“Miss Veronica Hardness.”

“Yes, Your Highness Prince Cassian Theron Diastara.”

“I have my own preferences.”

“…Are you saying you don’t like me?”

“What other reason could there be?”

Veronica looked genuinely shocked. Cassian became even more bewildered.

He could pinpoint this as the most baffling moment since he started talking to her today.

Veronica was angry. She felt offended and her pride was hurt. She couldn’t understand it at all.

How could he say he didn’t like her? In other words, it meant he would have liked it if it wasn’t her.

“What’s wrong with me! I hate to say this myself, but I assure you I’ll grow up to be a beauty!”

“It’s arrogant to assume that just because others think someone is beautiful, I must too. And do you think I like all beautiful women? Unless I’m a madman who likes any woman, which I’m not.”

“No, don’t all men like pretty women with good figures?”

“That’s a narrow-minded view.”

“I didn’t know Your Highness was so close-minded!”

“It’s good that you know now!”

Suddenly, an argument broke out. And it was a childish war of words.

One side demanded to know why they weren’t to the other’s taste, while the other side retorted why they should be.

Passersby turned their heads towards the fierce shouting. The guards discreetly blocked the view.

Just then, Magnolia was walking towards the square, right on time to meet Veronica.

She turned her head at the commotion and, recognizing the imperial guards standing in a circle under a large tree as the ones she had seen earlier, she walked towards them.

On the opposite side, Asher was returning.

He too approached after spotting familiar faces, but hearing the arguing voices, both stopped at the same time.

They looked at each other in confusion before turning back to face forward.

The situation where Veronica was sitting on Cassian’s lap in what looked like an intimate pose while they glared at each other as if ready to kill, shouting, was utterly incomprehensible.

“Fine! You’ll end up marrying me anyway, so it’s useless to refuse! Unless Your Highness abandons the country and exiles to some far-off foreign land, you’ll have to see my face for the rest of your life. You’ll have to spend your wedding night with me. Don’t ignore reality!”

“Who’s ignoring it? That’s then and this is now! Respect my preferences, please.”

“Then what exactly are Your Highness’s preferences?”

“The complete opposite of Miss Veronica. Totally opposite!”

“What kind of bizarre taste is that!”

“Don’t disrespect other people’s preferences!”

“You’re lying!”

“I’m not lying!”

“Ca-Cassian.”

“Ve-Ve-Veronica.”

The two cautiously intervened in the ominous atmosphere. Belatedly noticing Asher, Veronica finally came to her senses.

Of all people, seeing the one person she absolutely didn’t want to appear before her, Veronica bit the inside of her cheek.

Then she got off Cassian’s lap. Cassian too regained his senses upon seeing Asher and became a bit embarrassed.

Asher approached Cassian and whispered.

“Were you fighting?”

“No, we weren’t.”

Yeah, right. It looked like they were fighting to anyone who saw.

While Asher was examining Cassian with a serious expression, Magnolia also approached Veronica and asked.

“Veronica, did something happen with Prince Theron?”

“Nothing happened.”

Contrary to her answer, their gazes towards each other remained fierce. Then Magnolia belatedly noticed Veronica’s reddened cheek and turned her face towards herself.

“Veronica! What happened to your face?!”

“I bumped into something, it’s nothing.”

Veronica turned her head again, removing the hand that was squeezing her cheek as if to smudge it.

Both men were now looking this way due to Magnolia’s fuss. When Veronica’s eyes met Cassian’s, he quickly averted his gaze.

“I’d better go rest now.”

“Wait—”

“I have nothing more to say.”

With that, Cassian grabbed Asher’s shoulder and turned his back.

Asher tried to stop Cassian while glancing towards Veronica, but he ruthlessly said ‘there’s no need for further conversation’ and forcibly pulled him along.

Lake, with a somewhat serious expression, gave a slight nod of greeting before following them.

As they were about to plunge into the crowd, suddenly Asher seemed to remember something and came back.

“Miss Hardness.”

Then he approached Veronica. His gaze briefly touched her cheek before moving away.

“If my brother did anything to offend you, I apologize on his behalf. I hope you can forget today’s incident and enjoy the rest of your time with your friend.”

“…”

“And this.”

He handed over the small jewelry box he had been holding all along.

“May God’s blessings be with you.”

Asher placed the jewelry box in Veronica’s hand, said goodbye, and walked away.

His figure disappeared into the crowd, conversing with Cassian. Until then, Veronica just stood still. Magnolia approached her and said.

“Prince Roel is really kind, isn’t he?”

As she said this, Magnolia suddenly stopped speaking.

Veronica’s face, staring into the crowd, looked so fierce as if she could kill someone, that Magnolia couldn’t say anything more.

Left alone, the two entered a nearby restaurant.

Magnolia, who had ordered some simple food, glanced at the quiet profile beside her.

Although Veronica maintained her usual upright posture, Magnolia sensed the frustration hidden within.

