Did you see something you like?”

I nodded at Cedric’s question.

“That bracelet, I think it would suit Bianca quite well.”

Jeweled bracelets in small sizes made for young girls were displayed in various colors.

I had been wanting to give Bianca a pretty gift before heading to the capital.

‘Bianca might meet those annoying young ladies again in the capital, so I should boost her confidence beforehand.’

I need to see what kind of people their parents are too!

With a glint in my eyes, I immediately grabbed Bianca’s hand.

“Let’s go in here, Bianca!”

“Huh? Wh-why are we going into a jewelry shop…”

“Why? It’s a chance to show off the sophisticated jewelry craftsmanship of the North to those country bumpkin young ladies in the capital!”

Though Bianca looked bewildered as she was led by my hand, she bit her lip, seeming pleased inside.

Ding-a-ling―.

As the small bell on the glass door rang, the jewelry shop owner turned towards us disinterestedly.

“Welcome… Oh my!”

As the owner exclaimed in surprise, the gazes of those around turned to us.

“Your Highness Bi, you’re shopping in town?”

“Oh my, even His Grace the Grand Duke is here! Is today a special day?”

The fact that the Twins family was at a market street shop, and not just one but all together, seemed quite surprising.

The shop owner walked hurriedly towards us with a flushed face.

“For the Twins Grand Duke’s family to visit our shop in person, this must surely be the honor of my lifetime!”

With shining eyes, she quickly opened a catalog in front of me, as if afraid to miss this opportunity.

“If there’s anything you want that isn’t here now, just say the word, Your Highness Bi!”

The owner seemed to believe without a doubt that I had come to buy jewelry for myself.

Since Rebecca’s extravagance was already well-known throughout the North, this was perhaps a natural reaction.

However, I shook my head at the expectant owner.

“Not for me, we came to look at jewelry that would suit our princess.”

“For… the princess?”

The owner asked in confusion.

As I nodded slowly, my eyes once again burned red with fighting spirit.

“Price doesn’t matter, just the highest quality of whatever it is! Choose something that can widely showcase the North’s excellent jewelry craftsmanship all the way to the capital!”

“Excellent Northern craftsmanship… widely to the capital…”

The owner quickly jotted down my passionate but vague order in her notepad.

Then she blinked her eyes with a determined expression.

“I understand your words very well, Your Highness Bi. I will do my utmost to ensure that Princess Twins, the pride of our North, becomes the finest lady in this empire at the upcoming imperial banquet in the capital!”

.

.

.

After Bianca was led to the back of the shop by the owner.

All eyes in the shop turned to Cedric and me, left alone.

‘It’s awkward enough being alone with Cedric, but having to mind the surrounding gazes too is driving me crazy…’

I had only been filled with enthusiasm for Bianca, without considering this situation.

As I rolled my eyes in embarrassment, I suddenly felt warmth in my hand.

“…?”

As I looked with puzzled eyes, Cedric shrugged while holding my hand.

“There are many eyes watching.”

I blinked in surprise.

“You… Weren’t you angry with me?”

Without answering my question, Cedric turned his head to scan the display cases.

Then he nodded towards a necklace studded with large rubies.

“I think that would suit you well.”

It was indeed a beautiful necklace that would match the red color of my eyes, as Cedric said.

But I shook my head.

“I’m fine. I only came in to buy something for Bianca in the first place.”

I couldn’t afford to be extravagant like the old Rebecca.

‘I’ve gone broke again from investing in the welfare foundation, haha…’

This time when I go to the gift exchange in the capital, I’ll definitely make it big.

As I once again strengthened my resolve, Cedric had already taken out the ruby necklace and approached slightly as if to put it on me.

“It would be nice if you could lift your hair a bit.”

A gentle baritone voice resonated in my ear.

After hesitating for a moment, I eventually nodded.

‘Right. It’s not like I’m paying money just to try it on, so why not.’

As I lightly lifted my hair, Cedric drew closer to me.

And while Cedric put the necklace on me, his faint breath touched and left my nape repeatedly.

Finally, as I closed my eyes tightly at the subtle heat I felt.

“Rebecca.”

Cedric’s voice heavily settled in my ear as our faces crossed.

“Do you still think that night was a mistake?”