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Chapter : 7
Think, Frisia. You can’t lose here.
She leaned back against the sofa, crossing her legs and folding her arms with a haughty expression.
“Do you really think this will be enough?”
Her sneer was shameless, her tone dripping with mockery. Everyone’s gaze turned toward her— the servants carrying luggage, the butler opening gift boxes, even the maids organizing accessories. Every movement in the drawing room came to a halt, and silence fell.
In the midst of it, Ron entered behind Hatz. He took a moment to grasp the situation, then sent Frisia a silent signal.
He shook his head back and forth. His mouth moved soundlessly.
‘What are you doing? Don’t.’
But Frisia pretended not to notice. Ron’s expression darkened as he realized she was ignoring him. Frisia pointed at the gift boxes with her chin and frowned.
“Do you think my heart would be swayed by this kind of cheap junk? What do you take a princess for?”
She had said it to provoke Hatz. But Peach, standing beside her, flinched, and Ron, facing her, gaped in shock.
His lips moved again.
‘Are you insane?!’
Ron’s burning gaze felt like it could shoot lasers. Once again, Frisia deliberately turned away, lifting her chin arrogantly.
“If you want to win my heart, at the very least you should bring a diamond as big as a fist.”
Silence lingered.
“Of course, top quality.”
She flashed a crooked grin, and Ron covered his eyes with one hand and bowed his head. No one dared to move. It was as if time itself had stopped. The stillness was broken by Hatz’s voice.
“And?”
All eyes turned to him.
“Pardon?”
“And what else do you need?”
His voice was impossibly gentle.
“Go on. Tell me. Diamonds, of course—but anything you want, I’ll bring it to you.”
His tone was sweet, as if he were begging a beloved lover. Frisia froze at the unexpected response. A cold sweat seemed to run down her spine.
The butlers looked at him with admiration, the maids clasped their hands and sent invisible hearts with their eyes. Even Peach struggled to contain her swelling emotions, barely breathing. Everyone in the room gazed at him with racing hearts, radiating one thought with their entire bodies: He’s amazing.
Anyone here would think the young duke Hatz was madly in love with the princess.
Frisia stared at him, dumbfounded. Their eyes met—his red, vivid pupils fixed on her. His gaze looked like honey about to drip.
Smile.
His eyes curved gently. It was the first time she had ever seen Hatz smile.
“This is ridiculous…”
Why are you smiling? What’s so funny, you idiot! Are you happy you won this childish battle of pride? Even if you look at me like that, I won’t fall for it!
“Bring the diamond first.”
Frisia jumped up and stormed back to her room.
Knock, knock. Ron followed and knocked on the door.
“Your Highness.”
“Ron, you traitor.”
“Why am I a traitor?”
“You stuck to Hatz like glue and acted like you were on his side.”
“Then why did you act like that in the first place?”
Ron shot her a sideways glance and set several boxes down on the floor.
“I picked out a few dresses that looked the most comfortable.”
“I don’t need them.”
“Even if you don’t, please take them. Lady Peach went back looking pale as a ghost.”
Ah… calling top-tier goods cheap… Thinking of Peach’s bright smile earlier, Frisia felt a twinge of guilt.
I’ll apologize when I see her later.
She opened one box. Inside was a white dress trimmed with sparkling lace. It was beautiful.
“When did you bring in so many flowers?”
“I didn’t.”
“…?”
“The young duke did this himself early this morning.”
Frisia gently put the dress back into the box.
“By the way, what were you two talking about earlier?”
“Earlier?”
“This morning. You talked outside with the young duke.”
“Oh, that…”
Ron avoided her gaze with an awkward expression.
“Tell me.”
“He asked whether you liked money, so I said you’re pure and innocent, like fragile glass, without any such greed.”
“What…?”
“But as soon as we entered the lobby, you said you wanted a fist-sized diamond.”
“…What a mess.”
“I told you not to.”
“This is all that man’s fault…”
It wasn’t like she liked him, but at this rate her life plan was going to get completely derailed. She had to act quickly.
Just then, Ron pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Lady Peach asked me to give this to you.”
“…An invitation?”
It was a black card with gold lettering. Inside were a fragrant dried flower petal and an admission ticket. The invitees were her and Hatz. The date was two weeks later—the day Peach would hold a new product exhibition.
“It’s a pretty famous social gathering.”
“Peach is hosting it?”
“Yes. It says exhibition, but in reality it’s an event where only children of high-ranking noble families can purchase items before they’re released to the public.”
“Then there’ll be lots of pretty young ladies there.”
“Most likely.”
“We absolutely have to go.”
Frisia grinned slyly at the ticket.
With that many women around, surely he’d brush fingertips with at least one. Who knew? Maybe there was a secret lover, like her father had. Or an ex-girlfriend he couldn’t forget. Anything—just let something come up.
“The problem is—”
“…?”
“The young duke has never attended that gathering.”
“What? Then what was Peach thinking, giving this to me?”
“She probably thought that since you’d be there, he would attend this time.”
“So she expects me to persuade him?”
