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Chapter 6
Click.
I set down my teacup and looked at the woman sitting across from me.
Her face was hidden under a wide-brimmed hat and a fancy fan, but her dress, lace gloves, and shiny shoes all looked expensive enough to make my heart race.
A noble customer right from the start… and a rich one at that.
Behind me, Adriel’s face stiffened at Serena’s words.
“Ah, shop owner, do you not know who Adriel is?”
No. I know him very well.
He’s literally sitting behind me right now… and we are making eye contact.
“But you’ve been staring off somewhere since earlier….”
I was lost for words, just blankly staring somewhere, when Serena turned around with a suspicious look.
I hurriedly called out to her.
“Customer…!”
“Hmm?”
“…Didn’t you say you love Marquis Bertho?”
“What? Of course I love the Marquis. Why?”
Serena looked genuinely confused, like she had no idea why I was asking that. Honestly, I wanted to ask her why she was making that face.
But at least I managed to shift the topic.
I quietly sighed and asked again.
“If you love the Marquis, then why are you looking for a holy knight? I don’t really understand that.”
Serena blinked for a moment, then chuckled at me like I was a naive child.
“Right. I love the Marquis. I’m serious about him enough to look toward a future with him. But shop owner, husband and lover are separate things, aren’t they?”
Husband and lover.
Even in novels, it said it was common for nobles who were married to have lovers on the side.
That was probably why this novel was called Don’t Regret It, Prince.
The male lead, Deus, couldn’t accept his feelings and went around with other women before regretting it later.
I really shouldn’t judge this world using my common sense.
“Adriel is a young, handsome knight who is desired by many noble ladies and young girls in high society. He’s also talented enough to become vice-commander of the temple at a young age.”
That “amazing person” is right behind you.
And he’s watching us like he wants to burn us alive for this conversation.
“But still, he’s a commoner, so most people only want him as a lover.”
Adriel is not even a commoner.
But I couldn’t say the truth, so I swallowed my words.
Serena must have thought I didn’t understand and frowned in frustration.
“Just imagine having the most desired man as your personal lover. Still don’t get it?”
“……”
“Haah. Forget it. Shop owner, can you help me again this time? I’ll pay well. Name your price.”
I glanced at Adriel behind her.
His red eyes were dark and cold.
Like an angry cat, he looked ready to attack anyone who touched him.
How could anyone make someone like that a lover…?
“Why aren’t you answering?”
I turned my gaze back to Serena.
There was only one answer I could give.
“I’m sorry, customer. I can’t take this request.”
No matter how much I needed money, some things couldn’t be done.
I couldn’t let anyone find out Adriel was here.
“Why? Is it money? If so, I can pay whatever you—”
“That holy knight is mine.”
I cut her off gently and smiled.
“Please do not touch him.”
Luckily, I could refuse boldly because my contract with Marquis Bertho wasn’t over yet.
“What…?”
Serena froze in shock as I spoke firmly with a smile.
After a moment, she let out a small laugh, half embarrassed.
“What is this, shop owner… you knew who Adriel was?”
But she quickly regained her pride, lifting her chin.
“Never mind. Now that I think about it, that commoner isn’t that important anyway. Forget what I said. Let’s just focus on how to win over Marquis Bertho.”
“Yes. Of course I will serve you to the best of my ability.”
I glanced behind her.
Witte had come in at some point and was hurriedly pulling Adriel into the room.
…But why does Adriel look like that?
He kept staring at me until the door closed.
And his expression…
Looked kind of dazed.
I quietly turned back to Serena.
“As always.”
Once I collected the consultation fee, I should use part of it to repair the broken door.
Time passed, and it was now the 10th consultation with Serena.
“What is the problem?!”
Serena raised her voice in frustration.
“Did you really do everything I told you?”
“Yes! I did everything! Makeup, dresses, perfume, even my tone of voice, everything!”
Her breath trembled with anger.
After calming down a bit, she leaned back into her chair.
“Of course, I’m not saying your advice didn’t work. The Marquis clearly liked my changes.”
“Then why….”
