As I stared with a dumbfounded expression, Cal brazenly retorted.

“It’s my one and only younger brother’s wedding, so I can’t give him something cheap.”

“But you should still stay within your means. This is excessive spending.”

“He’s a brother who holds special meaning to me.”

Unexpectedly, it seemed he was the type to hold deep affection for his blood relatives.

Anyway, I couldn’t argue further when he said it like that. I glanced at him and looked around at the accessories. Unlike me, who was trying on this and that, Cal maintained an indifferent attitude the whole time.

“I thought you said he’s a brother who holds special meaning to you.”

“Yeah.”

“Then why are you looking so half-heartedly?”

“I’m being very serious right now though?”

Cal shrugged his shoulders.

‘Anyone can see that he clearly looks reluctant to be here.’

Thinking to just quickly pick something so we could part ways, I examined the accessories and picked up the one that looked the best among them, gazing at it intently. The price was reasonable and the design wasn’t bad either.

“Is that your taste?”

“Does my taste matter?”

“It’s better to choose something that suits women’s tastes.”

When I looked at him as if to say why would it matter when it’s for his younger brother, he curled his lips.

“Aren’t accessories meant to make you look good to others?”

“Many more people wear them for their own satisfaction. Anyway, I think this one is the best.”

I pointed to the bracelet placed next to the one I was holding. Cal nodded his head and took the bracelet I handed him.

“Do you want to get married?”

“What? Why are you suddenly asking that?”

I tilted my head at the abrupt question lacking context.

Then I soon realized he was referring to the earlier meeting with Gavis. Ah, I had forgotten about that. Recalling that creep’s greasy gaze, I felt sick to my stomach.

“Her Highness Floria arranged it for me. She must be busy enough with the royal wedding, yet she still took the time to consider me as well, so I’m simply grateful. Of course, the person I met earlier wasn’t to my taste.”

As I answered indifferently, Cal stared down at me and asked.

“Then what is your taste?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you like the scholar type who sits at a desk all day long, clinging to books?”

It felt like he was asking while alluding to someone specific, making me tilt my head.

Could it be that Floria mentioned Mathias to him? No, it didn’t seem like she would do that for no reason. He was probably talking based on seeing me together with Mathias last time.

“A scholar, you say. Someone serious and calm, unlike others. Smart too, since he reads a lot of books. If I were to marry, I think I would prefer that kind of man.”

Cal snorted and crossed his arms.

“Then if Her Highness Princess introduces such a man to you, will you go running to him too?”

“Of course, since Her Highness went out of her way for me. Anyway, why are we even talking about this?”

“I don’t know either.”

If you don’t know, then who does? It was strange how Cal brought it up first but was now acting cranky. He seemed to be in a sour mood for some reason.

‘What’s with this guy?’

As I looked at him quizzically, I heard chattering voices from the front.

“Did you hear? That Reneola Violet woman caused trouble again. Apparently she treats the maids working with her so horribly that many couldn’t stand it and quit.”

“Seriously, if she entered the palace thanks to Lady Floria’s grace, she should reflect and live quietly. What is she doing, possibly even causing trouble for Lady Floria!”

Excuse me, but no maids have left because of me?

I wanted to retort if I had the temperament for it, but I gave up since I would have to reveal my identity to do so.

It’s not like the malicious rumors about me have only been around for a day or two, and I’m not going to keep living in this country anyway.

I turned my head, trying not to pay attention, and Cal glanced in the direction of the conversation, speaking.

“The rumors about you seem to be getting worse.”

“It’s nothing new, so whatever.”

“It appears someone is deliberately spreading them.”

That someone is none other than Floria, whom you trust and follow so much.

I shook my head inwardly. Come to think of it, this man acts like he knows everything in the world with such ease, yet he can’t even see the true nature of the person he serves. Talk about being smart for nothing.

Seeing my gaze filled with pathetic sentiment, Cal’s eyebrows rose.

“What’s with that look? It’s quite unpleasant.”

“Just go pay already.”

No point in saying anything. I urged him on, thinking to finish up quickly and part ways. But Cal was leisurely.

“Doesn’t it bother you when the rumors are so bad?”

“It’s all my karma. It’s true that I bothered Her Highness Princess when I was thoughtless. Still, I received Her Highness Princess’s forgiveness, which is as deep as the sea, so I’m humbly accepting such rumors and living a life of reflection.”

“Heh.”

