SDA 5

Chapter : 05

I barely managed to stop myself from rolling my eyes to the ceiling.

“No… please, get a grip, youngest.”
“I’m always in my right mind. That’s why I heard your proposal clearly, Director.”
Rian pressed his hand to his chest, emphasizing his words.
I’ve never seen anyone who talks like that actually be sane.
I added, my eyebrows flat.
“You’re not really proposing marriage; you just want to act, right? We have to follow Miss Violet into the dressing room.”
“…….”
“If we go in there, we’ll be close to Miss Violet. Close enough for her to overhear our conversation.”
“…….”
“So, to avoid any unnecessary suspicion, we have to pretend we’re a couple browsing the merchandise.”
Rian’s gaze followed the tip of my finger pointing toward the dressing room.
“Pretend?”
“Yes.”
Then he turned to me, twisting his eyes in a mischievous way.
“Can’t it be real instead of pretend?”
…At this point, I had this thought:
He must be drunk.
Either he drank before coming to work, or someone spiked his tea in the salon earlier.
It was a perfectly reasonable suspicion.
His speech slurs like he’s drunk, and he only says things no sane person would.
I pressed my throbbing temples.
“Stop saying nonsense.”
Before Rian could spout more absurdities, I quickly opened my bag.
Good thing I brought an extra hat, it might come in handy.
On tiptoe, I placed the hat on the crown of his head.
“Wear this quickly.”
“Director, you want me to cover my handsome face with this shabby hat?”
“Yes, youngest, you look suspicious enough as it is.”
“That’s so cruel…”
Rian pouted but pressed the hat onto his head.
Oh… hiding the red eyes and (unfortunately) handsome face of the male lead makes him much less noticeable.
Who even is this male lead?
Fully prepared, I finally entered the salon with Rian.
“Welcome. This is the Valenri Dress Salon.”
I quickly scanned the space but didn’t see Violet.
Maybe she’s in the fitting room.
A staff member approached us.
“Welcome, what can I help you find?”
I saw her quickly scanning Rian.
I cleared my throat and began.
“Ah, we…”
“Came to look at necklaces.”
At that moment, warmth from Rian pressed against my waist.
He leaned down, tilting his face toward me.
“I wanted to gift a necklace to my beloved wife.”
I hadn’t expected this at all.
I knew he’d act well because he’s so sly… but this well?
And it wasn’t just his acting that distracted me.
His cheek against my crown, his breath above my head,
his warm, thick hand around my body, the solid chest pressing from behind.
Even his voice and tone were different from usual.
I never realized he could speak so seriously…
Flustered, I just stared blankly into space.
Rian lowered his gaze to me.
“Right, darling?”
Finally, I snapped out of it.
Oh, right, we’re acting.
I laughed as if overwhelmed with happiness because of my handsome and caring husband.
“Yes, that’s right. My darling loves me so much, you see! Oh-ho-ho!”
For the alibi, I even grabbed Rian’s arm.
…His arm is so firm.
Soren or Chase’s arms weren’t like this.
“This way, please.”
The staff led us to the jewelry display.
The sparkling jewels under the lights were blinding.
Such extravagant luxury. How much is all this…?
But we had to act perfectly, so I bravely pretended to examine a necklace.
One necklace caught my eye.
It had golden gems similar in color to my eyes.
“Um… darling?”
“Yes, darling?”
“I like this one…”
I was about to say “I like it” when I saw the price tag.
I froze.
…Insane. How many zeroes is this?
Of course, I had no intention of buying it, but even joking that I liked it was impossible.
Just touching it with my fingerprints would make me tremble.
Rian nodded toward the necklace I was pointing at.
“Do you like this, darling?”
Seeing that display of wealth calmed my racing heart instantly.
Darling…
The moment I heard that embarrassingly affectionate nickname, goosebumps ran across my body.
Which story’s male lead is this?
Was a novel featuring this buttery male lead really a million-seller?
I don’t understand readers’ tastes…
After a moment, rustling came from the fitting room.
Finally, Violet appeared.
The designer immediately shouted with joy.
“Miss Bringer! You are sooo beautiful! Truly the empire’s finest beauty!”
“R-really…?”
“I told you, lilac suits Miss Violet perfectly. My eye never errs.”
Indeed, I completely agreed with the designer.
…She’s really beautiful.
Violet, wearing a pale purple dress, looked like a single sprig of violet, true to her name.
Her silky light brown hair flowed gracefully even without a breeze, and her rosy cheeks seemed brushed with petals.
I always knew Violet was beautiful.
But now I realized something more.
No wonder Johan would fall for her.
I had felt foolish believing there might be a chance since Johan had been rejected earlier.
Whoever Violet has her heart on, Johan likes Violet.
I’m just the Director.
Realizing there’s no chance, my mood instantly darkened.
Suddenly, Rian draped his arm over my shoulder.
“Why the sudden mood drop? Is it because Miss Violet is pretty?”
I gave him a sideways glance.
“……No! What does her being pretty have to do with me?”
“Want me to buy you a necklace? Would that cheer you up, Director?”
“Huh?”
“A necklace.”
Rian nodded toward the necklace.
The one with so many zeroes I can’t even count.
“Are you crazy…? Why would you buy this for me?”
“Because you’re in a bad mood, Director.”
Flabbergasted, I blinked like an ox.
This guy… must be rich.
Ah, that makes sense.
The male lead’s keywords: #chaebol, #amazinglover.
None of the male leads I’ve seen were poor, so Rian wouldn’t be either.
No wonder the cost of living in this world is unusually high—so many wealthy male leads.
Violet stood in front of the mirror, examining herself.
You’re already beautiful enough without all that.
You’d still look beautiful even if you hadn’t bathed for a week.
Violet tilted her head for a while before asking the designer,
“Do I really look okay…?”
“Of course! Miss Violet, do you not like the dress?”
“Oh, no! It’s beautiful. But…”
“……”
“I just… don’t have confidence. Would His Highness, the Crown Prince, really like it…?”
She trailed off, embarrassed.
…Wait a moment.
Did I just hear that right?
I grabbed Rian’s sleeve.
“…Youngest.”
“Yes?”
“Did you hear that?”
My silly face reflected in his red eyes.
Rian stroked his chin while staring at me.
“Could it be…?”
“……”
“I think the Director has a little trouble with hearing.”
He tapped his ear.
What nonsense is this?
I huffed quietly.
“No, I’m just asking to confirm. I heard everything fine.”
“That’s a relief.”
Rian gave a small laugh.
“Stop talking nonsense. Did you hear what Miss Violet just said?”
“Yes.”
“She said ‘His Highness the Crown Prince,’ right?”
“Yes.”
The moment he confirmed, the confusion in my head cleared immediately.
So the man Violet likes is him.
I had said it before—there are too many “Highnesses” in this world.
But all those candidates fell away at once.
Why?
Because, surprisingly, there is only one Crown Prince.
The first prince of the Karnon Empire, now the Crown Prince.
Castilian La Idebert Karnon.
He’s the male lead of the adult romance novel <The Crown Prince’s Bedtime Affairs> and the man I loved in my past life.