The dancers eventually looked at Christina with pitying eyes. They had coldly judged their own abilities and given up, realizing this was their limit, but for Christina who had finally tasted the lead role, it was difficult to let go.

“Christina, hang in there!”

“Wow – that turn just now was good.”

Emilia’s gaze briefly landed on the dancers who seemed to have decided to just cheer her on, clapping.

Even though they had lowered their voices, it still seemed too careless as Christina might have heard them. Talking like that in front of someone working hard, as if judging them. They weren’t Enrico, how daring of them.

Of course, even if Enrico’s position was high and his abilities were good, it wasn’t right to judge people like that, but since she had contracted with such a person, she couldn’t say much on one hand.

Emilia decided to just ignore it and slowly stretched for the practice that would soon resume. Soon, the lead choreographer and masters who were outside started to enter the practice room, and the pianist sat down at the piano, waiting for the dancers to get into formation.

As the male lead pulled a chair to the center and sat down, Christina took her ready position next to him with a hardened face. She needed to relax her expression, but somehow the mood ruined by the dancers chattering lightly earlier wouldn’t lift.

‘…What do those losers know.’

Knowing her mood was ruined because the words hit too close to home, Christina swept her gaze over those dancers once as if looking at pathetic things, and composed herself.

‘I just need to prove myself on this stage. If I do better than Emilia, surely that will be taken into account and Giselle will be mine.’

Christina desperately denied reality, thinking the judges had surely chosen her once out of a desire to see Emilia in the lead role.

Soon, with the sweet piano sound, the tip of her pointe shoes lightly tapped the floor. With a twisted inner self underlying her beautiful movements.

A woman with an elegant impression passed through the cafe entrance and between the outdoor tables. The woman wearing a small hat with red and black hues and a two-piece dress briefly looked at the scene of piercingly bright noon light pouring in through the wide windows, then scanned her surroundings.

The spacious interior was divided in half, with tables on one side and sofas and billiard tables on the other, similar to an upscale salon. The woman briefly glanced at the men sitting on sofas smoking cigarettes and chatting, then soon raised the corners of her mouth elegantly upon seeing a man sitting alone in an isolated spot on the opposite side.

“Duke Michele.”

The woman slowly approached and called out to Enrico sitting in a chair. As if he already knew she had arrived, Enrico politely gestured for her to sit in the seat across from him instead of answering.

“My, you’re not even going to stand up? How rude.”

As an approaching employee pulled out her chair, the woman flashed a slight eye smile and sat down.

Enrico slowly crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair. Following the gesture of his hand lightly swirling the wine glass, the aroma of a fragrant red wine spread around, brushing past their noses.

“I heard the princess prefers a casual atmosphere, so I decided to oblige.”

“Hmm – you must know this isn’t the kind of freedom I meant.”

Vivian Caernt wrinkled her nose.

“Well. I suppose I’ll find out after our conversation today.”

“You really are no fun. I thought we might have a meal together, but I guess I’ll just briefly state my business and go.”

“That’s a good idea.”

As Enrico elegantly curved his lips, Vivian glared at him not unkindly and picked up the menu. She immediately ordered the same wine as him and took off her translucent white gloves.

“I wanted to meet in a quiet place, but you set the appointment in such an open place with windows.”

“There’s no need to meet in a closed room. So what’s the business you wanted to discuss?”

“Your calm exterior belies an impatient personality. I wanted to wet my throat before talking.”

“Here it comes now. Let’s have a drink quickly.”

Enrico quietly gazed at Vivian drinking the red wine, waiting for her to speak.

A few days ago when Vivian first contacted him saying she wanted to meet separately, he had ignored it. But when she immediately contacted him again saying she had a separate proposal, he came out wondering what her intentions were. He also partly hoped Alessandro would hear they met and mistakenly think things were going his way, letting his guard down a little.

“I’ll get straight to the point. Unlike you, I hate beating around the bush.”

Enrico nodded once in response. Vivian leaned her head slightly towards the table and lowered her voice a bit.

“Are you not interested in exclusive rights to the parts?”

