From the night of the wedding to the following three days, a royal ball was held. Wearing a heavy dress and constantly smiling with a smile on my lips, facing the scrutinizing nobles was an extremely exhausting task.

A painting depicting the scene of Cahill and me kissing inside the carriage heading to the temple was prominently featured on the front page of the newspaper.

People seemed shocked by Cahill’s smiling appearance. The rumors that the first prince was completely smitten with Renéola Violet were already circulating, but seeing it with their own eyes for the first time seemed to have a greater impact.

Those who saw the scene on the street and those who learned about it through the newspaper both made a fuss about our story, as if they were illustrating it.

Kingdom citizens, who were interested in both my love and yours, began to grow curious about us.

Unlike Floria’s love story, which had been widely known, there was no information about Cahill and me because our story had not been revealed.

Despite finger-pointing and accusations of being a villain, everyone seemed curious about what it was about me that captured Cahill The Hillik.

“How did you two first meet?”

I smiled slightly, facing the questions I received throughout the three days of the ball.

“We first met when I became the princess’s maid.”

The subsequent questions were the same.

“Who confessed their feelings first?”

“His Highness confessed to me that he fell in love at first sight.”

I didn’t coordinate with Cahill about this part, but whenever someone asked, I answered that he fell for me first and actively pursued me.

Cahill also heard what I was saying from the side but didn’t stop me. Instead, he wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my forehead, enhancing the credibility of my words.

Cahill hinted that I was receiving his love generously in front of others with a willing expression.

“I fell for you, didn’t I?”

“Oh, my. It’s so romantic!”

When I mentioned receiving flowers by the lake (which I made up), the noble ladies giggled as if they were envious.

But I knew that despite their favorable behavior, they were scrutinizing what it was about me that captured Cahill.

Despite my chaotic and messy reputation, I was worried that Cahill’s support might be severely affected. However, he remained indifferent.

While there were many people who wanted to line up with Cahill, he seemed to be clever. Apart from the citizens of the kingdom, Cahill’s trust among the nobles initially seemed shaky but soon became firm, as if to say, “When did it ever waver?”

It became clear that what he had built up over a long time would not crumble so easily. Cahill’s dismissive laughter at my worries was understandable.

As a strong heir to the throne, Cahill had many people who wanted to align with him. Therefore, throughout the ball, I had to be surrounded by noble ladies who wanted to stand out to him.
However, with that, the basis for my presented necessity to Floria inevitably weakened. I stood on one side of the reception hall, glancing at Floria, who was charmingly conversing with the ladies.

Her visit to the Violet House and the support of the kingdom’s citizens certainly benefited her, but it seemed that it was not enough for her satisfaction.

Throughout the three days of the ball, she appeared with a necklace adorned with red jewels. It was impossible not to recognize that those jewels represented my heart. I shuddered at the thought of how she could put that necklace around her neck and come out with it.

Floria occasionally rolled the jewels in her hand. I naturally understood that it was a threat.

Floria stared at me with eyes that seemed to say, ‘I can kill you anytime.’ I wanted to rush in and snatch the jewel from her neck immediately, but it would be faster for it to break in her hand than for me to take it in my hand.

As I continued to glance at Floria’s necklace, Cahill, who found it strange, asked me for the reason.

When he learned that the red jewel hanging from the necklace represented my heart, his expression became frighteningly stern. It seemed like he was ready to rush in and strangle Floria’s neck right away.

“Should I take it off?”

Cahill asked as casually as if he were asking about household chores. If he, as a Sword Master, decided to take the jewel, he might be able to do it in an instant. However, Shanna was by her side. I didn’t want to adventure into a life-threatening situation. Cahill seemed to share the same thought.

Instead, whenever she rolled the jewel with her hand, exerting force, I clenched my fist so that veins would pop out on my shoulder due to the pain inflicted on my heart. It was clear that he was barely holding back.

“Are you okay? Your complexion is pale, and you’re sweating.”

While Cahill was briefly away, Isolla, who was having a conversation, quickly came to support me, seeing my pained expression.

“I’m fine.”

Fortunately, the pain subsided quickly, and Isolla wiped her forehead.

“It’s not because of the First Prince, right? I mean, it must be tough to handle such a temperament.”