🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 04
“P-princess….”
Upon discovering Evelyne, Dahlia Hebe trembled violently. No matter how much Henry described Evelyne as his precious daughter, to Dahlia she was nothing short of a terrifying existence.
‘Why is the princess here…!’
Her eyes shook uncontrollably in shock. Until recently, Dahlia had been relieved because she heard Evelyne had stopped going outside. That was why she had dared to visit this boutique, a place frequently visited by Henry Pravia, the duke’s consort.
But that was a foolish mistake.
‘I was told the princess had never once come here…!’
Then who was this pink-blond villain standing right in front of her?
Why was the villainess who had become a shut-in after being dumped by the crown prince here?
Just as Dahlia was flustered at the sight of Evelyne, Evelyne herself widened her eyes upon noticing Dahlia.
But only for a moment—Evelyne frowned, brushed back her hair, and muttered,
“Ha… I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
It was a quiet voice, but Dahlia heard every word. Instantly, she snapped back to her senses.
‘I need to get out of here.’
Once before, Dahlia had entered a luxury boutique she saved up for with her salary, intending to buy herself a gift. But she had unfortunately run into Evelyne there first.
Back then, Evelyne hadn’t even bothered to hide her displeasure and had said to the staff:
‘Has Mavel gone downhill? You’re not even managing customers properly.’
Evelyne was the only daughter of the Pravia family, born into the wealthiest household in the empire. She disliked sharing the same spaces with someone like Dahlia Hebe.
Dahlia quickly hid the hat she was holding behind her back and bowed.
“I-I’m sorry. I’ll leave.”
She couldn’t afford to offend Evelyne. If she did, her father’s business might suffer. Even now, Henry was staring at her with a cold gaze.
As Dahlia panicked and tried to leave—
“Forget it.”
“…Pardon?”
A surprisingly generous response came from Evelyne.
Without giving Dahlia a chance to react, Evelyne turned away as if it was too bothersome to repeat herself.
‘…She’s letting me go?’
Me? Who had dared to step into a Pravia-owned boutique?
Was this a dream?
While Dahlia stood frozen, Evelyne was already being guided into the VVIP room by an employee.
“Come on, daughter!”
Henry followed behind her, disappearing into the VVIP room.
Left alone, Dahlia blinked blankly before suspicion crept in.
‘What is she planning?’
Pompose was a boutique frequently used by the Pravia family. This was very different from Mavel, where Evelyne had once shown up just to humiliate her.
Or… was she here to embarrass her?
To flaunt the wealth Dahlia didn’t have?
Suddenly, the hat in her hands felt heavy.
‘…’
Her face flushed red. Evelyne’s luxury versus her modest hat… everything began replaying in her mind.
‘Of course. There’s no way she just came here by coincidence.’
She must have already known Dahlia would visit here. She came deliberately to mock her.
Dahlia’s grip tightened.
“Miss Hebe, you must pay before damaging—”
“Ah.”
Snap.
The hat crumpled in her hands.
The employee’s words snapped her back to reality—but it was too late.
She had destroyed it.
The expensive hat she had carefully chosen for the Emperor… before even paying for it.
“Waaah…”
Dahlia burst into tears.
‘It’s definitely because of the crown prince… I still have lingering feelings…’
That must be it. Evelyne deliberately brought Henry to humiliate her.
“….”
Dahlia, still crying, glared toward the VVIP room and crushed the ruined hat even further.
The Next Day
“Miss, a letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
I took the letter from the maid.
“A letter for me?”
The maid looked just as confused as I felt. I dismissed her and opened the envelope.
…Don’t tell me.
The moment a certain person came to mind, I pushed the thought away.
As expected—the sender was the crown prince.
The content was simple:
Come to the Imperial Palace immediately. We need to talk.
“What kind of rude bastard is this?”
Even if Evelyne used to obsess over him, did he think I was some obedient pet?
“Why is he suddenly summoning me?”
If it were Evelyne, she would’ve been thrilled. But I had a bad feeling.
Yesterday I ran into Dahlia. Nothing happened—but I had no idea what she reported.
I sighed deeply.
“Ugh… I was planning to stay home…”
Yesterday had been peaceful—shopping with Henry, the duke was delighted with his gift, Ashal wanted to go shopping with me next time, and Douglas hadn’t bothered me once.
‘I just wanted to avoid the crown prince and live like this…’
But my status made that impossible.
“Prepare the carriage. I’m going to the palace.”
Imperial Palace
Dressed in a black-red luxurious gown, fur, and dazzling jewelry, I entered the palace.
I could feel hostile stares immediately.
And inside the reception room—it was worse.
Golden hair like the sun. Blue eyes.
The crown prince, Ulysses Etwal Sandrium, looked at me with a harsh expression.
“Miss Pravia. Even after such humiliation, you still can’t give up on me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You still deny it? I heard everything about what you did to Lady Hebe yesterday.”
I didn’t do anything!
And importantly—he had something very wrong.
“I don’t like you anymore.”
“…What?”
His brows furrowed deeply.
Honestly, a tall armed man glaring like that was intimidating.
“I don’t care what Lady Hebe told you, but why would I bother her if I don’t even like you anymore?”
He didn’t believe me.
“So why did you harass Dahlia?”
“Harass?”
I was genuinely curious now.
Then he said something absurd.
“She came back crying, holding a crushed hat.”
“…A hat?”
“She said you hate her using the same boutique as you.”
What?
I laughed behind my fan.
What an imaginative conclusion.
“If I were still Evelyne, maybe that would make sense.”
The crown prince growled.
“I’ll deal with this seriously if necessary.”
“I don’t like people I don’t like either.”
“…What?”
His face twisted.
Oops. That slipped out.
But fine—I’ll make it clear.
“I don’t like you anymore. You’re the worst possible romantic interest.”
His expression became priceless.
“Is this some reverse psychology?”
“Do I look that bored?”
“Yes.”
…This bastard.
Before I could respond—
“Let go of me, you lunatic!”
I struggled as he grabbed my wrist.
“Answer properly. You really bullied Dahlia, didn’t you?”
“I said I didn’t!”
And then—
“Stop.”
A cold voice cut through the room.
A presence entered.
Silver hair. Golden eyes.
Imperial authority.
The Emperor stood there.
“Frederica Oriand Sandrium.”
