After Floria left for her honeymoon, I snuck into her bedroom late at night to enjoy the long-awaited freedom.

Her palace was very quiet now that even the maids had gone on vacation.

I expected that she would have taken her jewels with her, given Floria’s meticulous personality, but I thought I would search thoroughly just in case. I put on the cloth I had prepared beforehand and moved nimbly.

Fortunately, Floria’s room was not locked. Thanks to that, the probability of there being no jewels inside also increased. But I couldn’t just give up without going in after coming this far.

Only silence flowed in the room without its owner. I went straight to where her jewels were placed.

I searched the room thoroughly for a long time, being careful not to make a sound, but as expected, I couldn’t find my heart.

“Damn it, she took it with her as expected.”

“Took what?”

I clicked my tongue and nearly screamed at the voice that suddenly came from behind me. I hurriedly covered my mouth with my hand and turned my head to see Cal looking down at me.

“Wh-what are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“I, I…”

What should I say as an excuse? As I was rolling my eyes and thinking, Cal lifted one corner of his mouth.

“I followed someone who snuck in like a thief, even wearing a cloth over their head.”

“Th-thief, you say!”

“Seeing you sneaking into an empty room and rummaging through the jewelry box first, it doesn’t seem like a completely wrong thing to say.”

What, you were watching from the beginning? I definitely didn’t feel any presence at all!

“I came to find something I lost.”

“At this hour?”

“It suddenly came to my mind.”

“Even wearing a cloth over your head?”

“It’s a bit chilly now that the sun has set. I think the seasons are changing.”

“Heh.”

Cal let out a hollow laugh.

“You really haven’t changed at all.”

Why did I have to get caught by this person of all people? I looked up at him with an anxious face, worried that he might drag me to the court prison right away. But Cal didn’t seem to have any intention of further interrogation.

Looking closely now, his face looked more mischievous than serious. He was definitely teasing me. I felt relieved but also annoyed. He’s scaring people for no reason.

“What are you looking for?”

“Just a small accessory. But it seems like someone already took it, so I should get going now.”

I hurried out into the corridor, leaving him behind, afraid that I might say something unnecessary if I talked to him for too long. But soon I stopped in my tracks.

‘He won’t tell Floria, will he?’

She’s finally starting to let her guard down about me little by little, but if she finds out about today, it will all be for nothing. Thinking that I need to shut his mouth either by threat or persuasion, I turned around and immediately bumped my forehead into something solid.

“Ah!”

As I let out a groan at the stinging impact without realizing it, a large hand covered my mouth and wrapped around my waist. A familiar voice was heard in my ear as I struggled in surprise.

“Shh. Stay still.”

‘Wh-what, what’s with this third-rate villain-like line!’

He’s not trying to make some strange move, is he?

I struggled even more violently. Cal sighed and pulled me close. Then he hid behind a pillar. Soon, the end of the corridor became noisy. Two palace guards carrying lanterns were approaching, conversing with each other.

“Sneaking into a royal’s bedroom is punishable by at least imprisonment in the underground prison.”

Cal whispered lowly in my ear. When I flinched at the touch of his breath, he chuckled softly.

The palace guards were getting closer and closer. I crouched down, holding my breath, afraid of being caught. I could feel Cal hugging me tightly and resting his chin on top of my head, watching the situation.

“Strange, I’m sure I heard a sound earlier.”

“See. I told you that you heard wrong.”

The palace guards didn’t leave easily. My heart was beating fast, perhaps worried about being caught by them.

‘Please, just go. Go.’

Only after what felt like an eternity did the palace guards turn around. Their footsteps gradually faded away. But Cal didn’t let me go for a long time. When I struggled as if telling him to let go quickly, he whispered.

“They’re still nearby.”

As if under a spell, I stopped moving at those words. I felt his hand tightly gripping my waist. Suddenly, I became aware of Cal’s firm chest pressed against my face and bit my lip. The air seemed to flow slowly.

It was only after a long time that Cal finally let me go. The moonlight pouring through the window illuminated his face. He had an expression I had never seen before, different from the leisurely smile he always wore.

Embarrassed by how tightly we had been pressed together, I couldn’t look him straight in the eye and wandered around.

“Ahem, thank you for helping me.”

“Don’t mention it. You owe me another debt now. At this rate, I don’t know if you’ll be able to repay me in your lifetime.”