It seemed to be because of the argument with Prince Theron earlier. Magnolia cleared her throat and carefully let out some words.

“Veronica. They say love is always difficult.”

“Who says I haven’t experienced love!”

Magnolia was startled by the sudden outburst. Seeing her face, Veronica stopped her excitement.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be angry at you, Magnolia.”

“No, it’s okay. I understand.”

Magnolia smiled as if she understood. Veronica rubbed her forehead and sighed.

“No, you’re right. I’ve experienced love, but I’ve never been loved.”

Because in moments she believed were love, she was only betrayed. Veronica let out another deep sigh.

Seeing her rapidly shrinking figure, Magnolia hurriedly continued speaking.

“Veronica, it’s okay! How can human relationships always be good? They say life naturally has its ups and downs. Um, is this the right expression here? A-anyway, they say romantic relationships are naturally complicated and difficult and sometimes incomprehensible, so you get angry and want to hit the other person and tell them to listen to you. My parents, who’ve been married for decades, say they still don’t know everything about each other.”

Magnolia rambled on, waving both hands. Although her words weren’t entirely coherent, it was clear she was trying to comfort her. Veronica smiled softly.

“Thank you. That’s comforting.”

Although she didn’t seem particularly comforted, she went along with it appropriately.

Soon, worry seeped from her profile as she rested her chin on her hand. Seeing Veronica’s gloomy expression for the first time, Magnolia somehow felt a step closer to her.

And the next day, Magnolia was once again sitting in front of Veronica feeling like a criminal. Large teardrops were falling from her big eyes.

“Veronica, I’m so stupid! I didn’t even notice yesterday, I’m really sorry!”

“I understand, so stop crying.”

Magnolia kept sobbing with her face buried in a handkerchief.

She had visited the Hardness house early in the morning, woke up Veronica who was sleeping late, and had been in tears ever since.

There was only one reason. Although Magnolia had inquired yesterday, Veronica hadn’t said anything, but it seems she must have heard from Lord Lining. How fast.

“Sob. Ugh. But, hic. I heard you were hurt.”

“It wasn’t me who was hurt, it was the guard.”

“Your cheek too, why did you say yesterday that you bumped into a wall. I didn’t even know you were hit!”

“It’s just a little swollen, that’s all.”

So let’s stop here. Because it’s annoying to comfort her. Veronica, in a bad mood from being woken up, patted Magnolia half-heartedly and scratched her head.

After yesterday’s incident, her fatigue still hadn’t lifted.

Her bruised cheek was more swollen than yesterday and throbbing, and her leg condition wasn’t good either.

Although quite some time had passed since the injury and it wasn’t deep, strangely, it often ached when she overexerted herself even a little.

“They say Brai Cole left early this morning. Don’t worry, he went to a distant foreign country. He won’t appear in front of Veronica ever again.”

“I see.”

Actually, when Harry discovered her bruised cheek yesterday, he pressed her about what had happened, and Veronica had no choice but to mention the incident with Brai Cole.

As expected, Harry was very angry.

Seeing him suddenly go out in the middle of the night, he probably went to the Cole house. Veronica left the aftermath to Harry.

Brai Cole will never be able to set foot in the empire again as long as the Hardness family is around.

“My second brother went to see Brai Cole yesterday and gave him a stern warning. He said to tell Veronica that he’ll come to apologize later.”

When did that person go there too. How diligent. With Harry going there and causing trouble on top of that, Brai Cole really seems unlikely to ever set foot in the empire again.

“I feel so sorry for Prince Theron too.”

“He’ll understand. Probably.”

It wasn’t you who upset that man’s mood. Suddenly remembering yesterday’s events, Veronica let out a heavy sigh.

She had created an appropriate opportunity and induced a plausible atmosphere. Brai Cole’s appearance was unexpected but not bad.

In the middle, she clearly felt Cassian’s gaze towards her change.

If she didn’t go this far, Cassian was a man who wouldn’t give a chance to open his heart.

He was definitely not someone who repaid kindness with kindness just because others showed him kindness.

He had clear boundaries in his heart, and only allowed kindness to those inside the line. Everyone else was like an uninvited guest.

He’s a more difficult and picky person than I thought. And his intuition is unnecessarily sharp. Veronica felt bitter at the rejection that ultimately came back.

“Veronica. You’re still upset about yesterday, right? Let’s cheer up together!”

On top of that, Magnolia turned Veronica’s stomach.

For the first time, Veronica’s fingertips tingled with the urge to hit her on the head.

Veronica irritably drank the water brought by the maid.

“You still haven’t given up on finding new love?”

“Of course not. I won’t give up. I’ll definitely find my love!”

“I’ll praise your persistence at least.”

She lay down on the sofa, putting her aching leg up.

Magnolia, renewing her determination, exclaimed that there would be a good party in a few days and she would make her move there.

Veronica, lying sideways on the sofa, gave a nonchalant cheer to her resolve.

“Oh, Veronica. What was in the jewelry box Prince Roel gave you yesterday?”