“Please eat, if only for my sake. The cuisine of Burgerkin is the best in the empire.”

“I’ll eat for the sake of your honor, my lord. Hmm, hmm.”

Deeming that formalities were sufficient, Owen began to eat in earnest.

His wideopen mouth and the ceaseless flow of food going in.

Owen didn’t forget to intermittently admire and analyze.

“Did you use raspberry vinegar in the veal roast? This seems like clam broth from the northern shore. The honey is fresh, and the crispiness is excellent.”

He would have succeeded greatly as a food vlogger instead of a painter.

Seeing the plate empty so quickly, I called a waiter.

The excitement breaks when the food runs out, after all.

“The bill will probably be astronomical.”

Douglas whispered his worry.

If Douglas knew the amount I’d spent for this meal, he’d have been floored.

“If it can win the earl over, it’s worth any price.”

“What is your intention in befriending him, Elizabeth?”

“I want to secure the best art teacher for His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Using Franz as an excuse, I generously applied mushroom sauce to a piece of steak.

Facing me as I chewed, Douglas lowered his voice.

“He won’t easily be swayed.”

“Neither will I.”

“You have many connections to the royal family. Even if you get him as a teacher, there will be major issues.”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

“I really don’t understand what you’re thinking, Elizabeth.”

“It’s a winwin situation.”

Delaying Claudia’s growing influence while strengthening my own position was beneficial all around.

“I am thankful enough for you introducing the earl. I will handle the rest.”

“You really are an enigmatic person, Elizabeth.”

“Am I?”

“People dare not even dream of what you manage to pull off.”

Douglas looked at me, full of admiration.

Genuine praise made my stomach flutter and me feel bashful.

“You still haven’t won the earl over?”

“If Elizabeth has set her mind, she will accomplish it.”

“You’re overestimating me. I am not a heroine in a novel.”

“You are more special than any heroine, Elizabeth. So much so that I’d be ashamed if someone wrote a novel with you as the model.”

Douglas had been watching Elizabeth’s transformation closely.

The first person to accept and support her was also Douglas.

A man who understood me better than anyone.

A man who constantly stood by my side.

I couldn’t blame Claudia for not being able to let go of her feelings for Douglas.

Being with Douglas was as comfortable and lazy as lying on a warm wooden floor.

If there wasn’t a giant tree named Nikolai growing inside me, I couldn’t have ultimately rejected Douglas’s sunny smile.
“Snap out of it, Elizabeth! This is not the time to be smitten with the original male lead. I have to deal with Owen first.”

I looked at Owen like a predator eyeing its prey.

I was not simply trying to get Owen to counter Claudia.

Owen was like a vine laden with ripe pumpkins.

To summarize, it was like this:

By buying Owen, I could widely advertise Nikolai’s generosity.

I could gather the talents who have been unjustly buried.

I could dilute the power that the four major noble families monopolized.

I could revitalize culture and art around Franz and Owen.

I could use magic to get quick results, but lately, I hesitated to tempt.

“People who are tempted are not really my people. Once the effect expires, they change again. I want to win people sincerely. That way, I won’t regret it.”

Am I too naive?

Is it petty to be hesitant when I should be recklessly diving in?

But what I wanted was not a puppet, but ‘my real people,’ like Douglas or Susan.

Even if we approached for a purpose.

Even if we traded for each other’s benefits.

I believed that sincerity would resonate someday.

I didn’t need those who were dazzled by my appearance and wealth.

I didn’t want people who lost their rationality, bewitched by magic.

Gathering such people would never be enough to beat Claudia.

“If sincerity doesn’t work, I will have no choice but to use magic.”

Noticing my sinister gaze, Owen flinched while taking a big bite of his food.

Then, there was a commotion outside.

The door to my private room, which I had ordered not to be opened without permission, swung open.

“What’s going on?”

“Ssorry! A gentleman just barged in…!”

The manager made an excuse, sweating.

Then, a familiar man appeared.

I clenched my reddishbrown hair in both hands, suppressing a scream.

‘Why has Nikolai appeared here?’

(This is a time separator.)

Douglas froze stiff at the sight of Nikolai.

Owen scanned the handsome intruder with disapproval.

Luckily, Nikolai was dressed like a wealthy young knight today.

His black jacket and leather boots were modest, as was the sword at his waist.

Upon close examination, one would be surprised at how finely made they were, quality items indeed.

“Spending time with a stranger again, I see.”

The turquoise eyes of Nikolai looking down on me were as cold as the winter sea.

“I didn’t forget my fiancé either.”

Nikolai’s gaze turned toward Douglas.

He made no effort to conceal his burning hostility.

Douglas greeted him calmly.

Owen, who had been silent, wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Who is this gentleman?”

“…”

“Aren’t you going to introduce him? He seems quite distinguished.”

Nikolai’s eyebrows twitched.

His gaze said, ‘You’re interrupting me without permission?’

Before Nikolai could reply, I cut him off.

He shot me a look full of dissatisfaction.

“Would you two like to talk for a moment?”

I wanted to prevent Nikolai from messing with the nearly acquired Owen.

I had momentarily forgotten.

Just how willful a man Nikolai was.

“!”

I swallowed my vain hopes.

Because Nikolai had licked my palm.