His brow furrowed slightly.

“It wasn’t mine to begin with, so why would I be interested?”

“Then what if I said I’d give you those exclusive rights? Would you be interested then?”

“…This is sudden. Didn’t you already finalize things with the Crown Prince?”

“Yes. Since the royal family can’t own private property, Count Valemont said he’d handle this matter.”

Vivian frowned one eye in displeasure.

“But I can’t stand to see that. How can I just let it slide when an old man who’ll be in his coffin soon keeps hitting on me without knowing his place?”

“Ah. Count Valemont’s womanizing is quite something.”

On the night of the masquerade ball, Count Valemont, who kept glancing at Vivian, finally approached her. As he kept pushing drinks on her and subtly bumping hands while emphasizing his position in this kingdom, Vivian felt her patience reaching its limit.

Even though Caernt may be somewhat weaker in national power than the Kingdom of Treano, how dare a mere count make such lewd advances on a princess of a country. He seemed to have his guts outside his body.

She thought about just overturning everything as it was, but seeing Alessandro’s indifferent attitude, it was obvious who Count Valemont was relying on to act this way, which made her even angrier.

“So you came to me to teach him a lesson?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think the Crown Prince will just sit by?”

“I haven’t broken any promises. I said I’d give it to the Kingdom of Treano, but I didn’t specify exactly who I’d give those exclusive rights to.”

Anyway, the King of Caernt had already delegated full authority on this matter to Vivian. As long as the deal proceeded smoothly, it was clear he wouldn’t care what choice she made, so Vivian sought out Enrico without hesitation.

“From what I saw that day, it seemed like there was some distance between you and His Highness the Crown Prince. It’s not much, but how about using this deal to get under his skin a little?”

It was a statement that truly revealed the princess’s personality. Frank and brazen. Enrico finally chuckled at her boldness in wanting to backstab her host just because he offended her.

“It would be amusing.”

“You’re intrigued, right? Since you’re a duke, you don’t have many restrictions on private property. From what I observed that day, you seemed like you’d be willing to put up with the hassle of irritating the Crown Prince, what do you think?”

“Well…”

Enrico vaguely trailed off and gazed out the window. Although the Kingdom of Caernt didn’t seem to consider it a big deal, the Kingdom of Treano was currently putting more effort than expected into automobile development.

They were anticipating that once the cars were completed, it would lead to exports and help strengthen the country, so each part was important.

Not only giving exclusive rights, but also offering fixed prices. If he got this instead of Alessandro, it was clear the cautious king would be even more wary of touching Enrico.

“It doesn’t sound bad.”

Of course, our arrogant nephew might act up even more. But that was something to watch and see – either his mouth would naturally shut as power shifted to the Second Prince, or he might self-destruct.

Vivian smiled brightly as if she had made a good decision.

“Then could you prepare the contract? Let’s go with the same conditions the Crown Prince proposed.”

“I think we need to discuss that a bit. Since I’m putting up with the hassle, shouldn’t there be some benefit for me as well? I don’t particularly care whether I have the exclusive rights or not.”

“Sigh. I really hate such meticulous men.”

“Thank you for the high praise.”

“Then grant me one thing too. It’s really nothing to you, Duke.”

One of Enrico’s eyebrows raised. Regardless of whether he liked her reaction or not, Vivian suddenly clasped her hands together, slightly twisting her body as she whispered secretly.

“Could you connect me with His Highness the Second Prince?”

“Oh?”

“I saw him briefly at the ball that day and he was totally my type. He seemed so modest, oh my. Please forget that last part.”

Enrico stared intently at Vivian for a moment as she covered her mouth with wide eyes, then raised the corners of his mouth as if finding it amusing.

She seemed like she could become quite a good source of strength for the Second Prince, who couldn’t even find a suitable fiancée due to being oppressed under the shadow of Alessandro’s tyranny. As various matters piled up like this, the Crown Prince would have more things to pay attention to, which would also reduce the time he spent pestering Emilia.

For the first time, an interesting light flashed in the previously indifferent purple eyes.