“What?”

“Ah, that’s right. I shouldn’t tell Her Highness Violet about today, so I’ll have to add this to the list too, right?”

The tension that had been flowing in the air dissipated at Cal’s sly words.

“Yes, add it to your heart’s content. Add about 100 of them! Then, goodbye!”

I turned around and walked away with big strides, but Cal followed beside me.

“Why are you following me?”

“It’s way past the time for a maid to be wandering around, so what will you say if you run into a palace guard?”

“Well, that’s…”

When I stuttered, unable to find an answer, Cal nodded his head.

“Let’s go.”

How does he know where my room is? I grumbled inwardly and followed behind him. And after a while, I looked at Cal strangely. Because he stopped walking right in front of my room.

“How did you know this is my room?”

As I slowly backed away, Cal grinned.

“Did you forget that I’m the owner of the information guild?”

“Ah. …But what does that have to do with knowing my room?”

“When we receive a request, we find out the basic information about the client first.”

“…You say very brazenly that you snooped into someone’s background.”

“Let’s call it a business principle. Go in.”

Cal pointed to the door with his chin. When I didn’t go in and just looked at him, he mouthed ‘what’.

‘He may be annoying, but thanks to him, I got back safely.’

“Thanks for earlier.”

I blurted out bluntly and quickly entered my room. I could have said thank you nicely, but strangely, my words come out bluntly in front of that man. Maybe it’s because of our first meeting.

“No. It’s because he always teases me.”

“Where have you been until this hour?”

At Ginger’s clear voice, which I thought was asleep, I turned my head and narrowed my brows.

‘What is she thinking this time to make such a typically mean expression?’

Anyway, let’s just sleep for now.

“Just a walk.”

Suddenly feeling tired, I gave a short reply and lay down on the bed.

And some time later, I became the subject of rumors about a maid bringing a man into the palace and hanging out with him.

Ginger, that damn bitch. If you’re going to spread rumors, why did it have to be with Gavis Palong of all people?

The rumors surrounding me were simple.

It was a cheap and disgusting story about how I fell for the renowned figure Gavis Palong at first sight and seduced him with my body every night.

With the addition of my meeting with Gavis through Floria’s introduction, the rumors became accepted as fact.

The rumors naturally reached Floria’s ears as well. She summoned me immediately. Floria, looking even more radiant, perhaps from having a good time on her honeymoon, held my hand and said worriedly.

“Sister, is the rumor true?”

“No, absolutely not. It’s a false rumor.”

“But everyone thinks it’s real. This will not only affect your honor but also the reputation of our Violet family. Now that it’s come to this, wouldn’t it be better to rush the marriage?”

In a country where dating and scandals are not uncommon, they’re talking about marriage over a single rumor. But Floria seemed to have the intention of pushing it all the way through this opportunity.

In the end, I left the room, holding my throbbing head after failing to persuade her.

The whispers of the maids, which had been quiet until then, could be heard from all directions.

It seemed useless even though Silvia was working hard to defend me, saying it was absolutely not true. I glared at Ginger, who was smirking at me from a distance.

‘If I really end up marrying that crazy pervert Gavis Palong, you’ll be the first one I won’t leave alone.’

I ground my teeth while clenching my fists.

When I went to the outer palace at the sound of Ezolla calling me, I ran into Mathias, who said he was on his way to meet me. With an anxious expression, he hesitated for a moment before asking carefully in a trembling voice.

“Is it true that you are marrying Viscount Gavis Palong soon?”

The rumors have reached this far? No, more than that, when did the story about me being head over heels for Gavis Palong turn into marriage? I sighed and shook my head.

“No, it’s a false rumor.”

“R-really?”

Mathias visibly brightened. His cheeks, which were paler than usual, even became lively. He rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed face, looking unusually happy.

“Um, Viscount Palong is not a person with a good reputation. There are many scandals related to noble ladies. He is someone who doesn’t suit you in many ways, Lady Reneola.”

“You’re right. When I actually saw him, he was even more of a scoundrel.”

“I don’t know who spread such an absurd rumor. It’s too malicious.”

Mathias was getting angry, which was unlike him. I was grateful for his concern for me.

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

At my thanks, Mathias moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, then blushed and bowed his head deeply.