SDA 6

Chapter : 06

Once again, I was someone whose tastes were firmer than anyone else’s.

“Should I call it a thousand-year-old pine?”
No matter how much platforms tried to push certain works on me, it was useless.
If I read a synopsis and the male lead wasn’t kind and reliable, I would never touch it.
“Only kind men are the answer to world peace.”

But… <The Crown Prince’s Bedside Affairs> was an exception.
That work was insanely…
…everyone was raving about how incredibly erotic it was.

[Wow, C-val… I don’t usually curse, but reading The Crown Prince’s Bedside Affairs, that Kachin guy turned me into a cursing granny.]
[The male lead is so provocative it makes me dizzy. I went to the hospital today because I felt so lightheaded, and they said I had short-term memory loss. I’m not sure if I really do, though. It’s just that Castilian is so sexy, cool, and freaking amazing.]
[Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s just that Castilian is so sexy, cool, and freaking amazing.]
[There’s more drool on my pillow while reading this than the heroine ever dripped because of that Kachin guy.]

That’s the level?
“Alright, let’s see just how amazing this Castilian guy is.”

Determined, I started reading—and was defeated in just three lines.

“This f***ing… insane. Crazy. Wow…”

Castilian was so extraordinary that “crazy” came out naturally.
A perfect mix of unrivaled skill + obsession + sexiness + mania.
“Now I see why everyone calls him Kachin.”

He was someone who didn’t need a type at all.
“My ultimate favorite is my ultimate favorite, and Kachin is Kachin.”

For a while, I lived immersed in Castilian’s sexiness.
Then I looked at the pile of Johan merchandise in my room and came back to my senses.

“Sorry, Johan. I got distracted chasing dopamine for a moment… but you’re still the best.”

Well, that was ages ago now.
“Back in my day…”

Recalling the fading memories of <The Crown Prince’s Bedside Affairs>, I suddenly felt something strange.
“Huh? Now that I think about it…”

Lian, Castilian.
“The names of this crazy youngest and the crown prince are kinda similar.”

Blinking in surprise, I slowly looked up at Lian.
“…Could it be?”

Lian tilted his head slightly as our eyes met.
“Oh my, Director…”
“…”
“You’ve been looking at my face like that every day… and now you still want to?”

For a brief moment, I suspected something—but immediately regretted it.
“My apologies, author of <The Crown Prince’s Bedside Affairs>. My apologies.”

Lian de Vichel could never be Castilian.
Firstly, Lian had black hair, while Castilian was blonde.
They both had red eyes, yes—but red eyes are a common trait for male leads.
“There are more than a dozen dukes in this world alone, and most of them have red eyes.”

And secondly…
Castilian would never make a “baby bird” joke.
“Look at how stoic and cool Kachin is.”
Every word he spoke to the heroine was like a precious gem.

『“Philone.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
“Cry. Just like you clung to me last night.”
“…”
“Your voice suits being hoarse.”』

In contrast, Lian gave off absolutely no weight.
“Do you like this, darling?”

Floppy like Chase oppa, like he’d blow away in the wind…
I was certain.
“There’s no way the guy next to me is Kachin.”

At that moment, I overheard a conversation between Violet and the designer.
“But, my lady, the Crown Prince will attend the upcoming ball?”
“I’m not entirely sure… but from what I hear, there’s a possibility this time.”
“Oh my, I’ll pray every day. Since our Violet lady is wishing so sincerely, please make the Crown Prince attend.”
“Your words are thanks enough.”

Eavesdropping, I was puzzled.
“Hmm. If Violet likes the crown prince, that means she must have seen his face.”
But how could she have seen him?
It was natural to think that.
Castilian had never shown his face since he was a prince.
Only certain palace staff had seen him.
“I know this because I’m possessed, after all.”

Still, how did Violet see him and fall for him?

Suddenly, I remembered something Chase oppa had said.
“Crown Prince Castilian entered the academy. One year behind me.”
“Oh, really?”

At the time, I didn’t think much and forgot about it.
“I didn’t realize I was possessed yet.”

I wished I could have remembered sooner and asked about Kachin…
“Ah, right. That’s not the point now.”

I crossed my arms, turning my back to Violet.
“Violet likes the Crown Prince…”
“Seems so.”

Lian leaned on the jewelry display beside me, also facing away from Violet.
I sighed lightly.
“Is there… any hope?”

Not for Violet, but for Johan.
Convincing a girl who likes the empire’s second-highest man…
“Plus, the guy is Kachin…”

Even if Johan was a good guy, the odds of success were zero.
How could a mere marquis beat the crown prince?
“Suddenly, I feel sorry for Johan.”

I didn’t want my favorite to end up with someone else, but I also didn’t want him failing at love and getting depressed.
“I really am a hypocrite.”

Then Lian muttered.
“Is there any hope?”

His voice was unusually low.
I looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
“Me.”

His gaze was fixed on the floor.
“Me…?”
What was he saying?

“Excuse me?” I asked, and Lian, still staring at the floor, suddenly snapped out of it.
With a slightly surprised expression, he looked at me, then gestured with his chin toward the necklace studded with golden gems.
“This… necklace my wife wanted.”
“…”
“Since you like it, Director, that must mean there’s hope. Should I buy it for you?”

Grinning mischievously.
“Of course…”
This crazy kid… talking nonsense again.
“Say something sensible.”
“It’s sensible, that’s why I’m saying it. Then were all my previous words nonsense? Garbage?”
“Quiet… really.”
“After talking to me nicely all this time, and now this. Our Director is so picky.”

I barely escaped the costume shop, stopping the crazy youngest who insisted on buying the necklace.
“Why did I even suspect Lian and Castilian were the same person just because their names were similar…?”

Even though I didn’t know Kachin personally, I should have been kneeling and apologizing.
“Sorry, Castilian.”
I must have had a brief, absurd thought because I hadn’t seen you in so long.
There’s no way you and this crazy youngest are the same person.

“Director, what about that necklace next to it? The one the color of my eyes.”
“…”
“If I buy it, won’t you think of me every time you wear it?”

I spent the rest of the day apologizing to the author of <The Crown Prince’s Bedside Affairs> before falling asleep.

The next morning, at the counseling center.
Clink!
Suddenly, the sound of glass shattering echoed through the quiet center.

“…Bringer lady likes the… Crown Prince?”

The culprit was Pin, drinking melon juice.
Like him, the other staff’s expressions went pale.
Heaven froze mid-bite with sandwich in mouth, and Isadora’s glasses slid down her nose but she didn’t push them up.

I sighed and answered.
“That’s what I heard…”

Isadora, with her mouth wide like a frog, blinked slowly.
Her deep nasolabial folds vanished, replaced by black eyes rolling side to side.
Moments later, she gasped.
“…Advance payment. Where did you put the advance payment received from the marquis?”

Heaven answered.
“Huh? Already deposited it in the bank.”
“Deposited in the bank?”
“Yes.”

Isadora and I bit our lips simultaneously.
“Damn, 50,000 gold all at once…”

Recently, laws have tightened; without a royal document, withdrawals over 30,000 gold per week aren’t allowed.
Of course, securing the large sum in a safe place was smart.
“But what if we move all the money before starting work?”

Isadora’s lips trembled in agreement.
For a while, the staff and I were deep in thought.
“Do we just start the work, or report the truth to Johan and cancel?”

We had to decide quickly.
Johan was already on his way to the counseling center.