“…. What? Wait…!”

I grabbed Jiana’s hand and stepped outside.

Ludvion followed us.

Crossing my arms and squinting my eyes, I saw that Jiana looked startled.

“Where are we going now?”

“We’re going shopping.”

And so began my delightful shopping with Wicked Woman 1.

(This is a time separator.)

“This looks pretty, and that seems alright too.”

I was lost in thought, staring at the displayed fountain pens and ties.

Even though they were all offtheshelf products, I couldn’t find one that said ‘this is it.’

Jiana, who had been quietly watching me, finally spoke.

“…Is this a gift for the Duke?”

“Yes.”

I nodded without hesitation.

Jiana sighed as if resigned. Then she began to earnestly recommend various items.

“This kind of thing would be good.”

The first thing she recommended was cufflinks.

The buttons, elegant and glittering, were made up of various kinds of jewels.

As I was perusing the cufflinks, an elderly store owner came over to explain.

“I recommend the one with the ruby on top. Of course, all the items on display can be collected today. Custommade items are popular, but what we have here is equally good.”

The recommended item was a cufflink engraved with a gold rose vine.

‘It would suit him.’

I imagined Kashar wearing a jacket with these cufflinks.

The thought of the cufflink glittering over my cheek was, well…

‘Sexy.’

It was an imagination that almost made me spill my coffee.

I chose the gift without further deliberation.

“Pack it as a rose set.”

“I will pack it right away!”

While the owner was packing, I expressed my thanks to Jiana.

“Thanks to you, I think I chose well. Thank you, Lady Enders.”

Ludvion had not been very helpful, saying this was good and that was good.

When I came back holding the wrapped gift, Jiana mumbled with a blushed face.

“… I only have three older brothers.”

She had also lost her mother at a young age and grew up under her single father.

Hesitant Jiana then pointed towards another display of jewelry.

“These things would also be fine.”

It was a brooch, the same design as the cufflinks I had chosen.

“Your Ladyship is correct. People often look for items that differ in type but have the same design.”

In other words, couple items.

“I’ll take this too!”

Take my money!

Money is great. Troublesome customers are out.

“Ah, that was good shopping!”

I stepped out of the shop and stretched.

Having something in both hands felt so good!

‘Plus, it was fun.’

It felt like I had spent time with a newly made friend.

We had chosen the gift quickly, so there was still time left.

Jiana, who had been hesitant in front of me, had her eyebrows raised.

“Are we done? Then I’ll go.”

She seemed like a cat that had had an awkward moment before getting along with people.

“Wait, Lady Enders.”

“What now?”
I decided to extend my hand to the grumpy red cat.

“Do you not like Kashar?”

“……Why bring him up all of a sudden? Haven’t you teased me enough already!”

As expected, the response was sharp.

Even Jayana thought that my going shopping with her was a form of mockery.

However, strangely enough, she did not deny my statement that she disliked Kashar.

“I didn’t tease you; I wanted to be friends.”

Jayana, who was walking past me, stopped abruptly.

In truth, Jayana had never liked Kashar from the beginning.

She had long been encouraged by the Enders family to have a profitable marriage.

‘That’s while being forced to believe it was true love.’

Eventually, Jayana, who was deceived into believing she truly had feelings for Kashar, caused harm to the original heroine.

I wouldn’t have known this if I hadn’t possessed Aileen’s body.

“So, want to be friends?”

Jayana only looked at the hand I offered, finally turning her head.

“……Don’t joke. My father will not be pleased if he finds out.”

“Come on, we’re both adults. Where does that happen?”

My words made Jayana flinch.

“People usually say to repay the family that raised you. Nowadays, just growing up without issues is considered enough.”

Excessive oppression ultimately left only scars.

‘If she doesn’t like it, there’s nothing I can do.’

My hope was for her to find someone she truly liked, even if she didn’t want to be friends with me.

How long had I waited?

Just when I thought Jayana would leave, she was still facing me.

“Okay. Friends.”

She grabbed my hand.

It was the moment I made my second friend.

“Since we’ve become friends, shall we shop a little more?”

The sun was still high, so we had plenty of time.

As I looked up at the sky, I heard a clatter in the distance.

‘The sound of hooves?’

The noise gradually approached, and eventually a dark shadow loomed over me.

“It seems you two get along well.”

Prince Valented, mounted on a white horse, was looking down at us.