“I heard that 1st Prince is a very terrifying person, but it seems Your Highness is an exception. His Highness seems to have an unending smile whenever he looks at you.”

“Look over there. Without Your Highness by his side, he looks expressionless. Did you see Myron’s masterpiece just now?”

The ladies giggled as if they had all read a romantic novel together.

‘As expected.’

It was as I expected. In proportion to the rumors about my reputation and Cahilun’s reputation, our relationship received a lot of attention.

Those who viewed our marriage negatively predicted that cracks would soon appear in our married life, and we would eventually separate.
However, contrary to their expectations, the appearance of a harmonious couple increased the favor of those who saw them.

Even the ladies in front of me, who approached not out of curiosity or to wait in line for Cahilun, but purely seemed interested in the appearance of our couple.

“When you were riding the boat a while ago, you two looked so affectionate. It was so enviable.”

The ladies, except for their noble demeanor, had faces that seemed to want to roll around immediately.

“By the way, Your Highness Vi, have you heard the rumor?”

“What rumor are you talking about?”

Baroness Yeong-ae, who drew everyone’s attention with a meaningful expression, looked around and whispered as if to concentrate everyone’s attention.

“It’s about the 2nd Prince’s couple.”

Huh? Why the Floria couple?

Even though I wasn’t particularly interested, I perked up my ears because it seemed genuinely intriguing.

“There’s a rumor that the relationship between the two isn’t the same as before.”

“What? They seem so affectionate, though?”

Lady Yeong-ae turned her head to Floria and Eric, raising her eyebrows. Then, Baroness Yeong-ae quickly grabbed her arm.

“Don’t look. They might notice that we’re talking about them.”

“Oh, I see. I’m sorry.”

As if Lady Yeong-ae had made a mistake, she hid her apologetic face behind the fan. I felt the ladies glancing at me, trying to gauge my reaction. I didn’t react strongly, trying to suppress the urge to tell them to keep talking.

Baroness Yeong-ae, who seemed momentarily disappointed by the unexpected reaction, paused for a moment, creating tension for everyone. Then, she burst out with her words like a bomb.

“Prince Eric has been involved with another woman.”

“What?”

The shocked ladies covered their mouths with fans. Although they all wanted to check the affectionate smiles of Floria and Eric, they held back.

“And it’s not just once or twice. Some say they saw marks on his neck one day.”

“Oh my! Really?”

“Oh, how can that be!”

Although it was an uncertain rumor, the noble ladies were already furious as if it were a matter of their own. As they valued their families, they reacted sensitively to infidelity.

“Since it’s not certain, it’s better to be careful with your words.”

I quietly advised, and the grumbling of the shocked noble ladies subsided. When I tried to divert their attention, Baroness Yeong-ae cautiously asked.

“Your Highness, aren’t you interested in this scandal?”

Baroness Yeong-ae’s words implied that if the discord between the 2nd Prince couple were to become apparent, it might be advantageous for Cahilun’s succession to the throne.

‘Why wouldn’t I be pleased?’

After all, we spread the rumor.

Floria used the rumor to gain influence and attack me and Cahilun. Since there was no law forbidding us from saying that, especially since the rumor had already spread among the maids.

Everyone is just giggling.
“Rumors are just rumors. I believe it’s not good to talk about uncertain things.”

Responding calmly, suppressing the excitement while the public opinion wavered as expected, I blinked at the surprised eyes of the noble ladies.

After a moment of silence, Lady Yeong-ae cautiously spoke up.

“During that time, it seems I misunderstood Prince Eric.”

“What do you mean?”

“Judging people based on uncertain rumors is something I find deeply embarrassing.”

Lady Yeong-ae bowed her head. She seemed apologetic for misunderstanding me all this time. Other noble ladies, besides her, were also unsure of what to do, glancing at me.

Of course, it was an action considering their reputation, but I didn’t expect the respectful gaze to change so directly.

Moreover, to receive an apology right away. It seemed that everyone’s favorability toward me had unexpectedly risen as much as they had misunderstood me.

Thinking that they were more innocent than I had thought, I casually turned my gaze, and my eyes met with Floria’s.

The look Floria gave us was icy cold.