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Chapter 30
“It was just to wake myself up!”
I hurried to explain — I couldn’t let Wilhelmina keep looking so heartbroken.
Her face instantly turned red, like a perfectly aged bottle of wine.
But only for a moment. She quickly released my hands and tried to act calm.
“O-of course! It’s not like you did anything wrong. I asked my father to let us use this villa, so why would I be upset?”
…Wait. She asked her father — the Duke — to let me come here?
Ever since she’d gone to study at the Royal Academy, Wilhelmina had gone out of her way to avoid speaking with her father.
I was so touched that for a second, I couldn’t say a word.
“…Did I go too far bringing you here?”
She must’ve misunderstood my silence, because her voice was full of guilt.
I shook my head quickly. “Not at all! It’s wonderful here. This is the prettiest room I’ve ever seen.”
That wasn’t flattery — it was the truth.
I walked out to the terrace connected to the room and smiled at her.
“And the garden! Just looking at it feels healing.”
Unlike the newly promoted Jamoti family, the Lopez duchy was a truly ancient noble house — with wide lands, inherited wealth, and generations of sharp political instinct.
Naturally, their villa was as beautiful as a painting.
Wilhelmina followed me out, gently tucking her hair behind her ear as the wind blew.
“This is my favorite villa,” she said softly. “The nearby village isn’t large, but it’s charming. You’ll love exploring it.”
“I’d love to see it,” I said.
“There’s also a forest a bit further out — with a stream running through it. Around this time of year, the banks are covered with wildflowers.”
A walk by the stream, flowers in bloom…
Was this… a friend date?
I couldn’t help but smile like an excited child.
Wilhelmina laughed lightly. “You look like a little girl, Lady Salice.”
“I’ve just… never gone somewhere so pretty with a friend before,” I said honestly.
“F-friend?” she echoed, startled.
“Am I wrong? Or did I overstep—”
Before I could finish, she placed a hand over my mouth.
“I told you not to say things like that.”
“Ah.”
“And—yes! We are friends!” she blurted out, her face flushing bright red again.
“I wouldn’t have invited you here if we weren’t. You’re the first person I’ve ever invited to this villa.”
“Then we really are friends,” I said, grinning as I leaned against the terrace railing. “So call me by my name.”
“…Lady Roselita?”
“Just Roselita.”
Cassian had long since started calling me whatever nickname he wanted, so it felt weird that my actual friend couldn’t use my name freely.
Wilhelmina studied me for a moment, then chuckled softly.
“You don’t have to make such a pretty face just to ask that.”
“Huh?”
“Save that smile for when you’re asking for something difficult — like convincing Prince Cassian to do something for you.”
Him? Really?
I decided not to comment. Clearing up misunderstandings between Cassian and me was never worth the effort.
“Then stop calling me ‘Lady’ too,” she said.
“Then… Wilhelmina-nim?”
“Just Wilhelmina! Or Wilma!”
She’d even offered me a nickname!
Overwhelmed with joy, I clasped her hands. “Got it, Wilma!”
Her face went red again — she was so bad at this.
To be fair, so was I. We were both hopeless at making friends.
Later That Evening
We arrived at the villa late, so we decided to have a light tea and snacks before bed.
It was clumsy and a little awkward, but I was happy — we’d finally shared the tea time Wilhelmina had always wanted.
“You’re not satisfied already, are you?” she asked suddenly.
“Huh?”
“I mean, you refused my tea invitations so many times before. You don’t think just today makes up for that, do you?”
“Oh—can I be honest?”
If we hadn’t had tea tonight, I was ready to let her take the lead entirely. I’d promised myself I’d do whatever it took to make her feel appreciated.
But as we talked, I realized how pure she really was.
Despite her cold family environment, she was straightforward and kind — and once she trusted someone, she never took offense easily.
“Of course not! We’re friends now, remember?”
My words made her freeze.
“…Really?”
When I nodded, she visibly relaxed, her shoulders dropping in relief.
“Why do you look so worried?” I asked.
“Because I thought maybe I forced you to come here.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Well, it’s just—” she fidgeted. “It’s not really proper reading material for a lady, but… my maid kept recommending it, so I just skimmed through a bit of a romance novel.”
Uh oh. Where was this going?
“You know, the kind where women fight over the same man, and noble ladies bully the poor heroine…?”
Her face went pale as she continued.
Maybe she’d been too invested in the story.
“What was it called?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“‘The Beloved Villainess Will Delete the Emperor.’”
Oh. I’d seen that one. I’d even planned to start it last night before falling asleep. The title alone was pure melodrama.
“Anyway!” she said quickly. “I know you’d never read something like that, but… my brother! He told me you didn’t want to spend time with me, and that I was being pushy for trying.”
Ah. Family. Always the best at misunderstanding your intentions.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with her — I was just drowning in paperwork!
“B-but I knew you wouldn’t say no out of politeness,” she said earnestly. “You’re not that kind of person. Don’t deny it!”
“Of course not,” I said gently. “I was grateful, honestly. You always send letters and check in even when I’m too busy to reply.”
Hearing that, Wilhelmina stood and grabbed my hand tightly.
“Really? So I didn’t make you uncomfortable? I’m not some petty villain trying to lure you away to a remote place to torment you, right?!”
Now I was really curious what the villainess in that book had done.
“Of course not, Wilma,” I said with a smile. “You’re one of the kindest people I know. You even prepared this beautiful room for me.”
“Y-you think so?”
I nodded reassuringly.
Then, remembering something, I asked, “By the way, have you read ‘The Empress is New to This’?”
Because I couldn’t lose such a valuable book buddy.
***
The Next Morning (Or, Technically, Noon)
We’d planned for a short tea time, but one conversation led to another — and before we knew it, it was dawn.
We’d exchanged books, too, so we ended up sleeping even later.
Which is why—
“…G-good morning, Roselita,” said Wilhelmina, rubbing her eyes.
The ever-punctual Lady Lopez — the one famous for waking before sunrise — had overslept.
It was nearly lunchtime when I finished my walk in the garden and found her looking embarrassed.
Well, I had recommended quite a few books last night.
‘Have I corrupted her too much?’ I thought guiltily. ‘What if Duke Lopez forbids her from seeing me because I’m a bad influence?!’
The thought lasted all of two seconds.
Wilhelmina straightened her back and smiled brightly. “Anyway, Roselita.”
“Yes?”
“How about lunch outside today? There’s a lovely café nearby with the best brunch menu.”
I couldn’t have imagined a happier vacation.
It was shaping up to be a perfect second day — until…
“Hello, Rose.”
My blood ran cold.
Why… why was I hearing that voice here?
“P-Prince Cassian?!”
Wilhelmina gasped too, confirming my worst fear.
So it wasn’t a hallucination.
My boss — the man I’d been trying to get away from for the first time in forever — was standing right in front of me, smiling as if fate had planned this.
…This was officially the worst vacation of my life.
