[ Crown Prince Kedrick's gaze touched Ariel's collarbone. Even though there was no physical contact, Ariel felt as if his touch had touched her body in that hot gaze.
Unknowingly, Ariel exhaled and turned as if she were running away, and Kedrick grabbed her and stopped her. This time, she could really feel the touch of his rough hands.
Kedrick, who turned her around roughly, pushed Ariel against the wall.
"You can't do this, Your Highness..."
"Shhh-don't make a sound, my rose..." ]
Odelia closed the book and looked at Cedric with a puzzled face.
"What the hell is this?"
Then Cedric personally shows the section at the back of the book, where he has written down the plot of the story, as if it were an advertisement.
The Crown Prince became a hero after the war, and the aristocrat Young Lady fell in love with him. A pure and ignorant lady educates a wild Prince. It is a romance novel about a young girl's journey to womanhood.
As if to add to that, Cedric whispered to Odelia.
"This is the male protagonist model, and I want to tell you about the Crown Prince. Do you think he's famous among the ladies? The illustrations are similar. Thanks to this one illustration, it sells even more."
As Odelia opened a page, she saw an illustration of a handsome man who really looked just like Calix kissing a beautiful woman.
"It's an obvious cliché that when you dance together, your eyes meet, and when you meet again, your lips touch."
"Cliché?"
"Yes, all the famous romance novels in the city have the same content. The love story of an innocent lady and a Prince on a white horse, or the Grand Duke."
"...I thought the tastes of the nobility were noble, but I guess that's not the case."
"In the first place, people who take out their cups are more like that. All of them are anonymous writers, but considering that they know so much about the social world, there may be writers among the aristocrats. You might be excited while reading this. Did you know? This kind of love will come to you, too."
"It's a silly sound..."
Odella snorted and raised her hand as if to playfully pat Cedric on the shoulder with a book. She turned around and saw Calix standing behind her. It looked like Odelia was handing over the book to Calix.
Was it because of that naturalness? Calix accepted the book that was in Odella's hand. Then, he quickly flipped through the pages of the book and even skimmed through the promotional text on the back.
"...Did you have this kind of taste?"
"No!"
Odella quickly denied it with a bright red face, but Calix handed Odelia the book back and said a word.
"I respect you."
"Your Highness!"
Cedric even added.
"I thought it would be better to read it to get between the ladies."
"Cedric!"
Even Cedric, who is particularly shallow today. Odelia exclaimed in indignation.
"I've never read a pseudo-romance novel like this!"
Odelia's cry echoed in the middle of the yard.
Perhaps Odelia realized the moment she shouted.
A society where strong negativity is considered strong positivity.
It wasn't enough for the countless bouquets, frames, and servants in maids' uniforms who came and went in and out of the mansion from early morning, so she ended up shouting romance novels with her mouth, and tomorrow morning's newsletter would sell like hot cakes.
***
[ His Highness the Crown Prince's choice! A transformation of Parvasha Mansion. also known as a haunted mansion!
In this era where living as an old maid is more ferocious than dying, there is a woman who is preparing to make her debut late.
Famous for some as the golden lion hero, and for others as the tomboy who spat out the eclair to the heir of the Count of Montague, yes, it is Lady Odelia, one of the most anticipated characters of this social season.
It is said that a ray of salvation was given to her who was unable to find a tutor properly, and she was shocked and frightened to walk around wearing the company's tailcoat because she couldn't find a proper tutor and didn't have money to match her dress, or as she was showing fresh steps.
That is. His Royal Highness Prince Calix stepped forward as her guardian.
Perhaps His Highness Calix had a heart that looked down on the people? Or maybe it's an angel sent by God to save this poor hero.
...
It is Lady Odelia who must work hard so as not to disturb the honor of His Highness Calix. In her upcoming imperial debut at the Imperial Palace, will she be able to win Her Majesty's ring over the young and well-educated concubines?