Cal looked down at me as if dumbfounded and shook his head, heading to the checkout counter.

As soon as I left the jewelry store, I bid farewell to Cal.

“Then I’ll get going first. Consider the favor I did earlier in helping you as repaid. Don’t say otherwise later.”

“Why are you in such a rush? Let’s have a cup of tea at the bookstore.”

“You mean that insanely bitter tea?”

“There are other teas too.”

“No thanks. Being an experimental subject once was enough.”

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me?

“Have it by yourself a lot then. Well then.”

Before Cal could hold me back any longer, I quickly turned my back.

Upon returning to the palace, I flopped straight onto the bed. From that crazy pervert to Cal, the day had been too exhausting.

Ginger’s face was filled with the desire to ask how the meeting with Gavis went.

I wanted to ignore her and sleep, but I couldn’t do the same to Silvia. I relayed the events to them, slightly embellishing the part where Cal caused a scene, and Silvia, who had been venting her outrage at Gavis’s rude behavior, clutched her chest.

“Thank goodness, Lady Reneola. Please don’t get involved with such a strange person ever again.”

However, Silvia’s wish was shattered the very next day. It seemed Floria had already heard the full story from Gavis. She grabbed my hand and consoled me.

“You must have had high hopes for the meeting. How could such an unpleasant thing happen?”

Hiding my true feelings, I smiled as if it couldn’t be helped.

“Your Highness put in a lot of effort, but it seems we weren’t meant to be. As I thought, Your High-”

“Still, the viscount says he likes you. Of course, he’s reflecting on leaving first, leaving you alone. I think he did that out of surprise at the sudden mishap. So how about we schedule another meeting?”

‘Damn it.’

It seemed Floria was determined to tie me and the viscount together somehow. Knowing it would be no use to refuse, I reluctantly nodded my head.

Floria smiled in satisfaction and suddenly asked as if she just remembered.

“By the way, do you know the man who spilled food on the viscount’s head?”

“…Pardon? What do you mean?”

“The viscount said it looked like you two knew each other.”

That creep was unnecessarily quick-witted. It would be strange to pretend not to know him when we were bound to run into each other someday, given that he was Floria’s attendant.

“Yes, I am acquainted with him. He’s one of the attendants who came to fetch me on Her Highness Princess’s orders before.”

“Ah, I see.”

“But please don’t misunderstand. He didn’t intentionally ruin my meeting with the viscount.”

“Why would I misunderstand that?”

Floria smiled brightly. But I could tell.

She wasn’t misunderstanding but was convinced of it. Judging by her expression, she seemed to be thinking about which of the attendants it was.

I wondered if Cal would face any disadvantages. I was a little worried about him.

“Is that the taste of women these days?”

At Cahirun’s question, Machi and Randolph’s gazes turned to where their master was looking. It was just the head librarian Mathias, groaning while carrying a mere few books.

“That weak-looking thing that seems like it would topple over with a single kick.”

“Your Highness, anyone would topple over if you kicked them. Not just topple over, but they’d likely end up with a shattered leg, so please refrain from doing so if possible.”

Randolph nodded his head at Machi’s words.

“More importantly, are you going to keep watching?”

Machi let out a sigh as if bored. It had already been two hours since they snuck into the library to observe that man named Mathias.

He was itching to the point of going crazy. Randolph’s condition was even more serious. He kept fidgeting his legs as if he was dying to go outside.

“Stop being antsy.”

Machi slapped Randolph’s thigh and looked at Cahirun, who was staring at Mathias without budging.

Ever since Lady Reneola Violet mentioned that she admired the head librarian, his master’s mood had been constantly down.

Although he wasn’t aware of it himself, it seemed his fondness for the lady was growing more and more.

As an example, yesterday he went out of his way to show up at the place where that lady was meeting some swift-footed bastard, and even caused a scene with the nonsensical excuse that his hand slipped.

The bracelet she had picked out for him under the pretext of being a wedding gift for the Second Prince was also hanging on his wrist. He probably never had any intention of giving a gift to the Second Prince in the first place.

And today, he had been glaring at the head librarian for two hours straight.

Perhaps sensing something despite looking frail, the head librarian kept glancing around nervously. Of course it would be strange not to notice when being glared at like this.

Randolph, who had been still, poked Machi’s side and whispered.

“It’s true that our master is interested in that brown-haired lady, right?”

Yeah. Machi nodded his head. He probably thought he was just feeling fondness towards an interesting opponent, but still.