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Chapter 23
“You know something, don’t you?”
“Me?”
Erich dodged the question. That only made him look more suspicious. Just what was going on?
“I saw that look just now. Who are you trying to hide it from?”
“I just know what kind of people the Duke and Cassis are, that’s all.”
“Liar.”
“If you’re curious, dig it up yourself. Isn’t that your specialty?”
Rosalyn glared at Erich, who deflected smoothly.
“Can’t I dig it out of your mouth instead?”
“Hmm, but then it wouldn’t be fun.”
“Addict to pleasure.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Rosalyn grimaced at his shameless face.
‘When I left Luna in his care, I had no idea he was this kind of man!’
But a thirsty person must dig their own well. Right now, she was the one who needed him.
“Anyway, I have to go look for Cassis.”
“You already went to the duke’s manor yesterday, didn’t you? It’s only been a day.”
“Do you think that man would ever skip work for even a single day? He left the office mid-task yesterday to go to the duke’s manor and hasn’t come out since.”
Erich’s playful mouth shut, and he slowly nodded.
“Strange reasoning, but you’re right.”
Even Erich knew Cassis would go to work even if his house was on fire.
Rosalyn added with a grave expression,
“More than anything, I have a bad feeling.”
For a brief moment, a flicker of light crossed Erich’s eyes. Rosalyn, lost in thought, didn’t notice.
“I already thought of a way to get inside the duke’s manor.”
“You want me to take you in?”
“Yeah. You can visit the manor if you want, can’t you?”
Even though he had severed ties with his family, Erich’s title as Captain of the White Knights was more than enough to open the duke’s doors.
Erich muttered reluctantly,
“I don’t like this.”
Unlike before, his expression carried genuine weight.
Rosalyn played her hidden card.
“I’ll make it fun.”
The only thing that could move this man was “fun.”
Sure enough, Erich’s hand froze on the carriage door handle he had been fiddling with as if ready to leave. He leaned back lazily against the seat, eyeing her with curiosity.
“Let’s hear this plan of yours.”
“Well, first…”
Rosalyn laid out her “Operation Duke’s Manor Infiltration.”
She had hesitated whether to go after Cassis, but once she made up her mind, she had no doubts.
Her motto had always been: “Don’t waste time worrying—act instead!”
When her explanation ended, Erich looked as if he couldn’t wait another moment. He flung open the carriage window and shouted,
“To Claire’s Atelier!”
The first step of their mission was preparation.
Rosalyn’s eyes widened.
“Isn’t that the atelier that received a medal of honor from the Imperial Family?”
Erich laughed joyfully.
“For a perfect play, you need the perfect costume. Didn’t you say you’ll pretend to be a princess?”
Rosalyn’s plan was none other than fraud.
No ordinary excuse would get them into the Aindert Duke’s manor. If they were going to deceive, they might as well go all out—by impersonating a princess.
“Would anyone believe a princess draped in cheap jewels? Especially the Duke of Aindert, owner of gemstone mines.”
Of course, Rosalyn had planned to wear something reasonably expensive.
‘But I didn’t expect him to suggest an atelier that only takes commissions from the Imperial Family…’
Problem was—
“That place only accepts Imperial commissions, doesn’t it?”
But Erich raised an eyebrow, utterly unbothered.
“You must’ve forgotten who I am.”
As arrogant as it was, it suited him.
“Isn’t this an abuse of power?”
“You’ll need it, won’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
Rosalyn gave in instantly. Erich’s grin showed he was thoroughly entertained.
Claire’s Atelier
A sign hung on the door:
<Temporarily Closed>
Claire, the owner, smiled and asked,
“Are you speaking of the princess?”
Lounging casually on the couch, Erich gestured toward Rosalyn.
“Make her flawless. So flawless no one would doubt she’s a princess.”
Professional as ever, Claire asked calmly,
“When is the deadline?”
“By tomorrow afternoon. She has to attend a banquet that evening.”
“Understood. Any other requests?”
“Her hair should be dyed. It’s too flashy right now.”
Rosalyn glanced down at her golden hair. Under the atelier lights, it glittered even more brilliantly than usual.
Transforming someone into an entirely different person—a princess, no less—in just one day.
But Claire simply nodded.
“I’ll begin preparations immediately.”
And she proved why an imperial honor was not handed out lightly.
By the next day, “Princess Lushu Tristan Teneve of Teneve” had been born.
“It’s done…”
One of the exhausted staff collapsed to the floor. The once-elegant private room was a warzone of fabrics, accessories, and toppled assistants.
Amid the chaos, Erich was immaculate as ever.
“Not bad.”
Rising gracefully from the sofa, he approached the “Princess of Teneve.”
She wore an exotic deep green dress from the Southern Islands, paired with a sheer black cloak that exuded mystery. Her hair, styled in an elegant updo, had been dyed jet black—transforming her into someone entirely different.
Claire gave the final check.
“All finished.”
But Erich tilted his head critically.
“Hmm.”
After a moment of thought, he plucked a hat from a pile of accessories and placed it on Rosalyn’s head.
“That’s better.”
It was adorned with a ruby rose and draped with a black veil that fell over her eyes. Claire had rejected it earlier, saying it would hide Rosalyn’s beautiful eyes.
“Those eyes stand out too much.”
That was exactly Erich’s intention.
“Sir Erich, your eye for detail is impressive. She truly looks like a different person now.”
“It’s only possible thanks to your skill.”
As they exchanged compliments, Rosalyn was dying inside.
‘Please, let me sit down!’
After endless measurements and fittings, she was exhausted.
“Then let’s depart.”
The sun was already dipping toward the west. It was time to head for the duke’s manor.
Before boarding the carriage, Erich tossed Claire a jewel the size of a quail egg.
The rainbow brilliance of the “Aurora,” the most expensive gem in the world, lit up under the afternoon sun.
Claire caught it deftly, beaming.
“Thank you! Please come again!”
Inside the carriage, Rosalyn asked,
“Wasn’t that the Aurora?”
A gem said to be worth more than an atelier’s yearly income, gifted as payment.
“I’ll deduct it from your tab.”
“What are you planning to demand later?”
“Where’s the fun if I tell you now?”
Rosalyn grimaced and changed the subject.
“Are we going straight to the duke’s manor?”
“I already sent word yesterday that we’d attend tonight’s banquet.”
At the same time he had arranged their visit to the atelier, Erich had also notified the Aindert Duke’s household.
“Cassis hasn’t shown up for work again, has he? Don’t you want to see him quickly?”
“Don’t phrase it like that.”
Erich just shrugged.
But Rosalyn couldn’t deny it—this was the third straight day Cassis hadn’t appeared at the knights’ order.
The feeling really wasn’t good.