Fortunately. Odelia, who is like a wooden stone, reads romance novels. Maybe pink cherry blossom peaks are about to bloom in her heart, too? ]
If you don't have a plausible background, no matter how unappointed a hero is, it's easy to fall prey to gossip.
Odelia roughly placed the newsletter on the table. Calix, who was sitting across from her, drank the yea very leisurely and leisurely, whether Odelia did it or not.
"Your Highness. I don't think this is the case."
"Yes. Definitely, this bread doesn't go well with tea."
"That's not what I mean...! How can you let the world know that you have become my guardian? The Emperor will surely not like it."
Then Calix put down his teacup and stared at Odelia.
"Do I look like a human being who takes care of myself to be pretty?"
"..."
"I think he sent me to the battlefields to die in the first place. If I were afraid of the Emperor, I wouldn't have returned from that battle alive."
"...I'm sorry. Your Highness, I was short-sighted."
Odelia hurriedly knelt down and apologized. Calix, who had been staring at the scene, reached out and lifted the tip of Odelia's chin.
"Don't get down on your knees, Odela. Because the lady doesn't act like that."
"..."
"Above all, I have to be your guardian so that you can meet and marry a good man, right?"
"..."
"I want a docile marionette, and you want a stupid husband."
Before he could finish speaking, someone began to bang on the door of the mansion. Odelia looked out the window, and her expression turned pale. A long line of men lined up in front of the door. This was because the line of men who had come to court Odelia was lined up through the yard to the front of the gate.
It was very unusual for suitors to line up for a woman who had not yet made her official debut.
However, instead of being happy that things would be easier for Odelia at sight, she was worried about how difficult the days ahead would be.
***
From the early morning of the Imperial Palace of Allendasia, a servant walked down the long corridor with a newsletter on a colorful silver tray. Then he stopped for a moment in front of the colorful red door, passed the soldiers, went inside, approached a woman wearing only fluffy thin pajamas, and handed her a tray.
"This is a daily social newsletter published today."
This woman, sitting lazily on the sofa and smoking a cigarette, was none other than Fabiana. Empress of the Allendasia Empire.
"Like a parrot in a cage, I have to recite and recite what is written in the newsletter. What should I do? The Emperor commanded me to do so."
Fabiana didn't seem to be very interested, but she couldn't fall behind in the world as an Empress, so she reluctantly picked up the newsletter.
Eventually, the Empress's eyes as she read down were momentarily displeased. As she began to drip from the cigarette she was holding. The surprised maids quickly shook the ashes from the hem of the empress's clothes, but they were already punctured and blackened.
"Your Majesty, I will bring you new clothes."
"Oh my God, Your Majesty, didn't you get burned?!"
Unlike the maids who made a fuss, the Empress's gaze was fixed on the newsletter. Soon, she picked up a cigarette and threw it away, and she held the newsletter to her face as if she was going to be sucked in.
"What the hell is this? Calix became the guardian of that lowly woman?"
She looked like a person who didn't know what to do with a sense of betrayal. The maids said that it was best to stay as inconspicuous as possible in this case and quietly took a step back.
Soon after, someone slammed the red door in again. Unlike the angry and surprised maids, Empress Fabiana simply sighed, frowned, and turned her head.
Sure enough, it was Emperor Liam. He, too, holding the newsletter in his hand, scolded Fabiana with a very dissatisfied face, as if he wanted to tear it to pieces right then.
"Calix, he said he would be the guardian of the common people."
"I know. I also have eyes and can read, Your Majesty, the Emperor?"
"Then where do you have anything to say to me?"
"What the hell are you talking about? Is it because the parrot you always keep in a cage doesn't do what you tell it to do? I guess I haven't been able to meet Calix since he returned from the war! And he won't even look at me when I summon him and give him a message, and you expect me to knock on his door wearing nothing but a lingerie that doesn't befit my status as Empress?"
The Emperor snorted and retorted at the Empress's irritation.
"Isn't that why you sat there now?"
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