“That’s what I want to ask! Why isn’t it going any further?! He won’t even say he wants to make me his lover! He agrees to dates, but that’s it!”
I frowned and tapped the table with my pen.
Of course, I was only pretending to look serious.
I already knew why Serena couldn’t fully win Marquis Bertho’s heart.
So far, she had only followed the “filtered answers” I gave her.
That meant she was missing a strong final push to truly capture his heart.
But I couldn’t tell her that.
If I told her that final method, Serena would cross a point of no return.
And honestly, even if I told her, I wasn’t sure she’d actually do it.
No, she might not even do it—she might slap me for suggesting it.
“Just think carefully about what the problem is!”
I ignored her anger and thought about the money pouch hidden under my bed.
So far, I had collected 60% of the total payment.
People always ruin themselves when they get greedy.
This was enough.
There was no need to take more risks for the remaining money.
“I am trying my best too… but I really don’t know the reason,” I said helplessly.
“Ha… what?”
Seeing my troubled expression, Serena sighed and looked out the window.
Then she suddenly reached toward something.
“So boring. Rosemary again?”
In her hand was a gossip paper.
It contained news about Rosemary—my supposed escape from marrying Count Robert.
She must have picked it up earlier and forgotten to put it away when she rushed in.
“So much noise everywhere about someone who already left. Shop owner, you should focus more on my request instead of reading this.”
Listening to her, I became curious.
I had tried not to care about Rosemary’s past.
But why did Serena hate her so much?
“Customer, do you know this person?”
“Who? Rosemary?”
Serena’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
“Of course I know her. Probably better than her own parents.”
Her voice turned colder.
“A liar. A delusional woman.”
I blinked slowly.
The hatred in her voice felt sharp, like a blade.
Even though I wasn’t really Rosemary, it still stung.
“And she’s extremely timid. But if you give her even a little attention, she follows you like a dog. Pfft. Even my servants aren’t that bad.”
Serena suddenly laughed as if remembering something.
“There was this one incident when she first entered high society. She was standing awkwardly at a banquet, so I and my friends kindly helped her. We even told her about social rumors.”
I nodded slightly, telling her to continue.
“One of those rumors was about a perverted noble who enjoys bullying people, so she should be careful. But while we were away for a bit, she went and told that in front of all the nobles! And right in front of Marquis Bertho!”
Serena’s laughter echoed sharply in my ears.
“She didn’t know anything about high society. She was completely clueless. That’s when I knew she was just an idiot.”
After that, she went on about all the ways she bullied Rosemary.
Making her look foolish at garden parties. Giving her the wrong meeting place so she got soaked in the rain and caught a cold.
There were too many to list.
My mouth turned bitter.
After Serena left, I sat in silence for a long time.
“Shop owner, what are you thinking about? You look serious. Kiki.”
“Just….”
I turned my gaze to the sky.
The soft sunset looked anything but beautiful.
“Annoying.”
It wasn’t my experience. I didn’t need to be angry or hurt.
But now, Rosemary was me.
So what I did next was my choice.
“Guess I’m not a saint after all.”
“Huh? Shop owner, what did you say?”
Nothing.
I shook my head, and then a deep voice came from across the table.
“Why did you stay silent?”
Adriel was sitting across from me, looking down.
Confused, I asked.
“About what?”
“That customer.”
“Oh… well, did I really have anything to say in that situation?”
I answered lazily.
Adriel suddenly lifted his head.
“Nothing to say? That is not how a noble lady should act. Just like how you treat me—!”
He stopped himself, realizing what he was about to say, and opened his mouth slightly.
“Forget it. That was a slip of the tongue.”
“……”
What. Is he… feeling sorry for me?
I couldn’t help but laugh a little.
This guy really is strange. Feeling sympathy for his kidnapper…
“Huh.”
As I chuckled, a sudden thought hit me and I covered my mouth with both hands.
“What is it?”
Adriel looked at me suspiciously.
I broke into a cold sweat.
No way… is this Stockholm syndrome or something?
What if he suddenly decides he wants to live here?
The thought terrified me.
“N-nothing. Eat your meal.”
I really need to get his signature and kick him out quickly.