“Basically.”
Frisia frowned.
How was she supposed to persuade that man? It wasn’t like they were truly in love. Would he even listen to her?
“Your Highness, I’ll be off.”
Ron left early in the morning to deal with a fire incident at the estate. Frisia was left alone in the vast mansion. Taking advantage of the chance, she decided to carry out one of her plans for freedom after leaving the palace—going out to see the streets. But that plan was blocked right at the entrance.
“You cannot leave, Your Highness.”
“Why not?”
“We were ordered not to let anyone out without permission.”
“What? Who do I need permission from? I’m a princess.”
“I’m sorry. But we absolutely cannot let you go.”
“Then why?!”
“Because it’s the young duke’s order.”
After arguing endlessly with the knight at the gate, Frisia grew tired of the repeated answer. The gatekeeper never opened the door. Shooting him a glare, she turned away and headed back to the lobby.
“Hatz! Duke Hatz!!”
First floor, second, third, fourth… Where on earth was he?
She climbed the stairs, panting, but Hatz was nowhere to be found. After roaming the enormous mansion floor by floor, she quickly grew exhausted and leaned against a breezy window to rest.
So cool.
The gentle wind on the fourth floor was perfect for soothing her irritation. As she calmed herself, a maid who had been quietly following her hesitated before speaking.
“Um… Your Highness, the young duke isn’t in the mansion.”
“What?”
Frisia spun around.
“Why are you telling me that now?”
“I’m sorry… I missed the timing.”
The maid fidgeted, clutching her skirt.
“Did he go out?”
“Yes. He left early this morning with a knight.”
“With Ron?”
“Yes.”
If he went with Ron… her family home? She had assumed he’d be working in his study as usual and planned to threaten her way out… but he’d gone out.
“When will he be back?”
“I don’t know. It’s quite far…”
“Far…?”
What distance was she talking about?
Frisia stared at the maid until she hesitantly spoke again.
“You didn’t know…?”
“Know what?”
“Um… Your Highness’s estate is four hours away on horseback…”
“What?!”
Four hours? What did she mean? Wasn’t she near her home?
Frisia hurried to the window. Buildings peeked through the garden trees, too distant to see clearly.
“Where are we?”
“Ah… th-this is…”
The maid stammered, on the verge of tears. Frisia exhaled shortly, then smiled and spoke in the gentle tone she used in the palace.
“I’m not angry. Just tell me calmly. It’s fine.”
“Th-thank you for your consideration.”
“Yes, yes.”
“This is the young duke’s private estate, about thirty minutes from the imperial capital.”
“…?”
Had she misheard?
“Thirty minutes?”
“Yes.”
“Not three hours and thirty minutes. Just thirty?”
“Yes…”
“Then my home?”
“The estate you came from is four hours away by horseback. With a carriage or luggage, it would take seven or eight.”
“Why?”
“Because… Your Highness came from a village at the eastern edge.”
The maid looked at her in confusion. Frisia pressed her fingers to her forehead.
Of course she didn’t know—she’d never left the palace. Still, realizing this place was only thirty minutes from the palace sent a chill through her body. She rushed to look outside again.
“…I can’t see it.”
On such a clear day, the palace should have been visible from here. That massive, towering structure couldn’t possibly be hidden. Yet—
“I can’t see it.”
“Pardon?”
“I can’t see it. If it’s that close, shouldn’t it be visible?”
“Ah… you have to go over that mountain.”
The maid pointed to a low mountain ahead. Beyond it lay—
“Haa…”
Frisia sighed deeply, and the maid retreated a step.
“So Hatz won’t be back until late at night at the earliest.”
Frisia descended the stairs slowly, passed through the lobby, and stepped into the garden. She stood still, staring at the sky—clear, blue, and peaceful.
“Damn it… peace, my ass…”
She muttered darkly, scowling. The maid and the butler flinched at the cold aura they’d never seen from the princess. She didn’t care.
“Don’t follow me.”
She walked along the stream beside the marble path. Without thinking, she passed the fountain and reached a pond surrounded by flowers and plants, staring blankly at the fish swimming below.
Splash.
A fish leapt above the surface. Ripples spread, then settled, and Frisia’s reflection appeared—pink hair shining in the sunlight, clear golden eyes, a face strikingly similar to Empress Rocheline.
She thought of her father and stepmother. After Rocheline died, Bloé ascended as the new empress and toasted with the emperor—the moment when, as in the original story, the male and female leads’ love was fulfilled. Frisia’s feelings were complicated.
Though she was the villainess driven mad by jealousy, scheming and even attempting murder, Rocheline had been the only one here who truly loved her. She couldn’t wholeheartedly bless their love. She wished to be driven from the palace as soon as possible—to get away from them, far away, as quickly as she could.
“Should I just run away…”
It would take days for Ron to return. She left the palace only to be imprisoned in her fiancé’s house. Her life was ruined…
“What are you doing?”
Just as she was scrunching her face into the ugliest, sulkiest expression, a now-familiar voice reached her ears.
